Folks that are not allergic or intolerant to corn haven’t got a clue as to why or how this grain is such a time-consuming nuisance for its avoiders. The growing minority of people afflicted and those that care for them are painfully aware every time they go to the store in search of a liquid soap, bottle of shampoo, piece of fresh fruit, bag of potato chips, or powder for their baby’s bum. We have our own mantra. We hum it while we shop, a Bruce Springsteen tune with our own lyrics:

Corn. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing….. I’ll say it again…..

But in the eyes of the rest of the world the answer is EVERYTHING, according to Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis’s new documentary (more…)

If you are living in the Midwest or California, chances are you don’t know that disposing of your energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in the waste basket is against the law. Illegal, you ask, how can that be possible? Consumers are well aware that these new bulbs are much more energy efficient than the traditional incandescent bulbs, especially since we are bombarded regularly with advertising and news clips on how great this new technology is for our environment.

If you’ve recently installed some you no doubt have noticed that they take a while to heat up and tend to make a low buzzing noise. And if you are like me, you have even gotten a few duds that you’ve had to discard. No problem, right? Wrong. Fluorescent bulbs are made with mercury, a known neurotoxin, and if you live in the Midwest like I do it is actually illegal to just throw them in the trash. Worst yet, if you break one there is an 11 step protocol that you must follow to limit over contamination and risk the safety of your family. (more…)