Philly DON"T recycle

Alarming statistic for you: Only eight percent of Philadelphians recycle.

Why God, oh why do I live here?

The new Green channel and why it irks me

The new Green Channel on cable TV launched about a month ago ...have you seen it? In theory, its a great concept. People showcasing their green products, builders explaining how to better your home, celebrities showing you how to be green. Entourage star, Adrien Grenier has his own show, "Alter Eco", where he pals around with a bunch of hip LAsters, showing products in local eco-stores, meeting local gardeners who can tell you how to build a compost in your backyard, all while having a hip cool approach to life that only celebrity can bring. yawn... Bored yet?
My favorite cookbook author, Rene Loux has her own show, where she consults with other hip celebrities and tells them how to be green. I love her cookbooks and recommend them whole-heartedly but OMG if I hear the word "green" one more time from her lips I might hurt someone. On a particularly recent episode Rene meets up with her "friend" Alice Cooper and tells him how he can be green on the golf course. First of all, I really don't buy into their artificial friendship and secondly, isn't being green and golfing polar opposites? Aren't golf courses artificial green spaces where once thrived natural wildlife habitats which have been torn down and turned into luxury golf courses where mostly rich, wealthy people waste much of their time? I recommend the John Sayles film, Sunshine State, for those unaware of this fact. So, what did she tell him? "Wear bamboo or organic cotton, use these golf-tees made out of corn, use these recycled golf balls. Well, some of her advice is nice,. I mean bamboo fabric is awesome, but all in all golfing tears down eco-cultures, destroys communities and displaces wildlife, all which we need if we are going to continue life on earth. So take that for some honest advice, Alice. Lastly, a vegan like Rene should at least sneak in a few words about snacks on the golf course and pump up her books!
The Ed Bagley show, "Living with Ed" is the saving grace of the Green Channel. Ed Bagely has been doing his own thing for years, installing solar panels on his roof long before it was chic, riding his bike in LA where everyone opts for a hybrid instead of using their own two legs. He's the real pioneer, the others are just marketing goods. Oh and did I mention that Emeril Lagasse has his own show? Ugh serioulsy, a carnivorous meat eater telling me how to be green. puh-leeese.

It's not easy bein' Green

Living in Philadelphia and trying to live environmentally is kind of an oxymoron. You've got people throwing trash on the street while a trash can lies at the end of every block, (trust me I've yelled at them), and you've got this huge Sunoco plant at the crux of South West Philadelphia. On a clear day, you can smell unpleasant wafts of sulfur blowing from the south, and if you've spent the weekend away and roll your window down once you're about to cross the Ben Franklin Bridge, well, the stench of the city just attacks you. No matter, I do what I can. Last night, before I went to sleep, I take a look out the window, down the sidewalk, at our trash lined up for pick up today. My bag of plastics for recycling seems to be missing! "How odd" I thought, and lay down to sleep. It was a windy night, and moments later I hear plastic bottles rattling through the streets. I look out the window once more and guiltily spy all my recycling blowing all through the streets of Philadelphia in a wild wind storm. I'll tell you, I was kind of upset about it, my city is so filthy as it is, and no wonder. Wouldn't you know, this morning as I was going to work and bringing back in my recycling bucket, there was, what looked like, a pile of piss welled up inside!? Oh Philly how I love thee. I only hope it was dog piss, but you never know, and that would be one tall dog to reach the top of that container. That is a new one. Who would do such a thing, really?