Water is important

Changing to leave the gym this morning and dabbing on some makeup I realized behind me water was running and no one was there. Another person had turned on the water and gone into use another part of the restroom...why? Water is one of the most important natural resources we have...it is not to be wasted either. So this water was running on a water bottle...another waste in our country...bottled water.

Careful with what is being flushed down the drain too. Pharmaceuticals, paint and other chemicals should not be flushed down the sink or the toilet. Controlling others' waste is not something that we can do but we can educate ourselves against wasting any resource including water. Remember when you were a kid and mother or dad was always saying, turn off the lights, turn off the water?...it still applies today.

Thinking outside the box...

Thinking back on the washing machine today I have a serious question. Do design engineers think people can not figure out how to run a machine? Computer software Microsoft has been thinking for us for years. Why does everything needs a computer to mess up ordinary life? Do companies really think we are so stupid we can not do simple tasks? These are serious questions.

If someone is so mentally challenged they can not run a machine they need to have help.
That statement is not something I mean lightly. I would never wish mental challenges on any one and yes they do need help, sincerely. The same statement could apply to a normal person (whatever that means) with average intelligence on some type of medication.

The whole point being, allow us to use our brains instead of treating the average consumer with idiot design. I am losing respect for design engineers. The respect for software designers has been gone for a long time...we need trust not brains, we're big people we can figure it out for ourselves.

Engineering

Having bought a new clothes washer and drier this summer we purchased an energy efficient washer. The problem is not the energy, the problem is someone in engineering assumes I do not know how to think for myself.

When it comes to engineering and technology someone in engineering is not smart...the washer has managed to re-program itself and now a light load of clothes is taking 53 minutes. I have been doing laundry for over 4o years. I think I know how long a light load of wash needs as well as any other wash. Can we stop thinking for people and allow them to think for themselves?

So the energy smart clothes washer is now using way too much water...what's more important? Water or energy...ask a almond farmer in California, the answer is water not electricity.

If we are allowed to think for ourselves we could save both energy and water.

Data Centers and Green Movement

According to APC magazine a Schneider Electric Publication data center professionals will be spending 2010 trying to make the centers more energy efficient and reduce consumption of watts...power and cooling are critical for efficient data centers. The energy consumption is high while cooling is demanded due to heat generated from the electronics. As I type these words I am aware of the heat emitted from my laptop and it is so minuet compared to a corporate data center.

Optimization versus building and expanding is one significant variable to consider. Power companies spend millions building power grids. The demand on existing grids is taking a toll while the demand is growing. Reduction is critical or a minimum of status quo.

Green Christmas

This Christmas brings a special joy to me for many reasons. I know longer desire material things. I give far more than I receive (except in daily love from those around me called husband, children, family, friends) and I so appreciate all those wonderful people and treasures in my life.

This year I pray many people can step back from the world of materialism and enjoy some true meaning of this holiday. Away from the gadgets of electronics, away from the prepared foods with sodium galore, away from the per-packaged nonsenses of nothing to the real things for life...family, friends, people we know, people we love, people we touch in our lives...people next door.

Reach out and touch someone. Share the love, share yourself. God Bless!

Wrting and Compiling Take Time

This book has been the most fun of any project I can recall and the light is shining at the end of the tunnel. The printer has promised a January run including proofs and then I can start to sell books and work on other projects. Six months in the making and I promise I'll be back to giving yummy recipes and information on living green.

I want to make an apple cinnamon bread recipe and will try that later today so if it works I will share. Cinnamon also I found out is good for losing weight...not sure I can muster that with all the butter I eat on toast.

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas or Happy Hanukkah to all my Jewish friends.

The tradition of Thanksgiving

As I prepared our holiday feast and it is a feast, I searched in my mind the possible waste from a 13 lb bird, granted a few pounds are bone, for only two adults to enjoy family traditions. I must admit Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the year. We have broken traditions a few times on Christmas but Thanksgiving is homemade rolls, cranberry salad, green beans, candied sweet potatoes, scalloped corn, gravy, dressing, turkey, of course, mashed potatoes, relish dish of pickles and dessert which this year was apple dumplings. My hubby finally admitted he doesn't care for pumpkin pie that much, although he does love a pumpkin roll cake I make with creamed cheese and orange zest, etc.

In creative mode to use all the turkey from Thursdays meal I came up with soups including turkey vegetable, a salad with green grapes and celery, mashed potatoes with turkey and dressing, turkey dumplings, turkey and noodles, oh maybe that will use it up. So tomorrow's dinner just may be that first suggestion of turkey soup with veggies. A good way to savor soup with healthy veggies. Best of luck to anyone wanting to accomplish the same lack of waste.