Are you kidding me, Kleenex?

"People in the U.S. dry their hands on cloth bathroom towels approximately 200 billion times a year. The CDC guidelines for hand washing recommends hand drying with a single-use towel. Families have not had a practical alternative to traditional cloth hand towels in their home bathrooms… until now. Kleenex® Hand Towels are an innovative solution that delivers one clean, fresh, dry towel every time you wash your hands."

"Your hands are only as clean as the towel you dry them with."

Way to prey on the germaphobes. And people who have never heard of paper towels.

Someone ate the KFC Double Down

Scott Lamb from Buzzfeed:

"I tried my best to capture the experience in video, since words fail when it comes to KFC's newest sandwich. I hope this will keep you from eating it — consider it a PSA. Also, it cost $5.98 (including tax) when I bought mine in Brooklyn, and took forever to make, I guess because of the bacon. Or because to person who made it had to overcome so much revulsion."

New Studies

Making sustainable choices just got even more complicated. Slate's Green Lantern dedicated a column to three new studies: One suggesting meat and dairy consumption plays a smaller role in greenhouse emissions than... gulp... transportation; Another points out that our country's carbon footprint only seems smaller because we outsource our greenhouse emissions; And the last brings some good news about how impactual certain personal green choices can be. Read more here.

So continue to keep your vehicles well-maintained, choose local foods when possible, switch to florescent bulbs, and use electricity sparingly but perhaps JustSaying shouldn't hassle folks about their occasional steaks until she is driving a hybrid, huh? 

Road Trippin' Part Two: Pemaquid Point Pics

Perhaps I am partial to this lighthouse because of fond family memories, but doesn't it feel like it just belongs right there on the cliff?

And here is a pic of the little adventurous one who does not belong right there on the cliff and nearly gave his mother a heart attack:

Love Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Okay, okay... I was a little skeptical of the reality tv show approach to changing the way America eats but I stand corrected. Oliver's methods are heart-warming, his energy is contagious, and this show is fantastic. On last night's episode he tapped into Marshall's energy and created a stir-fryin' flash mob in the center of the university. Check it out (the dancing starts about the 9:00 minute mark):



For those of you who haven't caught an episode of Food Revolution yet, I urge you to check it out. The clip above is a particularly fun, smile-inducing one but the earnest folks in the show are likely to bring tears to your eyes as well. What this guy is doing is remarkable. He is bringing so much attention to the desperately important

Watch entire episodes on hulu.

Road Trippin' Part One

As the tree pollen count in the MD/DC/VA area approaches an unbearable high, JustSaying is headed north to Boothbay Harbor, an inspirational and historical place for Rachel Carson fans and a relaxing place for certain bloggers. Considering the length of the drive, my furry four-legged co-pilot and I have made a few stops along the way and thought we'd share:

Top NJ turnpike rest-stop: Woodrow Wilson. Why? Because of the tree farm next to it that I am dying to research.

And of course I couldn't resist the two mile detour to Stew Leonard's in Norwalk, CT. Jack reacted just as I would have if someone had tried to take Stew's ice cream from me!

Enviropig

The science behind this genetically engineered Canadian pig with earth-friendly poop is a little bit beyond the average bear's understanding but I think a lot of folks are aware that growing amounts of high-phosphorus animal waste flowing into our water systems is a big problem for aquatic life. It creates "Dead Zones."

In an ideal world, all the earth's pigs would enjoy a regular pig diet - one sans corn and grains - and there wouldn't be a huge phosphorus problem to solve. But Americans like to have their bacon and eat it too so I suppose if this little piggy makes poop with 65% less phosphorus than usual we should embrace the Enviropig.

From DISCOVER:

"...The researchers who created the Enviropig say it’s not just eco-friendly, but it also cut farmers’ feed-supplement costs. If the pigs eventually become common, they could also help U.S. farmers comply with “zero discharge” rules that forbid pork producers from releasing nitrogen or phosphorus runoff... The Enviropigs will be raised only in controlled research settings in Canada for now, and experts say transgenic pork won’t be landing on your plate anytime soon; the new biotech pig will face years of safety trials to see if it should be approved for commercial production and consumption in the United States and Canada. No transgenic animal has been approved for consumption as of yet..."

Great Data on American Food Consumption

The USDA's Economic Resource Service has gathered and published some fascinating data about America's food consumption. Nothing too shocking about these graphs but really interesting stuff. The article in Amber Waves that accompanies these graphs offers a great understanding of the technological, political, social and economic forces affecting food availability over the past century (in fewer words than so many books on the subject).

Safety From Sun and For Skin

Spring sure has sprung, huh? The sun is shining, the temperature (alonside the electric bill) is rising, and the bikes, tykes, runners and sunners are out and about enjoying the weather. The great news is: more people are slathering SPF on themselves and their little ones than ever before. So much so that JustSaying has been asked to take a deeper look into the ingredients in sunblock and offer advice on the best block with the fewest harmful chemicals.

Lucky for us, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has created a fantastic Shopper's Guide to Safer Sunscreen with the following suggestions:

The toughest part about this topic is that we greenies can get a little nutty about chemical exposure so keep in mind that effectiveness is paramount. Sacrificing effectiveness in say... an all natural deodorant may mean fewer phone numbers at barbeques but skipping the sunscreen is like picking up a smoking habit. It's just plain dangerous. If you or your child have fair skin and need more protection than any of the products listed above is giving you or you simply don't have the extra cash for certain products: any sun protection is better than no sun protection. Lesser of two evils, folks. And remember you can always cover up the old-fashioned way. A lightweight cardigan and sun hat can be of service all season - not only at Preakness - so go ahead an leave 'em in your trunk.

For more reviews and easy lists of the pros and cons of tons of greensumer tested options, click here.

Speaking of Eww...

KFC will seriously be selling this heart attack later this month. Bacon and cheese sandwiched between two pieces of chicken.

The Original Recipe Double Down (pictured): 540 calories, 32g of fat and 1380mg of sodium
The Grilled Double Down: 460 calories, 23g of fat and 1430mg of sodium

Read more here.