Joe Brown
As seen in:
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SlashGear,
NewsBreak,
Caribbean Beat,
Perio-Implant Advisory,
Contrast,
Reel Film Reviews
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Articles by Joe Brown
The Tenderfoot - Reel Film Reviews
Directed by Ray Enright, The Tenderfoot follows a naive Texan (Joe E. Brown’s Calvin Jones) as he arrives in New York City and is eventually conned into investing in a Broadway show.
Why do prescription drugs cost so much in the United States?
That’s the loop. But whenever you point this out, people immediately say: “But pharma needs patent protection. They’re spending billions upfront to develop these drugs.” That sounds reasonable until you look more closely. Yes, bringing a drug to market is expensive. But a lot of that expense is tied to the regulatory gauntlet itself—not just the natural cost of discovering and producing the drug.
High fructose corn syrup and wasted taxpayer dollars
Clinical Tips High fructose corn syrup and wasted taxpayer dollars Almost the exact year we started adding high fructose corn syrup to food, obesity rates began to skyrocket. And adding high fructose corn syrup to the food supply doesn’t even make economic sense.
5 Bing Image Creator Tips And Prompts For Better Results
Bing's Image Creator, now known as Image Creator from Microsoft Designer, has had a short but fast-growing history since its announcement in March 2023. The image generator remains popular for AI enthusiasts thanks to its free access and integration with Microsoft's Copilot. But how can you make the most of this powerful tool to get descriptive and accurate results?
5 Bing Image Creator Tips And Prompts For Better Results
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Joe stops bathing
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Joe stops bathing
Your actions matter. That’s the thesis here, and after nearly two years of writing, researching, interviewing, talking, and just generally living with the idea, we believe it more than ever. But let’s be real: Not every action matters that much. Anyone fancy a cautionary tale? I have an energy monitor hooked up to our electrical panel. It tells me how much power every appliance and system in our home uses, and I loooove it.
An easy win is still a win
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An easy win is still a win
We’re in the fat part of clothesline season in much of the U.S., when most of us can easily air-dry our laundry. Not everyone has a line out back, but pretty much anyone can find something to drape their linens over. Got a window? You can do this. Clotheslines are not, of course, some exotic technology that we’ve never seen before, but it’s worth ensuring that we’re all getting the most out of ours. Because air-drying clothes is an easy, cheap environmental win.
Is there such thing as sustainable cheese?
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Is there such thing as sustainable cheese?
Hello! It’s Joe here, hoping you all managed to keep cool during the hottest week in the recorded history of the planet. I spent a lot of it hunched over an A/C vent cursing Big Oil. But the heat also slams home the fact that even though the fossil fuel industry needed to get its shit together several decades ago, we can’t wait for them. One of the most powerful actions any person can take is on the plates in front of us.
This sauce will steal your BBQ
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This sauce will steal your BBQ
Hello! It’s a big day. Corinne, Gabriella (👋), and I have been busily working to bring you something fresh: a whole new spinoff newsletter from one5c. Cool Beans serves up food that warms your belly—not the planet—with recipes and techniques for cooking planet-friendly meals. This email is your free supermarket sample; and, because we’re best buds, you’ll get a fat discount should you decide to throw it in your cart. Enough chitchat.
Is meadow really better than a grass lawn?
Hello and welcome back! Programming note: You might have noticed that we’re publishing on Mondays now. That’s going to stick. In addition to some workflow stuff you don’t care about, we adjusted the schedule to make space for OUR NEW NEWSLETTER which launches next week. (!!!!) While this email will always be free, the new one is going to be a paid situation, but anyone on this list will get a complimentary taste (at least).
Time isn't money
There’s a spot on my deck where, by mid-April, I can get 5 hours of direct sunlight every day. This is just what happens when you live in a hayfield, so if it’s above freezing and it’s between April and September, I’m either making or drinking sun tea.
The most powerful number in sustainability
Howdy. Been a while. I’ve been waiting to hit send because this newsletter is timed to an exciting announcement. I’ll get to that in a minute, but first I’m going to the answer to the question posed by the line: It’s 2. (Two.) Sorry if you were expecting some curiosity-gap shenanigans that forced you to wade through a drawn-out anecdote from my past before coming to a vague and unsatisfying pronouncement, but that’s the answer. You can go now.
The secrets of sustainability's favorite white powder
If you’ve used any social network—and I know you have, because you are alive—you probably know how hair-trigger their algorithms are. You look at *one* sawmill video (highly recommend), and suddenly your whole feed is beardos slicing logs up into lumber. The same holds true for any other subject, including sustainability, where influencers and brands touting their world-saving cred love to talk at you from the other side of the screen.
I'm back, lashing the backlash (against EVs)
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I'm back, lashing the backlash (against EVs)
On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed new rules that determine what percentage of new U.S. cars should be electric. Like the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is good stuff.
The alternative democracy
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The alternative democracy
Ooooh, check out that headline. Alternative democracy. Conjures up images of smoky rooms and cigar-munching power-brokers, right? Maybe you think I’m about to whisper stories of quietly influential cabals where a handful of individuals grip the tillers of corporate control. Uh… yup, that’s about right. Yes, I am ok.
Comments - Snow stories - by Joe Brown - one5c
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Snow stories
It briefly seemed like the season was going to pass without a big snowstorm again. With spring in sight, winter 2023 had delivered our part of the Northeast a half a foot of rain. As for snow, around eight inches total, spread between a handful of events that were more prediction than production. None of it stuck around longer than a day or so, before what used to be an unseasonable afternoon melted it.
My friend the greenwasher
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My friend the greenwasher
Hi. I know you’re busy, but I need you to get to the end of this newsletter. In the hopes of making that happen, here’s an outline of this note. Read whatever tickles your toes, but please please pretty please get to Section 3: A captivating anecdote with a poignant message How that anecdote connects to meaningful climate action Something really important that I need you to do.It will only take five minutes I PROMISE So if you only have five minutes for one5c today, no problem.
How to spot greenwash
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How to spot greenwash
What’s this? one5c on a Wednesday?! Yeah, I was in the neighborhood, thought I’d stop by. I missed you last week, and I didn’t feel like waiting. Let’s talk about greenwashing! If you look at the numbers, it’s clear that sustainability is, more than ever, not a niche topic. And global warming is a mainstream cultural fact, accepted even by those who roll up to the FEMA tent in a coal-rolling pickup.
Clean up after your dog
A while back, I sent an email to some friends and family: Please send me a picture of your cute dog. I got three responses: My mom, my in-laws, and my friend Aaron, who wrote, “you sound like you’re fun at a party.” I am fun at a party. I won’t scowl at your sliders or comment on your red Solo cups—and I will loudly proclaim that keg stands are the sustainable choice. But Aaron, who hasn’t been up past 9PM since the year 2000, wasn’t being sincere.
Four easy environmental new year’s resolutions that anyone can keep
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Four easy environmental new year’s resolutions that anyone can keep
Forgive me, but I’m going to assume that your relationship with New Year’s resolutions is, like mine, complicated. I mean that in a vintage facebook relationship-status kind of way: It’s complicated, which, back in the innocent early days of social media, usually meant that whatever you had going on, it wasn’t binding. Because that’s how New Year’s resolutions seem to work.
Quick reminder: Mulch your tree
Ho ho ho! I know I said I wasn’t going to publish again until 2023, but I realized I had neglected to drop this once-a-year trick into your inboxes: Mulch your Christmas tree. It’s important. Trees are a well-established method of keeping planet-warming carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. And though agroforestry has its downsides—like the emissions of the equipment used to do the farming—these trees sequester carbon as well. An acre of farmed Christmas trees can suck more than out of the air.
Holiday Hit: You don't need tape
Tomorrow is a special day: our anniversary! One year since I hit send on the firstone5c newsletter and you stepped up to start saving the world. It’s been a privilege to spend the past 12 months with you, learning and talking about the impact each of us can have. Of course, there are a lot more of you now, which never ceases to astonish me. Even more astonishing are those who reach out every day to discuss newsletters, float ideas, and even just offer support. How do you find the time?
Unpopular opinions
Whoa. It is absolutely December, coming up on a year since I started invading your inbox. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. I have! I mean, I’ve been enjoying some of it. Writing, as any honest writer will tell you, sucks for about 80 percent of the time. (The other 20 percent is that addictive flow state that keeps us coming back.) But the research and interviews have been one-thousand-million-trillion-percent amazing. I’ve spent most of the past year learning.
Potentially illegal, possibly dangerous, but definitely efficient
We’re obsessed with cars. This is true here in the U.S., of course, but we’re part of a global phenomenon, not a gas-addled outlier. Germany has its high-speed autobahn, a beautiful asphalt monument to speed. The Japanese auto industry turned compact cars from cheap metal into an artform. Spend any time in Kenya, and you’ll likely catch a ride in one of the lavishly decorated matatus, which are as much a cultural institution as a decentralized public transit network.
The climate is on the ballot
I’ll keep this short (ish) because the headline is the punchline. I try to avoid writing about politics, because politics suck. They’re toxic and divisive, and one5c is a place where people of all perspectives and beliefs can come for information about how they can protect one fundamental asset we all have in common. This election, though, is too important. It is both a real danger and a huge opportunity.
Slow ride, take it easy (on š)
Over the past three years I have been low-key freaking out aboutā¦ my frequent flier status. Yeah, I know. Itās embarrassing. When the COVID curtain came down, the first thing I thought about was keeping my family safe. The second thing was buying beans and some weird disinfectant I still have in the basement.
Sustainable underpants?
Thanks, everyone, for your patience with my jacked up publishing schedule lately. I’m on the biweekly tip because of some consulting stuff through the end of the year, and I don’t like to hit send while there’s a major natural disaster slamming into so many of your lives. I don’t imagine there’s anything I can do for anyone reading this who’s been affected by the storm, but if you ask, I promise I'll try.
Your old phone is a badge of honor
If you follow tech news, or use Twitter, or read certain sections of those artists formerly known as newspapers, you likely heard that Apple released new iPhones the other day. As with every handset that company has made in the past 15 years, a parade of spokesfolk touted it as the best, fastest, most must-have-est piece of technology ever produced. And, you know, sure. Whether you’re on team Android or iOS, your phone is extremely important.
There is no such thing as cold
You walk outside. The frigid air could turn water into ice. You wear a heavy down coat to keep from shivering and thick wool socks to keep your feet from going numb. Inside, you burn gas or oil and maybe even light a wood fire to stay warm. You are freezing. Galactically speaking, you’re in the tropics. In outer space, the average temperature runs around minus 455 degrees Fahrenheit.
The science says you should party now
It happened. The Inflation Reduction Act passed both houses of Congress, and barring some kind of Scooby Doo villain-unmasking situation, will soon be signed by President Biden. This means funding for emissions-lowering tech is about to be law. Money to make heat pumps, wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles. Money to retrofit and build new factories. Money to heat and cool public housing with non-polluting fuels. Money to clean up abandoned mines, and more.
What you need to know about bioplastics
Last week, Coca Cola announced that it was evicting Sprite from the lime-green plastic bottle it has lived in since the 1970s. From now on, those who obey their thirst will grab clear bottles from the cooler. Coke’s reason: The uncolored stuff is easier to recycle. The greenwashing jokes just write themselves, folks. So yeah, don’t give too much thought to this announcement.
What the hell just happened?
I try to keep it positive. Not just in this email, but offline as well. This is partially the way I’m built, but it’s also a choice that keeps me from shutting down in the face of terrible news. Of which we have plenty. For the past several months, though, I’ve been uncharacteristically angry. I’ve been angry, specifically, at Joe Manchin. This hasn’t been some background simmer, but a full-on rage boil.
You have the power to lower fuel costs
Anybody else tired of talking about gasoline? The price is up; the price is down—but it might go up again, look out! There’s nothing anyone can do about how much it costs because the market is a wild animal with mathematics for teeth. Blah blah blah. Last year it seemed like we were cruising away from petroleum: The administration was making the right noises, we saw incredible growth in the renewable energy sector, and tons of EVs were rolling towards the market. Then Putin invaded Ukraine.
How to talk about climate action without sounding like a jerk
Ah, Fourth of July: that dreamy set of summer days when we gather with family and friends, get drunk, and light shit on fire. Truly, there is no more American holiday. And this year we will spend a lot of it discussing the state of our country. Ugh. There is, obviously, a lot to talk about beyond the environment, but today’s Supreme Court ruling really kneecapped the EPA and its authority under the Clean Air Act. This is a disaster.
How long should you keep your gadgets?
Hey now! I got a lot of messages after last week’s email. Not quite duck-level, but a fair number of you reached out to ask how long you should expect to hold onto your personal gear. Break out the tiny spoons, because I’ve got a sample: That’s a good question.
You can fix it
The other day I went for a bike ride and stopped to meet some friends at a local diner. I leaned my bike up against the wall next to our outdoor table and we chatted for an hour while I drank everyone’s water. It was hot. I have a hand-me-down GPS bicycle computer that tells me how slow I am, and when I got back to my bike, the little black-and-white screen looked like I had rabbit-punched it in frustration.
Write your bank a breakup note
Or something like that. For most of us, banks are like big digital drawers: We put our money in them so we don’t lose it. We take out what we need when we need it. Sometimes we open the drawer to peek, hoping that everything is as we left it. Often there is less than we remembered, and that is sad because who wants to choose between ice cream and beer. But unlike an actual drawer, your dollars don’t just sit idle.
Your zero-waste shopping list
One annoying part about trying to be an everyday environmentalist is how often you run into a price tag. Use less energy to heat and cool your house! That can be a $40,000 HVAC overhaul. Work from home and skip the pollute-commute! Not everyone is lucky enough to stare at a screen all day for money. Switch to an EV and stop spewing CO2! That’s tens of thousands of dollars, and your car still works. Fortunately, some measures can actually save you cash; cutting down on food waste is one.
Are you gonna eat that?
Hello. I wrote you a haiku: This, a strawberry It is the springtime’s best fruit You can eat it whole Before you throw your phone across the room and mutter something about how the internet is a rotten tree, fecund with ripe stupidity (fair) and that I’ve lost my mind (¯\_(ツ)_/¯), tell me if this photo looks familiar: Do you chop the tops off your berries? If so, you’re throwing away one of the most beneficial parts of the fruit. Strawberry leaves contain iron, calcium, and vitamin C.
GUEST BLOG: Are You Gonna Eat That?
GUEST BLOG: Are You Gonna Eat That? Written by: Joe Brown, One5C May 13, 2022 In the U.S., consumers waste more food in homes than any sector of the food supply chain each year. From making better use of leftovers to learning how to minimize spoilage by properly storing perishable foods, consumers have a direct hand in reducing residential waste.
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