Earth Day events…get OUT and join the fun!

Today is Green Grove Thursday….

For Earth Day (which is technically on Monday 22nd), many cities will host fun events for the whole family. Here’s a link to check some out in your area: http://content.sierraclub.org/earthday/

Help Uplift Poor Women on International Women’s Day

If you’d like to, and are able to, help the poorest women in the world, go to: https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/internationalWomensDay

Get the Frack Out of the Arctic!

Green Grove Thursday….Action day!

Sign a petition to keep Big Oil companies from drilling in the Arctic! The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) points out that “After announcing plans to drill in the Arctic last summer, Shell has proven — through a series of accidents and mishaps — just how impossible it is to function safely in the severe conditions of this remote region. Just this month, a Shell drilling rig ran aground, again demonstrating that Big Oil cannot be trusted to drill in one of the last pristine wild places left on the planet. “

Sign the petition here: https://secure.nrdconline.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2955&autologin=true&JServSessionIdr004=587ioyees2.app305a

Torre..Torre…Torrefaction (not a movie!)

If found this new word in a Renewable Energy magazine, and couldn’t resist it!

Torrefaction: Torrefaction is the roasting of wood or other biomass to create a product that (1) has increased energy density; (2) has characteristics that make it easy to handle and transport; and (3) is practical to co-fire in existing coal plants.

If you’d like to read more about torrefaction, here’s an interesting article: http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2010/Torrefaction_of_wood_pellets_offers_substitute_to_coal

How to get your New Years resolutions to stick!

Many people talk about resolutions, but here is a 35 minute video that can inspire and educate you on how to make those resolutions into new habits and help you make them reality! http://socialmediabar.com/light-your-new-years-resolutions-on-fire

2012 in review…thank you to all my readers, fans and friends!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 13,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 3 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

Some people just won’t take “NO” for an answer!

Some people just won’t take “No” for an answer!!

I just had the strangest thing happen to me. I was leaving a professional building dressed in business attire, walking along with a smile on my face and basically minding my own business. A young man (probably between 25- 30) complimented me, saying “you look very nice in that black suit this morning”. Hold on, that’s not the weird part.

I replied “thank you” and smiled, but continued to walk on.

“Are you looking for a boyfriend?” he asked.

“Oh, no, I’m married.”

“A black boyfriend?” he persisted.

“No. I’m happily married, but thank you for asking!”

I was surprised at his persistence; he was obviously much younger than I am, is good-looking and seems in good health. I’m beginning to wonder at this point why on earth he would want to pick up on me? I’m dressed fairly conservatively, and obviously haven’t skipped any meals lately, could he be looking for a sugar mama?

He had on a Lakers T-shirt, so in an effort to distract him from his current line of questioning, I asked him what he thought about the Lakers rejecting Phil Jackson as their new head coach, instead, choosing Mike D’Antoni.

He started explaining what he thought had happened, and why their new choice was a good match for the current Lakers lineup, which seemed to derail his attempt to pick up on me. I was floored when he claimed “I’m not racist, but all white people go for the money. That’s why they didn’t choose Phil Jackson, he wanted too much money”.

Wow, I wonder what he’d have thought if I came out with a comment like “I’m not racist, but all black people (fill in the blank here)”!!! I mean, the very definition of racism is making a sweeping generalization about an entire group of people, and that’s exactly what he did. He didn’t even seem to realize it.

I thanked him for his take on the Lakers, and started moving off down the sidewalk.

He flipped open his cell phone and said “just let me get your cell number”.

I shook my head, smiled and kept on walking. Some people just won’t take “No” for an answer!!

Talking CASH, not trash, Friday 11/09/12, check us out!

I’m thrilled to be a returning guest on the Hollis Chapman Talk Radio Show this Friday 11/09/12 at 9am PST/10am MST/11am CST/noon EST. The call in number is 646-595-4326, and here’s a link: http://blogtalkradio.com/hollischapmanshow

We’ll be talking CASH, not trash….how to live within your means, how to balance a budget, tools and tips on how to survive in this rough economy…and MORE!!! Call in with your questions and comments, we’d love to hear from you.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian readers!!!

Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October, to give thanks at the close of the harvest season.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada has been traced back to Martin Frosbier’s 1578 voyage from England. While searching for the Northwest Passage, his fleet was scattered by ice and storms. When finally coming together again at Frosbier’s Bay, Robert Wolfall, the expedition’s chaplain, held a godly sermon asking the members to be thankful for their strange and miraculous deliverance.  (from the care2.com newsletter)

Politics mean poison….

I’m so sick of politics as it stands right now!!! I say let’s fire the lot of them, from all three branches of government, and start over. Politicians would have to use only their own money to run, no one would be allowed to “sponsor/buy” politicians, whether it be the Congress, Judicial system, etc. They could only run one term, no re-elections, so they’d keep their minds on the job, and all political parties should be equally represented. Time to dust off the brains of Americans and develop into a truly open minded, equal and representative government. (OK, now I’m hiding behind something large, waiting for the stones to start raining down on my revolutionary head.)