The scientists says that cases of kidney stones could raise by 30 percent, or even more than that in some areas of the United States if global warming predictions are accurate.

According to University of Texas at Dallas professor of geosciences Tom Brikowski, “This is really the first direct human impact of climate change that has been demonstrated.”

I’m not saying the study should be taken lightly since I’m sure a lot of time went into it, but it does take some things for granted, such as global warming actually occuring as predicted which I certainly hope doesn’t happen. I’d like to think we as humans are smart enough to see the negative ramifications of not trying to do something to stop global warming (not everyone is even certain that global warming is really occurring and instead think it is just a natural ebb and flow of the earth and is nothing to be concerned about).

Plus it assumes that people will continue to be stupid and not drink enough water to keep their bodies hydrated (maybe that’s not such a big assumption - many of us have proven we aren’t going to drink enough water to stay hydrated even though we know we should).

As far as the global warming fact or fiction controversy goes, I happen to be one of the people that thinks global warming is real and that it is the earth’s way of saying “okay you’ve treated me pretty crappy for quite some time now by spewing poisons into the atmosphere and piggishly and selfishly taken what you’ve wanted from the land and sea without any thought to the ramifications so I’m going to make you pay attention.”

But I also think that instead of taking the study too literally and saying kidney stone rates will rise, we should instead use the knowledge to avoid it. It’s like the saying, “forewarned is forarmed.” When you know something can or will happen you can take steps to not get caught in its trap.

If nothing else, you can use this news as a fun ice breaker at parties (at least if you think talking about medical issues such as kidney stones is fun). People will probably pay attention when you say “global warming is causing more kidney stones.” They may look at you like you’ve lost your mind but at least you’ll have their attention (and any kid can tell you that attention - good or bad - is always desirable). Then if you choose you can logically explain how global warming really could contribute to increased kidney stone rates or you could just change the subject and regale the captive audience with the topic you really wanted to discuss instead.

Hot enough to fry an egg?

Hot enough to boil a pot of soup?

Hot enough to melt steel?

If you said steel, you’re correct!

Students at MIT have created a solar dish that can concentrate the sun to the point it produces enough heat to melt steel.

The solar technology most of us are familiar with are are probably the solar panels we see on sides of buildings. That type of solar power technology is called photo-voltaics.

The students used a newer form of solar technology - a parabolic collector. It consists of mirrors focused on a single point which can be heated to a high temperature.

The solar dish the MIT team created is causing excitement not only because of the amount of heat it can generate but because the dish was relatively inexpensive to create, meaning it could pay for itself in energy savings in just a couple of years instead of the 8 to 10 years it takes to recoup the cost of current solar panels.

The MIT team put together the 12 foot dish, made of aluminum tubing and mirrors, over the course of several weeks. It concentrates the energy of sunlight by a factor of 1,000 which is hot enough to melt solid steel.

If that heat is directed at a target such as water piped through black tubing it can create steam in a flash, thereby creating a source of steam energy.

The students who created the dish are excited about its possibilities and plan to produce the dish through their newly formed company, RawSolar.

There are some pretty smart people at MIT, much smarter than I am, and people there think this solar technology created by the students has incredible potential. MIT lecturer David Pelly said, “I’ve looked for years at a variety of solar approaches, and this is the cheapest I’ve seen. And the key thing in scaling it globally is that all of the materials are inexpensive and accessible anywhere in the world. I’ve looked all over for solar technology that could scale without subsidies. Almost nothing I’ve looked at has that potential. This does.”

I’m sure there are some “kinks” to work out before the dish is a completely viable consumer product though. My biggest concern would be safety. If I had a solar dish on my property that could get hot enough to melt steel I would certainly want it placed where nobody could get close to it and hurt themselves. But it certainly seems like a step in the right direction - one that takes us away from oil dependence which is no longer an “interesting though” but an almost immediate need.

Street Films has produced an 8 minute film about the program which can be viewed below.

Somehow most of us got away from that frugal lifestyle and instead became piggish consumers.  As soon as we got tired of something or it didn’t work quite the way it used to we had a tendency to throw it away and go buy something new.

We need to get back to how our grandparents lived and be better guardians of things we already have.  I think single biggest thing we can do to live “greener” and be kinder to the environment is to use up what we have and quit throwing things away because we want what is newer, shinier, bigger, better, faster, or just different.

That means when your computer gets a little slow and outdated, upgrade the processor, RAM and hard drive instead of tossing the entire system.

Just because your cell phone company is willing to give you a new and better phone every 18 months to 2 years does not mean you have to get one.  Keep your old one longer.

Even though the television signal is going digital in February of 2009 does not necessarily mean your television has to be tossed.  Many only need a converter.  Yes, those new flat screen LCD televisions are nice but as long as the one you have still works, use it.  

And, if you have an old non-working console television, re-purpose it.  My dad turned his old console television stand into a kitchen storage unit.  All he did was remove the “guts” of the television, put in a couple of shelves and a back wall, and hung a cafe rod on the front.  My mom turned two kitchen towels into curtains that can be pulled closed when she wants to hide the things she has stored on the shelves.

Worn upholstery can be replaced instead of replacing the entire piece of furniture. 

Chairs can be re-caned.

A broken table leg can be replaced. It doesn’t mean the whole table has to be tossed. And if the new table leg doesn’t quite match, get a draping tablecloth.

Plastic containers that margarine come in are handy storage containers for leftovers, snacks, and small amounts of pantry staples like rice and flour.

My sister in law saves yogurt containers and uses them for starting plants in the spring.

My mom has been using the same tin can that I covered in old wallpaper for her as a grade school project for….well let’s just say she’s had it a long time.

They are literally tens of thousands of ways to make things last longer, re-use them, and re-purpose them. And it can be fun to to do.

Plus, not only does it help the environment, it saves you money. And who doesn’t want some extra money in their wallet?

The PICNIC Green Challenge will award €500,000 in capital to execute the winning plan. The prize money is being provided by the Dutch Postcode Lottery. Five finalists will be asked to present their idea at the PICNIC08 event in Amsterdam. A winner will be chosen on September 25, 2008.

But, you need to get your entry in soon. The contest deadline is July 31, 2008.

So put your thinking cap on, come up with your idea, and enter today!

Click here for more information about the LifeSaver water filtration system (no, it’s not a piece of candy!)

Their offerings includes shirts, pants, dresses and undergarments.

Soy material is naturally odor and bacteria resistant and is moisture wicking which are great benefits to get from a piece of clothing especially when traveling when plane rides, bus trips, and walking excursions can be long, hot, and sweaty. Plus soy material is so soft that some people call it the “vegetable cashmere.

The clothing is easy to care for too. Just wash in cold water and tumble dry on low heat. Or, if you are avoiding using a clothes dryer, hang on a drying rack or clotheslines to dry.

To find out more about ExOfficio’s clothing or to place an order, visit exofficio.com

Here’s the info from the Planet Green website: “Planet Green is looking for residents in the Washington, D.C. metro area who love to cook but have a tough time making heads or tails of what’s in the fridge, or are wondering how to be eco-friendly while still deep-frying a turkey.

This is a chance for amateur chefs to receive cooking tips and recipes tailored specifically to their needs by America’s most beloved chef–Emeril Lagasse!

Metro D.C. residents interested in participating should email their information (name, address, age, and occupation), their culinary challenge, and a recent picture to foodshowcasting@gmail.com. Participants must provide their own transportation and be available for two to three days of filming in the D.C. metro area.”

If you live in the metro D.C. area and want to be on the show, apply now and good luck!

Emeril’s new show, “Emeril Green,” is on Planet Green .  It’s a half hour show where Emeril tackles challenges from people around the country with an emphasis on fresh and healthy foods. The show is taped at a Whole Foods Store (I love Whole Foods!).

Emeril says “Since my early days as a chef, I’ve always been passionate about using the freshest quality ingredients from farmers, fisherman and ranchers,” says Emeril Lagasse. “I try a little harder every day to think greener and be respectful of our environment and our resources. On Emeril Green we’ll unearth how easy and fun it is to cook with what’s fresh, tasty and in-season and find smart ways to make each day a little greener for you and your family.”

The show debuted July 14.  I’ve personally watched 2 episodes so far.  The first was about cooking an authentic southern style meal with a girlfriend that eats seafood but not meat.  Her boyfriend is a carnivore from the South.  Her challenge was that she could cook a lot of meatless dishes but had no idea how to cook an authentic southern or barbecue meal and that’s where Emeril helped her. 

He came up with a New Orleans style shrimp recipe plus some rosemary biscuits and sweet tea.  It sure looked good.  The recipes are on the Emeril Green page on the Planet Green website.

When watching the show, make sure the watch all the way to the end because there are out-takes that are entertaining.

The second episode I watched was about a really picky eater.  I thought I was picky but I have nothing on this guy who eats pasta with plain tomato sauce, pierogi’s with plain tomato sauce, and a sandwich he designed from his local sandwich shop.  He pretty much will only eat chicken, pork, and tomato sauce. He’ll eat plain tomato sauce but not whole tomatoes because he says he can’t stand the texture.  He also won’t eat sushi, casseroles (not my favorite food either), anything from the sea, Latin food or Japanese food. Vegetables and fruits hardly ever get eaten.

He wanted Emeril to help him expand his culinary outlook. It was funny because he made faces like a little kid would make before trying food that Emeril convinced him to taste. He also had a mini-freak out when he was asked to try something that was a little too chunky for him.

Emeril showed Jack Helmuth (the picky eater) how to make a homemade tomato sauce, chicken cacciatore with mushrooms, a pork chop parmigiana, ravioli with more of the tomato sauce, and a summer vegetable saute. Jack tried everything and really liked most of it. He said the vegetables weren’t bad, but I bet he won’t be running home to make those every night. While Emeril didn’t take Jack too far out of his comfort zone by trying anything too different at least he got him to try food that was healthier than what he was eating.

I recommend checking the show out. Click here for dates and times the episodes air. Click here to check if Planet Green network is available where you live.

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