Pretty Purple Tree

I don't know what these trees are called but they're very pretty. You can find these trees sporadically in Beverly Hills.

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Reducing My Carbon Footprint

The little I can do to help save the Earth is better than nothing at all. The best way (translation: easiest) is to start with using energy efficient light bulbs. I actually use those although I'm not a big fan of the light they emit (not bright enough) but I guess a little sacrifice is ok if it helps the planet.

Another thing that can easily be done is turning off/unplugging appliances when not in use. This is actually a little tough for me. Not the appliance part since that I take care of. It's the light. I have it on all night long since I can't sleep with the light off. Not good, I know but I can't help it. A nightlight simply will not do. Sorry Earth...

Reducing laundry. This one's easy since I'm too lazy to do it. Lol. I only do laundry about once a month. Same goes for dry-cleaning. Dry cleaning is apparently not good but some of the stuff I have NEEDS to be dry cleaned. I am not about to waste the good money I spent on my clothes only to have them ruined by washing them wrong. Again, sorry Earth. I guess the best way to remedy this situation is to buy clothes that don't need to be dry cleaned or go to "Green" dry cleaners (and shell out $$$). I can probably do something about this one...

Some things that I absolutely don't think I can give up:
1.) My SUV - if you've been in a car accident, it's better to shell out the extra cash for gas than the feeling of being in a small car although I wouldn't mind public transit if it was as reliable/fast/clean as the ones in Hong Kong (best subway system EVER!)
2.) Meat - I refuse to give up meat! Well, at least for the time-being. I can reduce my consumption of meat but I don't think I can completely forego it.
3.) Flights - I love traveling too much and I haven't seen all of the world yet. I don't travel often (once or twice a year) so I don't think it's a big deal.

Carbon Footprint

A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.

Tips to Reduce Your Primary Footprint

1. Holidays

Don't go by air

2. Electricity

Sign up to renewable energy

3. Gas

Try using solar water heating - this can reduce your gas bill by up to 70% over a year.

4. Travelling around

Use public transport as much as possible. Find out about your local bus services and then use it.

5. Car Share

Sign up to a car share scheme to reduce your travel footprint.

Tips to Reduce Your Secondary Footprint

When you buy goods - consider where they have been made and the materials and processes used to make them. Items that have high emissions in the manufacture or delivery should be avoided when ever possible. Things such as:-

1. Bottled water

Tap water is safe to drink in most European and North American countries, yet people still insist on buying bottled water. If the bottle is labelled as being from volcanic springs - you can bet that it has probably been imported from some distance. Imagine the carbon footprint of the flight / shipping of the water! And that's before adding in the emissions due to making the bottle and / or recycling it.

2. Food and drink from far distances

When you go to the supermarket, look at the label to identify which country the food is from. There is no need to buy New Zealand apples in the UK in the autumn - but people do!

Think twice about buying a bottle of wine from the other side of the world - you may be able to find much more local wine, which will have travelled far fewer miles.

Better still try growing your own fruit and vegetables in your own garden. Planting an apple tree will not only provide you with lots of fruit, with zero carbon footprint, but the tree itself with breathe in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere - making these fruit effectively carbon negative!

3. Meat eating

Reduce your consumption of meat, especially red meat.

4. Clothes from far off lands

Check the clothes labels before you buy. If they come from more than 1000 miles away, keep looking!

5. High packaged items

Avoid goods and services that have unnecessary packaging! Need we say more?

Black & White Cookie

I finally got to try it! It's not authentic coz it's not from NYC but it'll do for now.

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Waiting Room View

This is what I've been staring at for the past half hour. I hope I don't have to stare at it much longer. My eyes are starting to water.

Ugh! Why is my lawyer always late?
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Cupcakes!

As a treat for helping me out, I took Arash for a cupcake treat. It's sort of THE treat when we help each other out and from none other than Yummy Cupcakes! Oh wait, they're closed! Drat! We had to get our cupcake fix from Starbucks (who gets their cupcakes from Sweet Treat). Not good. Too sweet, not moist enough, not Yummy Cupcakes.
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Another Exam!!!

Eeek! And I'm totally unprepared! Oh well... See you guys tomorrow if I survive the dreaded test...

Dinner...5/1/08

I had hummus and pita chips late this afternoon so I wasn't too hungry. After a long blogging session (for my other blog), I realized it was a little too late for the salmon dinner I had originally planned so grilled muenster cheese sandwich it is.
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