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08:31:34 08/04/11
FMK: Living The Bicycle Lifestyle Part 2 of 2 (Frugal Life Philosophy)
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 08:31:34 08/04/11
"FREE YOURSELF FROM BEING A SLAVE TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE CAR OWNER INCOME: $40,000/YEAR 1) $20/hour, 40 hours a week, $3200/month, $40,000/year CAR OWNER LOST INCOME: $15,000/YEAR 1) $20/hour, 40 hours a week, Over time pay $30/hour 2) Job location is 30 miles one way, 60 miles both ways. 1 hour commute time 1 way, 2 hours both ways per day, 10 hours/week, 40 hours/month. 500 hours/year. Lost income in over time pay: $1200/month, $15,000/year. 3) Time is seen as lost income b/c it is a forced drive, it is not seen as play, there is no exercise taking place. CAR OWNER EXPENSES 1) Purchases a $30,000 vehicle on a 5 year plan. $500/month, $6000/year 2) Insurance: $35/month, $420/year 3) Gas: 20 miles per gallon in city, $3.25 per gallon. Job is 30 miles one way, 60 miles two ways. 60 miles a day, 5 days a week, 300 miles a week, 1200 miles a month. 60 gallons of gas a month. Gas: $200/month, $2400/year 4) Oil change every 3 months, oil change costs $30. Oil change equates to $10/month, $120/year 5) License plate sticker: $80/year 6) City Sticker: $75/year 7) Misc. Maintenance fees: $30/month, $360/year 8) Parking Tickets: $75/year (3 tickets) 9) Traffic Tickets: $375/year (3 tickets) 10) License Plate: $10/year CAR OWNER TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR: $10,000 CAR OWNER TOTAL ACTUAL PROFIT FOR THE YEAR: $15,000 $40,000-$15000-$10,000=$15,000 BIKE OWNER INCOME: $20,000/YEAR 1) $10/hour, 40 hours a week, $1600/month, $20,000/year BIKE OWNER LOST INCOME: $0/YEAR 1) Job location is 5 miles one way. 10 miles both ways. It takes 30 min. one way, 1 hour both ways. No income is lost because the commute is viewed as a 1 hour exercise every day. The bike ride is seen as play, not forced work. BIKE OWNER SAVED TIME CONVERTED TO INCOME: $3600/YEAR 1) The bike owner only lives 5 miles from home so his commute time back and force equals 1 hour per day. Whereas the car owners commute time is 2 hours because the job location is 30 miles away from his home. The bike owner saves 1 hour of time a day over the car owner. 5 hours a week, 20 hours a month. 240 hours year. 2) The bike owner makes $10/hr, converted to ovetime pay it is $15/hr. The additional income converted is $300/month. $3600/year. BIKE OWNER EXPENSES 1) Purchase a $250 bicycle. $250/year 2) Maintenance Fees: $18/year (3 tire flats) BIKE OWNER TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR: $268 BIKE OWNER TOTAL ACTUAL PROFIT FOR THE YEAR: $23,332 $20,000-$268 $3600=$23,332 THE BIKE OWNER MAKES OVER $8000 PER YEAR MORE THAN THE CAR OWNER IN THIS EXAMPLE"
0 Views
08:29:31 08/04/11
FMK: Living The Bicycle Lifestyle Part 1 of 2 (Frugal Life Philosophy)
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 08:29:31 08/04/11
"FREE YOURSELF FROM BEING A SLAVE TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE CAR OWNER INCOME: $40,000/YEAR 1) $20/hour, 40 hours a week, $3200/month, $40,000/year CAR OWNER LOST INCOME: $15,000/YEAR 1) $20/hour, 40 hours a week, Over time pay $30/hour 2) Job location is 30 miles one way, 60 miles both ways. 1 hour commute time 1 way, 2 hours both ways per day, 10 hours/week, 40 hours/month. 500 hours/year. Lost income in over time pay: $1200/month, $15,000/year. 3) Time is seen as lost income b/c it is a forced drive, it is not seen as play, there is no exercise taking place. CAR OWNER EXPENSES 1) Purchases a $30,000 vehicle on a 5 year plan. $500/month, $6000/year 2) Insurance: $35/month, $420/year 3) Gas: 20 miles per gallon in city, $3.25 per gallon. Job is 30 miles one way, 60 miles two ways. 60 miles a day, 5 days a week, 300 miles a week, 1200 miles a month. 60 gallons of gas a month. Gas: $200/month, $2400/year 4) Oil change every 3 months, oil change costs $30. Oil change equates to $10/month, $120/year 5) License plate sticker: $80/year 6) City Sticker: $75/year 7) Misc. Maintenance fees: $30/month, $360/year 8) Parking Tickets: $75/year (3 tickets) 9) Traffic Tickets: $375/year (3 tickets) 10) License Plate: $10/year CAR OWNER TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR: $10,000 CAR OWNER TOTAL ACTUAL PROFIT FOR THE YEAR: $15,000 $40,000-$15000-$10,000=$15,000 BIKE OWNER INCOME: $20,000/YEAR 1) $10/hour, 40 hours a week, $1600/month, $20,000/year BIKE OWNER LOST INCOME: $0/YEAR 1) Job location is 5 miles one way. 10 miles both ways. It takes 30 min. one way, 1 hour both ways. No income is lost because the commute is viewed as a 1 hour exercise every day. The bike ride is seen as play, not forced work. BIKE OWNER SAVED TIME CONVERTED TO INCOME: $3600/YEAR 1) The bike owner only lives 5 miles from home so his commute time back and force equals 1 hour per day. Whereas the car owners commute time is 2 hours because the job location is 30 miles away from his home. The bike owner saves 1 hour of time a day over the car owner. 5 hours a week, 20 hours a month. 240 hours year. 2) The bike owner makes $10/hr, converted to ovetime pay it is $15/hr. The additional income converted is $300/month. $3600/year. BIKE OWNER EXPENSES 1) Purchase a $250 bicycle. $250/year 2) Maintenance Fees: $18/year (3 tire flats) BIKE OWNER TOTAL EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR: $268 BIKE OWNER TOTAL ACTUAL PROFIT FOR THE YEAR: $23,332 $20,000-$268 $3600=$23,332 THE BIKE OWNER MAKES OVER $8000 PER YEAR MORE THAN THE CAR OWNER IN THIS EXAMPLE"
8 Views
12:52:01 07/29/11
Frugal Life: 22 Mile Bike Ride (Freddie's Modern Kung Fu)
[LESS INFO] 8 VIEWS | ADDED 12:52:01 07/29/11
"My wife, kids, and I went on a round trip 22 mile bike ride during the weekend. We both had trailers with 2 kids each, so about 100 lbs that we were pulling and we were averaging about 10 mph. It took us about 2 hours and 30 min. It was a beautiful day and I am very happy that my wife was able to complete the trip without complaining much at all. She has done this on a few occasions. So to everybody out there if my wife can become a biker, then it is possible for many as well, not just the hardcore athletes. Freddies Modern Kung Fu established in 2009 is a Martial Arts/Spiritual Life Development Academy on YouTube that specializes in the development of the body, mind, and soul. Freddie teaches on all aspects of life. Freddies Martial Arts teachings are highly inspired by Bruce Lees Tao of Jeet Kune Do and his life lessons come from his innate wisdom within that had been sparked by his understanding of the ancient wisdom of Eastern Philosophy. Lessons aimed at the healthy development of the body, mind, and spirit are open to the public. Freddie accepts any questions that his audience may have pertaining to the healthy development of the body, mind, and soul. Survival Martial Art combat technique lessons are only taught privately and to official online disciples. All combative techniques are scientifically proven to be effective and are aimed towards unarmed street survival combat. Freddie hand selects disciples to personally train that have the proper discipline and compassionate heart to become successful in his art. If you wish to find out more information on what are the requirement to become an official online disciple watch the video Official Disciple Exercise Requirements and read the description of the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1BTWKLNV6s After watching the video contact Freddie via email at FreddiesModernKungFu@live.com. Personal and Private instruction for Freddies Modern Kung Fu is available in Chicago, IL. Freddie is also available to be hired as a personal online fitness coach. Freddie can make personalized exercise programs to share with you online. Contact Freddie at FreddiesModernKungFu@live.com for more details. ADD FREDDIE ON FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/freddielee28?ref=profile Go to the Corportate Body of the Buddha Education Foundation to order FREE books on Buddhism. http://www.budaedu.org/en/ Watch FREE Movies Online at: http://www.movies-links.tv/ Watch FREE Documentaries Online at: http://www.documentary-log.com/ OSHO one of the greatest sages ever: http://www.youtube.com/user/oshointernational?blend=1
0 Views
02:32:00 04/25/11
Video: Guard on Flood Patrol
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 02:32:00 04/25/11
More than 400 North Dakota National Guard members are on flood duty this Easter weekend. Around 150 are in Valley City, mostly battling flood concerns with their presence. While many of the soldiers are used to missing holidays at home to protect others... Amber Schatz shows us how the signs of gratitude are everywhere. Even before sunrise... You can count on the Guard, already up doing flood patrol... 24-7. Missing a holiday is nothing new for many guardsmen and women. (Aldrich) 30:14 " I think Iraq was probably the biggest challenge, but anytime you're away from your family for a year it's going to be a challenge." They've been deployed overseas... or have come to know that around Easter-time... their services may be needed around the state. (David Aldrich/Been in Guard 10 years/Mandan) (Dave) 28:36 "At any point we could get the call, so my crew's ready to go." Dave Aldrich is working on a Quick Reaction Force team... working 12 hour shifts... sandbagging problem areas.... and waiting... Today, he and everyone else making this sacrifice are getting recognized. "You find unique ways to do ministry in the military, sometimes in the field, sitting behind a humvee with soldiers taking a knee on the ground, just how you do it.' This time it's a battalion conference room turned chapel... for Sunday service... CAPT. BROCK SAILER/CHAPLAIN) "We're away from home here, soldiers who are fighting the floods here, so it's important to stay connected in any way you can to the things that are normal to you." Giving airmen and soldiers a morale boost... for all they do. "It solely relies on soldiers you're with, pick them back up, it's a lot easier being in North Dakota, because you can call your family." National Guard leaders are also touring the area, to see progress made... and shake hands with everyone protecting the people and property. With water levels starting to recede... guard members will continue to patrol the dikes until the Sheyenne is no longer a threat to the community. But as the sun shines in... You don't have to hunt for signs of Easter cheer. (Darcy Schwind) "I'm a un-uniformed first sgt right now with these ears on, just trying to boost morale for the troops in Valley City." handing out candy nats "Happy Easter". "I'll share it with my kids, when I get home!"
26 Views
01:14:59 01/27/11
We've Spent 5.93M Years Playing World of Warcraft...?!?
[LESS INFO] 26 VIEWS | ADDED 01:14:59 01/27/11
Complete Premium video at: http://fora.tv/partner/Gamification_Summit
Jane McGonigal, author of Reality Is Broken, points to the 3 billion hours the world invests every week in online gaming as a clear indicator that many people are not being sufficiently challenged in their day-to-day lives. "5.93 million years is how long people have spent tackling unnecessary obstacles in World of Warcraft," says McGonigal. "We've spent as long playing World of Warcraft as we have evolving as a human species."
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More than 174 million Americans are gamers, and the average young person in the United States will spend ten thousand hours gaming by the age of 21. According to world-renowned game designer Jane McGonigal, the reason for this mass exodus to virtual worlds is that video games are increasingly fulfilling genuine human needs.
In this groundbreaking exploration of the power and future of gaming, McGonigal reveals how we can use the lessons of game design to fix what is wrong with the real world, boost global happiness and create engagement that transcends commerce. Jane McGonigal's work has helped define this new medium of gamification with a world view that combines elements of reality and fantasy.
She believes that we live every story we experience and we really do transform ourselves in this process to become every game we play. Her insights have been compared to plutonium in that they are elegant, concise, and pack an enormous amount of force. - The Gamification Summit
Jane McGonigal is the director of games research and development at the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, California. She has created and deployed games and missions in more than 30 countries on six continents. She specializes in games that help gamers enjoy their real lives more -- and games that challenge players to tackle real-world problems, through planetary-scale collaboration.
59 Views
01:01:50 11/19/10
Jane McGonigal - Can Video Games Make the World a Better Place?
[LESS INFO] 59 VIEWS | ADDED 01:01:50 11/19/10
Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2010/10/16/Long_Conversation_with_Tiffany_Shlain_and_Jane_McGonigal
Game designer Jane McGonigal and filmmaker Tiffany Schlain discuss how video games make people better, and can help change the world. McGonigal describes the "epic win," a special skill gamers develop to help them solve difficult problems and how that skill can be used as an amazing human resource in the physical world.
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Long Conversation, an epic relay of one-to-one conversations among some of the Bay Area's most interesting minds, took place over 6 hours in San Francisco on Saturday October 16, 02010. Interpreting the Long Conversation in real time was a data visualization performance by Sosolimited; an art and technology studio out of M.I.T.
Long Conversation was presented with a live performance of 1,000 minutes of composer Jem Finer's Longplayer. - The Long Now Foundation
Jane McGonigal is the Director of Games Research and Development at the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, California. She has created and deployed games and missions in more than 30 countries on six continents. She specializes in games that help gamers enjoy their real lives more -- and games that challenge players to tackle real-world problems, through planetary-scale collaboration.
Honored as one of Newsweek's "Women Shaping the 21st Century," Tiffany Shlain is the founder and ambassador of The Webby Awards and an award-winning filmmaker. Tiffany's career is guided by a passion for unraveling complex ideas in unorthodox ways. Her work covers an array of topics, from the internet to politics to religion. She has directed eight films including "Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness," a Sundance Film Festival selection 2003 and broadcast on TV on The Sundance Channel.
14 Views
18:47:55 09/16/09
2009 Raleigh-area Consignment Sale Roundup (Fall/Winter Sales)
[LESS INFO] 14 VIEWS | ADDED 18:47:55 09/16/09
It's that time of year again... back to school shopping will start all too soon and parents will be sorting through clothing & toys to decide what still fits and what needs to be replaced. Almost a year and a half ago I discovered a new favorite hobby in bargain shopping called Children's Consignment Sales. I posted a blog last summer about my initial experiences with consignment shopping. Since then I can easily say that I've been to more than a dozen sales total, which are kind of like giant cooperative yard sales. I'm still by no means an expert, but do eagerly look forward to the chance to get nearly-brand-new clothing and toys for my child for about 25% of the original retail cost. Even toys or "play clothes" that look a little worn work fine for a toddler... she doesn't care or know the difference!
For new moms or parents who haven't shopped a consignment sale before, here are a few tips of my own followed by some local news videos explaining the sales and then a list of the upcoming Raleigh, NC-area Fall/Winter sales.
1.) Take a list! Start making a list now of every item you can think of that you need for your child. It can be specific or generic, but just write it down, sort it by category type and even prioritize it by importance. I would never remember everything I want without having it on paper while shopping a sale. Don't think, "Oh that's too specific - I'd never find that at a sale." I've been blown away by very specific items I've found at sales before... such as One Step Ahead's " Walking Wings " (normally $24.95, but I found them practically new for $10). Last year I bought an $85 Kozy Carrier for only $20! The amount of new-with-tag clothing items for sale is often quite surprising too.
2.) Since the sales don't provide shopping carts, take something to carry your items in; I recommend a device with wheels! I use our SnugGlider stroller frame (without the infant car seat) and attach a rectangular laundry basket with a bungee cord. It works fabulously! I also have seen shoppers using carts such as this one , but I've never made the investment to get one of those. A wagon or an empty stroller could work well too.
3.) If possible, sign up for a time slot to work a few volunteer hours so that you can shop early. The best items always go first and once you shop a sale early, you'll realize this. Consignors (people who sell their items) also usually get to shop earlier than the public as well. The only thing to remember about consigning is that there is usually a consignors fee ($5-15) which you pay whether or not any of your items sell. If you do sell your items, depending on the sale you'll typically get about 2/3 of your selling price and the sale owners keep the other 1/3.
The Raleigh area is very fortunate to have quite a few consignment sales nearby and those numbers seem to be growing! I've compiled a list of 10 upcoming Fall/Winter sales with their dates and locations below. There are 4 more area sales that I'm aware of, but have not yet confirmed their upcoming dates/location. First though, here is some local news coverage from two of the area's largest sales, KidsExchange and Kids Everywear. Note that these videos are from last winter's "Spring/Summer" sales and are not specifically referring to the upcoming sales.
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If the crowds in those videos overwhelm you, take heart... all sales aren't as chaotic as those two! In fact, many of the smaller sales are great because since they aren't as crowded, you can find better bargains! Feel free to leave a comment below inquiring about a specific sale and I'll be happy to let you know any details I know about it. (Although there are a few on this list that I haven't been to before.)
Here is the list, sorted by upcoming sale dates:
Kids Exchange July 20 - 28, 2009 (Mon-the following Tue) NC State Fairgrounds Jim Graham Building http://www.KidsExchange.net Note: This is the biggest sale in the entire area… it’s MASSIVE!
The Friendship Closet Consignment Sale August 7 - 8, 2009 (Fri-Sat) Apex United Methodist Church 100 S. Hughes Street / Apex, NC 27502 http://www.friendshipcloset.com/dates-location
Upscale Resale August 13 - 15, 2009 (Thu-Sat) Cary Masonic Lodge 1142 SE Maynard Road / Cary, NC http://www.UpscaleResale4Kids.com Note: Trunk Show, Boutique & higher-end consignment sale clothes
TMOTT Sale (Triangle Mothers of Twins & Triplets) August 15, 2009 (Sat) N.C. State Fairgrounds Kerr Scott Building http://www.tmott.org/sale.htm
Twice as Nice August 20 - 22, 2009 (Thu-Sat) New Horizons Fellowship 820 E. Williams Street / Apex, NC 27502 http://www.twiceasnice4tots.com/ Note: One of my very favorite sales, and not just because I designed their website! :-)
NEXT 2 NEW 4 KIDS August 26 - 30, 2009 (Wed-Sun) Cleveland Gymnasium 8994 Cleveland Road / Clayton NC 27520 http://www.next2new4kids.com
Divine Consign Show - Raleigh DCS Fall Show August 31 - September 4, 2009 (Mon-Fri) Stonehenge Shopping Center 7432 Creedmoor Road / Raleigh, NC http://www.dcskids.com Notes: Exclusive Trunk Show & Boutique Overstock and Consignment Sales; Also has a Grandparent Preview Show & New Mom Shopping (must pre-register)
Kids Everywear August 29th - September 15th
Morrisville Outlet Mall 1001 Airport Blvd / Morrisville, NC 27560-8935 http://www.kidseverywear.com/ Notes: Probably 2nd largest sale in the area & growing each year! ; Also has early shopping days for Pregnant & New Moms (must pre-register)
Kidaround Kidsale Two Sale Dates & Locations! #1 - Sept. 11 - 13, 2009 (Fri-Sun) @ The Factory in Wake Forest (MVP Factory Sports indoor basketball court) 1839 US 1-A /South Main St. Wake Forest NC #2 - Oct. 9 - 11, 2009 (Fri-Sun) @ The Lighthouse Center in South Raleigh 326 Tryon Rd / Raleigh, NC (the Garner side of Raleigh) http://www.kidaroundkidsale.com/
Nearly New Clothing Exchange September 16-20, 2009 (Wed-Sun)
Pleasant Valley Shopping Center
6270 Glenwood Ave.
Raleigh, NC 27612
Next door to Kirklands
http://www.nearlynewclothingexchange. com
Chatham Kids Consignment September 18, 19, 20, 2009 (Fri-Sun)
11312 US Highway 15 501 N
Chathams Crossings
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www. chathamkidsconsignment.com
First UMC Cary Fall Sale September 19, 2009 (Sat) First United Methodist Church, Cary 117 S. Academy Street / Cary, NC 27511 http://www.consignwithfumc.com/ Note: Planning Ahead? Spring Sale will be Saturday, February 20, 2010
Church Kidz Stuff October 1 -3, 2009
Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh
http://www.hbbc.net/Ministries/ChildrensMinistry/ChildrensConsignmentSale/
Just 4 Kids Consignment Sale October 4 - 10, 2009 (Sun-Sat) Life Spring Community Church 501 Wake Chapel Road Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 http://www.just4kidsnc.com
Second Blessings Consignment Sale Spring 2010
Greenwood Forest Baptist, Cary http://www.gfbccary.org/consignment/
112 Views
03:43:16 04/28/07
Northern Michigan Residents Turn In Tens Of Thousands Of Pharmaceuticals Weighing Over One Ton
[LESS INFO] 112 VIEWS | ADDED 03:43:16 04/28/07
Narcotics Have Estimated Street Value of $500,000Third Annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep Targeted All MedicinesEarth Day: 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep(Marquette, Michigan) - Northern Michigan residents honored Earth Day by turning in tens of thousands of pills plus narcotics with an estimated street value of half a million dollars during the third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep.The 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean Sweep targeted out-of-date and unwanted medications of all kinds, according to Carl Lindquist, executive director of the Superior Watershed Partnership.Earth Keeper TV will soon have an updated videos and stories about the pharmaceutical collection.Lindquist estimated that over one ton of pharmaceuticals and personal care products were turned in by the public.The "controlled substances" turned in have an estimated street value of $500,000 including narcotics in pill and liquid form, clean sweep organizers said.Several police officers estimated that each one of the narcotics and other controlled drugs had a street value ranging from $5 to $25 per pill.“We had a great public turnout, a lot of people showed up with old medications,” said Lindquist said. “We are again breaking records for the Great Lakes and maybe the nation.”Lindquist said the exact number of controlled substances turned in was still being tallied.About 2,000 people turned in items but the many had also collected pharmaceuticals from other family and friends, organizers said.The 2007 clean sweep went off without a hitch thanks to the U.P. chapter of the Michigan Pharmacists Association, and numerous law enforcement agencies including the DEA and Michigan Sheriff's Association, organizers said. Pharmacists and law enforcement officers were present at all collection sites to ensure security and proper collection of the pharmaceuticals, Lindquist said.The third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep was coordinated by the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Cedar Tree Institute, both Marquette-based non-profit environmental groups.The clean sweep was again sponsored by nine U.P. faith communities with 130,000 members (60 percent of U.P. residents), the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Cedar Tree Institute, and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community.The project involves the congregations of over 140 churches and temples representing nine faith communities (Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, and Zen Buddhist).The clean sweep had over 400 volunteers including 150 members of Thrivent Financial and 40 Northern Michigan University (NMU) students.Financial sponsors again this year include the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and $15,000 from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a not-for-profit financial services membership organization and fraternal benefit society.Rev. Jon Magnuson, Earth Keeper Initiative founder, said "one of the gifts that the faith community brings to the environmental movement is that the external damage done in the environment is a reflection of what is going on in the human condition, in the human heart - so as we heal and cleanse the Earth, we are also healing the human heart.”“We are in trouble with the way we live with the Earth, we have lost our balance" but projects like the clean sweeps are one example of humans correcting man-made problems, said Rev. Magnuson, co-organizer of the clean sweeps and the head of Lutheran Campus Ministry at NMU.Lindquist said the pharmaceuticals will be taken to an EPA-licensed incinerator at Veolia Environmental Services near St. Louis, Missouri.The EPA is funding the collection of pharmaceuticals and personal care products because trace amounts of chemicals from those substances are turning up in America’s drinking water.EPA official John Perrecone from Chicago visited several of the collection sites and praised the Superior Watershed Partnership and the Earth Keeper team for its organization and success pulling off the largest geographical pharmaceutical collection in U.S. history.“From the EPA’s prospective this is an ideal approach for grassroots community members and the faith-based community to work with the federal government, American Indians and others to achieve environmental gain,” said Perrecone, Ecosystem Projects Manager at the Midwestern Region office of EPA located in Chicago.The 19 Earth Keeper sites collect “the whole gamut” of over-the-counter and prescription medications including a wide range of narcotic pain killers, sleeping pills, syringes/needles, and antibiotics.The public also turned in a wide range of personal care products like shampoo, lotions and soaps.Although an environmental project, the pharmaceutical collection had several great side-effects like removing drugs that could be accidentally consumed by children thinking the pills were candy, and preventing diversion of controlled substances such as narcotics by people addicted to prescription medications.Some of the medication was over 100 years old, including 18 large dust-covered antique bottles filled with liquids and powders that Lutheran Mary Sloan Armstrong of Harvey brought to the Messiah Lutheran Church collection site in Marquette.Armstrong said the medicines - some with Latin labels - belonged to her late father J.K. Sloan, who ran Sloan’s Pharmacy in Galva, Illinois for decades prior to his death.“These are drug bottles that were in the basement of my dad’s pharmacy,” said Armstrong. “We’ve had them for about 30 years (since her father’s death) and haven’t done anything with them. We thought this would be a good chance to get rid of the contents.”Pharmacists gathered around Armstrong’s car to get a look at the century old drugs that had a variety of deteriorating cork-like lids.“This stuff goes back about one hundred years, “ said Marquette pharmacist Dave Campana, while lifting several of the bottles out of an old wooden crate.“These are really old powders that they used to make up medications - you don’t find these in pharmacies anymore because they don’t have a need for it. But they used it years ago,” Campana said. “These powders and liquids are considered hazardous waste but they are drugs.”A member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Harvey, Armstrong said some of the bottles have pre-civil war patents and her family plans to search her late father’s basement for more bottles after learning the importance of proper disposal of medicines through the clean sweep.Meanwhile at the St. Peter Catholic Cathedral collection site in Marquette, one person dropped off a “turn-of-the century” black folding case containing eight small bottles filled with powders.“This is what would have been a doctor’s traveling pharmacy,” said Marquette pharmacist Kent Jenema, while showing the leather zippered case to an EPA observer. “This has a lot of old patent type medications from mostly natural sources that predates some of the pharmacy that we know today.”The third annual Earth Keeper Clean Sweep was praised by America’s Drug Czar, law enforcement officers and prosecutors."Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem across the Nation, increasingly affecting families who have been untouched by illegal drug use," said U.S. Drug Czar John Walters, the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and a member of the President's CabinetWalters cited the 2007 Pharmaceutical Clean sweep across northern Michigan as an example of “community engagement in properly disposing of pharmaceuticals (that) will help us stop and prevent prescription drug abuse, and the harm it can cause.”Remote areas like Michigan’s Upper Peninsula are not immune to prescription drug abuse.About 14 percent of students in Alger and Marquette counties admit using prescription medication to get high, according to a 2006 survey by the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development."And in our own community here in the U.P., it's an under-reported problem and a lot of times prescription drugs that are suitable for abuse can be stolen from people for whom they are prescribed,” said Paul Olson, a licensed social worker who works for the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development in Marquette.Katherine Geier removed all the narcotics from her home, delivering OxyContin and other medication to the collection site at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Ishpeming.“My mother had become addicted to prescription pain killers and sleeping pills, so I ended up hiding them from her,” Geier said. “So I had all these narcotics and I did not know what to do with them.”“I did not want to flush them down the toilet,” Geier said. “So I finally found a proper was to dispose of them.”Drug addicts and burglars “will break into people’s homes and steal these narcotic drugs for their own personal gain - they will either use it themselves or sell it on the streets,” said Ishpeming Police Officer Robert Sibley, one of dozens of law enforcement officers stationed at the 19 collection sites. “This is a big problem and we are working on it all the time.”Police were pleased the clean sweep prevented lots of “controlled” drugs from possible diversion to the street.“This is great,” said Marquette Police officer Brandon Boesl, while transferring counted narcotics to a special holding container during the collection at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette.“Some of the most abuse things in the area are prescription drugs and a lot of people after they get their prescription refilled don’t use them - and other family members or children can get a hold of them - and this is a great way to get rid of them,” officer Boesl said.Marquette General Hospital Pharmacist Bob Hodges said “these are controlled drugs and we are inventorying them so that we will have a better record of the drugs that are being collected - it’s required by law.” After counting pills from a dusty bottle filled with narcotics, Ishpeming pharmacist Steve Lyford said “to dispose of these medicines in a safe way is a real good idea.”Over 100 people dropped off pharmaceuticals at the First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba, MI. Including over 3,700 (controlled substance) pills.Some participants held medications "for many years after the death of a relative because they did not know what to do with it," said Jill Wiese Martin, site manager and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba, MI."Most people were relieved to be able to bring this material in without any hassles and many were very aware that this material should not be just flushed," said Wiese Martin, adding many participants were frustrated that left over medicine goes to waste when it is replaced by new treatment."We need a systematic way to routinely and safely dispose of unused and unwanted medications," said Wiese Martin, an environmental scientist. "An organized means for collection and disposal just does not exist."Removing pharmaceuticals and personal care products is important to protect the many rivers in the Escanaba area, and on Lake Michigan bays that are world renown walleye fisheries."Little Bay de Noc is a very rich ecosystem, one of the richest due to it's complex geology, geography and the many surface water streams that discharge in to it," Wiese Martin said.In addition to being an environment professional, Wiese Martin says protecting the water is important part of her Presbyterian faith."We need to protect and preserve God's creation for all, even to the extent that future adverse outcomes can be avoided and minimized," Wiese Martin said. "It provides an another mission opportunity in God's world and hope to our children that we care about the world we are leaving them."The city of Escanaba, Bay de Noc Community College and public school educators are "actively promoting a number of issues" including "the importance of wetlands to the entire bay ecosystem," creating "a walkable community" and reducing the "human/consumer waste stream," Wiese Martin said.At the First Lutheran Church in Gladstone, about 75 people dropped off medicines and security was provided by Michigan State Police and Gladstone Public Safety Officers, including some in plain clothes."This was a wonderful event - a perfect marriage of two concerns - care of the environment and the need to remove drugs that might otherwise be abused from the community," said Pastor Jonathan Schmidt.Delta County Prosecutor Steve Parks visited the Gladstone clean sweep location and told the site manager he was pleased to see narcotics and other prescriptions drugs removed from his community.Northern Michigan University student Miranda Revere said while volunteering at the First Lutheran Church in Gladstone she learned how severe the prescription drug abuse problem is from the Delta County prosecutor and the pastor.“Delta County has a problem with teens abusing prescription drugs, so finding people to help at the pharmaceutical collection was not difficult at all,” said Revere, a 21-year-old business management major from Clio, MI.“The county prosecuting attorney discussed the committee that has been put together to help this problem,” said Revere, who has attended NMU for three years.For the year in a row, 10-year-old Eve McCowen volunteered at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette and was assigned the task of taking bags full of personal care products and non-prescription medications and dumping them into large holding containers. “We came here to collect the vitamins, pills and any other medicines - so they won’t pollute the earth anymore,” said McCowen, a fourth grader, who volunteered with her parents and other members of the Marquette Baha'i Spiritual Assembly.“There has been a lot of stuff and I have been dumping them into this barrel,” said McCowen with a huge grin.The Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper (NMU EK) Student Team sent volunteers literally hundreds of miles to all 19 collections sites.NMU EK project director Jennifer Simula said the students really enjoy doing their part to protect the environment.“They are wearing green T-shirts and they all have smiles on their faces,” said Simula as three students each emptied several large shopping bags full of medicines and person care products.“The students are greeting everybody as they come in, providing hospitality and letting everyone know what’s going on and that they are involved in a great project,” said Simula, who is a student leader in Lutheran Campus Ministry at NMU.The students have many projects and are working on setting up chapters at three other U.P. universities while still keeping up with classroom assignments.“The pharmacists brought knowledge of all the things we collect, the law officers praised us for getting these drugs in a secure place and out of the potential of being abused,” said Michael Rotter, a senior majoring in botany.“The amazing thing about the clean sweep, is me being a 21-year-old Buddhist college kid can sit down and talk to a 30 year old pharmacist father and we can both relate to the 50-year-old Methodist pastor,” Rotter said.The Earth Keepers “had people from the community drop off pharmaceuticals for friends and family members” adding it was such a “beautiful day” many walked to their collection site, said NMU EK Student Team member Ashley Ormson of Negaunee, a sophomore with a double major in International Relations and French.“I was very happy that everything went smoothly for the three hours, and we didn't encounter any complications,” said Ormson, a member of Messiah Lutheran Church and student leader with Lutheran Campus Ministry at NMU.NMU EK Student Team member Matt Nordine, who volunteered at the UMC church in St. Ignace, did not mind the four-hour round trip drive because “it was good to actively participate in Earth Day.”NMU EK team member Lauren Murphy said it is easy to mix her studies and getting good grades with several environmental projects because “we keep a good balance - on the weekends we go to our projects and help out and during the week we go to the Earth Keeper meetings after class.”“We collected a lot of medicines, old suntan lotions, eye drops, cosmetics and other stuff like that,” said NMU EK team member Kristy Knutson, while going thru bags of items dropped off by Marquette residents.“Lots of controlled substances came through that won't get sold or end up in the water,” said Rev. Tari Stage-Harvey, pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church in St. Ignace and Trinity Lutheran Church in Brevort (combined 100 parishioners).Rev. Jim Balfour, pastor of United Methodist of St. Ignace, said he was “happy to see people from so many churches help” with the clean sweep."It is wonderful to work in a community where the churches come together easily to address the threats to God's world," Pastor Balfour said.Pastor Balfour thanked Earth Keepers for the clean sweeps and literature that was passed out to the public because it helps "people understand how many of the common items of our daily lives can be a threat to the environment when they have out lived their usefulness."Presbyterian Earth Keeper team member Sue Piasini of Sagola said she "saw a flock of geese when I was going to the clean sweep and I thought ‘we are going to take care of the water for you' and it was such a nice sunny day."Three pharmacists from two retail stores "never stopped counting pills during the entire three hours," said Piasini, who volunteered at the Salvation Army Bread of Life Center in Iron Mountain."One plastic bag had over 2,000 pills and they had to sort them all out," said Piasini, a member of Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola, MI.Members of several faith communities were among the volunteers and everyone was in a great mood "joking and having a fun time," said Piasini.Earth Keeper surveys were filled out by all 94 people, mostly senior citizens, who dropped off pharmaceuticals and many brought in drugs collected from family and friends, Piasini said."One person brought a full duffel bag" of pharmaceuticals, said Piasini, who has two grandchildren and is the mother of four grown children.Bishop Alexander K. Sample, Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette, said he is “thrilled” with the results and was especially happy about the large youth involvement in protecting the environment and taking prescription drugs off the streets.“It is wonderful to see that the younger generation is at the heart of this Earth Keepers effort,” said Bishop Sample, who oversees 97 U.P. parishes and missions with 65,400 members. “They understand better than many, the connection between faith and care for creation, God's gift to us.”“We have to be concerned about our young people and the world we will hand on to them,” Bishop Sample said.“It is a way for us, as people of faith, to show our concern for the world that our Creator has entrusted to our care and stewardship,” Bishop Sample said.Catholic Earth Keeper team member Kyra Fillmore, a 29-year-old mother of two small children, said “people were unloading medicines from deceased relatives or from past illness.”"This collection was a quieter, more personal event," said Fillmore, a member of St. Louis the King Catholic Church in Harvey. “I'm grateful that Earth Keepers could provide a comfortable place for people to - in a sense - release past pains and help keep our water clean as well.”Catholic Earth Keeper Linda of Marquette, who drove five hours round trip to volunteer at the Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, MI, called the clean sweep "a most spiritual event for cleansing the soul of medicinal toxins."O'Brien believes participants "shed the reminder of pain from loved ones or oneself physical medicinal needs.""Residents were able to make their home environment safer by disposing of unused or unwanted medicines and old health care products in an ethical way," O'Brien said. "They responded knowing that they are also contributing to the health and safety beyond their own doorstep."Retired steelworker Don Flint of Ironwood said his wife, Betty, cleaned out their medicine cabinets "to get rid of medications that we don't want any more" because "we've become more aware that it's not the right thing to do to flush pharmaceuticals down the toilet."A Lutheran, Flint, 64, dropped off old antibiotics, arthritis pain medicine, aspirin, Tylenol and lotions at the Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church collection site in Ironwood.The Flints are members of the (ELCA) Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, which recently formed the Christ Lutheran Parish with 3 other ELCA churches in Ironwood.Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan (EDNM) Bishop James Kelsey, who brought several old medications to a Catholic collection site, said he hopes that others will follow the example of the Earth Keeper team and that the clean sweeps are “a catalyst for a movement much bigger than our demographics” in remote northern Michigan with a population of about 260,000 people spread across hundreds of square miles.“Care for the environment is an expression of love for God and one another," said Kelsey, who serves as Bishop for 27 Episcopal congregations with 2,500 members in the U.P.Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Lutheran Bishop Thomas A. Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod (NGLS), who volunteered at the Fortune Lake Lutheran Bible Camp in Crystal Falls, said the public was happy to participate and had an “eagerness about being a part of the solution.”“It was a morning of solutions to difficult problems and I am proud of my church," said Bishop Skrenes, the head of 91 U.P. Lutheran congregations with 40,000 members.The NGLS also includes Finlandia University in Hancock and the Northland Lutheran Retirement Community in Marinette, WI.Jewish Earth Keeper Jacob Silver of Negaunee Township said future health of the planet will depend on how youth are motivated by adults - and protecting nature is clear in the annual teachings and observations of Tikkun Olam and Passover. “It is important that adults and parents are seen by youth to be carrying out the moral obligation for Tikkun Olam,” said Silver, one of 70 members of Temple Beth Sholom in Ishpeming, MI. “This creates a reality for the youth - thus, it spreads the message to care for the environment across generations.”Silver said “for Jews, the Earth is all we have.”“There is no mention, thus no concept, of existence after death in the five books of Moses, our Torah,” Silver said. “So, the welfare of the planet is always a prime commitment for Jews.”“There is nowhere else, and if we foul the Earth, we can be left ultimately homeless,” Silver said.Silver added that “the welfare of the Earth, and its parts, is a primary commitment for Jews.”“The Earth Keepers provide, not only an opportunity to help heal the Earth, but also collaboration with members of faith communities in the area - it is a wonderful organization,” Silver said.For the third year in a row, northern Michigan Zen Buddhists volunteered at the Grace United Methodist Church in Marquette, and the head priest said it is "the beginning of a tradition and it felt good to be back there on Earth Day" with UMC Rev. Charlie West and "his hospitable crew doing something for the earth and raising consciousness about yet another hazard that is degrading and poisoning our environment.""Each year during the Clean Sweeps, I see wider involvement and more publicity, and each year I see more evidence of young people participating, which is absolutely a necessity over the long haul," said Reverend Tesshin Paul Lehmberg, leader of the Lake Superior Zendo - a Marquette Zen Buddhist temple.Rev. Lehmberg said his 15-year-old daughter, Freya, and Rev. West’s 13-year-old son, Christopher, were excited to volunteer."We're passing along our enthusiasms, and our worry" over the environmental condition of the earth and that youth concern for nature and involvement is essential to the future of the planet, Rev. Lehmberg said.Dr. Rodney Clarken, chair of the Marquette Baha'i spiritual assembly who volunteered at a Lutheran church, said "the interfaith aspect of this project has given it a unique energy and power - when you see the results over the past three years" adding that he hopes people will see the connection between protecting the Earth and their spiritual beliefs."The environmental crisis is foundationally a spiritual crisis, and until you address those spiritual issues you will not have significant impact on the environment. ," said Clarken, NMU interim associate dean of Teacher Education and director of School of Education, adding there are about 40 members of Baha'i in Marquette (about 100 in Upper Peninsula) , and 144,000 in the United States (about 6 million world wide)."In our world of rapid and accelerating change, protecting our environment, both physically and spiritually, is increasingly critical and challenging," Clarken said. "Baha'is believe that only in seeking spiritual solutions to our material problems will we be able to sustain and advance civilization."Clarken said that Baha'ullah - the Prophet-Founder of Baha'i - wrote: "The earth is but one county, and mankind its citizens."United Methodist Church (UMC) Marquette District Superintendent (DS) Grant R. Lobb said the words "cleaner water" kept popping into his mind as he stood in "the warm parking lot watching a number of individuals and couples bringing in their outdated pills, tablets and syringes" into the basement of the Grace United Methodist Church in Marquette.The clean sweep means "cleaner water for all of us," said Lobb, DS of the Marquette District of the Detroit Annual Conference UMC, which has 8,372 parishioners and 60 northern Michigan congregations.Supt. Lobb said he is "impressed by the participation of our senior citizens, who not only took the time to look through their cupboards and cabinets for outdated medicines, but also made the effort to drive to the collection sites in order to turn in their items."Catholic Earth Keeper team member Kelly Mathews of Big Bay, and her husband, Chris Mathews, 45, brought numerous medicines bottles to the collection including 18-year-old prescription sinus medication they found while recently cleaning out their medicine cabinet.Mathews said she “could not believe the amount of unused medication” adding America’s medical system needs to find a way to prevent the waste of these drugs.“Some people brought in bottles with 50 to 80 more pills,” said Mathews, a 36-year-old mother of two who says her family switched to natural remedies years ago because they believe those medications are usually safer than prescription medicines.“I found the financial waste was totally unnecessary; those drugs were paid by someone - who would have thought that there would be so much going to waste,” Mathews said. “Many people commented on how much the drugs had cost and that they never actually used them. I wonder, why the excess?”Marquette Unitarian Universalist Congregation (MUUC) Earth Keeper team member Gail Griffith of Marquette agreed with Mathews that the waste of medicine in America is sad.“The pharmacist at Grace United Methodist told me that a drug I turned in, with an expiration date in 1992, was worth over $600,” Griffith said. “It had been prescribed but not completely used.”“It's too bad that so much money is used to buy pharmaceuticals that end up as trash, but we need to insure that trash doesn't end up harming our waters,” Griffith said.Presbyterian Earth Keeper team member Lynnea Kuzak, who volunteered at the First United Methodist Church in Manistique, said she was thanked by a resident who lost her husband to cancer last September and wished that all his medication had been properly disposed."Another person told me ‘I didn't like putting them down the toilet,’ " said Kuzak, 28, the director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church in Marquette.Presbyterian Pastor Dave Anderson of Iron Mountain is thankful for the interfaith clean sweeps because “I worry about the legacy our generation will leave for future ones, but it is good to know that we are doing something about it through opportunities like this.”Rev. Anderson, who serves as the chaplain for the Dickinson County Health Care System, added that “we all need to realize that the pick up and disposal of polluting waste like electronic equipment and outdated pharmaceuticals is making a big difference now and for future generations.”"As God's children, we feel like we are provided a concrete, tangible way to make a difference in our environment,” said Rev. Anderson, who is pastor of the Grace Presbyterian Church in Sagola.”Lutheran Joy Ibsen said on the Sunday morning following the clean sweep her Lutheran congregation sang “We Gather at the River-- the beautiful, the beautiful river.”I couldn't help but think how perfectly that song was for us on Earth Day,” Ibsen said. "To me, there is a special symbolism in this year's Clean Sweep--preventing pharmaceuticals from entering our water systems.”Ibsen said she was struck by how many prescriptions were thrown away because of serious side effects despite advances in medical care.“So many of our environmental problems come from the side effects of our advanced society - and every prescription has side effects,” said Ibsen, the organist at Trinity Lutheran Church in Trout Creek, MI.“One woman told me she had paid $140 for a certain prescriptions which gave her nothing but welts - she could not take it because of her allergic reaction, said Ibsen, lay minister, vice president of the church council at Trinity Lutheran.Ibsen said, like people, “the earth and water is allergic to many powerful prescriptions and chemicals.”Mary Klups of Ontonagon County brought in several types of pain and blood pressure medication, including two bottles of morphine, leftover from her late husband’s cancer treatment.“I had several drugs I have kept, waiting to dispose of in the right way,” said Klups, while dropping off pharmaceuticals at the White Pine Community United Methodist Church.“I also have several of my own medications including some very expensive medicine that did not work out because I had an allergic reaction to it,” Klups said. “I really appreciate having a way to get rid of all this.”White Pine pharmacist Chuck Blezek said “for years we told people to flush old prescriptions down the toilet - it is only lately that we have found out that it is the wrong thing to do.”“This is a very worthwhile thing Earth Keepers is doing,” Blezek said.Wayne Sparks of White Pine said he dropped off drugs “because I don’t have any other good way of disposing of these medications.”UMC Earth Keeper team member Rev. Charlie West said that church members “felt really good about providing this service for the community.”“These chemicals should not be loose in the creation - we're glad they will be disposed of carefully," said Rev. West, pastor of the Grace UMC in Marquette and project director of the first clean sweep. "We had some over the counter medicine from 20 years ago - and we saw a lot of the same people we have seen over the past two years” at the previous clean sweeps.Two weeks after a lengthy blizzard that dumped over five feet of snow, those participating enjoyed sun with temperatures in the 70's, that Rev. West described as “a good day to be disposing of chemicals carefully - so the creation will continue to be healthy and wholesome.”Messiah Lutheran Church Pastor Nancy Amacher praised the police for standing watch, pharmacists “who utilized their knowledge and expertise,” NMU students that “helped wherever needed” and others for “helping out on a sunny Saturday morning when they could have been sleeping in or doing their own thing.”“As people of faith we believe the earth is God's created gift and part of our stewardship is to care for ourselves as well as the forests, waterways, and their inhabitants,” said Rev. Amacher.Munising United Methodist Church site coordinator Phil Hansen said many participants collected from family and friends and “almost all people brought in large quantities of items” filling plastic grocery bags.“We had more controlled substances turned in than we expected,” said Hansen., adding security was provided by Munising Police Chief Steven Swanberg and Lt. Mike Nettleton. “People were happy that a pharmacist was on duty and their privacy was protected.”Hansen said many people were previously “unaware that throwing away medicine or flushing it was harmful and they will not do that in the future.”Gee Petruske collected items from his community in remote Grand Marais and made an hour-long special trip to Munising to deliver the items. Background:The EPA and Lindquist said the clean sweep targeted medicines because trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are turning up in America's rivers, lakes, and drinking water.The EPA says most treatment plants are not designed to filter out these medications.When pills or liquid medicines are poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet they remain diluted in the water supply after treatment and these trace amounts are suspected of causing a range of health problems, according to the EPA.As leftover and waste pharmaceuticals get flushed down drains, research is showing that they are increasingly being detected in our lakes and rivers at levels that could be causing harm to the environment and ecosystem," said Elizabeth LaPlante, senior manager for the EPA Great Lakes National Programs Office in Chicago, Ill"Specifically, reproductive and development problems in aquatic species, hormonal disruption and antibiotic resistance are some concerns associated with pharmaceuticals in our wastewater," LaPlante said."The Earth Keeper Pharmaceutical Collection event, therefore, is an excellent opportunity to prevent the introduction of these chemicals into Lake Superior and other water bodies," LaPlante said.Lindquist said that recent national studies have documented that over 80 percent of the rivers sampled "tested positive for a range of pharmaceuticals including antibiotics, birth control hormones, antidepressants, veterinary drugs and other medications."Lindquist said some urban centers have even detected "traces of pharmaceuticals in their tap water."Pharmaceuticals in some rivers have also been linked to behavioral and sexual mutations in species of fish, amphibians and birds, according to EPA studies.Pharmaceutical compounds known as endocrine disruptors have even been linked to neurological problems in children and increased incidence of some cancers, Lindquist said.There were 19 drop off sites across a 400 mile area (and in all 15 counties) of Michigan's Upper Peninsula that open Saturday, April 21, 2007 from 9 a.m. to noon local time on Earth Day eve.In 2006, over 320 tons of electronic waste (old/broken computers, cell phones etc.) were dropped off in just three hours by an estimated 10,000 U.P. residents. It took 9 semi trucks to haul the e-waste to an EPA approved recycling centers in the Lower Peninsula.In 2005, the first clean sweep collected 45 tons of household poisons and vehicle batteries. The hazardous waste, including over two pounds of mercury, were properly disposed of in various ways according to EPA and state guidelines.Both previous clean sweeps broke EPA collection records for the Great Lakes, organizers said.Thrivent Financial for Lutherans donated $5,000 for the 2006 clean sweep.Thrivent Financial also awarded a $75,000 Youth Leadership Initiative grant to Northern Michigan University’s Lutheran Campus Ministry in 2006 for development of an on-going program for college students to become involved in the ecological stewardship of the environment. Three other universities are also involved in the program, including Michigan Tech, Finlandia University and Lake Superior State University.Partners who helped make the clean sweep a success include U.S. Senator Carl Levin's Office, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, the NMU Environmental Science Program and many others.Last fall, the Earth Keeper Initiative and its partners were honored with three international awards.The Earth Keeper Initiative received several prestigious awards in 2006 including an international Environmental Stewardship award from the Lake Superior Binational Program and the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) Award.The Earth Keeper Clean Sweep was named one of the 15 hardest working non-profit projects in America in 2006 by World Magazine, an international religious publication.The NMU EK team was created last April as the student wing of the Earth Keeper Intiative. The In addition to assisting in the annual clean sweeps, the NMU EK Student Team has numerous projects including (Adopt-A-Watershed) cleaning, testing, and developing a plan for six tributaries to three of the Great Lakes, recruiting students for chapters at three other U.P. universities, plus youth and adult outreach on practical everyday ways people can reduce human impact on the environment.The Superior Watershed Partnership has on-going programs that including Adopt-Your-Watershed, public environmental education, summer youth programs, land conservation, habitat restoration, energy conservation and numerous opportunities for volunteers to get "hands-on experience" in their communities, national parks, national forests and their local watershed, Lindquist said.For more information on the clean sweep (or the other projects) contact the Superior Watershed Partnership at 906-228-6095 and Greg at 906-475-5068, or email: earthkeeper@charter.netEarth Keeper TV:http://earthkeepers.blip.tv/Earth Keeper related website addresses are:The Superior Watershed Partnershiphttp://www.superiorwatersheds.orgThe Cedar Tree Institute:http://www.cedartreeinstitute.com/The Lake Superior Interfaith Communication Network:http://www.lakesuperiorinterfaith.com/
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17:12:30 02/28/07
Beach Walk #330 - Happy Hour Helps
[LESS INFO] 11 VIEWS | ADDED 17:12:30 02/28/07
Secret Cameraman and I have started stopping work at 5:30 to talk over the day and prepare dinner together. It's had a profound impact on our energy levels.
Sad to say perhaps, but we used to just work straight through until one of us got hungry and went into the kitchen to make dinner. Then we would eat, and often head back to work.
Instead, we now stop work at 5:30-6, and make dinner together while discussing our day, new biz ideas, and our plans for tomorrow. I am amazed at how much energy that little tweak in our schedule has opened up! Even if we have more work to wrap up after dinner, this break really helps us feel like we have a semblance of a life and more energized about the evening.
Ola to our visitors from Brazil!
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Our wonderful theme music is from Kaimoku: The Ukulele Experiment .
Hawaiian words
Hau'oli: happy
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