Articles by Sarah K. Burkhalter

From Wild Men to Wild Nights

The end is derriere When counting down the days ’til certain apocalypse, it’s best to stay distracted. Thankfully, the Nevada Wilderness Project and University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse Progressives are both unveiling eco-themed nudie calendars for 2007. Naked rugged wild men or naked earnest coeds? We pick both. (Email for .) Photo: Nevada Wilderness Project Reborn identity […]

It’s, um, slogan-y

Grist's fair HQ of Seattle has revealed a new city slogan, posted prominently on top of the famous Space Needle. And that slogan, my friends?

METRONATURAL.

As defined by Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau:

adj. 1: Having the characteristics of a world-class metropolis within wild, beautiful natural surroundings. 2: A blending of clear skies and expansive water with a fast-paced city life.

n. 1: One who respects the environment and lives a balanced lifestyle of urban and natural experiences. 2. Seattle.

Mmmmkay. First of all, "metrosexual" is so last year. Second of all, to some people, including myself, it's not eliciting the response the tourism bureau hoped for ("Wow, it's a city and it's nature!"). One Pike Place Market vendor says, "How do you use that in a sentence? 'Welcome to Metronatural.' ... It's an airport where you can buy organic bananas."

Yes, it beats See-@-L. But what doesn't?

Brazil wants you to buy one.

This may be good for Big Ethanol:

Brazilian company ABC Esso will soon sell an adapter in the U.S. that lets any gasoline vehicle burn up to 100 percent ethanol.

But perhaps not that good:

According to Vidar Lura, managing director of Abcesso, the product will sell for between $500 and $900.

"Abcesso" is much funnier than "ABC Esso."

Beware, ye Halloween pirates and princesses.

We just received a timely pre-Halloween press release from the Sierra Club, warning about the dangers of toy jewelry. Not the choking hazard, or the dressing-like-Mr.-T-for-the-fourth-year-in-a-row hazard, but the leaching-toxic-metals hazard.

Toy jewelry, apparently, can have high amounts of lead. It also, according to the Sierra Club, has become a popular trick-or-treat item in recent years. (Thanks, but I'll take the candy. Unless you have a locally grown, organic apple sans razor blade?)

Lead is bad for you, particularly if you are a trick-or-treating-age tot -- even more particularly if you are a trick-or-treating-age tot with a propensity for putting anything and everything into your mouth.