life & style // no. 16 The ECO-nomist and buying organic » When it’s important, and when you can probably avoid it. Brittney MacDonald 8 Life & Style Editor M lifeandstyle @theotherpress.ca Bos organic can be confusing; I mean, how do you know if it’s even worth paying all that extra cost? Sure, many people say it’s healthier, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is. As we all know, sometimes people are just as full of shit as the gardens they’re advocating. Lucky for all of us non-health nuts who are looking to help the environment, or to just be a bit nicer to our bodies, there are two lists that tell us the do’s and don'ts of organic shopping. They’re called the Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen. According to davidsuzuki. com, the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 are lists of fruits and vegetables “..that are the most and least contaminated by pesticide use, according to the Environmental Working Group [an organization devoted to the promotion and education of healthy living].” This is important, because pesticides are notoriously bad for the environment, and are responsible for some of the worst health problems—they’ve been linked to various forms of cancer, metal poisoning, tumors, : respiratory issues, and the list : goes on. : I'd like to point out that these : : two lists are just guides; they’re : not intended to make you afraid : of purchasing certain fruits and : vegetables, or consuming them. : They are just meant to better : : inform you about when it matters : : to buy organic, and when you can : : probably get away with saving : your pocket change. So without further ado, the : Dirty Dozen (in order of most to : least contaminated) are: * Apples * Celery * Sweet bell peppers * Peaches * Strawberries * Nectarines * Grapes * Spinach * Lettuce * Cucumbers * Blueberries * Potatoes If you've noticed a pattern, : then you're probably very, very : smart. Pesticide tends to be used ? more on aromatic fruits, because : the sweet smell will attract : insects who can ruin the crop. It : also tends to be used on fruits : and vegetables that we don’t peel. : Any fruit or veggie skin that we : can consume, an insect can as : well. That may or may not have : been a hint at what the Clean : 15 list contains. In order of : least contaminated to most (relatively speaking, nothing on : this list is in particular danger of : contamination), the Clean 15 are: * Onions * Sweet Corn * Pineapples * Avocado * Cabbage * Sweet peas * Asparagus * Mangoes * Eggplant * Kiwi * Cantaloupe * Sweet potatoes * Grapefruit * Watermelon * Mushrooms Fruits and veggies that : have hard skins usually tend : to be safe from contamination. : Not only because insects have : a hard time getting into them, : but also because a hard shell : will prevent any pesticide from : reaching the part of the fruit or : vegetable you actually eat. And, : like the Dirty Dozen, smell is : also a major factor. Insects are : just as receptive to smell as we : are, perhaps even more so. This : means that if the raw form of a : fruit or vegetable has an offensive : smell, like onions, or no smell at : all, like mushrooms, insects will : avoid it. No insects, no reason for : pesticide. theotherpress.ca Image via www.thegayuk.com The big apple » Tech powerhouse introduces their upcoming lineup and product updates Aaron Guillen Contributor hey’ve done it again, folks! Apple has revealed their new : : than their predecessor, as well : asa 5MP front-facing camera : guaranteed to enhance your : selfies. And, for the first time, : youll be able to watch your question. Speaking of which, the : photos. How? With Live Photos, iPhones this year are bound to be : : the camera will automatically : record one second before and : after so you can experience the : moment all over again. The : iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will start : at the cost of $899 and $1029 : respectively. They are available : for pre-order already and will be : in stores on September 25. line of products ready to hit the shelves before the end of the year. As usual, consumers will be ready to hand over their cash faster than you can ask Siri a a hit if you love the little bonuses added into the latest edition. With the addition of a Rose Gold model, it’s sure to sell to those who want to proudly show they’ve got the newest phone on the market. To somewhat of a surprise, the new iPhones, the 6S and 65+, look exactly the same their predecessors, but with all-new features that will have you dying to get your hands on them. With 3D Touch, an exclusive update to the most recent phones, users will be able to peek into photos, documents, or dates without leaving their original spot. If Apple has learned one : thing, it’s that having effortless : accessibility is where it’s at. : Additionally, the newer models : have a12MP back-facing camera, one and a half times clearer whenever you capture a photo To much awe, the iPad Pro was revealed. The largest iPad : to date, measuring 12.9 inches : across and boasting a four- : speaker audio system, it will : begin release in November with : a US price tag (Canadian will : be higher) starting at $799. The : most surprising announcement : of the day was the Apple Pencil. : Promoted as a must-have : accessory to the newest iPad, it : provides detail to any project or : sketch. The Apple Pencil will be : sold in the States for $99, and be : released alongside the iPad Pro. With constant updates, it : was undeniable for Apple to : improve upon its watch and TV : products. The updated watchOS : 2 Introduces new watch faces : from around the world, a : nightstand mode, an advanced : activation lock, and Time Travel, : an organized way of seeing what : is expected tomorrow, varying : from weather to appointments. : Lastly, a revised remote was : introduced for the Apple TV to : highlight Siri integration and : an all-new touch interface. The new Apple TV has yet to have an : announced release date but is : already priced at $149 south of : the border. As this year winds down, it seems like Apple’s is just : beginning to rev up once again : fora profitable year. Image via Apple