HHHUUUUOOOOOuuuaaAAAaaaaaahh!!!! Num num num...napping. What a wonderful pastime and what better place to do it than in a wonderful hammock after reading a book or lying in the sun. I really really want a hammock in my first place and hopefully it can go in the big big big yard or porch i'll have one day. Yet, it can't be any old knit one. It has to be large, have some fluff to it, and its momma may have to of done the deed with a papa san. I want to be able to stretch out and sink in. But until then, I will have to keep these in mind.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Never Grow Up
Apart of me has always wanted to build or at least temporarily own a treehouse. Why? Maybe its because my dad never let us have one in fear of broken bones. Or maybe it steams from my childhood fascination with the movie Hook. I really don't know. What I do know is that they're very high, seem very adventurous, and can be tricked out to look very cool. Heres some photos of ones I'll never let my kids have... Also for more kinds check out http://www.treehouseworkshop.com/index.html
Thursday, February 3, 2011
College Speaker- Van Jones
On January 26, 2011, I attended two talks led by Van Jones, founder of Green For All, in Rose Hills Theater and Edmunds Ballroom at Pomona College. A very inspiring and witty speaker, Mr. Van Jones introduced some of the challenges the country is facing in regards to our economic and environmental future. In the main talk in Edmunds, he asserted that we were in both environmental and economic peril and that there is no clear path in getting out. Environmentally, we face the challenge of global warming and an energy crisis while economically we are at risk for experiencing higher rates of unemployment. Given, he acknowledged there would be challenges to follow and a lot of experimentation, he suggests that we take the following five steps: invest in renewable energy, establish a green bank, defend the EPA, utilize energy resources on tribal lands through partnerships, and create a green enterprise zone. He brushed over the surface of each and I hoped that he would have explained his suggestions in a little bit more detail because I see problems with options three through five.
First of all, while the EPA is a great organization and has accomplished a lot since its creation, I feel that many parts of it, like all government agencies, have succumbed to corruption. In many cases, committee’s decisions have done more to hurt the environment (physical and social) by passing regulations that defend various offenders. Nevertheless, Van Jones sees the involvement of government and private investors as necessary as they can help supply our technologies and capital. I could go on about what think, however, if we are to defend them then they will have to admit to their mistakes and we will have to take greater measures to oversee the regulatory process. Also, we should make sure those we place into leadership positions do not have any conflicts of interests.
In regards to using wind turbines on reservations, I am not so much against it as I am skeptical that an environmental justice and or ecological issues arise years after negotiation. Van Jones implies that there will be tradeoffs and risks taken to ensure the greater good in this process. The advantage in this case is that it’s supposed to lift people out of poverty. The question becomes how do we decide who takes the risks and who bears the effects?
In explaining green enterprises, Van Jones makes a good point about not letting there be a sort of green apartheid where one community has access to the green economy while the other does not. Simply, not supplying one community with jobs that have a longer lifespan while the other does not. He suggests that we should take steps toward making this green market a free market economy to counter the existing monopolies within certain industries. If we have this we could potentially bring back jobs to declining industrial cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and Indianapolis. The idea of lifting people up happens to be a reoccurring goal that he mentioned in both talks.
Photo property of Pomona College |
While I agree with this, its much easier said then done. We can lead the movement, but it has to be a collective effort on everyone’s part. One part of the equation is education and making this message be incorporated into our schools. If this is not successfully done then our generation will be in the same spot as those that preceded us. Also, everyone who is older cannot simply just give up. Older citizens still bear influence in their positions of power and cannot simply shrug off their responsibility because it is too much.
Photo Property of Pomona College |
In summary, while many of the points he covered were important they were also steps to solutions that I have heard before. In that sense, I left the talk not necessarily informed but some of my own views reaffirmed and a much needed motivation.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Dream Home Series Part 1
So I was recently watching this old throwback movie Practical Magic from 1998. Some of you may remember it as it starred Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Anyway, every time I see this movie I am just captivated by the architecture and decor of this home. Especially, the kitchen and the multilevel attic. The Victorian style home was something built for the set of the movie and later torn down. But, I swear they could have just sold it to me and I would have hauled it away. There is just something gorgeous about the the tall cabinets, the dark and light wood and it being attached to a green house that is both practical and magical. Look at these pictures and watch this clip in from the movie to see what you think! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQ31X8COWw
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