The Final No Impact Week Email: Change & Inspiration

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Matthew Palevsky -- HuffPost's Eyes & Ears <Matthew@huffingtonpost.com>
Date: 2009/10/30
Subject: The Final No Impact Week Email: Change & Inspiration
To: miapodoescolar2@gmail.com

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for making this week a success.  We had thousands of people join, created a robust dialogue and helped teach one another about our consumer habits and our impact on the environment.

Over the last few days we've received a flood of emails from people giving their feedback on the week.  Perhaps the most inspiring testimonial was a video from the largest single community of participants, a group of environmentally-minded Muslims in Washington D.C.

The YouTube video made by the D.C. Green Muslims is worth watching, and you can read many of the other reflections that we've received here, including one about confronting habits of  over-consumption by Donna Joseph, who Arianna featured in her blog on the second day of No Impact Week. 

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback, it will help No Impact Project refine the process for future experiments -- the next one starts November 15th. 

And thank you to Colin Beavan and Stephanie Bleyer, from No Impact Project, for being incredible partners to work with and for expanding opportunities for online engagement through near nightly webcasts and the community Ning site.

Although HuffPost won't help run them, there will be many more No Impact Weeks to come, so continue to spread the word.  As for HuffPost's Eyes & Ears, we will be returning our focus to community investigations of the financial system and US politics.  If you want to join our citizen journalism email list, please sign up here.

Thanks again for making No Impact Week a success!

Matt and Katherine -- Editors of Citizen Journalism and HuffPost Green

Click here to unsubscribe

5 cosas que me asustan

Normally, I embrace fear. I traffic in fear. Fear has been good to yours truly.

But if there's anything scaring me these days, it's the blatant misuse of fear in regards to health care reform. I am appalled at the brazen lies being propagated by opponents of reform specifically to scare the elderly and other vulnerable segments of our society. Pushing untruths about "death panels" and "pulling the plug on Grandma" are not helping the debate.

If we're going to achieve effective health care in this country, we need an honest public discussion based on facts: how do we pay for reform, how will it work, who will be covered?

These are important issues than cannot be solved while lobbyists, pundits and "tea-baggers" are muddying the waters by marketing fear. The only people who should be scared by health care reform are those who make a profit off of other people's suffering and illness.

Other things that frighten me:

I'm scared by the enormous amount of bottled water being consumed today, instead of people drinking filtered tap water. Did you know that nearly 90 percent of those plastic bottles are not recycled and wind up in landfills where it takes thousands of years for the plastic to decompose? Hey, there's only so much room on this planet folks...

Also on the environmental front, I'm scared by the liberal contingent of Escalade driving, thug wheeled, Blackberry-yakking, GPS-searching moms who idle their huge vehicles in front of elementary schools for 30 minutes a day while waiting to pick up their children. Yeah, they'll give lip service to being eco-friendly, but five days a week they'll sit in their SUV's spewing carbon monoxide into the air. And hey, when did kids stop walking to school?

I also fear that kids themselves are losing the spirit of adventure that I grew up with. Thanks to a culture of instant gratification and constant connectivity an entire generation is growing up online. Instead of opening up their horizons to travel and new cultures, they spend their time communicating via text on cell phones (even when they're standing next to each other), socializing from afar on Facebook and downloading their entertainment from the internet. The technologies of convenience are making our sphere of exploration and experience smaller.

Finally, one thing that's scaring me in a good way is a recent Swedish horror film movie I saw called Let The Right One In. Just when I thought vampires had "jumped the shark," comes this chilling and disturbing movie (based on an equally frightening novel) that had me trembling like a teenager who had just discovered Stephen King, Clive Barker and Anne Rice on the same day. It's a complete reinvention of the vampire myth, and an extremely dark and creepy one at that. I highly recommend you find a copy of it on DVD, surrender to the subtitles and immerse yourself in a truly good scare.

Aprovechando que es Halloween

Saludos

A continuacion les mando dos links, uno que tiene 10 videos de fantasmas, y otro que es un buscador con millones de sonidos reales...

Espero sean de su agrado

Saludos

http://www.webtvhub.com/10-halloween-ghost-sighting-videos/

http://www.findsounds.com/index.html

Como ahorrar energia en invierno

There are plenty of expensive ways to save energy -- installing a new, energy-efficient furnace, for example, or sealing and insulating all duct work -- but the eight tips below were selected because they're so easy, just about anyone can get started right now. And most are either free or cost just a few dollars.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that home heating and cooling costs account for over 50 percent of energy costs, which means that winterizing your home can save you hundreds of dollars each year while helping to save the planet, too.

1. Sweat It Out

Amos Morgan/Getty Images

One of the greenest inventions ever is a warm sweater. Match it with a comfortable pair of sweatpants, and though you won't set the fashion world on fire, you'll feel toasty and warm while setting your thermostat down in the 60-something degree range. Reducing your thermostat setting from 75 down to 65 for 8 hours -- like when you're all tucked into bed -- can lower your heating bill by 10 to 20 percent. And speaking of thermostats, have you looked into the energy savings (and possible rebates) that come from installing aprogrammable thermostat?

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2. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans aren't just for summer anymore. By flipping the little black switch that makes the fan rotate clockwise -- and keeping the fan speed set to low -- you can circulate the warm air that has risen to the ceiling all around the room. This can be a boon to folks with space heaters, wood stoves or other heating devices that don't produce a lot of air circulation.

3. Snake Charmers

Doors, no matter how well-sealed they may be, always seem to leak a bit of cold air, especially around the base of the door. Since you're not using that beach towel in winter, roll it up and use it as a "snake" to block the draft coming in from the door's base. Some folks have even found that a necktie filled with sand or kitty litter works just as well. Or, if you're feeling flush, buy a decorative new draft snake at your local hardware or home furnishings center.

4. Hearth and Home

Karl Weatherly/Getty Images

Fireplaces may look warm and inviting, but they're notorious for wasting energy. Remember to always close the damper when the fireplace is not in use -- consider a rubber damper for a tighter seal, or install glass fireplace doors. Chimney balloons also seal up the flue, keeping warm air inside.

5. Blowing Smoke

Put a sheet of paper in a door jamb, then close the door -- if you can pull the paper out without tearing it, you've got an air leak. (The same trick works for windows.) Another good way to check for air leaks involves a burning incense stick or other smoking item on a windy day. Hold the item near doors, windows, vents, electrical outlets, attic hatches, baseboards, pipes, dryer vents, utility lines (like TV cables) and other openings. If the smoke blows, you've got drafts. You can seal these money-sucking drafts quickly and inexpensively with weather stripping, caulk, electric outlet gaskets, or plastic window film.

6. Furnaces and Filters

Most furnace filters need to be changed monthly during the winter. Fiberglass filters are meant to be thrown away, but since they only trap a fraction of airborne debris, consider replacing them with electronic filters or HEPA filters, which are far more effective and create less waste because they can be cleaned instead of thrown out. And if it's been a while since your furnace had a professional tune-up, you can easily save enough money through lower energy use to pay for that bit of maintenance.

7. Let the Sun Shine

Ryan McVay/Getty Images

There's a truism in sustainable design: Passive solar requires active residents, meaning you have to get a little more involved than just flipping a switch. But even a few simple steps can make a big difference, like opening the drapes when the sun is shining in your windows, then closing the drapes when it's not. This is an especially good idea when your drapes are heavy or insulated. Energy experts also encourage folks to consider pruning trees or shrubs that may be blocking the sun.

8. Home Energy Audits

Getting a home energy audit is perhaps the best way to start making your home greener and more energy efficient. Contact your local utility; many offer free in-home audits. Some big-box home centers also offer free energy audits, but remember that they're in the business of selling you products, so you should probably take their suggestions with a grain of salt. Before you decide on any home improvement, find out what the payback period is for that particular item or upgrade.

Como hacer un diario de agradecimiento

Developing an attitude of gratitude toward the people, things and events in your life is a life-affirming and effective way to strengthen your emotional resilience and reduce stress, among other things. Maintaining a gratitude journal makes it easy to get in the habit of focusing on the positive in your life, while also reaping the benefits of journaling. The following are simple steps to maintaining a gratitude journal -- a useful tool for stress management.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: A Few Minutes A Day

Here's How:

1. Decide on a Journal
   You may want to maintain your journal online, or in paper form. When deciding which route to take in selecting a journal, think about whether you'd rather type or print, where you'd like to do the bulk of your writing, and whether privacy is an issue that may affect your decision.
   More tips on selecting a journal

2. Decide On A Framework
   You can write long, descriptive paragraphs about what you appreciate in your daily life, or your gratitude journal can consist entirely of lists. You can write about a preset number of items per entry (10 per day, for example). Or, you can just resolve to write about whatever seems right for a particular day. The main idea is to get yourself into a place of reflection and gratitude. Do what works best for you.

3. Commit To A Schedule
   An important aspect of the long-term success of your gratitude journal is the frequency with which you use it. It's usually best to aim for once a day in the beginning, or several times per week, but allow yourself some wiggle room if things get busy. You want to make a commitment that will keep you inspired to write, even if you aren't always in the mood, because this exercise can help change your mood). Just don't allow that to be so rigid that you'll be tempted to give up the whole plan if you slip up once or twice.

4. Just Keep Writing
   Many people find that their whole attitude changes once they've been keeping a gratitude journal for a while; they tend to notice things throughout the day that they may want to include in the journal -- things they wouldn't have otherwise noticed. To maintain a more optimistic attitude, be sure to write regularly. If you find yourself skipping days with increasing frequency, gently remind yourself why you're maintaining the gratitude journal in the first place, and be grateful that you are able to get back into the habit of writing again anytime you want. Enjoy!

Tips:

1. Gratitude journals tend to be most effective when you write about three items at the end of each day. This is regular enough and simple enough to be do-able, and writing at the end of the day tends to bring the best benefits.

2. Remember that you may want to read over your journal entries in the future. This can be a great pick-me-up when you're feeling stressed or depressed.

3. Experiment with the types of things you write about. If you find yourself always mentioning the obvious things ("I'm grateful for my children") every day, challenge yourself to notice the subtle things ("Today I had caramel ice cream cone, and it was amazing!")

4. Remember that all gratitude doesn't need to be saved for the journal. Tell the people in your life how much you appreciate them. From people in your family to sales clerks and postal employees you encounter in your day, everyone likes to know that they're appreciated. And their positive reactions can help put you in a positive mood, too.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco

México, 29 Oct. (Notimex).- El delantero mexicano Cuauhtémoc
Blanco jugará apartir del 1 de enero de 2010, en los Tiburones Rojos
del Veracruz, luego que este día se confirmó el acuerdo por 1.5
millones de dólares, entre el jugador y la directiva escualo.

Luego del interés mostrado por el Querétaro y el América, para
repatriar al "Temo", quien milita en el Chicago Fire de la MLS
(Estados Unidos), el seleccionado mexicano regresará al balompié
azteca, con el Veracruz, que actualmente se encuentra en la Liga de
Ascenso.

El acuerdo será exclusivamente a préstamo, de enero a abril, del
próximo año, debido a que Cuauhtémoc Blanco, tiene que regresar a a
seguir vistiendo la casaca del Chicago Fire, equipo dueño de su
carta, para el inicio de la MLS, del 2010.

En las próximas horas, se finiquitarán algunos detalles del
convenio para vincular oficialmente a Blanco, con los Tiburones Rojos
del Veracruz, equipo con el que ya jugó en 2004 y los llevó al
liderato Apertura, cuando el equipo estaba en la Primera División.

La contratación de Blanco, se debió en gran parte al apoyo que
en todo momento les bridó el gobierno estatal, por conducto de su
mandatario Fidel Herrera, quien apasionado del deporte del futbol,
ayudó a que nuevamente el ex americanista regresara al puerto.

Ser agradecido te ayuda a dormir mejor

I started keeping a gratitude journal several years ago, and, though I go through phases where I write more often or skip a few nights, I've found that I tend to drift to sleep more easily and happily after I've gotten myself into the 'warm and fuzzy' place that comes from counting my blessings. That's why I wasn't completely surprised when I ran across this research study about gratitude journaling: researchers have found that differences in gratitude levels actually affect sleep quality!

Researchers assessed 186 men and 215 women (40% of which had clinically impaired sleep), and measured their level of gratitude, their quality of sleep, and five main personality traits (to see if differences in sleep quality could be tied to personality differences). (The five personality traits, which have been generally accepted as definitive to personality, are: openness to new experience, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism.)

Researchers found that gratitude predicted better self-reported sleep quality, as well as duration of sleep, and less 'sleep latency' (the amount of time it takes to fall asleep after the lights have gone out) and daytime dysfunction. The relationship between gratitude and each of these variables was mediated by the thoughts people had before falling asleep: more positive before-sleep thoughts and less negative ones. All of these results were found to be unrelated to personality traits, including neuroticism, (which one might expect to affect sleep quality and ability to fall asleep).

This research is pretty big news for those who need better quality sleep, and those who need more of it (which, according to a sleep poll on this site, includes the vast majority of us)! We can use this information to help ourselves and our children in many areas of our lives, since sleep deprivation affects not only our stress levels, but our daytime functioning. (See this article on the importance of sleep.) Here are some things to try:

Gratitude Journaling
I recommend keeping a gratitude journal for general stress relief and overall happiness, but now that we know this practice can lead to better sleep, I consider it a must. See this article for tips on maintaining a gratitude journal, where you'll have a record of all that you have to appreciate in your life--great for reading when you're feeling blue.

Gratitude With Kids
If you have children, and if you're not doing this already, it's a great idea to get in the habit of reviewing three things that you have to be grateful for before you tuck them in and turn out the light. This can be done in the form of a sharing conversation, a prayer, or a family gratitude journal that you keep together. You may find bedtime reluctance diminishing and daytime moods and productivity improved.

Tweet Your Gratitude
Join me on Twitter, where I've started a daily gratitude practice--you can maintain a daily gratitude announcement there, where you 'tweet' three things for which you're grateful at the end of each day, and can see what others are grateful for. (You can also share your list on this blog or in the Stress Management Forum if you're still working up to making it a nightly habit.)