Honolulu Star Bulletin Headline
The front page of the business section of today’s Honolulu Star Bulletin quoted Macy’s Inc. as saying that their second-quarter earnings show a slight decline from a year ago as they face a challenging economic environment.
The photo used said more than that to me. This shopper in New York leaving a Macy’s store highlights the fact that they haven’t got the message yet about plastic bags and what they do to our environment and wild life. I couldn’t help but think, “KARMA” as I saw the photo and read the headline.
Nordstrom and other planet friendly department stores have moved to paper, and while it is not as “green” as cloth, it’s a lot better than plastic. Yes, plastic kills and Karma is real!

It’s Creeping Back In

On November 16, 2006, The Department of Health made Hawai’i the 14th state to go smoke-free and enacted a comprehensive law that protects workers throughout the state from exposure to secondhand smoke.
The very next day the air and shopping experience at Ala Moana Shopping Center became much better.
Now, just a year and a half later the security people at the mall do nothing to stop violators of the law, and the mall has even begun returning the ash cans just outside the doorways of many stores; this one at Long’s.
At the time of its announcement The Department of Health said, “This law will result not only in better work environments and public places throughout the state, but it will reduce tobacco–related illnesses and save lives.”
While there’s no doubt that things are better than before the law, I must say that a walk through Ala Moana Shopping Center without smelling smoke is becoming highly unlikely.

It Gets You OUT THERE
“Branding” is a powerful form of marketing that makes your company recognizable, as it did domestic cattle roaming about in the Wild West. It is a cost effective way to make your logo visible to people that may not be reading your print ads or watching your television commercials. This is an especially good tool here in Hawaii where we have anti-billboard laws.

It Says Who You Are
When the marketing team at Foodland designed or approved these plastic bags I’m sure they did not want to say, “We don’t care about our environment and wildlife.” I stopped to take this photo this morning while walking around Ala Moana Beach Park. If I had tongs or gloves I would have picked it up and placed it in a near-by trash can, but even that would not make it safe.      
Our society is becoming aware of how destructive plastic is to our environment and wildlife. Now is the time for companies that are using plastic bags to STOP, and convert to cloth. I wonder who the first grocer will be to take that step.

Shop Green
UPDATE:
I have been so moved by the comments on this post that I have moved the whole thing up so that it doesn’t get missed. Please read the comments and feel free to add your own. We absoultely must put a stop to this!

In case you missed my daily quote link about the damage that plastic bags do to our environment, you can see it by clicking right here.
If you already know, great, but are you doing something about it?
If not, it’s easy, just get a shopping bag like this one and use it. The environment is more fragile than you may know. We need to respect it or lose it. You can get your own green bag (and much more) at Down to Earth.
Mahalo for caring!

Only $5 a Pack

This story on NBC News today tells us that ever since the 1960s, cigarette makers have tried to seduce smokers worried about their health with products labeled “light,” “mild” or “low-tar.” They’ve been basing such claims on so called US Government tests that measure tar and nicotine levels.
I still have a vision of my father lying in a hospital bed, dying of lung cancer while smoking hospital provided low nicotine and tar cigarretts. That was almost 30 years ago and he was only 62 years old.
Today, 42 years after the US Government endorsed those tests, the federal government essentially called the test bogus.
Now the Federal Trade Commission wants tobacco companies to remove its stamp of approval for those tests from their ads and packaging.

Uh Oh!
Here come the lawyers!

Pathology Report
I am touched by those of you that expressed interest, concern or sympathy for my recent eye sugery. The good news is that the pathology report is in, and the growth on my eyelid WAS NOT cancerouus. It is also good that whatever it was (I cannot remember or pronouce it anyway) is gone. The plastic surgeon said that he approached it as if it were skin cancer so that if it was, I would not need to repeat the procedure. I guess that I am appreciative of that, as it is still sore, and still healing. The injection of a “pain killer” and removal of the stitches were among the most painful experiences of my life. If anyone ever tries to talk you into any sort of cosmetic eye surgery, say, “NO WAY”. It is not an area where you want needles and stitches.

Natural Aging
If some bags and wrinkles are okay with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, they are okay with me.

Temptation
As I woke up this morning, looked out my window, and saw the great surf, my first thoughts were my wonderfull memories of being in Waikiki, surfing the day away.

Blue and Beautifull
It doesn’t get much better than this. The warm sun, clean waves and blue water are inviting to say the least. I wanted to paddle out there and catch a few waves.

#@!~
Then I looked in the mirror to get a close-up of the damage to my eyelid from yesterday’s skin cancer sugery by plastic surgeon “Dr. PenKnife”. I share these less than flattering photos of myself to remind those who might underestimate the effects of the sun on their skin. 20 Years ago we didn’t have the protection available today, and I am paying the price. My dermitologist told me that sun damage is like the odometer on your car; “cummulative and irreversible”. Keep that in mind. He also said, “If you have had so few as two major sunburns in your life, your chances of skin cancer after 50 are doubled”.
Wear sunscreen, rash guards, and a hat. Had I done that I would reaching for my surfboard this morning instead of the Vicodin.

All You Fans of Popeye Rejoice!!
This leafy vegetable provides you most of the nutrients your body requires.
Here are some of the properties of spinach:
-Spinach has the ability to lower the cholesterol level of the body
-It also increases your metabolism and thus helps you lose weight
-It helps in the process of creating blood as well as it helps stop bleeding thus making it an excellent remedy for nosebleeds.
-Spinach purifies the blood of the various toxins that cause skin disease
-It is rich in iron and chlorophyll
-It also contains vitamin A in large quantities, which makes it valuable in the treatment of night blindness.

Keep this in mind:
The body does not easily absorb the minerals iron and calcium in spinach.
Spinach contains oxalic acid, a chemical that binds with iron and calcium, thus reducing their absorption by the body. In order to improve iron absorption, one should eat Vitamin C rich foods such as orange juice, tomatoes and other citrus fruits along with spinach.

Ways to make spinach part of your diet:
-Fresh spinach can be used to make a tasty, healthy salad. Add some ripe tomato for the Vitamin C.
-You can add spinach to soups or dishes like lasagna
-Stir-fried spinach along with garlic, onions and red bell peppers make a fantastic side-dish.

Mahalo to Rod Newbound for permission to print this tip. You can visit Rod’s Blog by simply clicking HERE. We are all interested in “anti-aging” eh!

Taste vs. Health
In September 2002 McDonald’s pledged to introduce new zero-trans-fat cooking oil, but with $23 billion dollars at stake, they were very slow to make the switch, citing the taste concerns. They have been under increasing pressure from consumer advocates and some public officials to make the change, and according to CBS News, finally did, just a few months ago, but did so quietly.

Fool Em!
Much like the devilish Chef Ramsay on Hell’s Kitchen they let people taste the healthier product before telling them that it lacked the animal fat. And, like the chefs at Hell’s Kitchen, there were no complaints.
I was one of those that belived the 2002 pledge and on occassion (too many occasions) “treated myself” to some fries. However I noticed that without fail I suffered heartbun that evening along with an unpleasant feeling in my stomach. When I learned that the “pledge” was not honored, I stopped eating the fries, but did not forgive McDonald’s for the deception.
Consequently, I have my doubts about this latest news. You know, “Once a liar…” If and when I choose to give them a try I’ll let you know how my body reacts. 

Green and Good
It is not for nothing that this fruit is called nature’s butter. While it contains plenty of fat per serving, the fat is of the good unsaturated kind. A typical serving – which is a half avocado – contains the same amount of fiber as one slice of whole-wheat toast.
Here are some of the benefits of avocado:
• They contains around 25% of the calories and total fat of dairy butter, by weight
• When compared ounce for ounce they provide more heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, fiber, vitamin E, folic acid, and potassium than other fruits.
• Avocados are the number-one fruit source of beta-sitosterol, a substance that lowers total cholesterol better than a low fat diet, and even improves HDL cholesterol.
• It also provides vitamin C and vitamin B6, and about one-third of your daily requirement of folate, a nutrient that helps neutralize excess levels of heart attack-causing homocysteine.

Serving Suggestion:
You can use it in place of spreads like butter or mayonnaise.
Avocado Fact:
The green, smooth-skinned Florida avocados have less fat and fewer calories than the smaller, rough-skinned California kind.
Ways to increase consumption of avocados:
You can use fresh avocado on sandwiches and toast for a healthy breakfast snack.

Dip It!
Avocados can also be used as a delicious dip, especially if you use yogurt instead of mayonnaise and add some roasted garlic.

Tip from Me:
If you have yet to discover Veganaise; get some. You will never use mayanaise again.