No matter how much you think you know, there's always something new that comes along and makes you re-think what you thought you knew. Did you know that the cement used in buildings emits more CO2 than the entire aviation industry? Who knew? Well, I'm guessing someone knew but that was news to me. Cement is made with limestone that emits CO2 as it cures, which is apparently something on the order of 99 years... This British firm has re-formulated cement using a magnesium silicate that, among its other positive and enhanced qualities, absorbs CO2 as it cures. So, it's not only zero emissions but might actually soak up CO2 emissions from other buildings. Sort of an urban CO2 vacuum.
It's innovations like these that make me truly marvel at the brilliant and creative human spirit. When we turn our attention to solving problems, it's amazing what we can do. I'm equally optimistic that other problems will be solved (ok, some may be just knocked down to smaller sizes) with the same creative efforts.
Where there is crisis, there is also opportunity. Personally, I'm looking forward to the creative solutions on the horizon.
Read more!
1.19.2009
A Sign of Good Things To Come
Whether or not you believe in omens or signs, you have to be amazed at the landing of an airliner in the Hudson River this past week. The pilot and co-pilot both seemed to have remained calm and their training kicked in. Within three and a half minutes of the birds flying into the engines and losing all thrust, the pilot decided he could land the plane in the Hudson River. Now, the Hudson is NOT a river you'd like to take a dip in any time of the year... and certainly not on a frigid January morning. It's a miracle that the circumstances all came together perfectly to enable the plane to land (or to river, as it were) without loss of life and, it seems, without serious injury to anyone on the plane or in the river.
That, in itself, could be called miraculous. But to me, the real miracle is this. Within minutes of the incident, there were three boats (two ferries and a tug, if I recall correctly) helping passengers to safety who had been standing on the wings of the plane in the icy water.
To me, this is a metaphor for the situation the world is in right now. The global economy has frozen up, the high flying economies of the world have lost all upward thrust. A few quick thinking individuals are doing their best to steer the economy to a soft landing. You get my point.
But there's another part to this metaphor. The three boat operators who came so quickly to the aid of the airliner in the river. I'm assuming there are no emergency practice drills with boat operators in the Hudson River that encompass pulling frozen, scared, wet airline passengers out of the river. There may be new emergency procedures after 9/11, but it's hard to fathom it included this scenario. Regardless, those three boats saw a plane skidding into the river and headed over to help.
The lesson: There are a lot of unknowns in front of us, things we have never experienced and can't adequately prepare for. However, we can apply what we do know to new situations and create a successful outsome. More importantly, perhaps, is that when we work together, we can mitigate a potentially disasterous situation. Had those three boats not arrived quickly, there may have been more serious injury due to hypothermia or even drowning. Instead, everyone worked together to help those in need and the outcome became a shining example of what can go right when things go wrong.
Something to ponder in the days ahead. One by one and all together, we can make a difference.
Now go out there and have a great day.
Read more!
That, in itself, could be called miraculous. But to me, the real miracle is this. Within minutes of the incident, there were three boats (two ferries and a tug, if I recall correctly) helping passengers to safety who had been standing on the wings of the plane in the icy water.
To me, this is a metaphor for the situation the world is in right now. The global economy has frozen up, the high flying economies of the world have lost all upward thrust. A few quick thinking individuals are doing their best to steer the economy to a soft landing. You get my point.
But there's another part to this metaphor. The three boat operators who came so quickly to the aid of the airliner in the river. I'm assuming there are no emergency practice drills with boat operators in the Hudson River that encompass pulling frozen, scared, wet airline passengers out of the river. There may be new emergency procedures after 9/11, but it's hard to fathom it included this scenario. Regardless, those three boats saw a plane skidding into the river and headed over to help.
The lesson: There are a lot of unknowns in front of us, things we have never experienced and can't adequately prepare for. However, we can apply what we do know to new situations and create a successful outsome. More importantly, perhaps, is that when we work together, we can mitigate a potentially disasterous situation. Had those three boats not arrived quickly, there may have been more serious injury due to hypothermia or even drowning. Instead, everyone worked together to help those in need and the outcome became a shining example of what can go right when things go wrong.
Something to ponder in the days ahead. One by one and all together, we can make a difference.
Now go out there and have a great day.
Read more!
1.12.2009
Sprouting for Beginners
This time of year, so many of us are looking for ways to get healthier. One easy way to freshen up your diet is to add sprouts to the mix.
Why Sprout?
The main benefit of sprouting is that it takes a seed or nut in a dormant state and brings it to life. During the sprouting process new and higher quality proteins and other nutrients are produced. Tests have shown that the nutrients in seeds and nuts are anywhere from 50% to 400% greater after sprouting or soaking.
In addition to the higher nutritional value, sprouts are highly digestible. Because sprouts are living, growing food sources, they have a rich supply of enzymes. This quality makes sprouts easily assimilated and metabolized by the body. Sprouts are packed full of nutrition in a form that your body can easily utilize.
Sprouts continue to grow slowly even after refrigeration and their vitamin content will actually increase. Compare this with store-bought vegetables and fruits, which start losing their vitamin content as soon as they’re picked and often have to be shipped a thousand miles or more in the winter.
Sprouting is so easy and fun…don’t let it intimidate you. The rewards are well worth the effort.
How to sprout
You'll need a couple of things:
A wide mouthed jar, (e.g. a mason jar used for canning), some cheesecloth and a rubber band. Oh, and some sprouting seeds, of course. Find some popular sprouting seeds here.
Instructions:
Sprouting times:
Why Sprout?
The main benefit of sprouting is that it takes a seed or nut in a dormant state and brings it to life. During the sprouting process new and higher quality proteins and other nutrients are produced. Tests have shown that the nutrients in seeds and nuts are anywhere from 50% to 400% greater after sprouting or soaking.
In addition to the higher nutritional value, sprouts are highly digestible. Because sprouts are living, growing food sources, they have a rich supply of enzymes. This quality makes sprouts easily assimilated and metabolized by the body. Sprouts are packed full of nutrition in a form that your body can easily utilize.
Sprouts continue to grow slowly even after refrigeration and their vitamin content will actually increase. Compare this with store-bought vegetables and fruits, which start losing their vitamin content as soon as they’re picked and often have to be shipped a thousand miles or more in the winter.
Sprouting is so easy and fun…don’t let it intimidate you. The rewards are well worth the effort.
How to sprout
You'll need a couple of things:
A wide mouthed jar, (e.g. a mason jar used for canning), some cheesecloth and a rubber band. Oh, and some sprouting seeds, of course. Find some popular sprouting seeds here.
Instructions:
- Measure an appropriate amount of seed, visually inspect and remove foreign matter and broken seeds.
- Place seeds in jar
- Add water to jar for soaking
- Cover mouth of jar with cheesecloth
- Soak for recommended time (see below)
- Turn jar upside down drain at a 45 degree angle
- Let the seeds sprout for appropriate time (see below)
- Rinse seeds in jar as needed (2-4 times/day), returning jar to its upside down 45 degree angle position
- When sprouts are ready, rinse and store in refrigerator, in jar or in another suitable container, until ready to use. If not used within 12 hours, seeds should be rinsed every 24 hours in refrigerator.
Sprouting times:
- Radish: Soak 8-14 hours, sprout 1.0+ days.
- Sunflower: Soak 8-14 hours, sprout 18 hours.
- Barley: Soak 8-14 hours, sprout 1.25-1.5 days. Use only unhulled barley; "whole" hulled barley and pearled barley won't sprout.
- Quinoa: Soak 2-4 hours, sprout 12 hours. Very fast sprouter. Rinse seeds multiple times to get off soapy tasting saponin in seed coat.
- Wheat, including Kamut and Spelt: Soak 8-14 hours, sprout 1-1.5 days. Hard Winter wheat is better than soft Spring wheat.
- Alfalfa, Clover: For greens: soak 4-6 hours, sprout 6-8 days.
- Garbanzo: Soak 12-18 hours, sprout 1.5+ days.
- Lentils, brown/green and red: Soak 8-14 hours, sprout 1.0 day.
- Mung beans: Soak 8-14 hours, sprout 18 hrs - 1 day.
- Adzuki beans: Soak 8-14 hours, sprout 1.0 day.
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