HeadCount Blog

When I read a post few days ago on Dave Matthews’ Twitter about how he had just read a CNN article regarding “a deadly strain of swine flu,” it was the first I heard of the disease. I immediately began scanning different news sites to find out more. For about four days now, swine flu has been atop Twitter’s most frequented topics, and more and more cases of the virus have popped up in certain areas of the U.S. (New York, California, Texas, Ohio and Kansas). Sure, it can be deadly if not treated, but it can also be prevented just like other types of influenza.

Some feel that the country, and rest of the world for that matter, is overreacting to this outbreak citing for instance, President Barack Obama’s request of $1.5 billion from Congress to fight swine flu.

It has also been reported that authorities in Egypt have ordered the extermination of all pigs in the country in fear that the disease will spread further, although there have been no reports of the virus in the African country. DMB fans expressed their discomfort, or in some cases, facetiousness, concerning this in a forum on one of the band’s popular fan-sites, antsmarching.org saying things like bacon will be cheaper, or as one poster put it “I wouldn’t have to be ethnocentric if other countries weren’t so stupid.” But the question remains: is this pandemic a serious issue, or is the media just blowing it out of proportion? Only time will tell…but until then, please wash your hands.

H.R. 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 has become the subject of some heated conversation among small farmers and sustainable food system advocates. The bill, if passed, would essentially establish a new government agency to oversee and regulate ‘food production facilities’ and farms. All included farms would be required to register with the agency and prove that they are taking preventative measures to protect consumers.

But would this really be the ‘end of organic farming,’ as some voices claim?

The need for a food safety bill is clear: no-one wants to live in constant fear of contaminated peanuts and salmonella because of poor safety and cleanliness standards at large-scale production facilities.

Although I find it hard to believe that Congress expects or wants to make backyard veggie gardens, farmers markets, and organic farming illegal, I do understand the fears arising as people read this Bill. The problem seems to be found in the vague language of the Bill. Maybe, for instance, it should be worded more specifically, with a concrete exclusion for ‘backyard farms’, ‘local farms’, ‘farm-to-consumer direct sales’, and the like.

Allegations that large-scale agricultural company Monsanto might be somewhere behind this does not make it sound more benign. However, Monsanto claims that it has ‘no position’ on the bill.

We all want safe and healthy food – but we need to be sure that we don’t let something slip by that might (at some point in the future) be construed to apply to our beloved local farms. Sometimes we need to ask what COULD happen if a bill passes, rather than what WILL CERTAINLY happen. True, H.R. 875 does not say ‘local and personal farms will be illegal’, but is it clear enough to protect us if someone tried to interpret it that way?

To find out more, go to govtrack and search for H.R. 875. Also take some time to read what others are saying. You can read read Sponsor Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)’s ‘myths and facts’ about HR 875. Huffington Post has a great, relatively unbiased article. Slow Food’s blog on the issue link also spells out some truths about what’s really going on.

Remember to take what you read with a grain of salt – and make sure to remember that Bills can sometimes empower agencies to do things that the Bill itself does not explicitly mention. Do your own research, see what you think, and then contact your representatives with your opinion. They should know what you think and vote accordingly – That’s what you pay them for!

Today marks day 100 since the inauguration of President Obama and his accompanying administration. Few president's have been faced with such adversity and high expectations as our current, number 44. The 100 days is a presumed indicator by the public and media of the overall success a president will have during his term. It is tough to gauge how effectively an administration is operating after only 100 days given the long run perspective that is needed to make decisions on national and international welfare, but a few sites give it a try.

The New York Times gives a comparison of a few notable past presidents with President Obama, The Wall Street Journal gives an interesting summary of changes and initiatives, followed by some ventured predictions of what is to come and Reuters mentions the anniversary gift given to President Obama by Arlen Spector. My favorite article, though, is an interactive calender from the Financial Times that color codes actions taken day-by-day in five categories: Domestic policy, economic policy, foreign policy, personal matters and early political crises. There is no analysis predicting the effects of his and his administration's enacted policies, but it is very informative and I'm always a sucker for a good color coding scheme.

President Obama made promises of change and action during the election season. From these summaries, it is obvious he has been living up to those promises.

Rock the Earth announced their 2009 Planet Defender Award winners on Thursday. In three different categories, Artist, Community Leader and Grassroots Activism, winners included the band, Incubus, for their interaction with the Make Yourself Foundation, Green For All founder, Van Jones and Energy Action Coalition Executive Director, Jesse Tolkan.

In response to his award, Jesse Tolkan said, "Young people are building a powerful grassroots movement that is leading the way to a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous future we deserve. We started by making our campuses and communities living models of sustainability and possibility. Now we are redefining what is politically possible in order to pass bold federal climate and energy legislation."

For their support of Rock the Earth's mission of defending the planet one beat at a time, each winner will receive an original award collectively designed and created by Joe Benevento, Jason Garrett and Chico Raskey (Chico Artglass).

With this sudden (and hopefully not temporary) departure from dreary spring to optimistic sunshine, I am now impatiently awaiting the official summer months and the associated festival season. I am not the only one.

Here's Ben Harper's Guide to Summer Festivals. I don't know if he is more qualified than any other regularly touring musician or festival addict, but I can't think of a more mellow musician with smile inspiring pipes to follow around all summer from show to show.

First on the list is New Orleans Jazz Fest, which is almost over. If you've got the time (or can make it), head on over, pick up a hand grenade from Tropical Isle, then revel in blues at its finest.

Oklahoma state beverage: Milk, state amphibian: Bull frog, state folk dance: Square Dance, state rock song: "Do You Realize??" by the Flaming Lips. Or at least that is what was voted as the state rock song by the Oklahoma public as requested by Oklahoma state legislature. The Lips beat out nine other songs written or performed by Sooner state natives, including Wanda Jackson, The Ventures, JJ Cale, and the All American Rejects.

After the vote, no one expected much of a backlash, but apparently the Oklahoma House of Representatives didn't approve of the democratic vote and vetoed the results. Rep. Mike Reynold's actually said, "Their lips should be on fire." I am a little confused as to why the House of Representatives is worried with the state rock song of Oklahoma, but that's a different issue all together. 

In support of the democratic process, the Oklahoma Governer, Brad Henry, overruled the decision by the house and validated the people's choice. He will sign an executive order on April 28 etablishing The Flaming Lips as the official rock song of Oklahoma.

On April 22, 1864, the US Congress passed the Coinage Act, mandating the inscription of "In God We Trust" on all coins minted as US currency. On this day in 1870, Lenin was born and in 1954, the Army-McCarthy Hearings began. In 64', New York World's Fair opened for its first season and in 1970, April 22 was named as the day to celebrate the environment. Today is Earth Day.

In 1970, then Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson announced there would be a national grassroots demonstration on the preservation of the environment on Wednesday, April 22. This partcular day was chosen by Nelson simply for its convenience. College students, a primary target of celebrators, are not away on spring break or celebrating Passover or Easter. It is not yet final exam time but warm enough weather for outdoor activities. This day marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement, as 20 million Americans participated with a goal of healthy, sustainable environment. 

Among the developments from Earth Day is the Ecology Flag, an adaptation of the American flag with 13 green and white stripes and a combination of the letters "E" and "O" in the upper left in reference to "Environment" and "Organism." The symbold happened to resemble the Greek letter theta and so, with its historical symbolism as a warning (like the skull and crossbones), the theta was adopted as the official symbol for the flag, warning the public of the impending harm being done to our environment.

Thirty-nine years after Earth Day's inception, initiatives are being enacted all over the world. Green Apple Festival celebrated a weekend of environmental volunteerism across the nation last weekend that culminated in a concert Sunday night. Earth Day Canada has lists of events anyone can register for and Earth Day Jam is now an annual concert in the Philippines. Even our government is celebrating in their own coincidental way as the first Climate Change Bill was circulated through Congress yesterday.

Happy Earth Day!

Even after the announcement by the EPA this past Friday confirming the dangers of green house gases, The Wall Street Journal reports today that Congress is more likely to act on health care reform before climate change.

While the administration continues to work on climate change reform, health care is "a way of delivering major good news to voters" in the face of impending 2010 midterm elections, as explained by Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN). Charles Schumer (D-NY) agreed that while health care and climate change are both of high priority on the agenda, "health care is probably a little bit higher" on a proverbial ranked listing.   

Neither topic will have an easy path through the executive branch. Climate change legislation is almost a brand new mainstream topic to voters and will take some time before a Congressional consensus is reached. Healthcare, while working from previous legislation attempted in 1994 and thus theoretically achieving a consensus in a more timely fashion, will cost an estimated $1 trillion over the next 10 years.

Regardless of the tribulations caused by both agenda items, they are promised to be dealt with as quickly as possible. However, it is reported that "Capitol Hill has rarely completed landmark legislation on two fronts in one year."

It is not often (or ever, really) during a Spin concert review that I get teary and comment out loud, "Oh my god!"  but the coverage of Best Set: Leonard Cohen tore at my insides. Coachella, that evergrowing-in-popularity music and arts festival in Indio, Ca, was this weekend. Spin has a nice recap of the bests and worsts from all three days, including Best Personality (Morrissey), Best Encore (Paul McCartney) and Worst Stage Banter (We Are Scientists), among many others. I'm not sure if my emotional reaction to Best Set was to the report of a crowd singing back to Cohen in delight, Cohen's tearful response to the singing, the combination of the two or if I just have a special place in my heart for euphoric old men. Whatever the case, the live performance and crowd interaction seemed magical.

Again, this confirms the point and power of live music, a topic I can never let slide when I hear about it. Bob Lefsetz had a similar experience this weekend while watching Chris Isaak (really? ok…) that jolted his faith in the power of live music and the overreliance of the industry on recorded music. We can all remember an instance of jaw dropping bliss from our own concert-going adventures, but Lefsetz puts it into words in a very poignant way:

"Maybe music is something you hear live as opposed to a concoction perfected in a studio. Maybe it's supposed to live and breathe as opposed to being perfected to the point of sterility. Maybe that's why we tuned out. Auto-tune…

Life is for living. It's not something that's got rules, that has to be done a certain way so a small elite of gatekeepers will approve.

You know the hit of a live show. The great ones are all different. Didn't the Grateful Dead prove this? The music washes over you and not only do you review your life memories, you make new ones, you can't help yourself, life is unfolding as you're standing there listening. You're catching the humans, wandering around in all their uniqueness… you're telling yourself HOW FUCKING GREAT IT IS TO BE ALIVE!

That's music's power. Don't you ever forget it."

Developing countries have asked that the US "show leadership on climate," as reported by the BBC. With an US-Mexico announcement regarding climate changes, our country is finally living up to international expectations.  

The EPA released a statement today that confirms the harmful effects of carbon dioxide and 5 other greenhouse gases on public health or welfare. The scientific findings call for a response that is in accordance with Obama's, "call for a low carbon economy and strong leadership in Congress on clean energy and climate legislation." 

Just yesterday, the White House blog reported details on a visit to Mexico where, among other things, Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced the "US-Mexico Bi-Lateral Framework on Clean Energy and Climate Change." Specific areas of cooperation focus on information exchange between bordering states and nations regarding greenhouse gas inventories, reduction strategies, renewable energy resources and clean energy technologies.

We are finally stretching from complacency in what we know (Energy resources AND information resources). Lets hear it for a world community working together.