tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29699909334633641782024-03-05T09:57:00.273-05:00Black OrganicCool information about organic stuff and the environment.Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-10053415025842908442012-09-15T21:37:00.000-04:002012-09-15T21:37:42.522-04:00Yesterday’s Misery, Today’s Gift <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4p78aRdrDdH8F0peCCa8W5eXIgLMcXsOs7tj5T6KdT-lN73AaNAtdfRL-zz6Dq9auYjHupGnBjCac-j2R8utN59KepbUqy9aYF4CNYwQPkIl7UWenwCfdU1fM1KOY_AHalnFXtqsKAM/s1600/Clarence+Brown+Blog+Pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4p78aRdrDdH8F0peCCa8W5eXIgLMcXsOs7tj5T6KdT-lN73AaNAtdfRL-zz6Dq9auYjHupGnBjCac-j2R8utN59KepbUqy9aYF4CNYwQPkIl7UWenwCfdU1fM1KOY_AHalnFXtqsKAM/s200/Clarence+Brown+Blog+Pic.JPG" width="175" /></a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many urban
African American communities are adversely impacted by illegal drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jagged circular saw of drug introduction,
addiction, peddling and incarceration leaves broken minds, bodies and spirits
in its wake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These urban environments
are defined by discrete boundaries delineated by blight and the presence of law
squads curiously trolling the streets for prey to feed the prison industrial
complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inhabitants of disfavored
urban areas do not receive fair treatment nor do they enjoy protection from
environmental and health hazards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
birth of disorder in urban African America was woven into the fabric of the
U.S. ultimately to deny access to and influence on the structure of the
American republic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We may regard
urban dwellers mired in drug addiction as ‘others’, ‘them’, ‘those’, ‘not
us’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we fail to realize the
‘otherness’ of those in our own suburban and rural families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is all about location and selective
enforcement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is much easier to find a
needle in a haystack than a farm field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Drug dependence and substance abuse is all around us and none of us is
immune to the effect of substances on our lifestyle and environs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drug abuse is an environmental justice
issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as a community is
corroded by the effects of drugs, the powers that be will not ensure a safe and
healthy condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, what do we do;
what is within our power to change; what is the first step?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It starts with me; the individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot wait for the world to change, we
must make that change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our personal
action can ripple into a movement of waves with an energy that erodes away the
rot on the face of our society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Black Organic
is honored to share the truth of one man who is leading the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Mr. Clarence Brown is a recovering
heroin addict; 27 years immersed in the culture of consequence, every activity
controlled by craving and avoidance of severe physical and mental distress.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><u>“I’m beginning to receive so many opportunities, help
from friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God put these people here
for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With his help, I’ve surmounted
some serious odds and I believe that I can do great things, but none of them
are going to be for me, per se.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
not end up with a big house or a big car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will get what I need to help those people who come behind me.” </u></span></i></b></span><u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #76923c; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">“Maybe I could stop somebody else’s kid from starting
because I’ve been there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>General
knowledge will help people decide, who are on the fence.”</span></i></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></u></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">When did you start
using drugs and what lead you to start using?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>I started when I was 20, messing with cocaine and weed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was straight curiosity, no peer pressure,
nobody egging me on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was in the 10
dollar bag?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must have been about
1981.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept seeing it on TV and saw my
friends doing the stuff; they spent money on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just a bag of leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I realized okay, it’s kinda fun and
thought everything else would be more fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did not get into heavy drug use until I got to Baltimore at 22 and I
stated seeing stuff; people preparing needles and I was like wow, I want to try
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was never middle class, just
lower, lower, lower middle class and my parents were proud of us going to
college, but they thought and imparted to us that we shouldn’t jump too high
because you’re gonna get smacked down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
went off to Radford University and met a woman at University of Virginia and
followed her to Baltimore when she got sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was just hanging around Baltimore and was dippin’ and dabbin’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dated a woman for nine years who, we
thought, could not get pregnant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had
a daughter and I was not ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
disappeared; fell off the face of the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was making lots of enemies in the streets and I didn’t want anyone
looking for me, but finding her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
midst of my heroin addiction, I was able to work in security and made good
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I held it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was at the Latin Palace on Broadway for five
years and then ended up on The Block on Baltimore Street for another 10 years. I just wanted to find out what’s up with the drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I got the feeling, I just wanted to do
it more and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought nothing
could hurt me, that I couldn’t be stopped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I soon realized that I had no shield;
that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What was your
lifestyle while using drugs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What were
some of the things you would do?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>It was a gradual thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I started off living with my daughter’s mother and we worked; moving
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there was no way to do that
because I was taking money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would
snort, snort, snort all weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
happened until I moved away when my daughter was 3 years old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lost all contact with her when she was 7
and just got back in touch with her this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It got to the point where the pull of drugs was so strong, I didn’t care
and I became a full time drug user, became a hustler; I didn’t have a good game,
my speech was not quite what it needed to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was good at generating sympathy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Go to the bus stop and say I needed to get to a job interview and people
would offer five more for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
would go up the street and get more money, get enough money to do what I needed
to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the whole time, I was able to
hold down a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was possible to make
four or five hundred and night and still be a bum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t have any food and could not pay
rent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was easy to sustain addiction
because I was getting paid every night and I lived as if I always had
money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, you do… and then you don’t.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What was your worst
moment while on drugs?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My absolute worst moment is when I got locked up about the seventh
or eighth time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got to the point
where no one would have me at their door because I was doing all that slick
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was running for the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A guy gave me 60 bucks and of course, I was
getting something for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cop caught
me and I had six pills, dope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put the
pills in my pocket, which was full of candy wrappers and thought they couldn’t
find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I get locked up and I’m
so sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was already quite a bit sick
when I went to get copped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had still
had one pill still down in that pocket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I thought I would stick my hand in my pocket, pull the sweatshirt over
my head and pull the pill into my palm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I dropped it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It went clack,
clack, clack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was naked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guard said, “Are you serious, really?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked, “Can I do it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “No, put it in the trash.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guard said, “You a little old for this,
ain’t you?” I was about 46.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said, “Damn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s when I finally got the sense of time flying by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so dehydrated, diabetic and had high
blood pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The infirmary asked me who to contact,
because I was almost ready to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
lady started singing a song to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
black lady, she was so motherly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
so weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kept me awake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I felt hydrated, I started to think that
I could get out of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had other
occasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I was sick, this old man
on the street woke up and said to me, “What are you doing out here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t belong here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could have been talking to a mouse, but he
was talking to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went right back to
sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God will give you a lot of rope to go and do and see and
learn and he’ll drop parachutes and set up situations to attend, but you have
to go do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve had so many different
opportunities in my life that I walked past while I was doing what I was doing.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Was there any
particular event or revelation that pushed you to decide to quit drugs?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is hard to say that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were a bunch of different revelations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation with the drunk guy, going to
jail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It started to trickle down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to treatment and came out of that and
used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was what stopped me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went through the six months and thought I
was ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got my certificates and
I’m going to get a job and do right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
walked past a spot that had some good dope and I knew it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Physically, I was a clean slate, but my mind
was still dirty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t prepared my
mind enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought, so what, let me
go get this blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt like it
always did, but I didn’t like it anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was no clarity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
no point to doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why am I doing it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left it alone and started to find different
places to help me and I went to Baltimore Community Resource Center, the
Courage House is one of their houses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please describe the
effect of drug use on your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Include
how you believe your history has impacted your current status.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, um, the whole thing about using all that time, you are
not able to see the time passing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
are working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never really was out of
work, maybe about a month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t use the
money for anything but getting high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was an accumulation of time and money that disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever I accumulated at that time is gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 26 years, I have nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m 51 and I am now doing what I should have
done when I was 21.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m coming into my
talents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew when I was 21 that I was
a pretty good writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always talked
about maybe one day I was gonna write a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People on drugs always talk about what “I’m gonna do.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, you can’t you sittin’ here with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I look back, technology took us through
typewriters, word processors, huge oversized computers, then laptops that all
passed me by before I sat down to do what I said I was going to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That goes to say that you could be the
brightest, most intelligent person, but heroin pulls a veil over your
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t receive and you don’t
radiate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even at my worst addiction, I always felt like God was
knocking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Are you ready?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are ready
now, c’mon now.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
never…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was always very loving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I kinda reached these points, getting a little recognition from my
writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt very alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that I’m not alone, but it is hard
sometimes to remember that you have friends, that people are concerned about
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing about addicts, you always
feel like you have to get things done; that you have to make up that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most dangerous thing an addict can do is
dwell on the past, what I could have done, what I should have done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get overwhelmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That can send an addict back out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An addict is most excellent at saying, “Fuck
it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a lot easier to be
oblivious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like you don’t have
responsibilities, “Fuck it”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what
you say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To suddenly be clean and try to
live a productive life, you sometimes say, “Is this why I stopped getting
high?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You run around and nobody wants
to give you money (pointing fingers), “You’re a druggie.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s my fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, you were an addict.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I am an addict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re damn right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should have been taking care of this and
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because I am an addict, does
not mean I don’t recognize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your mind
says, “I did this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did this to
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone wants to buy me
lunch, “ I say, I did that.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please describe how
you pushed forward to recapture your life?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is dangerous to try to recapture your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You kinda have to start from where you
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to start almost as if you
are a child and you have to learn everything new as if it is new to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Addicts will say, “Fuck it.” Or “I
know”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a sign of an addict; that
they are on the way to relapse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
cannot live as a regular person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
cannot act as if you’ve done it before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your past has to stay back where it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything has to be face forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you think back, it is a trigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It puts you right back to where you were the last time you had a
blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to look forward.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What encouragement
can you share to help others dependent on drugs or recovering from dependency?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have to be careful with that too, because I don’t want to
come off like a NA guru (Narcotics Anonymous).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those type of people have a way of grabbing on to the NA program and
make it their life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are they going
to do when they have to step out and deal with people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will say, continue to pray and ask God to
help you with things you have difficulty with and to continue to move
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not lack of fear; it is
going on in spite of fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How did you meet our
friend Bob Jones?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did he do to help
you move toward your current success?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I met Bob at Healthcare for the Homeless at a writer’s group
that was established there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t so
much what he said, but his energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just watched him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was moving
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything was a grand sweeping
gesture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was inspiring because I
wanted to move, but not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked me
about my poems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave me a poem and
told me to write a similar poem without copying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was impressed by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t anything so much what he said, but how
he said it, his energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, wow, we
need to sit down and write a book”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was matter of fact, like we just wrote books all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was overwhelmed with his certainty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> H</span>ow can you be so certain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh don’t worry about that, let’s just do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what is going to happen and
how it will happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will do it and
then I’ll take a look at it in a year.”<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bob was like the energy and Neil was like the
direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Professor Neil Hertz of Johns
Hopkins and Bob Jones supervised the writing group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the time while I was trying to get
something done with the book, Neil Hertz was in Palestine, but he spoke to Clarinda
Harriss with Brickhouse Books at Towson University.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Professor Hertz sent her a manuscript and it
sat with her for a month or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got
back with him very energetically saying she wanted to do something with the
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book was published in January
2012.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Your book, Needs, is
based upon your experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did
those experiences shape the characters in the book?<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I ran across many people who actually are the characters in
the book. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister and
brother-in-law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brenda is an
amalgamation of a bunch of different women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Brenda is named after my oldest sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the dancer, pimps and drug dealers were all people I encountered in
the streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are all a little of
each.<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What are your goals
within the next five years?<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I want to become a drug counselor, an addiction
counselor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to have my hands in
the situation in order to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will
be hard to help if I was in an ivory tower type of situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not that I intend for one of my books
to be a best seller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost feel like
I’m being punished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot divorce
myself from the drug community, not if I intend to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I win the lottery, I’m out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That says something to me about God’s
will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am an addict, three years of
pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I won the lottery, I would
overdose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the thing about being
an addict, you want to do the drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
battle is not to do it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Part of what keeps people clean is the lack of resources to
do drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were rich, you would be
eccentric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were rich, the consequences
don’t come down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I popped up rich
right now, not having to worry about going to jail, being sick or what my
significant other thought, I would just buy a new girlfriend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of what it is about an addict is
whether or not you are socially acceptable, society’s perception.<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How do you feel?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Hopeful, determined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Really, just full of wonder because there is a lot that I didn’t notice
opening out around me right now. It’s weird and I know that striving to achieve
society’s perception of social acceptability is a short path to relapse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Black Organic supports Mr. Brown’s efforts to live well and
achieve his goals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Brown’s first
novella <a href="http://brickhousebooks.wordpress.com/2012/01/09/clarence-brown-needs/"><span style="color: blue;">Needs</span></a>
is on<a href="http://www.itascabooks.com/index.cfm?page=detail&isbn=978-1-935916-05-5"><span style="color: blue;">
sale</span></a> now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may also find Mr.
Brown in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOTb-jpPSMA"><span style="color: blue;">video</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book is an awesome read; shocking,
disturbing and heart rending.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Brown
takes you deep into the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, a “view from the gutter
looking up through the grates” <sub><span style="font-size: x-small;">- Mr. Brown</span></sub>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book is also a learning experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Readers will never look at the streets of
Baltimore the same way again.</span><br /></span><br /></div>
</span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-28299457068068119602012-05-06T19:01:00.000-04:002012-05-06T19:01:17.775-04:00Household and Personal Products – Hereby Warned!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqQIpGSH8TKvsI_lsAOZhLGYDBNLEOUL4DjefqlorTvxYTriUGb816hFNbKEDwuXcqkDekAaXMIQzA0bxv878lZ7Ot763R7msU_q8AKyZ5MN4olX_-ZbtU9LZ94DeCqWCTHyxMT1yBQI/s1600/Nail+Polish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqQIpGSH8TKvsI_lsAOZhLGYDBNLEOUL4DjefqlorTvxYTriUGb816hFNbKEDwuXcqkDekAaXMIQzA0bxv878lZ7Ot763R7msU_q8AKyZ5MN4olX_-ZbtU9LZ94DeCqWCTHyxMT1yBQI/s320/Nail+Polish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was a study titled </span><a href="http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1104052"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Endocrine Disruptors and Asthma-Associated
Chemicals in Consumer Products</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span>recently published by the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences that quantified chemicals in cosmetics; personal care items; and
cleaning products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The study analyzed
chemical classes and the uses of these chemicals in products including
preservatives, anti-microbial agents, additives, solvents, enhancers and
fragrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, industry groups
took issue with conclusions of the study, citing concerns that the public would
be alarmed unnecessarily by the presence of these chemicals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although studies have not absolutely linked
these chemicals directly to ill health effects, there is reason for a certain
amount of fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many homes have dangerous cleaning products, polishes and
outdoor products stored within the home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most people take care with the products that are labeled toxic, but many
products contain damaging chemicals that are not included on labels and thus
are dismissed as safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just love
sweet flowery scents and pretty colors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We use personal care and cleaning products on a daily basis without
considering the cumulative effects of chemical build-up in our dishes, clothes
and bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are what we eat, touch,
and inhale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything that enters our
bodies has an effect; beneficial or adverse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, we need to be more careful about the products around us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The risks of adverse effects from exposure is hard to guess
because products contain many ingredients that are known and unknown and the
variety of combinations is difficult to assess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Household products can impact the immune systems of children and the
elderly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The products can cause
behavioral and developmental problems as well as exacerbate health conditions
associated with illness such as asthma, allergies and cancers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we dispose of leftover products by
pouring down the drain; dumping in the street sewers; or putting out with trash,
we pollute our environment and affect not only humans, but the ecosystems of
plants and wildlife.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every year, a range of products are found to be so dangerous
that they are taken off the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Regulatory agencies carefully study products prior to making a decision
and the entire time products undergo such study, consumers use the hazardous
products without full understanding of the potential dangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We willingly consume unsafe manufactured
items because of the influence that industry and the media have on our society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must stop.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Precaution can be taken during use of certain products,
including implementation of safety equipment and proper ventilation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, for the majority of residential use
products, there are safer alternatives that are less expensive and more
environmentally friendly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black Organic
strongly recommends you use </span><a href="http://blackorganic.blogspot.com/2010/11/shrewd-shopping-list.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">them</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red;"><o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">publicdomainpictures.net</span></o:p></span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-17848406102739254482012-04-30T22:18:00.001-04:002012-04-30T22:18:19.219-04:00Seriously Ladies...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrQBAWuiQOgR3TwRMRO2G-lfIzBD9CS6vsW7Ki333Vitg8YpRtigG5PVUimIcTH8CqNaeOYHAc5ZceeipHc3PDt3mVzdZwv7nBL1TyD2EvhVwugbMhgKf1PM11FTYAh-v9sDlstPUehA/s1600/Seriously+Ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrQBAWuiQOgR3TwRMRO2G-lfIzBD9CS6vsW7Ki333Vitg8YpRtigG5PVUimIcTH8CqNaeOYHAc5ZceeipHc3PDt3mVzdZwv7nBL1TyD2EvhVwugbMhgKf1PM11FTYAh-v9sDlstPUehA/s320/Seriously+Ladies.jpg" width="208" /></a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Black hair is
a multi-million dollar industry thanks to some Black women. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, thanks to some Black women, the
return to the Black community is less than 1% of the industry and we have no
one to blame, but some Black women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Black women support Korean families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They use funds from Black families to send their kids to college; to
assist their relatives in coming to America; and to take over Black-owned
businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s some Black women’s
fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some Black women are so accepting
of the Eurocentric dynamic that some of them give extreme amounts of Black
wealth away to Asians to show off their low Afro-esteem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They swagger with the fakery, thinking they
are making themselves more acceptable to those who don’t give a rat’s behind
about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some Black women are more
comedic relief than anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many
times have you received those ‘Black Prom’ emails or the ‘Walmart Shopper’
pictures?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We laugh, shake our heads and
keep it movin’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no hatin’ on
the Koreans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have taken advantage
of the opportunity because we have allowed them and have shown support for
their business acumen.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We feed the
beast because we have not put a stop to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We complain so much about the loss of wealth, yet we are the ones
watching some Black women throwing money straight to the pockets of Hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell them to stop it! The Koreans dominate
the market and work tirelessly to push Black business out or keep Black
businesses from entering the market; fair business practices be damned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blame lies on the shoulders of those
Black women! You will not be scolded to stop supporting Korean hair
businesses; just know that your decision
has dire consequences for your sisters and brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of those consequences is the jobless rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you notice, Black folk don’t work in
Korean owned shops. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is ironic
that some Black women buy weaves and wigs that are made from every other ethic
type of hair but African.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They even
purchase animal hair, you know, the tail that gets shat upon on a regular
basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those weaves and wigs that some
think are cute are in fact, extremely dangerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wigs and weaves permanently affect the
hair follicles and the glues and other chemicals damage skin and internal
organs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have seen those Black women
with their hairlines back to their ears; the missing kitchen; the bald spots;
the tortured ends; and thinned out manes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The fact that these conditions were created by conscious decisions is
disturbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But seriously,
instead of putting those Black women down, let us uplift them and encourage
them to show off their natural beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tired
and lame excuses are no longer acceptable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lead by example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every single
day, I feel joy when I encounter a natural beauty. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Natural is a daily event because more career women
are going natural every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always make a point to compliment them on
their hair and I sincerely mean the tribute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love hearing about the stories of going natural and the search for the
right product to resolve the hair concern of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am simply satisfied with olive oil, shea
butter, and coconut oil or various combinations of two or three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I realize that Black owned businesses
are not the suppliers of the oils; however, I certainly see Black folks working
in the markets or grocery stores where the items are purchased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always purchase shea butter from a one who
looks like me… a natural wonder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Black Organic
will always support natural hair and the next generation in the Black Organic family will
never know the pain and poverty associated with the hair industrial
complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose pay nature forward. Go
natural for our mental, physical and financial health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go natural because it is the right thing to
do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">publicdomainpictures.net</span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-557467784924108342012-04-24T17:59:00.000-04:002012-04-24T17:59:18.738-04:00Good Looks – Green Beauty Trends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVGvJjDswleyj1tANPYFnp4eQYPKw7KZTHDiveoXeWB7WAhY_6WCDxxtia0DYhe9M3UuEvV983gBde64Z0xplNyj6m10GY6A_LCyPgwrySbADI9jAg-eOEjnagMqgQ1phnMcpzQa9Xs0/s1600/Good+Looks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVGvJjDswleyj1tANPYFnp4eQYPKw7KZTHDiveoXeWB7WAhY_6WCDxxtia0DYhe9M3UuEvV983gBde64Z0xplNyj6m10GY6A_LCyPgwrySbADI9jAg-eOEjnagMqgQ1phnMcpzQa9Xs0/s320/Good+Looks.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is an array of basic ingredients that you can create innovative beauty products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These ingredients are inexpensive and they work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No need to run to the store to purchase the latest costly skincare products that promise miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Natural products work just as well and you can take comfort in knowing the ingredients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few ideas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: currentColor; margin: auto auto auto 0.25in; mso-border-insideh: none; mso-border-insidev: none; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr style="height: 12.6pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 12.6pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #336600;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">THIS<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 12.6pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial Black","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Aharoni;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>4<o:p></o:p></u></span></span></b></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); height: 12.6pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #e36c0a; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">THAT</span><span style="color: #7030a0;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span style="color: #00b050; font-family: "CAC Champagne";"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></o:p></span></u></i></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paste of baking soda, salt and water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td rowspan="13" style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.5in;" valign="top" width="48"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u><span style="color: #00b050;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></o:p></span></u></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lip scrub<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baking soda, water and peroxide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tooth scrub and whitener<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coffee scrub made at home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Facial or body scrub<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apple cider vinegar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clarifying hair rinse<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Olive oil or coconut oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Facial moisturizer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shea butter mixed with coconut oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hand cream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shea butter mixed with coconut oil or plain olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hair lotion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coconut oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dandruff control<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shea butter mixed with coconut oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lip balm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hair frizz control<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Apple cider vinegar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acne control<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Baking soda, salt and water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mouthwash<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.7in;" valign="top" width="259"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cornstarch, baking soda, coconut oil<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 153pt;" valign="top" width="204"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deodorant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The recipes can be found </span><a href="http://blackorganic.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you can see, quite a few natural products have double duty utility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make either small quantities or just enough for one use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll save money and our environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-75755045808925389282012-04-15T16:59:00.000-04:002012-04-15T16:59:39.046-04:00Spotlight – Darien Essentials<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh2XcJLiTaRusJJOicvfiiEzQvc2TkMVTGbbVvbpnNpEDrgk-M-Cyq515zvqPszhndWP-Gb2a9C5ncgQOMaDM4m15HjSgla1ILpznMkwnsjXJj3F8QPd6OCSNQ8emyGAU58m8cgI31AY/s1600/Darien+Essentials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUh2XcJLiTaRusJJOicvfiiEzQvc2TkMVTGbbVvbpnNpEDrgk-M-Cyq515zvqPszhndWP-Gb2a9C5ncgQOMaDM4m15HjSgla1ILpznMkwnsjXJj3F8QPd6OCSNQ8emyGAU58m8cgI31AY/s320/Darien+Essentials.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Black Organic introduces </span></span><a href="http://bydarien.com/Home_Page_0GRZ.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Darien Essentials</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> of </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chesterfield, Virginia.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Ms. Ellice Darien is a beautiful woman who considers our environment in making glamorous products using high quality natural ingredients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her use of food grade ingredients demonstrates care for our health and our environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black Organic has used these products and attests to the pleasure of applying the warm colors with pleasing textures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greatest benefit was the absence of an allergic reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. Darien creates scented and unscented products suitable for users ranging from average Junes to Fabulous Fredas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Black Organic is a strong advocate of making products at home, some things are best left to the professionals … who make their stuff at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In support of small businesses that consider the environment in all aspects of creating and marketing products as well as recycling and reducing waste, Black Organic is pleased to share Darien Essentials.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Provide a brief description of Darien Essentials.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our business creates handcrafted spa and beauty products.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please tell us the story about the beginnings of your company and why you decided to focus on natural products. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can start with my father loving this book Back to Eden; me creating my potions as a teen for my friends’ acne, which by the way, some did work; me having a son, taking him to the library and seeing a book on soap-making; everyone loving my products; and watching a cosmetic company on television advertise four different complexions and thinking they are missing a whole lot of colors, let me learn this and customize foundation for my friends. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a nurse, I would go into stores and think we don't need all that junk in our products, so I would create a friendlier version.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that the skin is our largest organ and can absorb medications, so why would I need to absorb junk that we just didn't need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why should we purchase your products?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We strive to be as natural as we can and continue to keep finding ways to add products that are manufactured with the earth and the person in mind.</span><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please explain your statement, “being natural and being glamorous are not mutually exclusive”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our fans love that we customize their body butters and their makeup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all different and some have allergy conditions that might mean that traditional products can’t be used; however, they want to feel and look good, so we help them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When people think hand crafted they think hemp bag, craft paper, hippie which is cool, too; however, I see the glamour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think vibrant colors: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>lavender and roses, and I want them to understand you can look and feel great without going into toxic shock.</span><span style="color: #76923c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What are you doing around your home to reduce your family’s impact on the environment? <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first thing we did was get rid of any hair spray. I started creating our household cleaning products and even when we painted we used a low VOC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We go to our local growers for food and it is a growing journey for this family, especially with pre-teen and teens that think pizza is a vegetable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can you tell us some good news about Darien Essentials?<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are opening a shop and I will create from there, ship and retail.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Black Organic is grateful for your efforts to enhance beauty with consideration of our environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Picture credit: Darien Essentials</span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-66091997124399218392012-04-07T19:37:00.000-04:002012-04-07T19:37:29.660-04:00Baking Soda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sj8j-OPlzyOSxxOdjDhiJ7ROn3Vmgth_DYMQk2A-rmho3W70oyjUtxa8MGS8DIrNogdq4nt5SmXNPIR1ox-bBHEqEQlBDzYYUq4I6Fq7viPA-D8X3fcwYZ6U3OZhjBoino6LIaVyZgc/s1600/Baking+Soda.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sj8j-OPlzyOSxxOdjDhiJ7ROn3Vmgth_DYMQk2A-rmho3W70oyjUtxa8MGS8DIrNogdq4nt5SmXNPIR1ox-bBHEqEQlBDzYYUq4I6Fq7viPA-D8X3fcwYZ6U3OZhjBoino6LIaVyZgc/s320/Baking+Soda.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sodium hydrogen carbonate is the proper chemical name for sodium bicarbonate which we know as baking soda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a non-toxic chemical white powder compound. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baking soda is a versatile product that is inexpensive and effective for uses for the home and body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one product will cover personal care, cooking, cleaning and laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our home, we use it to clean all over the house and we use it for body products and first aid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are 20 of my favorite ways to incorporate baking soda into health, beauty and cleaning routines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baking soda can be used dry or as a paste by mixing with water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can also be used with other ingredients to create laundry detergent and deodorant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This versatile substance can be purchased by the 13 pound bag for a little over $5.00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The baking soda will keep for a long time if kept dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually pour some into a large glass canning jar and leave it next to the kitchen sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bag gets stored away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With multiple uses, we manage to go through about two or three bags a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s reject commercial chemical and petroleum based products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should be responsible for our own impact on Earth and help our communities send a message to industrial polluters:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We are not going to buy your garbage anymore!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Powder Power List:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gentle facial scrub<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clean stains from coffee mugs<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clean food and oils from stovetop<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Soothe insect bites<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sprinkle on floor around toilet (absorbs wayward sprays from little boys)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deodorize shoes<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deodorize trashcans<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clean tub and bathroom sink<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Add to warm water and soak feet<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Soak combs and brushes<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mouthwash<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deodorize sink drains<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clean burned cooking pots<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deodorize carpets<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clean and deodorize the refrigerator<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Extinguish fire<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sprinkle on dirty clothes awaiting laundry day<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Deodorize vacuum cleaner bag or canister<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ant deterrent<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clean stains in cooking pots and glassware<o:p></o:p></span>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-20631578263379471182012-01-02T11:57:00.000-05:002012-01-02T11:57:31.332-05:002012 – Look Forward<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGFF4T6dJLU8M5Hkd3yzhciRbE9KCR5NgQ53AOy2Lsoq4gUWmqvWtwkKI9tsykzQ3MZ7JFxFhIN7hNlgYjt_SIFzjLyrVNWb1lyM3HRKtPAA78VLM9iLQ14OQcpI91m8tz1PJf_a7hxg/s1600/Green+2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGFF4T6dJLU8M5Hkd3yzhciRbE9KCR5NgQ53AOy2Lsoq4gUWmqvWtwkKI9tsykzQ3MZ7JFxFhIN7hNlgYjt_SIFzjLyrVNWb1lyM3HRKtPAA78VLM9iLQ14OQcpI91m8tz1PJf_a7hxg/s320/Green+2012.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The start of the year signifies new beginnings, trends and solutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about starting this year on the good green foot?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Green Game Plan will help you sort out simple and easy ways to make a change to improve your home environment, health and vitality. </span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Review</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Think about some of your old habits and how you can change things for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask yourself a few questions:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I let the water run while brushing your teeth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I toss cans and bottles in the trash?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I use hairspray?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I use strong chemicals to clean the sink?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I buy something just because it’s trendy?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reassess</span></u></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Consider easy things you could do to change some of your old habits into green routines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of these things can help you save money, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Organize and reduce the chaos of clutter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start small with a small box of stuff at a time and move towards larger tasks as you realize success with small chores. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do</span></u></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Research alternatives to everyday household items and body products and use them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This blog is a start, so thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Set aside time to schedule your errands and map out your trip to save vehicle use and your precious time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Start recycling paper and work your way towards cans, bottles and other items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That stack of mail is begging to join the rest of the piles of advertisements and magazines on the trip to the recycling center.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Donate rarely worn clothes, shoes and household items; they are already not one of your favorites, so let them go.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Re-purpose some of the items in your home to create a new look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That old desk hidden in a back bedroom could make a great work space next to a window in the living room.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stay out of the middle of the grocery stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Increase your intake of fresh produce; healthy meats; and lower fat dairy items placed along the perimeter of the store. </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Go for a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t want to walk by yourself, grab a friend and go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Race to the local fitness center and try a new activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Karate is wonderful for stamina, flexibility and balance.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Take a nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rest is great for the body and soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tired person is more likely to make poor decisions at work and play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a half hour after work, lie down and close your eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to bed at a reasonable hour and wake up early enough to reduce the morning stress of getting out the door on time.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Resolve to commit to your own well-being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make a choice to move in positive direction and away from harmful decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strengthen your relationships with family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do something for yourself.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Live well; laugh a lot; and enjoy life in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: lime;">Happy New Year!</span></span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-29783085717779718202011-12-17T13:20:00.000-05:002011-12-17T13:20:37.010-05:00Soul Spice Tea<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fE6cx1o3jhzDBoFOPqeXYPJeQghk8MwAQo5pPvdOJUVNaqzP4k65cAriGLeY6E_rhguRTnofcDsm_xlShqoJAP1QV5GNcrSXcRUZQy5anvtNyIpyDjbCd3PZR5RQiAZSf_PRK-uDn_E/s1600/Tea+cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fE6cx1o3jhzDBoFOPqeXYPJeQghk8MwAQo5pPvdOJUVNaqzP4k65cAriGLeY6E_rhguRTnofcDsm_xlShqoJAP1QV5GNcrSXcRUZQy5anvtNyIpyDjbCd3PZR5RQiAZSf_PRK-uDn_E/s1600/Tea+cup.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few weeks ago, my sister felt under the weather with a sore throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shared a home remedy for a sore throat posted on the most popular social media site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The recipe follows:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar; a small pinch of cayenne pepper; 1/4 cup of lemon juice; and one teaspoon of honey in a cup of hot water. Drink the tea three times a day or until the infection clears up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I told my sister that I was miserable from allergies, she suggested the recipe and recommended I pick up a bottle of liquid cayenne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left work early and headed for the organic market on the way home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grabbed the cayenne and honey. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was exhausted from sneezing hard all day long; I had a headache; tears constantly welled in my eyes; and the skin around my eyes was red, swollen and dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked like a 3 am drunken mug shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My plan was to get home eat some serious carbs and jump under the covers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a draggin’ and moanin’ slug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was also dehydrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed fluids and my favorite drink is a monster sized mug of hot green tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of making the sore throat recipe, I just added the ingredients to my tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The recipe in a large mug:</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About 14 to 16 ounces hot water </span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 organic green tea bag</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon of orange blossom honey</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon of <span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon of lemon juice</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 to 4 drops of liquid cayenne pepper</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I admit that I was not scared to try the tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was desperate and hopeful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I drank the huge cup of tea, the itchy burning dry eyes stop bothering me within 15 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My eyes stopped watering and it was the first time I could see straight in the last four days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The aching at my left temple subsided and the pressure in my head was relieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I could breathe normal again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As things improved, I had to blow my nose a few times and I felt much better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sneezing was much less frequent and when I did, it was a normal run of the mill sneeze versus the loud and wrong kind of sneeze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sneezing helped get all the mucus out of my system, so I did not mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to keep tissues nearby to catch the unexpected drips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This recipe works!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next thing I knew, I felt a little pep in my step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started my wifely cleaning chores and never got around to eating the carbs that I wished I had in the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nap went by the wayside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt so much better.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The tea tastes good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could taste the lemon and a hint of the apple cider vinegar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The honey muted the citrus and spice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cayenne was not too spicy, but I did taste it a bit after I finished the tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tea was different; an enjoyable experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagined sitting in a room surrounded by deep red walls; large pillows; and silky vibrant fabrics blissed out listening to Jill Scott circa 2000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a cool neo soul child chillin’ by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This beverage is so much better than the chemicals on the pharmacy shelves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, each ingredient is celebrated for its functions to support health and vitality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cayenne pepper is important in circulatory system and heart health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Green tea is an antioxidant and aids immunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honey is an energy booster and has antimicrobial properties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>R<span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">aw unfiltered apple cider vinegar helps remove toxins from the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lemon juice resolves digestive problems and helps calm anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be drinking this tea on the regular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need to be ill to reap the benefits of Jill Scott’s vocal expressions and a little soul spice tea. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #fefdfa; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">publicdomainpictures.net</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-41274106652375899352011-11-01T20:35:00.002-04:002011-11-01T20:44:15.853-04:00For Want of Money or Need of What?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNOLWqtpgFOkCHpof-PfFgQNQ-D0AYhe6s7J69UMB2zqV5pyn4BeDyRCWQRmggvi8Pfc5TI-rnZ3Gy7puPcUZJEjoykMlg6RxJFdyMC4ivDKbbJImQskEZNS5XghgjVoIejx9N_m3S2E/s1600/Earth+Money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNOLWqtpgFOkCHpof-PfFgQNQ-D0AYhe6s7J69UMB2zqV5pyn4BeDyRCWQRmggvi8Pfc5TI-rnZ3Gy7puPcUZJEjoykMlg6RxJFdyMC4ivDKbbJImQskEZNS5XghgjVoIejx9N_m3S2E/s320/Earth+Money.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Occupy this and occupy that are all over the news. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Occupy Wall Street demonstrations protest economic inequality; corporate greed; and influence over government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all about who has it and who doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is interesting that some people are finally upset enough to protest the inequity of American democracy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that jobless and homeless do not commonly define people of color, suddenly these are major problems that need address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, but where were the protests over last hired, first fired; Diamonte can’t get an interview; wealth disparity; and sentencing unfairness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, so when the loss of lifestyle affects folks who have the fearless freedom to protest, it’s big news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are comforted in the privilege of knowing that an arrest would not crush their financial futures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the difference with the occupiers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are they too good to be poor; don’t deserve to be losers in the great society?</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many people of color do not define themselves by their pocketbook or social strata.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We recognize America’s monetary strategies and despite the constant economic beat down, we have survived and prospered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are stronger for overcoming economic challenges, whether we like it or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, there are many families of color in economic distress, but they make do under circumstances that are their norms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also many families of color who are more financially stable and who have obtained riches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fine, great, excellent; for all have survived American historic economic mistreatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that that the beneficiaries of American style privilege are finding themselves financially stressed, the war is on.</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The fight against the bad apples of the 1%ers is unseemly; the protesters want more money to come to themselves via debt forgiveness or closure of the income gap, as well as changes in government policies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money, money, money … now, we all know that these changes would not trickle toward folks of color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The occupiers are protesting about money, which has its own merits, but you can’t breathe stocks; you can’t eat coins; and you can’t drink dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they recognize that as long as a small group holds treasure and influence that our future is in their hands?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moneyed interests do what they want to do in order to make more money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People, animals, plants and our ecosystem are worth less than the almighty dollar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The protests should be less about getting money and more about what the chase for money does, not to the people who can afford to protest, but to everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our environment has suffered tremendously because of the pursuit wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is cheaper to pollute; less expensive to do things safely; and economical to leave a mess behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These things are done because of money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The protesters should be out there discussing tactics to improve the environment for everyone; clean, air, water and lands for all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d rather us be a poorer and healthier nation than a richer and sicker one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not about the money people; we need to get our priorities realigned with environmental justice far ahead of economic fair dealings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Otherwise, our offspring will not only be broke, but gasping for air, thirsty, hungry and soon enough, extinct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time to liberate Earth from the money chasers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is change we should all accept.</span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-15118237147351685482011-10-09T20:20:00.002-04:002011-10-10T10:46:00.687-04:00Disaster!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCj5JBDsG5_eIUKp3OBf8pI0eg7qgMjpsSYHtVSP0IdWJaiCHlCZE4kjHzCFb3PDARyOHOkYOBYz-TnvWapVwjAbTcJ51b3eko6FAwjoUAmjvaioUeECZrcdRfh_J_YM6uCz0hP5mFw8/s1600/UM+Water+St+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCj5JBDsG5_eIUKp3OBf8pI0eg7qgMjpsSYHtVSP0IdWJaiCHlCZE4kjHzCFb3PDARyOHOkYOBYz-TnvWapVwjAbTcJ51b3eko6FAwjoUAmjvaioUeECZrcdRfh_J_YM6uCz0hP5mFw8/s320/UM+Water+St+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A disaster is a damaging or destructive event that causes severe loss, damage, hardship or death and can result in serious economic cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many types of disasters and our reaction depends on the proximity to the center of the disaster and the disaster impact level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We often hear of the more common disasters such as fire, flood, thunderstorms, tornadoes and winter storms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some types of disasters are locality based such as landslides, earthquake, hurricanes, tsunamis and volcanoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other types are based on corporate and government decisions to locate certain dangerous facilities and transportation routes such as dam failure; chemical emergencies; hazardous material release; nuclear power plant emergency; or even terrorism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us are vulnerable to a potential disastrous event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the recent months, the east coast of America was hit by an earthquake followed by a hurricane and followed by a tropical storm within a short period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The southwest has suffered extreme heat and wildfires this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The early spring tornadoes rocked southern America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks were scared!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people raced out to the stores when the media announced that a weather storm or natural event was brewing and many of them were too late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The earthquake took out electricity in many communities and there was a run on batteries and flashlights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were rumors that the discount dollar stores were selling batteries for $2.00 each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Hurricane Irene arrived, supplies were already short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Communities were exponentially impacted by multiple natural events and were not prepared for the magnitude of damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buildings and roads were damaged from the earthquake and were not repaired in time for the hurricane and then the tropical storm took out already damaged roads and serviceable roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buildings were still wet from the hurricane and ended up flooded worse during the tropical storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some buildings were declared condemned as a result of the earthquake and rehabilitation work on others had to stop to clean up from the high waters.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Call it what you wish: nature’s payback; mystical transportation; the end of the world as we know it; or revenge of the boogeyman, they are all bad situations that will happen time and time again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks have been helped in the past, but the next time, help may not be there to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The financial disaster looms large over how we recover from environmental disasters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who wrought financial terror twisted the minds of the political representatives and they are pushing to exterminate funding for predicting weather and geological events; emergency aid; disaster relief; and recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are in the crosshairs of “limited government” advocates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These agencies monitor the environment; regulate activities that would adversely impact the ecosystem we inhabit; and provide funding for recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The anti-government zealots want the EPA, NOAA and FEMA to be abolished.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I expect these agencies would remain part of the government; however, I do not expect them to be funded at current levels or to function as currently intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last fiscal year, FEMA funds were moved around from tornado recovery to hurricane aid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We the people should not expect that we will hear the words, “…we are here to help” in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next time may come sooner than you think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask yourself, “Are you ready?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the answer is anything less than 100 percent, you must get yourself and your family in gear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must prepare to do without modern health and safety conditions as well as modern conveniences if disaster strikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be prepared to stay home or travel to a safer location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be prepared to eat safe foods and drink safe beverages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be prepared to have shelter and protection from temperature extremes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be prepared to protect yourself and your family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must be prepared for when your environment suddenly changes.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are ready to get started, Black Organic ‘is here to help’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black Organic created a comprehensive <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Survival and Subsistence List</b> that includes items you must have ready and a few tips for surviving and sustaining your life through short and long term emergency situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list covers water; food; food utensils; shelter; tools; supplies; clothing; health and hygiene; entertainment; documents; trade goods/bartering; storage containers; boogie out bags; vehicle preparation; and packing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is a sample from the list:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Layer clothing for comfort and temperature control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When in the woods or meadows, tuck long sleeve shirts into waist and pants into socks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrap duct tape at ankles, waist and wrist to prevent ticks on skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carry clear tape to stick/pull tiny insects off clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">bandanas </span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #d4d0c8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">hat – wool/wide brim</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #d4d0c8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">shirts – long/short sleeves</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #d4d0c8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: windowtext 1pt solid; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">underwear</span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #d4d0c8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">belts</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #d4d0c8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #d4d0c8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">helmet- head gear</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #d4d0c8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #d4d0c8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">shoes – sport style</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #d4d0c8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #d4d0c8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">warmers – hand/foot packs</span></span></div></td></tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: windowtext 1pt solid; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #d4d0c8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">boots – hiking - waterproof</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #d4d0c8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #d4d0c8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">laces- shoe/boot</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #d4d0c8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #d4d0c8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">socks – wool</span></span></div></td><td style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: windowtext 1pt solid; border-left: #d4d0c8; border-right: windowtext 1pt solid; border-top: #d4d0c8; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-top: 0in; width: 137.7pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #984807; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #984807; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">windbreaker</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The list is the most comprehensive listing for survival and sustenance and can be yours for FREE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please send an e-mail request to:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:black.organic@yahoo.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">black.organic@yahoo.com</span></a>. <span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri;">Your request will not be used to collect e-mail addresses. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The list is meant as a guide to help you obtain some of the items you most likely may need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may not need everything on the list or you may wish to substitute certain items based on your choice, concerns or comfort level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the items you may already have in your home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is recommended that you gather the materials you have and keep them in a place where you can grab them and leave if conditions warrant.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please share this information with friends and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have any feedback for Black Organic, please send along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The list will be updated as more information is obtained or clarification is needed, so please have your friends and family send an e-mail request for the latest version.</span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-107863160982622022011-08-11T17:37:00.000-04:002011-08-11T17:37:08.735-04:00Good Hair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGVk2f9uNFxVT-vBZELOgiMByTe_NWBqVYh-yW0fD-MQfOSE00HtAWN_1fUqGU1DvXBKC8PKpL95yTJ5ZTzhAo_nDJ_0OQkEpPfDAbJWpNGkdyU_ycRHDWaVQQocM3VioBdYe9TK4eAc/s1600/Hair+Question.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGVk2f9uNFxVT-vBZELOgiMByTe_NWBqVYh-yW0fD-MQfOSE00HtAWN_1fUqGU1DvXBKC8PKpL95yTJ5ZTzhAo_nDJ_0OQkEpPfDAbJWpNGkdyU_ycRHDWaVQQocM3VioBdYe9TK4eAc/s200/Hair+Question.png" width="176" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Good hair!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hair you were born with is good hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not about hair color, texture or length.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only good hair is natural hair; not chemically altered or intertwined with some other form of hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In using the term good hair, we express our belief that natural is inferior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nature is not substandard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If unnatural was so good, why is it that man cannot replicate anything in nature?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man has tried, but cannot recreate, mimic or build anything better than what is natural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask any scientist, engineer, chemist or doctor, “Can your constructed wetland function better than a natural one; can the arm you design work better than a human arm; can the drug you make work better than the plant; can the skin you alter work better than the original…. any of these without causing harm? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Natural hair is not a statement or rejection of the conventional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is real honest to goodness nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Embrace and celebrate your essence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been indoctrinated to believe that straight, long, and vibrant colored hair is the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your best friend didn’t tell you that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Corporate media did and they want to make you spend money on their products so you can be the best you can be so they can be the richest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We buy into this foolishness to the detriment of our self- esteem, health and finances. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Natural heads are the new corporate target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are conventions showcasing all kinds of creams and oils; shelves full of stuff to make your natural hair curlier or shinier; and take look at the magazine ads, whew!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop it already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My head is not meant for you to make money, nor is it meant for you to claim value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing on the shelf is going to make me scream off the mountain top that I have found the best, most expensive elixir to turn my hair into gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I refuse to buy a fancy looking bottle of some concoction when I can use the same olive oil and coconut oil that I use to cook or the same shea butter that I slather on my skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any of those ingredients alone or mix and match are used to moisturize my hair and skin; made at home and the do is done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We still embrace natural as scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are scared to do the big chop; go through transition; or fear what to do once natural is done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are plenty of resources for natural hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we learn anything, the most important is that we should ensure that our children know nothing other than natural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our children should know that we are no more presentable with hair opposite of our natural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us have straight hair and want it curly; curly wishing straight; and wavy wishing straight or curly; and some of us even have straighter hair in the front and curlier in the back and wish for the same consistency all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even fuss over hair length … which is so ridiculous I’m not going to waste brain cells on the thought.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One question in the media sphere is whether flat ironing; blow drying; or braiding is considered natural.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the strict sense, no; however, temporarily diversifying your look in a way that causes little to no harm is akin to animals temporarily changing coloring; fluffing feathers; or moving in ways to attract mates or ward off enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These temporary acts to enhance do not disrespect nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is simply no benefit to arguing the point of one being more natural than another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you think you are the most natural, go take a look at pictures of people who live in Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and those who inhabit the rain forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Say what now?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Others may be scared of or upset about our natural manes and they should be ashamed of themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Older folks may proclaim that it looks a mess; it’s nappy; you can’t get a job; blah, blah, blah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guys may complain that they cannot run their fingers through it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure they can…. gently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can playfully tug on a ringlet and watch it bounce back; tuck a few strands behind your bejeweled ear; pat a few stray curls into place; and smell the arousing scent of your wonderful locks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as you are confident and express pride in your natural do, others will feel the vibe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stand up for yourself and call out the ill-informed folk for being ‘nattering nabobs of nat-happy negativity’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is all about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our hair is not a joke; an agenda; cultural statement; or political talking point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what it is… good hair. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love it or shut it!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please see my other hair posts: </span><a href="http://blackorganic.blogspot.com/2011/07/dont-touchmy-hair.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://blackorganic.blogspot.com/2011/07/dont-touchmy-hair.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span><a href="http://blackorganic.blogspot.com/2010/10/naturalistas.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://blackorganic.blogspot.com/2010/10/naturalistas.html</span></a></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-30818692609969386842011-08-08T12:28:00.000-04:002011-08-08T12:28:03.464-04:00Prosperous US<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEfD9IiZ7HsmhxwgI0ELU9moeOEuZPlhAphXnhucRdV-1vPvWsghnsYRuO4fljjcvKZaCjzMxymf3roZ6sZN57t5Fta4CehM86ANwl0dLZa7HIw6sh7E67NvFTZTImDasxaw4FWoC8zc/s1600/Coins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEfD9IiZ7HsmhxwgI0ELU9moeOEuZPlhAphXnhucRdV-1vPvWsghnsYRuO4fljjcvKZaCjzMxymf3roZ6sZN57t5Fta4CehM86ANwl0dLZa7HIw6sh7E67NvFTZTImDasxaw4FWoC8zc/s320/Coins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Congress is cutting and slashing the budget and trashing the economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Austerity has finally made its way to America and those of us of in the middle and lower economic classes will bear the brunt of the financial mess caused by American political and business kingpins whom I will not refer to as leaders because they have not earned the title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaders lead with positive values that influence followers in a constructive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m all for reducing debt and reducing waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My concern; however, is the method of the madness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family income, as well as many others, has been adversely impacted by the changes over these past few years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have hope and I will make a change. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I want us to be a prosperous us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can change our habits and improve our health outlook as well as financial future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little adjustments in our day to day lives can make a big difference in how we handle cutbacks in services, income, and opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, we should start with a change in attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life does not suck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think positive, things will get better and it is up to us to make it so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody can make you feel bad, unless you let them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rise up, for we have overcome a heck of a lot more than temporary hardship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t believe me, pull out a picture of your Great Grandparent and think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, we should get enough sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proper rest helps you do what you need to do and to do it well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no reason to stay up late and watch the television; surf the web; play games or party all night long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sleep can help you lose weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it’s true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are tired, we eat more carbohydrates and sugars to help us stay awake and we tend to quickly binge eat in hopes of reducing the headache we believe to be the result of not eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change your bedtime so that you get a minimum of 7 hours of nighttime sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Third, eat small healthy balanced meals and snacks spread throughout the day and drink plenty of fluids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our bodies react to our intake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eat poorly and feel bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Huge meals make you sluggish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sugar rushes trigger sudden drops in brain and organ function.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Constant negative pressures on the organs and brain caused by poor eating habits will cause weight gain and ill health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Improving poor health costs extreme amounts of money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are killing ourselves with a knife and fork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Proper nutrition leads to better brain and body functioning at optimal levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can save time and money by reducing your food intake and consuming life sustaining foods and fluids. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fourth, we should take action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get up and exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking and running is free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Climbing stairs is free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dancing is free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are less mobile, move the body parts that you can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wiggle in your chair; bop your head; and wave your arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just move!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being fit enables you to do more and be more productive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day, you may have to run for your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will be unable to do so if you are out of shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fitness will allow you to be prepared to take advantage of opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fifth, do it yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t know how, learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about the things you have someone do for you on a regular basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Body and hair treatments are expensive; make them a treat instead of a routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maintain your own lawn and wash your own dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commercial treatments often contain chemicals that harm our environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Products for personal or residential use are much more eco-friendly than commercial applications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creations you make at home are even ecologically healthier than their market counterparts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do what you can within your abilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying to do expert work may lead to greater costs if the expert has to come in and repair your damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to keep things maintained and in good working order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make do with what you have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no need to go out and buy the latest greatest gadget or vehicle when the one you have works just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last, take responsibility for your financial well-being. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For every dime spent today, there will be less dimes for tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reduce restaurant and entertainment costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do not need it, don’t buy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you need it, buy the less expensive alternative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can buy the ingredients to make a product, you will save a boatload of dimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few basic items that you can mix to make a product will create more of that product than the pre-packaged item.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change your mindset towards what costs money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaving the lights on; washing clothes during peak electric use hours; unmaintained machines using more energy to operate; and leaving the water running costs money. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few small changes will lead to greater changes and soon enough change becomes easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, you’ll have a lot of spare change.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We cannot become a prosperous people unless we take it upon ourselves to do it and share the news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk to your family, friends and community leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Encourage modification in our individual and collective behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody will do it for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The financial elites are doing their best to put us further in the red and they don’t care as long as they can take the fruits of their policies for themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t enable them!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Okay, I’m jumping off the soapbox now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do your thing and do it well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Green… peace to you all.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #fefdfa; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">publicdomainpictures.net</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-56120576086914271512011-08-01T17:01:00.000-04:002011-08-01T17:01:37.904-04:00Summer Fruit Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2TApe7CMUTB6n7U2JQOrBNT5X-x7AnBSPYVHwqZMVWhh-F2XU9IOSClXGfKfmNh3Cs3zV0mTVP-oSHbR9clS8c4cR1UqyR3oWWmXWOdpZDKcjd1bQxsYrdvHT9yM3rRj2TWB5hJHEAk/s1600/Fruit+Water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2TApe7CMUTB6n7U2JQOrBNT5X-x7AnBSPYVHwqZMVWhh-F2XU9IOSClXGfKfmNh3Cs3zV0mTVP-oSHbR9clS8c4cR1UqyR3oWWmXWOdpZDKcjd1bQxsYrdvHT9yM3rRj2TWB5hJHEAk/s320/Fruit+Water.jpg" t$="true" width="255" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sun beams burst through the kitchen window early Sunday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone is asleep, except for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Precious quiet time sorely needed after a Saturday full of activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have at least an hour to myself before being interrupted by shuffling little feet; demands for pre-breakfast snack; or the sounds of a television. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to spend that hour sitting in the kitchen looking at the flowering tree just outside the window. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s early and I’m hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hubby is not due to start breakfast for at least an hour or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the time when I can eat or drink what I want, without having to worry about making something for someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday morning is my selfish hour because the other waking 126 hours of the week are devoted to my husband and kids; work; or household chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I rumble through the refrigerator and I consider the cream for the coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not ready for coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bright red strawberries catch my eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grab a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The giant grapefruits in the bowl are a bit much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm, the banana will work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I eat a quick fruit snack while reading the morning news and staring out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want something cool to drink.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I like drinking water and I love eating fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s summer time and it just seems so cool to be drinking a tall glass of something other than water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tea is good, soda is bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the week, I add a little cider to my water and head to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the weekends, I desire a little more twist to go with my morning chill time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a lot of bananas, apples, strawberries, grapefruits and lemons in the house and I’m not sure we can eat it all before they get too ripe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw a recipe once… and made my drink at home.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Summer Fruit Water:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fill glass pitcher ½ full of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add 1 sliced lemon; 1 peeled and sliced apple; and 5 strawberries with the leaves removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fill the remainder of the pitcher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chill for a few hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you serve the water, refill the container for up to 24 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s even better the second day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that time, finish up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any citrus fruit, berries, and dense fruit can be used for fruit water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also add mint leaves for an extra thrill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not take long before the fruit essence leaches into the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A tasty healthy beverage doesn’t have to be fancy or require a lot of effort to create.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A simple summer recipe made with ingredients you have at home is a chic natural way to go for your next party or cookout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give it a fancy name and raise a glass to celebrate.</span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-44325024435794615072011-07-29T19:36:00.000-04:002011-07-29T19:36:46.754-04:00Drink Up!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFvhZnauDxJFxmR5neMO99vxzcV9bprnQgPdyqMY6qdcuYpm4AB7ZBJHpuRkLzEd1RCTb6_XJbL-x-X_yYvjj6BrGNXMYoGqHZqm8ksxdAcobpC7CtmegM_WNGVmI5eIesE-D7lnUrnA/s1600/Water+Glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFvhZnauDxJFxmR5neMO99vxzcV9bprnQgPdyqMY6qdcuYpm4AB7ZBJHpuRkLzEd1RCTb6_XJbL-x-X_yYvjj6BrGNXMYoGqHZqm8ksxdAcobpC7CtmegM_WNGVmI5eIesE-D7lnUrnA/s320/Water+Glass.jpg" t$="true" width="214" /></a></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Soda sucks; sucks the life out of you; makes you suck ‘cause it destroys your teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soda is the root cause of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart ailments and sleep disorders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people drink soda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s sweet; it quenches thirst; boosts alertness; and it’s cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soda contains carbonated water; citric acid; sugars; high fructose corn syrup; caffeine; coloring agents; starch; and preservatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Americans consume more soda annually than any other Country members at a cost of over $70 billion per year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soda has no nutritional value whatsoever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soda is good for cleaning toilets and car batteries; killing garden pests; removing grease stains; and loosening rusty nuts/bolts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all consume things that aren’t so good for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us do so every now and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some who believe that they cannot get through the day without one, two, four or five sodas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some drink a 2-liter bottle during the workday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Back away from the bottle.”</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s time for a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hot outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to hydrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water makes up a large percentage of our body weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water is boring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eeaarrgh, stop the car!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Water is boring,” says our daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not have to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made her a glass with a bit of lemon juice and tiny bit of stevia. “Um, this is good.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has not asked for it since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good girl, water is her friend again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drink a lot of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’m not super thirsty or working out, I usually want something other than water to sip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every morning before I go to work, I make two 14 ounce cups of hot green tea with organic blue agave syrup and one 16 ounce cup of water with apple cider vinegar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sip on these drinks throughout the day instead of taking trips to the coffee shop or soda machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so used to drinking water, that juice seems too thick to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been diluting juice for years, mostly because I’m cheap, but also because I can’t handle the sweetness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I doctor up water to give it a bit of punch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few recipes:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;"></span></b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lemon-Lite</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fill a glass with water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add one tablespoon of lemon juice; one tablespoon of blue agave syrup; half tablespoon organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Alternative Water</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Fill a glass with water. Pour in about a tablespoon of organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Stir.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">Boosted Juice</span></span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fill a glass 2/3 with your favorite 100% fruit juice. Fill remainder with water. </span><span style="color: black;">Add about a tablespoon of organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Stir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Green Tea</span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pour a tablespoon of organic blue agave syrup and drop an organic green tea bag into a heat tolerant cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add hot water and stir.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These drinks are refreshing and healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may take a bit of time for you to get used to the cheery flavor, but all it means is that you drink too much sugar. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, but what about the fruit water drinks on the shelves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read the bottle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drinks contain no fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Huh?” (…with furrowed brows and turned up lip).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Save your money.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s time to wean from the sodas and it won’t take 12 steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy your health, vitality and a great smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #fefdfa; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #fefdfa; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">publicdomainpictures.net</span></div></span>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-42719502223974069042011-07-26T20:35:00.000-04:002011-07-26T20:35:47.944-04:00Don’t Touch…My Hair!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f4I_JX9DrQ62rcnC4QWNB693YKJDhNQ_I_J-cjXdsKdiheEHi7xAZHXjBey_sxiDrg3vuFacXYx3IESvUelc_t4a3YIID9LE2f0ADRA4KrH1jNQVgcgjNrLfoMZdvyr3ivpKCjjTyOA/s1600/My+Hair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5f4I_JX9DrQ62rcnC4QWNB693YKJDhNQ_I_J-cjXdsKdiheEHi7xAZHXjBey_sxiDrg3vuFacXYx3IESvUelc_t4a3YIID9LE2f0ADRA4KrH1jNQVgcgjNrLfoMZdvyr3ivpKCjjTyOA/s320/My+Hair.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Say that ten times; each command with a different sound, accent, attitude, eye roll or head tilt. Natural Black hair is back in the news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/07/25/touching.natural.black.hair/index.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CNN</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> published an article about touching our hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, my here we go again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The debate rages on; extremes on both ends, ranging from the early disgusting years of America to letting folks enjoy a cultural experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The article was distressing and many of the comments on the article were unfortunate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been natural for 10 years and … so what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not all that in to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since going natural, I’ve done the wash and go to flat iron straight to some weirdness in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve received compliments and, “Do somethin’ with yo hair.” comments from my husband and sister. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My twin sister rocks all sorts of natural do’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s a bit more daring than I and I think she has cooler hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>My hair sometimes speaks volumes about how I feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the last two years, it was sad ‘cause I was stressed over a racial issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s resolved and I feel free from the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally listened to my sister and another natural mom that I had a conversation with this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Karate class, I raced home and washed my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent about an hour twisting and super moisturizing with a coconut oil and African shea butter blend. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wore the twists to work the last two days wearing a half bandana scarf thing ‘cause my parts were all messed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister told me she just grabs hair and twists, no parts - duly noted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not done the twists in years because I didn’t want to deal with the tangles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>While driving home from work today, I untwisted my hair and didn’t give two honks about who watched the curls unfurl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I got home, I studied it and ended up putting a leather butterfly hair clip at the top to keep it out my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking forward to tomorrow with my bouncin’ and misbehavin’ tresses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If my friends want to touch it, I won’t mind if they don’t mind, super moisturized fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anybody else want to touch?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, let’s just say, I’m the boss of my space and if I’m not feelin’ it, you ain’t either. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-41379129679899262702011-07-24T14:37:00.000-04:002011-07-24T14:37:19.655-04:00It's Hot!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFjOwJw1dnloLdSH-gyaja6oBwFnIulL1PC3OSxlfYsN2OqCcNkJLY_4xSywxVUAGpHIRYSwO6ropauq8T2G7PhFV7cyNwToMSvWN9uat5BL-DlX4vroVzhNSrtIA19DKcuLz87r67yI/s1600/Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFjOwJw1dnloLdSH-gyaja6oBwFnIulL1PC3OSxlfYsN2OqCcNkJLY_4xSywxVUAGpHIRYSwO6ropauq8T2G7PhFV7cyNwToMSvWN9uat5BL-DlX4vroVzhNSrtIA19DKcuLz87r67yI/s320/Hot.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The heat is on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The news describes a heat dome over the eastern portions of the U.S.!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heat index over 110 in our Nation’s capital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are contests for naming the heat wave; open the door and hit a wall of heat; sweatin’ like pigs; stanky folks wandering around; and everybody complaining about everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did the temperature get turned up to Hell?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mother Nature’s payback?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>July is hotter than July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is too late to change but, we can manage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a society, we need to do so many things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as individuals and families, we can do some things to make a difference for ourselves and the environment right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The economy and the environment are inextricably linked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more damage to the environment, the hotter and polluted it becomes, and the more money comes out of our pockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Open your car window on a highway drive and feel the wonderful – cough – outdoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dang, it’s hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat off the pavement; the heat from the other vehicles; and the hot sun beaming down on treeless areas – hot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You turn up the AC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cha-ching!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You stop at the gas station on the way home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gas expands in heat; less liquid for the vehicle - expanded gas costs money, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cha-ching!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get home and crank up the AC; turn on the lights; turn on the dishwasher; do some laundry; prepare dinner; and then some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cha-ching!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Electricity cost more during peak hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More showers; hair a mess, off to the salon; need more to drink – water, juice, tea, cocktail – cha-ching!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pockets picked by the heat miser.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, what is a sweaty one to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a car trip is not urgent or work related, stay home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Close all curtains and blinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn the temperature up in your home and drop some clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s cool enough for you to wear sweats or jeans at home, you are wasting money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use fans to supplement the AC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do your chores in the evening during off peak hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gas up your car in the early morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever you can do, try to reduce your energy use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all taxing the grid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d rather let those who need the energy use it… and save myself a little cha-ching. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be safe out there, ya hear!</span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-23836977058513609342011-07-07T17:34:00.000-04:002011-07-07T17:34:14.992-04:00I Did It!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFdPeKWP-6ha8hkv1ezfRJuXzNHFO_hRcA2ivSKxkmhRtLJNyhODib4xVyp1c-rcOgz4rdXSz9BRjPSWPJF6j6lcz0DR4cZcUHhs-wBSyaACsVztj-d42LExLhWMKMEFoakoWdZHb9JE/s1600/African+Lady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFdPeKWP-6ha8hkv1ezfRJuXzNHFO_hRcA2ivSKxkmhRtLJNyhODib4xVyp1c-rcOgz4rdXSz9BRjPSWPJF6j6lcz0DR4cZcUHhs-wBSyaACsVztj-d42LExLhWMKMEFoakoWdZHb9JE/s200/African+Lady.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I tossed out all of my make-up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not worn cosmetics in a long time, but had been holding on to it, just in case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not decide to go bare, it just happened over the last few years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it’s not lazy face; I was never in to full facial coverings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally, my face tints were limited in application to my eyes and lips using browns, rusts and a little shine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never found a lipstick that did not taste weird and lip glosses felt like candy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not against cosmetics, but I have grown concerned over ingredients and cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has always been interesting to me how some of us define ourselves by the way we present a colorful picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wear bright hues on our faces and color our hair in funky shades of yellows, reds and sometimes blues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colors are a lot of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Color is beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shades enhance and shades can hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nevermind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I like the way I look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My natural hair is brown with a few curly strands welcoming me to my age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My eyes are a mix of browns, greens, yellows and grays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My skin gets better every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years ago, when I was on vacation with my best friend, we met a local guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said my friend looked exotic and I looked natural. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend Dian was an Indonesian beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wore a little bit of eye make-up, but had the most fun with fingernails painted in crazy colors; all at once, each finger different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had the wash-and-go look with a little bit of make-up and too much sun.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: top;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of these days, I’ll purchase make-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I researched organic, but I just don’t feel like buying mascara for 80 dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many companies that claim natural or organic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The current labeling system has lax requirements, so most of them contain one natural ingredient and a host of harmful chemicals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I cannot make this stuff at home, I’ll search for the ‘most organic’ and limit use to special occasions and when I ‘just feel like it’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now, I will try my best to stay out of the cosmetic aisle, until I get to the organic market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store, but if the price is outrageous, I’ll keep my hands in my pockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime, I’ll stick to my routine using an eq</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">ual mix of coconut oil and shea butter to replace the lotion, hair sheen and lip balm. </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m happy being natural me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you see is what you get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I get is confidence with my carefree self.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If your workplace demands a certain face, start a new trend to minimalism; it’s always cool to be the first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the next few weeks, try eliminating a few items from your cosmetic case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blush is so fake on brown folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are not fooling a soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Synthetic eyelashes, girl please, only for photo shoots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Powders:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ugh, can’t breathe,”…and they don’t match our diverse shades of beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spider leg lashes with crusty black lumps on the ends are nasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a thin line between love and hate; go light on the eye liner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I see another chocolate woman with chunks of bright orange sparkly shadow, ‘I’ma’ scream!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you think your friends or family will not recognize you without decoration, you done yourself wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you going to do first thing in the morning when your partner wants to watch you open your eyes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Treat your pure aesthetic with respect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colors running together on your face and smudges on your shoulders are not good looks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go natural, less mess.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Warm colors and less is more plays well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use your clothes and jewelry to bring out the new you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try a few days without make-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might like it and you’ll even save a few bucks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next time you put on your face, do so with style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t cover girl, just play up your beautiful brown eyes, luscious lips and smooth silky skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You look good, girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let it glow, let it glow!</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="color: red; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #fefdfa; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">publicdomainpictures.net</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-69144672646380018462011-07-04T15:16:00.001-04:002011-07-04T15:18:09.289-04:00Summer Stings!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpee2OD4BSzeK7faMK-jY1ZyVt1Q_VN6KFwK6zyLPNvwZwAwMtE2cjP48F9o6ZBhBATiaqdNfFq52RFTA2bIx_HPlOf-PE_40YJri9M292uSAYstkgreVpI4SrC1z1ZvvHz5TYRY5xXs/s1600/wasp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpee2OD4BSzeK7faMK-jY1ZyVt1Q_VN6KFwK6zyLPNvwZwAwMtE2cjP48F9o6ZBhBATiaqdNfFq52RFTA2bIx_HPlOf-PE_40YJri9M292uSAYstkgreVpI4SrC1z1ZvvHz5TYRY5xXs/s320/wasp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We got our first wasp sting of the summer this morning. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were at the park and our son ran, fell, got up and cried screaming, “I got stinged”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His skin welted and turned red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little trooper cried a bit more and then went back to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I monitored the bite site and his well-being over the next half hour; all good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our daughter could have been a different story. If you or your child is allergic to insect bites/stings, seek immediate medical attention.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">When we got home, I dabbed a paste of baking soda and </span>organic raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar with the ‘mother’ <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">on the bite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The swelling and redness soon subsided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He complained about the smell for a minute and off he ran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I watched the kids play in the yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we were done, I had several insect bites on my arms and legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, they itched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dabbed on the apple cider vinegar and the itching ceased immediately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t anxious for the occasion to test out these remedies, but hey, they work.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #fefdfa; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">publicdomainpictures.net</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-24682778391023488772011-06-16T14:58:00.000-04:002011-06-16T14:58:43.564-04:00Snip Deals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5bjmINJ-zrcIagX0UZR_Z9hd7N6cOEKgTspeTnHYm0SDfEF1EdAaI12DHi6-gqUMWHl2NHKl19jBbFF2yMohtNJd03kR3VV28sT1O3pqfNVl07NII6SjVRyMZpvmdkjazj9HtZ7X5V8/s1600/Extreme+Coupon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5bjmINJ-zrcIagX0UZR_Z9hd7N6cOEKgTspeTnHYm0SDfEF1EdAaI12DHi6-gqUMWHl2NHKl19jBbFF2yMohtNJd03kR3VV28sT1O3pqfNVl07NII6SjVRyMZpvmdkjazj9HtZ7X5V8/s320/Extreme+Coupon.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: top;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I heard about The Learning Channel program Extreme Couponing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While flipping channels last night, I caught the show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was glad to see the couple who worked so hard to make almost a thousand dollar purchase for zero dollars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave it all to charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next show made me frown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A woman spent many hours and a huge effort to prepare to go to the grocery store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got all diva’d up and dragged her husband with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pushed her husband to empty the shelf of mustard; more than 50 bottles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then exclaimed, “I don’t even like mustard.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had to leave to go to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she put on more make-up and continued to shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 2 hours of checking out with the cashier manually entering the coupons: bill $1,902.63; cost $103.72.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took it all to their home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next family had a house full of over 6,000 items stuffed under beds; in playrooms; bedrooms; special shelves and then some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She called her kids a litter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family went shopping for carts full of processed foods and paper goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next featured family spent 7 hours in the store, even though they had over twenty thousand dollars value of stockpile at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This family created eight transactions in order to purchase over three thousand dollars in items; all to be donated to charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My frowned turned upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: top;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lots of stuff for free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the land of the free, we are not really free; free has consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hobbies turned into obsessions resulting in child labor and hoarding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making kids cut coupons and push carts to shop for 130 boxes of couscous, which no one in the family had ever eaten:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can these families use all of the things they obtain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t understand this lifestyle, but it is interesting… for about 60 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: top;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I support the use of coupons for items that are necessary for our health and vitality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many healthy foods that come in cans or bags and many body and cleaning products that are packaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything in extreme excess is far removed from ordinary and far removed from being environmentally sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that American commercialism and consumerism provides the opportunity and basis for the television program is disturbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in saving money, but there are ways to save money and being less wasteful of natural resources.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot visualize the amount of trees destroyed and chemicals used to create the newspapers and advertisements from which the coupons were cut; the packages holding the items; the bags that carry the items; and the gas used to lug the weight of the purchases home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can imagine my household environmental and monetary savings since we do not buy huge amounts of bottled drinks; boxed sweets; candy; cleaning products; or personal care products like the families featured on the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: top;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fresh fruits and vegetables don’t come in a box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Products can be purchased for their intended uses that can be mixed to create multiple uses such as baking soda; olive and coconut oils; salt; and vinegar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water from the tap is really inexpensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out some </span><a href="http://blackorganic.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">recipes</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and discover how much you can save.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We try not to spend too much and we stopped stockpiling items some time ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many families who are much more conservative than us and we always try to reduce our footprints on this earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel good about our progress over the last few years and recognize we can still do more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have fun trying to find environmentally sound practices and products for our future dream green home….only in our dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dreams do come true; right?</span></div><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #fefdfa; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">publicdomainpictures.net</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div></span>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-26475355953403721612011-06-05T20:43:00.000-04:002011-06-05T20:43:01.157-04:00Sunday Morning Scrub<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0cG4jjIHXh9zSPWBihYK5FqW0XZvW0WjD_m_2_OlGne5Ql5mC0aAcQtFS_qwP3c_zcjs5WQA6ATSSs0V9MqmDFOApeqPaGA1YKd7Bl07JELqABteqa_lbwfmrgu9vZfb0xZHiY7gI84/s1600/Sunday+Scrub.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0cG4jjIHXh9zSPWBihYK5FqW0XZvW0WjD_m_2_OlGne5Ql5mC0aAcQtFS_qwP3c_zcjs5WQA6ATSSs0V9MqmDFOApeqPaGA1YKd7Bl07JELqABteqa_lbwfmrgu9vZfb0xZHiY7gI84/s320/Sunday+Scrub.JPG" t8="true" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Start your Sunday morning breakfast with a menu of fresh coffee, cinnamon French toast, eggs and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, what shall I do with the ingredients sitting on the counter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Re-use them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grab a glass bowl and mix up a batch of a wonderful aromatic body scrub to enjoy with your Sunday morning shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 93.0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recipe:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup fresh used coffee grinds</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 Tablespoon of table salt</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About 1/3 cup of olive oil or coconut oil (warmed to liquid)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Optional: about 10 drops of fruity essential oil </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mix well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add a bit more oil if the scrub is not saturated to make it moist to wet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take it to the shower with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After you wash, gently scrub your body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This scrub is wonderful for your feet, elbows, knees and hands if you just scrub a little more than gently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rinse yourself and the shower surround.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your shower and or tub will have some oil residue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clean the shower with a baking soda and vinegar paste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you only have time for a quick facial scrub, use the following recipe and gently scrub your already dampened face and neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You skin will be left oily, so follow up with a bar of Castile soap or your favorite non-drying gentle facial soap, and rinse well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit of the oil will remain, naturally moisturizing your skin for the rest of the day. Clean the sink with a baking soda and vinegar paste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Quick facial recipe:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two tablespoons of fresh used coffee grinds </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Teaspoon of table salt</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Teaspoon of cinnamon</span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tablespoon of olive oil or coconut oil - just enough to form a moist paste </span></span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your skin will be left soft and smooth with a hint of the cinnamon scent. This recipe is great for guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried it on my husband’s face this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had some bonding time and a bit of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants me to do his feet next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Since he always makes our Sunday breakfasts, I think his feet deserve such a treat.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have any coffee grinds or mix left over, just add it to the compost bin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all natural and all good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This scrub can be made for pennies with ingredients most of us already have on hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are welcome to purchase a 6 to 8 ounce jar of coffee scrub for prices ranging from $7.00 to $37.00 and I’ll be yelling in your ear, “Make your stuff at home!”</span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-88323051351939472802011-05-24T19:28:00.000-04:002011-05-24T19:28:57.642-04:00Engineers v Biologists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ucVo8S4qfNtkh_wwhCjCzX_kI5f49eaKYF6uP3u1gCZJJNRZoBuAIFLNFJq-UPByDa9tsTxNL-YjBkyLkivfhSwku3wSxwum2ad31TjhCmIrA9LbBmLy8ijGTP3JPzA1Fwu6J6CsDQw/s1600/EngBio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ucVo8S4qfNtkh_wwhCjCzX_kI5f49eaKYF6uP3u1gCZJJNRZoBuAIFLNFJq-UPByDa9tsTxNL-YjBkyLkivfhSwku3wSxwum2ad31TjhCmIrA9LbBmLy8ijGTP3JPzA1Fwu6J6CsDQw/s320/EngBio.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are science and math jokes out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no point searching, ‘cause they are not even witty to a nerd like me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, I did make a short story out of the standard style of comparison (not quite) jokes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here goes:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A biologist and an engineer hunt for the elusive strongest vine in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They think they see the plant <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">robustus vinefera</i> in the woods, but they cannot get to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plant grows on the opposite side of the swamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biologist asks the engineer, “What do you see?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The engineer replies, “It’s that straight vine with the flowers jutting out at right angles; the one that is actually holding up the tree.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biologist disagrees and talks for the next hour about the symbiotic relationship between the tree and the vine and how the plants and animals interact … and that’s why it’s the strongest vine in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The engineer asks, “So, which vine are you looking at?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biologist replies, “The one that meanders along its length, but falls vertical with the buttery florets opposite each other.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Okay, not sidesplitting comical, but at least, “Aw, that’s stupid,”… with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyhoo…<span style="color: red;"></span></span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The mighty Mississippi is raging and the engineers are fighting with nature to control the beastly waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The river used to wind through the forests and fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The floodplain was wide and capable of handling upstream flows, snow melt and storm waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early Americans lived with the river’s wild ways and took care of the river, as the river’s bounty provided for them.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One day, along comes Mr. Commercial Interest and the desire to make nature better for <s>making money</s> shipping goods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Engineers designed levees, locks and dams, confining the waters within a defined width to ensure deeper waters for vessels carrying coal, minerals, forestry and agricultural products to ports around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conduct an internet search for Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway as an example of waters created for commercial navigation and the seven year fight against the channel. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pour water into a plastic cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Squeeze the cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See, the water rises within the container.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, imagine the scope billions of times over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Mississippi got hugged too much and is now pushing back; mad at the engineers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The engineers are now scrambling trying to save homes and farms and the U.S. is spending millions to manage this disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We biologists, won’t say, “Told ya.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, you know what we’re thinking.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nature wins… period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the near future, I believe that the biologists and contemporary engineers will work together to restore the landscape and make provisions to mitigate historic decisions to control the mighty Mississippi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, maybe I’m too optimistic, but it is my hope that the politicians and money changers will do what is best for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nah, I’m not believing what I just wrote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Big business will get what they want and everyone else just has to move.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are some engineers and biologists who are interested in doing the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, and they are African American.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The </span><a href="http://www.nsbe.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">National Society of Black Engineers</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (NSBE) website header tagline states, “To increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An equivalent organization home for biologists is the </span><a href="http://www.aaenvironment.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">African American Environmentalist Association</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (AAEA) [</span><a href="http://aaenvironment.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Blog</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">]. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The statement on their website includes, “The AAEA is a national, nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to protecting the environment, enhancing human, animal and plant ecologies, promoting the efficient use of natural resources and increasing African American participation in the environmental movement”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">African American engineers and biologists have studied and worked in an atmosphere that has limited cultural concern about the needs of communities of hue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet these specialists have excelled at their chosen professions, working within a system that is deficient in African American representation, particularly in leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They focus on all of us, with consideration of the interests of populations underserved by mainstream decisions and actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon enough, all American communities will be equally respected, thus creating a diverse, safe and healthy environment much better than we have today. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are all in this together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The strengths of African Americans in both fields ensure our continued existence in the most sound and wholesome environment possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should shout out the brilliance of African American biologists and engineers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>America must listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These African Americans may ultimately rescue the U.S. from the nation’s poor historic infrastructure and development choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you, in advance.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #fefdfa; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">publicdomainpictures.net</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-29247192418687889612011-05-20T21:22:00.005-04:002011-05-21T21:24:00.355-04:00Grass or Weed?<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv4Uo_CkLWZFWJBHiIv9spx_RhpHESwju6GQ5ewwMevvH8siFF62QLicvCdf8VWZzXuFnBOdKv8CejsttPMGv0QjpCGMyi_d8zxY_O8eQpVMdxaPzf5tJ93J5sgzMD5CfMWKV1IZiwsg/s1600/Grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiv4Uo_CkLWZFWJBHiIv9spx_RhpHESwju6GQ5ewwMevvH8siFF62QLicvCdf8VWZzXuFnBOdKv8CejsttPMGv0QjpCGMyi_d8zxY_O8eQpVMdxaPzf5tJ93J5sgzMD5CfMWKV1IZiwsg/s320/Grass.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maryland Governor O’Malley signed the Fertilizer Use Act of 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law establishes requirements for specialty fertilizers and sets maximum limits for nitrogen and phosphorous in fertilizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s about time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, my, we have got to save the Chesapeake Bay! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mouth and eyes wide open with hands on my cheeks.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Property owners use excessive amounts of lawn chemicals in search of the perfect luscious single color deep green lawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s past time for these practices to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the chemicals run off into streams and end up in the Bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in America is suffering ‘cause we want to keep up with the Joneses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, if someone violates the new law, they will be fined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One or two thousand dollars should be enough for someone to start enjoying the lawn with multiple shades of green and those cute little dandelions.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, what do we do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we make our own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll yeah, but you won’t hear it from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many homemade recipes online including ingredients such as beer, soda, syrup, soap, ammonia and some that even include liquid lawn fertilizer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you are a botanist with a background in soil science, you are highly likely to be wasting your money on these lawn tonics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has taken many years for commercial fertilizer companies to come up with a mix for specific geographic areas and most of them will not be right for your particular lawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of the fertilizer sprayed and spread on lawns gets washed away in the rain, so folks tend to over fertilize hoping some it will stick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walk around and look at those hay colored lawns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dollars and common sense down the storm drain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, the Bay is dying under the pressures of excess nutrients and sediments that flow from our houses to the homes for the fish, oysters, turtles and ducks; very lame.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plants are sensitive and susceptible to burning from misapplied chemicals, be they natural, organic or poisonous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your lawn is an ecosystem made up of vegetation, worms, insects and the occasional mole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those living organisms do just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s us with the problem, well, not me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How ‘bout that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My lawn, more like a diverse patch of weeds, vines, flowers, grasses, ants and other species unknown is pretty, to me, and the kids love picking the purple and yellow flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like it just fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My neighbors spend tons of money on chemicals and hired lawn cutters…. and they still have dandelions, clover, and mud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we have a bald spot, we scrape the soil, add seeds and water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon enough, grass and weeds fill in the spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">We have got to change our mindset about the aesthetic yard. Gardens are beautiful. A small grass lawn area is fine. Native grasses, various trees and shrubs are even better. Check out <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><a href="http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/nativesMD/info.htm"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping in Maryland</span></a>. <span style="font-family: Arial;">Plants suited for your home environment are less costly; do not require much watering and maintenance; and they provide habitat for the birds, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels and the sneaky cat that roams our neighborhod. One day, the Bay may recover. I hope so. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Let the weeds begin! </span></span></span></span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-79669794147470432512011-05-04T23:13:00.001-04:002011-05-04T23:14:55.673-04:00Wetlands What’s Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkDGInSy-4IiC9xtbPjdFd3mOcGB6OtE4FxNjenXMwPase_gEtU4wcp0UawcQBYVlwLM1LBXdyfEy10IQ1DHUq7pUIRXZoV7OEbsaj3BerTnoYt-rEs65Ovz5kD4Wyv5Vq-AcT_qFijY/s1600/Wetlands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkDGInSy-4IiC9xtbPjdFd3mOcGB6OtE4FxNjenXMwPase_gEtU4wcp0UawcQBYVlwLM1LBXdyfEy10IQ1DHUq7pUIRXZoV7OEbsaj3BerTnoYt-rEs65Ovz5kD4Wyv5Vq-AcT_qFijY/s320/Wetlands.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is that mucky dark wooded depression at the bottom of slopes at the edge of the road?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is that long stretch of grasses that reach out to the river?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is that scraggly looking area with the short trees and crooked shrubs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are all wetlands; forested, emergent and scrub-shrub and they all benefit our human environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, they don’t look so pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The aesthetics of the swamp, marsh, and bog are in the eye of the beholder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of these areas have functions and values including habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species such as birds, snakes, frogs, beavers and deer; food chain production; nutrient removal; groundwater recharge/discharge; water filtration; flood water storage; erosion control; and they provide recreational and educational opportunities for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not all areas that appear wet are wetlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wetland is identified by water loving plants; soil that is soaked in water; and water that is around long enough to influence the soil and vegetation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a huge field of study that focuses on wetlands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are wetland and wildlife biologists, soil scientists, ecologists, and botanists who all play a role in identifying wetlands; learning about wetlands; educating the public; and managing these areas to ensure their special functions and values continue to sustain our environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What does it mean to us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wetlands are an important part of the diverse land and water forms that make up the earth. Wetlands represent the base of our food chain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creatures that make up our seafood rely on these areas for the earliest stages of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wetlands filter pollutants that can impact the juvenile and adult species of fish¸ shrimp, crabs and oysters that make up our Sunday dinners and summer cookouts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wetlands also hold onto storm waters and release them slowly so that heavy rains do not destroy the land with fast flows of high waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wetlands along rivers, bays and oceans act as buffers between tides and higher elevation land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plants in these areas break up wave energy;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>slow water flow; and keeps the water from reaching banks that would wash away upon direct contact with fast moving waters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wetlands are an experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing like standing on the edge of a huge tidal wetland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can smell the salty sea and watch the ducks and osprey hunt for food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sounds of the waves and wind are calming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The various plants and sandy beaches make up an art scape that no human can replicate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forested and scrub-shrub wetlands are fun to tromp around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can jump over small streams; duck under fallen trees; touch the odd-patterns of tree trunks and limbs; and look at the beauty of the flowers, mushrooms and moss that make up the floor of the swamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting through a wetland is a challenging puzzle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some places, the trees grow so thick that you can’t go through them; some areas have high water; some have tufts of grasses that you can use like rocks to hop from one place to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some areas have hard bottom and others have a soft mucky bottom where you can sink up to your knees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With practice, you could learn how to get through a marsh, but do not count on coming out clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hardest challenge is to get out of a wetland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually, they are at the base of a steep slope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imaging climbing almost vertical up a steep slope using tree limbs to hold onto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See yourself climbing up a narrow steep stream valley clogged with logs and limbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wetlands are fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next time you go, look for skunk cabbage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This plant really smells like a stinky skunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yuck!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whatever, they smell bad and they are havens for mosquitos and snakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are nasty, dirty and creepy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swamps are worthless and we should just fill them and build on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That mindset is what killed those folks of color during Katrina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The damage would not have been so severe if the wetlands along the gulf were allowed to naturally increase from the build-up of sediment from the rivers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would have been a huge buffer of wetlands between the water and the people living in the low-lying areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those low elevation areas were historically wetlands and the impact of Katrina is a devastating example of what happens when you push people into those “worthless” lands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nature takes care of us, but we don’t take care of nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nature happens; let it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what’s up with wetlands.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-26987869087546057372011-04-21T08:39:00.001-04:002011-04-21T08:39:41.390-04:00Earth Day 2011 - The War on the Environment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsGgfVi00v4JPTGiZ8A94avV-vo5lAExs6K_YJEDFxyxWkw4Wf_lZRnX873to5cCn9QO340FrstIDxarfCgnD_EJhgHmJxxQe37wuQ7dEq3_QT6Rmj4IGkTFgYwsXVkt7SNgJao2g3H8/s1600/Earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsGgfVi00v4JPTGiZ8A94avV-vo5lAExs6K_YJEDFxyxWkw4Wf_lZRnX873to5cCn9QO340FrstIDxarfCgnD_EJhgHmJxxQe37wuQ7dEq3_QT6Rmj4IGkTFgYwsXVkt7SNgJao2g3H8/s320/Earth.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every year we observe Earth Day by going to festivals and donating to organizations to support a commitment to work on causes ranging from going green to stopping pollution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Woo hoo…. Earth!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While writing this piece, I burned electricity watching a commercial about the best dish detergent to wash the oil off ducks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next commercial featured dune buggies racing through the desert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m so happy (whining).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That company is using the oil spill disaster that killed people and tons of wildlife to advertise a detergent that is made of chemicals that poison our waterways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speeding through a beautiful desert spewing noxious fumes for the hell of it… really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flip the script already!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still waiting to see the commercial about the detergent company at the detox center saying, “My name is ____ and I’m a polluter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m here to say that I’m going to stop.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clap, clap, clap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Watcha gonna do?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well, I can’t quit cold turkey, but I’m going to start by taking the diethanolamine out.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DEA is a foaming agent and a carcinogen.</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suds don’t clean dishes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the oil doesn’t kill the duck, the detergent will… painfully slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some politicians want to cut, slash and burn the Environmental Protection Agency and gut the Clean Water Act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The EPA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To p-r-o-t-e-c-t … all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The CWA is the structure for regulating point source (discharging from a single location) pollutants into waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll stretch it, but those politicians want to allow certain people to kill us… but not softly, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What is this reckless mad war on the environment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It costs more to do it ‘like’ right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t dig that notion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raise livestock humanely and there is no need for high-priced antibiotics; grow organic and there is </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">no need for expensive pesticides; keep chemicals out of detergent and there is no need for costly solvents to dissolve those ingredients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Voilà, I just made it ‘like’ right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Each of us is an eco-tyrant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our mere existence has an adverse impact on the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us are mini-tyrants; just a small footprint on the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of us have ameliorated our impacts by doing ‘green’ things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are the eco-warriors, rebels supporting the cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fight the power!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earth Day is about all of us and our future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are the ones we have been waiting for to make the world a better place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“… for you and for me…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not hard or expensive to do the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just don’t walk down the aisle reeking from the perfumes obscuring the smell of those poisonous detergents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make your stuff at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn off the lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put the trash in the can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Done!</span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2969990933463364178.post-46336317771043514002011-04-07T21:57:00.000-04:002011-04-07T21:57:13.313-04:00The Darker Side of Green<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zv9zrsZxmV5mbpM9QJmir1I9TtOIV5GdxHPpm7ds5p-uw5IdC234ifoY5b8P5cINaVNasnxP7KDebrSQ6BJiYBwMMcfNuyhj-O7-T3hxO_IQvp46jRcuWIyrxRq8UAS6qKzfB3KWhxg/s1600/Tidal+site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zv9zrsZxmV5mbpM9QJmir1I9TtOIV5GdxHPpm7ds5p-uw5IdC234ifoY5b8P5cINaVNasnxP7KDebrSQ6BJiYBwMMcfNuyhj-O7-T3hxO_IQvp46jRcuWIyrxRq8UAS6qKzfB3KWhxg/s320/Tidal+site.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do we lack interest in the environment to our detriment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our environment is fundamental to our health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Health and vitality are determined by environmental factors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our community does not have control over broad decisions that affect our environs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chemicals and radiation are produced by industry and we are the customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transportation, development and land uses are determined by business and governments and we are the users.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to change these realities and make decisions from the base consumption level that will tilt the environment towards our favor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many ways and lots of ideas to help.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The starting point is us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can avoid living in degraded conditions and buying chemical laden food and products. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can keep our neighborhoods clean; cook healthy meals at home; and make our cleaning and personal products ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can reduce excessive driving; try not to live too far from work, family and friends; and we can vote for representatives who support our agenda. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My family has changed over the years and we re-use, recycle and make stuff at home as best we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We compost and we have started our organic garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been hard to change habits, but we are now rewarded with lower utility bills; smaller grocery tabs; and good health.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do we lack interest in green jobs to our disadvantage?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolutely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We also disregard the potential for high-paying careers and business opportunities in biology, ecology, botany, geology and other environmental disciplines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could be working in the beautiful outdoors hiking, researching or boating in consulting, recreational and public service domains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting paid and having fun; sweet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could be making development decisions; grant decisions; and corporate decisions involving huge amounts of funds that could affect the bottom lines; dollars and our environmental future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is an extreme absence of persons of color in green careers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are too many reasons to count and not enough studies to back up theories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The initial effort begins with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to be educated in these fields in order to make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ready, willing and able are the ones who can take advantage of opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents prepared me by allowing me and my siblings to run through the woods and streams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Dad owned a fish store when we were kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We grew up with a house full of fish, hamsters and dogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not wealthy, but we had parents who supported us and allowed us to explore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Education was most important in our upbringing; following the footsteps of our educated aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and other extended relations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must educate ourselves and our children in ecological topics and support our families as they learn and grow towards green professions. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The darker side of green must materialize; otherwise, the negative trends of economic distress and environmental injustice will continue to adversely impact our community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Black Organic is here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you coming?</span></span></div>Natural Blackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09280893999177002938noreply@blogger.com0