7/12/08
Why I Like myLot
Yesterday, I posted a very quick post about myLot. However, I didn't have the time to go into great detail about why I, as a green blogger, like that site.
myLot, for those of you who haven't heard of it, is a Paid-Per-Participation (PPP) site.
The site is essentially a forum site. You can post your comments and start new discussions, and you earn a little bit of money while doing so.
That means, you can lend your green voice to that community! (And pick up a few dollars while doing so).
Want to know more? Just go to: http://www.mylot.com/?ref=wilsongoddard
myLot, for those of you who haven't heard of it, is a Paid-Per-Participation (PPP) site.
The site is essentially a forum site. You can post your comments and start new discussions, and you earn a little bit of money while doing so.
That means, you can lend your green voice to that community! (And pick up a few dollars while doing so).
Want to know more? Just go to: http://www.mylot.com/?ref=wilsongoddard
7/11/08
myLot
I just want to let you know about a fun way to kill some time and pick up a little bit of cash, myLot: http://mylot.com/wilsongoddard
7/10/08
I'm Back!
Okay, I got pulled into some alternate dimension or what-have-you for a bit. However, I am now back and ready to post some good quality "green" stuff.
From autobloggreen comes a story on 500 electric Minis coming to California; they will soon be available for lease. Considering the astronomical number of cars here in the States, that seems like a drop in the bucket. Plus, that doesn't do much for those of us on the East Coast.
What is the future of the auto industry in this country? We are still guzzling gas even as prices push past the $4 mark, and plenty of people are still driving mega-gas guzzlers. How many Hummer drivers have seen the light and brought their egos into check? How many people have realized that, really, they only need a small or mid-sized auto for their needs? Unfortunately, the answer is "not many."
From autobloggreen comes a story on 500 electric Minis coming to California; they will soon be available for lease. Considering the astronomical number of cars here in the States, that seems like a drop in the bucket. Plus, that doesn't do much for those of us on the East Coast.
What is the future of the auto industry in this country? We are still guzzling gas even as prices push past the $4 mark, and plenty of people are still driving mega-gas guzzlers. How many Hummer drivers have seen the light and brought their egos into check? How many people have realized that, really, they only need a small or mid-sized auto for their needs? Unfortunately, the answer is "not many."
6/1/08
Simtastic
I came across this Sim City-like game called ElectroCity. I haven't started playing yet, but the game does look promising.
5/16/08
Reading the French Fry
I've been thinking a lot about food recently. That is in part due to my graduate studies, and also in part due to a book that I recently came across at the library-- How to Read a French Fry by Russ Parsons. It is part science, part cookbook; of course, cooking is a cross between science and art (with a hint of math and a pinch of reading thrown in for good measure).
Parsons makes a chilling point that I had somehow been overlooking even as I look at real food and how our food industry works. "We are now three and sometimes four generations removed from the age of real cooks--those who made do using the raw ingredients at hand, without the aid of food industry shortcuts" (Parsons 4).
I am one of those exceptions to that. I love Real Food and Real Cooking. I enjoy cooking from scratch. I don't cook from scratch for every single meal, but it is a fairly big part of my life.
But, somehow, I had been failing to recognize that many of the people I have known-- especially those my age and younger (I am rapidly approaching the Big 3-0)-- don't actually cook. Even the ones that say they enjoy baking or cooking generally mean that they use cake mixes or other prepackaged foods.
What do you think? Do you think that home cooking is on its deathbed? Is Big Food winning this war? Or, does Real Food and Real Cooking still stand a chance?
Parsons makes a chilling point that I had somehow been overlooking even as I look at real food and how our food industry works. "We are now three and sometimes four generations removed from the age of real cooks--those who made do using the raw ingredients at hand, without the aid of food industry shortcuts" (Parsons 4).
I am one of those exceptions to that. I love Real Food and Real Cooking. I enjoy cooking from scratch. I don't cook from scratch for every single meal, but it is a fairly big part of my life.
But, somehow, I had been failing to recognize that many of the people I have known-- especially those my age and younger (I am rapidly approaching the Big 3-0)-- don't actually cook. Even the ones that say they enjoy baking or cooking generally mean that they use cake mixes or other prepackaged foods.
What do you think? Do you think that home cooking is on its deathbed? Is Big Food winning this war? Or, does Real Food and Real Cooking still stand a chance?
5/2/08
Posts
You may have noticed the lack of posts recently. That is because my father is in the hospital, and my grandmother is now in the hospital as well. What is it they say about it doesn't rain, it pours?
4/18/08
Disparity
CNN had an article entitled "$10,000 for child's birthday party?" It showed up in the "Most Popular" articles sidebar--right under the article about an orphan boy living in a garbage dump in Thailand. It is the haves vs. the have-nots.
Poverty, environmental degradation, crime, discrimination.... The world's ills are interconnected. That fact can seem overwhelming at times, but it is important to recognize it. If we do not, it makes it more difficult to make real change. Otherwise, we are left putting band-aids on problems and wondering why the blood is still gushing.
Of course, we are not powerless. We can work to effect positive change. Some good resources to get started include:
VolunteerMatch
Idealist.org
On a more personal, daily note, one can embrace a simpler lifestyle. Simplicity is good for the environment and for the bank account, too. The CNN article on the lavish children's parties included several links to money-saving sites. Two of my favorites are:
The Dollar Stretcher
BeingFrugal.net
On a different (and completely unrelated) note, you may notice that I finally added a stats counter on here. Starting today, all of my readers who come directly to this site (and don't just scan through my entries on MyBlogLog) will be counted and will be able to see how many other people have dropped by.
Poverty, environmental degradation, crime, discrimination.... The world's ills are interconnected. That fact can seem overwhelming at times, but it is important to recognize it. If we do not, it makes it more difficult to make real change. Otherwise, we are left putting band-aids on problems and wondering why the blood is still gushing.
Of course, we are not powerless. We can work to effect positive change. Some good resources to get started include:
VolunteerMatch
Idealist.org
On a more personal, daily note, one can embrace a simpler lifestyle. Simplicity is good for the environment and for the bank account, too. The CNN article on the lavish children's parties included several links to money-saving sites. Two of my favorites are:
The Dollar Stretcher
BeingFrugal.net
On a different (and completely unrelated) note, you may notice that I finally added a stats counter on here. Starting today, all of my readers who come directly to this site (and don't just scan through my entries on MyBlogLog) will be counted and will be able to see how many other people have dropped by.
4/17/08
A Green Way to Make Some Green
I've known about this site for quite a while, but the light bulb just went off today. Why not share it with my readers? Okay, so this is what happens when you have thousands of sites bookmarked....
For the crafty people out there, a great green way to pick up some extra cash is Etsy. The site bills itself as "Your place to buy & sell all things homemade." No matter your craft, you can probably find it here.
For those of us who aren't quite as crafty (or, at least aren't bold enough to try to sell our stuff online), there are plenty of things to buy. While it is great to support the local economy, sometimes you can't find what you are looking for at one of the small local stores.
Etsy really is one of the coolest shopping sites that I have seen (refer to the first paragraph of this entry, and you will realize how impressive that is).
4/16/08
Electronics
Looking for ways to green-ly use, reuse, and recycle products? myGreenElectronics offers information on the 4 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink) and electronics. Thank you Art Fennell Reports.... And who says that tv isn't educational?
4/12/08
For all my female readers who are interested in fitness.... Some information landed in my inbox earlier about Full Figure Flow, which offers "Movement workshops, retreats, classes, exercise programs and private consultations for women."
The approach is fairly progressive, and I thought that it looked like something worth passing along to all of you.
I invite everyone to stop by the website and check it out.
The approach is fairly progressive, and I thought that it looked like something worth passing along to all of you.
I invite everyone to stop by the website and check it out.
Looking Back to Look Forward
Although I do miss having new "For Better or For Worse" strips on a daily basis, I do appreciate visiting those early days of the strip. Today's strip seems particularly apt.... Economic and environmental woes? This could've been drawn today.
4/10/08
A Great Way to Get Your Writing Feet Wet
I came across Associated Content the other day thanks to an article on CNN. While the CNN article was focused on how the Internet is blurring the line between amateur and professional writers, my thoughts about this site (and other opportunities like it) run along other lines.
Writing is one of those great things you can do from home. The benefits of working from home are fairly significant.
Working from home decreases or eliminates commuting; that translates to little or no emissions and fuel usage for the sake of work. It also allows you to make environmentally healthy choices about your work environment (i.e., green cleaners, amount and source of power used, etc.).
One woman who proved that working from home is a doable proposition was Amy Dacyczyn, a.k.a. The Frugal Zealot. Anyone who practices thrift is familiar with her and The Tightwad Gazette, the newsletter she ran from June 1990 until December 1996.
One of the newest additions to my library is, in fact, The Complete Tightwad Gazette. This is the collected wisdom of Dacyczyn and her readers. If you don't already have a copy of this great reference, either pick one up or visit your local library.
Writing is one of those great things you can do from home. The benefits of working from home are fairly significant.
Working from home decreases or eliminates commuting; that translates to little or no emissions and fuel usage for the sake of work. It also allows you to make environmentally healthy choices about your work environment (i.e., green cleaners, amount and source of power used, etc.).
One woman who proved that working from home is a doable proposition was Amy Dacyczyn, a.k.a. The Frugal Zealot. Anyone who practices thrift is familiar with her and The Tightwad Gazette, the newsletter she ran from June 1990 until December 1996.
One of the newest additions to my library is, in fact, The Complete Tightwad Gazette. This is the collected wisdom of Dacyczyn and her readers. If you don't already have a copy of this great reference, either pick one up or visit your local library.
Increasing Posts
Okay. So the posts have been rather sporadic here.... I am going to do my best to increase my posting to daily-- keep things fresher and more relevant. Hopefully, as more people come to this blog, I will find renewed enthusiasm for posting.
4/3/08
Quizzes
I am such a quiz junkie....
While I was perusing the internet, I came across The Green Guide.... and its quizzes. They won't not save the planet, but they are fun.
While I was perusing the internet, I came across The Green Guide.... and its quizzes. They won't not save the planet, but they are fun.
3/27/08
A Lens on Voluntary Simplicity and More
In addition to setting up this blog yesterday, I added a lens to Squidoo on voluntary simplicity. It is just in its early stages, so please excuse the dust.
Speaking of Squidoo, I am also planning to create a lens on working from home-- a topic that just sort of flows naturally with green living. Why? Well, there are a multitude of reasons, including:
Speaking of Squidoo, I am also planning to create a lens on working from home-- a topic that just sort of flows naturally with green living. Why? Well, there are a multitude of reasons, including:
- Little or no commute translates to less fuel used. This is good for the environment (less resources used, less emissions, etc.) and economically (less spent on fuel means more money left for the household).
- Working from home generally means that you can set your own hours. That means being able to spend more time with family and friends. It also translates into more availability for church, community, and volunteer activities-- thereby having a positive effect on one's community.
- You have control of your workspace. This means that you are the one who makes decisions about things such as energy efficiency of office equipment used and the sort of cleaning products that are utilized within the space.
3/26/08
Welcome to My Blog
I have been meaning to set up a blog about green living and environmental issues. Today seemed like the perfect day to do so.... Something about all that work that I'm supposed to be doing....
There is a lot of talk about the environment these days. Some of it is honest; some of it is motivated by profit of some form.
The environmental problems that we are facing are very much tied to the way our society has become. Even as we surround ourselves with gadgets and gizmos, we are spiritually impoverished. Many of us place a greater emphasis on things than on people and experiences. This comes at a high price.... as can be seen with our current environmental woes.
It is easy to talk about green living. Every morning show seems to do it; most of the glossy magazines give a nod to the "green" items that can be found at your local box retailer. The problem with all of this talk is that it still focuses on consumerism and tends to neglect family, community, and simplicity.
Perhaps, that is why I am wading into the fray.... I want to add my two cents to this conversation, and, if I have my way, I just might manage to add three.
There is a lot of talk about the environment these days. Some of it is honest; some of it is motivated by profit of some form.
The environmental problems that we are facing are very much tied to the way our society has become. Even as we surround ourselves with gadgets and gizmos, we are spiritually impoverished. Many of us place a greater emphasis on things than on people and experiences. This comes at a high price.... as can be seen with our current environmental woes.
It is easy to talk about green living. Every morning show seems to do it; most of the glossy magazines give a nod to the "green" items that can be found at your local box retailer. The problem with all of this talk is that it still focuses on consumerism and tends to neglect family, community, and simplicity.
Perhaps, that is why I am wading into the fray.... I want to add my two cents to this conversation, and, if I have my way, I just might manage to add three.
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