Just Looking

by: Eddie C

Sun Nov 21, 2010 at 22:45:51 PM PST

I have a few pleasant photography stories to tell from a week ago. Between the autumn color and the desperation of one last warm weather week, it was a good week for a photo buff. Now don't go busting my bubble by just looking at the photos because you can learn a lot from a photographer. We see things.

Below you will find a Third Rock from the Sun brief encounter during an evening walk in the Village. I have several memories from a lecture I attended on photojournalism. There is a pleasant Veterans Day walk under the George Washington Bridge on the New Jersey side followed by a sunset from the New York side. Then a Friday afternoon walk in Central Park with some music videos I made and all day Saturday there too. There is even a little taste of Florence, Italy.  

Schoolchildren Teach Organic Farming to Troops

by: TheFatLadySings

Sun Jun 06, 2010 at 09:14:42 AM PDT

70 ways to "end childhood obesity in a generation" (w/poll)

by: desmoinesdem

Fri May 14, 2010 at 16:23:15 PM PDT

The action plan defines the goal of ending childhood obesity in a generation as returning to a childhood obesity rate of just 5 percent by 2030, which was the rate before childhood obesity first began to rise in the late 1970s. In total, the report presents a series of 70 specific recommendations, many of which can be implemented right away.

Pdf files containing the full report, or individual sections, can be downloaded here. After the jump I highlighted a few proposals that caught my attention in each of the five large sections: Early Childhood, Empowering Parents and Caregivers, Healthy Food in Schools, Access to Healthy, Affordable Food, and Increasing Physical Activity.

The Evils of School Gardens

by: euclidarms

Tue Jan 12, 2010 at 02:19:46 AM PST

Apparently so. I would not have believed it, but there it is in the otherwise esteemed Atlantic magazine, a venomous screed that would have you believe that gardening constitutes some sinister scheme to take over our nation's schools; that schools are turning kids into farm workers; that the educational establishment is throwing math and reading to the dogs in favor of growing arugula.

Green Change Blog Action: Bringing sustainability to school

by: rossl

Tue Nov 24, 2009 at 14:44:53 PM PST

I've tried a few other, smaller things, as well, but now I'm working on something that is so close to success I can taste it:  a community garden.

This blog post is for a mini blog action day at GreenChange.org, where I am the "blogging coordinator."  The theme is taking local action.

Iowa legislators not sold on junk food rules for schools

by: desmoinesdem

Sun Jun 14, 2009 at 07:18:20 AM PDT

A special task force drew up the standards, which set limits on calories, fat content, sugar and other nutritional measures. Carbonated beverages are banned. Caffeinated beverages and sports drinks are banned in elementary schools.

But the rules do not apply to food provided by school lunch or breakfast programs, items sold at concession stands or certain fundraisers or items provided by parents, teachers or others for class events.

Although I would have preferred tougher guidelines, these rules were a step in the right direction. To be more precise, they would have been a step in the right direction. After protests from some school officials, the State Board of Eduation "delayed most of the standards from going into effect until the 2010-11 school year."

By that time, the regulations may have been relaxed, judging from what happened last week in the Iowa Legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee (unofficial motto: "Where good rules go to die"). The rest of the story is after the jump.

The investment of a lifetime - $0 down and thousands in return!

by: rossl

Thu Apr 09, 2009 at 12:38:03 PM PDT

Whether you've been laid off or you're doing fine and just care about the environment, I've got some answers for your problems.  In this diary, I'll try to compile a list of things you can do to save money and conserve our resources without spending any money.  If you have any good ideas in the comments, I'll be sure to update my diary as they come - this is a collaborative effort because this community knows more than any individual.

So join me below the fold to find out how you can save money and save the environment!

Jumping With Jill The Rockstar Nutritionist

by: Curtis Abbey

Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 12:45:04 PM PDT

This Jump With Jill video shows how well Jill works with kids, as well as how informative her program is.  

The salmonella outbreak as a teachable moment

by: desmoinesdem

Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 06:18:22 AM PST

Has anyone heard yet if Bugles have been in this. My husband said he picked up a bag of Peanut butter and chocolate Bugles today at Casey's and then he said they did not taste very good and he felt ill after eating them. He did say that about halfway through the bag he remembered the recalls and said to himself OOPS these have peanut butter in them. But then he said he figured he had already eaten half the bag so why not finish it. LOL. Well then he felt sick tonight and did not even eat supper. That's SO not like him. Should I be more worried about him having some sort of salmonella from these??? I wish they would put out a list of products that ARE safe to eat that have been tested and are OK. There are so many products out there that have not been tested yet. I told him to look on the bag tomorrow and call the number and tell them he ate the bag and got sick. Maybe they will send him some free products. LOL. He is really addicted to the caramel Bugles. LOL. Like he needs more sweets. LOL.

I posted a reply explaining that they don't go out and test every product in the supermarket to see if it is safe. They try to identify the source of the contamination, then recall any and all products that could have been affected by the tainted food source. I added that I hoped her husband did not have salmonella, since he probably would be violently ill if he does.

My son's school wants me to buy Tyson foods

by: desmoinesdem

Wed Aug 27, 2008 at 18:22:25 PM PDT

My son just started kindergarten in the Des Moines public system. His school has a wonderful and caring staff, and he is having a great time, as he did in the pre-school program there. Unfortunately, like almost all public schools these days, this school relies on fundraising by the parents' group to pay for essential school supplies.

The parents' group decided years ago not to have our kids sell chocolate or wrapping paper or some other overpriced product to raise money, and I appreciate that.

They have opted this year to participate in the Tyson Project A+ label collection program, which is sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc.