Marshawn Lynch is the star running back of the Seattle Seahawks. He is a great player on a great team. Lynch is fortunate enough to be on the reigning Super Bowl winning team that is attempting to repeat as champs this Sunday in Phoenix.
Part of Marshawn Lynch’s responsibility as a player on a team in the Super Bowl is to meet with the media. That is the league’s rules and if players break those rules, they receive a major fine. Lynch fulfilled his responsibility this past week. Sort of. On Media Day on Tuesday, he said over and over again, “I’m here so I don’t get fined.” That’s it.
It’s late at night. My house is quiet. All I can hear is the heater and the refridgerator. When I stop typing, I hear the winds blowing.
Dangers of Snow
Today has been about the weather. Actually, the constant weather talk began last night and will continue tomorrow. In this part of the world, a blizzard is predicted with large amounts of snow being predicted. The storm could prove to be historic.
By now we all know about the story of the British mom, Ms. Lawrence who sent a bill to the Nash family for a birthday no show and is threatening to sue if it’s not paid. The Nash family originally sent back the RSVP and said yes. However, they realized their son had other plans, so he did not attend the birthday party.
The Lawrence family has been mocked- how could they bill someone a birthday party? After all, people argue. Things happen. Plans change. That’s life.
I understand.
But I support the Lawrence family. No, of course, I don’t think this is worthy of a lawsuit. Yet, it touches on a nerve of mine.
THE PLAGUE OF OUR SOCIETY
Poor communication. It’s a plague that has infected our society. And I for one hate this infection.
I feel Ms. Lawrence’s pain. We’ve made birthdayparties for our kids. What parent hasn’t?
You know the commercials that remind kids to save electricity? Something will be left on by a child. A friendly parent or character will remind the child to do the electricity saving act. The child will smile and claim he/she understands. From then on, he/she will be vigilant to save electricity.
NOT IN MY HOUSE
To quote Dikembe Mutumbo, “not in my house. “
In my house, that friendly smiling parent, would have a vein popping out of his/her head as they remind the child for the 1000th freaken time about the electricity sucking behavior that the child allowed to happen.
Seriously, I’m on 24/7 patrol. The entire house is my beat. I’m looking for electricity that’s being used unnecessarily.I will save electricity.
It could be a light left on. It could be a television that was never turned off. It could be a computer that was never fully shut down. It could be a radio that continues to broadcast. It may be a charger that remains in the wall even after the item it was charging was removed. It could be a refrigerator that is left open.
All these things happen in my house – SO VERY OFTEN!
ANGRY
And it annoys the heck out of me. I literally start growling like a Rottweiler whose food is being messed with.
Yes, it’s about the electricity. Yes, it’s about the money. Yes, it’s about waste. I hate waste.
True story. When my father would see the door was left open when the air conditioner was on, he would say, what do you think this is a barn? I’m not quite sure what a barn has to do with empty or shut doors. I do know he like the door to be shut.
SUCH A WASTE
There’s a scene in the move Christmas Vacation, Clark (Chevy Chase) has just put up the Christmas lights. His house has a ridiculous amount of lights on it. They then flash to the electric meter and it’s spinning like an out of control top.
(Check out the meters at 2:08)
That’s what I imagine when I walk my beat and see the electricity being used wastefully. I particularly get these feelings in summer and winter. After all, you have the air conditioner or heater running – depending on the season – non-stop. Well, that’s life living in this climate. But when you have the waste added on top.
Breathe MMK breathe.
Okay, I’m back. I’m calm.
The first winter my family and I lived in our house, one electricity bill was $800. What the …? I did a double take ala Wile E Coyote when he thought he had the Roadrunner. Now, I live in an average size house (approx. 1800 square feet) and thought this had to be a mistake. It wasn’t. Before the next winter, we did some work in our attic, and the bill never got that high again.
TRYING TO SAVE ELECTRICITY
Now if I could just get my boys on board and turn off the electricity when they are not using it, the electricity bill would be even less scary. We could save the planet. My blood pressure would be consistent. Of course, I’d have to find another way to exercise cause I wouldn’t have to walk the beat. I’m willing to make that trade-off.
So, any suggestions on how to get kids to turn off electricity? Just don’t send me those annoying commercials.
The retail industry stared down the apocalypse and continues on. Dramatic changes have come about, and a new vocabulary has arisen including omni-channel, real time conversion, clienteling, point-of-sale system, RFID, etc. Plenty of retailers are thriving in this new area, and the industry as a whole is growing.
So, whether you’re a retail seller, proprietor of retail related technology, or an industry publication, I can provide your customers/clients the content they need to navigate the dynamic landscape. By the way, my work which has been geared toward both e-based retailers and traditional brick and mortar.
Construction
The construction industry is booming these days and is expected to continue to grow in coming years. I’ve interacted with all types in the construction industry from those who create the designs, to those doing the heavy lifting, and to those writing the checks.
So, whether you’re an architecture firm, general contractor, developer, construction company, or an industry publication, I can help you spotlight a project, highlight an employee, or explain a technique. My work has focused on all areas of construction including: commercial, industrial, residential, and highway.
Education
Straight from over a decade in the high school and college classroom, I speak the language of education. I’ve worked with all the key players – parents, educators, administrators, and students – and understand their needs and concerns.
So, whether you’re an innovative Ed Tech company focusing on personalized learning to help students develop skills and reach their potential or an education publication espousing the needs of collaboration, engagement, and community, I can help. One more thing, I create learning materials that engages and empowers students.
