Monday, November 26, 2012

Information Age


I mentioned this article, 7 Free Education Websites You Don't Want to Miss, to my aunt & told her I’d email the link but she suggested posting to the blog so everyone could access it.  Aw, the information age… it’s all right at our fingertips.

Enjoy!


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Getting Political



American’s have it good.  America is a beautiful, vast & diverse county.  I am thankful & proud to have been born, raised & living here.  

That being said, there is some room for improvement.

I would like for everyone to be aware of the power of his or her time & money… hours & dollars are votes, all year round.   The people have the power to shape the present & the future.   Let’s demand transparency & focus.  Let’s work TOGETHER instead of against each other… why should we have to choose one set of good ideas/policies over another… why can’t we say, these are the best ideas to prioritize now, work on that.  Show me results. 

In essence every person is the boss of those in charge… we put them there, we keep them there, it is our responsibility to fairly manage their actions while they are in power.

My opinion is that spending of well over one BILLION dollars on campaigning against each other is unacceptable…  we must put an end to this so in four years we don’t waste two BILLION dollars.


Get out & vote, today & everyday!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Finally




"I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out until sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." -- John Muir

Friday, August 3, 2012

Education


Check out NPR's & TED's Radio Hour episode: Building A Better Classroom.  The story on Virgina teacher, John Hunter’s World Peace Game, was inspiring & gave me hope that perhaps future generations truly can do a better job than the ones before.

Giving children quality education is the key!


Monday, July 30, 2012

I ♥ cities


Great documentary, watch it when you get the chance.  It's important to remember that no matter what your profession you have the power to shape your city, as the public truly has the largest voice.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Rails-to-Trails

























My mom just told me about bicycling “rails-to-trails” around Lake Mead, I had never heard of the conservancy. Now that I am in the know, I am a big fan.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., whose mission it is to create a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines & connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.

Check out a trail near you, traillink.

Help build a trail near you, railstotrails!



 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

America’s Best Idea

I can’t wait to get to Sequoia National Park & get my hammock up!

Want some inspiration to get to a National Park yourself?  Watch Ken Burns’ series on the history of America’s National Parks currently streaming on Netflix.

The National Parks: America’s Best Idea

Friday, May 4, 2012

Monday, April 23, 2012

Earth Day 2012


Earth Day is a yearly reminder to connect to nature: its cycles, seasons, the sun & moon, water…

Practicing respect for the earth’s beauty & abundance can teach us compassion & gratitude.  Compassion & gratitude lead to happiness.  Love & peace are happiness.  Happy people equals a happy planet.

I've been pondering, what if humans turned towards our mother earth instead of god (our father…) for guidance?  Worshiping ecology, balance & the unity between all things.   Could we all agree that the goal is to create the best world for ourselves & future generations?  That would be nice.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Composting



I noticed that last Earth Day I did a post on composting, dirt, here is a follow up:


One year later I am both composting & vermiposting.  We have been composting by digging a hole in the ground (large, 3' x 3' x 3' is ideal, ours are usually smaller) & throwing cut up kitchen & yard scraps into the hole.  We water & turn it approximately every 2 weeks, adding carbon-containing material (dry leaves or straw) if it starts to be too wet or begins to rot.  

It’s amazing how quickly raw compost breaks down.

After a hole has been added to for some time, a few months perhaps, we retire that hole & start another.  After a few more months that hole will be finished & the finished compost or humus added to soil & potted plants as an amendment/fertilizer.

When cooking we keep a large bowl or container on the counter adding eggs shells, peels, cores, veggie/fruit parts, dryer lint, etc. to the bowl.   The very best of the scraps go to the worms who get fed three times a week or less (I have gone a week or two without even looking at them), the remaining scraps get cut up a bit smaller or not & thrown into the compost when we get around to it. 

Knowing what I know now, I recommend vermiposting for apartment dwellers, the hole in the ground method for people with limited space & the ability to dig the hole (a loving husband in my case) & repurposed recycle/trash bins for those who have the space.

There are many other methods & options of course, large woodbins can look nice or you can just use a large plastic storage bin you may have laying around.  Check out what your city offers, they may have free or discounted containers or if you are super lucky your city already collects green waste along side trash & recycling.

So compost, please, create your own nutrient rich soil amendment while reducing the volume, carbon dioxide, methane & nitrous oxide in our landfills.  

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Age of Empathy


Ever wonder how to make the world a better place?   Simple answer: Service

The more individuals that take problems into their own hands, teaching, sharing, helping, engaging, connecting, supporting, doing something instead of waiting for someone or some government the better.

An encouraging read: Arianna Huffington on the Rise of Empathy in America

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Gratitude



Louie Schwartzberg TED talk
Wings of life

RIP Mindalin Grado Surakus

My cousin Mindy passed this week, she was only 32 & leaves behind a 3 year old son.  


From the time I was very young I loved Mindy.  When she moved to Alaska I dedicated this song to her,  "I see the moon, the moon sees me, the moon sees the one I loved to see. So god bless the moon & god bless me, & god bless the one I'd loved to see.  It seems to me that god above created you for me to love, he picked you out from all the rest, because he knew I'd love you the best."

I always think of Mindy when noticing the moon & I always will.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Smart Design

Green Leaf, an enormous new sustainable garden city will integrate architecture & nature to provide low-energy, high-density housing is currently under construction in Dhaka, one of the most crowded & polluted cities on the planet. 

Love it!

Read more Green Leaf & Co.Exist.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year

These ideals of Ma'at are pretty nice & made me think of New Year's resolutions.  

Best wishes for 2012!