AliveAndKickN

"It Ain't no Sin to be Glad You're Alive"

Someday in the future, my kids will think about what they would like to do to make a living, generate income to support a family, etc.  When you are young, you want to be musicians, doctors, athletes, actors, servicemen, or other occupations that are often glamorized in the movies or TV.  You typically don't strive to be sales managers or accountants in your teens.  Once college hits, you start to look at options, and often the job market dictates your choices, especially at graduation.  I worked in restaurants from high school through college, often closing the place.  Afterwards, I was fortunate in finding my means to an end.  While frustrating and often bewildering, I mostly make my own choices on how I work.

This weekend, I played soccer with some of my friends that I hadn't seen in a while (I call it the UN, as we have Israeli, Palestinian, Iranian, Armenian, Russian, Italian, more).  On the field, the passion can sometimes get a little crazy, as if there is somehow something at stake.  Off the field, much more normalcy.  Some of the guys are well into their 40's and up, never missing a weekend.  My schedule doesn't offer me that flexibility.  Anyway, we played a full 90 minutes in significant heat, and my wife was worried that it was too much (for a guy my age obviously).  The policy has always been that I was allowed to play as long as it didn't interfere with the schedule for the rest of the day.  No matter how tired I get, how much chemotherapy I endured, how much I overdid it the night before, or how many stitches I may require, taking care of the family afterwards is not an option.  After a few brownies, a quart of pomegranate juice and a pint of blueberries, I had enough steam to take #3 on the ferry to Manhattan to see the Cirque Dreams matinee.  Balance is everything.

Sunday brought some bad news.  After a nice morning lounging in bed, sleepaway camp sent out an email telling about one of the parents who had drowned off Long Island in the riptides.  He was 42-years old and had two daughters at the camp.  It happens but it still hits home.  The Springsteen concert was a necessary distraction afterward.  I don't know if it was me, but it seemed that the Boss' song choices were more of a mix of lost childhood, as opposed to being more political.  There wasn't much of the sermonizing about the state of the union.  He seemed to let the songs convey the message of innocence lost, and a longing for a time when you could be with your friends and simply "get in the car and drive" somewhere else.  The concert lasted a full 3 1/2 hours, with no break.  I thought about the current Presidential political campaign.  If I was to analyze it politically, the songs not played would have been vilified in the press. 

Unfortunately, there is no "somewhere else" anymore.  And just like my soccer game, the morning in bed, and an evening with friends, eventually all good things come to an end.  Life is a marathon of sprints, so to speak.   

My wife and I joke about #2 in all likelihood being in a garage band in the future.  Since #3 typically does the same as #2, we may be in for an interesting future.  I'll put in writing now that if this is their passion, I will support it.  As long as there is balance.               

Visiting Day Overkill

This was visiting day weekend.  Number 3 had his visiting day at day camp on Friday.  During the 3 activities over two hours, he essentially clung to his mother, then cried when we left.  I had one of the parents convinced that my wife was former pro hockey player.  It was lots of fun.  'Nuff said. 

Saturday was visiting day at sleepaway camp for numbers 1(third year) and 2 (first year).  You could feel the stress level rise as the weekend approaches.  You have to understand the complexity of guilt and jubilation in sending a child to camp.  You get freedom, but you miss them.  You're comfortable knowing that they are spending 14-16 waking hours a day with friends, but you wish you could do the same, both for them and with them.  So anyway, as visiting day approaches, you are making your list of things to bring, stopping once a day at the supermarket as you remember (apparently the current environment still hasn't changed some of the supermarkets yet - Shop Rite near us still has 24 hour/day inefficient lighting, gives out tons of plastic bags, and still carries all of those processed foods).  Your children have requested entire lists, but of course the camp management reminds you to only bring what food can be consumed in five hours (camp animals like skunks tend to enjoy leftovers stowed below the beds).  My kids requested hand cranked flashlights, more stamps, more shampoo (which made my wife happy) general tso's chicken, dumplings and rice krispy treats (not the best choices, but it was cheap and they barely ate any of it, as expected).  So when my family arrived, we were actually able to get to camp from the parking lot in one trip.  Conversely, I felt for the fathers and grandfathers straining to unload the u-hauls onto the lawn for the consumption.  There were pizzas, cookie pizzas, popcorn/candy pizzas, baskets of candy, cases of bottled water (specifically prohibited), and pretty much everything else you can imagine.  The same parents that want their kids to get/stay thin try to shovel food into their kids the entire time, as if either they don't eat while away at camp and/or they don't want the stuff in the car for the ride home.  My "eyeball math" estimated a solid 4000 calorie/person average intake.  Seizing a break from having to cook, I opted for pretty good dining room food - apple turnovers and fruit for breakfast, and the fried chicken and banana bread for late lunch (dinner if you are from Florida).  We ate blueberries from the vines growing by the rock wall (yes, that's me getting a massive wedgie).  There was no recycling done unfortunately, as far as I can tell.  We did take the V8 SUV, feeling that the $30 additional fuel cost was outweighed by the better air conditioning (it was hot).  As we drove throught Sullivan County on the way to the Poconos, I couldn't help but wonder what it will be like if the oil drilling rush actually takes place there.   

The kids seemed as we had hoped.  When we asked them what they've been doing, the usual boy answers were "nothing."  Obviously we know to the contrary, so we weren't concerned.  Eldest commented to me when I arrived "still alive?"  Surprised but not missing a beat, I quipped "at least for a few more months."  Males are so sensitive.  No significant infirmary visits (yet). 

Guilt is gone once again.  Back to reality.               

Things Have Changed Since College

Twenty years ago, my wife and I were students in New Orleans at Tulane University (without the scholarship, trust me I couldn't have gone).  Every spring, we'd get together with a group of buddies, boil a few dozen pounds of spicy crawfish, corn and potatoes, and enjoy one or two cold ones (sometimes three).  We would talk about basketball playoffs, baseball, who was dating who, and laugh about the stupidest things that came to mind.  Flash-forward to Father's Day 2008, and you have a significantly different scenario.  We still do the crawfish every spring, but now we have them shipped Saturday Fedex delivery.  We have the kids who have their schedules and the chaos that ensues.  And of course we have a different set of topics to discuss.  There's still basketball, baseball, and the US Open.  But more predominantly, there is the talk of war, and the potential for our three boys going off to a war in a part of the world that has been at war since history began.  There's energy, food, healthcare, and the issues facing us all on the national stage.  Same-sex marriages are now legal in California, adding the state to Massachusetts as the only ones allowing it.

So how did the conversations go?  One contributor says that a President McCain would get us out of Iraq faster than a President Obama, just as President Nixon got us out of Vietnam, negotiating with aggression (this was countered with a President McCain keeping us in Iraq even longer as pulling out would admit a mistake).  One says that we need to drill more oil, in order to get more supply into the system, and thereby reduce prices (countered with the comparison to the heroin addict who shoots up in the foot after running out of veins in the arms).  Another says that we need more refineries, as we haven't had a new refinery in the US for 30 years.  Another says that we need more local generation of electricity (does it make sense to pay for 165% of electricity generated, just to compensate for all that is lost in the transmission over hundreds of miles?).  Another says that marijuana makes more sense being legal than alcohol, all things being considered.  Still another says we need to go back to a more organic/locivore method of agriculture, where animals eat grass instead of corn, there are more than 30 meat processing plants for such huge country, and natural buffers such as wetlands and forests are maintained to keep from natural disasters.  And still another says we need to allow dying patients to "die" humanely, and not do everything in our power to keep people alive against their will, thereby saving hundreds of thousands of dollars/year in "unnecessary" costs.  And my favorite of course is to unplug all of the vending machines, thereby saving billions of dollars in electricity, plastic, and high fructose corn syrup. 

So what can we make from this "kitchen" cabinet of relatives and friends?  No simple answers, yet lots of ideas.  Pork, NIMBYs and inertia standing in the way.  On Father's Day, you always read about parental advice given from a father to his children.  I offer these words of wisdom to my children:  In the time it takes to complain about something, you could potentially do something about it yourself.  Oh, and during your rebellious years, don't makeout in a two-door vehicle.  It may seem worth it then, but someday in the future, your back and shoulders will make you pay dearly in surgery costs.      

 

Lessons Learned

Sunday was an interesting day.  In the morning, my wife and I split responsibilities.  She took the older boys to their religious school "graduations," signifying the end of the religious school year.  I took the four year old to his birthday party (I think he has eight in the next two weeks).  It was at an ice cream party place.  Of course when it started, the staff had the kids start doing sand art.  Instead, my son wanted fruit.  After the sand art, they started dancing to music, so my son of course wanted to do sand art.  Once the music session was over, it was time for pizza, so of course my son wanted a bagel.  When pizza was over, it was time for cake, so of course my son wanted ice cream.  When he finally got what he wanted, he didn't eat the ice cream.  Based upon the amount of barely eaten food discarded, and clinging kids, I'm guessing I wasn't alone.  No matter how much we try, kids will do what they want.  At least it was indoors, as it was well over 90 degrees in early June.  I hope at least some of the wrapping paper gets recycled. 

After the party, my wife and I briefly attended an open house given by Bergen Swan on rain garden creation, using proper planting techniques to control runoff.  I think it's great that someone is willing to open their house to strangers for the sake of education and the environment.  By protecting and maintaining watersheds, the watershed filters and slows runoff, absorbing pollutants and controlling erosion.  I'm pretty sure these are all good things.  Again, what you do to your lawn, and the areas around you matter.  That bag of dog poop that goes down the sewer eventually winds up in our drinking water.  So do all of the chemical fertilizers.   

After the rain garden open house, we spent the sultry day BBQing by the pool until it was gametime for number two son.  My in-laws found compostable plates at Costco.  How cool is that!  What's next, wrapping paper made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper at ToysRUs and Bed Bath and Beyond?  We'll see.  Despite the heat and the thunder, the game was not cancelled by the league or by the referee.  In hindsight, I as senior coach in years coached (although not head coach), should have pulled the team from the field.  Unfortunately, there is a lot of pressure to get games in, not only on time, but with a full squad.  If you forfeit, there is a huge fine.  If you get cancelled, there is the difficulty of finding field time at another date.  I need to squirrel away this lesson for the future.  Despite extraneous pressure, you need to do what's in the best interest of others around you, especially those who cannot make decisions on their own.  One kid struck by lightning is not worth the risk, despite the odds.  Obviously nothing happened, but the lesson is learned.  My apologies to the parents and kids, of both teams. 

On a different note, The Center for Science in the Public Interest has indicated that Nestle is once again notoriously absent from the Child Nutrition Initiative.  13 other companies, including Coke and McDonald's, are participating.  Maybe it's because 113 of Nestle's 121 products are considered of poor nutritional quality by CSPI.  Nerds and Laffy Taffy!  Say it ain't so!  But don't get me started on all of those vending machines, costing us over $5 billion dollars a year in electricity.  What would happen if pulled all of those plugs?           

No Longer Unopposed

Tuesday was primary day here in NJ.  I started the day unopposed for council, and apparently ended the day with two write-in competitors.  Personally, I see it as positive.  Others should feel strongly about the quality of life in their towns to enter their names.  I believe the final statewide numbers were 4-7% of the electorate turning out for the primary.  I guess having the Presidential portion of the primary in February is a good excuse, but I don't buy it.  Sorry.  We had a US Senate position, US Congress position, plus Freeholders and more.  Too much is at stake to not recognize your right as a voter.  I went to a celebratory party afterward for one of the candidates who won the primary for Congress, and it was nice to see the fruits of their labor paying off.  Shiny college-age faces meshed with us middle-agers (I hope), all for a common cause.  I agree with the candidate's comment that it's not about me, it's about the United States.  Best of luck to any that enter the political realm, regardless of side chosen.

To backtrack somewhat, I couldn't help being disheartened by the debates that took place on Sunday morning.  Yes, Sunday morning.  When most of us are getting ready for the day's sporting events, and/or finishing religious activities, a group of competitors for US Senate took to the airwaves in a TV debate.  The Republicans called each other names.  The Democrats said similar things to each other since it was safer, as the Democrats are the incumbents.  Most of the comments were sound bites.  Very few questioned why many of the issues were taking place, only offering quick bandaids to large problems.  I can't imagine very many people watched, and it's understandable why.

Getting back to my food issues as always, The Times reported an article about NPD's survey of fast-food, as a percentage of parental purchases.  The Times made it appear startling that 12% of discretionary money went to fast food.  The NPD article downplayed that same 12%, stating parents shouldn't worry about the rampant childhood obesity.  I have to agree with the Times on this one.  12% is significant.  You can make your own conclusions. 

I went over energy savings numbers with a 125000 square foot printer by Giant's stadium; a lighting upgrade project with a 11-month ROI today.  Maybe I'll get lucky on this one.  555 pounds of carbon is a lot to absorb, if you know what I mean.  I have to get out in the garden again soon.  I have some tomatoes to transplant and some basil as well.          

Pay by the Ton, starting May 1

According to the news, starting May 1, New Jersey has reinstated the Recycling Enhancement Act, which means there will be a $3 per ton tax on municipal solid waste, and that money will go towards other programs geared towards recycling more.  Apparently this was in place several years ago, but the recycling tax expired in 1996 and recycling rates in NJ have gone down since.  Will municipalities start pushing recycling more?  Will they pass the additional taxes onto individual consumers or businesses who don't recycle and/or discard more trash?  Good Questions.

Yesterday, the weather held out and the second annual "Dave's not Dead Yet, part Deux" extravaganza went off without a hitch.  The band was good, and in my opinion not too loud, although some of my older neighbors who were planning on attending never showed.  Sorry.  Once again, the amount of food was just about correct as only a dozen or so burgers and dogs were leftover, plus a few beverages.  I got to wear my Indiana Jones hat (see picture but without the horse) which is now actually in style.  Kids played on the lawn and in the street, and according to my kids, very few of them actually cared about eating (I think my three kids in total ate six pieces of corn, two bowls of fruit, a couple of dogs, and a few cookies in four hours).  Leave the kids to play and they will.  Hover over them the way helicopter parents do, and they'll eat some of what you force them, but leave the rest.  Final tallies were three garbage bags of trash, two garbage pails with bottles and cans for recycling, six boxes broken down for next week's recycling.  Some of the food scraps went in the composter but the meat and bones went in the trash.  Ice and melted ice from the coolers went into the rain barrels, which both filled up in today's downpour.  During the party, I pulled out a sleave of cups I found hidden in the basement.  One of my friends noticed that they were cups from a breast pump, which has been gathering dust for several years now.  Knowing my sense of humor and my medical supply business, many thought they were urine specimen cups.  Either way, the forty-plus year old frat party continued, although I'm pretty sure no one hooked up.  I will say that too much sangria and not enough colon are a tough combination.   

Memorial Day was bittersweet as always.  Fewer people along the parade route and at the municipal complex for the ceremony.  Enjoy the day with friends and family, but remember why you have the ability to do so.  I think not only of those who died in service, but those who changed things for the better.  I waiver between trying to imagine myself doing the same, but at the same time feeling so small and insignificant.  Could I versus who am I kidding?  Quite a dilemma.   

With the NJ primary coming up, some of my associates are working on their campaigns.  Tonight, I declined to sign a letter going out naming someone as a "not-so-do-gooder," if you know what I mean.  Sorry but it's not my style to bash others, especially by name.  State the facts or the acts, and let others decide will hopefully be my policy, now and in the future.  Call me naive, too nice or both.  I can live with both of those labels for now.

      

A Snapshot in Print

I apologize for not posting for a few days, but I've been with my wife at the National Stationery Show in New York City.  As I worked in our booth and walked the floor visiting the other vendors, I saw this as a snapshot of what has occurred over the last several dozen years, alongside what is occurring now.  You had the big companies who took up as many as a dozen booth spaces, filled with corporate displays and salespeople at every post.  Then you had the individual owner with the 8x10 booth put together by hand.  As always, I am not anti-business.  The larger corporations should be proud of what they've accomplished financially.  My issue is with how economic success has created unsustainable practices. 

Let's start with the location.  The Javits Center, roughly a gazillion square feet of space, is filled with metal halide light fixtures, which although they give off a lot of light, also use a ton of electricity.  The Javits Center, along with the UPS and Fedex Distribution centers around the corner, and several parking garages nearby, could cut their electric bills practically in half just by replacing lighting with more energy-efficient fluorescent.  Given the electricity costs in Con Ed, I think the return on investment period would be about a week.  Alright, leaving the electricity, I got a kick out of the Starbucks locations there (I think there were 4 in the Javits Center alone).  Usually, I bring my reusable coffee mug to Starbucks and I get a discount.  At the show, I received no discount, and they gave me a cup anyway.  When I refused the cup, they threw it away, which unless I am mistaken, goes against the concept. 

So let's talk about the booths. Ever heard of foam core?  Apparently foam core is the cheapest material known to man.  Compress styrofoam into sheets, color it as cheaply as possible, and turn it into two sidewalls and a back wall.  Use disposable plastic ties to keep it hanging on the bars, and you're set.  The problem is the size versus the quality and cost.  Given the cost of shipping (even years ago when fuel was cheap), foam core is not worth the cost of shipping, so we all know what happens.  At the end of the show, all of the booths that were made out of foam core are left there.  And by the way, there was no trash differentiation at the Javits Center.  Hmmm, a huge convention of paper products and no paper recycling.  Garbage containers every day were filled with paper, empty bottles (I think a 20oz water cost $10.25), food containers, carpeting remnants, and of course foam core.  Waste, and wasted money as well.      

So what were my favorite products - plastic battery operated refrigerator magnets, bridal emergency kits, cheap pens with schmuzzies at the end, electric blinking candle wreaths, jars of cookies with pretty labels (who has time to bake?), and of course all of the cheap stationery made from virgin paper as cheaply as possible overseas.  According to the statistics, 2 billion Christmas cards are shared every year.  Factoring in events and other major Hallmark holidays such as Halloween, Passover and Arbor Day (ironic huh), a whole lot of paper is being created, and wasted. 

But wait, is something changing?  Consumers are apparently looking for more in their stationery than just witty comments and sentimental pictures.  Consumers want to see sustainable practices in those words that truly say how we feel.  We had our stationery dealers coming up to us and asking what type of material goes into our stuff, what kind of inks we use, and more.  Now we were comfortable with the questions, as many of the invitations are made from 100% cotton printing papers, recycled cotton rag and mullberry, plus our letterpress is handcranked.  The wrapping paper is 100% post-consumer recyled and the ink is soy-based.  Again, going back to the different types of companies presenting at the show, the newer companies were promoting their green credentials more significantly.  The bigger companies were trying as well, but it remains to be seen if it was "greenwashing."  30% and more post-consumer recycled paper was popular.  A few even had paper made from elephant poop (no I'm not kidding).  One had paper that actually had seed in it.  After you receive the invitation, you could plant the whole thing and flowers would grow.  We took some samples to try and work with.  I even grabbed a few anniversary cards, as it's my wife's 15th anniversary.

So, the experience is symbolic, or maybe symptomatic.  Years of doing things the same way without repercussion cannot last.  Sustainable practices are probably 5% or less of the market, but it's growing.  Maybe the west side of NYC will do the same someday.  I think oil hit $130/barrel today.

                

Apparently I'm Screwed

I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night as I had a lot on my mind.  Yesterday, I had my interview with Bergen Leads, a 10-month learning program for adults interested in discussing and working on issues facing Bergen County and beyond.  One of the questions from my interview was "who is my hero, someone I really look up to?"  I hadn't really thought about it previously, and was briefly stumped (I felt like one of those beauty pageant contestants).  I chose Barack Obama given the obstacles he's faced and his potential to transcend the status quo.  But then I backtracked to FDR and Lincoln who had overhauled systems that were entrenched for so long.  I look at our energy-dependent lifestyle which has quickly evolved since the Nixon administration, and we are definitely in need of an overhaul.  After the interview, I thought about the question further, and although I think my answer was ok, my real answer should have been the every day men and women who go the extra yard for someone else, even after a full day of work/life, and the craziness it entails.  Which leads to my next level of concern....

After my interview, upon arriving at the home office, two Jehovah's Witnesses came-a-calling.  Apparently if I don't adhere to the letter of the Bible, Satan has won.  While giving the sales pitch, one of their cell phones rang (was Sprint in the Bible?).  It wasn't God so we were OK for now, but I need to find an ark pretty soon.  I couldn't help thinking of the Linkin Park song "I tried so hard, and fought so long... but in the end it didn't really matter."  My more immediate concern is Mother Nature taking back what we have taken from her. 

It was a lot to think about for a simple guy like me.  I think I'll keep doing what I do, and in the end, it may matter after all.  At least I tried, and I'm pretty sure God will understand.   

Top 10 Reasons to Buy Organic

So, I'm trying a new cereal from Hain this morning, Blueberry and Cream Granola, and I'm packing the kids with Health Valley snacks for school, and my emails from overnight arrived.  I'm not sure what set this off today, but my in box has been flooded with a video about Monsanto, and the evil of genetically-modified foods.  It was actually a nice change from the Reverand Wright nonsense.  Anyway, it happens to be pretty interesting "food for thought" so to speak.  But since fuel prices continue to rise, and therefore food prices which are dependent upon fuel to get to your table continue to rise, I give you the same recommendation I gave you several months ago.  Buy less, but spend more.  In other words, buy organic, local, and if possible directly from the farm, and if you're pissed at the farmers for food prices, don't be.  With only .5% of the farming done organically, our entire food system is predicated on fuel.  When fuel prices are low, food prices are low.  When they're not, you see the result.  Not being the economist in the room, I believe the one way to reduce the price is to reduce the demand for fuel-driven food.  Know when your farmer's markets are on display now that the weather is warmer, and stop on your way to/from work/little league/nails, etc.   

If you've never been there, a cool section of Orange County is known for their black soil, and their great tasting onions.  Lately, the onion market "stinks" due to cheaper imports, and will in all likelihood continue due to recent trade agreements with Peru and others.  So buy some onions from Orange County, make some onion rings, and watch the Monsanto movie.  Bon Apetit.

This week, I put a pear tree, a nectarine tree, two blueberry bushes and a black raspberry bush in the ground.  #3 child helped dig and water, thereby making himself an walking mudpie, and my steroid-infused muscles were too much for the rake which snapped in two, so it was somewhat eventful.  Middle child adopted an orca and a macaw from the World Wildlife Fund.  It was all his idea, with no prompting from anyone else.  #1 child texted and complained about not having the right flavors of Ben and Jerry's.  2 out of 3 isn't bad.  I guess there are worse things. 

We still haven't learned yet

Today's paper had the world arguing about how to feed the poor while saving the environment.  Of course no one can agree, especially when it comes to money.  Farmers aren't allowed to make money, as poor people don't get fed.  Some call the shift towards corn-based bio-fuel a crime against humanity, since the food industry's emphasis on corn, chemicals and petroleum now makes it too expensive to eat.  Today's Presidential speech talked about climate change and initiatives taken by Presidential Bush's last eight years.  He took credit for the positive changes that took place naturally as a result of technology.  He set timeframes of 2020 and 2025, as benchmarks to recduce and/or stop greenhouse gas increases, so we now have 12-17 years to completely screw up.  He even used the term "clean coal" in a section discussing how incentives should be "technology-neutral" (wait - wasn't corn-based biofuel the big winner in the energy bill?).  Also, since the southeastern states can't agree on a water-sharing plan, the federal government is proposing a solution.  A couple of endangered fish and mollusks (or are they bi-valves) will take a hit, but of course, that's the price of progress isn't it.  At least we humans will get to water our lawns, and continue to bottle water and soda.  Presidential hopeful Senator McCain offered a solution to the gas price issue by doing away with the gas tax.  The federal government is in serious debt and at the same time, the top 50 hedge fund managers made 30 gazillion dollars in 2007, most of it at tax rates significantly lower than what you and I pay.  Anybody have a different solution maybe?

My very proud Republican friend says that government should keep out of other's business, as long as they are doing the right things.  I agree.  Except...what are the right things?  Congratulations to everyone who ran for school board, won or lost.            

Can my child get into an Ivy League College?

This week, it was "meet the candidates" night for the schoolboard.  Usually, events like these are not well attended, so you should have seen the look of surprise on the custodial staff when over 100 parents showed up at the school and more seats were needed.  The conversation was cordial among the three candidates, and although the theme was "change" to get ready for the future, I don't think anybody was ready to change for changes sake.  We have a good thing here, and the goal is to improve.  Revenue is going to need to come from somewhere as budgets tighten.  Reducing energy is a good place to start and recycling can generate revenue, so those are good avenues.  So what is important - core programs, extracurricular activities, safety, homework amount?  I'm not an educator so I don't have the answers.  However, I get a feel from our little town that ultimately the goal is for our children to do better that we did.  I worry that parents only want top educated athletes who can play multiple musical instruments, and be prom kings/queens.  Supposedly soccer moms and dads spend 17 full days/year schlepping kids to and from events.  My brother the teacher in a similar type of town on Long Island typically asks his parents one of two things - for his students, he asks how many think their children will get into an Ivy League school.  For his players, he asks how many think their children will get a scholarship.  Often the percentage in the room is significantly higher than actually occurs.  My wife's friend works in human resources for a publishing house in Boston.  She tells stories of "helicopter" parents who descend on her when their kids don't get jobs.   

Whether right or wrong, I take a different approach.  As a freshman in high school, my family moved to Florida.  From tenth grade on, I had a pretty exhaustive schedule.  I went to school during the day, played soccer after school, went to work in restaurants at night, and did it all the same the next day, often sleeping through Humanities.  My grades were fine, I got ample playing time, and I was able to afford an awesome 1970 Chevy Nova and the bondo necessary to patch up the rust.  Weekends were usually the same, but substituting friends for school and something else for Mountain Dew at night.  I did ok.  Without me lecturing, I hope my kids learn to appreciate what they have, and also understand that just as many don't have nearly enough.  When others can't win, I think we all lose something. 

I wish all of the school board candidates good luck, locally and elsewhere.       

What if...My Best Job Function was as a Father?

I've decided to go where few bloggers have dared to go.  Last night I stood in front of an audience of fellow soccer coaches and parents, and announced my idea to help people who maybe can't help themselves as much as we can.  I'm not sure if I said anything coherent, and I'm not sure if the clapping afterward was because my ideas were good or because they were trying to get out in time for the NCAA basketball tournament.  Either way, the "goal" is to raise money for two organizations that use soccer as a medium for helping others - Grassroots Soccer that helps raise AIDS awareness in Africa and Street Soccer USA, an organization in Charlotte that helps the homeless and disenfranchised.  In addition, I've decided to run for town council.  So far, only two of us are running for two seats.  I think the latest CNN poll has me tied for third with Brooke Shields, who hasn't lived in town for years.  I better make sure I don't attend any radical sermons anytime soon. 

I guess I'll find out if any of my rantings has had the desired effect.  Be careful what you ask for.  If I fail, I can always go back to being dad...and work.  My 12 year old thought the attached video was poignant (maybe he didn't use that word, but I like it).  As he gets older, I'll take any input he offers.  Today, he preferred me dropping him off at religious school early, as opposed to stopping at my office to take care of some business first.       

Labels (#5 of many)...Do We Need to be #1?

As the campaign continues, I can't help but notice two directly opposite messages.  Candidates continue to say that the United States is the greatest country in the world.  Then, in the next sentence, they talk about the inferiority of different components of the country - healthcare, education, energy policy, intelligence, military capabilities, consumer advocacy, more.  Europe seems to be ahead of us on quite a few issues.  Maybe that's why we make fun of France and California so much.  Nobody likes a show-off.  With a nation this big and this diverse, is it possible and/or should we expect to be number one in everything?  In the olympics, star athletes are lambasted for losing by tenths of a second in track.  Are we even allowed to say that we're not number one without the fear of being called unpatriotic?  What would happen if a department were to say "we're ok where we are.  No additional money is needed."  Has it ever happened, or is additional money or resources the ultimate goal?  Everyone for themselves, and he who dies with the biggest share of the pie wins! 

Here's my bigger issue than being number one.  We are the most informed, or maybe I shoud say the most mislead.  If we are the most informed, how do we continue to make the same mistakes of the past, even recent past.  If it's broke, why don't we fix it, and actually strive to attain that number one status? 

We can't blame the media alone, as we the consumers are the ones eating it up.             

So Fla...So Fla to go

I am currently in the midst of my whirlwind Florida tour (I'm actually visiting my father who is temporarily in a nursing home).  As I look around, I see all of the decisions of the last 25 years that really haven't seemed to make good long term sense.  The condos on the beach and the suburban sprawl heading inland.  More and more the Everglades gets squeezed from both coasts, until eventually they will meet in the middle.  Today in the Florida paper, there was an article about rock mining in the Everglades and it's effect on drinking water and more.  For years, envirnonmental groups have been fighting the practice, but more and more roads need to be built to support all of the people and strip malls.  Lake Okechobee is at drought stage once again, and the dry season is scheduled to last until June.  Each resident (and visiting snowbird) having his/her own pharmacy, supermarket, and a chain restaurant is taking its toll on the natural resources.  In order to get anywhere, someone needs to drive, and almost every highways is 4-6 lanes of stop and go traffic lights.  Having drivers 70 years apart, each and every one of them on cell phones drinking coffee is not a good combination either.

One good effect from the trip is my lack of eating.  Unable to stomach (literally and figuratively) some of the 3000 calorie appetizers at the chains, I've dropped a few pounds.  I ate exclusively at home with family.  My second biggest meal was the blue Terra chips on the JetBlue flight down.  Hanging out for several hours with my father in a nursing home, I continue to appreciate his perspectives I rejected growing up.  I could never understand why he couldn't get along with those he fult unreasonable or misinformed.  Instead of trying to find common ground, dad simply shot his mouth off and made enemies (including getting thrown out of my soccer games).  Just yesterday, I received a call from an energy client indicating that he couldn't budget a lighting project.  He couldn't understand, no matter how many times I tried, that budgeting it wasn't an option anymore.  If he does nothing, he will spend $100,000 on his lighting energy over the next 12 months.  If installs the $50,000 worth of energy efficient lighting, his lighting energy will drop to $50,000 over the next 12 months also.  In other words, he will spend $100,000 either way.  The difference is what happens after the 12 months is over.  Thankfully my mother's personality allows me not to fire off my true feelings and I agreed to continue the conversation at a later date.  I'll probably send him an anniversary card on the day his project would have paid for itself.

I hope Florida eventually becomes the solar state instead of the sunshine state.  With all of the unobstructed rooflines available, and with the entire state air conditioned, the location is perfect.  If the installation could be affordable enough so the payback period is under 10 years, I think it would work.  If energy prices continue to skyrocket, that 10 year return on investment may get shorter on its own.

What's everyone doing for World Water Day tomorrow?   

What if...Ice Cream Makers Governed Us?

With all of the financial talk lately, I took it upon myself to Google the national budget.  I wound up on the Ben and Jerry's web site.  Not a bad place to be, so I grabbed my favorite B&J ice cream, Napolean Dynamite (half Cherry Garcia, half Chocolate Fudge Brownie) and settled in.  In between tablespoonfuls (remember, I don't chew my food), I found some interesting data, which if it's true, could explain some of our shortcomings, both in finance and potentially in wisdom.  According to the pie chart, three fifths of the budget goes towards entitlement programs (debt, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security), which is mandated by law.  The other two fifths is considered discretionary.  Of the discretionary, supposedly $463 billion is spent by the Pentagon for defense, but is not currently accountable to the OIG, and in all likelihood could not pass an audit.  This doesn't even include the cost of the war in Iraq, although I can't imagine we are not paying for that as well.  Compared to the $463 billion spent on the military, somewhat less is spent on the following:

$38 billion for K-12 education, $50 billion for children's health insurance, $13 billion on humanitarian foreign aid (which I believe goes mostly to food companies like ConAgra and Cargill instead of currency that the country could put to better use), and of course a whopping $2 billion on renewable energy research and $8 billion for the EPA. 

With my meager means of research, I don't have the ability to verify these numbers.  Maybe your local congressperson does (hint, hint).  If you didn't catch the first two episodes of John Adams on HBO last night, I think you will find it intriguing.  Imagine starting a revolution of your own, knowing the potential consequences.  Could you do it?       

Power, corruption, greed, and violence

When someone has power or control over others, what causes them to dictate terms in such a matter that makes it uncomfortable in the least, and outright deadly in the extreme?  What makes people want to be in power at all costs?  I consulted my current read, Framing the Debate, whereby President Richard Nixon in his resignation speech, cited all of his accomplishments.  Is this misleading the public or simply framing it to his purpose?  Robin Hood or Hitler.  And as always, does the end justify the means?  Mussolini used to claim that he kept the trains running on time.  How about politics on the local county level.  According to many accounts, the chairman of the party conducts business as if it his own discretion, and not based upon appropriate party constitutionality.  Supposedly county employees are appointed and representatives tow the party line.  If you are not on the inside, you are out.  No-bid contracts are handed out.  Is he a consolidator or something more?  And of course there's national political races.  What causes someone to say something so outlandish as to spread false/stretched truths about them, just to win.  "Swiftboating" is acceptable?  War for money or religion?  It's beyond me.

Last week, I was listening to my favorite radio station, 107.1 the Peak''s "10 at 10," where they play 10 songs from a certain year, this one being 1992.  In between songs, they played clips from advertisements, movie trailers, and in this case, two political trailers.  One was Bill Clinton's famous clip about smoking marijuana but not inhaling.  The other was Dan Quayle attacking Murphy Brown's character for wanting to be a single mother.  Who buys this crap?  That same morning, I learned of a business friend losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.  It made me wonder why so much of our life is spent on hate, anger and ill-will?  Maybe we can't exist as individuals without enemies.  Or maybe without fear, there is no power.             

Was John Lennon correct?

As I was heading down the turnpike, I noticed a huge banner saying "Don't Believe in God?  You're not Alone" (Maybe we can start a "banner debate" and raise enough money to replace the toll increase).  Rather than getting into the science versus creation debate (In Florida, the curriculum for teaching evolution is called the "scientific theory.") or try and look at thousands of years of human history, I decided to look into a few things on my own.  First, I consulted my trusty resource, Freakonomics, where they covered the abortion issue.  As the book suggests, Roe vs Wade went into effect in the early 1970s.  While it was a divisive issue, according to the book, crime began dropping significantly about fifteen years later (Rudy was a pro-abortion mayor who took credit for the crime drop - hmmm).  Could the 1.5 million unwanted pregnancies aborted each year be the major contributor to the drop in violent crime?  Then I checked another one of the books on my shelf, God isn't Great, which essentially blames religion for every extreme idea in history.  I would venture that extremism in any capacity - religion, congressional oversight into steroids, subprime mortgages, recreational sports is bad.  Then I took from my own experience of dealing with patients in nursing homes and how hundreds of thousands of patients annually are kept alive, with very little quality of life considered.  Is it God's will or God's "business" as thousands of dollars a month go to healthcare companies?  As I always ask - who wins and who loses by keeping people's beliefs divided?     

Later, as I crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge, I noticed the sign indicating that "Life was worth living" or something to that effect, I assume to discourage jumpers from committing suicide and screwing up traffic for hours.  Considering how many random gunmen seem to commit suicide after spraying bullets into crowded malls, maybe they should be allowed to do so ahead of time and save others some unnecessary agony.

With so many people supposedly shifting religions religiously, what do people want from their religion nowadays?   

 

What if it didn't matter...The Quarterly Scorecard

Does activism exist if others aren't inspired to act (If a man is alone in the woods, is he still wrong?)  For the last few months, aside from my blog, you've probably been inundated with ways to make a difference.  So what have you done so far?  Have you contacted an elected official/campaigned about an issue?  Participated in a committee or volunteer?  Changed your consumption to include more local/organic and less high fructose corn syrup/hormones/chemicals?  Had your energy usage/head/colon examined?  Switched to canvas tote bags/compact fluorescent bulbs/hybrid?  Consuming less overall and recycling more?  Have you really gotten aggressive and looked into solar/growing your own food?  Something else? 

Doing nothing is easy.  Sacrifice is difficult.   Share your comments.  We're all family. 

What goes in thankfully doesn't always come out

By now, you've probably seen the headlines about the beef recall and the video of the inhumane treatment of cattle at Westland/Hallmark Meat Company (How about this for a new spectator sport - take juiced up MLB pitchers and have them chuck fastballs at defenseless animals).  143 million pounds of beef, a third of which goes to schools seems like a huge business loss, except for the fact that most of it has already been consumed.  Don't worry, I think the rest went to the one-pound "angioplasty on a bun" sandwiches at the local drive-thrus.  I think the bigger issue is the oversight, or lack thereof, from USDA (who represents us at the USDA and FDA?).  Maybe now the Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act will gain some traction in Congress (know how to reach any Congressmen - hint, hint).  Can a video and a recall start a new trend towards better treatment of animals and the environment, even if these animals only exist for our food supply?  66 processing plants were suspended in 2007.  I compare these treatments to the lengths we go to keep humans alive at all costs and all stages of life, and I have to wonder if there will be some sort of repercussion in the future from Mother Nature.

Thankfully the garbage that we put into our children doesn't always come out as garbage.  Consider this slideshow from Oxfam Amercia, depicting what children from around the world see as global climate change affecting them.  I guess these kids don't think climate change is a debate anymore.  I still think back to what we learned as children on the playground - Share with others, be nice, clean up after yourself, and leave the area as good as it was before you started.  At what age do these rules no longer apply?

   

Are we doing all we can (expect)?

On behalf of my town, I attended the New Jersey Conference of Mayors this morning to discuss the concept of a Greener Garden State.  Up until today, I was expecting most of the conversation to be about the upcoming June utility price increases (12-15% a year for the past 3 years).  Instead however, there was a civil discussion given by a very good panel with a diverse set of views of the same topic.  Aside from "sales pitches" by one panelist and a few members of the audience during Q&A, the topics hit on most of the energy points.  It didn't hit on the tie-in with buying local and/or agriculture, but it did discuss land use (based upon the statistics, apparently we are developing 3x as much land as we need as a population, which creates infrastructure issues, etc).  It really didn't touch on the landfill aspect (although there appears to be several types of energy harnessing techniques for landfill gases) or the political aspect either (which is probably just as well given the reception Governor Corzine's plans have received).  I was surprised to hear that supposedly 70% of commuters to NYC take mass transit.  I learned some new acronyms today - the LULU and NOPEs, and how sometimes their voices take away from the ability to do positive things locally, which is the best was, as efficiencies are typically lost in transit.  On February 18, supposedly the Energy Efficiency Coalition, made up of several prominent city mayors, public utilities, environmental groups, and more will vote to increase the IEEC (International Energy Efficiency Coalition) standards by another 30% over 2006 standards.  Individual mayors are welcome to sign on as well.   

Based upon today's discussion, it appears that the simplest answer is a self-sustaining town/city, where people can walk to and from work and everything else they need.  All of the energy needed will be from wind or solar, and no one will need cars.  My wife doesn't think it will happen anytime soon, but I think she's a NIMBY.

Anyway, a good starting point for anybody/any business is an energy audit (like seeing the doctor if you don't feel well).  Starting hopefully sometime before the summer, a good percentage of the cost of the energy audit will be at no cost to the consumer as part of the Governor's plan.  If you think about it, the savings of $50-80 for an audit is small compared to the amount you can save just by knowing how, but wait if you must.  There are grants and rebates and tax incentives available to those who are trying do projects already.

Of course if you don't want to see the energy auditor, there's always a different doctor, the proctologist.  The cost will come from somewhere eventually.       

 

       

A Walk in the Forest

My wife and I finally were able to take that weekend in the Berkshires which we had originally booked before my surgery.  During a break in the snowfall, I was able to get out and take a 4 mile hike on the Burbank trail by Olivia's Overlook in West Stockbridge.  It was nice to have such quiet from reality (just me and the hawks and owls), but unfortunately, I had read the newspaper over the weekend, so I had plenty of alone time to dwell on what I had read.  One article talked about how the US Olympic Committee was bringing a gazillion tons of food to the olympics in China due to the substandard quality of food there (I thought to myself - if a lefty pitcher or a boxer from Cuba defects, is it considered amnesty for an illegal alien?).  Of course, in the same article, they mentioned a chicken breast sample they found in Colorado that was so big and full of steroids, that it could have fed 8 people (sounds like a built-in excuse for the sprinters who look more like American Gladiators).  Then I read an article about how suburban sprawl has essentially created much of the environmental issues we face now, but because of local ordinances and general predispositions, the odds of changes are difficult.  Who wants a bunch of foliage on the front lawn, and laundry hanging in the back yard?  Are we really that shallow? 

The so-called experts say that the twenty-something generation will be the first generation to have a shorter lifespan and a worse quality of life than the generation before it.  It's no wonder the younger primary vote turnout has been huge.  On a lighter note, the economic stimulus passed, so eventually we will all get some money that we must spend immediately (unlike college endowments).  But what will we spend it on?  According to Nat'l Geographic TV, we eat 3 cheeseburgers/week per person in the US.  Will it be spent on junk or on efficient bulbs, upgrading to more efficient appliances, or planting a garden? 

Before we left the Berkshires, we stopped at Pittsfield Rye, where the multi-grain bread was fresh and delicious, and the efficient lighting was just as good.  I admired the high school along the highway that had a simple statement on its exterior sign - "We recycle!"  We also stopped at an organic farm, Moon in the Pond, and stocked up on eggs and more for the upcoming weeks.  Quite a weekend.       

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.       

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? 

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.   

      

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.      

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. 

Labels (one of many)

If someone donates money to help others, he or she is called a philanthropist.  If someone uses policy to help others or to level the playing field, he or she is called a bleeding heart liberal.  Who gives more, liberals or conservatives?  And are "selfish motivations" subject to scrutiny or should we just take donations at face value?  As I am writing this, my doorbell has rund and ironically, it is a group of people going door to door on behalf of "Awake".  It talks about saving the environment, helping developing nations, and family values, etc, but obviously there is a religious overtone.  Does the end justify the means? 

One of the newest labels is the Grassroots Activist.  I believe the definition entails a person who supports local initiatives.  It could be as simple as discussing with Alex at A&P a transition from the vending machines from the entrance, as the space could be used for better purposes (reducing landfill, avoiding HFCS) to something more aggressive, such as lobbying for organic only food in the schools.  Maybe it could include campaigning on behalf of a candidate who doesn't have a ton of money, or creating a fund to sponsor a lesser know set of charitable organizations.  Colleges have started a competition called recyclemania.  With the amount of kids in sports leagues in the area, I'm sure there a number of programs that can be initiated for the betterment of the community.    

What I learned as a child

When you were younger and you were playing in the playground, did your teacher/mother tell you to “take all the toys and get out, but not until you pollute the sandbox first?”  No, your teacher told you to share with the others and clean up after yourself before you leave.  What changed?

Or how about the whole "Circle of Life" thing?  The grass grows, the antelope eats the grass, the lion eats the antelope.  When the lion dies, it becomes part of the grass again.  With people, it's different.  The grass grows, the lawn mower cuts the grass, the livestock eat corn and take steroids, the people eat chemicals and discard grass and food scraps into landfill.  When the people die, the people are preserved and sealed in laminated casket that will never decompose.  Huh?