I saw this documentary “Food, Inc” a while back and couldn’t really get it out of my mind. Directed by Robert Kenner and narrated by Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser.
When we walk in our supermarket aisle, we rarely think about where and how the food got here. But his film will make you think twice. Beware, there are scenes with factory farm cows that is very disturbing. But it does make you not want to eat another hamburger again.
This film explores the corporate side of farming in the U.S. They mention Monsanto and their need to genetically modify seeds (soybean and more).
Monsanto have now increased their seed prices and many farmers are not happy. Now the Obama administration is looking into it. the New York Times reported recently, “The Justice Department began an antitrust investigation of the seed industry last year, with an apparent focus on Monsanto, which controls much of the market for the expensive bioengineered traits that make crops resistant to insect pests and herbicides.”
Monsanto isn’t just doing this in the U.S. but abroad too. They even want small farmers in South America and Mexico to use and rely on their seeds. And the villagers can’t win this battle, as the corn become cross pollinated and eventually end up as part of Monsanto’s GMO plant.
A great idea is to plant heirloom variety seeds saved by gardeners. My mom usually gets her seeds from other gardening friends. Especially seeds for eggplants and hot chili pepper. Seeds of Change is another great place to get organic non-GMO seeds.
Life as a pen-tailed tree shrew in the tropical forest can seem like a party. The pen-tailed tree shrew is the first non-human mammal known to display alcoholic behavior. As these cute little creature feed on fermented bertam palm nectar without ever getting “drunk”.
The bertam palm plant flowers nearly year-around in the rain forest, so they make perfect food source. The tree shrew spend about two hours per night drinking up the nectar. A nectar with 3.8% alcohol content, much like beer.
Pen-tailed tree shrew are native to the tropical rain forest of Southeast Asia. They look a bit like squirrels and are about the same size.
This little tree shrew looks more like a bat or mouse with an unusual tail. The tail looks more like wheat then than a pen… maybe an old fashioned pen. Those tiny fingers and toes are really good at gripping the branch too. Photo from National Geographic.
Frank Wiens, a biologist at the University of Bayreuth (Germany) checked to see the animals’ alcohol consumption by testing hair samples for ethyl glucuronide.
Wiens found that the tree shrews consume alcohol at rates that would be dangerous to most mammals. It seem their body is able to metabolize the alcohol differently then humans and do no get drunk from these nightly nectar.
Wiens also adds that the palm flower also benefits from the tree shrew too. And if alcohol production appears critical to the palms’ reproduction because it entices tree shrews to pollinate their flowers. So Wiens wonder, “If alcohol is crucial for an ecological relationship [like the pollinator relationship], then it should also exert some sort of beneficial effect to the animals and we can only speculate on those effects.”
Interesting ideas come out of Japan. The latest trends over the years is the Cat Cafe. I wonder if such a cafe business would work in the U.S., but probably not as successful as in Japan.
I have heard of dogs for rent, where people can rent dogs for the hour and just take them out for the day.
At Cafe Nekorobi all the cats have their own photograph albums for visitors to look through. Image source.
Norimasa Hanada, owner of Neko no mise (Shop of Cats) was among the first to open up a cat cafe. Handa explained, cat cafe are popular with young urbanites who live in rental apartments that prohibit pets. While most family condominium allow pets, it’s really the young single people who could use some comfort and companionship of a pet.
Here is Megumi, 33, an office worker. She noticed that each cat cafe has it’s own vibe. This one at Neko no mise, has more friendly cats that are less stressed out. Image source.
The fees are charged by the hour, from $7 - $10. In order to survive in the cat cafe business, they need a high turnover rate of visitors. Despite the recession, the folks here don’t mind spending the money to hang out with these furry creatures. Maybe it is due to work or other stressful events, that cat cafes are so popular. Consider it “pet therapy”.
Monkeys aren’t the only creatures that live in trees. Tree kangeroos also live in trees high up in the rain forests of Australia, West Papua, and Papua New Guinea. They are so elusive that the locals refer to them as “ghosts of the forest.”
They look a bit like small kangaroos and wallabies. They have such an endearing face and look almost like a plush toy animal. In this photo, they look a bit surprise that they’ve been spotted. It must be the furry yellow marking on the chest that gave it away. Photograph by Russell A. Mittermeier/Conservation International, National Geographic.
Unlike their cousins, the front and hind legs are closer in size than ground kangaroos. They also have stronger fore-limbs to help with climbing and living in trees. As for the fur, it is thick and grows in opposite direction on nap and back. This helps to shed water when it’s head is crouched.
Although there are several species that live in the lowlands too, call the Lowlands Tree Kangeroo. As tree dwellers, the tree kangaroo eats mostly leaves and fruit. And sometimes collect and eat fruits that has fallen to the ground. Tree kangaroos will also eat other items such as flowers (orchids), tree sap, eggs, baby birds, grains, and even bark.
They are a reclusive and solitary bunch, much like pandas. I hope the natives learn to protect these animals since they are an endangered. And who would eat a creature with such a cute face!
I’ve always loved penguins. There is just something neat about a bird that can’t fly, but loves to swim underwater. Can live in freezing temperatures and depend on other penguins for warmth.
I love how the black and white is to represent the symbolism of Taoism. Peng Shui is the perfect name too. Artwork by English artist Peter Cross.
What better way to get into the Christmas spirit then putting up decorations? I just saw these cute Christmas critter ornaments at Pottery Barn. I especially like the baby penguin. But $26 for a set of 4 is quite pricey!
Pinecone Critters. Along with the pine cone body, it’s very creative! Photo from Pottery Barn.
Smith & Hawkin, the garden shop I’ve enjoyed visiting, always had nice ornaments. But sadly they are out of business (since last July 2009). I found this photo from the Daily Green. I remember seeing them last winter but didn’t buy any. They are so cute and colorful too! I found some on Ebay and thinking of bidding for them (starting bid is $3 for all 6).
I’ve always wanted to make some kind of stuff animal or doll. So I keep looking at these books and collecting them. I’ve found two more books I would like to add to my list.
Sew Me, Love Me: Best Stuffed Friends to Make by Hsiu-Lan Kuei
“Perfect for any sewer with a love for animals, this delightful handbook to crafting homemade stuffed animals features 12 fabric and sock animals that are guaranteed to charm. Step-by-step illustrations and pattern templates keep the crafting process clear and simple; and because many of the accessories are made from socks, fabric scraps, and trims, these stuffed animals make a perfectly adorable—and affordable—gift.” - Amazon
This looks like neat craft book. Perfect to make with those “stray” socks and other fabric remnants. Since I don’t have any children of my own, I always wonder if children would really like toys like this versus toys bought from the store. Maybe they would love it more if they actually got to make it themselves. When I was about 5 years old, I had a handmade “rag towel” baby doll and just loved it.
The Fantastic Mr. Fox is written by Roald Dahl. The movie version of this book is now out in theaters.
Roald Dahl is also the same author who wrote my favorite childhood books, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Both movie version of the books just couldn’t compete with what I had imagined in my mind. Especially the chocolate factory.
Mr. Fox and crew. Image from BBC - Radio 1 Movies. The folks at BBC didn’t give it a good review.
But since I haven’t read this book, I can’t say I will be too disappointed with the movie version. The story line sound pretty interesting and the movie is done with stop motion animation. Just like with Coraline. The character list is cute and the details of their clothing look so neat.
A world of talking animals in competition for living space with humans. It’s all about the environment, mix in some mischievous animals. Sounds like a good story to me. Image source.
Synopsis: “Mr. and Mrs. Fox live an idyllic home life with their son Ash and visiting young nephew Kristopherson. But after 12 years, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr Fox’s wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground and with not enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight against the evil Farmers — Boggis, Bunce and Bean — who are determined to capture the audacious, fantastic Mr. Fox at any cost.”
Watch the trailer on Youtube. I will have to give a review after I see, hopefully around Christmas holiday.
When I first started making soap in 2008, I bought palm oil without knowing much about it’s source.
Palm oil has desirable qualities which include producing a mild and hard bar that lathers well. From my own experience, I’ve found other good substitutes such as olive oil, rice bran, and coconut oil to be just as nice.
It wasn’t until recently that I knew about the environmental and social implications of using palm oil.
As for the social impact, forests are usually cleared in large tracts of land through burning and clear cutting. This has alienated communities and created tension between locals and the company executing the project.
For the environmental impact, large areas of Indonesian and Malaysian rainforest have been cleared to make way for palm plantations. The spaces used to expand palm plantations are often created by draining and burning peatland, which sends carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
The removing of rainforest is also effecting the orangutan population that dwell in the forest. It is estimated by Borneo Orang Utan Survival Foundation UK that orangutans can disappear in five years. But there is still hope.
Indonesia’s Center for Orang Utan Protection has rescued many baby orangutan orphaned by palm oil companies. As many of the orangutans are seen as pest and are killed off. The center to protect orangutan ask that we use orangutan friendly palm oil (from sustainable palm oil farm) in our food and household products.
This baby orangutan (photo above) seem to be having fun. Image source.
