Retail tree lots like the one I passed today are a New York City tradition that dates back to 1851. Thirty years after that, an assistant of Thomas Edison's conjured up the prescient notion of hanging electric lights on Christmas trees. By 1890, such lights were being mass-produced and tree lightings would eventually become the ceremony of choice for those who don't mind triple-digit electricity bills.

Another durable American tradition will eventually mark the unofficial end to all holiday spirit. I'm speaking, of course, about the sight of discarded trees lying near the garbage cans on the sidewalk. Just a few weeks earlier, those trees were leaning almost upright with price tags dangling from their shiny branches. Now they lie horizontal...a few tenacious strands of tinsel clinging to the razor-sharp needles. Like plastic forks, paper plates, gnawed turkey bones, and New York's growing homeless population, we perceive Christmas trees as disposable; they ultimately become someone else's problem.

Before anyone touts the widespread recycling of post-holiday trees, let's recap, shall we? Some 450,000 acres of land are set aside to plant and grow trees destined to be cut down and sold for about ten days' use before being unceremoniously tossed out onto the pavement and we're supposed applaud the time and money our city uses to deal with the subsequent-and predictable-epidemic of dead trees.

The blinking lights go back in the hallway closet and the ornaments get stored under the bed in the guest room long before January's electric and credit card bills arrive. This year's Christmas tree, however, will be history. No longer will it hide brightly wrapped boxes of consumer electronics or display an impaled blonde angel at its highest point. Planted and fattened solely for the kill, that doomed tree will probably serve as a novel target for local dogs on the stroll.

This Christmas, say no to fir...

Mickey Z. can be found on the Web at http://www.mickeyz.net.

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THE BUSH ENVIRONMENTAL "POLICY" DELUSION
written by XX XXC, December 04, 2006

Clearing up some of the "hype" about global warming was my purpose this week. There is a lot of confusing data projections out there, most of it coming from this delusional Bush administration. It seems that the EPA under Bush, is under some scrutiny lately for their "new" air quality standards. There is no doubt that global warming exists. It is just that many people misunderstand the reason why it is happening.

1). We are at a warm period in the earth’s ice age cycle.

2). Greenhouse gases produced by pollution are causing warming also.

-These two factors combined ( at the same time ) are causing this extremely warm period in earth history. This administration is guilty of keeping standards low for emissions in favor of economic development. This is adding to the problem, and not helping the environment. Certain species may become extinct as a result of the warming. There may be more disease also, because the cold keeps air born pathogens from building up. Mold related illnesses are also on the rise because of storms like Katrina and too much humidity. This news is from 100 leading research scientists and physicians. National and local health organizations also agree that the air quality standards suggested by the Bush EPA are endangering public health.

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