“I don’t believe that old cliche that good things come to those who wait. I think good things come to those who want something so bad they can’t sit still.” — Ashton Kutcher I love hearing when cool ideas have not only been implemented, but are embraced. This past school year my alma mater, Rollins College in Winter Park, FL, tried an experiment loaning bicycles out. The school has 12 bikes that students, faculty, and staff can check out for three days at a time through the campus library. They are actually referred to as a library of bikes, which I love. Over the first year trying it, the bikes were checked out 372 times!
Just a little good news to slide us into our weekly tradition, Monday Ripples. The Ripples, as some of you know, are inspired by a quote from Robert F. Kennedy and each Monday I give you links to articles, sites and such that will hopefully give you some ideas in your work of making the world a better place.
Feel free to share your thoughts or, better yet, share links that you’ve found!
Good Orman
The Cheapest Way to Go Green
Every time I get a newsletter from Oprah that has an article by Suze Orman, I imagine that Gayle has had to tell Suze to back off her woman. Clearly Oprah loves her some Suze! I’m just kidding, of course, because I think the reason she likes Suze is her business involves Oprah’s first love: money. (Now Oprah, I know you’re a regular reader of my blog, so let me be clear that I simply jest, girlfriend.) This particular article by Suze shows how to go green inexpensively and, in the long run, save yourself money. If you can’t appeal to a person’s ethics, you can certainly reach them through their wallet.
Living the High Line
High Line 2 Sneak Peek: Lounging Lawn, Flyovers, and the “Chelsea Thicket”
This past Thanksgiving my dad took Brendan and I on a family vacation to catch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Fulfilling a lifelong dream of seeing the parade was great, as was sharing the event with family and friends, but when we hit the Big Apple, my man and I squeeze it for all the juice it has in it — we don’t stop moving until we absolutely have to sleep. On the top of our list that trip was seeing The High Line, a park that has been made of old railway tracks.
Not only is this a great use of a derelict structure, the park that has been created is a unique oasis mere feet about the hustle and bustle of New York City. You can lounge and read, sightsee, eat, or just take in the beauty of the native plants (read don’t need to water).
This article and nifty video are about the expansion that is underway to use more of the abandon tracks. I can’t wait to see it when it’s done!
Octogenarian Activist
Where Thoreau Lived, Crusade Over Bottles
When Mom’s dad – we called him Pop-Pop – passed away, he was in his mid-70s. He had recently taken up the ham radio as a hobby and was in the middle of a class to learn Spanish so he could talk to people in different parts of the world. It is probably his example that causes me to impulsively give a visible cringe when I hear someone say the words “well, it’s too late for me now” (seriously, I even shudder writing the phrase). Take this New York Times story about Jean Hill a woman in her 80s who successfully led a campaign to get bottled water banned from her town. She’s one persistent lady and a dynamite example for all of us, regardless of age.
This Is Your Bees Wax
Beauty and the Bees
You know all the doom and gloom you’ve heard about bees disappearing from our planet? I’m sure your Republican grandfather has tried to convince you the whole thing is a Liberal conspiracy theory while tossing back his fifth bourbon at Christmas dinner, but sadly it is true. This article from World Ark, published by Heifer International, breaks down the sad reality for you, what we know, what we don’t know, and – most importantly – what you can do.
