Bikestation DC

The tough thing about freelance writing is that sometimes your stories do not get picked up. This happened to me last month when I attended the opening ceremony of Bikestation DC, next to Union Station. Regardless, it was a really insightful event and one that marks an important step in DC's shift towards a more sustainable transit culture. So here are some photos from the event:

Located right next to Union Station:


It's "helmet" shape is engineered to minimize energy use:


A view from the inside. Pick a bike and rent it out:


A service station is available on the premises:

Group Therapy: Monsters

Victor Vampire, Waldorf Werewolf, and Fred "Frankenstein" Monster discuss Twilight and stereotypes.

V: This whole Twilight thing puts me in a difficult position. Ya know, people are used to seeing vampires as evil undead monsters who wear funny collars. I want to suck your blood... and dress like Liberace at a funeral . But Twilight is a different concept. Now vampires are melodramatic heartthrobs...with designer collars.
W: That doesn't sound so bad. Stylish and handsome.
V: Yeah, but we're either the stereotypical monsters or metrosexual soap stars. Why can't there be movie vampires that are accountants or something?
F: Accountants...overlooked...members...of...society...uuunnhhhh.
V: I mean, imagine a film about a vampire who faces the daily pressures of a 9 to 5 job and also has to deal with marital problems and a blood drinking problem.
W: You think Hollywood would go for that?
V: Why not? I think it could be provocative.
F: Unhhh...Oscar...contender...for...sure...unhhh.
V: I mean werewolves get the every-man treatment. And it's been ok. Teen Wolf, that wolfman movie with Jack Nicholson.
W: *chuckles* A little on the campy side.
V: But I mean, it doesn't bring you guys to one extreme or the other. Definitely shows that wolf persons are regular people, working and dealing with wolf problems.
W: Hmm...
F: Frankensteins...look...mentally...challenged....and....not...in...good...Forrest...Gump...way.
V: Exactly, I think Hollywood has to look into the monster community to dig out the real stories. Monsters have drama.
W: Certainly. But maybe it starts with us, you know? We can get more involved in filmmaking and writing and all that. Maybe get more in the music biz too.
V: Maybe we should start a band. How about that? *chuckles*.
W: *chuckles* I say we discuss it over some lattes. There's a new coffeeshop down the street.
F: Unhh...expressos...hope....theirs...is....better...than...Starbucks...unhhh.

NY Times: Meat is kinda ok. Sort of.

Are you afraid of eating meat? Is it because you think cow farts cause global warming? Well, that may not be the case. So, shut up. The NY Times actually ran an Op-Ed piece last week from rancher Nicolette Hahn Niman who essentially argues that it's not beef production per se that is responsible for greenhouse gases, but the major industrialization of meat, dairy, and even vegetable products.

In fact, much of the meat we get at restaurants or in the grocery stores comes from "factory farms". You may've heard of these places from animal-rights organizations such as PETA. Niman points out that animal overcrowding and waste dumping at these farms contribute substantial greenhouse gases. Also responsible: emissions from machinery and transportation modes such as trucks.

Honk, if you love carbon emissions!

But you probably knew most of that. What some may find surprising is the argument that vegetarian diets can also damage the environment. Yes, soy-loving hippies are responsible for a huge chunk of the deforestation and carbon emissions that occur every year:

"Much Brazilian deforestation is connected to soybean
cultivation. As much as 70 percent of areas newly cleared for agriculture in
Mato Grosso State in Brazil is being used to grow soybeans. Over half of
Brazil’s soy harvest is controlled by a handful of international agribusiness
companies, which ship it all over the world for animal feed and food products,
causing emissions in the process."

Pictured: Polluters fleeing the scene.

So what can meat lovers do to reduce their carbon footprint? Niman suggests finding food products from traditional and smaller farms. These farms emit less carbon dioxide emissions because animals are usually kept on natural pastures and less machinery is needed for production. Also, carnivores and herbivores alike should be cautious around processed foods. Studies have shown that over half of total greenhouse emissions from food production comes via processing, packaging, transportation and storage. In the end, it's not so much what you eat but where it comes from and how it arrives at your table.

Funny and true

Source: FAIL Blog