Knowmore.org

By just looking at the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico we can clearly see how big corporations like BP control America. While selling America to corporations has not been a new thing, it was forever changed after George W. Bush was president. Thanks to W and good old Dick (Cheney) corporate America now has all the control and all the power. It is obvious to see that this corporate America DOES NOT have THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S best interest in mind. What can we do to start to take back the power and end corporate abuse?

Knowmore.org is a grass-roots website dedicated to resisting corporate attacks on democracy, worker's and human rights, fair trade, and environment. This website provides a database of easily searchable corporate and political information to help inform consumers to make good decisions about what we buy. This website is to aid all of us progressive thinkers to make responsible choices. I can type in a business that I am interested in like for example Whole Foods, and get a brief business history, as well as any environmental concerns, corporate governance, animal welfare issues, worker's rights complaints, and praises.

Know more is geared to give us consumers "purchasing power" by providing rated details about different products, companies and businesses that we buy from. The website gives "responsible" ratings to many well-known companies.

The website was founded by musicians Sage Francis and B Dolan in 2004 and has since really expanded. Together the two rappers went on tour to raise awareness for their work towards creating this website.

We all have values, morals and beliefs, so why not practice what we preach and really know the corporations that we support based off our values, morals and beliefs so that next time we shop we are supporting the good corporations that are actually here for us the PEOPLE, THE CONSUMERS!

Yay for summer!

My summer has officially begun today! I cannot believe I made it through =), at times it was tough but I did it. Now I will only have two more terms left, including my student teaching, which is something I am so excited for.

While my summer includes me making money as a swim coach at a country club (so I can travel like mad next summer) and two summer school classes, it also involves a lot of other fun! I have some big plans, big ideas and big goals to accomplish this summer. I am excited that I will have August off from work, and school.

Here are ten summer goals:

1. Travel to three new places: I already booked a flight to one new place, Philadelphia, PA!

2. Participate in the Bear Lake Triathlon (Bear Lake, UT.)

3. Go on a climbing weekend trip to any of the following places (Moab, UT., Red Rocks, NV., Smith Rock, OR. or Joshua Tree, CA.)

4. I want to learn how to lead rock climb as well!

5. Ride my bike to work twice a week

6. Read at least five books

7. See some new areas of Utah that I have never seen like Bryce Canyon!

8. Raise chickens so I can have my own eggs!

9. Learn to play the guitar finally

10. Make more friends, and enjoy all the social events this summer has to offer.

What are you doing with your precious life?

This is a poem by Mary Oliver called Summer Day, which was recommended to me by this guy Alex, who has helped remind me what is important in life. Graduate school has been my life this year, but especially this term, and sometimes I forget that I need to have a bit fun and time for myself. I've embraced the words, and the wisdom this poem has portrayed and hopefully you'll embrace it too! Thanks Alex and Mary for reminding me of what is important!

The Summer Day

Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

check this out!

http://storyofstuff.org/bottledwater/

Check out this video about the plastic water bottle industry and all of the impacts these plastic bottles have on our environment, and our wallets.

It is time that we together, make a push to STOP buying plastic water bottles because of the harmful, negative and useless impacts these bottles have on our environments and lives. Did you know that even when we recycle plastic water bottles, often they get shipped to INDIA...freaking INDIA. Talk about having a negative impact! Plus so much of the pollution of our tap water, comes from industries like these.

As Earth Day approaches, let's all make a conscience effort to reduce our plastic water bottle intake- actually let's BOYCOTT it all together!

Drinking tap water is SEXY!

Conclusions on concerts

The more concerts that I attend, the more I want to share. I went to the Tegan and Sara concert on Tuesday night in SLC at the place called In the Venue. I learned a few things while attending this concert.

1. I am not a huge fan of all ages shows. It is not the no-alcohol that bothers me, it is the annoying 16 year old girls who need to take a photo every five seconds.

2. I throughly enjoy small concert venues- they provide this intimacy factor that feels very personal.

3. I enjoyed the fact that I was able to take TRAX (the train) to and from the concert venue.

4. I enjoy concerts that do not go on for the entire night!

5. I love getting exposed to new talents and bands. My newest turn on is Holly Miranda. She not only has one breath-taking voice, and is absolutely a goddess on the guitar, but she also has such great stage presence. Check her out because she'll blow your mind!

6. I love acts like Tegan and Sara because they are big enough to put on a great concert, but not sell-outs either.