Nothing is permanent, and this blog is no exception. It’s time for me to move on to a new blog! I have good memories attached to this one, and I’ll be sad to leave it, but this is for the best. I only ask that you support my new blog, too. All the stuff that’s in here is there too.

My new blog is at http://www.helloworldbea.com. See you there!

I love fruits and veggies, and I tend to eat a lot. That said, I found a few that made me second-guess my devotion to munch on them. I don’t know about you, but I’d definitely think twice about eating these!

1. Cactus Apples. This is a red or purple fruit that grows on certain cacti. Considering how hard it is to gather, peel and eat, and how eating more than three will constipate you, this is one I might avoid.

2. Durian. Don’t get me wrong, it tastes great. It’s the smell that troubles me. It’s quite nauseating, and I always eat this in an open area where the smell can dissipate. And the durian breath is nasty! It’s also quite fattening, so I rarely indulge.

3. Natto. The thought of these fermented soybeans entering my gullet makes me violently ill. Especially the threads that hang from it…

4. Fiddlehead Fern. It’s eaten in the US, yes, but it’s poisonous. Only a thorough cooking can remove the toxins. Personally, I’d rather not risk it.

5. Dulse. This is a purple seaweed, dried, sold in Canada. Algae, small stones, and flotsam stick to it, and is eaten as it is. Yuck.

Have you eaten any of these things? Tell us!

Another headline about the Starbucks reorganization is out; the world’s number one coffee shop is switching back to ceramic cups for its drinks, using the paper ones only upon take-out. With the amount of paper cups the company uses per day, changing it to reusable cups is a big step for our environment. It also saves them money since mugs last for quite a while.

I like Starbucks, especially the steps they take to protect the environment. That said, I think this switch is a really good idea. Ceramic mugs are great since they are cost-effective, reduces the use of paper cups, and in the long run, has weaker environmental impact because of the sheer number of uses it can take before it needs to be trashed.

Paper cups are actually better only if they are reused, but why would you want to do that? I don’t want to drink from a paper cup someone else drank from. Ceramic is much safer. And it’s a better insulator, and leaves no weird taste in my coffee. I hope to see them near where I love soon. I heard that it’s already implemented in some places in Europe.

Ceramic all the way! Who’s with me?

With global warming still in the fore and still a big issue, a lot of people are still uninformed properly about it! A lot of places are getting warm, forcing quite a number of people to head off to the beach or fan themselves endlessly. Many are still under the assumption that greenhouse gases, which contribute to making the planet warm, should really go. What they don’t know is that the primary purpose of those gases is to prevent heat from escaping into space, preventing the world from turning into one huge snowball! If they didn’t exist, we wouldn’t be able to live on this planet. This little article will tell you about the most powerful greenhouse gases in the world. Some may even surprise you.

1. Water vapor – Yes. Water. Right on top of the list. Water vapor contributes from 36% to 66% of the world’s greenhouse effect. It’s also the most abundant greenhouse gas! Concentrations of water vapor fluctuate throughout the world, and humans don’t affect it directly on a large scale. In addition, warm air caused by the greenhouse effect can carry more water vapor, amplifying the greenhouse effect further. However, humidity is constant. The net effect is overall positive, and also protects against the excess carbon dioxide.

2. Carbon Dioxide – Ah, the gas that many people blame for heating up the earth. It contributes 9% to 26% of the greenhouse effect depending on area. The world’s species and environmental cycles produce this gas naturally, up to twenty times that of what we contribute! Nature cycles the carbon dioxide through plants and weathering, but human production has speeded it up more than nature can account for. Majority of manmade carbon dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

3. Methane – This gas causes 4% to 9% of the greenhouse effect. Human methane production mostly comes from livestock. By itself, it is an effective greenhouse gas, but it can transforms to water and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which makes it quite effective in warming the earth! If that isn’t enough, it also turns into ozone, which is another greenhouse gas! This is why the amount of methane around is has been more or less constant, and it is why its effect is considered small since many who measure it do not include what it turns into.

4. Ozone – This gas we all know and love as protector against the sun rays is also a greenhouse gas. It causes only 3% to 7% of the greenhouse effect. Ozone causes irritation to the respiratory system at ground level, but is normally very light at that level, choosing instead to concentrate higher up. However, the concentration of ozone at ground level is increasing, because of pollution! This is especially concentrated in populated areas. It decays quickly to normal oxygen.

Now that you know a little bit more about these gases, the question remains. What can we do? What we can, of course. How about you? What do you know about greenhouse gases?

Hailed as one of the possible solutions to the fossil fuel emission problem, clean coal is coal whose sulfur dioxide is removed and whose carbon dioxide can be recovered easily. It’s still a subject for debate, though, since the technology is theoretical. Here are a few facts about this new type of energy.

1. Not all coal impurities can be removed. Clean coal is essentially an oxymoron! We can’t remove all the impurities from coal, and capturing the ones that remain is still not available on a wide scale. It still gives more emissions than wind or solar power.

2. It is expensive. This may change in the future, but right now the manufacture and burning of clean coal costs quite a bit of money, making renewable energy sources more cost-effective.

3. It may not even happen. There are too many faults with the technology right now, and incorrect implementation will damage our environment because of the possible leaks and emissions it can cause!

I’m all for alternate energy sources, but for me, clean coal is a bad choice due to better alternatives already available, like wind, solar and hydroelectric. What do you think about clean coal? Is it viable?

Mother’s Day is special to me. It is because I love my mother very much. Of course, I love my dad too, but mom is truly special to me. It might sound corny, but she’s the wind beneath my wings, my inspiration, the one that I look to when I’m down.

I’ve lost count on how many times she’s helped me up, how may times she’s supported my decisions, how many times she’s comforted me when those decisions turn out to be bad ones.

I can remember an incident a few years ago. We were outside, taking a stroll in the park. That was when it started to rain. My mother, being the selfless woman she is, made sure I was well-covered with the umbrella, getting herself wet in the process. As she shivered and smiled, I couldn’t help but feel love. She knew that I couldn’t afford to be sick that week, so here she was, being herself, taking the fall for me.

Never was there any doubt in my mind that she would suffer for my sake. I would do the same for her, but she never lets me. That’s what mothers do. If ever I become one in the future, I would like to be a mother like my mother is. And I’m sure she’ll love my children the same way she loves me.

Happy Mother’s Day.

The environment is a big issue for many of the world’s countries. Billions are spent on making our world a cleaner place yearly. More policies and technological advances help, but the people’s cooperation is what is truly needed. Most do what they can, but some go far and above and aim to make their country the cleanest and greenest it can possibly be, in air, water and land. What are these countries that are the hallmarks of cleanliness?

1. Switzerland – With an environmental performance index (EPI) of 95.5, this European country ranks first in cleanliness. The environment has been in the country’s interest as early as 1876 when it passed a forestry law. There are many major influential pro-environment groups in the country. Nearly all electricity comes from dams and nuclear plants, reducing emissions caused by burning fossil fuels. Strict standards for exhaust are placed on vehicles to lower air pollution. The country is also one of the top recyclers in the world, with stiff penalties levied on offenders. If you want clean, this is the place to be.

2. Sweden – Coming in second with 93.1 are these two countries. Like Switzerland, almost all power is produced without fossil fuels. A good percentage of Sweden’s forests still stand thanks to the people’s efforts, up to today. Like most clean countries, they have emission laws in place. Yet another clean place you can visit!

3. Norway – Tied with Sweden, Norway still uses some forms of oil to power the nation. Norway was once a heavy air polluter, but that has changed after Norway took steps to reduce emissions. A good portion of its land is also protected. It’s always a good time to visit Norway.

4. Finland – Unlike the first three, Finland still uses fossil fuels for power, but this is gradually lessening. Finland takes care of its shores, assigning a majority that can never be built on. Like all the other now-clean nations, it had a past problem with pollution until the government decided to act. Now, it’s one of the cleanest places in the world. I’d love to go there!

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