That last downhill bit.

[catsittingstill]

I've been riding my bike these past few months, in an attempt to lose weight and get into shape. The getting into shape has been going fine; I'm noticeably more aerobically fit these days. The losing weight--well, I've lost a few pounds but I have a ways to go.

However I've been riding only in the mornings. Tennessee summers are hotter and steamier than anyplace I've ever lived, and for the longest time I've ridden my bike to the store (having someplace to go helps ensure that I don't give up and turn back in the middle; one of the little tricks I use to focus my willpower) or to pay the bills or such things first thing in the morning, then used the car the rest of the day.

Today the high temp was supposed to be only 83 degrees. Hurray! So I figured today I would *first* bike to the library to do the day's research, and *then* go to the store (on my bike--the library is on the way) and then bike home with the loot.

It worked.

And that last long swoop down the 1 3/4 mile hill to my driveway is really beautiful on a sunny afternoon.

By the way--I'm looking for a couple of entertaining articles on the environment, written for a lay reader, that I can e-mail to the planning task force before we meet to set strategies for protecting the environment in our new 10 year plan. Any ideas? I was thinking something on recycling, something on conserving energy, and something on alternative transport.

I've been searching online in the library (with the fast connection) but the library's databases haven't been very helpful, so I would treasure suggestions, especially if they came with citations or URLs.

Comments

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...problem is, I haven't read popular articles in this area in years; it is after all something I don't need to be convinced of. So I can offer places to do some digging, but nothing specific (except on global climate change, which doesn't help).

I think I'd try Outside Magazine; over the years they've published some things. John McPhee's essays, most published in The New Yorker before collection or publication in book form are very good, but perhaps longer than what you need, and over your audience's head. (And perhaps not freely available on-line, though you might be able to get permission.) What is the educational level of your audience? What are their politics? Would they object to material at the DoE website, simply because it is from the Federal government? The high school level material at the EPA's web site also looks pretty good, but your audience might be offended by the use of material aimed at a teenage audience. (I think there used to be more aimed at adults; I suppose the politics of the past seven years have led to its removal.) Over the years a lot of the national labs have produced good material; LBL's EETD comes immediately to mind. Hmmmm...Sierra magazine? Earth 911 is rather ickily corporate, but does have some accessible stuff. Mother Earth News is less corporate, but might be politically problematic.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific--I hope some of this is useful.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the pointers; I found a cool article on the Outside Magazine website (though it wasn't the one I eventually went with--while it was fun, it was also several years old, and a bit on the long side).

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Glad you found a cool article, anyway. Could you send me a copy of the final document you produce; I'd like to see it.