The Living It Green Expo

Cheetah the Chimp Dies

Editor — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:25:02 +0000

The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary Foundation in Palm Harbor, Fla., announced that Cheetah the Chimp — "star of the Tarzan films" — had died of kidney failure. Cheetah the Chimp was reportedly in the neighborhood of 80 years old — a jaw-dropping age for a creature that normally lives to be about 40 in the wild and 60 in captivity.

U.S. announces strict limit on emissions of mercury and other toxic substances

Editor — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:57:12 +0000

The Obama administration announced today a tough new rule to limit emissions of mercury, arsenic and other toxic substances from sources such as power plants, a landmark measure that could prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

State of California hopes to break car owners’ habit of changing oil too often

Editor — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 23:26:27 +0000

California has launched a campaign against the widespread notion that oil changes are needed every 3,000 miles. Officials say the practice wastes millions of gallons of oil a year.

A long and steep drop for Americans’ standard of living

Editor — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:33:28 +0000

Not since at least 1960 has the US standard of living fallen so fast for so long. The average American has $1,315 less in annual disposable income now than at the onset of the Great Recession.

Real median income is down 9.8 percent since the start of the recession through this June, according to Sentier Research in Annapolis, Md., citing census bureau data. Another is falling net worth – think about the value of your home and, if you have one, your retirement portfolio. A third is rising consumer prices, with inflation eroding people’s buying power by 3.25 percent since mid-2008.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2011/1019/A-long-steep-drop-for-Americans-standard-of-living

49 exotic animals killed by authorities in Zanesville, Ohio

Editor — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:35:33 +0000

Of the 56 exotic animals which escaped from farm near Zanesville, Ohio, 49 are now dead. One monkey remains on the loose in Muskingum County. Six other animals were captured alive and taken to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The dead animals included 18 tigers, nine male lions, eight female lions, six black bears, three mountain lions, two grizzly bears, one baboon and two wolves. Authorities say the owner of the farm, Terry Thompson, opened the cage doors and cut the wires on the cages, then killed himself.

Occupy Portland

Editor — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:34:32 +0000

I went to Occupy Portland today and spoke with as many people as I could (around 5,000 attended the rally and march). Contrary to what is being published in the mainstream media, the protestors are very clear on their demands. These include, but are not limited to: 1) abrogate "free trade agreements" and bring the jobs home to America, 2) prosecute the Wall Street gangsters and CEOS who robbed us and return the stolen wealth to the people, 3) stop foreclosures and save our homes and communities, 4) end the wars that are bankrupting this country, and 5) invest in renewable energy instead of subsidizing corporations that are destroying the earth.

Food prices could soon fall

Editor — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:03:37 +0000

Consumers may catch a break on the price of gasoline and baked goods and sweets as the Thanksgiving-Christmas season approaches, thanks to a sudden tumble in worldwide commodity markets.

Starbucks plugs up electricity for some

Editor — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:29:03 +0000

Some stores are covering electrical outlets, to discourage lengthy laptop visits.

Deaths From Cantaloupe Listeria Rise

Editor — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:55:05 +0000

At least 13 people, most of them elderly, have died after eating cantaloupe contaminated with listeria in the deadliest outbreak of food-borne illness in the United States in more than a decade.

Washington Monument closed indefinitely for earthquake repairs

Editor — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:41:53 +0000