Easy Ways to Help a Hurtin' Environment

Well, I just learned something absolutely terrifying. If you...didn't read my title. We all know that global warming is a big problem. Not a backburner kinda thing, no way. Well, thanks to this article: New Shipping Lanes in the Arctic the already BAD problem in Antarctica is getting worse due to new trade routes opening up because of ice melting. And that's only the half of it (check out the link, it's an interesting article). Is it really that hard to be more environmentally conscious? Is it really? No.

Small steps are easy. Here at Budget, we started recycling all of our paper office waste, like envelopes, copy paper, scrap paper, everything. One change right there. I don't have to tell you. Working in an office? There's a LOT of paper, and we're trying to recycle all of it. It's a simple way to help conserve our forests. Say what you want about deforestation, we get paper from trees and we have to be more careful about it. Period.

 

If you have a dishwasher, another simple step you can take it simply turn off the faucet in-between placing a rinsed dish in the dishwasher and getting another dirty one ready. I do this, and you wouldn't believe how much water you can save. You wouldn't really think of it that way, would you? Maybe you're skeptical. Well, the next time you do dishes, listen to the white noise of the faucet. Every second is precious freshwater wasted. We need that stuff to LIVE. Why not conserve it? It really is not that hard. Take short showers. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Drink all the water you take from the faucet. If you MUST throw the water out, throw it outside where it can be used by plants. Simple things mean a lot if everyone is doing it.

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Another big pet peeve is littering. I mean, come on. Really? Are we really littering in this day and age? When I go to a park, I see beer cans floating in the lake. When I walk outside, I see fast food wrappers strewn on the side of the road. I've even had litter dumped on my driveway from careless passersby. Are you really that lazy? If you are, I have some tips for you, then. If you have a lot of junk in your car, pull alongside your dumpster or trashcan and walk a total of 3 feet to dump out your cartrash quickly. It's easy. You have an ashtray in your car, don't you? STOP throwing out cigarette butts. They can start fires, and they are LOADED with hazardous chemicals that go into the ground. Get an empty soda can with some water in the bottom of it. Place it in your car. BOOM! Instant ashtray. Cut it open when you're done, dump out the junk into a bin, and recycle the can. See? It's not hard, I swear.
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PHew! Back to the main point. The whole reason why I went on this tangent was simply to show you that it's easy to start being environmentally conscious. These small steps might lead to something more. Something like, gee, I don't know. Not pumping more ozone boosting bi-products into the Antarctic air because humans are ruthless opportunists? Think about it.

Recycling Paper bin picture obtained from this site.

Dishwasher picture obtained from this site.
Virgina's Anti-littering Poster obtained from this site.
Polar Bear picture obtained from this site.

Quick Tips: Alternatives to Unsafe Cleaners

    

Hello there. I've been discussing a lot of opinions and views lately, and I want to try something more...practical. I've compiled a list of some common household items that are good to clean with, but still very toxic. I'm going to offer some alternatives to them that work quite well in their stead. Also, please be sure that the surface you are going to clean can handle ANY cleaning product you use, whether it's bleach or vinegar. Okay? Okay. We'll start off with just two really common, really useful replacements so I don't overload you with me green cleaning zeal.

 

1. Abrasive Bleach Cleaners (A.B.C.)- Kosher Salt

     A.B.C.s are used as an aid to scrub off stubborn dirt and stains. It is also quite harmful to be breathed in, as it's a powder, and to ingest. Instead of using A.B.C.s, use some kosher salt instead. Scrub the same way you would with an A.B.C., but use some more muscle this time. Pair the salt with a white distilled vinegar and water solution (1:2 parts should work fine) and you have yourself a powerful green cleaning agent. I use this method myself, and I tell you, it works. MAKE SURE THE SURFACE YOU ARE CLEANING CAN HANDLE THIS.

2. Bleach - Hydrogen Peroxide 

     Bleach, used as a disinfectant, works quite well in killing germs. However, when was the last time you used it to clean your toothbrush, or clean out a cut? God I hope your answer is never. Anyway, Hydrogen Peroxide works quite well in disinfecting most household surfaces (a 3% solution works well, you can also get 10, and 35% solutions too) and it can be used as toothpaste when paired with baking soda, and for disinfecting your hands. Try pouring some hydrogen peroxide on a surface you want to disinfect, like a cutting board, or kitchen countertop. See the fizz? That means germ death. Pour it on, wipe it off. Simple. MAKE SURE THE SURFACE YOU ARE CLEANING CAN HANDLE THIS.

    
Give em' a try. I know I hate using bleach. The smell, the danger of it, everything. A.B.C.s, too. I've inhaled the dust by accident, and it was not fun at all. Quite the opposite, actually. Basically, all I'm saying is that you don't need the overwhelming chemical fumes of bleach and ammonia to get your home clean. Stick to the basics, and see how well they work. I bet you'll be surprised.


Hydrogen Peroxide Picture obtained from this website.
Kosher Salt Picture obtained from this blog.

Discrimination in Business

    

Prejudice and racism are two different things. They are both heinous, but prejudice is a larger umbrella for which many types of prejudice fall under. Racism, sexism, elitism, you name it. If it exists, there's someone that hates it sadly. Why am I making this distinction? Well, because I can't wrap my head around the concept of hating someone merely because they are different. Gender, race, mental capability, physical capability, deformity, why? I just can't get it. Does not compute, and the hard drive in my head crashes whenever I try.     

We at Budget employ many men and women of different races. Hell, I'm Italian, French, Cherokee, and I have a touch of German in there somewhere. God knows what else is running around in my blood. What does it matter? Why is the fact that I'm a Caucasian male make me better in the eyes of some people? I don’t' care what color you are, if you work hard and are reliable, you could be an employee at Budget. I don't care if you’re pinstriped and polka-dotted.

Not all believe this. And it's infuriating. How can you expect to get ahead in business if you only hire based on prejudices? And it's not only race and gender. Weight, sexual orientation, clothing, maybe even something as stupid as hair color or eye color could be a deterrent for getting a job. This narrow minded superiority-dominance places blinders on the most "intelligent" of people, and someone extraordinary could be passed up for someone destructive just because the person doing the hiring didn't like the better qualified person's skin color. Come on, people.

You may be thinking right now, I know I'm not a racist! I don't hate people based on differences! And that's great, more power to you. But. When was the last time you judged someone, or looked over someone because of a difference? Just because you don't do it every day doesn't mean you don't do it.

Think about it.

Green Cleaning Phonies --- Greenwashing Scams

    
     Ever hear of greenwashing? It's the practice of marketing a product as a green product, but. Well? Bluntly put, lying about it. Oh, it's done, and it's not as difficult to pass it off as you think. In all honesty, you're cleaning product could actually be the color green, and have an oak tree on the bottle and you could mince words and say something thing, "try out new green cleaning product!" See how it never mentions anything concrete about what is actually in the bottle? Beware of this kind of stuff.
     By default, cleaning products can be pretty harsh. They kill germs, they dissolve dirt, they polish and protect. These terms are pretty powerful verbs, and often involve a serious batch of chemicals to pull off. Budget uses green, and normal cleaning products. Some customers just don't want us using green products, but let's consider the options here.
     Check out some benefits to green cleaning taken right off our website. They're all true. And do you know why we can say they're all true? Because we use green seal certified products when we service a home or office with a green cleaning. Period. If you are ever skeptical about a green cleaning product boasting general terms such as, "all natural", "organic", "completely safe". Look for the green seal certification, or an E.P.A. certification. Read the label, see what's in the product before you use it. Read, think, assess. You're smart. You know it, and I know it. Thanks to the internet, we are all our own research specialists. You know what you're using, and you know what's good and bad.
     Before I go, let me hit you with a fact. Bleach destroys 100.00% of germs on a surface for a period of time. Our green cleaning product (green seal certified) kills 99.99% of germs on a surface for a period of time. Now, excluding places that absolute disinfection is a must like a hospital, dentist, or doctor's office, are you willing to use a chemical that, when mixed with ammonia, creates poisonous chlorine gas?
     Think about it.

     Oh, and P.S.: Pure chlorine is an "all natural" element in its gaseous form, by the way. Oh, and I'm pretty sure even though it's all natural it isn’t green seal certified.

Social Media Marketing

Social Media Marketing, or S.M.M., is the wave of the future. However, I am sure that some of you reading this may be skeptical, or have tried using Twitter, Facebook, maybe even a blog like this, and numerous other networks to try and promote your business. For all you skeptics, and heartbroken business owners that have been "burned" by S.M.M. tactics in the past, listen up.
     When it comes to S.M.M., DON'T GET DISCOURAGED! The climate of business in America has changed drastically (in case you've been on Pluto in a cave and didn't know), and people aren't as receptive to "scream marketing", like billboards, signs, and cold calls. Don't get me wrong, they still work to a degree, they are just not as powerful anymore. No, people now have their own doctorate in research thanks to the internet, and if they hear about you, they will hunt you down. That's what makes S.M.M. so important. It's all about relevancy.
     I update my blog, my Twitter accounts, Budget's Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, every one of those, daily. Often, more than once a day. That's the key. Logging onto Twitter once and Tweeting "EAT AT JOE'S" won't work. You must be stable and committed to constantly making yourself fresh, providing quality, seeing what's driving business to you, and getting rid of the stuff that isn't working. It's a constant cycle that must never cease. It's the endurance that makes a lot of people give up when they don't see business coming to their door through S.M.M. within the first month.
     Combining S.M.M. with Scream Marketing makes for an effective synergy that puts your company out there for all to see all the time. Get Google Analytics on your website (you do have one, right? Talk to your webmaster), set up some Google Alerts, get an account for Google Places. It's all free, and it helps you do one thing. STAY RELEVANT. You gotta stay on the radar, or you will disappear into the ether that is the web.
     This is the future. It's only going to get more and more prominent. Shift your marketing and sales force. Using both Scream Marketing and S.M.M. will get you out there, and dare I say? You may even enjoy writing on Twitter, or in a blog. GASP! Why haven't you started a Social Media Marketing plan yet?
     Think about it.

Teaching and Business

     Do you teach something? Well, professionally. All of us are teachers, mentors, I mean choose your label, but do you get paid for the teaching? That's the key question. Me? I do. That doesn't make me better than you, not by a long shot. I say this as a point to a greater ends. I doubt you don't have one skill that you can't teach professionally. I don't believe you if you say you don't. I simply refuse. There is something in your life that you can do better than the majority of the population, and you know what it is, so why don't you teach it?
     I am an English tutor, and I do love that job. I have a brief period where I was unclear whether or not I really made a difference, but I dismissed those thoughts and focused on what I saw, rather than what I thought. And I learned, ironically from teaching, that I do make a difference. And everything I teach and learn as a teacher comes with me to any job I perform, whether it’s my career, or simply doing the laundry.
     If you don't want to teach as a tutor, or a teacher/professor, don't then. But I'm telling you right now; spread your knowledge regardless of the medium. Write a blog, have a YouTube video account with educational clips, teach it to your employees/co-workers. Spread that knowledge and skill around, and with discretion, you can make a difference.
     Whether you know it or not, you're a teacher. Especially if you're a parent. But, that aside everyone around you learns from everything you do merely by observation. So teach! But...be careful about how you carry yourself. Maybe you're teaching lessons that you might not have a good lesson plan for.
     Think about it.

The Pros and Cons of Sustainabilty

Pros and Cons<---Click Here for Link

     I saw this article, and I thought it would be interesting to share. I am all for sustainable energy. In case you couldn't tell, I am very much pro-environment, and I try to do everything I can to help preserve this planet for my and my children's futures. I decided that just being pro-green isn't enough, and I wanted to find out why more people don't do it, or why there hasn't been an absolutely overwhelming push from government or big business.
     The article listed in the link above states many things, but the undercurrent is always money. This first objection to green energy is "time it will take to recover [these] initial costs is in the neighborhood of ten to fifteen years." It boils down to money, even though this type of energy is the future. How sad. How sad is it that in regards to the dollar, we cannot commit to cleaner energy? Easy isn’t working for us anymore. We burn through oil (pun intended) and leave the traces of it in the air. It doesn't come back as quickly as a breeze, or the sun. Fossil fuels take a LONG time in their creation process. It involves a lot of heat, pressure, and a couple of "X" factors to ensure proper formation. It is renewable, yes, but not in my generation, and for MANY generations to come. Fossil fuels are called such for a reason- they are formed from ancient decaying life forms long before humans ever set foot on the Earth.
     We use fossil fuels as energy cliff notes. It's quick, it's handy, but you miss the whole picture. We won't be seeing any newly formed fossil fuels anytime soon. However. The last time I checked, the sun rose this morning, and the wind's blowing. And those are just two easy examples. Bottom line, we need to get past the wall of fear that is cost, and start being more sustainable. Debt, debt, debt, yes, but what good is being debt free without a planet to live on?
     Think about it.

Two Apes and a Piece of Corn

Having a dream narrated by a singing British man imitating a child's voice as he lyrically narrated two orangutans fighting over a piece of corn is a peculiar dream indeed. And it is also the dream I had this morning after slapping the snooze button for 439th time. Typically I try to rope my topics in somehow with business, cleaning, or being green. But this one is all about two filthy apes fightin' over a piece of corn. It was surreal.
     What does it mean? Does it mean anything? What triggered it? I have no clue. I do have a pet rabbit, and we play toddler tunes for him before he goes to sleep, but I've never heard that song before. And unlike most songs we hear in dreams, I can still play this one over in my head. I don't know who said this, but tell me if you've ever heard this phrase: "Remembering a dream is like trying to grab sand- the harder you try, the more sand you lose." But this one I remember vividly, along with that damn song.
     I got nothin' for you about business. Really. I don't have an intelligent thing to say, tied in with a glib remark or a witty loop back into more...professional topics. This is just one human being describing his ape dream to another human being. So, I ask you. Does it mean anything? Is it a metaphor of some kind, an omen, a boon?
     Think about it.