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Can a Worm Have a Footprint? . . .

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As humans, everything we do creates carbon in some form. . . even when we die. But before we get to that stage, we have a lot of living to do, and living requires creating CO2. What creates CO2? Eating, moving, clothing, communication, creating shelter, socialization. . . and well, everything we do.

  Everything we consume or utilize uses some form of fuel for it’s creation. If it’s a chicken wing  we’re consuming- consider all the steps it took to get to your plate. . . um. . . give me a second here, I’m trying to figure out how I chose talking about a chicken wing. . . I could switch to “celery stalk” but that would be “chickening out.” Literally.  NO, let’s give it a try. . . so, a farmer raises a chicken with all it’s food and water and nesting materials and heat and care and energy to make that life possible.  Think of all the corn that chicken may have eaten. . . and all the energy that went into creating that corn. . . Then, the chicken is slaughtered to create food for us. . . now a wing is the item of consumption and. . . ( I’m going to let you imagine the next few steps) . . . then it’s put in a bag (packaging was created for this) with other wings. . . fuel is used to keep it cold or frozen. . . fuel is used to deliver it to a market or wholesaler. Let’s say that this wholesaler sells it to “Wing It Bar & Grill” and you come in for a bite after work. . . . and yes, there’s one more wing left on the platter at happy hour and you get to be the lucky consumer.  How much energy was used to get this wing to you and make your hour happier?  Consider this. . . what if you just ate a piece of corn instead . . . and eliminated all that stuff in between the corn going to the chicken and happy hour?  I know. There’s a lot of math to be done and processes to consider.  There are many great websites out there where you can set up your own profile and try calculating your carbon footprint.  There are hundreds of great videos you can watch to help you understand it all better, and we’re going to link to one below that’s good for children to watch too.

But, I promised a few simple ways we all can reduce our carbon footprints so here goes:

Eat less meat, especially red meat. Grow your own veggies and fruit if possible. If not, eat as locally as possible. Support organic farmers.

Use your own grocery bags and use less plastic. Re-usables are very important!

Keep your heat lower in the winter (wear sweaters etc. ), and reduce A/C usage in the summer (shade your windows etc). Insulate your home, cut down drafts. Reduce home energy consumption.  Wash clothes at lower temps- dry outside in the sun if possible. Take shorter showers.

Limit your driving and travel (plan your outing to accomplish as much as you can in one trip). Drive slower. Use less fossil fuels.

Carefully consider your purchases. Try buying products with less packaging, no plastics, made with recyclable materials.  Buy less- consume less. Donate old or unused clothing to others. Donate home goods, books etc to others.

And when you get a chance, check out some more cool websites (like Link and Wormy are). Oh, and in case you’re wondering. . . worms are carbon neutral.

Actually, I don’t know for sure that worms are carbon neutral. I have no source for that information. . . I just made it up. But, I’m allowed to do that because I’m a cartoonist. That’s what I do.  Peace!

Brad (with Peter looking over his shoulder)

“Living with Ed & Co-Eds”

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I found this comic from 2007 where we reference “Girls Gone Wild” and one of my favorite shows, “Living With Ed.”  Personally, I’m so happy that the “GGW” thing is in our past. . . it always pissed me off how these people were using young women and denegrading them. . . we’re all young and impressionable at some point- why do people have to abuse innocence for profit? If girls want to get topless, fine. . . I’m not against that. . . but getting them drunk and selling their images pisses me off.

“Living with Ed” was fun though. . . I liked how he was struggling to have his wife and family see his “visions.” Ed Begley, Jr. continues to be a role model for me. . . keep seeking information and live by example. I should talk to Ed about having topless girls on a new show introducing new energy concepts and helping Ed clean his solar panels. . . Girls Gone Eco?

I emailed Ed back in 2007, showing him our work and his caricature- and he replied in person, telling me (and Peter) to keep at the Green House, that we were ‘kindred spirits and he was glad we connected with him.’ Really nice guy who loves to share information. . . I like his style. He has a new book out about Sustainability and a great website: http://www.livingwithed.com

Here’s a great interview with Ed, where he gives us a fantastic tour of his home and his sustainable concepts. . . he should be an inspiration to everyone. . . he is to me.

 

The Inconvenience of Truth

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“The truth shall set you free.”

~Jesus (John 8:32)

Trending now are some really funny memes with Brian Williams- photoshopped as the Captain of the Starship Enterprise- standing alongside Lincoln and Grant in a Civil War spoof. . . In Brian Williams case, the truth may free him from employment. What bothers me most is that a man of his stature can’t just say, ” I lied, sorry.”  It’s the careful fabrication of words, like: ” I mis-remembered the event,” and chalking it up to the “fog of memory” that disgust me.

The truth is often inconvenient, but it truly does set one free. I understand lying. As a kid, I learned how to do it as a survival skill. . . as a young adult,  I learned that it’s all part of the game of celebrity. . . fabricate a line or event a little to make you seem more important, get yourself out of a gig you don’t want to do. . . Use it as a weapon to gain space without hurting other’s feelings. . . a hundred, thousand, million “good” reasons for lying.

I heard this from a friend recently. . . “To be totally honest, I still lie on occasion.”

Huh?

Here’s another great quote:

“Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving.”

~James E. Faust

The most important changes you can make in the world are those you first make within yourself. The truth sets you free and allows you to live in freedom.

Last fall, during a family visit, my cousin’s daughter, Ginger,  said three words that struck a deep and resonating chord in me-  and made my heart sing for her. In a conversation we were having with her and her parents, Greg & Debbie, she replied to her Dad, “I don’t lie.” And she meant it.

Ginger is totally free. Her life may be occasionally inconvenienced, but she will always be free.

Three words that in this world can mean a future filled with happiness. If you never lie, you are always living in truth. Amen, Ginger. Keep it real, keep it honest.

What are your thoughts on Brian and inconvenient truths? Do you think Ginger should be the new NBC Nightly News Anchor? As always, join us on Facebook where we can share a great, truthful dialogue. . .

Greg, Ginger & Debbie Schiff

“Catching Some Rays at Fenway.”

 

Deep Thoughts, Warm Places

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Yesterday I told you about my Mom, and taking her to see “An Inconvenient Truth.” She was moved to start learning more about environmentalism by the movie. . . and my final takeaway from our discussion over REAL ENVIRONMENTAL TRUTHS, was that if the movie got her interested in learning, it served a positive purpose.

Wormy is looking at global warming from his own perspective. . . how he feels it- which is how most of us should be looking at it. What feels right? What seems to be furthering someone else’s agenda? From my perspective, I’m okay with being wrong. . . or being told I’m wrong, as long as it opens a dialogue and we can share our individual perspectives. Whatever subject we want to approach in conversation or a comic strip is going to meet with varying opinion and perspective. I’m okay with being “schooled.” I invite it!

I don’t ever want to stop learning or hearing someone’s  point of view. . or “poit” of view. . .     If you look closely at the first panel, Peter chose a great sound effect for Wormy popping up out of the ground. . . “poit!”  Great word, with no meaning unless you know where it’s coming from. In Wormy’s case, he’s coming from a place of deep thinking and warmth. What more could I ask for?

Do you have a good story to share about perspective or are you wondering what song Link was playing on guitar? (Hint: It will be featured in Thursday’s Comic/Post) . . . as always, the best place to share our comments and thoughts is on our Facebook page. . . pop in and share. “Poit!”