Eli Wabash | EarthLab.com

Invite ten friends to join EarthLab.com

Hopeful Signs and Scary Schemes

As I sit here at my slow computer, I am wondering whether one is blessed by being technologically ignorant, as I am—or would it be better to be fully aware of the potential hazards associated with various projects aimed at developing new sources of energy. Many of these projects involve the diversion of, or tapping into, volatile substances deep within the earth to satisfy the voracious energy needs of countries, corporations, and consumers. Pardon me, but some projects fuel my paranoia, which was, I might add, created from the experience of having lived quite a few decades, rather than from rigorous training in the sciences.

Rant of a Grouchy Luddite

sub-title: I Can't wait…

I shall begin with whimsy-I shall assume an identity, thereby leading you to believe that I am a grumpy individual, who is quite convinced that everything about the modern world is unbearable and disgusting, who believes that the beginning of anything, including our planet and human life, carries the implication of its eventual end, that humanity is bringing about that end at an ever-accelerating rate, and that the species likely able to survive our poisons, roaches and earwigs, won't miss us.

Seeds and Self-Sufficiency

I have recently been wondering whether or not Agribusiness is either trying to kill us, or is trying to transform all of us into passive cattle, much like the poor creatures whose meat we have learned to crave and obediently consume. These misgivings were prompted by information I encountered in the excellent non-fiction book by Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, subtitled, A Year of Food Life. Allow me to thump her tub by providing a brief description of her provocative book. One moment… Oh, yes; it is about the determination of a family to eat only foods grown by local farmers or foods they've grown for themselves. I urge you to purchase, borrow, or check out from a library this timely and important book. Before synopsizing some of Barbara Kingsolver's key revelations, I would first like to tell you a little something about how things used to be; in particular, how things used to be for me growing up in middle America. This seeming digression should amount to a proper introduction for a discussion of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I grew up eating in the way recommended by Kingsolver, and, look at me; I am a hardy and cantankerous old rascal with the expectation of living beyond the one hundred-plus years achieved by my male relatives.

Oddments and Dire Circumstances

An oddment is a left-over, a remnant. I find that at this point, the beginning of a new year, I have a number of written pieces that have not yet appeared on this site. My aim then is to provide my readers with a summary of a few of those oddments, thereby covering myself in the event the actual pieces never appear. Also included are new oddments, along with a couple of dire circumstances, as if you didn't already have enough to worry about, what with the possibility of atomic devices falling into the hands of scoundrels, cosmic debris crashing into our planet, gargantuan storm systems triggered by climate crisis, rising ocean levels precipitated by global warming, or catastrophic earthquakes and volcanic disturbances. Duck and cover, my friends. Duck and cover?

Into the New Year with Green Living, Green Heart, and Green Spirit

At the end of one year and the beginning of the next, I would like to thank those of you who have taken the time to read my peculiar scribbles. My intention over the past year, actually less than a year, was not to convince you of the rationality of my opinions—nor was it to instruct you regarding the great issues of the climate crisis (of which I have a negligible grasp). Rather, I simply wanted to give my readers something to think about, and to suggest sources where they…

Wild Nature, Naturally

I recently wrote an article that was related to respecting, preserving, and repairing the environment. While thinking of how I might do this, I asked myself the question, “What do most people think of when they hear the word environment?” Probably they think of the places where they spend most of their time, or they retrieve mental images of state and national parks and seashores they've visited or seen on television and in books. Ordinary human beings seem to be docile creatures, relatively tame and malleable, addicted to comfort, and inclined to spend most of their time indoors, electronically occupied. For the most part the twenty-first century human being is a thoughtful creature, eager to please, and readily amenable to adopt popular strategies that will benefit the entire family of man, quite a burgeoning herd.

Attack of the Outlaw Mussels and Brain Eating Amoebae

The title might at first seem flippant, but the subject of invasive species and organisms is quite serious. Whether or not one considers globalization or global trade to be a desirable trend, there exists the irrefutable fact that the exchange between continents is not always beneficial. As more countries accelerate their efforts to increase industrial capacity, and, as there is an increased exchange of goods and people flowing across borders, invasive species and organisms find homes in environments where they previously did not exist.

Sufferers of Congestion, Hear This

A recent television commercial involved a major American automobile manufacturer swapping new models of its automobiles with automobiles driven by typical consumers. The viewing audience then heard the reactions of the consumers on how they felt about the manufacturer's newest creation. I particularly recall one woman's reaction, filmed while she was behind the wheel of the new model, and I am paraphrasing her reaction: "I love this car, because it expresses my personality."

Green Mortgages, Green Lenders, & Green Politicians

To use a rather archaic saying, I'm down in the dumps. Why? Because everywhere I turn, I see indications that people in our country and the world at large seem bent on self-annihilation. When I try to describe my melancholic state and the reasons for it, people don't seem to understand. Are they too stupid to understand the growing global peril, so stupid that they suppose melancholy to refer to a long-haired dog that hankers for cantaloupe? I apologize for that nonsensical comment, and apologize for the inference that people in general are stupid. I don't at all believe that most of our citizens, or the people in other countries at our borders or across the pond, are stupid, but the politicians, money lenders, and multinational corporations are convinced of universal ignorance and gullibility; yes, they do indeed believe that prospective customers are green—green in the sense that they are inexperienced, or clueless, to indulge in modern parlance. Absolutely. Of course, that's not all bad. When some cause or popular trend dominates public attention and media coverage, they, the politicians, money lenders, and multinational corporations, immediately crowd onto the band wagon, nudging aside, if necessary, any of the rabble who are not entitled to hitch a free ride.

Mario Batali's Ultimate Grilling Challenge*. Think you can grill like Mario? Click here to enter and vote for your favorite grilling recipe. Sponsored by VIVA® towels. *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter by: 7/30/08. To enter and for Official Rules, visit mariobatali.com/grillingcontest.

Floods along the Ohio River in March 1997 caused 30 deaths and at least $500 million in property damage.

EarthLab > Learn > Eli Wabash