AliveAndKickN

A Hi Def President?

As I watch the Democratic debate on CNNHD, I can't help but think that HDTV is going to contribute to who gets elected.  Barack's ears.  Hilary's teeth and makeup (always tougher for women).  McCain's cheeks.  Mitt's hair.  If there were televisions in every household in the 1930's, would FDR have been elected?  Conversely, if televisions weren't so prevelant in the 60's, does Kenendy get elected over Nixon?  In an effort to hep with this maze of information, a friend gave me another site, votegopher.  You can do your own homework from here. 

By the way, if you haven't noticed the price increases on a whole lot of items that are affected by petroleum, you will soon.  I paid over $50 for a case of 50% recycled FSC paper at Staples the other day.  When basic paper costs half that much, it makes it hard to do the right thing.  I'll just need to remind the troops to print on both sides and avoid printing until the final product is done (print preview/file sharing anybody?).  If I wasn't married to my fax number for business, I'd switch to efax if possible.       

How can I become a mattress professional?

In talking politics with my father-in-law, again, I find my views questioned by the stuff he hears/reads about.  There are rumors going around about the various candidates, including one about Obama's involvement in the assassination of McKinley.  With all of the information out in the blogsphere, what counts as insight and what is hooey?  Some of the blogs out there are being called into question about their angles and their goals.  Do they want to smear or tout a certain product to sell?  Do they want you to think and make decisions on your own?  My goal for Aliveandkickn is to make you think.  Just getting through the day shouldn't be enough. 

I don't claim to be a nutritionist, but I'm of the opinion that food without chemicals or petroleum based processing is usually better for you.  I'm not an engineer, but I'm of the opinion that fewer watts/therms is better for the environment and your wallet.  And since I do have a political science degree, I can give the expert opinion that most people in positions of authority do wish to help others, but sometimes have their own needs/obligations blind them to options. 

Super Tuesday is less than a week away.  If you are in a state that is involved in what many are calling the first "national primary" in history, I urge you to make an informed decision.  Go to an official web site and get the answers direct, and take the information at face value until proven otherwise.

Thank you for my soapbox time.  I need to finish my rebate paperwork, so I can get $50 back on my front-loading energy efficient washing machine.  Then I need to take some baking soda and vinegar to clear a clog in the shower.       

My Wings of War

With all of the hype about Super Tuesday, I feel concerned that the upcoming football game, AKA the Super Bowl, isn't getting enough due.  So, in honor of a hopefully decent representation by my Giants, I have offered to divulge my trade secret wings recipe, which can be found in Paul Prudhomme's Seasoned America cookbook:

Season Mix - 2 teaspoons each kosher salt and paprika, 1 teaspoon each cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder, and white pepper.

2 dozen wings or a few pounds of boneless chicken thighs or breasts (great for sandwiches)

Stick and a half of butter

2 tablespoons or more hot sauce/tabasco

Let the chicken come to room temperature.  Melt half of the butter with a tablespoon of hot sauce and pour over the chicken, along with half of the seasoning mix.  Mix well.  Heat 2 cups vegetable oil over high heat.  When very hot, add the chicken in batches enough to fit in a single layer.  Fry 12 minutes or so (each side about 6 minutes).  Drain on paper towels and repeat the remaining chicken.  Once done, melt the rest of the butter with a tablespoon or so of tabasco and pour over chicken with the remainder of the seasoning.  Mix again and serve with sides.

For the dressing, skip the jar if possible and make homemade:

Quarter cup each mayonnaise and sour cream.  1 cup crumbled roquefort, blue cheese or gorgonzola.  1 tablespoon each lemon juice and finely chopped chives.  1/4 teaspoon salt.  1-2 teaspoons milk or water.  Mix well.  Serve with celery, carrots, seedless cucumber sticks, cauliflower. 

As always, buy organic where possible, compost the vegetable scraps and recycle the beer bottles.   

Anyone else feel helpless?

As I listen to the State of the Union address, I start to feel, in one simple word, helpless.  Do others feel this way or am I in the minority?  I don't know.  I look at the topic du jour, the economy.  The smartest financial people out there have created the system that must be working, right?  The money makers must deserve what they earn.  To me, the concept of handing out checks to people so they will spend it immediately and support this airline of an economy seems bizarre.  And what should we spend it on?  Besides some of the local food we grow, not much is made in the U.S. anymore.  And the people who fell victim to subprime policies are being bailed out somewhat.  What about us poor saps who pay our mortgage bills on time?  Do we deserve anything for the effort?  When the financial wizards made money hand over fist over the years, what did they give back?   

Then I listen to the message about the U.S. and its place in the world.  Is an "us versus them" mentality absolutely necessary?  Do countries always need enemies in order to exist?  I was too young to remember Vietnam, but I certainly remember the cold war with Russia.  Can't we be like Switzerland where we just yell "We make cheese, watches and ski, and vow to be neutral."  Then I look at the elected leaders I saw on screen.  When I considered political life, I was asked if I was rich, stupid or both.  If the odds of election reform changing are slim, how can we expect things to change for the better?  Incumbents have millions to spend and challengers need to raise a similar amount just to compete.  Then, when someone actually gets elected, half the time in office is spent raising more money in order to get re-elected.  Who has time to focus on anything more than a few years out? 

Then I think further to our way of life.  How can I fight the tide?  I can't just walk everywhere so I need to take my car.  I go to the supermarket or anywhere in public, and everything is packaged food and drink.  So little is fresh and natural.  When my kids get their weekly colds, I give them pharmaceutical whatever.  And when's the last time a movie was made where the future was actually positive? 

So many of my friends have come up to me since I started writing the blog, telling me that I'm an inspiration, but that they just don't have time to make a difference.  Maybe our leaders silently want us to feel this way so we'll be like sheep and just take it.  Well I've taken it up the wazoo for the last 12 years, and I refuse to go away quietly.                   

Cleats and Clowns

Yesterday, my morning SpongeBob routine with the kids was interrupted by a series of commercials back to back.  One was for Burger King touting their latest giveaway to bring kids into their stores and the next was from Pediasure, touting the ability to make up for all of the nutritional pitfalls with one single can.  I had a marketing epiphany - What if they were to sell Happy Meals with Pediasure drinks?  It would be perfect.  Picture a nice fall/spring weekend morning.  You put the kids in the SUV to go to the first game.  Stop at the drive thru and you could get all the fried steroid infused clone meat (call it the Cleat and tie it in with youth soccer/football/baseball) and wash it down with a can of artificial chocolaty goodness (negates all of the bad stuff for the rest of the day).  The perfect Pharmameal! Yumm!!  After the first game, every player gets at least 2 bags of chips and/or cookies with their high fructose corn syrup sports drink (throw the bottles away). Later in the car on the way to the next game, you can give the kids yogurt in a tube for a snack.  2 more bags of snacks after the next game and you're pooped.  So, after long day of covering suburbia, give the kids Lunchables for dinner as you head out for a good steak dinner w/fettucine alfredo and a blooming onion at TGI Olive Garden Houlihan.  Don't forget to wash it all down with some Glucerna at the end.   

I wish those damn video games would stop making the kids sick.   

What if....we made a list (and checked it more than once)?

If you haven't been frustrated by the political debates, you don't need to read further.  First of all, there have been too many, and second, the questions for the most part have been inconsequential.  I have argued that energy and agriculture are one in the same.  Maybe I should have realized sooner that reporting and entertainment are one in the same.  Here's an idea.  Why don't we make a list of things of issue that we seem to care about - say every four years.  Then, we as a country can decide whether or not we care.  Do we care about polar bears and bengal tigers?  Do we care about rainforest preservation and polar ice melting?  Do we care about all of the nutritional disease-states being created and the massive amount of institutionalized care necessary in the future to accommodate this?  Do we care that government subsidies are going to many corporations that are generating billions in profit?  I'm sure there are more, but you get my point.  Once the master list is complete, we can actually make some decisions.  If we care about the environment, we do everything we can to protect it now, not starting in the next election cycle with a 2% reduction every 20 years.  If we care about saving endangered species that keep the ecosystem in tact (remember the wolf?), then we do something about it.  If we would like to see our children live healthy lives and not bankrupt an already failing healthcare system, we do something about it now. 

Of course if all that matters is quarterly earnings, pro athletes on steroids, or Chuck Norris' opinion on age, we can decide that as well.        

When in Utica...do as the Trojans do

I apologize for being away, but I decided to spend my economic stimulus rebate on a business trip to western NY, of course in January.  If the 7am strip-search at Newark airport wasn't enough, the peanuts for breakfast was a bonus (I brought my organic banana).  After the 45-minute traditional runway delay, we takeoff for the 18-minute flight and immediately begin our decent into Rochester.  I view the snow covered scenery and can see how some discount global warming (would decisionmakers be more environmentally minded if Wall Street or our Captial was somewhere more prone to climate swings?).  I had packed my bear naked chocolate granola as a snack, so when it came time for meals and the choices ranged between Applebee's and Dunkin Donuts, I was at least somewhat full when it came time to order (I had a spinach salad and tomato soup).  After visiting a few clients in Rochester, it was time to shuffle off to Buffalo for my conference.

Dinner was out of chafing dishes while standing and talking - wings (Buffalo), pizza, and some meat on a roll (I think it was turkey).  Once again, since I had been snacking throughout the day, I wasn't starved, so I had few wings and saved the calories for the Labatt's Blue, and a few dove chocolates.  The Hilton Garden Inn had a breakfast buffet only, so you had the choice of the $12 gorging, or nothing.  I chose made-to-order pancakes as an option since I got in a workout (no butter or syrup however).  I had some grapefruit, mango and blueberries with the pancakes and stopped there.  The waitress surprised me with a $2.50 check since I only had the pancakes and fruit.  I gave her a $5 tip.  After a few more meetings, Linner before getting on the plane home was at a local Italian eatery and it was very good.  A cup of Pasta Fagoli and grilled chicken/artichoke heart panini hit the spot. 

From an eco-standpoint, I give the trip a 50/50 split.  I was pleased that the companies I met with were all (or were in the process of) FSC certified for their paper used and recycled paper and chemicals properly.  However, only one facility had energy efficient lighting, so there was a lot of room for improvement (including financial).  I was disappointed in the airports in that there were no recycling bins, and that Newark airport's brand new parking garage has inefficient lighting.  Hopefully the trash is sorted later. 

It's good to be home and breathing in the fresh smell of the NJ Turnpike once again.            

I should be so lucky

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama gave a speech in Atlanta in rememberance of MLK.  One piece of the speech moved me so much that I felt it important enough to post:

"The stories that give me such hope don't happen in the spotlight. They don't happen on the presidential stage. They happen in the quiet corners of our lives. They happen in the moments we least expect. Let me give you an example of one of those stories.

There is a young, twenty-three year old white woman named Ashley Baia who organizes for our campaign in Florence, South Carolina. She's been working to organize a mostly African-American community since the beginning of this campaign, and the other day she was at a roundtable discussion where everyone went around telling their story and why they were there.

And Ashley said that when she was nine years old, her mother got cancer. And because she had to miss days of work, she was let go and lost her health care. They had to file for bankruptcy, and that's when Ashley decided that she had to do something to help her mom.

She knew that food was one of their most expensive costs, and so Ashley convinced her mother that what she really liked and really wanted to eat more than anything else was mustard and relish sandwiches. Because that was the cheapest way to eat.

She did this for a year until her mom got better, and she told everyone at the roundtable that the reason she joined our campaign was so that she could help the millions of other children in the country who want and need to help their parents too.

So Ashley finishes her story and then goes around the room and asks everyone else why they're supporting the campaign. They all have different stories and reasons. Many bring up a specific issue. And finally they come to this elderly black man who's been sitting there quietly the entire time. And Ashley asks him why he's there. And he does not bring up a specific issue. He does not say health care or the economy. He does not say education or the war. He does not say that he was there because of Barack Obama. He simply says to everyone in the room, "I am here because of Ashley."

If you had an "Ashley" in your life, what would you be willing to do for him/her?

If I slept, I would have a dream..

In honor of Martin Luther King, I have created my own dream.  Assuming I ever slept, this would be mine:

Parents would care more about what they and their kids consume as opposed to which soccer team they were on or if they got into an Ivy league college.

Corporations would care more about the quality of the products they make or the damage they do to the environment as opposed to how much profit they earn.

Representatives would care more about the people they serve than the finances of individuals and corporations that make their campaigns.

In general, people would realize that the shortcuts, loopholes, waste, and corruptive practices that take place today have consequences for others tomorrow, including their own children. 

Instead of people saying they are too busy and don't have time to do something about the issues, they actually make the time to do something about it.  Convenience is easy in the short run.  Quality for the long haul requires some effort and sacrifice.

Develop long term strategies and practices that make sense.

On the radio today, I was briefly listening to a commentary by an expert on the economics of slavery.  According to the conversation, at the time of the civil war, slaves in the US were worth roughly $3 billion as a commodity, second only to the amount of land in the United States.  This would equal roughly $70 billion today.  So when someone says you can't take on the food or pharmaceutical lobby (are they separate?), energy or healthcare lobby, or any other issues that need addressing, think about what we've accomplished previously, and the benefits that came from it.      

Just a dream? 

Life is too short for cheap wine

How many of us are familiar with the term recommending expensive wine because the cheap stuff is just that.  But if you've seen the reports on television or read about it in places like EdibleJersey, you'd see that it's just not the case.  Inexpensive isn't necessarily cheap, and just because it's from Jersey (or New York), it can be just as good as California and Europe.  And with a focus on reducing emissions and distances from farm to table, it makes for a good environmental idea as well.  Some of the wineries that have achieved accolades while still producing enough quantities to be mass market include Cape May Winery, Alba Vineyard, and Almathea Cellars.  No whining.  Salut!

Are we short on cows?

Thank goodness, we can finally make more and more cows, and all with the benefit of science!!  Cloned cows and their stuff will shortly be hitting the market to coincide with the steroid-infused cows we've been consuming already.  The FDA approved the sale of meat and milk from cloned animals yesterday. In addition, the FDA will not require any special procedures for tracking or handling food products from clones.  It will not require labeling of any kind on food products from clones or their offspring, depriving consumers of their right to know about the origins of their food.

You can do something.  It happened in Pennsylvania where the state issued new guidelines regarding labeling so that they are not misleading.  A dairy can actually label its milk as coming "from cows not treated with rBST" as long as there is a disclaimer indicating "The FDA says no significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-treated and non-rBST-treated cows."  Demand for milk not treated with rBST is growing, so keep up the good work.

I am convinced that Al Queda is behind the 5 million additional nutritional disease states taking place in the US.  Otherwise, the federal government wouldn't be so concerned with them, right?  In Freakonomics, it discussed the economics of fear.  Fear thrives in the present tense.  The odds of being killed in a terrorist attack are remote when compared to dying slowly from crap food and heart disease.  But since terrorist attacks are beyond our control and fries are not, the parental death factor takes over.  It's the same with guns and swimming pools.  Which issue would Congress fund more?             

Sign the petition here if you are inclined:

http://ga3.org/campaign/clone_pledge?rk=M7sMCu1qlR45W

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Labels (#3 of many)...Cars and Cards

As I was driving home last night from a screening of "Two Angry Moms" (aside from the organic farmer, I was the only guy in the room), I realized that I had not wished my brother a happy birthday.  At a stoplight, as my IPod was blasting the Goo Goo Dolls' "Better Days", I whipped out the Blackberry and I sent him a heartfelt happy birthday text.  You could feel the love going through airwaves.  Does this method of wellwishing make me environmentally conscious (no trees were killed in making this text)?  Or does it make me callous and uncaring about theoretical Hallmark moments?  I truly wanted to share my deepest thoughts about how I felt about my brother turning 46, and without a card, it just wasn't there.  Regrets, regrets, regrets...

As I continued home, it was snowing, but I couldn't help notice the cars on the highway and the way they were driving. It could have been my imagination, but I took notice of the big SUV drivers (Escalade, Navigator, etc).  The ones that were tailgating me (I felt like a rabbit being chased by the hounds, as I was doing 70) were driven by men.  The ones that were changing lanes randomly seemed to be driven by women.  Most seemed to be on the phone (I assume wishing my brother happy birthday).  I started thinking about my minivan filled with toilet paper and sports equipment.  What did my car say about me, and what did their cars say about them?  Do I care enough to use a small V6 engine, even though I need something big enough to take either the whole family, half a team, cases of stuff and/or all of the above.  Maybe I don't need to compensate for something else.   

      

Weekly Grub and how I get buy

If you're anything like me, there are a million things to do during the week.  Cooking for the family daily just isn't always an option.  So, to keep from falling into the trap of takeout several times/week, I cook in bulk when I can (also saves on energy by using the stove only once or twice/week).  Obviously you keep the staples on hand for when you are at home, but in my house, I make stuff you can take with you (my kids get hungry as soon as they get into the car).  On any given weekend, I'll make chicken cutlets, 3-foot hero sandwiches (put some greens on them and cut them into slices for lunches), grilled vegetables, egg or tuna salad, and any leftover steak/chicken can be sliced up and portioned ahead of time.  I use the carcass from a turkey or chicken to make stock.  Homemade baking tastes great and the smell is enticing.  As the week progresses, you can mix and match options to use things up.  If you have some cheese, it can be shredded or sliced and put on a sandwich.  Add some pasta or brown rice, and you have a meal at home.  Cut up some vegetables (including frozen) and use as a side and/or put in with some broth to make soup.  We also eat a lot of peanut butter (and nutella), but only in the house as there tends to be allergy issues in school/at sports, etc. 

When it comes to sending the monsters to school, try to vary what is sent.  Raisins/dried fruit, dark chocolates, homemade cookies or brownies, and obviously fresh fruit such as apples or bananas usually hit the spot.  Sending lunch helps you control nutritional content and keep costs down.  It's certainly better than Lunchables and Burger King.  As always, try to use as little packaging as possible.  I like to use aluminum foil and tupperware so they return it for recycling or reuse.  In addition, try to buy organic and local where possible.  Visit the local farmer's market if it's on the way to or from home.  Save the supermarket for the sale items (usually the newspaper item coupons are on sale at the supermarket that week - if I can't save 25%, I usually don't put it on my list).  Use and reuse everything, and recycle at the end.

I include the kids in the food activities (I don't call them chores).  If they choose not to participate, they aren't allowed to complain later.  Oh, and sometimes I dress the boys for school the night before, but I don't think that's an option with girls.               

You say Shmita, I say tomato

I believe the term Shmita is Hebrew for arguing about the color of the sky.  Actually according to Maya Norton, Shmita is the Biblical term for "no agriculture to be planted, cultivated, or harvested in the land of Israel" and it takes place every 7 years.  Ecologically, it seems intriguing, as it should be good for the soil.  Without getting into the political issue of what is actually considered Land of Israel, I would rather concentrate on the global implications of Shmita taking place elsewhere.  Can it be done in a large area such as the US, Europe or Asia?  Could it be done on an even larger scale to include the farming of meat and fish?  What if it were a policy, as it is in Israel? 

Good idea or do we not give a shmita?    

Love, Duty, Honor and Sacrifice

When my oldest son was young and cute, and was the only child, he obviously received quite a bit of attention, including us reading to him before bed at night.  One night, as he became old enough, he asked me "What does it mean to love someone?"  My immediate reactionary comment was actually pretty good.  I said "Loving someone is being willing to sacrifice everything for them."  Of course it passed right by him, but it stuck in my head ever since.  Nowadays, you hear words thrown around as if they are interchangeable - Love, Duty, Honor and Sacrifice.  Are they interchangeable or is one word, love, the sum of the others? 

I would be comfortable saying that I love my family, my town, my state, my country, and most of all, my planet.  I would say that just as in marriage (I still remember my wife's pink Benetton sweater the day I first saw her - the one with the huge B on the front), our relationship with the world around us has to have these philosophies.  Is it our duty to do the things that will make our surroundings better?  And if so, what does this include?  Is it civic duty, such as government or volunteer work?  Is it charity work, such as projects and/or donating money?  Is it simply going to work each day to make enough money to support the family?  What about taxes and paying them on time, or at all? 

We honor the men and women serving in uniform, but is this just rhetoric or should it be something more?  Should honor mean going out of your way to establish and uphold the ideals that they are fighting for?  Should we be more accepting and comfortable with those who are different from us, in any way?  Which comes back to sacrifice, which in my opinion, is the biggest part of love.  It's easy to be selfish.  It's easy to want more and consume more.  It's difficult to give up items of convenience (aka not buy stuff), especially when you're on line at the store with a screaming child.      

Calendar Check

In case you weren't aware, February 5th is super Tuesday for the Presidential Race.  If you are in a state that is holding a primary on February 5th, you must make sure that you are registered to vote by a certain date.  As an example, NJ voters need to be registered by January 15.  One way to make sure that you are registered is to go to www.votepoke.org.  It is a site co-sponsored by moveon.org, so they may ask you to be on their email list, but it is not an obligation.  Being involved politically is as important as being involved environmentally.  It is also Blood Donor month, with special giveaways taking place in various locations.  I think there are also drink specials during happy hour.  I'm not sure if it's hug your soccer coach month, but I'm declaring it anyway.  Share the love. 

Is there such thing as product discrimination?

We all know that there are age restrictions and taxes levied on alcohol and cigarettes.  Marijuana usage is illegal except in some medicinal applications.  Is it the ingredients?  Is it the effect on the consumer?  Is it the effect on the second or third-hand person?  If it is based upon ingredients, compare it to pepsi or fruit pies, both of which are readily available to my kids at the local convenience store.  I thought grapes, barley and hops were better for you than high fructose corn syrup and other stuff I can't pronounce.  If it's based upon effects on others, such as impaired driving, compare it to cell phones, eating and drinking takeout, putting on makeup, driving with pets on your lap, and more.  Is it addiction or binges?  I fondly remember guzzling my 64 ounce Mountain Dew at the 7-11 by my high school, as my buddies and I pumped quarters into the Millipede and Gorf machines.  I spent many a sleepness night peeing off the effects.

Why are certain products ostricized while others become and stay mainstream?  Societal benefit?  Anyway, it seems that some consumer groups have gotten together to make a stand.  The Global Dump Soda campaign started last fall seems to have gained some momentum.  And the concept of taxing or putting deposits on bottles and cans also seems to be gaining momentum in New Jersey.  As always, if we aren't willing to change our habits, maybe some revenue can be generated to clean up the mess.         

What if...Election Days and Major Snow Days were Days Off?

If businesses and schools were closed on election day, including retail, would there be a greater voter turnout?  Would it benefit some types of candidates over others?  Similarly, what if businesses were to shut down on major snow days.  If the roads didn't need plowing as often, would it save some highway money, and potentially prevent major tie-ups and further issues?

Sometimes Democracy is a liability

I read today that China was banning free plastic shopping bags.  How is it possible that we can't?  I just hope that they don't turn to paper as the alternative.  Neither is very good.  Reusable canvas to the people!!  Peace out.

If only we had the General instead of the Colonel

In the year 1938 BC (Before Chuck E Cheese), a young man in China created a sauce that was so delicious that he was destined for greatness.  General Tso started using his sauce originally for his delicious (and happy) chicken dishes.  It was so popular that soon he started using his sauce for beef, pork, and even fish.  It worked out fine because he had a farm that could support all of his meals.  He would set the cattle out into one section, followed the next by the chickens, followed next by the pigs, so that the soil was turned over and naturally fertilized by the animals.  Leftover fertilizer from the animals was used for the peppers, onions, rice fields and the sugar used to make the special sauce.  However, things changed.  As General Tso's dishes became more and more popular, he started to get overwhelmed.  So, he added some partners, but they were more concerned about the money than the quality.  Every three months, they demanded that General Tso increase productivity, but concerned about losing customers, they wanted costs to stay low.  Soon, General Tso added some workers from the Americas who they could pay less than local workers, and he increased production.  Trees were cut down and a field each was dedicated to one product - sugar, rice, cows, pigs, chickens, etc.  Unfortunately the soil didn't do well and the run off from the fields began to pollute the drinking water in the river, along with the fish.  General Tso had to start giving the animals medicines to keep them from getting sick and also to fatten them up quicker to keep up with production.  He added sugar and color to the drinks to enhance the flavor. 

Some of the people in the local areas also started to change.  They started getting heavier and more lethargic.  Instead of walking to General Tso's kitchen, they took the oxcart and had the food brought out of General Tso's kitchen to them.  Some even had it brought directly to their own homes.  They started to grow intolerant of sugar, and the rate of internal diseases increased.  The doctors started getting a whole new group of patients, and the medicine men became the wealthiest people in the village, besides General Tso of course.   

At the same time as General Tso was having his "success," other village kitchens started doing the same.  In order to keep competitive, the General began giving away toys to kids in order to get them to eat his food earlier in life, and of course bring in their parents.  Kids started developing adult illnesses sooner in life, so it became more and more difficult for them to play their gamecubes.  Fortunately, both General Tso and the medicine men were there to make fun slogans to entertain children. 

One day, General Tso looked at his previously small kitchen, and he missed it.  He didn't like the effect his kitchen and farm was having on his village and was saddened.  But what about the money and his partners?  So he decided to... 

      

The lights are on, but no one's home

Next time you are going to one of your kid's games at the gym, take a look at the lights in the ceiling.  If they have one bulb (either in a round "hood" fixture or square laying in the ceiling), in all likelihood, they are HID lights (high intensity discharge).  Often times, they hum and can be a dull white to a nice fuzzy yellow.  For many years, these were the standard lights used in high-bay applications (in schools, warehouses, manufacturing, retail).  They produced a lot of light, but used a lot of electricity.  Over the last several years, these lights have been replaced with high-bay fluorescent fixtures.  Fluorescent lights can produce the same amount of light (or more), but with half, sometimes even one-quarter of the electricity.  Additionally, fluorescent fixtures can be turned on/off with a flip of the switch, saving energy when the room is not in use, and can be set with motion sensors (many states including NJ and NY utilties have rebates on lights and on motion sensors) or dimmers.  HID fixtures need several minutes to warm-up (re-strike), so typically HID lights are not turned off during the day, even if the room is unoccupied.  Fluorescent light output also lasts longer, so bulbs need to be replaced less frequently. 

For you watt people out there, a gym with only 20 fixtures and lights on 12 hours/day can shave about 25,000 kilowatt hours annually (about 1250/fixture).  And for you business execs looking for return-on-investment numbers, ROI on a high-bay change is typically 33-50% in the first year alone.  Just remember to have the removed fixtures recycled properly. 

Maybe your school/business isn't ready for the full geo-thermal, co-generation, solar spread just yet.  Changing the lights is an easy way to reduce without massive budgetary pain.  Also, if you are wondering, I do work with a company called National Energy, but you can talk to any local electrician, and the story should be the same.      

   

My In-Law's Good Gift

My in-laws did a good job in choosing a gift for my son's fourth birthday this week.  They purchased a Radio Flyer scooter, which although it was made in China, offered some excercise without batteries, had minimal packaging and even fewer parts to put together and/or lose.  Hopefully, he will wear his helmet as he multi-tasks with his Nintendo DS and eating my wife's Oreos while riding. 

Labels (two of many)...Experience and Decisions

Much of the conversation as we enter 2008 centers around experience and change.  What is experience?  Is it tenure?  Is it the ability to impact and make change to a particular organization relevant (or not) to the field in question?  Is it age/youth overall?  If you think about it, experience may just be another way of saying character and beliefs in decisionmaking.

How can a less-off black elderly man relate to a middle-aged wealthy Jewish man?  How can a rich white elderly cancer patient relate to a muslim youth who feels like a criminal in his own country?  How can an affluent white Christian woman who has always been in the majority relate to anyone dissimilar to them?  How can a small business owner relate to a middle manager in a large corporation?  How can a blue collar worker relate to a corporate CFO, no matter what the race/color/gender?  How can a clergyman relate to a soldier who has seen death in combat?  How can a passionate college student relate to widowed mother with three kids.  The components are interchangeable so you get my point. 

Many say that a political leader who has been in office for dozens of years cannot possibly relate to the every day "Joe" who pounds the pavement, goes home to a family and struggles, only to do the same thing day after day in order to make ends meet.  Hence the reason for pushing term/age limits (average age of Representatives is 55 with a tenure of almost 10 years, Senators average 60 years old with tenure of 12 years on average; both mostly lawyers).  At the same time, the non-participant in the processes cannot relate to those who lead/volunteer/run for political office. 

Realistically, unless or until a person makes a jump from one place/level to another, their views will be from one angle.  And in the end, the ability to show experience could just be the ability to take your history (as brief or as long as it may be), and empathize with those who may be viewing things from a different side of the fence, including some of the experts advising you.

If anyone has a copy of Paul Aronsohn's Op-Ed in the Bergen Record from the end of December, please send it my way.  I lost my copy.      

Why is it called junk mail?

We have a national do not call registry.  Although this has not stopped mortgage companies (do they get paid by the call or by the amount of sales?) calling me from India, I assume it was designed to reduce the amount of solicitations that interrupt our lives daily.  So why don't we have a "do not mail" list?  Every day, I would receive several credit card applications, mostly from Capital One (including offers for my three grade school kids).  Tuesday was the worst, as the catalogs arrived as well.  I've been in sales for a long time.  What's considered a good "hit rate" for these guys?  According to estimates, each year, 100 million trees are used to create junk mail, with Americans receiving over 4 million tons of it.  Factor in water used to create the paper, petroleum to fuel the process including the transportation, and you have a real waste.  According to the book, "50 Simple Things you can do to Save the Earth," junk mail is #2 (literally and figuratively I imagine).

Since I signed up for Green Dimes, my junk mail has been reduced significantly, and my wife digs the cool t-shirt.      

Are these numbers correct and does it matter?

As I watch the Presidential debates from New Hampshire on a Saturday night (I'm such a geek), I decided to try and find some statistics.  The focus was significantly around terrorism, but when I looked it up, it appears that about 14,000 people were killed in 2006, and 11,000 were killed in 2005.  Then, I tried to look up the number of "excess" casualties due to environmental issues and it appears that the estimated number is 20,000 in 2006.  Obviously there will be other extraneous issues in both cases and a nuclear detonation would change everything, but the numbers are interesting.  If they are correct, does it matter?

What If...Takeout Tax?

We don't want our roads privatized, but we don't want increased tolls.  We want to help the environment, but we don't want to give up our driving habits.  We want to be healthier, but we don't want to give up our bad nutritional habits.  We want our earmarks, but we don't want to pay for them through income taxes.  We want to protect individual business owners as well, as more and more chains take over. Are there steps we can take to solve some/any of these issues? 

With an estimated $1.5 billion spent daily on food and drink outside of the home, what if there were a surcharge (tax) levied on only takeout food, which supposedly accounts for 40% of the amount?  Unless my math is off, if we charged only a 10% tax, it would be $21.9 billion in revenue.  Think about it.  The consumption, the driving, the packaging, the carbon emissions, the landfill.  Would anything change?  Maybe.  If nothing was reduced, at least the revenue could pay for the mess created.  If you sit and enjoy your meal at the place of service (restaurant, coffee shop, etc), there would be no additional charge, assuming the facility had a recycling program or actually used plates, glasses and utensils. 

Food choices are just that.  For the most part, commuting to work is not.  Too simple?      

Deconstruction, Landfills and our Obligations

Deconstruction differs from demolition in that every attempt is made to minimize waste and conserve resources by salvaging building materials for reuse. Rather than quickly bulldozing structures, professional Deconstruction Crews carefully dismantle buildings and set aside reusable items for resale.  Can deconstruction be done around here and if so, should it be done everywhere?  If we can/should recycle paper, plastic and glass, shouldn't we do our utmost to recycle other useful items?

Estimates have paper and food as 40% of the landfill, which we can control. Yard waste and wood are about another 20%, which is also controllable I guess, which leaves plastic and glass, which unless I am mistaken, is controllable as well.  Hmm...

Has anyone ever been fined $500 for littering or having their dog poop along side the road?  I'm talking about the suburbs, not the cities, where there is theoretically grass.  Does seeing a little bit of litter repulse someone and actually prevent further littering psychologically?  Obviously, where there is water involved, trash needs to be removed, such as in rivers and near water drains, but having some wrappers in the woods instead of in a landfill?  Anyway, the signs seem somewhat ironic. 

What If... Toy Food

What would happen if toys were no longer included for free in cereal boxes and fast food meals?  Think about it from an environmental, nutritional, and financial viewpoint. 

New Way to Eat in the New Year

To Quote the ad on the backpage of the Arts Section of the NY Times, the top twelve ways to "Eat in the New Year"

Don't eat anything your grandmother wouldn't recognize as food

Avoid foods containing ingredients you can't pronounce

Don't eat anything that won't eventually rot

Avoid food products that carry health claims

Shop the peripheries of the supermarket - stay out of the middle

Better yet, buy food somewhere else such as the farmer's market or CSA

Pay more, and eat less

Eat a wide diversity of species

Eat food from animals that eat grass

Cook and if you can, grow some of your own food

Eat meals and eat them only at tables

Eat deliberately, with other people whenever possible, and always with pleasure

Food for thought....