Michael Straus' Blog - Latest Comments

Re: Building schools with plastic bottles

Pablo Barrera — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:27:26 -0000

They will be speaking at tedxguatemalacity! Www.tedxguatemalacity.com

Re: Articles & Reviews

MichaelStraus — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:28:21 -0000

Suggest you contact Trader Joe's.

Re: Articles & Reviews

Karencandance — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:02:31 -0000

I have noticed there IS
no more cream on top of the "cream top" Trader Joe's organic whole milk.
A few years ago there was that chunky thick hard to mix up cream on
top. Then I noticed in Oregon a year ago there was less and less of it
and now there is zero in San Diego. It says it is non-homogenized but if
that's true, WHERE IS THE CREAM????? I usually get my milk at a farm in
Oregon and the cream always floats to the top a few hours after it is
out of the cow and in a jar. It is easily mixed in with the milk after a
couple of shakes. That is the natural way cow's milk is. I drank it
when I was a teen also and the cream always rose to the top and was
shaken up easily. I feel like something is not right with this "cream
top" milk at Trader Joe's. Does anyone else feel this way? How can I
find out where the cream is?

Re: Seven months in America

Charlie Wallace — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:03:38 -0000

Looking forward to Michael 3.0! And don't worry bro, we've got your back... (as in "laughing like crazy behind it")... Love ya guy! ~ Merciless Mocker

Re: The Chair in the Middle of the Road

Pat Lewis — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:56:33 -0000

I hope 2012 is a phenomenal year of recovery for both Nigel and Erin. Thank you for this update, Michael. My thoughts and prayers are with these two wonderful people, w/Lorraine and Jon and their families, and with you as well. I feel blessed and privileged to share our friendship. Peace,

Pat

Re: Burma project progress & 3 Cups lessons

Laura Ridenour — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:00:11 -0000

Thank you for continuing to share Ellen's voice with us.

Re: Building schools with plastic bottles

David Haas — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:21:26 -0000

Hello,

I have a question about your blog. Please email me!

Thanks,

David

Re: Building schools with plastic bottles

MichaelStraus — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:53:52 -0000

Heenal ... I'll make the intro bet. you and Danielle at PPC. /// Michael

Re: Building schools with plastic bottles

Heenal Rajani — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:12:51 -0000

Thanks Mike! Great article! :)

If anyone wants more info about Bottle Schools and how to get involved, feel free to email me heenal AT hugitforward DOT org

interesting that you should mention the plastic pollution coalition... i have been trying to get a hold of them - looks like there might be areas of synergy and potential for collaboration! could you connect us? :)

thanks and hugs

heenal

Re: Indonesia’s “Dynamo Jack”

Josephrut — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:46:42 -0000

I'm intrigued by the electric shock/chi thing. Very curious. However, some of the other "tricks" performed by DJ are well known scams that have been claimed by others' and have been debunked. (the swiveling dagger, the paper lighting on fire) There are videos on youtube showing how to do these tricks. If he has real powers, why would he try to bolster his claims with fakery. I suspect the shock/chi has a rational explanation as well

Interesting how he could not put the chopstick through the top of the table but could through the bottom "at his local" where HE invited the "scientists" to lunch. By the way the woman who is the CEO of the "Mind and Science" place? Her degree is in Spanish Language.....not a science the last time I looked.Fantastic claims require fantastic evidence. The magic act Penn and Teller catch bullets (357 magnum) in their TEETH, much more convincingly than Dynamo guy and tell you that it is a trick. Can Chi only be controlled with a closed hand? why not stop the bullet with an open palm where we can see that there is no pellet hidden.

a magician would be a much better choice to debunk this guy than the trio of "scientists" chosen for this video.

Convenient that he refused further demonstrations.

Re: Nobody dies in paradise

Elina — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:50:37 -0000

oh, now I know what I missed! too bad.......when Kirill was performing in East Bay, I was wearing national Russian costume at my friends party.... boo.......

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

MichaelStraus — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:50:20 -0000

Perhaps my efforts to channel my mother's perspective is fundamentally inappropriate, as the dead aren't here to argue. Would you have felt differently about my blog if I had not included at the end a specific call to support Lunny?

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

MichaelStraus — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:44:24 -0000

Tom - I absolutely agree that our we're destroying the environment, that systems are failing and that we, as a species, community and as individuals, are not creating or implementing reforms anywhere remotely adequate to the magnitude of the situation that we're created. Will the quest for wilderness or the battle for sustainable agriculture really matter at this global scale *in time for it to make any significant difference*? Perhaps not, but one of the lessons I take from my mom is that, despite all obstacles, we have to try. // Michael

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

MichaelStraus — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:32:07 -0000

Susan - I agree with you that my mother would not condone nor participate in character assassination. I don't believe I suggested otherwise. // Michael

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

Suzanne d'Coney — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 14:48:36 -0000

I find this blog very disturbing. I say this with the fondest memories of and respect for Ellen. I was blessed to have that cheesecake at the kitchen table. And I also write with the greatest admiration for the Straus family and all you have done to forward the good cause of organic, sustainable ag. I find it disturbing because it is so dicey to speak for those who are no longer with us, and to use their beautiful memory and legacy as part of a campaign. For me this perpetuates the painful and unmindful desperation of the whole process. Shame on all of us for not rising above and being able to come to the table and use our collective wisdom to nip this in the bud.

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

Susan — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:31:53 -0000

Dear Michael, I was lucky to know your mom. I think she would have been pissed, too--at the way the Lunny's have so carelessly treated their community, and the apparent sense of entitlement that has motivated their campaign. This has undermined the goodwill Ellen cultivated between neighbors in West Marin. On one hand, Mr. Lunny plays the victim of "Big Government," while pocketing subsidies for his family's various farming operations with the other. These subsidies include, but are not limited to his use of public land. At this point, those subsidies also include the hundreds of thousands of public dollars (if not more) spent to respond to the Lunny's attacks on the Park Service, because his team has made scientific debate a cause for character assassination.
Whether the Lunny's and their Washington lobbyists succeed in renewing the oyster farm lease, it will be a long time before the community heals the divide the Lunny's have orchestrated. And that's a whole lot of cheesecake.

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

kupfer — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:11:34 -0000

verver good Mikee!

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

Lisa — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:41:42 -0000

Hi Michael,

I just read your piece on your Mom and oysters and agriculture. You are so right on, I constantly think of her and how life in the agroenvironmental world was so different when she was alive. There was actually a place then where most of us concerned about agriculture and the environment, which are inextricable intertwined, coexisted happily and respectfully. Yes, there were a few outliers that didn't want to be part of the party and didn't want a piece of her cake, (yum-yum) but far fewer.

I think there were a lot of folks that would have been embarrassed to behave the way they are now, in front of your Mom. She would have called them on their bad behavior and they would have felt ashamed for being so divisive. She gave me a few very gentle lectures that I rightly deserved.

I think of her so very often in these times of conflict and believe truly that things would be so much different if she was still physically present. I sure loved that woman, even though she was a royal pain when I took her out in my 4-wheel drive truck: "oh, watch that rock", "don't hit that bump" she'd say, like I'd never done it before in my life, but I wouldn't trade the memories for anything.

I support the collaborative alternative and give thanks for Jeff Creque, who devotes so much time to worthy causes would Ellen would fully support.

Re: Contact

Lisab — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:59:47 -0000

Hi Michael,

I support the collaborative alternative and give thanks for Jeff Creque, who devotes so much time to worthy causes would Ellen would fully support.

Re: About

Paul Meinhofer — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:02:45 -0000

Hi Michael its Paul. It sucks I missed you a couple weeks ago. I loved the Dalai Lama video! I also enjoyed reading your blog. If Petaluma or Marshal get too boring come for a visit! We have an air mattress you can sleep on. We share many of the same interests including Quantum Physics, Biology and Psychology. Do you remember when we were kids and you wanted to come for a visit you would say (jokingly) you wanted to come to the "big city"? Now you've seen the whole world! You've come a long way! Ha ha

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

jane_weed — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:58:35 -0000

Michael, what is the real reason the park service wants to drive out the oyster company? Haven't there been a lot of shady shenanigans going on?

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

Albert Straus — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:57:38 -0000

Really great article written by my brother, Michael!!

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

Mia Pelletier — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:56:47 -0000

This article is a winner. Read it.

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

Kenya Lewis — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:54:42 -0000

Beautifully said, michael.

Re: Ellen, Oysters and Agriculture

Anna — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:53:36 -0000

Nice article that Michael Straus wrote about his Mom and the state of affairs with the current issues happening with Drake's Bay.