tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-332755202024-03-07T18:48:55.969-08:00When I Rule the WorldI will be a benevolent dictator. Please enjoy my musings on all subjects from politics, economics, education, environment, and urban planning to metaphors, irony, travel, and personal dilemmas.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-13496283612660693982009-11-19T20:00:00.000-08:002009-11-19T20:05:32.732-08:00For all the single ladiesI've developed the perfect system for last names. A matriarchal line & a patriarchal line - everyone has two last names. <br /><br />Ladies, you would have been born "You Middlename Yourmomsmaidenname Fatherslastname." Then you get married and become "You Middlename Yourmomsmaidenname Hislastname." Your husband would have been "Husband Middlename Hismomsmaidenname Hislastname" and after marriage would be "Husband Middlename Yourmomsmaidenname Hislastname. <br /><br />The beautiful part is that you, the woman, are always filed under "Yourmomsmaidenname" and he is always filed under "Hislastname." Men are always filed under the patriarchal name, women under the matriarchal name. <br /><br />You never have to wonder "Did I already change my name at the dentist's office?" It doesn't really matter. Plus, you will always share at least one name with both parents, because your parents would share the two last names of "Yourmomsmaidenname Fatherslastname." No more wondering who's related to who - it's all in the name. It is the perfect genealogical system. <br /><br />Yes, life would be good.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-45477529563503186862008-10-28T22:26:00.000-07:002008-10-28T23:20:47.625-07:00Alegra's EndorsementsPRESIDENT, UNITED STATES<br />Barack Obama OR Ralph Nader*<br />*Though I have been campaigning for Barack Obama, Ralph Nader has my heart. Biden comes in a close second, though. The tough part is deciding if I should vote conservatively with my safe and close second choice, or vote with my truest ideals. I'm still undecided. <br /><br />UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES**<br />50th DISTRICT Nick Leibham<br />51st DISTRICT Bob Filner<br />53rd DISTRICT Susan Davis<br /><br />STATE SENATE**<br />39th DISTRICT Christine Kehoe<br /><br />STATE ASSEMBLY**<br />66th DISTRICT Grey Frandsen<br />76th DISTRICT Lori Saldana<br />77th DISTRICT Raymond Lutz<br />78th DISTRICT Marty Block<br />80th DISTRICT Manuel Perez<br /><br />SAN DIEGO CITY ATTORNEY<br />Mike Aguirre*<br />*Both candidates have some... shall we say discrepencies. Aguirre at least shares my value in the ends he is striving for (just not the means). <br /><br />SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL**<br />1st DISTRICT Sheri Lightner<br />3rd DISTRICT Steven Whitburn<br />7th DISTRICT Marti Emerald<br /><br />CITY OF CARLSBAD**<br />City Council - Tom Arnold and Keith Blackburn<br /><br />CITY OF CHULA VISTA**<br />City Council - Steve Castaneda<br /><br />CITY OF ENCINITAS**<br />City Council - Maggie Houlihan, Rachelle Collier, and Robert Nanninga<br /><br />CITY OF ESCONDIDO**<br />City Council - Olga Diaz<br /><br />CITY OF LEMON GROVE**<br />City Council - George Gastil<br /><br />CITY OF NATIONAL CITY**<br />City Council - Mona Rios and Alejandra Sotelo-Solis<br /><br />CITY OF OCEANSIDE**<br />Mayor - Jim Wood<br />City Council - Esther Sanchez and Charles Lowery<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Ballot Measures**<br /><br />State of California</span><br /><br />Proposition 1A - High Speed Rail Bonds - YES<br />Proposition 2 - Sustainable Farming Practices - YES<br />Proposition 3 - $2 Billion Children's Hospital Bond - NO<br />Proposition 4 - Parental Notification - NO<br />Proposition 5 - Nonviolent Offenders Sentencing and Rehabilitation - Yes<br />Proposition 6 - Anti-Gang Penalties (Runner initiative) - No<br />Proposition 7 - "Renewable" Energy Generation - NO<br />Proposition 8 - Constitutional Amendment Limiting the Rights of Gay Citizens - NO<br />Proposition 9 - Victims' Rights, Reduction of Parole Hearings - No<br />Proposition 10 - "Alternative" Fuel Vehicles - NO<br />Proposition 11 - Redistricting - No<br />Proposition 12 - Veterans' Bond - {Not Enough Information}<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">San Diego County</span><br /><br />Proposition B - San Diego Unified Port District - Cities of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City and San Diego<br />- Marine Freight Preservation - NO<br /><br />Proposition C - City of San Diego - Mission Bay lease revenue - YES<br /><br />Proposition O - City of San Marcos - General Plan Amendments - YES<br /><br />Proposition S - San Diego Unified School District - $2.1 Billion Bonds for improvements - NO<br /><br />**These endorsements are primarily based on a matrix I created that compiles a number of endorsements from organizations with which I share similar values and also which, in my opinion, have a strong track record of thorough and unbiased endorsements, initiatives, and missions. <br /><br />These include and are weighted towards, but are not limited to: <br />Sierra Club & Sierra Club of San Diego (I love the Sierra Club)<br />Green Party of California & San Diego (I'm not a Democrat, you know)<br />City Beat (collective sigh of relief for a truly liberal news source in SD County)<br /><br />News Sources which inform my own opinions (not a complete list):<br />Sierra Magazine, and Hi Sierra Magazine (I also love Sierra Magazines)<br />NPR/KPBS (most balanced source of news in town, and thorough coverage) <br />Salon.com (great articles on politics, from funny to whistleblowing)AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-37723936530132869402008-10-28T22:16:00.000-07:002008-12-03T12:04:13.031-08:00No on Prop 8Erin says:<br /><br /><br />I feel very strongly about voting No on Prop 8.<br /><br />I am writing this not only to reach out to everyone and urge you to vote No on Prop 8, but also hopefully to provide some talking points and facts for speaking with friends and family about this proposition, and please DO speak to friends and family abut this.<br /><br />If you don't have the money to donate for TV ads, use the voice that you do have. Talk to everyone you know, give them facts and dis-spell myths, then ask them to talk to everyone THEY know. I know that most of us don't have the millions of dollars it takes to bombard the public with television commercials(the mormon church alone has donated over half of the more than 40 million that has gone into the yes on 8 ads), but what we do have is the grassroots power to talk to each other.<br /><br />When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same sex marriage back in May, I was proud... proud to live in this progressive state, a state that values and protects an individual's right to life, liberty and most importantly their right to pursue happiness.<br /><br />What is going on now is disheartening, the yes on 8 campaign has launched a well funded and faith based smear campaign that diverts attention from the actual proposition and misleads viewers to believe that prop 8 will educate kids about homosexuality in public schools, and that churches will lose their non-profit standing. Both of these points are completely false, but I suppose it is pretty hard to run a campaign that is asking people to vote FOR discrimination. No matter how you feel personally about gay marriage writing discrimination into our California constitution is wrong.<br /><br />Just in case you, or anyone you speak with is grappling over whether this is really the right thing to do, I would like to reference miscegenation laws. Miscegenation laws banned the marriage of interracial couples until the case of Loving V. Virginia overturned those laws in 1967. Almost 20 years before that- in 1948- California was the first and only state to throw out statewide miscegenation laws.<br /><br />In 1948 the California Supreme Court held that "marriage is ... something more than a civil contract subject to regulation by the state; it is a fundamental right of free men ... Legislation infringing such rights must be based upon more than prejudice and must be free from oppressive discrimination to comply with the constitutional requirements of due process and equal protection of the laws". The California Supreme Court further explained that "the right to marry is the right to join in marriage with the person of one's choice". That quote is so powerful that I have to give it it's own separate line, I want to scream it from a California mountain top.<br /><br />"THE RIGHT TO MARRY IS THE RIGHT TO JOIN IN MARRIAGE WITH THE PERSON OF ONE'S CHOICE"<br /><br />Just as 1967 seems quite late in our history to have waited to finally, and legally state that interracial marriage could not legally be denied to two willing parties. Similarly, 2008 seems like it has been a long time coming to finally say that the constitution protects everyone's right to marry, and does not discriminate based on sexual orientation.<br /><br />In case you have come across some people who have dragged religion into this, here is a fun quote from the sitting judge for the Lovings, years before their case was finally taken to the supreme court.<br /><br /><br />"Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."<br /><br />Sounds oddly similar to 'God intended marriage to be between a man and a woman'.<br /><br />The reason that Loving V. Virginia was able to overturn miscegenation laws in this country was not because it was a popular idea, but because it was found that no matter what a popular vote decided, it was unconstitutional to deny two persons the right to marry because it infringed on their due process as well as equal protection under the law.<br /><br />The constitution is not the bible, nor should it be treated as such, and vice versa. Religious arguments that cite the bible are completely out of context with the issue at hand. The issue is discrimination, and we have a long history in this country. The bible should not be used as justification for personal discrimination, and furthermore has no place as a justification for writing discrimination into the constitution.<br /><br />Please- I urge you, aside from taking your voice to the polls on Nov 4th, please take it to everyone you know. Talk to friends and family, write an e-mail(or just copy and paste this one, you have my full permission), and volunteer at your local No on 8 phone banks.<br /><br />Do every little thing you can to stand up strong in this fight against discrimination, and protect ALL families by voting NO on 8.<br /><br />Further Reading:<br />http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/something_smells/7431/<br /><br />(Thank you, Erin, for the eloquently written email.)AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-40590594138224412272008-10-04T13:40:00.000-07:002008-10-04T13:41:08.034-07:00If GOP wins, just kill me quickly.<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/89FbCPzAsRA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/89FbCPzAsRA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-21959119861069630572008-04-23T13:32:00.001-07:002008-04-23T14:44:58.726-07:00History of BiologyWe will begin with the definition of "biology," the study of life. "Bio" means "life," and "-ology" is "the study of," both taken from the Greek. This is an appropriate place to start, as the formal study of life is typically traced back to the Greek academy.<br /><br />Of course the study of life must go well beyond the Greeks as part of human history. It is hard to imagine that humans have not studied life since they came into existence. For example, the first archaeological record of agricultural endeavors dates back 10,000 years. It seems that agriculture would not have been possible without studying life. Yet we have no record of how that knowledge was passed on, and so biology as we know it can not be credited to that point in history. And of course most myths and creation stories are metaphors for observations of the natural world, but again it is not parallel to biology as we know it, instead it was more of a pre-cursor.<br /><br />The structured approach to the study of life that we know as biology was started in ancient Greece, approximately 500 BC. This was the when the first medical school was created, and where Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote their treatises on anatomy and medicine. Other cultures at this time (like the Egyptians, Chinese, Arabs, and Persians, among others) also had sophisticated approaches to medicine, with vast knowledge of herbs and remedies, but they did not create the system to transmit this knowledge as the Greeks did, and hence lost their chance to define biology.<br /><br />During the European Renaissance (approximately the 1600s) there was a surge of interest in the natural sciences, biology included with alchemy (the pre-cursor to chemistry), herbalism and medicine, and naturalism, which persists to this day as a subsidiary of biology based on observation of the natural world instead of testing.<br /><br />During the 1700s and 1800s the world of biology became smaller and therefore larger. That is to say microscopes were invented and microbiology became a new field. Science was continually becoming more sophisticated and chemistry and botany became more important fields, as well as taxonomy.<br /><br />In the 1900s experimental biology was beginning to emerge, defining fields such as organic chemistry, experimental physiology, cell theory, embryology, germ theory, evolution, and biogeography. These fields became stronger and even more specialized in the 21st century; the focusing in became more sophisticated in fields like molecular biology, biotechnology, and genetics, but there was also a broadening back in the spirit of the naturalists, and fields evolved such has ecology and conservation biology that focus on the bigger picture.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-14419480538100595002008-03-21T10:12:00.000-07:002008-03-21T10:13:08.196-07:00Time to buy a yacht... quick!<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AISA-Rj2mzc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AISA-Rj2mzc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-23270149999826721462008-01-18T14:51:00.000-08:002008-01-18T14:58:48.659-08:00Seeking Co-Working in San DiegoI recently discovered the <a href="http://hatfactory.net/">Hat Factory</a> in San Francisco. Well, I didn't really discover so much as hear about it. Err, read about it. None-the-less, it left me yearning for a space to write my own. Affordable, communal, functional, inspiring. <br /><br />I had recently read about a latchkey office in Sorrento Valley, which I thought was a more corporate version, but actually they are more of just an address and phone service. Either way, it doesn't really have the same inspired feel. <br /><br />And then, in my hard earned google searching (okay, about 3 clicks in), I discovered <a href="http://wiki.workatjelly.com/JellyInSanDiego">Jelly</a>!<br /><br />It's a little far for me, coming from my new home in suburbia, but Jelly is one day at a time... so I'm going for it! Maybe I'll even host the next one! <br /><br />In the mean time, if you are interested in forming a cool co-working space in the Sorrento Valley area, please email or post a comment!AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-84137917984719305142008-01-03T15:55:00.000-08:002008-01-03T16:00:18.249-08:00Waterboarding/Repetitive Drowning/American Water TortureDavid Said:<br /><br />I think it was Jon Stewart who said that "waterboarding" sounds like something you did for vacation.<br /><br />Obviously, I haven't been alone in my concern: NPR ran a story about the naming of this torture practice being deceiving a few months back. "Drowning Simulation" was the best candidate but was thrown out because waterboarding IS technically drowning as the lungs fill up with water. Since then I've been thinking and apparently so has NPR. Today I heard them use "Controlled Drowning," but it still didn't sound right. It sounds too safe, too benign. So I now suggest: "Repetitive Drowning." It's concise and descriptive.<br /><br />If you agree with me that America doesn't torture, i.e. in that idealistic parallel universe you learned about in 8th grade history, let's start calling it like we see it.<br /><br />Alegra Said:<br /><br />Wow... I didn't realized that's what water boarding was. All this time and I thought it was more along the lines of Chinese Water Torture with the drops on your head. Both are terrible, but one is so much more actively violent. I have a suggestion: How about "American Water Torture"? Not as descriptive, and probably sort of inaccurate becuase other countries probably do it, too. I'd settle for either. <br /><br />Have you seen "V for Vendetta?" I highly recommend it. I had an interesting conversation about rendition, torture, and other somber and disgusting subjects last night, fueled in part by a discussion of V for Vendetta. I normally can't bear to watch violent films, but V for Vendetta is beautiful (though violent), political, thoughtful, disturbing, inspiring, and just downright excellent. It contains some Repetitive Drowning scenes. <br /><br />All in the name of Extraordinary Rendition... Let's call it <a href="http://peace.sandiego.edu/events/2006/3-27-06OutsourcingTorture.html">Outsourcing Torture</a>.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-5542070214247138202007-12-01T15:42:00.000-08:002007-12-01T15:43:08.292-08:00Little CoincidencesAs I'm sure I have mentioned, the day job isn't so thrilling,<br />but I joined "linkedin" (social networking for<br />professionals) and it allows you to auto-connect to<br />anyone in your address book who is already in the<br />network. I went ahead and did that after randomly<br />stumbling onto the site the other day, and there were<br />many connections that had been neglected for a long<br />time that then got an auto-email from me. <br /><br />One of those was a former donor to the ecocenter. He<br />now works for a company called principle energy. I<br />had discussed with him about a year ago the<br />possibility of doing some writing and web development<br />for the company, but nothing ever came of it. When he<br />got my linkedin connection, he wrote to me to say<br />he'd been busy traveling for the new job, but that<br />there was still opportunity to write/work for them,<br />and we are going to meet up in a couple weeks. So,<br />the reason I thought of you was that in addition to the<br />funny string of coincidences, the company (principle<br />energy) is also a biofuels company. <br /><br />So, <a href="http://biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/2007/11/27/principle-energy-to-invest-250-million-in-mozambique-for-sugarcane-ethanol/">this</a> is the only thing I found on "principle<br />energy." But I sang karaoke last night and the host<br />made up crazy biographies for everyone as he was<br />calling them up to sing. My story was that I was from<br />Mozambique (didn't speak English, and was singing<br />phonetically). Kinda funny, all the little<br />coincidences surrounding me these days. I finally<br />feel like I'm re-connected to the golden thread of<br />synchronicity.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-73664332203411279342007-11-30T20:42:00.001-08:002008-04-16T07:38:08.598-07:00How to Make Bath SaltsBath salts are very easy to make, and can be made with either Epsom salts or sea salts. <br /><br />Epsom salt are basically manufactured sea salt. Sea salt has many different minerals, and varies depending on which sea it comes form. Epsom salt is standardized, made in lab, and much cheaper, but has less soul than sea salt. Epsom salts are created specifically to help alleviate sore and achy muscles. Sea salts have differing medicinal properties due to the various mineral content. Sea salt has more lore attached to it, but also costs many times more than Epsom salts. I often mix them together, for the healing benefits of both. <br /> <br />You can make bath salts or salt scrubs, very different things. (Well, okay, only a little bit different.) <br /> <br />Bath salts with herbs - fill jar 3/4 to 7/8 full with salt, pour into bowl, mix in dried herbs, put back in jar; use in hot bath. You can use green tea, chamomile, rose, lavender, or many other dried herbs. You should give these away in small sachets (think about buying paper or cloth tea bags for loose tea leaves) so that the herbs won't get stuck in the drain. Alternatively, you can use a mortar and pestle to grind the herbs so they can go down the drain. <br /> <br />Bath salts with essential oils - fill jar 3/4 full with salt, add a few drops of essential oils (and optional few drops of base oil), shut lid and shake VERY WELL, top off with salt if desired; use in hot bath. Essential oils are extracted from various plants and plant parts. Be sure to use only the highest quality, pure oils. Many oils are made synthetically in a lab, but they are slightly chemically different than the real stuff and can be harmful or irritating. <br /> <br />Salt scrub - fill jar almost full with salt, fill rest of the way with oil, add a few drops of essential oils, shake well; for use as scrub in shower. <br /> <br />Sugar scrub - fill jar almost full with sugar, fill rest of the way with oil, add a few drops of essential oils, shake well; for use as scrub in shower. <br /><br />Sugar has naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy acids, which will help to dissolve dead skin cells. They are very weak acids, so they won't irritate most people's skin, but use in moderation or on a small area first to make sure they don't cause a reaction.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-81886836923059431752007-11-30T20:37:00.000-08:002007-11-30T20:39:14.169-08:00Water Filtering RoadsSo if you have ever been to a wastewater treatment plant, the system at one point goes through what is basically a giant brita filter. <br /><br />It usually goes into a big pond where they let the biggest chunks settle out and/or float to the top, then they skim both top and bottom, and then chemical treat it, and then it goes to the giant brita filter. <br /><br />I couldn't find a very good picture online, but here is something kinda close:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6540910-0-large.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6540910-0-large.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Except it starts with the largest rocks on the top layer, and goes smaller and smaller through gravel until it gets to charcoal. Well, a road could be made like that. Large rock/gravel on top, but with a porous cover over it so it isn't like driving on a dirt road, but then through the porous cover and then through the various layers of filtering rocks. <br /><br />It wouldn't do for freeways, obviously, and probably not even major city streets, but all neighborhoods could have roads like this, and even larger roads could have shoulders like this. They could also potentially filter into the water run off pipes that already exist, but the water would be filtered before it got channeled out to our lakes/rivers/streams/oceans.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-76503807802124989842007-10-31T19:58:00.000-07:002007-10-31T20:03:01.577-07:00Looking Forward to the Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvDLYROwiEB5LYH3Eyd4lYTXFvxkmbpkdc1v8pKZDCitoF1xP4Mm9wp08GUBoZvhWN33LgUI0TaKnWbgO9nXuN3fce-9RTeSmgx6bpphQCRf70zZpvTxxHpuwKRbIYKPEbdf5Kg/s1600-h/trash+bush.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvDLYROwiEB5LYH3Eyd4lYTXFvxkmbpkdc1v8pKZDCitoF1xP4Mm9wp08GUBoZvhWN33LgUI0TaKnWbgO9nXuN3fce-9RTeSmgx6bpphQCRf70zZpvTxxHpuwKRbIYKPEbdf5Kg/s400/trash+bush.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127701989638585410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRqNRq7XMi5WLj3g6P3biMfavFVhYcfZnc2AhFvQUVOvq2YshXZkNPUOPR07zbb-QvrW3QIeYKWuCLNG_i_tcxxKRfwSAFF7HIr_lxUpfLetsH7ObgHli6X7NoryXQ5yUiTZ90w/s1600-h/trash+bush+2.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVRqNRq7XMi5WLj3g6P3biMfavFVhYcfZnc2AhFvQUVOvq2YshXZkNPUOPR07zbb-QvrW3QIeYKWuCLNG_i_tcxxKRfwSAFF7HIr_lxUpfLetsH7ObgHli6X7NoryXQ5yUiTZ90w/s400/trash+bush+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127701998228520018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW3lYIGw5RRpKZhcdfeCf4nFSfgCyQYcAjYaRxiA8ueHsxS33S0bqha0YB7GuyGP_DxTBk7EKWyT9LL1baWKzZvVjWa9Kh-UuiHVYC_CyKNz5w1pzb6uncNnK0FFSrXVoKTc_yw/s1600-h/trash+bush+3.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW3lYIGw5RRpKZhcdfeCf4nFSfgCyQYcAjYaRxiA8ueHsxS33S0bqha0YB7GuyGP_DxTBk7EKWyT9LL1baWKzZvVjWa9Kh-UuiHVYC_CyKNz5w1pzb6uncNnK0FFSrXVoKTc_yw/s400/trash+bush+3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127702002523487330" /></a>AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-31282223596407518412007-10-25T14:43:00.000-07:002007-10-25T14:45:12.159-07:00PerspectiveI saw that the YMCA was going to remain open most of the week, with limited hours on some days. While I have mixed feelings about this (on one hand I think they should be closed, on the other I was glad to have ap lace to get a little exercise), I decided to go in. I tried to go to a pilates or yoga class, but they were all canceled. I was understanding, after all, it is a disaster zone. But a woman came in behind me, freaking out that the class was canceled and bitching at the people behind the counter, asking them why they didn't tell her that when she called. I pointed out the fact that we are in the middle of a major fire, and that maybe it was time to be a little extra understanding. She wavered back and forth between agreeing with me, telling me "Don't tell me what to do," continuing to bitch about the situation, and defending herself. She told me she had canceled an appointment because they told her the class was happening, and if she knew she could have brought her tennis shoes like I did. (She would not have done both in reality, because she wouldn't have canceled her appointment.) I just re-emphasized that it was a time for understanding, and walked away. Can people not gain perspective for one week? I have certainly been a bitch with no justification, and I have rushed and cut people off on my way to yoga class, and I have done many other assinine and inconsiderate and self-centered things in my life. But yesterday, I did a little yoga on my own, and then used the elliptical machine. I was very appreciative that these people still came to work, so that I could exercise in a clean air facility.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-12550601621355614482007-10-25T13:32:00.000-07:002007-10-25T13:34:31.356-07:00MoralsIn high school I once saw a girl drop some money. I picked it up and took it, and then I saw that her friend saw me and told the girl who dropped it. She never approached me, and at the time I probably would have said "Finders, keepers." But now I think it was absolutely the wrong thing to do. So, I could write about it comparing the finders-keepers moral to be-a-good-neighbor moral. It becomes moral because you could make an argument that finders-keepers is an appropriate action, but everyone did that the world would be a terrible place. I actually think about this single act more than I do about the shoplifting I did during that same “bad phase” in high school. <br /> <br />Or even something that comes to mind - investing. I invest some of my money in socially conscious mutual funds, but not all. Marshall and I had a discussion last night. He was like "Why do you invest? To feel good about yourself? Or to make money?" We did end up having good discussion, because it is important to support things like that IMO, but you wouldn't want to put all your money in them because they don't always do as well as other stocks, but then I feel bad about even having mutual funds with Halliburton in them, and I probably do. Yet I wouldn't ever buy Halliburton stock directly. So what is moral? Should I put all my money in hippie-funds, or put it all in Halliburton, Wal-Mart, and DeBeers stocks? Obviously, both are extreme, and I am somewhere in the middle, and a small percent of money in conscious funds can just be part of diversification. But is it moral? <br /> <br />Actually, everything is moral. Turning of the water while you brush teeth is a moral act, just as not turning it off is. Taking a long commute by car, or taking the time to bike and train.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-62708867802182512262007-10-25T13:27:00.000-07:002007-10-25T13:28:01.282-07:00After the FiresSo, apparently everyone has been at work all week. So strange. I feel like people should be at home, a sort of mass contemplation. But no, I see UCSD students partying and getting drunk beneath the smoky skies, and everyone going to work like normal, or even extra agitated because of the stress and feeling like they are important, and people just generally taking the opportunity to party and go out to eat and go shopping because they don't have to work. It's disturbing. No sense of conservation, in any meaning of the word. No effort to reduce car pollution since smoke pollution is way up, no effort to conserve energy since firefighters are using lots, no effort to conserve water since the fire efforts need it. IT truly disturbs me.<br /> <br />But on he other hand, life does go on, and I know that. I guess I just feel like if you are taking off work, use it to get some perspective. It’s not spring break. And if you aren't off work, then have a little reverence, even as you work, buy groceries, or whatever. I am still going to Portland this weekend. Does that make me a hypocrite? I don't know. But I will be glad to have some fresh air. The smoke is bothering my throat and eyes, and probably lungs.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-33258577164977778902007-09-10T10:56:00.000-07:002007-09-10T10:57:08.246-07:00The Name GameWhat I wish is that all children in our country would be named with a hyphenated name, from both of their parents. Then when they marry, the women keep their maternal name, and the men keep their paternal name, and then, they, too, hyphenate with a new combination. It is both equal and clear. <br /><br />In this world I would have been Alegra Marcel Shrock-Bartzat. When I marry I would become Alegra Marcel Shrock-Loewenstien. Marshall would become Marshall Alan Loewenstein-Bartzat. Girl children would be Shrock-Loewenstein, and when the girls marry they would be Shrock-husdandslastname. The boys would be Loewenstein-Shrock, and when the boys marry they would be Loewenstein-Wifeslastname. <br /><br />The arrangemnet could be different, but I like my way because it maintains both maternal and paternal lines very clearly and equally; even if arrangement changed it would have to be standardized to prevent confusion. Yes you could argue that the reversal is confusing (shrock-loewenstein AND loewenstein-shrock !?!?!), but if you were used to it, it simply would not be an issue. <br /><br />FYI, in Costa Rica they all kids have hyphenated name, one name from each parent. The only thing is that only the paternal names are passed on, which is, of course, still problematic.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-24256906431619191872007-07-18T09:06:00.000-07:002007-07-18T10:12:39.671-07:00Surprising Family Ties<strong>Rattle Snake Families</strong><br /><br />Young rattlers leave their mothers at just a few weeks old, but when it’s time to hibernate in the winter, they follow their mother’s scent trail and use the same den. Future generations will also use the same den—some have been used for over 100 years.<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Plant Siblings</strong><br /><br />According to a new study in Biology Letters, plants respond competitively when forced to share their pot with strangers of the same species, but when placed in a pot with their siblings are more accomodating. "Siblings were less competitive than strangers, which is consistent with kin selection," the study reports.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-51877162192035478592007-07-13T22:57:00.000-07:002007-07-13T22:58:08.647-07:00On FearsThe concept of fear is often considered something to be abolished from our lives, something only for the weak-minded. However, this book reckons that fear is part of our transformational journey, and that addressing those fears in various ways (through the various archetypes) is ultimately the only way we grow.<br /><br />From The Hero Within:<br /><br />Unless we fear hunger, want, isolation, and despair, how will we ever learn to confront our fears? We are not ready for abundance, for a safe universe, until we have proven ourselves – to ourselves – by taking our journeys. It does not matter how many people love us, how much wealth we have at our disposal; we will attract problems and we will feel alone and poor as long as we need to. … Ultimately, there is no way to avoid the hero’s quest. It comes and finds us if we do not move out bravely to meet it. And while we may strive to avoid the pain, hardship, and struggle it inevitably brings, life takes us eventually to the promised land, where we can be genuinely prosperous, loving, and happy. The only way out is through.<br /><br /><br />What is currently your biggest fear? Can you think of fears you held in the past that you have let go of or moved through? Are all of these fears truly your own? Or were some of them created by the media or projected onto you by others?AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-81486127570058483182007-07-11T21:26:00.000-07:002007-07-11T21:27:12.678-07:00The Hero WithinI have been reading the book “The Hero Within” by Carol Pearson. I will be creating “lessons” based on quotes, thoughts, and contemplations from or inspired by my readings in this book. It addresses archetypes we all identify with and learn from as we take our personal journey to becoming heroines. Becoming a hero is when you can identify with all the archetypes, and transition between them smoothly. Essentially taking on all the different roles life requires of us with equal competency. For me, heroinism is also about authenticity, and I will do my part to weave this ideal into the contemplations on our hero within. <br /><br />From The Hero Within:<br /><br />Heroism is a matter of integrity, of becoming more and more yourself at stage of your development. Paradoxically, there are archetypal patterns that govern the process each of us goes through to discover our own uniqueness, so we are always both very particularly ourselves and very much like one another in the stages of our journeys. In fact, there is a rather predictable sequence of human development presided over respectively by the archetypes of the Innocent, the Orphan, the Wanderer, the Warrior, the Martyr, and the Magician. <br /><br /><br />In your mind, do you recognize these archetypes from your personal history and experience with religion or spirituality? Do they make any connections for you? <br /><br />We will be learning more about these archetypes this month, so for now, think about what each archetypes means to you right this moment.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-13405245381574686242007-06-28T09:30:00.000-07:002007-06-28T09:32:33.019-07:00A post completely stolen from an email from a friendI would like to clarify a statement I made about my position on valuing my time and how and why I do it. "Dude, what is your time worth?" It is not a money thing at all.<br /> <br />When I was 25, I made like $20/hr. The guys that did things like change brake pads and landscape my yard would charge me more than double that. Additionally my time was "cheap" because I felt like I had lots of it. The big dirt nap was far, far off - 50 years away which might as well have been 1000 years away for as much connection as I had to it. I changed my own brake pads because it held intrinsic satisfaction for me since I am a gearhead and my time was "cheap" i.e. I had lots of it left in my life. The money piece of it confirmed that equation because I would have to work 3 of my hours to make enough money to pay for 1 hour of the guys that could do it for me so I would actually be decreasing my net output at that time by paying them to do it.<br /> <br />When I was 35, I made around $35/hr. The guys changing brake pads were only charging like 1-1/2 times that rate to do it for me. The dirt nap loomed closer but I still did not give it much thought. I worked many, many hours, up to 75/week for months at a time and so sometimes it made sense to hire out some of the more mundane tasks simply because I didn't have the time to do it after work. I wanted to spend what little time I had left after work with friends and family (looking back now I would say I didn't spend enough time with them although I had some great times with you and other friends in Laguna and in Irvine)<br /> <br />Now, approaching 45, I make somewhat more than what I have to pay the guys that change brake pads. I am feeling the dirt nap peaking around the corner at me, who knows, maybe as little as 15 years away (both my grandfathers passed by age 60). I have a lot of shit to get done before I meet my maker - traveling, raising a family, spending time with friends and family and maybe squeezing off one more major project, my Taj Mahal, my swan song. I don't want to spend 1/8 of a second of those 15 years changing brake pads or even thinking about changing brake pads. It is not in the top 10,000 things I want to do before I leave this rock - I am going to run out of time before I even complete 10% of my list. I can afford to pay someone else to change my brake pads while I do some of the many things that are on my to do list. In fact, I can afford to pay guys $20 - $25/hr to do many of the mundane tasks I don't want to include on the list on my headstone and still be way ahead. What's more, that is how I can multiply my output in my life. I will get a lot more done in the 15 years remaining by working and making the money I can make doing so and paying for as much other stuff as possible so I can spend more time doing the things that are really important in this life like spending time with my family and recreating. Life is not about working man!<br /> <br />Donald Trump doesn't even know the name of the guy that changes his brake pads. Well, he probably doesn't own a car long enough for the brake pads to wear out before he buys a new one, but he makes yooge money doing what he does best, developing real estate, and he buys everything else he needs or wants and still puts large stacks of casheesh in the bank. I, like the Donald and everybody else, whether they know it or not, use money to normalize the simultaneous set of equations that must be solved to tell me when to work and when to pay someone else to work - thus the phrase "what is my time worth". It is not a money thing at all, it is a balance thing. Balance work with play and family. I want to spend as much time on family/friends and play time as possible before I wind up in the obits.<br /> <br />So my point to you when I said "Change brake pads? Dude, what is your time worth?" is that you make way more per hour than what you have to pay the guys that change your brake pads, your pride is in tact since you have proven you can change pads having done it many times, and it probably isn't even that fun anymore, if it ever was for you. Make your money doing what you do so well, pay the knucklehead guy to change your brake pads and spend the afternoon with your girlfriend at the beach or on a bike ride or on a hike while he does it. You will be multiplying your output while increasing your life enjoyment. "Dude, what is your time worth?"AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-26487428708018272042007-06-26T09:28:00.000-07:002007-06-26T09:30:31.342-07:00Spanish MothHere is a video from my time in <a href="http://alegramarcel.blogspot.com/2006/08/barcelona-travelogue-week-1.html">Can Serrat</a> last year. It is a video of a moth that I swear I though was a hummingbird the first 74 times I saw it. It loved this flowering bush on the side of the house. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/44jZe2aXd6I"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/44jZe2aXd6I" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"> </embed> </object>AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-86436343187682582302007-06-22T16:39:00.001-07:002007-06-22T16:39:44.573-07:00Cornstarch Aliens<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/vCHPo3EA7oE' name='movie'></param><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/vCHPo3EA7oE'></embed></object></p><p>In this 2:44 long video, you will watch some interesting physcis of cornstarch. And then the aliens appear.</p></div>AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-9018591749864782892007-06-20T14:45:00.001-07:002007-06-20T15:03:36.385-07:00Being an eco-tourist in a miniature Alice in WonderlandI just watched <a href="http://www.jove.com/index.stt?comp=c18jdh42&ID=197&VID=180&referrer=http%3A//www.jove.com/index/Main.stp%3Fsinfo%3DvQ4AAG4Tx05hAgAA%26chnd%3D1#BOTTOM">this video</a> about gut microbes in termites. It is really fantastic. <br /><br />You get to see how these bacteria and microbes live inside the gut of termites. Of course I have heard about the fact that termites don't actually digest wood - the microbes in their gut digest them. But there are so many kinds of microbes swimming around in there!<br /><br />It makes me think about all the secret worlds that surround us, everywehre. What kind of bacteria nad microbes are living inside of our own guts, unbeknownst to us? How many do we need to survive?AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-85132850659900905092007-06-19T14:07:00.000-07:002007-06-19T14:15:55.641-07:00Why invasive species are badInvasive species are responsible for: <br /><br />Increasing the intensity, frequency, and size of wildfires <br />Altering soil chemistry and nutrient levels <br />Lowering water tables <br />Altering rates of sedimentation and erosion <br />Displacing or outcompeting native plant species <br />Degrading or eliminating habitat for native animals and organisms <br />Providing habitat for undesireable non-native animals and organisms <br />Posing a serious threat to native wildlife by upsetting delicate food webs <br /><br />See a directory of North American pests <a href="http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/gallery.html">here</a>.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33275520.post-13965428635953263762007-06-18T21:47:00.000-07:002007-06-20T15:02:09.907-07:00SarcasmI realize that I have posted several sarcastic posts in a row. I'm going to stop.AlegraMarcelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475131705043538726noreply@blogger.com0