Today's blog topic is something that's near and dear to my heart: public libraries. I think public libraries are one of the most precious standing contributions Man has made to His Fellow Man. I've loved going to the library since I can remember, and I haven't stopped as I've gotten older. Now my children love books almost as much as I do and look forward to picking out their own. Conveniently, I work right next to the Southglenn Library and can go on a regular basis. It's fantastic.
All that being said, I want to talk about donating used books and magazines to your local library. We all have books and magazines we know we'll never read again, so why not pack them up and donate them? Chances are that your library will be ever-so-thankful. Some libraries even offer a tax deductible receipt, so that's added incentive.
Why is this important? Well, public libraries have very tight budgets, and those budgets are in danger of getting axed every fiscal year. Take Aurora, Colorado as an example. 4 of Aurora's 7 libraries were permanently closed in 2010. FOUR. This was because the tax paying citizens of Aurora didn't want tax increases to keep libraries open. Now the remaining libraries (as well as libraries around the country) have to operate on a shoestring budget. The number of new titles they can purchase every year has been greatly reduced.
See my logic here? If you know you're never going to read a book or magazine again, then take it to the library and give back to your community. You get to cut out some of the clutter in your home, and someone else gets to enjoy that book. AND the library will get to increase its catalog without spending a dime.
Oh, and if you can spare the time, volunteer at the library as well. Pay it forward!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Recycle Your Old Electronics!
dont-bury-electronic-trash-kiplinger: Personal Finance News from Yahoo! Finance
Here's something that makes sense. Recycle your electronics. This article provides a few links to help you out with that, and it gives you some ideas. I never knew that Best Buy accepted old electronics. That's GOOD. I bet if I do some digging, more places accept used electronics. I know that ATT will let you trade in your old phone. I got $50 trade in value for my old crackberry. That phone was refurbished and sent overseas. That's way better than letting my children destroy a perfectly working phone. Someone else gets to use it.
I have a whole box of out-of-date electronic stuff in the basement: old routers, computer parts, a zip drive... and old cell phones among many other things. I bet we all have those. Next month our Women In Leadership group is organizing a cell phone drop to help benefit safe houses/women's shelters in the Denver Metro area. When you donate your old phones, they are cleaned up and given to women in these shelters. That way, a woman can always have a means to dial 911. Kinda cool, dontcha think?
So, here's your cut-the-crap challenge for the week: get rid of some electronics that are taking up space! Perhaps someone else can use them!
Here's something that makes sense. Recycle your electronics. This article provides a few links to help you out with that, and it gives you some ideas. I never knew that Best Buy accepted old electronics. That's GOOD. I bet if I do some digging, more places accept used electronics. I know that ATT will let you trade in your old phone. I got $50 trade in value for my old crackberry. That phone was refurbished and sent overseas. That's way better than letting my children destroy a perfectly working phone. Someone else gets to use it.
I have a whole box of out-of-date electronic stuff in the basement: old routers, computer parts, a zip drive... and old cell phones among many other things. I bet we all have those. Next month our Women In Leadership group is organizing a cell phone drop to help benefit safe houses/women's shelters in the Denver Metro area. When you donate your old phones, they are cleaned up and given to women in these shelters. That way, a woman can always have a means to dial 911. Kinda cool, dontcha think?
So, here's your cut-the-crap challenge for the week: get rid of some electronics that are taking up space! Perhaps someone else can use them!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Ballpark hero: Nationals Park beer vendor saves choking child - Big League Stew - MLB Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Ballpark hero: Nationals Park beer vendor saves choking child - Big League Stew - MLB Blog - Yahoo! Sports
I want to see more headlines like this one!!! Two things to take away here: take CPR classes AND never pass up an opportunity to do something for your fellow man. :)
I want to see more headlines like this one!!! Two things to take away here: take CPR classes AND never pass up an opportunity to do something for your fellow man. :)
Monday, August 29, 2011
School superintendent gives up $800k in pay - Yahoo! News
School superintendent gives up $800k in pay - Yahoo! News
We need more superintendents like this one!!! Talk about cutting the crap!
Why can't more people who already have all they need give back to their communities like this? It doesn't have to be to the degree that this man goes... it could be volunteer work (time is money!), or donations of unused books, something... ANYTHING!!!
I don't have any extra $$ to perhaps fund another teacher or aide at my daughter's school, BUT I do have time. I have a WONDERFUL job that allows me to be flexible, and today I was able to help out with a field trip. Last week I volunteered in her classroom by helping grade papers and do math assessments. I'm doing this not only because I want to show Megan how important her education is to me, but because - as I chronicled earlier in the year - her elementary finally had to let go of its teacher's aides. If more parents who are able to volunteer would actually DO so, then our state/local/district budget woes wouldn't seem as terrible.
There are plenty of ways to help. If you're a photographer, what about donating some time for the school year book? If you have a medical background, what about teaching a class on anatomy or the benefits of a healthy lifestyle? If you do international business, what about sharing what it's like to travel to distant locales and be immersed in different cultures? I have a teaching background so I help with all those teaching tasks as best I can. Even though I'm a project manager these days, I use what I know to help. I encourage you to do the same!!!
GIVE BACK to your communities by helping in the schools! Our nation's children desperately need us!
We need more superintendents like this one!!! Talk about cutting the crap!
Why can't more people who already have all they need give back to their communities like this? It doesn't have to be to the degree that this man goes... it could be volunteer work (time is money!), or donations of unused books, something... ANYTHING!!!
I don't have any extra $$ to perhaps fund another teacher or aide at my daughter's school, BUT I do have time. I have a WONDERFUL job that allows me to be flexible, and today I was able to help out with a field trip. Last week I volunteered in her classroom by helping grade papers and do math assessments. I'm doing this not only because I want to show Megan how important her education is to me, but because - as I chronicled earlier in the year - her elementary finally had to let go of its teacher's aides. If more parents who are able to volunteer would actually DO so, then our state/local/district budget woes wouldn't seem as terrible.
There are plenty of ways to help. If you're a photographer, what about donating some time for the school year book? If you have a medical background, what about teaching a class on anatomy or the benefits of a healthy lifestyle? If you do international business, what about sharing what it's like to travel to distant locales and be immersed in different cultures? I have a teaching background so I help with all those teaching tasks as best I can. Even though I'm a project manager these days, I use what I know to help. I encourage you to do the same!!!
GIVE BACK to your communities by helping in the schools! Our nation's children desperately need us!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Granola Cereal Bars - How one family broke its junk food addiction on Shine
Granola Cereal Bars - How one family broke its junk food addiction on Shine
Now THIS is what I'm talking about! We need to cut out all that crap! I checked out their blog, and they have some pretty interesting takes on things. I'm now a follower. :) Have a look: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/
Don't know if I can pull this off, but this really has been my goal for over a year now. I'm just not as disciplined as these people are. LOL
Now THIS is what I'm talking about! We need to cut out all that crap! I checked out their blog, and they have some pretty interesting takes on things. I'm now a follower. :) Have a look: http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/
Don't know if I can pull this off, but this really has been my goal for over a year now. I'm just not as disciplined as these people are. LOL
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
USA becomes Food Stamp Nation but is it sustainable? - Yahoo! News
USA becomes Food Stamp Nation but is it sustainable? - Yahoo! News
The woman and her family featured in this article seem to be doing everything they can. She has to feed her son. If I were in her shoes, I'd be asking for assistance as well to make sure my children could eat. Here's a quote that's telling of the ignorance of economics, though: "'It's a good thing that the government helps, but if employers paid enough and gave enough hours, then we wouldn't need to be on food stamps," said Green, who has a six-year-old daughter." If employers raised wages, they'd also have to raise their prices. That price increase means everyone will have to spend more to get the same thing... which means we're right back where we started. Here's an idea... do something to better yourself so you're not stuck in a minimum wage job for the rest of your life.
However, I think this over-dependence on public assistance is a symptom of a larger problem. We have people who abuse this assistance and our system practically encourages that abuse. I certainly don't have any solutions on how to fix this. I wish people smarter than me did, though.
To answer the question of "Is this sustainable"... the answer is NO. It doesn't take an economics professor to figure that out. The phrase that keeps coming to mind is this: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. TEACH a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." Why can't we apply that philosophy to public assistance programs? Just sayin'. Train/educate people. Give them job and life skills so they can sustain themselves. I know there are programs in place, but I have no idea what they are or what they offer.
Sounds like I might need to do some research.
The woman and her family featured in this article seem to be doing everything they can. She has to feed her son. If I were in her shoes, I'd be asking for assistance as well to make sure my children could eat. Here's a quote that's telling of the ignorance of economics, though: "'It's a good thing that the government helps, but if employers paid enough and gave enough hours, then we wouldn't need to be on food stamps," said Green, who has a six-year-old daughter." If employers raised wages, they'd also have to raise their prices. That price increase means everyone will have to spend more to get the same thing... which means we're right back where we started. Here's an idea... do something to better yourself so you're not stuck in a minimum wage job for the rest of your life.
However, I think this over-dependence on public assistance is a symptom of a larger problem. We have people who abuse this assistance and our system practically encourages that abuse. I certainly don't have any solutions on how to fix this. I wish people smarter than me did, though.
To answer the question of "Is this sustainable"... the answer is NO. It doesn't take an economics professor to figure that out. The phrase that keeps coming to mind is this: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. TEACH a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." Why can't we apply that philosophy to public assistance programs? Just sayin'. Train/educate people. Give them job and life skills so they can sustain themselves. I know there are programs in place, but I have no idea what they are or what they offer.
Sounds like I might need to do some research.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Warning Signs: What’s Your Body Trying to Tell You? - Healthy Living on Shine
Warning Signs: What’s Your Body Trying to Tell You? - Healthy Living on Shine
Good things to look over.
Sorry for the blogging drought, you guys. I'll get back in the writing saddle soon. Why am I so busy, you ask? I got a promotion. YAY! It's a good thing, but now I've got to live up to what my employer expects me to get done. :)
Good things to look over.
Sorry for the blogging drought, you guys. I'll get back in the writing saddle soon. Why am I so busy, you ask? I got a promotion. YAY! It's a good thing, but now I've got to live up to what my employer expects me to get done. :)
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