Article I'm working on...

Does buying local products lower an individual’s carbon footprint? In recent years the idea of tracking food miles has been a way to understand the damages that come from importing and exporting foods from far away places. There are many reasons why eating local is important for a community from helping people stay connected with other locals, food is fresher, and it reduces fossil fuel intake. However, is reducing the miles that food travels really good for the environment? New evidence shows the carbon dioxide found in watering, fertilizing, pesticides, and growing crops and meat can be higher in some areas locally than if the products were shipped. Some studies suggest that it can be up to ten times more energy efficient to buy imported fruits, meats, and dairies than local products. In the following months, Wal-Mart plans to include on the label a tracking code of how many miles their food products have traveled before they get into their stores. This article is an investigation into whether buying local is beneficial for the environment or not. I plan to talk to someone in the publicity department at Wal-Mart to help understand why they want to track the carbon footprint on their products. I will also talk to those that oppose the idea of buying local as well as those who only buy local. I will talk with environmentalists who are researching the pros and cons of tracking food miles.

I finished my last pill of accutane today. No more seeing these silly images
scattered around the apartment.

Netflix

Technology is funny. As soon as I get set up with one thing I'm already behind in another. I finally got around to activating my Netflix account. Netflix will never have my heart, I love browsing the covers of movies at indie video stores and the strange guy behind the counter who can recommend me something obscure and thought provoking. Though, Netflix is neat...organized in Criteron categories by genre, country, and even what fellow Somerville residents are watching. What was I waiting for? Probably some service that allows me to watch movies instantly from my Ipod, cell phone, or other hand held device.

While traveling I asked the people I hung out with what are their favorite movies from their country. I filled my notebook with lists of movies and music to eventually check out. Surprisingly enough, most of those foreign flicks are on Netflix. After putting my six titles on my queue, I watched three episodes online instantly of This American Life and I'm officially hooked.

For those interested in knowing what is on the list. I wrote some of them down below:

Head On- Germany
The Class - France
8 1/2 - Italy
Let the Right One In - Sweden
12 days at the San Jose - Austin
Bananaz- Gorillaz documentary- England

Recommendations from my Persian friend.

1.Turtles Can Fly- directed by Bahman Ghobadi
A story taking place in a village in Iraqi Kurdistan on the eve of
the 2003 invasion.
2. Santouri "The Music Man" directed by Dariush Mehrjui
A movie banned in Iran, about a musician whose concerts are banned
and his struggle with drug addiction.
3. Leila also Dariush Mehrjui, about an infertile woman under pressure from her mother-in-law to let her husband take a second wife.
4. Ten- experimental film showing ten conversations of a divorced woman driving in her car, directed by Abbas Kiarostami.
5.Kandahar by Mohsen Makhmalbaf about an Afghan-Canadian woman trying to return
to her sister before she dies. Filmed during Taliban-era.
6. Offside and Crimson Gold- both by Jafar Panahi, both banned in Iran because of criticism of society lone feminist plot and about inequality.
Upcoming Movies..
&. Nobody Knows the Persian Cats by Bahman Ghobadi about underground musicians in IRan
7. About Elly

Volunteering is rewarding.

Not only because I feel I'm doing my part to help the greater good... now I get to see a sneak of Where The Wild Things Are. Dave Eggers, founder of 826 and writer of the screenplay and Spike Jonze the director will be conducting a Q and A.

The first time I saw the preview my eyes filled with tears.

Here's a link to my published article on Terri Trespicio and her recent appearance on The Martha Stewart Show:

Austin

I'm hunting for a city with beauty and personality disorders.
This city has musicians, politicians, professors, and blue collar workers. I'm going to see some shows and do some rock climbing and other outdoor activities with my good friend Megan. My summer started late and this is the last to do before I push out my thesis.

My Family's Ravoli Factory