Whenever I am feeling
dangerously chipper and
optimistic about the state
of life, the world and humanity
in general, all I
need to do is tune in to National
Public Radio for my
RDA of suffering and panic.
Because we don’t have
cable television, we are
blissfully sheltered from
many of the ways news programming
attempts to entice
and ensnare users. For
many years, I watched network
morning news programs
daily while I got my
children ready for school
and dressed myself for
work. Now, without TV service,
I have gone almost a
year without seeing a single
``Today Show’’ segment on
``jeans for every body type,’’
``health conscious summer
recipes’’ or ``ordinary household
objects that are likely
to kill you.’’
Know what? I haven’t
missed them.
But if you took away my
access to public radio, I
would miss it like I would
miss a relative. Yet, as
much as NPR is a trusted
member of the family, it’s
also a relative whom I have
to silence at times during
breakfast, lest my children
ingest news of war crimes,
civil unrest and dour signs
of the economic times along
with their cereal.
It’s like sitting at the
family reunion next to that
aunt who has no conversation
filter at. One minute,
the conversation is pleasant
as can be, then without
warning, she’s describing
her colonoscopy in vivid detail.
Yes, I want to be informed.
I want news of the
world delivered in a multitude
of voices, and NPR
does a fine job of that. But
does it always have to be so
scary?
Last week, I listened to
an episode of ``Alternative
Radio,’’ a program that features
lectures and presentations
by passionate experts
in the various
disciplines and ways in
which the human race is
headed to extinction in a
handbasket.
One week, you can hear
about how we have already
passed the crisis point for
preserving a sustainable
water supply. The next
week, you will hear about
how big chemical agribusiness
is literally killing
farmers in India, or at least
putting some of the world’s
poorest subsistence farmers
in a position where suicide-
by-fertilizer is preferable
to farming.
Last week, I learned
that microwave popcorn is
just one of the long list of
things that turns our bodies
into toxic cesspools.
Investigative journalist
and author of ``The Body
Toxic,’’ Nena Baker, described
the chemicals used
to line microwave popcorn
bags so the oils don’t leak
through and burn your
snack-happy fingers. Sure,
it’s convenient and delicious,
but when the bag is
heated (which is its raison
d’etre), some of that perfluorinated
chemical known
as PFOA leaches into the
oil of the popcorn and ends
up in your body. PFOA,
which the Environmental
Protection Agency classified
in 2006 as a likely carcinogen,
is very slow to
break down in warm-blooded
species (such as children).
Studies in lab mice
demonstrate that PFOA
disrupts hormone and liver
function, neonatal development
and the immune system.
And in a supreme ironic
twist for anyone who has
gleefully snorfed down one
of those 100-Calorie popcorn
bags (guilty), PFOA
exposure also is linked in
studies to an increased risk
of obesity.
The truly terrifying
thing I learned from Baker
is just how ubiquitous this
chemical is in everyday
products. In addition to microwave
popcorn bags,
PFOA is used in non-stick
cookware, stain blockers in
fabrics and carpets, dental
floss and even jackets and
rain gear.
It’s enough to send a
nervous gal off the grid and
into the wilderness, except
that there are probably just
as many things that could
kill me in the wilderness as
there are in civilization.
Instead of panicking, I
did some research, and
found that non-stick cookware
seems to be safe, and
manufacturers claim to be
making it safer. However,
heating up food in plastic
containers? Not so much.
As for popcorn, we’ll be
making our own 100-calorie
packs on the stove.
Elizabeth Trever Buchinger
is lined with a grease
resistant chemical. You
can connect with her at
www.moremindfulfamily.
wordpress.com.
Columns
This Wonderful Life: What you don’t know...
- Columns
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Attack on Sacket's Harbor
Sacket's Harbor, near the beginning of the St. Lawrence River from Lake Ontario, was the principal American naval base on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812.
Continued ... -
Once again, hope springs eternal ...
We are happy to report that although Mother Nature did her best to thwart the annual Upper Pioneer Street Block Party, she was not successful.
Continued ... -
Local performs costumed recitations of Casey at the Bat
Since 1996, I have had the privilege of doing costumed recitations of Casey at the Bat as part of my job at the Baseball Hall of Fame. I’ve performed the poem an estimated 2,000 times in 22 states, at ballparks, conferences, classrooms, Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies, weddings and other events.
Continued ... -
E-readers come in handy when traveling
I recently took a trip to California and it was the perfect time to make use of my e-reader. While I'm still devoted to actual books, I must admit that traveling with a thin, lightweight computerized device beats dragging along one or two bulky hard copy titles. The only issue is finding the right e-books to take on the airplane
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: Arriving at the last bend in the River
The month of May is the height of the summer in India, a time best spent indoors with a good book and a sliced mango for company.
Continued ... -
Cooperstown election and law
On Tuesday the 18th inst. [May], the following persons were elected officers for this village for the ensuing year: --
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: Exchange has taught me to love my flaws
Hello from Germany! I'm currently on my second Euro Tour visiting and exploring most of Europe.
Continued ... -
Passing along advice of seeing the humor
The best advice given to me many years ago when I started teaching had nothing to do with my discipline, English. Rather, a former mentor insisted on the necessity of having a sense of humor
Continued ... -
The week that was ...
For a number of years now, we have not been in Cooperstown for the spring season. And we must admit that we had quite forgotten what it is like. But since we decided that travel was not on the docket for this year, we have become reacquainted with the Cooperstown spring. And we must say we rather enjoyed it with the possible exception of occasional uncalled for snow and seemingly frigid temperatures.
Continued ... -
Local Voices From Around the Globe: Mother's visit was a benchmark for this year
Last week, my mother made the 25-hour plane trip out to Thailand to visit her son, me, after nine months of having only choppy Skype sessions and scattered emails to give her an idea of what I look and act like since having left home last August.
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Local Voices From Around the Globe: World traveler calls Euro-Tour experience of a lifetime
While I've had a great time throughout my entire exchange, I can say hands down that the month of April brought me the best memories of my exchange if not some of the best of my entire life. What kind of wonder would bring me to say this? Simple. Euro-Tour.
Continued ... -
Maryland port attacked
Havre de Grace, May 3. "This morning, a little after the break of day, a British armed force, under cover of armed vessels which anchored in front of this town ... landed below a small breast work which had been roughly thrown up, and in which were one 9 and two 4 pounders, manned by 50 militia.
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Memoir reflects on 'roller-coaster life and career'
Apparently, the third time wasn't the charm. The way Reynolds described him, the third husband was worse than the first two combined and that's saying a lot. Eddie Fisher literally walked away from Reynolds and their two infant children to chase a sex goddess. At least he got his just desserts when Elizabeth Taylor tossed him aside for Richard Burton.
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Imagine what might have been ...
A while back we got a telephone call from a reader of this column wanting to know why we had not written a column in support of Otsego Manor continuing to be owned and operated by Otsego County. And even though we have followed the debate over this issue in the newspaper, we readily admitted we did not feel we knew enough about the situation to take a stand.
Continued ... -
Herpes virus brings harness racing to a halt
I've been going to harness horse race tracks my entire life. My family has been in the business for years.
Continued ... -
Time, if not traffic, moves on ...
It is with sadness we note the passing of two people who we have known since moving to Cooperstown in 1982.
Continued ... -
Canadian capital captured
Dear Sir, I have just returned from Fort Niagara, where I saw a Captain of the United States' navy. He is just from little York, the capital of Upper Canada, and gives the following account, which is confirmed in official dispatches from Gen. Dearborn to Gen. Lewis ...
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Local Voices From Around The Globe: Exchange is like a life in a year
All exchange students realize the credibility of this statement. Like all lives no exchange is the same, all are incredible unique exchanges. The metaphor of life, from baby to old age, extends to every part of the exchange.
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Movie depicting legendary Jackie Robinson does not disappoint
Going to the movies is not something I do often. I can count the number of times I have gone on my fingers, unless you include trips to the drive-in. And even so, it took me years before I made it to one of those -- going for the first time two summers ago.
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'Dubious' about weather, Hawkeyes 'suitable' nickname
Unfortunately, it seems to us that this spring has, thus far, been anything but spring like. In fact, we are still more than happy to stay bundled up in our polar fleece.
Continued ...
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Attack on Sacket's Harbor
