Waste & Want: How Wal-Mart & H&M Destroy Unsold Clothes Instead of Donating

Let’s pretend you’re a big clothing retail chain who’s a bit profit minded and unscrupulous because you’re a corporation and you answer to share holders.  Naturally, you wouldn’t want the poor to be seen in your clothes.  It sends the wrong message if your sportswear can be bought by anyone. You definitely don’t... [Read more]

My Volunteer Journal: Episode 50 – The Hair Cut

I think this volunteer episode is better told with bad photography (see below). Disjointed thoughts on my final volunteer mission: It’s fortunate that I was doing this haircut for charity and for this blog or, honestly, it would not have happened. The morning of the scheduled chop I was face down in bed with my hands... [Read more]

My Family is Trying to Destroy the Earth

Holidays, in general, mean family time. Millions will return home to be with people who, in some cases, they spend little time and have even less in common with - except a shared genetic code. It should come as no surprise then that the Holidays rank as one of the most stressful times of year. One particular familial quirk... [Read more]

My Volunteer Journal: Episode 49 – Thoughts of a Salvation Army Bell Ringer

“Have fun being the person everyone avoids eye contact with.” – My brother, Austin, upon hearing that I was going to collect donations in front of Macy’s as a Salvation Army Red Kettle Volunteer. What are those stalwart Salvation Army employees or volunteers thinking as they stand in the cold collecting your donations... [Read more]

My Volunteer Journal: Episode 48 – Promote The Wellness Community’s Cancer Fight

Having cancer gave me membership in an elite club I’d rather not belong to. –Gilda Radner Every non-profit organization needs volunteers to do promotion work. If you work in marketing or media, can write a decent press release, know how to solicit donations, or throw a fundraiser then there is no charity you can’t... [Read more]

My Volunteer Journal: Episode 47 – Lake Arrowhead Reps Work Day

Definition of “Work Day” from Raegan’s Definitions and Translations of Common Entertainment Industry Terms Part of speech – noun 1. A day, way too close to opening night, in which the cast and crew of a show descend upon the theatre or performance space to build the entire set, block the play, build the costumes,... [Read more]

The Best Eco Holiday Gifts

It’s that familiar time of year again when we embrace consumerism in the name of celebration and keeping family and friends happy. Telling your nearest and dearest that you won’t buy presents because it helps perpetuate environmental destruction will not work. You will be labeled cheap, a title that is hard if impossible... [Read more]

Checking in on “The Cove”

The Cove just released on DVD this week and after watching it I wondered if the slaughter in Taiji, Japan’s killing cove had resumed. I had heard that opening day of the massacre had been put on hold by a hoard of journalists who arrived on the shores of Taiji ready to record the whole bloody and inhumane spectacle. But three... [Read more]

My Volunteer Journal: Episode 46 – A Bake Sale. Finally.

The art of the American Bake Sale is almost dead - it’s on a respirator in critical care next to the beds occupied by the homemade lemonade stand, baseball cards, and the family road trip. Participating in a bake sale was on my list of volunteer activities from the beginning, but for the life of me I could not find one to... [Read more]

My Volunteer Journal: Episode 45 – I Couldn’t Run the 5k so I’m Punished

“Popping noises are not supposed to come from calf muscles.” That was my last thought before my left calf muscle caught fire during a 5k jog in preparation for the Gobble Wobble in Santa Monica. I hopped around on my good leg and spewed a string of inventive profanity (sorry moms in the park near by), but what I thought... [Read more]

Read More Posts From This Category »