Clothing Swaps, Clean Energy: Both Good For The Environment
Posted by Michelle Moquin on June 16th, 2010
Good Morning…
I was out last night swapping clothes with some girlfriends. A good friend of mine always gives me the heads up and we head out together. This particular group of women I am not that close to, and most of them I only see when I go to these swaps, but I never miss attending one – I have so much fun.
Most of the women that attend these swaps have a pretty limited income, so thrift store shopping and clothes swapping are their main ways of acquiring clothing. I rarely find something that I just have to have, but honestly I don’t go for the clothing; I really go for the conversation and connection to these women, and the excitement that I get to witness on their faces from the new-to-you finds.
It brings me joy in more than just one way, knowing that I am doing a good thing by swapping clothing. When I see a woman pick up a garment that has been worn and adored by the previous owner, and now brings a smile to her face, it makes me smile. I smile because it makes me happy to see women running around in their glory, swapping clothing, tossing a skirt, or a sweater, or a shirt, to a friend or a stranger, who they think would look good in it…laughing…drinking…having girl fun…I just love it.
I also smile because it may be simple, it may be small, and for most people they may not even give it a second thought as I do, but knowing the damage that manufacturing of clothing does on the environment, I am grateful that women such as myself and others get so much pleasure from passing on something once loved, to another who will love it more, and pass it on…and on…and on…And yes, every once in a while I do find a gem myself that makes me so giddy. :)
…so I missed Obama’s address on the BP spill and his plan to move forward with clean energy last night. I watched it this morning, and as much as I am sickened by the damage that the oil is doing, I can’t help but think that if something like this didn’t happen we would still be drilling down miles deep with clean energy just a distant dream. Now it is a goal, and one that will be challenging, but I believe totally reachable. Now it the time.
I certainly wish that we and so many innocent others didn’t have to endure such a drastic lesson that we brought upon ourselves, forcing us to finally make a change that is better for us…for all. I wish that we could’ve had the foresight, the care, the urgency, a lot sooner than now. But our MO until now has always been reactive instead of preventative. Perhaps now we will finally have a nation that truly thinks of our future…at least I believe that we have an administration that does.
In case you were out having fun as I was, and missed Obama’s speech, here it is:
The President addresses the American people from the Oval Office for the first time on the ongoing Administration-wide response to the BP oil spill and America’s clean energy future.
And following is part of an email that I received from the Obama Administration:
The President presented a vision of a future where we as a nation are not held hostage by our dependence on fossil fuels — and a plan for an economy that invests in energy generated right here and creates jobs for millions of Americans in the process. Under his leadership, some of this is beginning to take shape — clean energy is starting to put people back to work across the country, building more efficient cars and trucks, repurposing old factories to manufacture wind turbines, and investing in research that will discover new energy technologies.
Critics will say that a real transition to clean energy is a challenge that can’t be met. But the President made it clear tonight that he will not back down — even if the path forward is not easy. And, as this movement has shown time and again, neither will we.
You are one of hundreds of thousands who have already stood with President Obama for a clean-energy future. Washington has put this off for far too long — America must act. We need your help today to show strong support for the President’s vision for a clean-energy future. Please pass on this email to five friends today — and ask them to join you in standing with the President:
http://my.barackobama.com/CleanEnergyFuture
Readers: Now is the time more than ever for us to go for clean energy.
Zen Lill: Kudos for opening the blog up :) Please tell Miss Lilly that I am proud of her - congrats on her accomplishments – too cool.
Are you kidding me: I don’t think I have a spaceship; I know I have one. And yes, it is that big. But don’t worry, I am not out to dupe anyone of their wealth. :)
Peace out…..
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’
t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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June 16th, 2010 at 11:56 am
You need to see a Dr. then. In my opinion you are nothing but a liar in lala land.
Why not fix the gulf spill, cause you cannot, nor can your imaginary TAO!
You got some kind of scam going. That much is sure.
There is a sucker born every minute, maybe you’ll find one.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I guess we can thank AYKM for the open says a me today ; )
I think he just wants validation about the size of his spaceship hee hee…
Misch, that striped short tank I snagged last July is still getting me compliments. One male I know said you need to wear that top everyday : ) hahaha…keep wishing…!
Caio, Zen Lill
June 16th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Oh and I nearly forgot (how?) – Ruth, please an update on Anonz?
Thanks, ZL
June 16th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
The tank top I snagged at the clothing swap, sorry, I’m discomboobulated today, had a strange nightmare so I’m starting conversations in the middle all day…wish I had time for a nap. Oh and I also wonder why AYKM thinks your out for his cash? Am I unaware of you asking for bucks or something else? – ZL
June 17th, 2010 at 7:48 am
The reason I love your blog is you let anyone in. That is when we can get in. Are you kidding me(AYKM) IS the perfect example that it takes all kinds to make this blog work.
June 17th, 2010 at 7:51 am
Let’s see the top Zen Lill. The office has bets going on whether you will do it . Tina says we need to get over the fact that we don’t live in LA.
June 17th, 2010 at 7:54 am
Okay AYKM, we’ll bite how much money do you have? Oh, and Michelle doesn’t ask for money. And neither does the aliens.
June 17th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Thanks for the advice Michelle. Last nights babybacks were delicious. I ate well and slept well.
I’ve been thinking though, there are a lot more bad men out there and why should we let the aliens have all the meals.
June 17th, 2010 at 8:16 am
Hafa adai
Anna I think another woman should get the job that Limitaco is leaving. There are many talented and capable women in the administration. Shannon Lujan comes to mind.
Some how I think Phil Tydingco will get the job. Not that he is not a good choice, but this is the time to give women a chance.
Lea
June 17th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Got sent this. Don’t know why.
Men’s Age as Determined by a Trip to Home Depot
You are in the middle of some kind of project around the house-mowing the lawn, putting in a new fence, painting the living room, or whatever. You are hot and sweaty, covered in dirt or paint. You have your old work clothes on. You know the outfit – shorts with the hole in the crotch, old T-shirt with a stain from whom knows what, and an old pair of tennis shoes.
Right in the middle of this great home improvement project you realize you need to run to Home Depot to get something to help complete the job.
Depending on your age you might do the following:
In your 20′s:
Stop what you are doing. Shave, take a shower, blow dry your hair, brush your teeth, floss, and put on clean clothes. Check yourself in the mirror and flex. Add a dab of your favorite cologne because you never know, you just might meet some hot chick while standing in the checkout lane. And you went to school with the pretty girl running the register.
In your 30′s:
Stop what you are doing, put on clean shorts and shirt. Change shoes. You married the hot chick so no need for much else. Wash your hands and comb your hair. Check yourself in the mirror. Still got it. Add a shot of your favorite cologne to cover the smell. The cute girl running the register is the kid sister to someone you went to school with.
In your 40′s:
Stop what you are doing. Put on a sweatshirt that is long enough to cover the hole in the crotch of your shorts. Put on different shoes and a hat. Wash your hands. Your bottle of Brute Cologne is almost empty so you don’t want to waste any of it on a trip to Home Depot. Check yourself in the mirror and do more sucking in than flexing. The spicy young thing running the register is your daughter’s age and you feel weird thinking she is spicy.
In your 50′s:
Stop what you are doing. Put a hat on, wipe the dirt off your hands onto your shirt. Change shoes because you don’t want to get dog doo-doo in your new sports car. Check yourself in the mirror and you swear not to wear that shirt anymore because it makes you look fat. The Cutie running the register smiles when she sees you coming and you think you still have it. Then you remember the hat you have on is from Buddy’s Bait & Beer Bar and it says, ‘I Got Worms .’
In your 60′s:
Stop what you are doing. No need for a hat anymore. Hose the dog doo-doo off your shoes. The mirror was shattered when you were in your 50′s. You hope you have underwear on so nothing hangs out the hole in your pants. The girl running the register may be cute, but you don’t have your glasses on so you are not sure.
In your 70′s:
Stop what you are doing. Wait to go to Home Depot until the drug store has your prescriptions ready, too. Don’t even notice the dog doo-doo on your shoes. The young thing at the register smiles at you because you remind her of her grandfather.
In your 80′s:
Stop what you are doing. Start again. Then stop again. Now you remember you needed to go to Home Depot. Go to Wal-Mart instead and wander around trying to think what it is you are looking for. Fart out loud and you think someone called out your name. You went to school with the old lady who greeted you at the front door.
In your 90′s & beyond:
What’s a home deep hoe? Something for my garden? Where am I? Who am I?
Why am I reading this? Did I send it? Did you? Who farted?
=================================
So where do you fit in AKYM?
Nora
June 17th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Hafa adai
Lea, I agree with you. But I heard that Shannon is not interested in the Attorney General job, but I also heard that plenty other women attorneys are. It’s the governor’s call and he is a male. Let’s hope Shannon can influence him to pick a woman.
I ran across this article on Guam. It’s great.
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TEXT AND PHOTOS BY: Mira B. Gloria
Guam unraveled
THE ISLAND of Guam shares so many similarities
with the Philippines that visiting this American
territory in the western Pacific doesn’t feel like leaving the country at all.
A View of Guam’s Tumon Bay from the Hilton
The climate is the same. The food is familiar. People here serve pancit (noodles), lumpia (spring rolls) and lechon (roast suckling pig) during feasts. And there’s a good chance you’ll bump into a Filipino everywhere you go.
There are, however, a few points of distinction.
Guam has nicer roads and highways, not to mention law-abiding motorists. It has more luxury hotels and designer boutiques. And let’s not forget, it has the 24-hour American superstore K-Mart.
Other than these, there’s not much else to see in Guam. But as locals will tell you, that is something only jaded visitors would say. If you are an intrepid traveler and you want to combine relaxation and adventure in one go, this island is worth the visit.
A glimpse of the past
One interesting fact about Guam is that despite its resort-like qualities — sun, sea, sand and shopping — it’s not as bustling as, say Boracay or Phuket, where vendors rule the streets and the dazzling beaches are often associated with a naughty nightlife.
Despite the number of luxury hotels and high-end boutiques spread out across the island, Guam, surprisingly, is just as laidback as any seaside community.
That’s because, most places in — with the exception of the island’s commercial district, Tumon — haven’t changed since the Americans occupied the island during World War II. Here you’ll still find historical WWII sites with well-preserved gun encasements, cannons and pillboxes. Even traces of the three centuries of Spanish occupation such as churches and shrines still stand in most of Guam’s rural areas.
A short drive to the south of the island reveals more of Guam’s wartime past. Along the highway, you’ll pass by a number of WWII naval stations and shipwreck sites. A few surviving military outposts such as the 300-year-old Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledad located in Umatac, 24 miles from Tumon, can also be found.
Going around Guam is easy. If you’re interested in a history tour combined with adventure, the Guam Boonie Stompers offers organized hikes to the island’s waterfalls, mountains, beaches, snorkeling sites and latte sites (stone pillars that were once the foundation of ancient Chamorro houses).
Surf and turf
Guam also has a few things to offer those who want a walk on the wild side. One can always go windsurfing, which is a popular pastime of the locals. On a fine sunny morning, it is best to head out to Tumon Beach, Cocos Island or Hagatna Bay to experience Guam’s great waves.
Diving is also one of the things to try when in Guam, thanks to its geographical location, which is at the edge of the Marianas Trench. It is recommended to go deep-sea diving between December and May as the depth of visibility can reach 150 feet.
For a more relaxed water tour, hotels and beach resorts located along Tumon Bay offer jet skiing, kayaking and riverboat trips. For families, dolphin watching is also recommended especially in Umatac Bay (south of Guam) where there are more sightings of spinner dolphins.
Sea-walking is also available in Guam’s marine reserves such as in Piti Marine Reserve Bay. Here, tourists experience sea-walking and feeding fish 24 feet underwater.
All in all, Guam may share some similarities with the Philippines but it cannot be denied that it still packs a few surprises, especially if you’re a first-time visitor.
Just don’t be fooled by the island’s countryside appeal for there is much to discover in this mesmerizing oceanic playground.
Incidental information:
From Manila, it takes about three hours going to Guam via PAL. PAL offers direct flights to Guam five times a week. Visit www.
philippineairlines.com for updated rates and promos or call 855-8888.
A US visa is required to enter Guam. For more information about Guam, call the Guam Visitors Bureau Philippines office at 727-7755 or visit www. visitguam.org.
Hilton Resort and Spa is one of the hotels nearest to the airport (just five minutes). Located on the north of Tumon Bay, Hilton has 655 rooms and suites, six restaurants and lounges and a water park that includes terraced swimming pools, a Jacuzzi and an infinity pool. For more information, visit www1. hilton.com.
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I love it when Guam is featured. If anyone wants to see the pictures check out the WEEKENDER’s June 17 issue.
Anna
June 17th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Michelle, the Right is at it again frothing at the prospect of union success again. This is long but Forbes has always been long winded with nothing but the same to say.
_____________________________________
Dear Concerned American:
The union bosses are counting on their handpicked leader — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid — to deliver.
What Big Labor wants is simple but frightening: monopoly control over every public safety worker in the country.
And now, with control of the White House to go along with large majorities in Congress, the union bosses believe their time has come.
It’s up to you and me to make sure they don’t get their way.
That’s why it’s vital you sign the petition to your Senators IMMEDIATELY.
You see, Big Labor’s politicians in Washington are primed and ready to ram the Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill (S.1394) through Congress NOW.
In fact, the Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill has already been introduced, and could come up for a vote within weeks.
As you know, the Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill is designed to FORCE every firefighter and police officer in the country under union boss control — and is just the first step toward forcing ALL state and local public employees under Big Labor’s thumb.
The truth is, passage of this Big Labor power grab would mean:
*** State and local governments — who are already experiencing budget shortfalls during these troubled economic times — will be forced to pay the salaries and perks of union bosses.
In the Post Office alone, taxpayers have been forced to fund over 1.75 million hours of union organizing.
*** Small communities that depend on volunteer police and firefighters for their safety will be forced to do without them.
Or, communities will have to deal with mammoth tax hikes to pay for union boss-controlled public safety workers.
*** The Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill will do nothing to stop crime or make our communities safer.
On the contrary, forcing police and firefighters under the control of power-mad union bosses tends to drive many of the best men and women out of their jobs.
Big Labor’s dangerous scheme is designed to impose union monopoly bargaining on all state, county and local public safety workers.
That means that no matter what your state and local officials say, every police officer and firefighter in every town and city in the whole country will ultimately be handed over to union boss control.
And if your town won’t go along with that, the Federal Government will step in and turn over your first responders to Big Labor anyway.
And, of course, history shows us police and firefighter monopoly bargaining has all too often led to strikes.
Violent. Destructive.
Bloody.
This legislation would pit honest taxpayers like you against the very people you count on to protect you.
When your police are ordered out on strike, who will defend your home and loved ones?
When union militants set up picket lines around fire stations, who will put out the fires?
That’s why it’s vital you act TODAY!
The fact is, especially during these troubled economic times, passage of the Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill is the LAST thing we need.
Just take a look at California for the results of this madness.
Last year, the City of Vallejo went bankrupt after nearly 75% of its budget was spent on unionized police and firefighters!
And today, despite a $26 billion state budget deficit, out-of-control public sector union bosses aren’t shouldering cuts or taking blame for the problems they’ve caused — they’re threatening strikes!
In other states where union bosses have been granted monopoly bargaining privileges over public sector workers, we’re seeing the exact same thing.
In fact, the Mayor of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, recently stated that these struggling cities are “handcuffed” by public sector monopoly bargaining.
Should Big Labor’s allies ram the Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill into law, this kind of dysfunction could be coming to a town or city near you.
Quite simply, passage of the Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill could be the last straw for already struggling communities.
You see, a Maryland study conducted by the Department of Fiscal Services found that monopoly bargaining would cost the taxpayers between 1.3 and 1.4 million dollars in annual process costs for only 12 “bargaining units” of state employees.
S. 1394 would create an almost unimaginable number of new “bargaining units” at a cost impossible to estimate.
The truth is, in places where Big Labor has control over public employees, union officials guarantee citizens pay more in taxes and get less for their tax money in return.
Union bosses insist on more government spending, block service improvements for taxpayers, and push for outrageous demands that no union boss forcefully “representing” workers in a competitive private business would dare to seek.
The fact is, union bosses have bragged that this power grab is “one of the most far reaching expansions of labor [union boss] rights Congress has considered in decades.”
And I’m afraid they are right — which is why you and I must act TODAY.
Please sign the petition to your Senators IMMEDIATELY.
It’s absolutely vital we bury members of the Senate in an avalanche of opposition to S.1394.
The National Right to Work Committee has a plan to rally a million or more Americans to apply so much pressure that Congress will have little choice but to strangle this monster in its crib.
But the fight begins with people like you.
Your signed petitions and most generous contribution are the key to stopping ALL Big Labor attempts to force firefighters and police officers into the fold.
Your contribution and petitions will help the National Right to Work Committee:
*** Contact up to six million Americans by mail, telephone and email asking them to sign petitions to their Senators — just like the ones I’ve linked to;
*** Give personal briefings for hundreds of friendly editors, columnists and talk-radio hosts to generate media attention — especially in key swing districts;
*** Prepare and run, if we can afford it, radio, newspaper and even TV advertising in target states and districts;
*** Deliver your petitions to your Senators to show just how strongly the American people oppose the Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill.
As I’ve already told you, S.1394 clearly is gaining steam and could come up for a vote any day now.
That’s why it’s vital you sign the petitions to your Senators IMMEDIATELY.
And along with your petitions, I hope you’ll chip in with a $10 contribution.
The program to kill these Bills won’t be cheap. But please understand this battle is crucial.
Sincerely,
Steve Forbes
P.S. The Police and Firefighter Monopoly Bargaining Bill could come to a vote within weeks. If passed, this dangerous bill would force America’s public safety workers under union boss control.
That’s why it’s vital that you sign the petition to your Senators TODAY.
Also, please chip in with a $10 contribution if you can afford it — to help the National Right to Work Committee win this fight.
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The above is not for reader consumption. But in the interest of fairness(something the Right is not familiar with) I included the entire article
Mike
June 17th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Zen Lill
I agree with Michelle. You should write a book. You helped me to lose 41 pounds.
Michelle, I received this article. I wanted to share like when I was a member of AA.
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Obesity is unhealthy at any age
The only thing worse than a bad study is when the mainstream media buys into it and spreads the nonsense to millions of people.
Take a new study on obesity, which concludes that overweight young adults are just as healthy as normal- weight adults–because they take the same amount of meds.
You’d have to make a living selling fast food to believe this, yet the mainstream is just eating it up. Here’s how HealthDay news covered it:
There’s good news for fat people who are nearing middle age: A new study finds that judged by medication use alone, 25-to-39-year-olds who are classified as obese aren’t more likely to suffer illness than people of normal weight.
Good news? Good grief!
There’s nothing good about obesity, and this study doesn’t change that. Just look at the key phrase in there: “judged by medication alone.”
In other words, this study doesn’t prove that fat people are healthy as they approach middle age–it just proves they don’t use more meds. Many of them may have undiagnosed illnesses, like the millions of people who don’t know that they have diabetes.
Eventually, the ravages of all that extra weight will catch up to you, and this study even proves it: After the age of 40, overweight people use far more meds than those who have healthy weights.
But let’s get back to the younger folks, because even in this case they had to really twist the numbers to get the result they wanted. For example, the researchers excluded psychiatric meds and any other drugs not linked to a direct physical disorder.
It might make sense to some people–they’re just trying to measure how many people need drugs specifically due to obesity, right?
But that just shows how little they understand nutrition, because the same diets that make bellies bulge can starve brains, depriving people of all the minerals and nutrients they need to stay mentally balanced.
That’s why so many people who suffer from mental problems such as depression and attention deficit disorders recover when they eat better.
And while fat young adults might be taking roughly the same number of meds as thin ones now, that will change real soon.
Since 2001, there’s been a 30 percent increase in adolescents taking drugs for chronic conditions, many of them tied to obesity. The use of diabetes meds alone has skyrocketed–up 150 percent in that time. There’s also been a 50 percent surge in the number of children on cholesterol meds, and a 24 percent rise in kids on blood pressure meds.
Still think obesity is fine in younger people? Think again.
Remember, there is no such thing as being fat and healthy. Obesity is a long-term recipe for complete self-destruction–and anyone who tells you otherwise is just spreading a big, fat lie.
Now, let’s say you’re ready to lose that weight–keep reading for the worst way to do it.
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Thanks Michelle for this wonderful blog. Oh Ygtbkm, maybe it’s pounds she wants not money from her readers.
Got any pounds you can spare?
Pearl