Environmental Protection Agency Tries to Clarify Clean Water Act Protections

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attempted to clarify Clean Water Act protections on September 17 for small streams and wetlands. Previously these protections had been thrown into question by Supreme Court decisions. The rule –proposed by the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers—would help farmers and others understand where the Clean Water Act applies … [Read more…]

Fresh Labor Day Menu

It’s almost Labor Day and many of us are preparing to host end-of-summer barbecues, picnics and other celebrations for the holiday. Hot dogs and hamburgers are the much-loved American standard, but if you have a vegetarian coming over you may be worried about serving something that he or she can enjoy while at your get-together. … [Read more…]

Buycott: An App For Conscientious Consumers

Do you ever wonder what kind of companies you’re really supporting with your everyday purchases? If you have strong feelings about particular issues, you may be surprised at which products (or their parent companies) stand in opposition to your beliefs. Luckily, there’s an easy app for your smart phone that you can use to determine … [Read more…]

A Better Way To Flavor Water

If you’ve been looking for an alternative to sugary drinks, you may have turned to Crystal Light or other water-enhancers that are purported to be healthier for you than soda. Unfortunately, Crystal Light might not be as good for you as one might think. Some flavor varieties (not all) of the powder contain aspartame – … [Read more…]

Vegetarian Recipe: Southwest Stuffed Peppers

There was a sale recently on red bell peppers at our local Sprouts grocery store, and we went a bit overboard and bought more peppers than we knew what to do with. So for dinner, I decided to make southwest-style vegetarian stuffed peppers. While looking up recipes for such a thing, all of the stuffed … [Read more…]

The Best Running Shoes Might Be No Shoes At All!

When the weather is nice, people seem to hit the sidewalks, streets, trails and parks for a good run. It’s a good form of exercise, with about 100 calories burned per mile. Besides breathing air and blinking, walking and running are some of the most natural activities that an able-bodied human being is designed to … [Read more…]

The Andasol Solar Power Station

The Andasol Solar Power Station is a fantastic piece of modern engineering that can be found just a short distance from Guadix in the autonomous community of Andalusia in Spain. It is a ‘parabolic through solar thermal power plant,’ meaning in simple terms that it collects sunlight via solar panels and uses it to produce … [Read more…]