5-23-07 - Important News for Parents

A recent study just released from a Michigan environmental group points to child safety seats as yet another potential threat to our kids' health. Out of 62 car seats tested, 30% reportedly leaked harmful amounts of chlorine, bromine, and lead. For an article covering the report, click here. They'll tell you some of the seats to avoid, and which ones to embrace. It's important to note that no one is saying we shouldn't use car seats, because they still save a lot of lives. Just be more conscious of which ones you put your kids in, okay?

5-8-07 - Hello Again!

Sorry for the delay in keeping you updated in Green Happenings around the KC area. Hopefully you've been diligently checking the calendar in the meantime. Today I've added four new sites to our list of Links.

You'll find three of them under "Global/Non-Local." They are VegCityGuide - a guide to Vegetarian and Vegan city guides, organized by city; VegHealthyGuide - a resource to help you learn more about the health qualities of various Vegetarian and Vegan foods; and VegProductsGuide - a guide to various Vegetarian and Vegan products available. The fourth site is a collection of Vegetarian and/or Vegan related blog posts, called VegBlogs, and so it's under the "Blogs/Podcasts" section of the Links page.

All of those sites are brought to you by Bryan and Amanda, co-founders of www.VegKansasCity.com. Thanks, guys!

(And to save time and space in the future, anytime I refer to "Vegetarianism and/or Veganism", it will just be called "Veg*nism." That seems to be the generally accepted shorthand.)

In case your wondering about this site, I'm currently working on making this little News & Updates section avialable for comments and feedback, blog-style. If you have any ideas, please send them on to me. I'm happy to have any help I can get.

Also, notice that at the bottom of this page I added an invitation to join our mailing list. There's still not a regular newsletter yet, so you'd be signing up to receive periodical updates and important news items

It's nice to see everyone again.

-Bobby

4-18-07 - New Articles, and an Important Reminder

Deciding finally that content is more important than originality (or proprietership, for that matter), we've gone ahead and posted some "outside" articles to the site. The Articles section, you may notice, is now split into two categories: "Big Green City Exclusives", and "Other Articles". The "Other Articles" will include content from a variety of sources, like CNN, Treehugger.com, Time Magazine, etc--all appropriately credited, of course. We hope this addition only enhances this site's effectiveness at providing you the most pertinent, relevant information on living green. Watch for more articles to be added, both from in-house and outhouse (tee-hee), in the near future.

Also, if you have plans for this Saturday you need to cancel them, unless those plans are to attend the 11th Annual EarthFest/EarthWalk at Shanwee Mission Park, because that's where you need to be. There will be tons of displays and activities for children and adults alike; information on everything from solar power to carbon tax; food and music; and plenty of et cetera. Be sure to visit the Mid-America Electric Auto Association's area, where folks like Mark Higley (see previous post) and others will be showing off their homebuilt or dealer-bought electric vehicles. I will even be there with my Tidalforce electric bike and Black & Decker electric lawnmower. I promise you won't be disappointed, and you might even learn something you never knew you didn't know. For instance, did you know that, on average, mowing your lawn for one hour with a traditional gas-powered mower contributes more pollution into the air than driving a typical vehicle 100 miles? Even if you already knew that, I bet you know someone who doesn't, and what better way to celebrate Earth Day than to spread the good word--or the "Good World," as it were? (Ooh, I like that. Dibs!)

Visit EarthDayKC.org for more information on the event.

See you there!

4-13-07 - All the Best Things Are Spelled with X

Props to Mark Higley of Midwest EV, the areas only authorized (or unauthorized, for that matter) dealer of ZAP electric cars. He was not just mentioned, but was the subject of an entire article in the Pitch Weekly magazine, thanks to his appearance at Earth Fair.

Please, please, please visit the Pitch sit and read the article yourself. If you haven't had a chance to drive any electric cars, why not saunter up to Mark's dealership in Leavenworth and try on a ZAP? They're cheap, they're green, and they're just s'goshdarn cute.

Congrats, Mark. Here's to the New Black Escalade.

4-9-07 - MORE LIGHT RAIL TALK

Over at KCLightRail, they just posted a follow-up to Clay Chastain's Q&A at Central Exchange. He answered a few softball questions about his light rail plan--so don't expect any hard-hitting, controversial discussions when you click this link. However, it does shed some light on a few aspects of the light rail program you might not have been aware of, and it will help keep you up-to-date on how the plan is progressing, if you're into that sort of thing.

What are your thoughts on the light rail plan? What problems do you think it will solve? What problems do you think it will create? Is light rail really the best choice, or do you have another suggestion? Send your comments in via our Contact page, and we'll post your responses here.

4-3-07 - BIG GREEN CITY: NOW BIGGER, GREENER,

AND CITYIER

I was fortunate enough to attend the Clean Energy Show at Zona Rosa this past Saturday, put on by the Concerned Citizens of Platte County. It wasn't a huge event, but there were some great participants, from heavy-hitters like KCPL and MGE, to some grassroots organizations like ReEnergizeKC and True Blue Women. One thing stood out to me: there is a genuine desire amongst these people to see a positive change in our lives. They are not subversive or calculating in the least. Everyone that I talked to--minus one or two from some of the "heavy-hitters" I mentioned--was sincere and enthusiastic and passionate, and very friendly. I encourage you to get out there and meet some of these people yourself. Join their causes, show your support, and become a part of something bigger than yourself. There are other people out there just like you who want the same thing, and it just takes getting everyone involved to make things happen.

It was a very fruitful day for Big Green City, as we passed out business cards and collected enough paperwork to build a tree, and the best part is that you ultimately benefit. Check our Business Directory and Links pages to see just how much was added, and definitely visit our forum and see all the upcoming events added to the calendar. If you don't have anything to do between now and August, we've got you covered. You'll have to register to view the events calendar there, but it's worth it, promise.

Look for more content to be added continuously over the coming week as I make my way through all the flyers, pamphlets, leaflets and full-on magazines I picked up at the Show.

3-28-07 - UPCOMING EVENTS AND E-BUSES

There are some big events coming up in April, like the International Food Aid Conference from the 16th through the 18th, or EarthFest on the 21st. Check out the Events Calendar page for a full listing, and then mark your schedules.

We've also added some links, like the On-Grid Hybrid Bus Program, which has been going on here in Kansas City for a few months now. They are testing the viability of plug-in hybrid buses as public transportation. This is one effort I'd really encourage you to look into. It would be a shame if it was discovered that people didn't want clean, alternative transportation. With the bus thing being tested, and the Light Rail program slowly pushing it's way toward reality, we may be on the verge of a transportation renaissance of sorts here in Kansas City. Ten years from now we may all be riding public transit and enjoying it every minute--and then in eleven years it will be as mundane as driving your car. Well, unless your car is, like, a Ferrari or something. That will probably always be more fun than riding the bus, let's face it. :)

3-20-07 - HELP SUPPORT BGC...PLEASE?

Actually we're not begging, but I wanted to point out to you that we created a storefront at Zazzle.com through which to sell BGC branded products. If you're not familiar with Zazzle.com, it's a place where you can create products and then offer them for sale without having to deal with overhead or inventory. Basically when someone orders something from your "store," Zazzle prints it and ships it directly.

So far we just have a modest little bumper sticker. Very soon we'll have organic t-shirts (Zazzle is the only print-on-demand site that offers them as an option), as well as mugs, keychains, and whatever else seems appropriate. So please, take a look at our bumper sticker and see if it's something you'd like. It's only $3.95, and 10% of the profit comes back to Big Green City (it's not a lot, but that's the trade-off for using a print-on-demand service). You'll find a link to the store on our Store (Help Us!) page.

If you have any ideas for products you'd like to see with the BGC logo and name on them, contact us via our Contact Page or by emailing admin@biggreencity.com and let us know. If you have suggestions or comments about the bumper sticker, you can send them to the same place. This is kind of an experimental step in the development of the site, so we're open to criticisms. Thanks, and thanks for helping!

3-15-07 - READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP

I'm still working out the kinks of this new interface...but nevermind.

We were on TV again! If you missed it the first time round, all you have to do is stay up until 3 am and you can see the rebroadcast. If you don't even know what I'm talking about: I was on Kansas City Live this morning, briefly talking about ways you and your family can help the curb your ecological footprint. I didn't get through nearly enough stuff, and to be perfectly honest the focus of the segment was not in the direction I intended, but I hope people still found it useful. Luckily I wrote up what I wanted to talk about in a nifty little article, so for those of you who missed the show or just want some more in-depth information, that's where you'll find it. Of course, you can also go straight to the source and pick up a copy of Parents Magazine. I'm not trying to steal their thunder (or incur any lawsuits).

If you have any ideas for topics you'd like to see covered on the show the next time I'm on, email them to us at admin@biggreencity.com or by filling out the form on the Contact page. Even if you don't have any info to add to the site, just drop a line and say hi. We love to get email from visitors. It lets us know there really is a community evolving out there of intelligent, socially-conscious people who want to make a difference in their own lives.

I've got lots of great new businesses and links to continue adding over the next couple of days, so check back often. And don't forget to visit the blogs if you haven't read any of them recently. Until next time...

3-14-07 - OUR NEW FACE-DROP

In case you're wondering, no there is nothing wrong with your monitor. Well, actually I don't know that for sure, but what I do know is that our site does have a new look to it, if that's what you were worried about. It seems we were the unwilling victims of an extreme makeunder; an unwanted face-drop (instead of a lift, get it?) Basically, I don't like it. If you weren't already aware, this site is hosted with Microsoft's new Office Live service. It was completely free (even the domain name), which is why I chose it, but it seems free comes with a price: lack of control. Hopefully this summer we will be changing servers--and significantly expanding--so this new look should only be temporary, anyway. Do you have an opinion on what the site looks like now? Better yet, what do you think it should look like? Discuss it on our ever-growing forum!

PS - DON'T FORGET TO WATCH KANSAS CITY LIVE ON KSHB-41 (NBC) TOMORROW, MARCH 15th, AT 10:00 am. BOBBY WILL BE ON AGAIN, THIS TIME TALKING ABOUT EASY AND SIMPLE WAYS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN HELP THE ENVIRONMENT. WHY NOT INVITE SOME FRIENDS OVER AND MAKE AN EVENT OUT OF IT? DON'T FORGET THE ORGANIC POTATO CHIPS. :)

3-08-07 - LIGHT RAIL...LITE?

An article in Sunday's KC Star (No, I'm not behind on the news...the news just can't keep up with me) calls for scaling back Clay Chastain's light rail plan, and implementing something a little more attainable. Considering all the squabbling over the details that seems to be going on with the current "plan," I tend to agree with most of what the author says. The author, by the way, is Dave Scott, president of the Urban Society of Kansas City, a group of architects and "urban-core boosters." He writes the article as if he were talking about the next World War or something, but his points are valid, nonetheless--at least I think so. What about " unselectable="off">you?

3-05-07 - A POST ABOUT NOTHING - How's everyone's March so far? Not much going on right now. The site is still developing and growing, and so is the community surrounding it. Be sure to watch Kansas City Live on KSHB-41 March 15th. I (Bobby) will be making an appearance to talk about ways you and your family can help reduce pollution, improve quality of life, etc. Little things with big impact, that's the name of the game. We got a pretty good response from our last appearance, where I talked about the efficiency of different household appliances, so hopefully after March 15th we'll see another great response.

Check out our calendar of events to find out what's coming up. The regular meeting of the Mid-America Electric Auto Association is this coming Sunday in Waldo, and I for one am looking forward to it. I don't have an electric car, but I'm hoping to make some good connections and track one down soon.

Also this week: The first combined Green Drinks/Environment meetup at McCoy's in Westport. Both groups have been pretty successful, and it sounds like together they are going to take the city by storm. Well, maybe that's a bit dramatic...but if you're a regular visitor to this site, odds are this is a group you'd want to be a part of. It's this Thursday night. I'm going to try to make it out this week, although my work schedule makes it difficult to do anything in the evening.

Over the next few weeks we're going to be making a push to expand this site's resources even further. There are more programs I'd like to implement, not to mention simply increasing the number of businesses and organizations listed on these pages. (If you have an ideas for things you'd like to see available here, email them to us! You can reach me at admin@biggreencity.com.) Moreover, sometime this summer I'm hoping the site will see a complete overhaul, which will make it easier to navigate, and easier to update.

2-27-07 - MAYORAL RACE WARMS UP, GLOBALLY SPEAKING... - With only...smunemun..bun...days to go until the mayoral elections, Bridging the Gap has done us all a great service and surveyed each of the candidates about his or her thoughts and plans in regards to Kansas City's eco-future. You can read their lofty and long-winded responses here. The usual topics arose, like mass transit and air-quality, but after reading them all I got the impression that none of the candidates really was taking a hard line on any area in particular. Politicians going gray on important issues before an election? What's next, dogs chasing cats and $3 lattes?! What a world.

Here's a question I'd like to know the answer to, though. What do you think are the most important environmental issues facing our city, and if you were mayor what would you do about them?

(Okay, now what would you do if you were supreme overlord? C'mon, you know you've thought about it.)

" unselectable="off">Email us your answers.

2-21-07 - I'D LIKE TO BUY THE WORLD A BULB

Big news from down under that will hopefully have ramifications all over the world; in a world first, Australia has announced plans to officially phase-out incandescent bulbs nationwide by 2010, in favor of CFL's. For details on the plan, read this article from the Sydney Morning Herald. My question is, can we enact something like this here in KC? Forget getting the current administration to agree to do anything like this, I wonder if such a change could be enacted on a more localized level? I'd be all for it, what about you? Way to go Aussies. Here's hoping the rest of us follow your lead.

I'm very excited to have discovered the Mid-America Electric Auto Association and added them to our list of local links. The EAA is a national organization or electric car owners and enthusiasts, but the Mid-America chapter is seated right here in Kansas City! Meetings are the second Sunday of every month at the Waldo branch of the public library. If you own an electric car or are interested in finding out more about them in a local way, visit the chapter's homepage, or better yet sign up for their Yahoo! group.

That's all for now. Be seein' ya.

I'D LIKE TO BUY THE WORLD A BULB

Big news from down under that will hopefully have ramifications all over the world; in a world first, Australia has announced plans to officially phase-out incandescent bulbs nationwide by 2010, in favor of CFL's. For details on the plan, read this article from the Sydney Morning Herald. My question is, can we enact something like this here in KC? Forget getting the current administration to agree to do anything like this, I wonder if such a change could be enacted on a more localized level? I'd be all for it, what about you? Way to go Aussies. Here's hoping the rest of us follow your lead.

I'm very excited to have discovered the Mid-America Electric Auto Association and added them to our list of local links. The EAA is a national organization or electric car owners and enthusiasts, but the Mid-America chapter is seated right here in Kansas City! Meetings are the second Sunday of every month at the Waldo branch of the public library. If you own an electric car or are interested in finding out more about them in a local way, visit the chapter's homepage, or better yet sign up for their Yahoo! group.

That's all for now. Be seein' ya.

2-20-07 - I WAS NEVER GOOD AT ADITTION, ONLY SPELING

Hi there. Remember me? Yeah, it's Big Green City again. How've you been? Good, good. Been staying green? Eco-friendly? Sustainable? Good to hear. I know, I know, you've missed my wicked wit and insight into the modern environmentalist lifestyle. Well, it's back now. At least the insight is; I can't speak for the wicked wit. You decide.
Not much has been hitting my radar for the last few weeks as far as green news in Kansas City. Obviously with the harsh weather we've had lately, things that relate to nature and being "green" don't tend to pop up as much as they do during, say, the high-heat of winter when everyone is outside enjoying our environment. Nevertheless, some things do turn up, and right now the only thing I have to report on is someone else's opinion on someone else's report. In fact, it barely counts as news: On KCLightRail.com, which focuses on news related to Kansas City's Light Rail system, they posted a blurb about a recent ice storm in Pittsburg that knocked out their light rail system for a while. The poster makes a good point, given our proclivity towards rapid weather changes here in the Metro, we have made good preparations for such unforseen occurances. As one commenter on the blog points out, however, the system as proposed by Clay Chastain has imbedded power lines, not the overhead-style lines that Pittsburg has, which should prevent problems like Pittsburg's from happening here, even in the worst ice-storm conditions. Hopefully between now and whenever the thing gets built, that is one aspect of the design that won't change.
In BigGreenCity.com news: We've added Cromwell Environmental to our growing list of green Kansas City businesses. Based in KC, but providing nationwide commercial service, Cromwell specializes in cleaning up indoor air-quality. Using a highly-trained staff and specialized equipment, they root out problems and offer environmentally-friendly solutions. If you are a business owner, or simply care about the air your breathe from nine to five, check out their website and give them a call.
Also, there have been a few new events added to the calendar over at the forum. You can go directly to the events page here, or you can go visit the forum calendar yourself (registration required).
On our blogs, Jason Canter has added a great vegetarian recipe for Potato Corn Chowder on Food For Life, as well as some eye-opening facts about foods you might have thought were vegetarian-safe. On KC GreenLife, Bobby pontificates on the possibility of becoming a treasure hunter. Looks like he's finally going to put that wooden leg of his to use.
Speaking of Bobby, he'll be making another appearance on Kansas City Live in March. We'll be sure to keep you posted on when to watch!
And finally, our first ever contest has ended. Those of your who signed up for the newsletter, thank you (for your patience)! Congratulations to Jane, our winner, who will receive two great books on living an eco-friendly life. Look for another contest to start up soon. If you've got an idea for a contest, send it on over to us! We're thinking of either some kind of t-shirt design contest, or an essay contest. (We need to get some content, after all.)
Until next time, remember that you may own the house, but you're only renting the land.

2-20-07 - I WAS NEVER GOOD AT ADITTION, ONLY SPELING

Hi there. Remember me? Yeah, it's Big Green City again. How've you been? Good, good. Been staying green? Eco-friendly? Sustainable? Good to hear. I know, I know, you've missed my wicked wit and insight into the modern environmentalist lifestyle. Well, it's back now. At least the insight is; I can't speak for the wicked wit. You decide.
Not much has been hitting my radar for the last few weeks as far as green news in Kansas City. Obviously with the harsh weather we've had lately, things that relate to nature and being "green" don't tend to pop up as much as they do during, say, the high-heat of winter when everyone is outside enjoying our environment. Nevertheless, some things do turn up, and right now the only thing I have to report on is someone else's opinion on someone else's report. In fact, it barely counts as news: On KCLightRail.com, which focuses on news related to Kansas City's Light Rail system, they posted a blurb about a recent ice storm in Pittsburg that knocked out their light rail system for a while. The poster makes a good point, given our proclivity towards rapid weather changes here in the Metro, we have made good preparations for such unforseen occurances. As one commenter on the blog points out, however, the system as proposed by Clay Chastain has imbedded power lines, not the overhead-style lines that Pittsburg has, which should prevent problems like Pittsburg's from happening here, even in the worst ice-storm conditions. Hopefully between now and whenever the thing gets built, that is one aspect of the design that won't change.
In BigGreenCity.com news: We've added Cromwell Environmental to our growing list of green Kansas City businesses. Based in KC, but providing nationwide commercial service, Cromwell specializes in cleaning up indoor air-quality. Using a highly-trained staff and specialized equipment, they root out problems and offer environmentally-friendly solutions. If you are a business owner, or simply care about the air your breathe from nine to five, check out their website and give them a call.
Also, there have been a few new events added to the calendar over at the forum. You can go directly to the events page here, or you can go visit the forum calendar yourself (registration required).
On our blogs, Jason Canter has added a great vegetarian recipe for Potato Corn Chowder on Food For Life, as well as some eye-opening facts about foods you might have thought were vegetarian-safe. On KC GreenLife, Bobby pontificates on the possibility of becoming a treasure hunter. Looks like he's finally going to put that wooden leg of his to use.
Speaking of Bobby, he'll be making another appearance on Kansas City Live in March. We'll be sure to keep you posted on when to watch!
And finally, our first ever contest has ended. Those of your who signed up for the newsletter, thank you (for your patience)! Congratulations to Jane, our winner, who will receive two great books on living an eco-friendly life. Look for another contest to start up soon. If you've got an idea for a contest, send it on over to us! We're thinking of either some kind of t-shirt design contest, or an essay contest. (We need to get some content, after all.)
Until next time, remember that you may own the house, but you're only renting the land.

2-07-07 - THIS MAYOR BROUGHT TO YOU BY FORD

Looks like someone just likes Ford: Kansas City mayoral candidate Jim Glover said yesterday that, if elected, he would forego the traditional Lincoln Town Car that typically shuttles the mayor about town, and instead opt for a much (less stylish but) more eco-friendly Ford hybrid. Of course, there's no mention of what Glover would use if not elected, but hopefully it won't be the new Hummer Umbrage. But seriously, it's a small gesture but certainly more than other candidates have offered, and while it might not win Glover the election it won't exactly lose it for him, either.
This story courtesy of the KC Buzz Blog, a service of the Kansas City Star. Find it here, and now also in our links section.

2-6-07 - RUMORS OF OUR DEATH HAVE BEEN MILDLY EXAGGERATED

Welcome back, you few people who have remained loyal visitors during this long period of inactivity. You know something? Running a website is hard work, especially when you also work 50-65 hrs a week, from 3:00 am to 3:00 or 4:00 pm every day. Actually, it's not the working that gets in the way so much as the eating and sleeping that you constantly have to keep up on. So all this complaining is just to say that, yes, activity has slowed down here on the site, but Big Green City will still live on. There have been some big developments over the past few weeks, and we haven't been blind to them. Probably the biggest news was the release of the long-awaited IPCC report, citing with a 90% probability that humans are in fact to blame for the global climate change. Though it's not a definite yet, the report should still stiffle a few of those naysayers out there who were still clinging to the belief that global warming is just a natural phenomenon. It does make us greenites feel pretty good about our cause, but I still hold true to the idea that regardless of what science finds about global warming, we should be mindful of our impact on the environment and our ability to make smart choices. It'd be nice to decide on our own to not irradicate all species of wildlife or rain forests, or to keep our air clean just because we like clean air. Anyway, I digress. For a good, easy summary of the report, check out this report on the the report at Grist.org.
In other news, the drama continues to unfold in the story of Kansas City's proposed Light Rail system. Advocate Clay Chastain has run up against some apparent opposition from the mayor and the city council as they have raised flags regarding legal issues that could prevent the plan from ever happening. Well, one KC Star reporter has some words of cautious optimism for Mr. Chastain. You, meanwhile, can draw your own conclusions by keeping up on the latest at KCLightRail.com. That site has been added to our list of links, as well.
Also added to the links page, BlogKC and KCTalk, two blogs about news, happenings, and life-in-general here in good ol' Kansas City. I also added a few new events to the BGC-KC calendar, which you can find by logging in to our forum (or by clicking the calendar link on the left if you want to make it difficult for yourself, sheesh).
I haven't updated the featured business or link yet this week (or last week...or perhaps the week before, I don't remember now), but look for that to happen soon.
And, for the time being at least, I must announce that the much-anticipated* BGC-KC newsletter will not be making it's debut anytime soon. Thanks to those of you who signed up for it; you are definitely registered to win the neat-o books. Unfortunately, time and resource constraints have kept the newsletter from becoming a reality at the moment. For the present, you'll just have to bookmark the site and check back regularly. If you've already signed up, you'll be notified as soon as we do have a newsletter--which will hopefully be soon--and if you haven't signed up yet, do so before February 16th and you too could win a couple of great eco-books. Check the Contests page for details.
Until next time.

1-23-07 - CALENDAR UPDATE AND A LINK ADDED

A bunch of events were added to the calendar, and the calendar page itself was changed. Now instead of a short list of upcoming events, there is a full list of all the events that are logged in the BGC-KC Forum calendar. The list isn't automatically updated (we're not that technically advanced here) but hopefully it will continue to be manually updated by me and so will always be accurate. Anyway, click on an event in the list to be taken to that event's entry in the BGC-KC Forum calendar. No, it's not just a ploy to get you all to visit the forum (though that's admittedly a great side-benefit), but it keeps me from having to log events in two different places all the time.
Moving on: There is a link to Bridging the Gap's EarthDay page, where you can find information about this years EarthWalk and EarthFest events. If you haven't participated before, try it out. It's not until April, so you have plenty of time to plan. I'll see you there. I'll be the one wearing a Big Green City t-shirt!

1-22-07 - A LINK AND A SMILE

Actually it should say a link and an event, but I like the Harry Connick, Jr. reference better. In our links section, I added a link to the Missouri Department of Conservation. They've got an event coming up soon, the details of which are located in our calendar of events.
And check the bottom of this page to see our latest featured links.
As always, if you've got something to say about living green in Kansas City, let us know. Whether you have an article, an upcoming event, or even just an anecdote to share, email admin@biggreencity.com. Don't forget to visit our forum, and visit our contests page to find out why you should sign up for our newsletter today!

1-16-07 - LINKS ADDED; NICKELBACK; NEW FEATURED STUFF

It was a long, difficult, and weather-filled weekend for me (as I'm sure it was for many), and so I apologize for the delay in updating the site. Here's what's new, though:
I added some links to the seemingly-appropriate "Links" area. The Monterrey Bay Aquarium has a section on their site devoted to seafood, and how to choose what to order and eat if you're interested in buying organic. Also, the Environmental Media Association is an advocacy group whose aim is to use the entertainment industry to promote environmentally-friendly agendas, so you can show your support for that (if you support it) by visiting their site. Thirdly, the American Lung Association has a site, called Health House, that is meant as a resource to show you how to keep a healthy home for your family, free from allergens, toxins, and other bad things. Again, you can find all of these links under the "Non-Regional" area of the Links page. Finally, in the "Blogs" area of the links page I added a link to Grist.org, a blog devoted to eco news and activism. Their new column, "Ask a Brokeass," promises to be hilarious and helpful.
The other day I caught part of a video from Nickelback for their new song "If Everyone Cared." Now, I use to be a Nickelback fan, back when "You Remind Me" was on the radio...or at least for the first few months it was on the radio. After about a year, I started to get tired of hearing that song every hour...so I got a satellite radio, but nevermind. Anyway, their new song is pretty moving if you're into social activism at all or you just like people, and the video for it is doubly powerful. I'll link to it here, and encourage you to check it out.
In other news, I've updated the Featured sections at the bottom of this page. Our new featured business is the GreenAcres market, of which there are two locations in the Metro, and the featured link is to the website for the radio show "The Lazy Environmentalist." Check out both sites, and if you get a chance, go visit a GreenAcres yourself. Tell them Big Green City sent you.

1-13-07 - VEGGIE MEETUP RESCHEDULED; NEW GREEN BUSINESS ADDED

Because of the Winter Wonder Hell we've all suddenly found ourselves in, the Vegetarian meetup scheduled for today at noon was cancelled, and rescheduled for Saturday, January 20th at 2:00pm. It will also take place at Waldo Pizza. Visit the event calendar for new RSVP info.
We're happy to add Liquid Soap Products to our list of green, Kansas City-based businesses. Visit their site and you'll immediately recognize their commitment to environmentally-friendly, high-quality products. Check out the Business Directory; their link is at the bottom.
And speaking of links: If you come across any links on this site that are broken, bent, or otherwise out of shape, please let us know. Shoot a quick email to admin@biggreencity.com, if you don't mind. We'd appreciate it, and your fellow greenlings will thank you, too, because you'll be helping make the site all it can be.

1-11-07 - STUFF ADDED; TV FOLLOW-UP; FORUM PLEA; AND CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Visit our links page today and you'll find the following: A new section devoted to environmental blogs and/or podcasts; a link to a page provided by Bridging the Gap that lists all the recycling centers in the metro area; and a link to Vivavi, makers or fine, eco-friendly furniture. In the Business Directory, we've added links to GreenAcres Market, who have a location in Kansas City as well as Wichita, and to the Blue Bird Bistro, a long-time favorite of organic and vegetarian-types in KC. New events added on the Calendar page, both at GreenAcres. And don't forget that between now and February 16th, if you sign up for our newsletter you will be registered to win a couple of great books that will help you in your quest to be green. Check out the Contests page for details.
Thanks to everyone who saw the spot yesterday on Kansas City Live for all your great feedback. If you enjoyed the segment, and would like to see more like it in the future, email live@nbcactionnews.com and let them know. It would be great to see Kansas Citians just like you taking an interest in helping spread information throughout the community regarding sustainable, environmentally-friendly lifestyles.
If you were among the unfortunate few who didn't get to see the segment on Kansas City Live yesterday, we're hoping to get the video loaded up on the site somewhere in the coming days so you can get your education on regarding energy-saving appliances. In the meantime, check out the article "Appliance Science" in the Articles section.
And speaking of the democratic spread of information, you know what is a great tool for that? The BGC-KC forums! Right now those boards are about as active as a comatose mime, and it'd be nice to see that change. Thanks to those new members who have signed up and posted; you're the heart of this new green community. The rest of you, there are things to say so go say them!
And speaking of which, if you have an idea for an article you think would fit in perfectly on this site, and you have a knack for the written word, let us know. This is a community site, first and foremost, so it's important that your particular voice be heard. Just send a proposal, excerpt, or even the whole article to admin@biggreencity.com. We'll have a look and it could end up on the site.
So start punching those QWERTY keys. Big Green City is your community, and the perfect place to share your thoughts!

1-10-07 - WERE YOU WATCHING? WE WERE ON THE TEEVEE!

If you saw our debut on Kansas City Live earlier today, you might be here trying to find out more about energy-saving appliances and helpful techniques (and, trust us, there is way more information). Head over to the the articles section, or click here, and read "Appliance Science," and you'll find what you're looking for.

1-09-07 - DO YOU LIKE FREE STUFF? HOW ABOUT FRUIT?

Our contest section is now open for business (an ironic term, see, since we're not selling things but giving them away). Sign up for our newsletter before February 16th and you could win not one but two (two!) books that are sure to help you live a green and eco-healthy life. Visit the new "Contests" page for further details.Also, if you haven't yet checked out Jay Canter's vegetarian blog, there's a first time for everything. His latest post will teach you about the best little exotic fruit you've probably never heard of, and how you can use it in a delicious dish.

1-08-07 - GM RETURNS TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME; ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES; FORUM FORYOU

It seems that after the massive amount of flack thrown GM's way since the release of the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" the automaking giant has finally responded. At the 2007 North American International Auto Show, GM unveiled their VOLT concept, which will run primarily from Li-Ion battery packs that are charged by a small internal combustion engine. Not exactly as clean as the EV-1, even though GM claims it makes up for that car's shortcomings. (What shortcomings?) According to a report from Reuters, The VOLT could be ready for production in two or three years, "if the technology is ready." All I can say is kudos to GM for stepping up to the plate--again--now don't screw this one up, too! Read the full article on Yahoo! News here.
Also: Think you know what it takes to run an efficient fridge? Save your money and your planet, and check out "Appliance Science" in the articles section to get information on buying and operating energy-efficient appliances.
Finally (and I do mean finally) Big Green City - Kansas City has it's very own forum. To find it, click on the forum link in the navigation bar, or click here if you're just that lazy.

1-05-07 - NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK, NEW BLOG

We're very proud to announce an addition to our blog section; On Food for Life, Lawrence resident Jay Canter will provide you with recipes and tips for eating a vegan/vegeterian diet. Be sure to visit. Also, thanks to Jeremy for giving the site a minor facelift and a brand new logo. Look for more changes (all for the better, we promise) in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out Jay's blog by clicking here. Oh yeah, and Happy New Year.

12-27-06 - NEW LINKS ADDED

Added a link to the Kansas City Power & Light Home Energy Analyzer, an interactive tool to help show you how efficient (or inefficient) your home is; also, the Home Energy Saver, a more robust energy efficiency calculator. It is a non-regional website, but because it requires you to input your zip code to make it work, I listed it under Local/Regional links. Finally, fixed the link to the MO Department of Natural Resources.

12-25-06 - MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS

May all your days be merry and keen, and may all your Christmases be green.

12-15-06 - ETHANOL PUSHERS

A recent feature in The Pitch Weekly gives us the story of Garnett, KS, where a year ago an ethanol plant was built, with the hopes that it would revitalize the economy. Made from corn, ethanol fuel is touted by some, including our own government, to be the solution to our foreign oil dependence. According to this article, Ethanol is not the answer to anyone's problems. You can read the entire article, presented in two parts, here.

12-13-06 - KC COUNCIL SUPPORTS KATY TRAIL

The Kansas City Council, representing 445,000 citizens of Kansas City, adopted a resolution in support of the Complete Katy Trail by a unanimous vote of 13-0 on November 30. They join the Pleasant Hill, Raytown, and Lee's Summit city councils, as well as the Lee's Summit Parks Board, the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Commission, the Cass County Commission, Mid-America Regional Council, and the Missouri Bicycle Federation and Kansas City Bicycle Club, all of whom have passed their own resolutions in support of the Katy Trail's extension. The actual resolution is reprinted here.