solar 2 August 30, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in business, development, renewable energy, solar energy.Tags: California Solar Initiative, Germany, Million Solar Roofs Program, solar energy, solar panels
2 comments
No doubt, solar energy’s perpetually renewable potential ranks high on the alternative energy NOW posibilities list. I quote Maharishi Solar’s slogan: Trusting the Sun for over 4 Billion Years.
With the groundbreaking California Solar Initiative endorsing the Million Solar Roofs Program, the idea to get one million solar installations on rooftops of businesses, residences, and non-profit organizations by 2010 could potentially impact the general overall American exposure to solar possibiliites. Split into two funds, one for new developments and the other for changing establishments into solar energy power house. By adding solar components to existing infrastructure involves slapping grid-tied solar panel installations on all of the already built rooftops in America. What an environmentally friendly and potentially lucrative model of existence.
If America ever does anything right, the country will mimic Germany. The European solar energy leader created solar energy incentives through an established solar loan system, tax breaks and by enabling solar energy users to sell back their extra unused energy to the utility- for profit. Yes, it’s actually happening, right now, on a different continent. We should either be ashamed of ourselves or proactive. It’s an organizing challenge to just admit we’re way behind and catch up. Now. Germany’s been the leader since the Big Bang of solar energy- 2004. It begins by walking into a bank and filling out any of the pre-writen solar loan forms. They’re common, people know they’re there.
VPs and recycling Montreal August 30, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in business, green living, politics, recycling.Tags: breakfast, green ideas, McCain, recycling, Sarah Palin, thinking big
add a comment
McCain’s VP choice- Governor Sarah Palin. Am I surprised he picked a woman? Nope. Called that already. Way to play on upset democrats’ female presidential candidate desires. What does a ridiculously old, set in his ways, Internet retard need to balance out his Presidential ticket? A young, malleable, connected wild card- a woman would be the only choice enabling McCain to stand a chance. Way to use the Democratic Party’s great idea and twist it. According to republicans, a woman in the supporting role to the male lead is appropriate- now that America has been sensitized to the possibility of a woman leading the country… It’s not at if they’re so forward thinking that they came up with that idea on their own…
Wait- is that Fox news update about McCain suffering a stroke? Damn…
New and equally important topic- Recycling: Breakfast joints in the village of Westmount (in Montreal) must pay $450 to get a recycling bin to use every month. So instead of coughing up the money to recycle, they throw out plastic bread bags, dozens of glass juice bottles, milk cartons of various sizes, pop cans, sausage boxes… the list goes on. Employees aren’t allowed to take home the recycling either. They can’t be returned for money, left out for homeless people to reclaim, or even separated to give some good sumaritan the oportunity to do anything about it.
*The restaurants on St Catherine could form a recycling consortium to jointly get the recycling box and use it as one entity.
*The employees, 7 or 8, could divide up the recyclables and each do a part.
*They could lobby the village of Westmount to create recycling incentives by removing the fee, giving a tax credit, counter balancing the garbage pickup fee.
Unfortunately, by making green suggestions, jobs go on the line… After one job disappeared for attempted unionization, I’m not going it alone. It’s become an organizing challenge, one to be approached with care… Business owners are such Neanderthals. What century do we live in again? Where does it say that bad ideas never change and good ideas might end in tragedy?
Shout out to employers everywhere- if you find an individual who thinks big, doesn’t believe in “we can’t” and is willing to put in the extra effort to make things happen- you’d better recognize.
renewable energy August 30, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in business, development, economics, politics, renewable energy.Tags: change, Detroit, fear, McCain, Obama, renewable energy
add a comment
Midwestern conservatives who marry young and work proudly for nothing because jobs just aren’t available, are afraid of the possibilities of change. It’s understandable, they inherited their mental deficiencies from their parents and sometimes just aren’t strong enough to cast of that legacy of fearfulness. But change is gonna come, son The first question a fearful, impoverished, intelligent Midwestern individual might demand could be “What might change mean to me?” Could that mean there’s an alternative to living off my husband and job desperation? (Yes, but at the moment it requires moving out of Detroit.) What could that look like? It’s possible that business might once again open in Detroit. Hasn’t happened for a while but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen in the future.
Gore said it best, in order to strengthen our economy and raise our level of security, America depends on a climate policy befitting of the 21st century and all of the incredible possibilities available and becoming available to us.
Even with the threat of removing the lacking incentives for green research, the renewable energy movement exists and is chugging forward. Perhaps one day the government will really get behind the work needed to re-green our planet which will stimulate our economy, create jobs and add more fresh air to our smoggy atmosphere. (Even in LA! Gasp!)
Want to learn more? Renewable Energy has the power to revolutionize the world as we know it and it’s moving forward every day. Check out my favorite website to learn tons of great things about the green sector. It’s uplifting and possible to change. People work for it every day. So to the stuborn, clueless Midwesternern “independents”, listen to your lady Hillary: No way, No how, No McCain. Vote for Obama!
FROSH August 29, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in development, education.Tags: FROSH, growing up, McGill
add a comment
The froshies are back in town! (Yes, to the Thin Lizzy tune.) They’re tramping up and down the streets of downtown Montreal screaming FUCK FUCK FUCK at the top of their lungs and have nicely appropriated the McConnell Cheer from the ‘01 Frosh into a McGill-wide anthem…
That was my dorm cheer. I froshed seven years ago. Froshies today were 11 years old when I was led down the same streets to the same bars to indulge in the same ways. The only changes are the names of the bars. Wow froshies are small.
I observed their afternoon drunken scavenger hunt from the Grumpy’s terasse; amused and slightly envious. Been their, done that, already got the frosh tshirt. I’m studying for law school. It’s another level. Three cheers for growing up!
Detroit/Montreal & DNC REC Solar Recharging Station August 28, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in business, economics, education, politics, solar energy.Tags: Detroit, DNC, economy, Montreal, REC Solar, solar energy
add a comment
And then there was one. After live-at-home holdout got shipped out to Germany to handle business there, the lone conservative real estate developer remained. Living in a “starter house” in Ferndale, he and his wife have established themselves quite comfortably in the Detroit area. Real estate development is his family’s business.
Practically every individual of my graduating class left the greater Detroit, Michigan area. Many went to State or Michigan for university, great state schools, smart move guys, moved back home after graduation and lived around town, but very quickly thereafter the majority moved out of state. The economy or lack thereof, induced a second flight. With no work in Detroit, off we went to Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, I guess Florida… Some have returned to take over family businesses. But for those born without the entrepreneurial spirit and labor of their families to fall back on, determined high school graduates departed to achieve their potential elsewhere. (Thank you to my Facebook network.)
I moved to Montreal for school at age 17. Oh Canada, how I love thee. Beautiful nature smack dab in the middle of everything. It’s green with grass and trees and city floral arrangements. We recycle; we use the metro and our beautifully functional legs. (We walk and we wear heels.) There are dogs and bicyclists wearing miniskirts using the bicycle path in the middle of the street in the afternoon. Helmets mess up our hair; it’s a dare to auto drivers to watch out for us. Because we’re on bicycles, our brains are important and we get hurt easily. Tamtams happens every Sunday, the spontaneous gathering of likeminded Montrealers who just want to chill for the afternoon in the park, listen to some drumming, dance a bit, duel a bit, juggle, drink, guitar, tightrope walk… You know, the usual.
Then a second flight. All McGill students left Montreal after they graduated. To Toronto, Memphis, Vancouver, Boston, New York… English speaking young professionals couldn’t find work in our magical city due to a language barrior. Difficult times for Anglos. It’s a big deal when you can’t pass as a French speaker.
I thought I’d like LA. The sun always shines… through a layer of smog…Good friends, hard work almost rewarded; definitely a struggle under tons and tons of beautiful garbage. A non-existant public transportation system… Voluntary emissions reduction, just do it.
Although I should highlight this fact even more, everyone should know that MySpace and REC Solar have teamed up to present a solar recharging station at the Democratic National Convention. This is huge. Go recharge your Ipods, video cameras, cell phones, laptops or any other plug-in you’ve got- it’s renewable, it’s like plugging into a perpetual fusion reaction, it’s free. Also, pick up some information on REC Solar because they’re dominating in the race to heal the world. Making money and saving the planet- it’s totally possible.
Solar 1 August 28, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in politics, solar energy.Tags: Hilary, Iraq war, Obama, science, Solar America initiative, solar energy, US budget
add a comment
The US Department of Energy created the Solar America Initiative in an attempt to make solar energy cost-competitive across the entire US market by 2015. And in a great effort to accomplish this goal, the Solar American Initiative has earmarked “up to 24 million dollars” to a) fund research and development and b) help transform the American energy market to enable solar to become a force in the US marketplace.
Actually the “up to 24 million” is earmarked for R&D, specifically for Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems projects (aka SEGIS, solar energy is big on acronyms) – that is, the parts of the solar panel system that will help harmonize the installation process: power converters, energy storage systems, grid connection mechanisms, the idea would be for “less expensive, higher performing products to enhance the value of PV systems.”
With current tax credits and other solar incentives creating a convoluted method for homeowners to install solar panels on their homes, still at great cost and intellectual involvement (its not that easy yet, people have a lot to learn), will the “up to 24 million” help?
In a very swift Google search for things that the American government does with 24 million dollars, here is what I discovered:
*In 2007, the US government funded $531 million to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
*The state of Virginia just eliminated $40 million from their state road fund because of the dire situation in the economy (and just to clarify, when the US had money to spend on road construction, there was at least the extra $40 million there).
The US has changed its investment from $60 million to just $15 million in the International Linear Collider project (fancy particle accelerator), reports the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Big physics research feeling the pinch…
And while that’s an interesting bundle of unrelated news, I found an article that states that America spends $341 million a day in Iraq. The US is so fucked.
Last night Hilary mentioned that by voting for Obama we’ll at least have someone in the White House who believes in science. Well, I suppose “up to $24 million” is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, or nothing…
17 going on 18 August 27, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in development, family.Tags: cousins, development, FROSH, Montreal
add a comment
My Vancouver-born first cousin, Samara, is in town. She’s checking out schools for next year and helping her mom move her other grandmother into an old folks chalet. I get to show her around but as a 17 year old, how deep into the rabbit hole will she go? I mean, I had a significant resume of success a 17but on the other hand, as a sheltered prep school kid, it took moving out to University in order for the final reveal on young existence to occur.
At 17, I had never been to detention, kept my shirt tucked in and had taken my high school choir to Europe after my graduation ceremony and still led by example, no drinking, no staying out late, no hitting on cute German boys… I made sure that everyone made it back on the bus in time. One week prior to my Montreal departure, everything changed. Having never even set eyes on the hyped Christmas trees, I smoked for the first time at the camp fire behind my best friend’s house. After having successfully navigated myself down level one into the underbelly of the world, I knew I could take it from there – said my thank yous and good byes, packed up and headed out.
Frosh week at McGill changed my life; booze, boys, a 3 day controlled bender (my first, supervised by an experienced student who had been there before, perhaps even the previous year) I achieved my corruption goals quickly, nothing ever too stupid, but definitely stupid enough. Over 2000 teenagers, freshly freed from their parents, attempting to shed their lingering high school images and get wasted collectively, perhaps for the first time, making friends, exploring a new city, trying to remember and hopefully making a somewhat/positive impression memorable just long enough to be able to walk down the street and yell, “Hey you! You were in my Frosh group remember? How’s school going so far?… Ya, I’ve decided not to drink for a month… You too? Ya, that was crazy fun!”
Although my own personal bundle of issues may be a work in progress, I take pride in my 17 year old success. I’ve told my cousin lots. No holds barred. She’s eating it up, she wants to come to Montreal for University. Excellent! Sharing tidbits to a captive audience is such a joy.
And just as an aside- along with the unique, relatively unknown, and fantastically free fun available any night of the week (except if it’s raining), Montreal remains a cheap, great city for students, communal but definitely big enough to grow into. I kept attempting to share my Frosh experience with my American friends, all developing and growing through their own first weeks of school, but alas, it was the first of many untranslateable Montreal-centricities that I absolutely love about this city.
Past Travel Posts August 25, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in Uncategorized.Tags: Go Balls Deep, India, Jello, Nepal, Thailand, traveling
add a comment
By way of introduction, I spent the spring of 2008 in India, Nepal and Thailand. Although my team’s blog goballsdeep.wordpress.com didn’t accomplish its original goal of uniting all of the world’s blogging travelers, we did managed to organize a few. Through a combination of articles, poetry and even a few pictures, my buddy and I attempted to communicated some important messages of our trip through the wordpress forum into the bloggosphere. I posted under the name Jello because I was terrified of allowing my writing to be identified on the web. Some pieces are stronger than others which is appropriate as blogging and impressive article writing can happen over an extended period of time but when you’re traveling through Asia, time spent on the internet writing is less than our time spent live in active exploration of the unknown spaces. However, if the inclination exists, check it out- www.goballsdeep.wordpress.com – Marjorie opens the blog, Dev has posts and my stuff is at the bottom and the 2nd page.
Go big, Go Balls Deep, or go home…
Medium August 24, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in Uncategorized.add a comment
Blogging skills first tested in Sikkim (IDs earn 10 points) and after much prodding, I’ll cheer hallaluhal for practice and coaching, it works.
LSATS coming fast, I admit I’m nervous, but it’ll be fine as long as I study. I’m committed now so it’s on. Breakfast, my Montreal morning passion translated into a lucrative and delicious monitary accomplishment/OMG how… The present pause, from behind door number 1, Asiana Airlines enabled metaphysical transportation from point G to point H (point movements occurs more frequently if you force it) and I landed 2 countries removed back in Canada, Quebec to bilingually regroup near McGill and Gram, crazy forces that allow me to be me.
So the plan- to connect and share because there’s too much for a cover letter. People who know anything worth knowing use the internet (for the record, McCain doesn’t know how to use email) and in making that assumption, I intend to create an internet site knowledge extention where I might activate the potentials of various individuals at that higher, interconnected plane.
Go.
Hello world! August 24, 2008
Posted by sunlightmyfire in Uncategorized.add a comment
Welcome- Phase Next – Here we go!
