Cool Down This Earth

Summer draws to a close, senior year begins - holy @#$%, time flies...

2006-08-23T05:24:19Z

What a sweet summer. I had a pretty rockin' job at my local library, plus I got to go to Grassroots in Trumansburg in July and hear some great bands. The Summer Youth Theatre program I helped coordinate went over very well. The little dudes and dudettes worked hard and put on a knockout performance of The Lorax. We had a huge turnout and they all learned important environmental lessons. I hope they take that knowledge to heart and lobby their parents to buy hybrds...heh

Oh man, back to the 'Burgh on Saturday.

If everything goes right, this will be my last year at SUNY Plattsburgh; I've already been accumulating Postgrad testbooks for the LSATs and the GREs...my destiny kindof falls on how well I do on them (oh man, the future, yikes!)...so next semester I'm going to be bleary eyed from studying; I predict Rockstar Energy cans will be scattered all over my dorm room like a battle zone.

To keep myself sidetracked from studying, I bought a cheap skateboard and gear. I'm so gonna get busted.

Also, our EAC will be back in action; we're going to help show An Inconvenient Truth on campus; put up a green energy initiative on our school election ballot and run some eco-friendly SA members for office. Can't wait!

Summa summa summertime...

2006-06-16T02:22:23Z

I've been busy helping coordinate Summer Youth Theatre at my local library. We're going to be doing an adaptation of Dr. Seuss's The Lorax. It's going to be great, we've had alot of youth interested. I wonder how the setbuilding and costume-making will go. As a side job, I've been helping with being a clerk - putting books away, dealing with rowdy patrons (ha, not really) et al...sweet deal.

Global warming still not resonating in the public's mind

2006-04-25T05:59:56Z

*SIGH* Global warming coming in with a paltry 2% - lumped in with environment in general. I'm pretty sure the media has alot to do with this though. What people see on television tends to drive their emotions. I think it's funny that Bush registers in with a 4% on what people think is the 'most important problem facing the country' though.

Going to New Haven, CT for the Northeast Climate Conference

2006-04-07T05:04:29Z

Tomorrow, a van of EAC'ers is headed off to Yale University, where we will converge with a sea of eco-activists to fight global warming at the Northeast Climate Conference...I need to start packing. Woot Woot! Laurie David is one of the keynote speakers. I'll try to bring back pictures, eh?

Hybrid incentives in the hiz-ouse!

2006-03-09T05:57:19Z

Hooray! We passed today our bill, the Plattsburgh State Green Vehicle Parking Incentive, in the Student Association tonight, approving an "up to 50%" price reduction for green vehicles e.g. hybrids; the vote went 11-1, with 3 abstentions. Phew! Crazy pressure! But we did it, and we're happy!

Minor Adjustments! Woot!

2006-01-29T06:25:31Z

On Friday, I auditioned for Minor Adjustments...I've always had a dream to join an acapella group - I used to love to geekily download all sorts of acapella tunes off Napster back in the day (showing my age, eh?). I was so panicked during the tryout - I had to run and get some water 3 seconds in! I thought Daydream Believer was a safe choice - I was probably crazy rusty for I haven't sang in a choir in years. It was all a blur. Later on, I met up with my buddy Julie from erstwhile years' Campus Dems who came all the way from Amherst, MA to visit Plattsburgh. She's mad chill, and a great friend - sortof like an older sister. After I came back to my dorm I was completely stunned to find my door decorated in streamers, Snickers bars and a Minor Adjustments poster proclaiming "You're In!" Wow! Good times in the 'Burgh! So awesome...I can't wait to get started with the group!

Back to Plattsburgh on Saturday

2006-01-18T21:43:23Z

I head back to Plattsburgh this Saturday - rooming in the newly renovated MacDonough Hall...what my friends call "the mansion". I only got it through pure luck. I can't wait to arrive back, and get back into the swing of the Environmental Action Committee. We have so much to accomplish this semester with them. Particularly, getting free hybrid/alternative fuel parking on campus, which we plan on bringing up to the SA (full disclosure: I don't have a car...or a license) Currently, it's $72.50 plus $16.05 for a hangtag. I say, if you go the extra mile in purchasing a clean vehicle, and if our school wants to appear to be a leader in fighting global warming, parking for those cars should be gratis. Should be exciting - plus we could design a cool green hangtag! It's time to raise an eco-ruckus!

21

2005-12-30T05:40:48Z

21 years old....yikes, I am a fossil.

Back in the States from Canada

2005-12-19T06:02:26Z

I just got back home from my exchange in Montreal, and I already miss that Canadian je ne sais quoi. I actually want to speak French now! I want to get coffee at Tim Horton's or Second Cup! I want to celebrate Boxing Day! The whole "Mazzzda" thing as opposed to "Mozzzda". I totally love their cultural mosaic! It all was so awesome...and I'll only be 60 miles away anyhoot in Plattsburgh next semester so I'll definitely have to visit again!

Ford to launch new humongous SUV titled Everest

2005-12-13T00:14:31Z

Ford is preparing to unveil a vehicle tentatively called the "Ford Everest."
http://money.cnn.com/2005/12/12/news/fortune500/ford/index.htm?cnn=yes

Corporate irresponsibility run amok again. The fight for the climate rages on.

Climate Conference in Montreal, and the Dec. 3rd march...

2005-12-10T11:13:53Z

These last two weeks in Montreal have been awesome as there's been a climate change conference going on in town and I've been helping out with climate activists who have helped put pressure on the UN delegates to extend the Kyoto Protocol to 2012 with reducing greenhouse gases. I got to go to a couple delegation meetings, in which we heard from the US's "chief climate negotiator" (a misnomer if there ever was one), Harlan Watson...the funny thing is that the US doesn't negotiate so much as stonewall the climate talks... embarassing. Bill Clinton was at the conference today, giving a speech in which he called Bush "flat wrong" in claiming that cutting greenhouse gases to fight global warming would hurt the US economy. I miss Bill...
Update: The Bush Administration ACTUALLY threatened to pull out of the talks entirely if Bill was allowed to speak but later backed off. Is that insanity or what? The final outcome of the meeting was an agreement between more than 150 nations to have "new talks to generate a set of binding greenhouse-gas emissions caps for 2012 when Kyoto expires. The U.S. balked at joining those talks, but it did grudgingly agree to join a coalition of nearly 200 countries in an "open and nonbinding" dialogue." (Source: Grist)

We did our part to raise awareness...last Saturday, two of my Plattsburgh eco-buddies came up to participate in a large march for the climate.
Look at all the people who were there...

Happy Buy Nothing Day!

2005-11-26T07:10:12Z

Wow, what an action packed day! BND at Concordia was a blast, Timebomb organized an awesome set of workshops and activities on the Concordia mezzanine. Then later on, a bunch of us participated in the Buddah Walk, where about 20 of us marched zombie-like all dressed in black through one of the downtown malls with bags that spelled out Buy Nothing Day. Things were going smoothly - alot of shoppers were flabbergasted by our Buy Nothing stunt - until our leader decided to stroll us into Benetton, which was a hilariously bad idea since they're perhaps the most uptight clothing store in existence. Soon after we were surrounded by security guards and herded out of the mall, which led to much yelling and scuffling. Fortunately, I kept a healthy distance away from the craziness, and soon scuttled from all the action (I'm so timid). Later on, I finished editing this 30 second ad for the International Day of Action for the Climate to be played on CUTV with much help from my wonderful editor friend Melissa. So overall, much excitement today and without buying a thing...heh.

House of Representatives back off drilling in Arctic Refuge...phew!

2005-11-10T17:08:15Z

"The Porcupine Caribou herd won a reprieve Wednesday in the U.S. Congress after politicians decided not to pursue a budget provision that would allow drilling for oil in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge."
http://www.cbc.ca/north/story/anwr-house-10112005.html

Phewww! That was a close call...but you can be sure the oil barons will be pressuring Representatives to put drilling language back in. This isn't over by a long shot, but it's nice to have one day to celebrate a victory for the environment!

Drilling in the Arctic Refuge apparently a go...

2005-11-04T18:02:32Z

This sucks.

The "Smirking Chimp" Administration has made me pissed about things before, but this takes the freaking cake. This is absolutely devastating. One of our last untouched wildernesses is about to be trashed by ExxonMobil, as we all play on our X-Boxes. How insensitively brash can the Republicans be towards our environment?

Bush actually had the audacity to spew Oil Company propaganda:

"Increasing our domestic energy supply will help lower gasoline prices and utility bills,'' Bush said in a statement. ``We can and should produce more crude oil here at home in environmentally responsible ways. The most promising site for oil in America is a 2,000-acre site in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and thanks to technology, we can reach this energy with little impact on the land or wildlife.''

What utter bullshit. I'm sure the caribou won't mind having an oil rig highway built in the middle of their calving grounds.

I am seriously sick of the Republicans taking a collective crap on our Earth. I promise to do everything I can to elect environmentally-conscious Democrats in the next election cycle. Enough is enough. Uggggh!!!

Let it Snow?

2005-10-25T20:14:30Z

Snow overnight. Windy. Low 32F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 90%. Snow accumulating 2 to 4 inches...

Whaaaat??? I need a hat!

Update: No snow on the ground, just sogginess. False alarm.

Concordia Rocks

2005-09-20T05:50:39Z

It's been about a week since I was complaining about the sheer size of the campus, but it's totally subsided, no biggie, there's lots of cool people here. I got involved in the Sustainable Concordia Project, which has so many awesome eco-minded activists. I'm looking forward to overthrowing the SUV overlords and solving global warming with them. Not realistic you say? Hey, if Plattsburgh Democrats can single-handedly swing the election to Kerry in New Hampshire through canvassing - our little Concordia environmental group can move some mountains as well. The one issue with Canadians is that they don't understand American pop culture references...Daria? Nope. Nickelodeon? Je ne comprends pas. I need to find some old episodes of Degrassi so I can fit in...

Update: I jumped to conclusions way too quick on Canadians and their knowledge of American pop culture, It's usually wise to consult with your communications majors first - and they are very much aware of the awesomeness that was Pete and Pete and Salute your Shorts - as well as Canada's own Elephant Show.

My first week at Concordia University...

2005-09-09T05:29:55Z

If I had to describe Concordia with one word, it would have to be bustling. The Hall Building downtown was so cluttered with people Tuesday that you could practically bodysurf down the escalators. It is sooo overwhelming - an assault on the senses...you realize how small of a fish you are in this brobdingnagian pond. There's no time to adjust, it's just ker-plunk, you're inside the belly of the beast. It's so daunting, being a country-bumpkin exchange student, to just drop into one of the biggest cities on the continent. I'm still letting it all sink in...whoooa.

My Montréal Room

2005-08-11T18:04:44Z

I'll be soon arriving in beautiful Montréal on August 27th. I'm going to be renting from two really cool 20-something French-Canadians, in a beautiful location across from a public garden. I will be living less than a block from the Lionel-Groulx metro stop, which is a huge terminal connecting the Green and Orange lines, giving me excellent access to the rest of the city, and is only like 2 stops from Concordia (Sir George Williams Campus). I'm really excited!

ACCEPTED TO CONCORDIA FOR STUDY ABROAD!!

2005-06-06T19:53:39Z

Oh Canada!! Wooooo!!

Just got word back from Study Abroad that I've been accepted to Concordia University!!

Allergies

2005-05-31T03:54:37Z

A-CHEW! I was so snuffy today. Well, I'm closer to getting into Concordia...now I'm just waiting to hear back from their Communications Department to see if the 2 classes I signed up for are copacetic (Communications classes are "Extremely Restricted" for Study Abroad students @ Concordia.)

Limbo

2005-05-13T22:43:29Z

It's pretty much my last day at Plattsburgh. I'm packing up to go home tomorrow morning and I've just been feeling all blah; this has been a very blah semester. I need some serious change - something fun, something new. I'm still waiting on a response from Concordia in Montréal...argh! My application for Study Abroad was sent out more than a month ago and I should be receiving a response - like now. Thus, I'm in limbo. Blah.

Is anyone else a little worried about the new pope?

2005-04-20T12:16:10Z

Sophomore year is winding down...

2005-04-06T04:10:05Z

Oh snap...long time no update. Lots of emotional things have been going on with me lately (what? James and emotions?!) and general anxiety. What the heck will I be doing this summer? I seriously have no idea, and I've been slacking like crazy. Recently I had a revelation, I want to find work in the City - I think it will definately help me adapt to what life will be like in Montréal next fall (that is - if they accept my Study Abroad application for Concordia *fingers crossed*). My parents are totally kiboshing my dream of being a bike messenger...which leaves me stuggling to find a job related to my major - yikes!

Dr. Dean is in the Hizzouse

2005-02-12T18:27:54Z

Howard Dean is the new Democratic Party chief, datta boy.

Oh snap! Step on it!

2005-01-21T04:21:07Z

$40 million for an inauguration!!?? Eat snowballs, Dick!