I checked out his energy and environment initiatives today and there were some good bits, but I have to say that I was a wee bit disappointed. The only items represented on ‘energy and the environment’ were energy improvements. I know, I know, reforming energy use and sources will have a huge impact on the environment. I suppose I was hoping to see more along the lines of pesticide regulation, curbing petroleum use in household products, things like that.

Don’t get me wrong – a $7K  tax credit for purchasing an ‘advanced’ vehicle is quite the bonus (though I’m still waiting for an ‘advanced’ minivan… Anyone?), and the creation of millions of new ‘green’ jobs kind of makes me swoon. But call me crazy. I’d just like to see some regulations – not unlike E.U. regulations – about pesticides and harmful chemicals in our everyday products.

What: Enviro Expo shows you how to green your life

When: Nov. 14-15, 2008, from 10AM – 5PM

Where: Americas Mart in Atlanta. 240 Peachtree Street N.W. Building 3, Atlanta, GA

Why you want to go: There will be demonstrations of all types of green products and services.  You can sample all sorts of eco-friendly things – chocolate, honey, granola, fresh herbs, baby food, and learn about the  ins and outs of recycling, energy star appliances, as well as other nuances of greening your lifestyle. There will be events for kids, and don’t forget to bring some old tennis shoes – Nike’s Reuse A Shoe program will be showing off what they do with recycled shoes. And what else? Admission is FREE!!!

So there you go. Free, fun activity for the whole family this Friday and Saturday.

Others treating voters to stuff? ChickFilA – chicken sandwiches, Krispy Kreme is giving star shaped donuts… Who else out there wants to feed American voters for free?

As an incentive to get out and vote, Starbucks is offering a free cup of coffee to voters! Thanks to Allie over at Allie’s Answers for pointing this out to us. Of course, you’ll want to have them put it in the reusable mug you bring with you, right? So as not to trash your landfill with excess paper cups and lids… And, you’ll want to ask if the offer includes a fair trade organic brew, since you are interested in justice and the environment and all that.

So, if you haven’t already, get out and VOTE! And pick up your cup of coffee from Starbucks too. Wishing you short lines and a hot, steaming cup of organic fair trade coffee!

Doorknobs, telephones, refrigerator handles, remote controls – they’re all hotbeds of virus transmission, and cold viruses can live on those surfaces for 48 hours or more. It also noted that viruses were found in hotel rooms at the time of check-in for new guests, left behind from the previous residents. And nothing new to moms, but toys in doctor’s office waiting rooms were also contaminated – even those in well-child waiting areas.

So, how do you stay healthy this cold season? According to the CDC the most important thing you can do is wash hands frequently, and properly. Wash with warm water and soap (though not anti-bacterial), scrubbing for 20 seconds (sing the alphabet song for the approximate right timing). When you wash, use something else to turn off the faucet, as 80% of bathroom faucets in the study were contaminated with viruses. And this cold season when you’re cleaning up around the house, make sure to wipe those high-touch areas more frequently – faucets, phones, dishwasher and refrigerator handles, remote controls, and door knobs. You don’t need an anti-bacterial when you’re cleaning those high-touch areas – it’s really the wiping action that cleans them off. Put a little all-purpose cleaner or vinegar on a cloth and wipe away – the germs will slide off just like spilled juice would.

If you have a maid service – natural and green or otherwise -  ask them not to forget your doorknobs and appliance handles this season. They might even be willing to wipe down your telephone receivers and remote controls if you ask nicely!

Check out the blogs there – you’ll probably find a few new ones you’ll like – I know I did!

As if the orangey-pinkish mildew growing on your shower curtain weren’t enough reason to chuck it and get a new one, there’s a new report out about vinyl shower curtains that may give you pause. Apparently that new shower curtain smell is caused by an onslaught of chemicals.

According to the study, over 28 days the vinyl shower curtains tested released 108 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a single new vinyl shower curtain will release total VOCs that exceed the typical total VOCs residential level for four days. In fact, the total VOCs from a WalMart vinyl shower curtain were so high that testing had to be stopped so as not to destroy the testing equipment. And, the testing did not match the temperature and humidity of a typical household shower, which would likely raise the amount of VOCs released.

Now, having told you all about the nasty VOCs found in vinyl (specifically PVC) shower curtains, what’s the problem with VOCs? After all, they are volatile organic compounds, and we like organic things, right? In this case, not so much. The organic part refers to the fact that the compounds contain carbon, but the worrisome part is that we call them volatile. VOCs include hazardous chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and chlorine to name a few. They can cause acute (immediate) symptoms like headache, nausea, dizziness, irritation, and asthma, but they’re also to blame for long-term health damage like cancer, liver and kidney damage, and central nervous system damage.

Basically, if your shower curtain has that new vinyl-y smell to it when you take it out of the bag, you might want to hang it outside on a clothes line to let the chemicals seep from it and be blown into the neighbor’s yard (just kidding!). Or, consider buying a shower curtain that isn’t made of PVC and doesn’t have the smell to begin with.

As for the one you’ve had hanging for years now in the guest bath, it’s probably ok by now. The chemical release happens most actively in the shower curtain’s first few weeks of life. But if it’s covered in salmon-colored sliminess, you might want to think about replacing it anyhow. Let’s face it, shower curtains are no fun to clean. By nature they’re hard to scrub, and if you’re going to get it clean and keep it that way, it’ll need a good scrub. If you’re too attached to get rid of it, or you don’t want to risk a new PVC curtain in your shower, remove it from the curtain rod, take it outside and spray it down well with lemon juice on a sunny day. Leave it in the sun and let the combination of sunlight and lemon juice get rid of the mildew. Give it a good pelting spray with your carwash hose attachment before you bring it back in (the agitation and friction will loosen any leftover mildew spores).

A Lincoln, NE home went up in flames because of the cleaning chemicals. The homeowner was mopping the floor when the fumes from the cleaning product ignited the pilot on the furnace and water heater. Third degree burns. Not exactly what he planned on when decided to mop up. What can you do to avoid that fate? It’s really pretty simple.

• Don’t mix chemicals.
• Go natural.
• If you don’t go natural, open windows when you clean to improve ventilation.

We’d like to take this opportunity to remember those who have gone before, who have sacrificed all to ensure our enduring freedom. I called my brother on Friday to wish, I thought at first, a happy Memorial Day. After all, that’s what we do on holidays – we wish our friends and loved ones happiness. But I was calling him for another reason. To let him know that I haven’t forgotten the sacrifice his men have made on my behalf. He’s lost a handful of soldiers under his command when serving in combat over the last few years. And I caught myself before the word ‘happy’ came out. There’s nothing happy about remembering the lives lost, the sacrifices made.

I hope this weekend you find time to rest and enjoy yourself. But I also hope you take the time to remember that our freedom comes with a cost, at the hands of young men and women who could have chosen any number of other careers. I, for one, am thankful that they chose to defend our nation. May their sacrifices be remembered well this weekend.