Get LOHAS, baby!

It's healthy! It's green! It's Julie Andrews bouncing through a field of poppys in Switzerland!

It's LOHAS!

No, no, no, not alohas. Say LOHAS! Please don't say ALOHA...if you were going to...we're not in Hawaii (yet), nor are we leaving Hawaii, as aloha means both hello AND goodbye... that is if you confused "lohas" with "aloha," as I predicted... anyhoo...wait! LOHAS IS IN the word Aloha! Wow man! It's a Grateful Dead Dark Star live at the Fillmore '69 tripfest, maaaan!

Okay, sorry... it's actually a Radiohead live at Red Rocks 2008 brought to you by Bud Light tripfest. Got my wires crossed there.

So back to Aloha...uh, I mean LOHAS. Come on everyone, jump on the bandwagon! Jumping on the bandwagon, in a literal sense, would actually be the exact right thing to do, since bandwagons as I understand them are horse-driven, and therefore eco-friendly.

LOHAS stands for "Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability"... so there you are. I'm trusting you get the idea.

The LOHAS term is used to describe people who hold several key values, including:

Long-term View – They strive to improve the quality of life for the world’s present population while trying to ensure that future generations have options to grow unburdened by the delayed costs of our present growth and development policies.



Holistic Perspective – At its most abstract level, they look at the whole, the parts, and the intertwining and interaction of the parts to understand a given problem. They look at the interdependence of humans, machines and the environment in the broadest terms. At a more practical level, they look at the holistic interdependence of economic factors, community development and the physical environment as an essential starting point in analyzing problems and in coming up with workable solutions.



Stewardship of Natural Resources – A fundamental perspective of LOHAS is understanding the limits of exploiting our natural resources and the environment. A LOHAS goal is to live a sustainable life. That is, how do we protect and preserve the resources of our planet and how do we use these resources most efficiently and safely.



Empowerment Through Knowledge – The LOHAS worldview is built on the broadest possible sharing of knowledge. This sharing allows communities to empower themselves, plan effectively and make cooperative decisions where all of the stakeholders have the maximum access to information that is critical to the problem at hand. They believe everyone should live a life of continuous learning to enhance their personal development and that everyone has a responsibility to educate others of their insights.



Accepting Responsibility – The key LOHAS values of "Sustainability" and "Wellness" are empty intellectual concepts unless people and organizations act upon those values. Businesses bear a heavy responsibility in re-orienting our society along sustainable development lines. Their corporate social responsibility involves: understanding the life-cycle of products from initial concept and design to final end-use and recycling, eliminating waste in the production process wherever possible, reducing or eliminating toxic substances used in the process, reducing energy usage, using “full-cost accounting”, producing with zero defects, promoting intelligent consumerism and turning formerly negative aspects of production into positive aspects that improve the bottom line and competitive position of companies. Government agencies have the opportunity to make government “greener” and more efficient by showing the way for the private sector because of their vast procurement expenditures, energy usage, waste and recycling policies. Government can also promote model behavior by rewarding early adopters of sustainability with legislative and financial incentives. Ultimately, consumers have to be convinced that sustainability is important to the quality of their lives and to the lives of future generations. Unless each of us starts taking significant steps towards building a sustainable society, we may face catastrophic social and environmental crises after we have foregone many options with easier or lower social costs.



Prevention & Wellness – They believe people should strive to reduce health risk factors through prevention, self-knowledge and wellness activities.



Social Justice – They believe that social justice should prevail over self-aggrandizement, sexism, racism and unsound government policies.



Authenticity – They are adamant that “authenticity” should be at the core of people’s lives, culture, products, and communities, in other words – “people should practice what they preach.”

People all across America and the world have used LOHAS concepts to restructure their lives to be more in harmony with these values. Most of these lifestyle changes have been small, such as starting with “dolphin safe” tuna or cosmetics free from animal testing. Yet, over the last several decades, LOHAS lifestyles have spread to every corner of the country and to every demographic group.

Ideas about health, environment, business, energy or community development that were once considered “fringe” or “radical” are now part of the mainstream of American life. The medical profession and government agencies now understand that prevention of disease is just as important as advancing new treatments and providing an equitable distribution of medical services.

Many major corporations are slowly realizing that promoting health and safety on the job and using sustainable business practices help the long-term bottom line and improve the global competitiveness of the company. Local utility companies are promoting energy conservation and encouraging the deployment of renewable energy sources. Local and state political leaders are seeing the holistic “big picture” of economy, environment and social equity when it comes to making development decisions for their communities.

SIZE OF LOHAS AUDIENCE – 68 Million Adults in the U.S.

Why are LOHAS values important?

Because of the sheer magnitude of the number of people who are organizing their lives, their families and their communities around LOHAS values. Today, over 68 million adults in the U.S., or 32.3%, are part of the LOHAS market (Natural Marketing Institute). That is 1 of every 4 adults! If we include the an additional 30 million people who are just becoming aware of the meaning and benefits of LOHAS lifestyles, that brings the ratio up to an astounding 1 in 3 American adults.

Although these huge numbers are impressive, it is very difficult to identify LOHAS consumers through conventional demographic measures. LOHAS consumers are a representative sample of the U.S. population as a whole. Their ages, income and race match national sample profiles. They are not only Baby Boomers, but range in age from 18 to 70 years. Only two demographic characteristics really stand out: they are more highly educated and over 60% are women.

What unites LOHAS consumers is their shared values. They share a whole way of life and a whole set of beliefs about how the world works. They are skeptical and discerning. They have a different set of priorities than other Americans about what is important in life. They are continually redefining what success means. LOHAS consumers often choose careers that pay less, but offer other social compensations.

They are very creative. They start new businesses, new social movements, new ways of life, and new ways of seeing the world. They are personally and socially constructive. They are engaged in life. They are grounded optimists. Experience is often more important to them than the accumulation of products. That’s one of the reasons why spas and eco-tourism are booming industries.

So there it is...a tip of the top hat to lohaslifestyles.com for the information. Here's a good site to get you started in a most tubular and LOHAS of a way: LOHAS: Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability - LOHAS S

In the Gas Crunch, We Have the Planners to Thank

With rising gas prices beginning to change the mindset and habits of commuters, it's most fortunate that more of our newer communities and redeveloped urban spaces are livable, biker-friendly, and pedestrian-friendly.

It's not by coincidence, either.

As early as the late 80s, and into the 90s, urban planners have adopted a concept called "New Urbanism." I should know, I've been one of them since the early 90s.

The idea is to end the compartmentalization of urban spaces between neighborhoods, workplaces, and goods and services. Instead, you mix it up a bit more. For example, you might notice the return of street-level store fronts in urban spaces, with residential dwellings on top of them. That brings people closer to their needs and services, and minimizes their reliance on transportation.

When transportation is necessary, urban spaces are more friendly to alternative transportation modes such as rail, bicycle, and public transit. Much of this has to do with the philosophy of New Urbanism adopted and put into action by planners at the local level; a concept that actually trickled up to the Presidency when Bill Clinton was in office - which gave birth to Federal ISTEA funding for transportation projects that bring together multiple nodes and encourage connectivity (say from auto to light rail to the airport, for example).

This was all foreseen without the heavy specter of an energy crisis many years ago, because it made sense.

A planner by nature is trained to work with the logic of conservation when it comes to urban design, and trained to provide options for communities. That means options on housing, infrastructure, parks and open spaces, and --- last but not least --- transportation.

So now with the energy crunch knocking on our door, we hear folks making statements like: "Wow, I never thought of using that bike path as a way to get to work...as a matter of fact, I don't think I even knew it was there."

No problem...your local city planner who was on staff 15 years ago (more than likely) fought with a slimy developer over that issue through the course of several staff meetings, and in doing so may have very likely put his job and livelihood on the line, depending on the intricate politics involved at the time.

The everyday person probably has no clue whatsoever what happens years in advance with urban planning, the politics that come into play, and the screaming matches at city council meetings over things such as bicycle paths.

Seem ridiculous? You have no idea. Very few barely have a peek into the nutty logic-defying world of planning politics.

I've seen it all, and will probably see more... inebriated Planning Commission chairs stumbling into meetings. Developers stooping to the level of name calling and cursing at Mayors during council meetings - with 50 members of the public in the room bearing witness. 150 screaming citizens in a council meeting demanding a Mayoral resignation and protesting in front of city hall for months on end, and a council vote of no-confidence for the same Mayor --- and the guy STILL refused to resign. Property owners protesting their own rezonings. NOT KIDDING OR EXAGGERATING ABOUT ANY OF THAT.

Careers actually can be made or destroyed over such things as bicycle paths...because planners, especially the ones certified through the AICP (American Institute of Certified Planners) are required to follow an oath, if you will, to uphold a special concept that fewer and fewer professionals seem to know about, and very few in the world of development: ETHICS.

My ethics were challenged many a time by developers, co-workers, even my own boss in one case. What did I do to keep my integrity if all else failed? I resigned. That's right.

Why did I do that? Well, for a multitude of reasons, but first and foremost I REFUSE TO BE A WHORE TO THE SYSTEM. I went into planning for a reason; to uphold high standards for laying the framework to building a new civilization, and to include the public in the process. Not for a mayor, not for a commissioner, and certainly not to line the pockets of some fat cat developer who refuses to follow the rules and zoning laws at the expense of the general public.

Anyhow, my apologies for digressing...what were we talking about?

So it is then...that we will hopefully feel, and start taking advantage of, the fallout of decisions driven by planners from many moons ago while we go through this protracted and unfortunately painful transition from oil. S

Solar-powered watercraft

Imagine the countries of the world trading with each other through the use of combined solar and wind-powered shipping tankers. Think of the fuel costs and power that could be saved as a result.

It may not be that far off, as such watercraft are currently in use.

There's one in existence right now, in the harbor of Sydney, Australia. More concepts are being developed as we speak to expand the use of this technology.

It's solar-powered watercraft; alive and well.

Using a combination of solar and wind power, the ferry in Sydney uses 90% less power than it otherwise would if it used a typical combustion boat engine.

I guess this is sorta like the aqua version of the EV-1, the electric car from the mid-90s (which wasn't solar, but it's the closest thing I could think of)...but hopefully this boat doesn't see a death like the EV-1 did...that's a story for another day.

Nevertheless, this isn't bad...a start in the right direction, at the very least.

It's encouraging to see that the solar mindset has started to infiltrate the maritime world. S

THE LARGER P-PATCH -- We MUST get off our reliance on oil NOW. PERIOD!

Well, not really the end of the story, as I continue here past the title.

I've long been in the camp of not scoffing at the raising gas prices, because I believe that the only way for the system to change is to let it implode; to shock it.

Kinda like that Peter Gabriel song "Shock the Monkey?" Yeah, sure, whatever. Go back to your 80s porridge pie, papa bear. SOOOOORY POOOOOORIDGE! (that's for you, M.H. - love to ya, brother! Meet me in Peru, okay? Hopefully.)

Unfortunately, it will be a tough transition period, and many will suffer in the process. Many who aren't prepared for the change or can't afford the rise in all the things rising gas prices will affect.

As gas prices go up, so do many other things... such as the food we eat, and the products that we buy. The costs of the shipping will carry over to the costs of the retailer, which will then carry over to the costs of the consumer.

THAT MEANS YOU AND ME.

I'm hoping that wiser minds see what's coming and come up with solutions to spearhead the transition away from fossil fuels... the acceleration of hybrid and plug-in vehicles, also to that of large shipping trucks and other types of transportation such as aircraft and watercraft. We need the post-Prius version of those! Perhaps rail could make a larger comeback...but without the coal burning engines, please. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

So anyway, those are the thoughts for the night. Maybe wishful thinking, but the American people are inventive. When faced with a dire situation, they learn to improvise.

I know we will learn to improvise with this transition away from oil. We have no choice. We have to! S

Happy Earth Day!

About all I'm capable of doing right now is wishing everyone a happy Earth Day, and an environmentally responsible Earth Week, as I'm laid out on my ass with food poisoning today.

Going back to bed, hope everyone's doing better than I am. S

Carbon Footprint Obsession Disease

Yep, it's a disease...you mean you haven't heard of it?

Maybe you've felt it, however. I know I do.

It may have started in me in the 1970s, when I was still under the age of 10. Not kidding...only at the time, I didn't really understand exactly "what it was" that was bothering me.

Maybe it was watching carbon emissions spewing out of the cars at the time in a cloud of blue and black smoke, and thinking "Huh. That stinky stuff probably isn't good for the air. If you add it all up over time, what are the consequences of all of it going to be on the atmosphere?"

I was probably as young as 7 or 8 at the time, and my mind was starting to pine over this stuff...and then I'd sky rocket the water bill by taking the garden hose to a mound of dirt to create streams in make-believe natural settings for my G.I. Joe and his jeep.

What can I say, I was Mr. Supersophiticated... way ahead of my time.

So you can only imagine where that's evolved around 30 years later.

I don't consider myself to be much of a worrywart, but I do have an obsessive-compulsive side...and I'd say the subject of the environment, and the behaviors related to my "carbon footprint," well...I guess they plague my brain.

Maybe plague isn't the right word, because it's all for a good cause...I say plague in the context that I feel the weight of the issue on my shoulders EVERYWHERE I GO...and I almost can't look at ANYTHING without trying to assess the carbon footprint equation it introduces to the planet.

It's attached to EVERYTHING. The behaviors of strangers. Which waste receptacle to use, and why isn't the glass one provided? Driving by fast food drive-thru lines with the rows of cars idling. Food consumption and its sources. Guilt at the gas pump on why I haven't picked up a hybrid yet...and contemplating if I'll still feel guilt at the pump even when I have a hybrid. The oil used in paving roads. Building design and efficiency of heating and cooling systems. The exhaust trail behind the plane flying overhead. The images on television of ice caps melting and polar bears in peril.

AAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHH!!! There...now I feel better.

Anyone out there experiencing any symptoms? S

EARTH HOUR: Turn out the lights tonight at 8PM!!!

Sydney, Australia has just started doing it today (as I'm writing to you in the Pacific Standard Time zone), and more cities are to follow.

For 60 minutes tonight, March 28 at 8PM local time, everyone is supposed to shut off their lights and "power down" for an hour.

I don't think that means unplugging your refrigerator or anything like that, more than it means turning off all the lights in the house and not using appliances.

Here's the website for details: Earth Hour US - Earth Hour 2008. The event is being sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, here's a link to their site too: WWF - Endangered Species, Wildlife Conservation, Animal Habitats. They have some really slick animal adoption programs available that allow you to take ownership of saving species...definitely worth your time to check out...I adopted a Siberian Amur Leopard for my folks as a $50 gift for the holidays.

Sorry, digressed there. So if you want to put some simple and easy environmental stewardship into action, the Earth Hour is an excellent way to do it!

I hope this starts to become a recurring event. S

On cologne...and friendship

I'll admit it...I'm a bit of a cologne junkie...but I never sat down and analyzed why, or what's behind it.

Until recently. Interested? Read on...

...but first, a little about me.

In describing who I am, one person was once quoted as saying: "...he can tell you EXACTLY what's on his mind...which is not always pretty...but it comes straight from the heart."

Sure...that's probably pretty accurate about part of me. While I can have my "animated" moments, off-color humor, progressive political opinions, seething anger about the state of the planet and environment, and deliver brutal honesty at times (which isn't always a bad thing in the larger picture, and necessary at times), for the most part I consider myself to be a rather mellow, down to earth guy.

I can also tell you what I am not. I'm not into glitz and glamour, as I don't envy the "Hollywood lifestyle"...even a little bit. Most of it makes me want to vomit; the affairs and divorces, the constant spotlights and lack of privacy, the ugliness of bad behavior and addiction, the entitlement attitudes, and that whole selling of the soul thing. The whole whirlwind of it all and how many families it destroys. Very very sad stuff.

So all that being said, as I wouldn't consider myself "high class" or "foofy" (whatever that means, but it sounded appropriate), the variety of colognes I have in my medicine cabinet do have a special value in my life.

For me, they're attached to memories and people I know. That translates into moods and what I'm feeling on a certain day, and that dictates what I pull out of the medicine cabinet. I have a rotation of about 10 varieties.

Some are what I'd call my "top tier" colognes, and I tend to gravitate toward what I refer to as the "musky" "water-based" and "sea salt" types of scents: Hugo Boss, Azzaro Chrome, Davidoff Cool Water, Nautica Latitude-Longitude, Alfred Sung (I like the purple color of it too), and a old favorite discontinued many years ago by H2O Plus, called Waves.

My "second tier" ones I tend to prefer less due to the nature of the scent (usually gifts, and unfortunately just not my type), but I find ways to use them...they're what I might wear when exercising or for more casual situations: various scents from the Avon's men's line such as Far Away and Tempest, a Garden Botanica brand called Botanika (my personal fav of my 2nd tier set), a brand called Santa Fe, and an old discontinued brand from the 80s called Emotions.

So there it is, the whole world can now judge me on my cologne collection...but before you make any snap judgments, there's something running a bit deeper here.

I can count the number of TRUE friends that I have on probably one hand...I'm talking about people who you'd risk your life for...who you'd put your reputation on the line for...who know your faults and secrets...who knew you when you were a scrawny little shit. That kind of friend.

With these friends, our history typically goes back many many years to high school or college, and in some cases even elementary school. Many memories, many fun times...and definitely some dark times too. They're the people I weathered many storms with, and whom I safeguard many subjects with in confidence.

There's only one nagging issue with a majority of these friendships, however, due to no fault of anyone. While we keep in close touch through phone and email, and plan visits and vacations together, we all happen to live far apart from each other. We're scattered across several different states, and we all seem to be travel junkies as some of us leaving the country for months at a time is becoming a recurring pattern. All this is a testament to the individuality, success, resourcefulness, and desire for an enriched life experience of everyone involved.

So recently, one of these friends I speak of, who I met in college and was currently living 5 minutes away from me relocated to his hometown out of state. While I'll miss him, it was a healthy move and something he needed to do. For his going away dinner, I was trying to think of a gift for him, and recalled the days when we lived together in Arizona and a cologne he used to wear, Davidoff's Cool Water.

He actually introduced me to the stuff...and it came on the market in 1988, the year we first met. How 'bout that. So while I realized he had probably moved onto other colognes, I decided for nostalgia's sake to pick up a set of the old stuff for him.

So the thought occurred to me today, as I was putting on some Cool Water enroute to no special event or place of particular importance, of how a scent can remind you of an old friend. For me, that's what my cologne collection represents...memories and friendships. It's almost more about the memory than it is about the actual scent.

So as the day goes on, the scent might fade a bit, but the friendships and memories only grow stronger.

I'll end this post with an appropriate passage that's very dear to me; a read from The Prophet by Kalil Gibran. S

On Friendship
Kahlil Gibran

Your friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.

And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."

And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.

When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.

And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.

For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.

For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

Educating the masses: the PLANET EARTH dvd series

RED ALERT! Some etiquette at the market, please?

Shopping at Whole Foods yesterday for organic vegetables, I noticed what has become a recurring pattern in our urban society.

It's called rudeness and lack of consideration... and nowhere is it more apparent than at the market these days.

In some ways, I see it as a reflection of the downward spiral of our society in general... everyone out for themselves... nobody willing to compromise and work together for the greater good.

Does that sound like a primary election that we're having? Could it be that the hornet's nest demeanor of the market mirrors our political landscape? Can it be? How can it be? Wow!!! (yelling out loud, with jaw wide open for at least 5 seconds, like the scary screaming face on the Pink Floyd - The Wall poster)

I blame it in its parts to a reaction to more compact urban spaces, general selfishness, lack of awareness and social skills, pure stupidity, more lack of agility and fat folks, and a general inability to see the larger picture of how "working together, we both succeed."

Let me repeat: "Working together, we both succeed."

One more time: "Working together, we both succeed."

Just to be annoying: "Working together, we both succeed." Theeeere you go... now, all you dummies, go off to market and find your success!!!

...but not without some general rules of etiquette for you to follow... just in case you forget my catch-all phrase of the day.

Rules at the supermarket:

1. Plan what you want to get BEFORE going to the market... it will go a long way. Thank you.
   
2. Say "pardon me" or "excuse me." Take a chance, it might actually work... and at the same time start a "pay it forward" chain reaction. Thank you.
3. Try a little awareness of your surroundings... if you can move your cart to the side and out of the way, PLEASE do so. Thank you.
4. Whenever possible, try shopping in a tandem of two, and consider actually using it to your advantage... one person should "drive" and commit all their attention to cart etiquette while the other "fetches" the goods. Thank you.
5. Get familiar with your market layout... and do it quickly. It's totally worth your time and will eliminate future annoyances for everyone, including yourself. When moving to a new area and seeing which stores you'll be going to, it might even make sense to go on a "scouting mission" to get familiar with the layout. Thank you.
6. To the effect of the prior point; venture through the market aisle to aisle in an organized manner; running to and fro will only make you that much more annoying to others. The ONE exception to that hard and steadfast rule: the frozen section, which is typically the last one you hit, right before approaching the register... That's the home stretch... there's a reason the frozen section is where it is. Thank you.
   
7. When running into others you know; if a conversation ensues (what I refer to as a "tea party"), step to the side of the aisle, preferably in a place that's out of the way... or if the conversation gets really involved, decide to meet for coffee afterwards... or at a motel room... whatever works. Thank you.
8. If the thought of adhering to ANY of these rules and guidelines makes you seethe at the teeth, I'd consider going to the market during non-peak hours, when nobody else is around... that might be a healthy thing for ALL OF US. Thank you.
   
9. Or, if you're simply too busy, "market shy," don't like people in general, are teetering on the edge of shooting up a place, or if I've convinced you to avoid the market and you have now decided to poo-poo the idea of going anymore --- you can avoid the whole shebang by having your groceries delivered. Stores do it now for a modest fee, and they'll even bring them into your house... they won't eat them for you however; that's up to you. Thank you.
   
10. Try this phrase: "Thank you." It produces pleasant and interesting results. Thank you.

ANY violation of these rules, perceived or real, may result in one of the following, or a combination thereof, occurring around you, at you, or on you... henceforth:

1. Hearing "excuse me" or "pardon me" directed at you excessively... that means you've caught the market on an unusually "good day," and YOU are the aisle annoyance for everyone else.
2. To the effect of the prior statement, if later at home you feel stomach pain or other body pain... that means other shoppers made a voodoo doll of you and are poking you with needles or other devices of torture.
   
3. A banana being jammed into your ear.
   
4. A rutabaga being thrown at your head.
5. A random stranger sneaking up behind you and pissing in your pocket.
   
6. A lasso and dragging around the grocery store by the Lone Ranger of your "tea party" if you and yours are blocking the aisle.
   
7. A shopping cart crashing into your cart that's in the way (or YOU, if you're in the GODDAM WAY [chances are is hasn't been the first time, either.])
   
8. Lots of dirty looks from passers by if you haven't planned in advance, and are holdng up the vegetable aisle "debating" between the Brussels sprouts and broccoli.
9. Excessive staff questions like "Can I help you find anything?" or "May I pick that up for you?" if you're turning the aisle into a train wreck.
   
10. Or no help from the staff at all... or perhaps when you ask where the water chestnuts are, they'll point you to the chopped liver aisle just to "get even" with you.
    

Good day, and good luck...

One more time... "Working together, we both succeed."

(bowing to a KeyArena crowd of 21,000) Thank you! Thank you... Thank you very much. Thanks so much. Thank you! You're too much! Thank you. My oh my, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. S