The Myth Of Local Food

Now that most "green" people are coming to realize that most of what they thought they knew about organic food is a myth, many of them are shifting gears to promote local food. The theory is that by supporting local farms, you're saving the environment from the fuel and carbon emissions that is used in shipping.

Except is doesn't actually work that way. Studies have shown that the most energy intensive part of the food buying process is your trip to the market, not the food's. The fact is, some food needs to be shipped. When was the last time to were in New England and bought a locally-grown orange or banana. So shipping is inevitable, and it's more efficient to ship a lot of items rather than just a few.

There's one other fact that these people forget. Not everything is better locally. I live in Connecticut. I don't want most of food from here. I want my apples from New York or Washington. I want my onions from Georgia (Vidalia to be exact). Even the local farmer buys his carrots from California.

The fact is not all food is not created equal. It depends on the soil and the climate. Besides, I dare anybody to get a local lobster in Iowa. Some things just shouldn't be local.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

I've come to expect stupidity from Washington DC. After all, politicians say more stupid things than anyone else. But House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) took the bobby prize for his comment that a good report on Iraq from General Petraeus would be "a problem."

How can a good report be a problem? Apparently, Clyburn thinks we should fail in our endeavors in Iraq. It seems he wants reality to mold itself to his preconceived notions.

Of course stupidity isn't limited to politicians. Let's not forget the lawyers.

Apple is being sued because the battery in the iPhone cannot be removed by the owner. Upon realizing this Jose Trujillo, rather than just returning it, decided to sue and seek class action status for his lawsuit. His lawyer, whose court filings border on the ludicrous and have been widely disparaged in the media, apparently can't spell or read. The filings read as though they were written by an elementary school student and the basic premises of the lawsuit aren't even close to real.

People need to realize that just because you want something to be true, doesn't make it so.

One Last Colortini

The news and entertainment worlds lost a unique personality yesterday, as Tom Snyder passed away from leukemia at age 71. Snyder was from a generation of reporter/interviewers who could handle anyone he spoke with, From John Lennon to Charles Manson, Snyder brought them all into our living rooms with class and talent.

He had a love of language that is lacking on television today, and brought an intelligence to his conversations and jokes. From the Tomorrow show where he followed Johnny Carson, to his radio show, and finally to The Late Late Show, where he followed David Letterman, Tom Snyder was one of a kind.

He will be missed. So let's have one last Colortini, as he used suggest to his audience, and lift a glass in his memory.