One change Wednesdays
A companion piece to Good Deeds Friday

They will be small, and some may be blatantly obvious...like todays...but why not give it a go? Theres nothing to lose, and potentially alot to gain.

This weeks suggestion:
Energy saving lightbulbs!!!!
Theres no excuse not to instal at least three in your house.
"Energy saving light bulbs use a quarter of the electricity of ordinary bulbs to generate the same amount of light. So where you'd normally use a 60W bulb, you'll only need a 13-18W energy saving recommended equivalent.
- Energy saving light bulbs last up to 12 times longer than ordinary lightbulbs and can save you £9 per year in electricity (and 38 kilograms of CO2 ) or £100 over the bulbs lifetime." - source, Energy Saving Trust

Peace, we outta here.

Previous weeks:
Here
Here
Here
Here

Seven things you didnt know about me...
As tagged by CJ and helly and beautiful_mistake and steve_p

"So I have to write seven facts about myself ...

But first, the rules...
The rules: each person tagged gives seven random facts about themselves. Those tagged need to write in their blogs the seven facts, as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven others and list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog." - Note: Im not going to tag as I think by now the world and their cat have had it done.

1) I own a big bright pink leather beanbag
2) I once 'shopped' someone with cerebal palsy to the police late at night, as it appeared they were a drunk driver not able to stand straight
3) When I was about 10, I had to wear a patch over my eye for one hour a week as I had a lazy eye. The doctor at the hospital asked me what my favourite program was, as I needed to wear it when I was going to be watching tv. Foolishly I was honest and said Hawaii 5-0 instead of having the sense to lie.
4) When I was about 11 or 12 I remember calling my sister a twat when she made a stupid comment whilst watching the Professionals. I thought it just meant the same as twit, not being familiar with its proper meaning.
5) If I was gay, I think Id quite fancy Jake Gyllenhal and Will Young and perhaps Noel Fielding and Johnny Depp.
6) One of my earliest memories is of two of my sisters singing 'Long haired lover from Liverpool' to me, and it making me cry.
7) I want to be a hippy and live in the wilds. Okay, maybe you might have guessed that one. Um, Ive taken acid twice, and the first time was absolutely surreal but brilliant. Not that I advocate it any more.

Each Friday I urge you to click the links below which will help others at NO cost to you. The effect this has can be enormous the more of us do it.

- If just 30 people read my post today and click on the links, then we can provide a huge amount of help.

- If each one of you then passes these details on to 5 others, then think how much more we can do. All for no more effort than a quick email and a quick click.

-------------
"why not take 1 minute to click each of the following links and by clicking on the coloured tab you can ensure that foodstuffs, books, or care is donated to each of the groups. The sponsors redirect their advertising costs to pay for the donations instead….And it costs nothing to you":

The Hunger Site
For each person who clicks the hunger site, 1.1 cups of staple food stuffs will be donated. Yesterday, 125,414 were generated.

The Breast Cancer Site
For each person who clicks, funding will be given for free mammograms. Yesterday, 9.4 women benefited where they would not otherwise have done.

The Child Health Site
For each person who clicks, vital health supplies and services will be provided for children in need. Yesterday, 1,249 kids benefited from this.

The Literacy Site
For each person who clicks, underpriviledged children in developing countries will benefit from the chance to improve their literacy. Yesterday, 720 books were provided.

The Rainforest Site
For each person who clicks, 11.4 square feet of Rain Forest can be preserved and saved. Yesterday, 836,235 square feet worth of Forest preservation was funded.

The Animal Rescue Site
For each person who clicks, 0.6 bowls of food plus care will be provided for animals in care. Yesterday, 100,438 bowls of food were provided.

------
It would be really great as well, if you could link this post in your 'bloglists' to get others to do their bit, and leave a comment to say ‘Ive been a good boy or girl’.

Thanks

Survey for the Bored 19: Top ten songs with precious stones, metals etc in the title

Still bored. Still random. Even more bizarre list

Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs
Diamonds and Pearls - Prince
Gold - Prince
Hi ho silver lightning - Jeff Beck
We didnt start the (sap)phire - Billy Joel
(plati)Numb - U2
Ingot you babe - Sonny and Cher
Copper-cabana - Barry Manilow
Brass monkey - Beastie Boys
Sit-TIN on the dock of the bay - Otis Redding
Emerald Rigby - The Beatles

...I'll get my coat.

So, whats yours???????

The government is set to unveil a waste strategy that could see rewards for households which recycle more, and conversion of food waste into fuel.
Environment Secretary David Miliband will announce plans to reduce landfill waste and increase recycling in England between now and 2020.
(See article HERE)

Whilst its a reasonable start and certainly taking steps to make people accountable for their own rubbish 'footprints', there should be other strategies in place to compliment it.

I have no issues in being charged extra if I was responsible for throwing away excessive amounts of rubbish when I have ample alternatives available.

However, as part of this scheme they should be looking more at the whole chain of events. As a business analyst, if Im looking at a process I need to look at the whole sequence of events to see where the best efficiencies and benefits can be made, and often need to 'look outside of the box'.

So, although this step is undoubtedly needed, one of the reasons we end up with so much rubbish to dispose of is because of the way in which its sold - so there needs to be steps taken to set targets and 'fines' on the manufacturing process to ensure excess packaging is not created in the first place. As well as this, there should be targets on the amount of recyclable packaging a company should be using.

I dont generally agree with the alarmist arguments over concerns about rubbish 'left rotting for two weeks' as a result of introducing fortnightly collections - I think the individual has an obligation to not only dispose of their waste effectively themselves and ensure its secure, but to be aware of how much food they are throwing away and wasting in the first place. (Did you know that on average we throw away nearly a third of all food we purchase in any given year?).
However, a reasonable solution does need to be introduced to educate and help people - free mini compost bins, sealable containers for disposal etc. Food waste is a hugely potential goldmine for use in recycling and energy creation so we do need to move down that route very fast.

So, bring on the waste collection changes, and bring on the new strategy....just dont waste the opportunities of it by making it rubbish.

Survey for the Bored 18: Songs with Body Parts in the titles

Told you I was bored....todays topic is parts of the body:

Liver Let Die (ahem) - Wings
Youre so vein (sorry, coudlnt resist) - carly simon
SearCHIN - China Black
aKnee dream will do - jason donavan
Legs - zz top
Arms of Orion - prince
Eye know - de la soul or prince
Footloose - kenny loggins
Sissyneck - beck
Pussy control - prince
I just died in your arms tonight - cutting crew
Fat bottomed girls - queen
I want to hold your hand - beatles
Brown eyed girl - van morrison
Another nail in my heart - squeeze
Sgt peppers lonely hearts club band - beatles
Heart of glass - blondie
Bigmouth strikes again - smiths

...and many more Im sure.

So, whats yours?

One change Wednesdays
A companion piece to Good Deeds Friday

They will be small, and some may be blatantly obvious...like todays...but why not give it a go? Theres nothing to lose, and potentially alot to gain.

This weeks suggestion:
Okay, so this one wont really save you any money, but:
If you have plenty of old plastic carrier bags, use them as bin liners, drainage systems at the bottom of plant pots and hanging baskets, or instead of bubble wrap when packing. See if your local charity shops would like any surplus bags.

Most importantly - get into the habit of taking a re-useable bag next time you go shopping, to avoid picking up more carriers.

Peace, we outta here.

Previous weeks:
Here
Here
Here

Food miles......and miles......and miles......and miles....
Food miles - one of the current 'in' topics of the eco debate. I for one believe that it is a big issue, not just in terms of the excessive carbon outputs and pollutions involved in the travel, but also in an economical / sociological sense of local employment and infrastructure.

Anyhooo, I found this article the other day which I think is quite fascinating and illuminating reading. Many supermarkets recently have been accused of selling too much imported foreign produce when the same items can be grown or produced within the British Isles. So, fair play, a few have responded and appear to be amending their lines to include alot more British products which will ultimately be of benefit to local producers.

However, reading this article, all is not as it seems on the label. Scottish prawns, 'locally' produced and sold in UK supermarkets? Hoorah, thats got to mean a saving on carbon emissions from long distance shipping and transport. Hasnt it...........?

Not when you read THIS is doesnt.

Survey for the bored 17: Songs with days in the title

ive given up restricting it to top ten. And yes, Im bored again, and have been spending far too much time on these lists...

Blue Monday (New Order)
Manic Monday (Bangles / Prince)
I Dont Like Mondays (Boomtown Rats)
Ruby Tuesday (Rolling Stones)
Wednesday Morning 3 am (Simon and Garfunkel)
Thursdays Child (David Bowie)
Fridays Child (Will Young)
Friday Im in Love (Cure)
Saturday Nights Alright for Fighting (Elton John)
Saturday Night at the Movies (The Drifters)
A rolling skating jam named Saturdays (De la Soul)
Every day is like Sunday (Morrissey)
Easy (like sunday morning) (Commodores)
8 days a week (Beatles) - not really a day, granted, but they have to feature in each list lol)

.....so whats yours?????

Natiojnal Vegetarian week website - here

Why its green to go veggie - here

Imagine waking up to this in the morning:

Well you could do if you stayed in a majestichawaii beach condo

Choose from dozens and dozens of beautiful Hawaiian beach rentals, with stunning views and locations.

Whats more (based on press release information avaiable) these condos and many of the tourist industry is very postively eco-friendly and pro-active in its sustainability.

So for affordable, luxurious condos in the paradise that is Hawaii, get yourself a stay in a Hawaiian beach rental today.

[sponsored]

Following on from survey 15, its seems only fair to balance up the sexes by doing a top ten (ok, eleven now) of song titles with mens names in:

My name is Prince (Prince)
Frankie (Sister Sledge)
Olivers army (Elvis Costello)
David Watts (Kinks/Jam)
Andy youre a star (Killers)
Barry White (Fun loving criminals)
Clint Eastwood (Gorillaz)
Theres a guy who works down the chip shop swears hes elvis (Kirsty MacColl)
Ben (Michael 'fiddler' Jackson)
Rock me Amadeus (Falco)
Paul McCartney (Scissor sisters)

....whats yours?

Victory to the vegetarians!

Mars foods has caved in to consumer pressure from all of us vegetarians out there and is now going to reverse their decision to change the ingredients in their products to animal derived items. Pretty soon, they'll be back to being veggie friendly again. Huzzah!

So there you have it - the power of people scores another victory!!

Side-tache or Mous-burns???

I'm not sure which the correct expression is.

I've just seen a man with the most delightful facial fuzz. He was an elderly gentleman, of the old school variety (not to be confused with being old skool) - the retired colonel type. He had the whitest, cloud like fluffy sideburns you could ever imagine, which then suddenly shot off at right angles to become a candy floss moustache, then join up with the other sideburn.

Ive decided Im going to call it a Mous-burn. That is now an official word and I want the OED to acknowledge it.

I want one.

However, still at the top of my list of desired facial fuzz experiments has to be the 'Brian Fantana'. Im going to do it. One day soon, mark my words:

As KRSOne/Boogie Down once said 'Stop the violence'

As Hervy said: 'Drop the guns'

Read full blog here

Posted as requested:

yeah it's a right then a left
it's a fight then a theft
it's a life then a death
Jesus Christ drop the guns
(c) hervy

Please please also see part one of Good Deeds Friday below. Please. I'll be your bestest friend.

Part 2...
Also, please take the time to add your weight to these campaigns (click banners for links):

Together we are irresistible - together we count. Taking steps together we can do almost anything we choose.
Just as we have polluted our world to the edge of climate chaos we also have the resources and knowledge to save it. It comes down to what we want, what we dream of. If we choose we can make our politicians take the action needed.

Also please add your name to the following online petition that aims to help to keep freedom of expression:

Survey for the bored 15: Top ten song titles with womens names in

No reason really.

So, to start the ball rolling, and not necessarily my definitive top ten, or in order:

Darling Nikki (Prince)
Hey Jude (Beatles) removed on a technicality
Mary (Scissor Sisters)
Lola (Kinks)
Come On Eileen (Dexys)
Mandy (Barry Manilow)
Roxanne (Police)
Layla (Derek & Dominoes/Eric Clapton)
Iris (Goo Goo Dolls)
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine (The Killers)
New entries:
Valerie (Steve Winwood)
Sandy (John Travolta)

Well, its lunchtime, what else do you expect!

.....Whats yours?

Each Friday I urge you to click the links below which will help others at NO cost to you. The effect this has can be enormous the more of us do it.

- If just 30 people read my post today and click on the links, then we can provide a huge amount of help.

- If each one of you then passes these details on to 5 others, then think how much more we can do. All for no more effort than a quick email and a quick click.

-------------
"why not take 1 minute to click each of the following links and by clicking on the coloured tab you can ensure that foodstuffs, books, or care is donated to each of the groups. The sponsors redirect their advertising costs to pay for the donations instead….And it costs nothing to you":

The Hunger Site
For each person who clicks the hunger site, 1.1 cups of staple food stuffs will be donated. Yesterday, 175,350 were generated.

The Breast Cancer Site
For each person who clicks, funding will be given for free mammograms. Yesterday, 14.3 women benefited where they would not otherwise have done.

The Child Health Site
For each person who clicks, vital health supplies and services will be provided for children in need. Yesterday, 1,762 kids benefited from this.

The Literacy Site
For each person who clicks, underpriviledged children in developing countries will benefit from the chance to improve their literacy. Yesterday, 968 books were provided.

The Rainforest Site
For each person who clicks, 11.4 square feet of Rain Forest can be preserved and saved. Yesterday, 1,190,775 square feet worth of Forest preservation was funded.

The Animal Rescue Site
For each person who clicks, 0.6 bowls of food plus care will be provided for animals in care. Yesterday, 151,658 bowls of food were provided.

------
It would be really great as well, if you could link this post in your 'bloglists' to get others to do their bit, and leave a comment to say ‘Ive been a good boy or girl’.

Thanks

To some people, this could be nirvana - ship off fourty kids to a deserted ghost town and let them fend for themselves. Bliss, get the kids out of the way and no more hassles.

It could be the best reality show ever. It could be a disaster.

Based on the premise from the literary classic Lord of The Flies, fourty 8-15 year olds will be the sole occupants of a New Mexico 'ghost town' for fourty days.

As a social experiment, we could all be forced to retract our assumptions that all they will do is destroy things, eat all the goodies in one go and try and stay up all night long, free from the shackles of adult rule.

But will they? How resourceful will they be?

The will need to elect four leaders who will lay down the rules and set bedtimes - cant wait to see that one pan out! Not to mention having to clean their own toilets and cook meals.

Lets hope they dont go too overboard and emulate the book too much!

Should be fun.

Please take the time to read this message I was sent, and decide if you want to count too and show we care:

Hello Chris,

We have to talk some climate sense into the leaders of the world’s richest countries. Before it’s too late.

All that’s needed from you is to join one quick, cost effective petition. It’s simple, but rarely does a petition matter more.

Now is the time, because the leaders of the world’s richest countries, a group known as the G8 and which includes the UK, is about to meet between June 6-8th. They’ll be at the rather pleasant seaside resort of Heiligendamm on the north German coast. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting the meetings, and will decide the agenda.

We know already that the G8 leaders will talk about climate change, and they will talk about its impact on development and the world’s poorest people.

Merkel, and Blair, want to do the right thing. We have to show we care, so they have the courage and momentum to persuade the leaders at the G8 to act.

The world can’t wait, because the poorest countries are already being hit hardest by climate chaos. In parts of Africa millions of people are already feeling the devastating effects of freak weather that is quickly becoming more frequent. Too much rain, or not enough, is a matter of life or death. And predictions are that increases in temperature in Africa will be double the global average ~ the deadly extremes will get worse.

Yet the typical person living in somewhere like Mozambique will use less energy (and create less pollution) in a year than we will use in 3.5 days. They have the least to do with climate change, and the most to lose.

So join that simple, cost effective petition now. Let’s not wait about, we don’t have time.

Sign up to I-Count and join the petition.

Biofuels. Its a nice concept, and most people would immediately equate the phrase with it being a 'green, ecological' answer and solution to the never ending issues of pollution and carbon emissions.

In theory, it is. Or rather it could be.

In practice however, the solutions being touted at the moment are very reactionary and actually potentially MORE harmful to the situation.

If the current ideas are put in place, there will actually be MORE carbon displaced as a result of MORE rainforests being decimated to make way for its production. This will by far outweigh the benefits, which are not in question, that the biofuel would bring in terms of reduced use of petrol and diesels.

So lets think a bit more, and a bit more outside of the box before we allow the governments and businesses to rush into something that has not been properly thought out or had its longer term impacts assessed. We need to ensure that the RIGHT policy is taken, and that the RIGHT standards and rules are put in place to ensure we improve rather than make things worse.

----

Read the Friends of The Earth article here.

If having read about the topic you feel you want to, then let your voice be heard here and email Stephen Ladyman, Minister of State for Transport. Tell him choose the right biofuel, or the orang-utan gets it.