Wednesday, December 12, 2012

What's in a quote?

Ok, here's a quote that everyone knows:

    "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
How about this translation instead:
 "The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet."

    Although the first quote is the popular form of this quotation by Lao-tzu, the Chinese philosopher who lived around 600 BC, the second one is a more correct translation from the original Chinese. Rather than emphasizing the first step, Lau Tzu regarded action as something that arises naturally from stillness. Another potential phrasing would be: “Even the longest journey begins where you stand.”  [Quotation notes from Michael Moncur, 2004] 

Sunday, June 10, 2012

A reason to always choose organic produce

There are lots of reasons to choose organic produce. If you want one more, here's a story about how nicotine-based pesticides damage bees, and appear to be contributing to "Colony Collapse Disorder". If we lose bees, a lot of our food supply is going to disappear. Not a good thing.  The main reason to choose organic is not just that it's healthier for you and your family (which it is) but that it's A LOT healthier for the whole environment, upon which you and your family depend for food and water - and life.




http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/29/science/la-sci-bees-pesticides-20120330