Something else that I thought was worthwhile

I've got great news! President Obama just announced new standards to nearly double the fuel efficiency of cars in the U.S.—from 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

The new standards will help reduce pollution, free us from our dependence on oil and save us money at the pump. This is a great step toward declaring our independence from oil.

Will you join me in signing a thank-you message to President Obama?

Just click here to sign: 

https://secure3.convio.net/engage/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3781

Still here

OK so it has been a little hectic recently and carving out a few minutes, you know to impress everyone with my awesome words, has become difficult.  Anyway I do have some awesome, ok well mediocre, words coming soon.  But in the meantime I wanted to share some links that some wonderful people have been shared with me recently.  One relates to ongoing job of saving the planet  http://www.recyclebank.com/ .  And the other relates to helping out someone in need http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?pxfid=27564&fr_id=1341&pg=fund&fl=en_US&et=TGGbsbnB64nA926UjwaDOw&s_tafId=4304.
Thanks so much.  And be ready words, awesome or not, will be coming soon.

Mimicking

Well this post will be short, as really it is just a small addendum to a previous post.  The one on murder (and not sensationalism), I am sure you remember.  Anyway I was reading the other day and came across a point that I thought would drive my point home even more about not killing snakes.  The point is that of mimicking.  In nature some animals have created a defense against predators by looking like something poisonous or deadly.  Snakes also do this.  "Predators of snakes who normally avoid preying upon poisonous species also avoid the nonpoisonous varieties that mimic the dangerous types"  (Shermer, The Believing Brain, 74).  So there it is, if actual predators that rely on snakes as food cannot even tell the difference, what the heck makes you think that you can.  Humans are horrible predators because they offer no discrimination (where it counts).  So lets just stop for a while.  Try and preserve what little remains around us.  Unless you like being over run with mice and rats, well then keep killing the snakes.  But if you don't please stop.

worth sharing

http://networkedblogs.com/psWK5

Still on this Leftover Love thing

Hopefully this should be a good laugh for someone, reading me trying to act all businessy (I know that is not a word but it works here). Anyway I am still working on this Leftover Love initiative and I created a business case. Not sure you can actually call it that (I do not know how to use business words like quantify or metrics correctly, but it is funny to watch me try) but it sort of mimics a business case. Anyway I just wanted to put it out there, one so you could have a good laugh, two so you may be enticed to take your own container out to eat if you are not already doing so, and three for a good laugh, oh wait did I say that already. Plus it saves anyone from having to read my original rant that I was planning on being greedy, no one wants to read that on a Monday. Anyway enough said here is my very professional (cough cough choke giggle giggle) attempt a business case. If anyone wants to use it to try and get restaurants to jump on board feel free. Or if you are too embarrassed maybe just spruce it up and make it look even businessier (I think I like this non word better that businessy).

Leftover Love Business Case

Problem Statement

The problem that the Leftover Love initiative is trying to address is the use of outdated materials, such as styrofoam, for take take home containers in restaurants. Plain and simple the environment, restaurants, and the patrons of such restaurants are all affected negatively by the on going costs of using styrofoam. The issue remains that styrofoam is non-biodegradable material that pollutes, as well as adding monetary costs that are then absorbed by both restaurants and patrons. The problem, the use of styrofoam containers, is encountered at any restaurant that continues to use styrofoam boxes. The impact of continued use remains as negative environmental pressures and the additional monetary costs of using outdated materials.

Business Case Summary

Speaking from a strict business sense the reasons should be obvious as to why one would want to solve this issue, the solution costs nothing and the solution also adds a savings to ones bottom line. The solution is creating an incentive program, called Leftover Love, that entices patrons to bring in their own reusable containers for any leftovers rather than using the styrofoam (or non styrofoam) boxes provided by the restaurant. Any reduction in materials,styrofoam or not, offers great environmental benefits. The impacts should be minimal or none to all parties, and to the overall business objective, as the initiative requires very little effort from the restaurant, as advertising would be the main requirement. Advertising can be done via word of mouth through waiters and waitresses or on white boards/chalk boards that advertise daily specials. The promotion could be continuous on a daily basis or once a week. The patrons are then rewarded with a free dessert, or drink, or small percentage off their bill for bringing in their own reusable containers. The potential benefits derived from this initiative are strong cost savings for the restaurant as they should be able to reduce their budgets for purchasing the styrofoam (or any other disposable material) containers. The initiative also offers an obvious huge step forward for the environment. And lastly their are benefits in the form of community recognition for driving such a forward thinking initiative. If implemented correctly there should be little to no cost to start the initiative, and the monetary rewards would be the potential saving on buy disposable containers. The return on investment is a savings on buying disposable containers, a stronger or more loyal customer base, a progressive environmental move, and recognition from local community. The benefits of the program are quantified through the cost savings on buying containers and the increased income from the initiative program.

Scope / Impacts / Constraints / Assumptions / Dependencies

The process we are addressing is the process in which restaurant patrons take home any food leftovers. Not within scope at the moment is any fast food or take away situations, this is strictly for patrons dining in the restaurant. As stated above the constraints should be minimal to none. If this effort is enacted correctly it will save waiters/waitresses as well as patrons time at the end of having to wait on the box, it will save money buying disposable containers, the cost of the actual box, and it saves the environment, as it is less non-biodegradable waste going into the landfill.

Goal Statement / Metrics

The primary metric is the reduction of styrofoam or disposable materials in restaurants being used as take home containers. If the initiative could create the reduction of just a handful of styrofoam containers then the initiative would be considered a success. The goal of tangible benefits is the actual reduction of styrofoam. The intangible benefits are the aide to the environment, increased loyalty in customer base, and recognition from local institutions. Overall this program is a win/win for all parties involved.

Leave it alone (if you read you will see why this title is cute)

Not sure what the weather is like where you are, but here where I am it is getting cool and the leaves on the trees are falling.  Time to start raking all those pesky leaves up I suppose.  But here is an idea, instead of bagging those leaves up in plastic bags and throwing them away why don't you use them.  The main thing here for me is to stop using/wasting plastic and putting it into the landfill for no reason.  The other reason is because it is actually easier to not bag up leaves and they are beneficial to your garden.  I have been saying this since I have been able to talk, ok well not that long, but for a long time nonetheless.  And I heard on the radio the other day about alternative uses for your fall leaves other than bagging them up. You can mulch them and use them as a sort of fertilizer for your yard, you can add them to your natural areas, or if you want to get rid of them  just put them directly in your trash bin without the plastic.  Most recycling centers also have a mulch section that you can donate all your fall leaves to as well.  The point here is, I was right and that hardly ever happens, intelligent people who actually work with trees and leaves agree with me, don't bag them up.  Well that should do it for me for today, hope all is well out there in the world outside of my head.

My post of shame

Well here it is, my first public post of shame (or maybe my fifth or sixth, really I lost count along time ago).  After putting my baby, Leftover Love, out there to my local newspaper, they reward me with a hard smack in the face and nice hot glass of rejection (insert loud sobbing here).  OK so there was no actual hitting or hot drinks for that matter, but I was rejected and it stings.  Anyway I will not let this get me down.  Apparently they think this idea needs some actual people and restaurants involved before they can write about it.  Crazy I know.  Anyway so just to recap her is my idea.  As I am sure you already know, it is simple, take your own doggie bag with you so you are not forced to use the disgusting styrofoam boxes so many restaurants hand out.  I had wanted to expand a bit on that idea and get some local restaurants involved by creating an incentive sort of program in which the patron is rewarded for bringing in their own container say with a percentage off the bill, or a free dessert, or maybe even a card that you have punched on the 5th time coming in with your own container you get a free meal.  Anything really would work, but apparently for the newspaper to write about this they want someone else other than all the voices in my head involved.  Well I will not let this rejection get to me, I am no even more determined to get someone that actually owns a business to fall in love with this idea.  I mean they are already doing this in different parts of the US so it is not like it doesn't work.  We just need to catch up with the rest of the forward thinking restaurants.  I mean it would save them (the restaurant) money, right, and it may bring in a new customer base or a more loyal customer base, it could gain them recognition for being the first ones in the area to do it or recognition from the local newspaper of local environmental groups.  Come on restaurants this is my desperate plea, be cool try my idea lets see if together we can't make it work.  Anyway so for anyone that was looking for an article about this idea you can stop looking for the time being (insert even louder sobbing here) but fear not as I will not quit.  Thanks for all the support that I have received.  Best wishes.