sol.net

Blog Action Day – Global Warming

// October 16th, 2009 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

Blog Action Day is about creating a conversation on something that is important, and it just so happens that this year’s topic is Global Warming.

Many things contribute to global warming, and I’m not really interested in trying to wrap my mind around all of the issues surrounding this multifaceted, global issue.  Rather, I’d like to focus on how I try to be ‘green’ and what I think can or should happen to help tackle this global issue.

Some things in my life I DO that I feel help mitigate global warming.

• I walk or bike to work
  • I rent, and although I’m at that age where many of my friends are buying houses (which I hope to do in the next few years), I have the luxury to move about Charleston and pick where I want to live.  I’ve been fortunate enough to live right near where I work, which is awesome because not only do I get to sleep a little later, but I literally have to walk 100 yards to my office, and when I can/need, I can work from where I live (since I’m a web worker and can work from any computer with an internet connection).  I purposefully chose to live near where I work so that I can walk or bike and find huge rewards in time, money, and wear on my vehicle.
• I don’t buy bottled water when I can
  • I’m not saying this is evil if you do buy bottled water and there definitely has been debate on bottled water versus tap water safety, but I don’t drink bottled water when I can help it (sometimes I do) because it simply aids in the demand in creating more plastic…..which can be recycled, but regardless of being recycled or not, many plastics don’t make it to recycling facilities and end up in our waterways which, also lead to our oceans and become pellet-like and disrupt our ocean foodwebs….that, in turn, could exacerbate the environmental disturbance that causes global warming.  I like using my nalgene, and now more recently, my sigg water bottle because they are sturdy, hold a lot more than a bottle of water, and save on using more plastics.
• If it’s yellow, let it mellow
  • This may sound gross, but I try not to flush (mostly in the evenings till morning) the toilet everytime I go pee….because I don’t want to waste water, but think about it,  urine comes out sterile, unless you have kidney issues or a health problem, and it takes most bacteria about a day or so to reach a critical (stinky level)…so why not let them sit for an evening.  I, however, do flush every morning and clean my bathroom weekly.
• I use Compact Florescent Bulbs
  • Not only does this save some money over time, it also saves energy that otherwise would have been wasted with less efficient bulbs.  The one caveat is that they contain a little mercury, but if disposed of properly, then I feel like it’s still well worth the switch in money saved alone.
• I try to eat locally grown foods when my budget allows
  • I’m all about supporting our local farmers, but I feel like I am also eating healthier and doing my part in keeping all the expenses, gas, pesticides to a minimum because the food doesn’t need to travel as far (less gas used to transport), the food will tend to be more ‘in season’ and native to the area, unlike eating antibiotic ridden food…and the food will have less preservatives.  Win, win.
• I take full advantage of Charleston’s recycling program
  • I diligently try to recycle what I can to help reuse and reduce the amount of waste that comes from me.
• I cultivate my love and passion for the environment
  • I do this by making a point to do at least one fun thing in nature every weekend, whether it be surfing, kayaking, hiking, camping….the more I love our environment, the more accountable I feel to make sure I do my part.

Things I want to DO to help mitigate global warming

• Get an energy efficient vehicle
  • Biodiesel, electric….whatever I can do to get a vehicle that not only gets more miles to the gallon, but also dramatically reduces the amount of fuel consumption of a limited resource…and the less green house gases being release.
• Get more involved with educating others on things that can help  with the big issue of global warming.

Ideas floating around:

• Transparent Solar cells
• simplifying conversion of glycerin to methanol/ethanol for transesterification to reduce waste in making biodiesel
• research more on algae and alternative biomass fuel sources like switchgrass, soy beans, and corn
• convert wave energy more efficiently to produce power as well as wind energy and geothermal

I hope to add more to this post in the future, but this is what I feel and hope to do my part in helping mitigate global warming.

Candidacy – my view (part)

// January 6th, 2008 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

Not sure of how to really breach this ‘in the now’ subject, with the Iowa Caucus just finishing up and the New Hampshire Caucus happening in a few short days, I am deciding to just let it Flow…so here goes…

I am extremely scared/hopeful about our future as a country!

Things dealing with many domestic issues like jobs, health care, education, and immigrant legalisation reform directly affect me in some way:

(Jobs) – I am currently unemployed and trying really hard to get a job…so being extremely poor at the moment is having me reflect a lot upon issues related to jobs and the economy.
(Health Care) – I recently underwent surgery…and face the issue of actually having any follow-up work done or needed….I had coverage previously with my former employer, but now…I am being very careful about my well-being because I couldn’t afford to seek medical help if I needed it. Also, my mother has Paranoid Schizophrenia, which is regulated with medication, but she has limited psychiatric resources do to the beaurocracy that is our government, making her unable to be seen by a doctor for over a year, while others who may not need medical treatment more urgently get care almost immediately.
(Education) – Although I currently have my BS degree and am paying my college student loans, the prospect of grad school is very attractive to me. I also used to teach K-12 from many different schools (I’ve taught over 9,000 students from about 300 schools across NC and elsewhere) so my perspective is deep when talking to the respective schools’ teachers about their programs or lack thereof.
(Immigrant Issues) – More from a humanitarian perspective, I am very curious on how immigrants connect with others and find the resources they need to flourish in our country.

Foreign Policy – Generally I have a gutteral reaction to how Bush is unilaterally fighting these wars he is waging all over the world….saying that, I also have very deep emotional connections to what is happening. I grew up in a military family with my father serving in the Marine Corps, so I’ve lived in/near military bases my entire life. During my upbringing, my father served in Desert Shield/Storm….and living with a schizophrenic mother with two younger siblings brought many traumatic times…not going to elaborate, but it wasn’t the easiest of times. Further, since growing up in/near military bases, naturally many of my friends are from military families who also, then, go on to join the military. Many of them, I see, serve and do okay I suppose, but when they get back from their service…..they can’t find suitable work…they become disabled and don’t get proper care, so on and so forth. There is a certain patriotism involved with them serving, but mostly and I think more weighing on their decision to serve is the prospect of a stable life and regular income, not to live in another country being in danger.

I could go on…and maybe I will later about what I feel about this war in Iraq, but this brings me back to our leading Democratic Candidates. Here I am only talking about the Dems because, well, I am a democrat, but also I am not very interested making this post longer than a small book.

Before I begin, a good resource to find out good information on all public officials is at the VOTE SMART Project website, so check it out.

Also-Voting Records of top 3 Democratic Candidates:

(Alphabetically)
Hilary Clinton
John Edwards
Barack Obama

Since I’ve been unemployed, I have spent a considerable amount of time researching the leading candidates, trying to figure out which one seems to line up best with what I belive and hope. I am not an expert, pundit, but a person who cares deeply about things that affect me and ones I love.

In brief, there are a few things I really like about all three leading candidates:

Hilary Clinton – I like that she is leading the way for women in the US for being a pioneer as far as empowering women to become President. The fact that she has consistently stood up for children is also great since I love children.

John Edwards – I like that he has clearly define policy objectives that are easy to understand. I lean toward his campaign platform. I like his personal journey.

Barack Obama – I love his ability to speak; he sounds so much like an inspirational leader. I like his level logic and clear communication.

Trying to be brief, here’s what I do not like:

Hilary Clinton – She always seems disingenuous and scripted, hardly showing emotion in her public speeches. I don’t like her corporate connections. I don’t really trust her and there seems to be many instances of ‘dirty pool’…like one of her senior campaign staffers connecting Obama with ‘muslim’ and questioning his schooling…Why is being a muslim bad? He is not muslim anyway….but that branding of something adhered to Bush’s already well-known ‘war on terror’ is transitive to muslim and being ‘evil’. Nope, don’t trust her.

John Edwards – I don’t like how his message sometimes feels like he hates companies and all lobbyists…I understand what he means, which is that there are a few (companies) that have a disproportionate amount of influence on many, but I don’t know if hey conveys that well sometimes. I also don’t like his former stances on issues (like his authorization to go to war)….but upon researching, I feel like he grows as he learns more, unlike some others.

Barack Obama – His platitudes are wearing thin on me insofar as not seeing the substance supporting what his keywords (hope, change) seem to articulate. I am unsteady with his sudden switch to ban corporate and pac money for his campaign (his Illinois state campaign accepted those funds). That is not to say I know if Edwards has ever accepted monies similiar previous to this 2008 campaign.

I will try to write more, but for now I feel like I would make this post too long!

But I found this letter that Michael Moore wrote….and I think it expresses things similar to my own…

Michael Moore’s letter <== READ THE FULL LETTER!

Two months ago, Rolling Stone magazine asked me to do a cover story where I would ask the hard questions that no one was asking in one-on-one interviews with Senators Clinton, Obama and Edwards. “The Top Democrats Face Off with Michael Moore.” The deal was that all three candidates had to agree to let me interview them or there was no story. Obama and Edwards agreed. Mrs. Clinton said no, and the cover story was thus killed.

One more thing….VOTING and being involved in this election, I feel, is one of the most important things to do this year for yourself, your future, and your legacy….!!! I know it’s cliche’, but it WILL make a difference and WILL determine the course of our lives. For those that say, well…they are all ‘corrupt’…I am sure to some extent, there are inadequacies, but you need to inform yourself and find the best fit for you!!!!!!

photoActivism, spreading news on Palestine

// November 16th, 2007 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

so I am disturbed….and extremely sad about the atrocities/genocide on the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

People say it’s complicated, people think they are Terrorists, but when you carve out a country in the name of Peace….where the basis of Muslim and Christianity colllide, you are going to have war.

But think about this…for the last half of the 20th century…and going….you have been moved, mutilated, killed and forced to live on land with no resources and people are killing your families, friends, and loved ones all the while driving around with guns, harassing you…threatening your life. you, no food, clean water…You throw a rock because you are pissed! They….drop a big bomb to kill all of you. Something is wrong with this. Why don’t more people know about this in our country!

President Bush’s branding of a ‘War on Terror’ has scared everyone to think that anyone in the middle east is evil…deserves to die, etc….but in reality…albeit a sad one, we, the United States are the biggest terrorists, having military bases in many countries, using other governments for proxy wars….all for resources, our quality of life, but isn’t there a better way?

And, of course whenever I hear someone speak out about things of this nature….we supposedly hate our own country! I support our troops (they are absolutely brave, but I feel misguided by Bush and his supporters, but I want them home and safe)….I don’t want proliferation of nuclear weapons (who does?)….am I not patriotic? of course I am, but I am angry! Angry at what is going on in this world, where media glazes over things like Palestine and spins it in a favorable light….America is good, America always does good for the world…we are the benevolent force behind democracy! Everything is not going well in this world….we have to do something; we ALL have to do something positive….VOTE, educate people about what is going on….

Most people I talk to refuse to believe that we (as in our government) are supplying “oxygen lines” as well as providing popular “public opinion” to continue this…sad sad…enormity

Anyways….go see Anomalous on flickr.com or view the pics below

Free Burma!

// October 4th, 2007 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

I am writing this post in an effort to gain attention on the recent protests from Burmese Monks to stop this genocide! (and it’s not just happening in Burma)

The world has been changing rapidly in the past couple of weeks, President of Iran Speaks at Columbia, hired mercenaries are clogging courts because of ‘reckless’ murder, and of course, monks are protesting the Burmese Government. Why?!?? I’m sad and feel helpless during these hard times. Recently my boss at work was involved in bringing some refugees from Burma just a week prior to all of this protesting and mass media attention. They are looking for jobs in Carteret County, although they do not speak english (well), the father and daughter can speak enough to understand things. They have all of their documents to work in the US.

This video shows a little of the protest.

In related happenings…well, not really related in the sense that things like that happened, my work had this program called, “Under Ground Railroad” And, you guessed it, it’s all about the underground railroad where children are told a story about a child from the Sudan who is taken away as a slave (true story actually – a class of children raised money to buy him out of slavery at about 15 dollars) then the kids go on a voyage over the ocean in rough weather where the finally find themselves on the shores of the slave-trade. Fast forward and the kids get separated into conductor groups (because they are now escaping) and are led through our 60 acre property only to be discovered by bounty hunters and other hazards before they finally end their journey at ‘Canada’ where they have to find work, but are free. After this simulation, the children are then debriefed and talk about how they felt which hopefully leads to a conversation about slavery, racism, sexism, and how we can put an end to said issues. The talks are usually amazing, speckled with children revealing how, in scary detail, they have been called names and pushed just for the color of their skin.

Well, I ended up prepping all of the adults and chaperones that will be fully participating in this program as conductors and harriet tubman as well as bounty hunters when one guy gets really nervous about how the kids might explode into heated arguments with the other kids. And while I explain, I use the word levity to kind of explain that you want add a little relief to this heavy subject (like a bounty hunter thinking the kids to be pumpkins in the wagon), but to still honor this past and respect it, while also making sure the kids get a good empathy session by really being treated like slaves, but a lady has a huge problem with the word levity, like it will cause an infection of total disrespect. She then goes on to explain that she does this for colleges all over. So as to not offend her, I humbly state how I see her point of view, only for her to keep trying to push her point on the word ‘LEVITY’!

So, here I just want to say that in order for there to be progress in changing our world, understanding each other, and making progress towards compassion and tolerance, you can’t always be afraid to engage in discussion about race, slavery and the like! You just can’t, so it entirely makes me upset when people want to get on their ‘high-horse’ and proclaim that, albeit in a subtle way, they don’t think that the kids can handle it. For goodness sake, give some trust to these kids! Anyways, I’m glad we went through this meeting, despite my thousand explanations and use of words like, ‘ethnically homogenous’ and ‘disparity of discussions’…(it was getting ridiculous)

All in all though, that meeting opened the floor (and made people confortable – the adults) in confiding their views on race throughout the rest of the day. And I have to tell you, there were some heavy conversations about being marginalized, thought to be less, and not feeling worth it- and big feelings of fear for offending other people in their group. People are scared to touch this subject…but I guess the people I talked to a few days ago are more equipped to engage in discussion. It feels like they do anyways.

Swim, Bike, Run

// September 9th, 2007 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

As many of my friends know, recently I undertook the task of competing in a triathlon. Of course, being as how I am not really in shape, the obvious question was whether I would survive the task. The answer is I did, and did well…at least for me!

However, the weeks previous to this event, I was a wreck with getting ready, littering my days with nervous tension and half-ass workouts, for sure I was going to fail.

I triumphed in the end, especially with the support of friends and the knowledge that I was helping a foundation that conserves one of our natural resources, the Neuse River.

The Neuse River, as Wikipedia states:

The Neuse River is a major permanent stream rising in the piedmont of North Carolina, emptying into the Pamlico Sound below New Bern. Its total length is approx. 325 km (195mi), and its drainage basin, measuring 14,582 km² in area, lies entirely inside the state of North Carolina. It is formed by the confluence of the Flat and Eno Rivers prior to its entering the artificial Falls Lake reservoir in northern Wake County. Its fall-line shoals lie submerged under the waters of Falls Lake. The Neuse River has recently joined the American Rivers’ list as the eighth most endangered river.

The Neuse has been plagued in recent years with environmental and public health problems related to municipal and agricultural wastewater discharge, storm runoff, and other sources of pollution.[1] Pollution was particularly bad in the aftermath of Hurricanes Fran and Floyd in the late 1990s.

The dinoflagellate Pfiesteria Piscicida[2][3][4] is present in the river, and is affected by nutrient levels in the river. This organism is sometimes connected to fish kills as well as adverse health effects in humans.

So, armed with the knowledge that I was helping The Neuse River Foundation and Duke’s Coastal Society Chapter, I felt ready to give it my best!

It all started with the swim (pictured I am in the middle with the red shorts)

Then, the bike ride

Then finally, with some help from my friend June, the run!

Finally! I finished!

It feels good that I finished and am now entertaining the idea of doing one in Emerald Isle next month! After this triathlon, I went surfing because of the tropical depression offshore pushed up some waves! What a productive weekend!

Marc’s ‘Blowback’

// September 9th, 2007 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

In a recent submission to the Jacksonville Daily News in Jacksonville, NC…my friend Marc writes…

To the editor:

The political process that the Bush administration says is necessary for a secure and stable Iraq continues to be derailed by the ethnic, political and religious enmities within Iraqi society. The mainstream media, even the supposed “liberal” media conservatives whine about, has largely failed to place Iraq’s civil war into any type of historical context that includes the well-documented support the U.S. gave to Saddam’s tyranny in the 1980’s, a simple task for those who possess the research skills of a high school student. Never is there any mention of how U.S. interventionism over the last thirty years may have exacerbated the sectarian animosities that are destroying Iraq today. While the Shia/Sunni schism exists within most Islamic societies, nowhere has it expressed itself as violently as it has in Iraq, where a Sunni minority viciously preserved its power over a majority Shiite population, all with the help of the U.S. In Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Shiites are repressed minorities who have little or no freedom to worship or political representation. Although they receive vast amounts of U.S. military aid, sectarian violence and state-terrorism in all of these countries put together has paled in comparison to the brutality of Saddam’s regime, and are perfect examples of how the two sects can coexist fairly peacefully. (Read the State Department’s 2006 “Country Reports for Human Rights Practices” regarding these countries.) Consequently, there is less retaliatory violence of the kind seen in Iraq. The level of U.S.-sponsored state-terrorism under Saddam is directly related to the retributive violence now that tables have turned. However, the fact that today’s conflict is religious and sectarian is incidental, given the demographic nature of tyranny in which an overthrown minority loses its monopoly on violence and, as in many other countries, reaps what it has sown. That Saddam tortured and filled mass graves with Shiites because they were Shiites is secondary to fact that they threatened his power. Accordingly, if facts matter, the violent sectarianism that the U.S. military has been facing in Iraq can accurately be described as the “blowback” created by subsidizing the genocidal policies of Saddam’s regime during the Reagan and former Bush administrations, and the devastating U.N . sanctions, kept in place by the Clinton administration, which knowingly strengthened Saddam’s hold on power and killed thousands of civilians. This “blowback” is apparent in the fact that Kurdish and Shiite politicians have largely ignored U.S. pressure to include more Sunnis in the political process despite the “breathing room” produced by the latest escalation/”surge”. This should come as no surprise; just twenty years ago the U.S. was backing the same Sunni/Baathists who now lead the insurgency that targets them! The Kurds and Shiites might forgive the Sunnis for the ethnic cleansing and mass murder of their friends and relatives, but it seems unlikely that they will do so at the behest of the superpower complicit in their oppression.

Marc Warren

Leatherbacks!

// April 3rd, 2007 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

I am very very excited now about Leatherback Sea Turtles!

Dr. Scott Eckert, Director of Science for WIDECAST, a Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network, and Faculty at Duke University Nicholas School of Environment, presented today his research and knowledge about a wondrous species of Sea Turtle, the Leatherback.

All being part of my regular work schedule, I get to learn, firsthand, about a species of sea turtle from a world renoun expert. Living in virtually every part of the ocean, Leatherbacks have survived the test of time, over 90 million years! They are truely unique, but critically endangered, which is why we need to stand up and pay attention. Seeing as how these turtles mainly eat jellyfish, their absence can/and has caused a major rise in Jellyfish populations, notably along the subartic regions where codfishing is a prominent commercial fishing enterprise. These jellyfish then become both top and bottom of the food chain in that area, stomping out the competition of the other species.

So, critical to us is the regrouping of our efforts to help species like these to stabilize and flourish!

Thank you Dr. Eckert for your great presentation!

be EMPOWERED!

// April 1st, 2007 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

Previously I wrote a little blib about Change.org, a social networking site dedicated to helping others to become proactive in their pursuits of changing the world. Well, I was going over some of my changes i posted on the site and thought I would put them here as well.

My Changes

• Preserve Biodiversity

biodiversity sustains life and provides the needed balance in food, energy, and a healthy earth. the less species, the less competition. the less competition, the less fitness. the less fitness, well you get the idea OUR SURVIVAL.

• Recruit idealistic techies to work for mission-based organizations

having seen firsthand the disparity of techies in mission-based orgs, recruitment seems a priority need to help run these orgs more efficiently! I also believe that the general culture of a techie lends to social based empowerment can-do, help-do attitudes.

• Increase awareness about free (opensource) software

i feel like, although there may be som hiccups for newbies, open source is somewhat ripe for the picking by the end-user in regards to OS’s as well as many other open source projects. while proprietary softwares seem to be opening up to this flood of new Open source projects like open office, linux…etc. It’s free in many cases, cheap in virtually all and has a framework for social change, people helping each other find the solutions, making it better and better. While not everyone is a kernel/driver contributor for linux, the end user can enjoy its east of use. a quick search from any browser will provide most answers as well as easy turnkey solutions via patches and tutorials.

• Strengthen Global Ocean Use Policy

learning what I have from many sources, our oceans, more than ever, provide the mainstay of living on this planet. however, our policy enforcement seems to end a few hundred miles from our shores. if we, as a global society, are to ensure our children’s future, we need to do something about strengthening policies that help all nations work together to enforce protecting our oceans.

My Nonprofits

• Ashoka

although I am still somewhat new to Ashoka ( year now) I have found the resources and challenges presented very valuable to me as a go-to when learning what things are being done.

all too often I think our society in America equates traditional business with bottom-line being profit as not concerning social betterment…social entrepreneurship is the way to go! look at Grameen bank!

if more Organizations like Ashoka existed, I think we would have more and more social betterment focused business, providing goods and services that are better on target and more impactful.

• Public Information network

Seeing what RTPnet has done for NC in terms of technology speaks volumes to the dedication of its volunteers and the expertise in which they provide. From attending their conference on nonprofit technology, I was ushered into a new world of networking opportunities and it paved the way for my future links to valuable resources that have enabled me to become successful in my newfound endeavors on digital divide issues and open source as well as emerging technologies.

Now I know where to look for resources, have people I can talk with about technology, and have embarked on a journey to make a difference, utilizing things I’ve learned from association with this organization.

• Kiva

microlending has finally merged with web 2.0, and i feel it is making a huge impact! the idea that any person with 20 dollars can help some entreprenuer in a developing country is amazing to me, empowering to me, and also gives me good sleep!

I definitely have a lot more, but I feel these, for now, are good for a posting! Change.org is amazing, and I highly recommend anyone to join and meet others!

Make a Difference Online! – Change.org

// March 18th, 2007 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

As I see it, Web 2.0 or otherwise known as social networking sites are starting to gain a foothold in my sphere of interest.

Here comes Change.org, a Web 2.0 site that allows you to find changes that you want to make in this world and network with likeminded people who also share your passions. The site is well put together and includes many options for your involvement. You can blog about why you like a particular action, create changes you want to see realized, while also supporting organizations you want to see succeed in their goals.

Change is good, especially when it comes to empowering others!

So visit, check it out, and MAKE A DIFFERENCE ONLINE!

Thanks Brian for showing me this awesome web service!

Podcasting in my classes!

// September 15th, 2006 // Comments Off // Uncategorized

Well, the debut of podcasting for reflection in my classes has finally arrived!!!

I am sooo excited about continuing to do this!

We recently had a wonderful school who was in full support of interviewing their children!

The two podcasts focus on pollution and sea turtles. It was pretty fluid using conservation as the theme, and I was very delighted on how the kids focused on the issues and not the fact that they were talking into a microphone.

I am using wordpress 2.0 which runs great natively for podcasting…to which there are some pretty stable plugins.

Here is the site

In other news, I am testing out the uses of Moodle to run in an outdoor education environment. I am not sure if it will be suited for our type of curriculum, and might pose to be too much work for us to keep up with. The whole idea of having the site is to extend the learning after the students who experience our program continue to utilize our knowledgebase and for teachers to use the site as a ‘hand-off’ for when they are back in the classroom.

Moodle is an awesomely extensible platform with many modules for gradebooks, theme customization, and very easy visual installation.

Both Wordpress and Moodle took about 30 minutes to completely install, minus ftp’ing the files to the server.