Observations at the intersection of modern environmentalism and everything else.
Destination Cosmos
This weekend I went to what just might be one of my favorite cultural experiences in years: Destination Cosmos at Hall des Lumieres in NYC. It’s a digital art exhibit located in a restored bank where imagery is projected on the walls and floors, accompanied by mood-setting music at the perfect volume. It was inspiring, educational, and transportive. Sidenote, it’s the perfect date if you’re looking to seal the deal. And 420 fans, it’s a must do.
My recent obsession with all things Space was ignited last summer when I decided to watch For All Mankind on Apple TV+. The show rocked my world and made me realize that I am in fact a Space person. I mean, we all are because everything and everyone is made from the same stuff 💫. Creative exhibits like this give us an opportunity to let go and expand our minds into the limitless depths of the Universe. It’s also a reminder to consider how incredibly, inconceivably special and magnificent our home planet Earth is. And how we might reconsider our relationship with it.
Baseball and Climate Change
You may have seen the news last week about how climate change is responsible for an extra 50 homeruns per year. It’s because “hotter, thinner air allows balls to fly farther”, according to the cited study. And the story got tons of coverage. It even squeezed through my Fox Sports app notifications filter, even though I specifically turned off general news alerts. Just google “mlb climate change” to see the neverending listings of news outlets that picked up the story, all with mostly benign to slightly excited headlines about the increase in runs. That is, except for The New York Post with its headline: “Climate Change Now Blamed For…More Home Runs”. You just keep doing you, New York Post.
This amount of coverage is unusual for a climate story. But I’m not surprised. It’s because the study focused on something people care about: baseball, versus something people don’t care about: life or death. (Did my sarcasm translate?) Truly, though, this is a perfect example of what we’re doing here with Gen E. We talk about the things that people care about in daily life, while pointing out any climate and environmental threads. So thanks to the researchers for making the connection, and giving climate change an at bat. Now what’s the over/under on when sports betting will include climate risk as a performance measure?
Wine
I am not a wine connoisseur. In fact, I rarely drink the stuff, except for when I’m traveling in a wine-y place. Or if a restaurant has Lambrusco on the menu, which is the only wine I can say for certain that I like. Random, I know. But I’d love to track down a bottle of this vintage (first time using that word in a sentence referencing a beverage) of kabinett riesling, as it’s dubbed a “pre-climate change” wine. Who’s up for getting drunk on nostalgia for the good old days of pleasant temperatures and far fewer extreme weather events?!
Lawn Tools Go Electric
That’s right, I’m talking about lawn tools and how they’ve gone wild. And by wild, I mean electric. I caught this commercial while watching a hockey game and I love how this company SKIL is throwing shade at gas guzzling lawn tools. For some reason they’re labeling people who use old school gas-powered mowers as #GasZombies, with a CTA of don’t be one. Hey, whatever works.
The commercial assumes we already know that gas sucks (the life out of you?), and focuses on the performance and ease of using the product. They visually show us how dirty and inconvenient it is to have to refill your mower with gas, plus breathe in the fumes. Alternatively, you can just charge up their lithium-ion battery-charged mower like you do all other electronics and breathe in that sweet smell of freshly cut grass. Not that I’m advocating for manicured lawns because that’s a whole ‘nother can of oil spills. But great job, SKIL, keep up the good work of electrifying your industry.
