Doing Your Part...

So I wrote a post earlier this month, discussing about Sustainability;  I feel like people think that the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) is not obtainable for them in their individual lives. However I want to share how I am working on these things in my everyday life and so can you...

• Buy in bulk
•  Not only does it help reduce all the packaging that you throw away per product, but it usually ends up being cheaper
• Use a Water filter
• I love my Brita filter...I used to be a slave to water bottles in undergrad because I could afford it then, but now I realize how much plastic I used to go through. I made myself feel better that I recycled all of my plastic bottles, but don't even get to that step and just drink filtered water.
• Use a reusable water bottle (Stainless Steel) and coffee mug
• helps to reduce the use of plastic bottles and cups
• Reusable Shopping Bags
• This is one of my favorite trends right now and I hope it continues. Almost every store, grocery stores and even clothing stores have these bags for sale. Usually $1-2 and you can use them over and over again to carry your groceries/purchases. This helps to cut down on plastic bag usage. The key is to remember to take them whenever you go to the store. Also if you have a small purchase, just ask for them to NOT put it in a bag. Sometimes people will look at you crazy, but just tell them you don't want to use an unnecessary bag.
• RECYCLE
• Most areas have a recycling program, just look it up on the internet.. it is usually a small one time fee. They will send you a bin and pick up the recycling for you. It might not seem like a lot but it definitely is. And if you are on a college campus or in any sort of metropolitan area than you have no excuse.
• Be AWARE of your personal waste
• The trashcan in my room/bathroom is really small and it helps me be cognizant of how much I throw away, based on the frequency I have to take out the trash. 
• Turn OFF water
• When washing hands, brushing teeth (especially), doing dishes, etc try not to run the water. I am guilty of running the water when I brush my teeth, but it is something that I am working on. There is an ongoing debate between whether handwashing dishes or dishwashers uses less water...whichever one you use, try not to do it as frequently.
•  Carpool
• Even though most people know carpooling helps to reduce your carbon footprint and saves everyone involved money...people don't usually do it because it isn't always the "quickest" or "easiest" method
• Turn OFF the light
• My mom has always been a "stickler" for turning off lights or any sort of electricity when you leave a room and I have stuck with me. It is as simple as opening the curtains/blinds during the day to get natural sunlight it looks and feels better anyway. So just turn off the light.

It may seem that some of those things are common sense and I didn't really say anything life changing, well that is the point. Most if not all of these things just take a few modifications to your daily routine and they can make a big difference. The slogan for the EcoBags website is "Simple Ideas, Big Impact" and that is exactly what it is...Below are some other ideas...

• Reduce the pressure on your faucet/shower
• Turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees
• Energy saving lightbulbs

To check out even more ideas, get more information, and just become more educated overall, check out this great website...Eartheasy-Sustainable Living

Until Next Time...

Sorry...Bernice Jenkins...

So I am not sure why I haven't heard this before I guess it was before my time... but while I was looking through The Snob's site, I heard it.. hilarious!...This is how ridiculous it sounds when people try and apologize when they do outlandish things.



I figured I would include another funny video...Rickey Smiley always makes me laugh...hope you laugh too!



Until Next Time...

Be Careful What you Pray/Wish For...

It is a common saying that "The Lord/God works in mysterious ways." I feel like I heard that a lot growing up, but as I think about the few weeks that have passed in 2010, I can definitely agree. On New Years (while freezing outside in the cold in New York City),  I had a lot of prayers for the year, for myself, for my family, friends, school, etc. And at this point I feel like most of them have already come to fruition. And it is kind of weird because who knew it could happen so fast. Don't get me wrong, because everything is definitely NOT sugar plums and roses, but I find myself experiencing these really weird emotions. In situations where I would have been angry instead I am disappointed, frustration has turned to courageous willpower, boredom has morphed itself into meditation where creative thoughts spring forth..and so on and so on. I find that I am much calmer, rational, diplomatic, and open to change. Not to say that I was the opposite of any of those previously listed characteristics, but I will say at times I struggled with it. So as I am on the beginning of Week 5 for the semester, I have been doing a lot of retrospection as long as personal evaluation. Am I where I want to be? Absolutely. Am I happy? Yes. Do I feel loved and cherished? Of course. Do I know that this semester (next 3 months) has a lot of challenges in store for me? Definitely. Out of all that, the most important thing is I will continue being true to myself. Until Next Time...

A Piece of Science and Black History

So a week ago a friend of mine changed her profile pic to Henrietta Lacks. It instantly made me think of the time I first heard of her. Who is that you ask? Well Lacks is the first woman to die of cervical cancer. So what is the big deal? Well she died over 50 years ago and her cells are still alive as "HeLa cells", which were used for countless things. Her cervical cells are immortal and still alive being used for research. It is important to know that she is a black woman and unknowingly contributed her cells to science. Her family never even knew that the hospital took her cells...pure exploitation.

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they’d weigh more than 50 million metric tons—as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the effects of the atom bomb; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions.

Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.

I first heard of Henrietta Lack's my Junior year when my Microbiology teacher spoke of her in class. I was so interested that lecture. We happened to be talking about the discovery of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) leading to cervical cancer and many people that have been influential to the development of things often go undisclosed. I think it was also important to know that my professor, Dr. Jones, was the first black teacher that I had at Emory (yeah it took until Junior year to have a black professor...sad).

So now Henrietta's story is being shared with the general public. Rebecca Skloot has even written a book about Henrietta Lack's story "The Immortal Life." So I have blabbed on enough, I can't do her justice like this wonderful article in the New York Times. If you have extra time please read. Also here is the link to synopsis on the Book, The Immortal Life.

It truly is fascinating. Until Next Time...

Little Known Black History Facts

So I meant to just spend the beginning of my day relaxing (Mental Health Mini Day), but somehow that turned into the whole day. That's definitely not cool since I feel so behind in all of my classes. But I got a lot done, such as laundry, which I have not done since before Winter Break (early Dec). I was able to clean up my place and just get my life in order.

So I don't remember how I came across this person's Tumblr website, but it hilarious. Check it out if you want a good laugh.

http://littleknownblackhistoryfacts.tumblr.com/

Oh and I added a "Reaction" feature at the bottom of each post. So if you think the post is interesting, funny, or cool. Just check it...I couldn't think of any other reactions, so I just stuck with the default...for now at least... (I'm not a default kind of person). Anyways...

Until Next Time...