the polarized consumer

Maybe this mom will write more reviews here....

2016-03-01T08:51:00.005-05:00

I am a polarized consumer -- torn between the products we need and how those products impact our world, the environment and our future. I am a mom of three, a homeschooler, a former vintage clothing reseller, and striving to become an educated green consumer....plus i love coconut oil. ;)

Everything in our world is a product. Made by someone, distributed by someone, sold by someone and purchased by someone. My desire is to help people make educated product choices -- ones that are both good for your health, good for the earth, and good for our future. I firmly believe, what you choose to buy is your vote. Please, use it wisely.

Homeless in Atlanta and On the Internet?

2011-07-23T10:06:00.002-04:00

I was shocked, and a bit intrigued when I came across the blog and twitter feed entitled Homeless in Atlanta. A blog claiming to be the rantings of one of Atlanta's street people. My first thought was that it was a fake; but, after reading it more closely, I'm not so sure.
If you have spent any time in downtown Atlanta you are familiar with Atlanta's homeless problem. During my three year stint at Georgia State University I watched a number of people beg and panhandle. It was hard for me to eat lunch downtown sometimes as homeless people can often be seen eating food from the trash next to you.

One day I counted, 17 people asked me for a dollar. If I were to give 17 people a dollar every day, I would be broke myself.
Read more »

Casey Anthony Balloon Release Meet the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

2011-07-05T16:25:00.001-04:00



Image: http://greatpacificgarbagepatch.info

Something about the Casey Anthony trial has struck a cord in America. The media frenzy over the Casey Anthony's not-guilty verdict has even led to the proposal of a new law -- Caylee's Law -- that would make it illegal not to report a child missing. Facebook and Twitter are filled with wild "threats" for the "tot mom" and insults over the Florida jurors' decision. The night of the verdict millions left their lights on in memory of Caylee.

Apparently there was also a Caylee Marie Balloon Release. And, rumors of another being planned.

Organic Products, Not Organic.

2011-07-01T16:35:00.000-04:00

As many things as we all have to worry about day to day, we certainly need to be able to count on our labels to be informative and accurate.

Attached is a list of products involved in a lawsuit claiming the labels falsely represent the products. Maybe one day we can have a bit more corporate responsibility.

Mislabeled "Organic" Personal Care Products - Center for Environmental Health.

FDA Releases New Cigarette Warning Labels, Updated

2011-06-27T16:36:00.000-04:00

The FDA has released nine new cigarette warnings this week that are both graphic and vulgar.

Will scare tactics really convince people to quit smoking? Are addicted smokers -- long term smokers-- really going to be phased looking at these new images on their cigarettes? I doubt it.

Anemia Drugs Pose Heart Threat

2011-06-24T16:37:00.000-04:00

"Federal drug regulators said on Friday that three drugs that had been widely used to treat anemia in both kidney and cancer patients were so dangerous to the heart that doctors should consider avoiding the medicines altogether in some patients and using less of them in others."
via F.D.A. Urges Doctors to Cut Back on Anemia Drugs - NYTimes.com.
[Image:Erik Jacobs for The New York Times]

Poison Chicken -- Another Reason to Buy Organic

2011-06-19T16:50:00.000-04:00

: Image: Wikimedia Commons: jlastras

The FDA released a study which turned up arsenic in chickens treated with a drug called 3-Nitro or Roxarsone. The drug manufacturer, Pfizer, voluntarily stopped sales. Roxarsone has been used since the 1940s in poultry production to treat "a parasitic disease that affects the intestinal tracts of animals" as well as "for weight gain, feed efficiency and improved pigmentation". Farmers are expected to transition to new methods of treatment.

Via: FDA: Pfizer will voluntarily suspend sale of animal drug 3-Nitro.

Obama, Where are our White House solar panels?

2011-06-17T16:42:00.000-04:00

: Image: http://greenlifestylemagazine.net

Nine months ago the Obama administration promised to reinstall solar panels on the White House by the end of Spring 2011. President Jimmy Carter first installed solar panels in the late 1970s that were later removed by Reagan.

"That was nine months ago. There’s now one week left until the end of spring. Write to Obama and urge him to put solar panels on the White House by June 21." via When will we see solar panels on the White House? | Grist.

You can go here to add your name to the petition.

UPDATE June 23, 2011 : In an email from 350.org, "there was a press release from the director of the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technology Program saying 'the Energy Department remains on the path to complete the White House solar demonstration project, in keeping with our commitment, and we look forward to sharing more information -- including additional details on the timing of this project -- after the competitive procurement process is completed.'" Right.

Food Packaging Increases BPA in the Body

2011-06-14T12:09:00.000-04:00

If you are a mom you have undoubtedly heard of the term BPA. Almost all baby products have a large label on the front proclaiming to be BPA free. But, what you may not know is that BPA isn't just a concern for baby products.

Read more »

Stay in Your Lane -- Revenge of a Cyclist

2011-06-13T10:34:00.000-04:00

One NYC resident was frustrated after getting a ticket for not staying in the bike lane...and he's making his point loud and clear. Check out his PSA.

YouTube - bike lanes.

I love clever people using humor to make points...great revenge.

Drug to Aid With Heart Attack Recovery

2011-06-10T16:56:00.000-04:00

A new drug may offer heart attack victims some hope in a better recovery.
"The damage caused by a heart attack had previously been considered permanent.
But a study in the journal Nature showed the drug, thymosin beta 4, if used in advance of a heart attack, was able to "prime" the heart for repair."
via BBC News - Drug makes hearts repair themselves.

Books -- Works of Literal Art

2011-06-08T17:05:00.000-04:00

: [Image: http://www.mikestilkey.com

Just another interesting artist worth 30 seconds [or, more] of browsing.

mikestilkey.com - home.

Homeless Aren't Rats...Quit Treating Them That Way.

2011-06-07T17:06:00.000-04:00

: Image: Food Not Bombs

"Three activists from Food Not Bombs were arrested in Orlando last week for feeding the homeless in Lake Eola Park. Police charged them with intentionally violating a city ordinance, because in April the group was unable to obtain a permit to operate in the park." via 3 Arrested in Orlando for Feeding Homeless – Eat Drink Better.

Not So Boring Snack

2011-06-05T16:54:00.000-04:00

: Image: http://www.ohdeedoh.com

Kids tend to want the same snacks over and over. Give snack time a new life with some old classics.
Play With Your Food: Burt & Ernie From Fruit Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons | Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh.

Are we one in 8 million or one of 8 million?

2011-06-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

As humans we are compiled of years of break-ups, births, birthdays, graduations, boring summer days, walks in the park, fights with old friends and a multitude of experiences.

This week I stumbled across "One in 8 Million", a 2009 New York Times video project featuring 2 to 3 minute video portrayals of 54 New Yorkers. The online series showcases a wide variety of NYC "characters" with captivating imagery and a lovely, old New York feel.

The piece is touching in a way. When you watch the clips one after another after another "One in 8 Million" reminds us we are all human -- going about our lives the same way everyone else does. We all share something that binds us together, no matter how hard we struggle, to be noticed in the great abandon of the world. But, as captivating as the series is, I'm just not sure if it captivates for the right reasons.

The series thrusts each individual into an "image" -- a mere representation of the most "important" parts of themselves. Surely we are more than the movie tailor of our lives -- a 2 to 3 minute visual representation of ourselves. Americans love to label people like they are a product. Once we are labeled -- identified as different from the crowd-- it is only then we can truly fit in amongst the crowd.

Have we become nothing more than an image we are trying to sell to the world? Are we one in 8 million or one of 8 million?

One in 8 Million - New York Characters in Sound and Images - The New York Times.

Video Games in Prison Camps?

2011-05-31T17:11:00.000-04:00

: Image: R Pollard from Portland, OR, USA

China has found yet another way to exploit it's people. This time it's in the name of video games. Guards from one Chinese prison have been forcing prisoners to collect credits from online games that they then sell for real money.

Read more »

Reuse Old Paint Cans

2011-05-28T11:32:00.000-04:00

Image: http://www.instructables.com

Loving this idea -- old paint cans as entryway "hooks." A great way to reuse old paint cans.

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Are You Getting The Fish You Ordered?

2011-05-27T17:10:00.000-04:00

"Recent studies by researchers in North America and Europe harnessing the new techniques have consistently found that 20 to 25 percent of the seafood products they check are fraudulently identified, fish geneticists say."

I don't particularly like fish. And, this sure isn't helping.

via New Technology Reveals Widespread Mislabeling of Fish - NYTimes.com.

Buy Local, But Watch Out for Greenwashing.

2011-05-25T17:16:00.000-04:00

Greenwashing rears it's ugly head again. Not the tag you want to see when you purchase a "buy local" product.

Similarly, I purchased a dress recently because the brand was marketed as a homegrown, USA brand -- "American Living" at JCPenny. The dress was cute and a great fit, but I was disheartened when I looked at the tag and saw Made in Korea.

Always look at the tag.

Shopping Bag Exhorting You To "Buy Local" Is Made In China - The Consumerist.
[Image: www.consumerist.com]

Get Rid of Garden Slugs Without Pesticide

2011-05-23T17:17:00.000-04:00

IMAGE: RAYMOND SPENCER

"A bed edging of rough silicon carbide sheets creates a low-key barricade against garden slugs." You need to have a raised bed for this, or garden in pots. If using pots, you will need to be creative on how to attach the sandpaper.

Read more: Beat Garden Slugs With Sandpaper - Organic Gardening - MOTHER EARTH NEWS.

2011-05-19T17:20:00.000-04:00

If you aren't familiar with yarn bombing you should be. Check out this awesome slide show.
Getting Cozy in Public - Slide Show - NYTimes.com.

Gas Versus Charcoal Grilling

2011-05-18T17:04:00.000-04:00

"The article reports that in the UK, the carbon footprint for charcoal grilling is almost three times as large as that for LPG [gas] grilling."

via Grilling With Charcoal Less Climate-friendly Than Grilling With Propane, Study Finds.
[Image:Photo: © JIU from www.womansday.com]

Sugar for the Sick

2011-05-15T17:01:00.000-04:00

"Used to be that sick kids got lollypops after a visit with the doctor. But in some cases candy can be more than a reward—it can be part of the therapy. Because scientists have found that, in battling chronic infections, sugar can boost the effectiveness of antibiotics."
via Sugar Flushes Out Hidden Microbes: Scientific American Podcast.

2011 Sweetwater 420 Festival Atlanta Georgia -- Bad or Good for the Green Movement?

2011-05-15T09:34:00.000-04:00

Image: http://sweetwater420fest.com/

On our walk to Sweetwater Brewery's 420 Festival we noticed some Candler Park residents with signs in their windows saying "hi" to the hippies attending the "greenwashed" event. My heart sank.

First, I need to clarify that I have been going to the Sweetwater Brewery Tours since back when you brought a camping chair and they served beer off of the loading dock. The tour was $4 in those days and you got four full glasses of beer. 420 fest was nothing more than a band playing on that loading dock while you did the "tour" (not many actually took the tour). It has now grown into a music festival in Candler park attracting people from all over the the Greater Atlanta area.

For a moment the signs in the windows bothered me. Conveniently, April 20th (also known as 4-20) falls close to Earth Day and provides a great reason for a dual celebration. I thought about the damage the foot traffic was creating in the park, liter, semi's left running, powering multiple stages, power to food vendors, etc. I decided to take a bit of an account myself as we went into the park -- to see how green the concert in the park really was.

Read more »

What the Frack?

2011-05-11T17:23:00.000-04:00

What's In Your Water? (Cartoon) : TreeHugger.