I saw some research recently from Der Spiegel speculating that the U.S. honeybee die-off may be linked to GMO crops that have insecticide engineered in to the genes. Seems like a cool idea until you realize that there are beneficial insects that our food supply depends upon... just talk to an apple, pear, or almond grower about the lack of honeybees.

There are always consequences to what we do to the environment. DDT seemed like a good idea until the predator birds started dying off as it moved through the food chain.

If a revamped farm bill could put some serious brakes on GMO crops, I'd be happy. We're really not much further off than a kid with a chemistry set. We don't know what we're doing.

I happen to have a husband who is very skilled at negotiation, and I have him to thank for my salary at the last three jobs. Given my own inclinations and nervousness at asking for more, I would have ended up with far less money, vacation time, and other benefits. I continue to be astounded at myself--how much I seriously dislike negotiating for ANYTHING (cars, my salary, anything), and how good he is at it. I'm also astounded whenever anyone says "yes" to one of my (nervous palms-sweating) counter-offers, as if they were expecting it! All I had to do was ask! Wow!

He reminds me, again and again, that people are not paid what they're worth, they're paid what they negotiate for. The mantra is they've already decided to hire me, the worst they can say at a counter offer is "no."

I don't know whether it's tempermental or cultural or what, but I break out in a cold sweat at having to appear less than pleased at a salary offer. My heart pounds, I want to run away, I just want it over so I can stop the appearance of disagreement. After all, my new employer has just told me I'm wonderful and they want to hire me, and now I'm mucking it all up by appearing displeased about money? But I know that I HAVE TO DO IT and with my husband coaching me at every step, I do. It's extremely hard for me. I never learned anything like this in college. All jobs before then were of the burger-flipping variety, paid at the state mandated minimum wage.

I suspect there is at least some part of the wage gap that has to do with negotiation skills, and with women's cultural desire to please, to not make waves, to smooth things over.

Just a theory, anyway.

Seriously. Put this in any other terms (religion, politics), substitute some other behavior of a highly personal nature, and you can see this behavior for how reprehensible and beyond the bounds of common politeness it is.

It is the vegan's right to choose his/her own friends. If this vegan cannot get through the world without denigrating everyone who doesn't share the same beliefs... the vegan will have a remarkably small circle of friends that only contains other vegans.

We all have to learn to get along with those who have different beliefs than we do. Respectful disagreement is an art we all must practice. The rightness or wrongness of the beliefs are beside the point (unless we're discussing something illegal), where friendship and family is concerned. My orthodox Jew friend could perhaps refuse to associate with Gentiles... but instead he invited me and my family over for Sabbath dinner and included us in their Friday night ritual candle lighting, singing, and prayers. It was beautiful, a gift, and inclusive. He didn't ask me to become a Jew, nor did he ask why I wasn't. That wasn't the point, and we all knew it. And the dinner was kosher, and lovely.

Likewise, the vegan could cook some vegan meals for the non-vegan, take her to a vegan restaurant, and they could have a nice visit. But if the vegan insists on turning a visit into The Vegan Inquisition, then it's time to end the friendship. Period.

I've learned the art of respectful disagreement with many people I hold dear... close friends, my parents, my aunts and uncles. The subjects that we agree not to broach is what keeps our relationship healthy. These are not people I live with every day, but people I want in my life.

If gas reaches $4 or $5 or $6 a gallon...

Perhaps the buses to outer suburbia will run more often, because more people are riding them.

Perhaps adding bike lanes might rise on the priority list of local planning agencies.

Perhaps suburban regulations against retail in neighborhoods will be relaxed.

Perhaps adding crosswalks and pedestrian access might also rise on the priority list of local planning agencies.

Perhaps more people will be willing to inconvenience their independence to join carpools, van pools, and other types of ride sharing.

Maybe, just maybe, state and local transportation planners won't ALWAYS think about cars first and foremost. They might think about pedestrians, bikes, buses, and carpool lanes.

I know, I know, perhaps pigs will fly.

This will all take time. It won't happen overnight. But the ONLY thing that will cause this is increasing gas prices. People, whether they be in government or private citizens, will not make this happen out of the goodness of their hearts. It will be painful for all of us.