Came across a few things today that I just had to share.
#1 – The Smash Shack
Outside of the pure wastefulness of it, this is just unmitigated brilliance. Sarah's Smash Shack in San Diego is just that ... a place to go and break stuff without having to clean it up or lose a family heirloom to anger. Genius this woman! Had a really bad day? Awful break-up? Mad at your boss? For $45 you get a stack of 15 plates to hurl at a wall! Hell, there's a whole menu of items to buy and break ... and they even have a "bring your own" deal. Or, bring in a photo of that jerkwad who broke your heart, slide it in a frame from the Shack and let it fly! I freaking love that someone is actually making money with this, and let's be honest, people need to channel that rage somewhere so, why not.
#2 – Drive-thru Democracy This is indeed a fine, fine nation we live in, folks, where – at least in Santa Ana, CA – you can do your civic duty without leaving the comfort of you automobile. That's right .... drive-thru voting! I love it. I mean, leave it to us lazy ass Americans to come up with something so very convenient, but still ... drive up to that machine, punch in your selections and cruise on down the road. And unlike our million other drive-thrus, this one won't make you gain weight!
#3 – What Soul
Fish sent me a link to some beautiful photos earlier of Obama on the campaign trail. The images, taken by photojournalist Callie Shell over the past few years, speak volumes about how real, how amazing and how truly dedicated Obama is. My favorite one is above. With all of the reports of the "Hockey Mom's" recent shopping sprees ($150K on clothes? Yeah, that's middle class America right there) I love love love this pic of the holes in the soles of his shoes. The caption said that he's already had them re-soled once since he entered the race. That's the kind of man I want working for our country. This series of pics is on The Digital Journalist and be sure to keep hitting the "Show More Images" link because there are so many wonderful ones.
Yes, this post is simply a "Yay for me!" post, and since it's my blog, I feel like that's just fine every once in a while.
Today's gloat is that I am officially 5 months and 1 beautiful day (I should've posted yesterday) off the Nicodemon! That's right folks ... 22 weeks and some odd hours free from my self-imposed slavery.
To break it down in more bite-sized bits: • That's about 2,100 cigs that I haven't smoked (read that one again for impact) • And about $380-$400 that I haven't spent • About 6 lbs that I've gained (small price to pay in my humble opinion) • And who knows how many hours I've added back onto my journey in this life
The Fun Blocker This is most likely the only time you will ever hear me push pill-popping, but folks, this great miracle is courtesy of an itty bitty pill (Chantix) that wedged its way into my brain and said "Nico-Fun be gone!" And you know what? That was all it took. Poof – gone! Just like that. I just had to take care of some of those pesky psychological triggers (boredom, stress) in other ways and that was it, done.
It's kinda funny because I was going through the motions to quit – setting a quit date, gathering a support group, gathering my willpower – and my doc said, "Why are you waiting? This works!" And it did work ... like a freaking blast of good grace.
I've talked to people who said it didn't work for them, but I don't think they were really ready yet. You gotta want it ... really want it. And I did. And I quit. And now, "Yay me!"
Yesterday on Blog Action Day, I read about The Luxury Fund on Jed's website and was so very much impacted by the concept that I wanted to talk share it here, too – you know, just in case the like 6 of you who actually read my blog don't read his ;)
The Luxury Fundis a really interesting way of looking at how easy it is for us, the Haves, to help out the Have Nots. 100% of money donated to the fund is divided among 4 faith-based groups (listed on further down ... check out their sites too!). It's a pretty new venture organized by a guy in Alabama, but seems to be taking off because it's a really great notion that we can give up one or two small things, chip in that bit of money and when it's all taken together, it can really make a difference.
I guess it's just hard for me to completely grasp the worldwide poverty crisis – especially in relation to the privileged life I have lead – but this really helped me put it in perspective and seemed a good way that I can help out and not feel overwhelmed. I was just really impacted by this and wanted to share.
LF Mission: "Every year Americans spend $15 billion on bottled water. Did you know that $1 can provide clean drinking water for an African person for an entire year? The Luxury Fund asks people to use some of their "luxury money" to help change the lives of those around the world who suffer from great poverty, disease, and injustice.
Here's how it works: Today, you could decide to skip your cup of coffee at the local coffee shop, and rather than running your check card for $3 at the coffee shop, you could contribute a small $3 to the Luxury Fund. That money is distributed among four charities who are helping to end poverty (Blood Water Mission, Compassion International, International Justice Mission, Love 146). It's an easy way to make a small sacrifice while making a huge impact around the world that can literally save lives"
• Almost half the world — more than 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day • 1 out of every 2 kids worldwide lives in poverty • According to UNICEF, 26,500 to 30,000 children die each day due to poverty • Nearly 1 billion people entered the 21st Century unable to read a book or sign their names
What Do I Know of Poverty? The first thoughts that rush to my mind are shameful ones, though I don't suppose I really need be ashamed. I guess it's just that feeling of being so very blessed and knowing that so many others are struggling just to stay above water.
I'll be the first to say that I have lived a very privileged existence. Not that my parents were high rollers – hell, they were both public school teachers — but growing up, I got every single thing that I needed, and most of the things that I wanted. I never ever went to bed hungry; was never cold in the winter; was never without good shoes or clothes or any of those things kids all need; and I got a top-notch education.
I was truly fortunate. And, likewise, my friends and their families have been largely untouched by poverty. So, what do I personally know of poverty? Not much.
What Do I Do to Help People in Need? The answer is definitely not enough. I do some small things every day and some things when they are put in front of me, but I can do much more. I'm not like Brad & Angie with beaucoup money to spread far and wide, but even on a budget, I can do more. And really that is what this day is about – thinking about what we do and what more we can do to help this crisis.
Small things I currently do:
• Buying fair trade products. I pay a tiny bit more to insure farmers get a fair price for their crop. Also, buying non-sweatshop products. This is a much more difficult thing to do in our society because so many things are made oversees, and who knows how they're made? But if we start looking at those labels and really thinking about our purchases and seeking out fair-made stuff, it will make a difference.
• Visiting web sites each day like the Hunger Site, Child Health Site, Literacy Site and Breast Cancer Site. Each of these sites has sponsors who donate life-saving services when you visit and click a button. On the Hunger Site, sponsors donate 1.1 cups of food for every daily click. On the Literacy Site, it's free books and the Breast Cancer Site donates free mammograms. With just a few clicks of a mouse and less than a minute of time, this is an easy way to make a difference.
• During the holiday season, I give money every time I walk by the Salvation Army bell ringers. I never carry cash but actually make a point to do so when I know they will be out. I wonder what would happen if they were outside stores all year long? I would give all year long, but have never considered just making monthly or quarterly donations. Hmmm ....
• Donating old coats during coat drives is also an easy way to help people during the colder months when heat is so expensive, even for those of us in the "Haves" category.
So, that's what I've come up with ... and it's not a lot, but it is a start. The thing is, these meager acts can amount to great deeds when many take part. And then we can always do more.
What More Can I Do to Help Those in Need? There is a worldwide poverty crisis happening at this very minute. And while things like the aforementioned Hunger Site and buying fair trade are easy enough to do, it's hard to take in such an extreme situation and figure out exactly how one person can make a difference. I've decided that the best thing for me to do is go with the "Think Globally, Act Locally" method right now – to do what I can now to help those around me and then when the time comes that I can go bigger, give more and do more, I'll do it celebrity style, heh.
I will take a cue from my mother who, for as long as I can remember, has gone out of her way to help those around her who were less fortunate. I am going to strive to do lots of small things to help those who are struggling; to donate more of my time to causes in my community (I don't have loads of money but definitely have time to spare); and to be open to ways that I can give back since I have been so tremendously blessed. I encourage you all to do the same.
And if you actually made it down this far, please do take a couple minutes to watch the video below ;)
After many months listening to my excited rambles, and out of the goodness of her heart, my Lovely Little Pal Lorney (LLPL) agreed to attend the Obama rally in Asheville with me Sunday. It was an amazing experience and I can honestly say that I didn't give her enough credit for her staying-power. It was a long (hot & waterless) wait, and clear proof that she loves me because she wasn't nearly as pumped about it as I was to start out. But, as LLPL knows all too well, I am not good about going places and doing things by myself. So, first off, thanks to LLPL for being my steady :)
Brother Ben asked if the patchouli stench could be smelled for miles, thinking that it was, after all, held in Asheville. But the absolute diversity of the crowd was a real testament to Obama's message of coming together for change. Young & old with every color of skin (mine much more red after the fact), wearing everything from combat boots and sandals to high heels (it was just after church), tank tops to tunics, gathered to wait in line for hours with a common goal.
He spoke for about 35 minutes with the focus being on health care ... a big deal here in our mountains for both those in the industry and those struggling without it. I kept telling LLPL that it didn't matter if we couldn't see him ... I just wanted to hear him speak, in person. I just wanted to feel it deep down inside me like I have so many times watching him on TV. And he did not disappoint.
So, using Leahpet's "by the numbers" format, here we go:
Obama in AVL Rally ... by the numbers:
28,000: The estimated number of attendants. Local police said there were about 22,000 inside the stadium (which they predicted would hold 15K standing room only) and another 6,000 outside the gates, stacked deep with their faces pressed to the fence .... just to hear him speak.
1,000+: Times I felt really, truly grateful and excited to be a part of something so big and so important ... and all with my LLPL
30: Minutes we waited in line to pee once we finally got inside the stadium
22: Dollars spent between us (1 T-shirt, 2 waters & 1 Gatorade)
5: Number of Port-a-Potties ... seriously. Thousands and thousands of people who have waited in line for many hours, and there were only 5 Port-a-Potties!
4: Number of lines waited in ... 1) to get in ... 2) to pee ... 3) to get up in bleachers ... 4) to get out (though that was more of a moving mass than a line)
2: Number of hours we waited in line after about 45 minutes just trying to get there (with many thanks to AVL's Players' Express for the free shuttle ride up the big ol' hill ... that was 7 to a bench seat folks!) • Also the number of peanut butter samiches consumed while waiting in line ... without water.
0: Pictures of Obama on my camera (the one above my boss took ... apparently my zoom not so good)
So, yeah ... it was a really good day. Sometimes it just takes a little effort to get moving and get there and the end result is just freaking beautiful.
And on a pretty amusing sidenote, my editor found this pic online and sent it along for my amusement ... yeah, that's Palin's kid giving her brother the finger while mom wears some weird egg/bubbly cloud/stupid coat and some little old lady smiles on. Love it!
So, last week I gave my "For the Animals" reasons as to why I'm a veggie, but today I would like to present the "For the Environment" reasons (for those of you who don't give a damn about the critters ... which is fine, it's your call). Below are some Fun Facts from goveg.com about the environmental impacts of meat production ... it's pretty interesting stuff no matter which food route you are taking.
"A 2006 United Nations report summarized the devastation caused by the meat industry by calling it 'one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.'"
Land • An area of rain forest the size of 7 football fields is destroyed EVERY MINUTE to make room for grazing cattle, but each vegetarian saves 1 acre of trees every year.
Food • It takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of meat, and more than 70% of the grain and cereals that we grow in this country are fed to farmed animals.
• The world's cattle alone consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people—more than the entire human population on Earth. About 20 percent of the world's population, or 1.4 billion people, could be fed with the grain and soybeans fed to U.S. cattle alone.
Energy • Of all raw materials and fossil fuels currently used in the U.S., more than 1/3 goes to raising animals for food (producing fertilizer for crops to feed the animals, oil to run trucks that take them to slaughter, electricity to freeze their carcasses)
• If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads.
Water It takes 5,000 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat (watering crops to feed animals, drinking water for animals, cleaning the stanky warehouses and trucks, etc), while growing 1 pound of wheat requires only 25 gallons of water.
• You save more water by not eating 1 pound of beef than you do by not showering for an entire year (This one blows my mind!)
Global Warming • Eating 1 lb of meat emits the same amount of greenhouse gasses as driving an SUV 40 miles, and scientists are now saying that the meat industry is one of the leading sources of greenhouse gasses that lead to global warming.
And ... • If you're a glutton for punishment, check out "Meet Your Meat" ... I made it about 45 seconds into the video before I had to turn it off. Go ahead, watch it ... I dare you.
An "I Love Natalie Portman" Sidenote: Yep, she's a veggie too :)
And so are Forest Whitaker, Russell Simmons, Sir Paul McCartney, Pamela Anderson, Alec Baldwin, the Dalai Lama, Clint Eastwood (yup, you heard it here), Alicia Silverstone ....
Happy Veggie Day!
I'll give it a rest now ... but since it is my blog, I figure I can ramble about whatever I want to ;) And you just might have learned a little something in the process (I did!).
