Plastic...the word and the thought of it spark a very different reaction within me than it used to. I greatly dislike and nearly hate plastic. It makes me confused, it leaves me with questions, and its effects disturb me.
Plastic makes global climate change effects possible, plastic makes starvation of seabirds possible, and plastics made complete alterations of the marine food chains inevitably possible, and plastics make the great pacific garbage gyre possible. Plastics make clean oceans impossible.
Plastic is forever. Now that I am aware of this and I have an open mind, I came to the realization that it is time to eliminate plastic as much as possible from my everyday life. Upon attempting to do this, one starts paying attention to the sources of plastic that they encounter in everyday life.
The handle of my hairbrush, the outside of my straightener, my laptop case, the wrapping around my cheese, my bread bag, my laptop power source, the grill of my truck, part of the blinds on my window, storage containers, bowls and cups in the kitchen, yogurt containers, trash bags, wrapping of things that come in boxes, the stuff that laminates my papers at work, the soap dispensers in the restroom, and so on. This stuff is everywhere and is a part of almost everything we do.
For a substance that has only been around for a small blip in history, it already rules our lives. Looking at this stuff, I still find it interesting how we could overlook some of the effects and I also find it disconcerting in trying to understand how to reduce the effects plastics are causing.
What do plastics do?
Well, they are very important. They are lightweight, they are disposable, they are a major asset to the medical field, yet, they are not super safe and they are wreaking havoc on natural ecosystems.
Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, consume them, and they end up being unable to process them. Therefore, overtime they starve to death. Albatross pick out plastic bits, they fill their stomach, and they end up dying, plastics break down further and further and further, but never go fully away. Therefore, they are absorbed into the marine food chain and over time, especially in our future, I suspect. As bigger fish, eat the smaller fish, that eat the zooplankton that could have consumed these plastics in some way, the toxins in plastic end up increasing more (biomaginification, big fish eat many many small fish and if several of them are infected, there is a higher concentration of chemicals going into the big fish therefore infecting that fish).
These are just a few examples of what plastics do in a negative way. There are many benefits to plastic and we are now learning about the harmful effects of BPA, which has caused a major shift in plastic production. Still, with all that, we should treat plastic as a special occasion gift that we're allow to touch every several years . Tons and ton of plastic goes to waste every year, left to sit and breakdown, and never go away.
I'm sure this is the argument that every person hears, it's nothing new, but it means something and is important and has inspired me.
Since I cannot go out into the middle of the Pacific at the moment and start removing plastics or get rid of the pieces that have broken down to microscopic bits that have entered the marine food chain, I can at least figure out what I can do, which is why I have started to rid plastic from my life as much as possible. It's been about a year since I started and I am certain I'll continue over the years trying to solve the and find ways around plastic and I urge everyone to do the same.
So far I have:
-limited and nearly eradicated my use of zip loc bags.
-started to use glass containers for food leftovers. (They hold up to use a lot more than plastic and when things in them get nasty, the desire to just throw them and replace later is pretty much elminated and they also dishwash).
-Found/made small mesh bags to store my produce in while at the grocery store (this has also inspired me to buy loose products instead of pre-packaged products).
-buy in bulk rather than small quantities. I get a big container of yogurt instead of individual containers.
-stopped drinking soda except for special occasions where I attempt to get cans instead of bottles, and rethink straws whenever possible.
-Use plastic wisely: one of the latest things I have started doing is using plastic cup with a straw. I think this is one of the best purchases (like a little over $1) I've made and even though it is plastic, it is rather useful. It has a reusable straw, it is mostly spill proof, and if I ever want soda somewhere, rather than using a paper cup, I use my own cup. Also, it's nearly completely spill proof!
-I use a metal water bottle and have not had bottled water in months and months and months.
-No more milk in plastic containers
-When working at my store, I purposely do not offer a bag to customers and make them request one from me, because shopping bags make up a vast majority of plastic pollution.
There's a long way to go before plastic can be eradicated from everyday life. These are one years worth of small attempts and lifestyle changes, with many more to go.
Some of my great inspiration was from this:
The Plastiki
Algalita Marine Research
Charles Moore-On the Seas of Plastic
Jeremy Jackson-How We Wrecked the Ocean (This is an absolute favorite video of mine, not entirely plastic related, but something I feel is really important for many to see).
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Here is a letter I wish to send to someone who could make a difference. It mostly expresses the biggest frustration and stress that I contain in life. It revolves around school and the difficulties I have had with funding because of how our system is set up. It's chalked full of sarcasm.
__________________________________________________________________
Dear Federal Government,
I am writing this letter to inform you that there are some inconsistencies with your age requirement for independence in the federal tax system. I find it blasphemous to make citizens independent at age 24, when our society states that 18 is when you cross into adulthood. My reason for this is as follows...
My parents make way to damn much money to qualify me for financial aid in forms other than loans. Now, I understand that grants are given to those who are in the greatest financial need and I feel I qualify as that, here is why.
When you calculate expected family contribution to college, you state that about 3/4 of mine comes from my parents. Well, there is a problem here. If I wish to attend college, there needs to be other form because my parents refuse to provide 3/4 of the money for my tuition.
Problem 2: the loans I do qualify for, well, until I had to take out too many to fund my education, I had no problem obtaining financial assistance. Now that I have significant school debt, funding the rest of my education requires co-signatures, something my family refuses to do, making it impossible for me to finish the final years of my education.
You might suggest community colleges and sources of education that cost less. Brilliant idea, but there is a major problem with this. I can only obtain an associates degree with this form of education. In today's economy, less than a bachelor's degree isn't going to land me a job that allows me to pay off my debt or even care for myself comfortably. It's becoming a master's world and well, I can barely get to the bachelor's level.
I've applied for scholarships, sought financial aid in every form available, and have found that my parents financial standing holds me back from pursuing my educational goals. I beg of you to stop saying that students need to seek higher education to advance unless you make higher education accessible to everyone, even the middle class.
The story turns another direction today. I am nearly 24 years old, I have had to take a hiatus from pursuing my college education and therefore have defaulted to the working world. Here's where my challenges continue. Without a bachelor's degree, the job market is rather limited. I have found it even a challenge to find unpaid internships without a bachelor's degree and have found myself getting as far as part time in the retail industry, but even that is proving difficult to hold onto and pretty impossible to survive on or make any sort of progress towards saving for the rest of my college education.
With all of this said, I ask one thing. Make it possible in the future for students who happen to fall into my same position to find educational opportunities beyond community colleges. I am not a ward of the state and have no way of becoming so, I am not rich, my parents will not pay for my college and should not be expected to do so, loans are a very big burden and only get you so far even when going to community colleges, and I have worked for a long time and tried to save as much as possible to put myself through college, but at a young age and being uneducated at the higher level, it's not likely that those years of work would provide funding for a complete education.
I wish to work for the government as a public servant educating and informing the public. I wish to contribute back to society and as a rather intelligent individual, I feel I can make a rather large contribution to progress in the future. So, please cut me a break somewhere and establish a program or something that makes it possible, or at least, create some great jobs, make the SCEP/STEP positions in the federal government more widely available, and crack down on those misusing them.
That is all...
Sincerely,
Lily
_________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Dear Federal Government,
I am writing this letter to inform you that there are some inconsistencies with your age requirement for independence in the federal tax system. I find it blasphemous to make citizens independent at age 24, when our society states that 18 is when you cross into adulthood. My reason for this is as follows...
My parents make way to damn much money to qualify me for financial aid in forms other than loans. Now, I understand that grants are given to those who are in the greatest financial need and I feel I qualify as that, here is why.
When you calculate expected family contribution to college, you state that about 3/4 of mine comes from my parents. Well, there is a problem here. If I wish to attend college, there needs to be other form because my parents refuse to provide 3/4 of the money for my tuition.
Problem 2: the loans I do qualify for, well, until I had to take out too many to fund my education, I had no problem obtaining financial assistance. Now that I have significant school debt, funding the rest of my education requires co-signatures, something my family refuses to do, making it impossible for me to finish the final years of my education.
You might suggest community colleges and sources of education that cost less. Brilliant idea, but there is a major problem with this. I can only obtain an associates degree with this form of education. In today's economy, less than a bachelor's degree isn't going to land me a job that allows me to pay off my debt or even care for myself comfortably. It's becoming a master's world and well, I can barely get to the bachelor's level.
I've applied for scholarships, sought financial aid in every form available, and have found that my parents financial standing holds me back from pursuing my educational goals. I beg of you to stop saying that students need to seek higher education to advance unless you make higher education accessible to everyone, even the middle class.
The story turns another direction today. I am nearly 24 years old, I have had to take a hiatus from pursuing my college education and therefore have defaulted to the working world. Here's where my challenges continue. Without a bachelor's degree, the job market is rather limited. I have found it even a challenge to find unpaid internships without a bachelor's degree and have found myself getting as far as part time in the retail industry, but even that is proving difficult to hold onto and pretty impossible to survive on or make any sort of progress towards saving for the rest of my college education.
With all of this said, I ask one thing. Make it possible in the future for students who happen to fall into my same position to find educational opportunities beyond community colleges. I am not a ward of the state and have no way of becoming so, I am not rich, my parents will not pay for my college and should not be expected to do so, loans are a very big burden and only get you so far even when going to community colleges, and I have worked for a long time and tried to save as much as possible to put myself through college, but at a young age and being uneducated at the higher level, it's not likely that those years of work would provide funding for a complete education.
I wish to work for the government as a public servant educating and informing the public. I wish to contribute back to society and as a rather intelligent individual, I feel I can make a rather large contribution to progress in the future. So, please cut me a break somewhere and establish a program or something that makes it possible, or at least, create some great jobs, make the SCEP/STEP positions in the federal government more widely available, and crack down on those misusing them.
That is all...
Sincerely,
Lily
_________________________________________________________________
Monday, March 14, 2011
Dessert Challenge
I enjoy challenges and I enjoy learning how and figuring out how to create things. I tend to be good at reading about how to do things and then finding that I can apply what I've read in a practical manner. Needless to say, this applies to cooking too.
So, I decided to take on one the complex desserts: Tiramisu.
I love tiramisu, at least I do now. It's kind of funny and ironic, taking how much I enjoy it now and looking back on how much I used to hate it. I can forgive the tiramisu hatred because up until the last few years, I'd never had real tiramisu. There are so many pretend versions of it out there that judgements on this wonderfully fantastic dessert can be incorrect. Point in case: a co-worker brought a cake to work a few years ago that was supposedly tiramisu. It was hard, had a few layers, and tasted like coffee. There was no creamyness, no layers of traditional ingredients just a cake like substance topped with some sort of hard substance that tasted like coffee. Not good!
Anyways, I enjoy a challenge and decided to take on this dessert for kicks. I've made it twice now and the second time was definitely the charm, the first was an experiment with getting something that I hoped would resemble tiramisu.
My recipe:
6 tbls. sugar
4 tbls. powdered sugar
6 eggs: separate yolk from white into separate containers. Allow whites to warm up to room temp.
1/2 cup amaretto (this is what I used, I hope to try Brandy next).
A chunk of german chocolate (use the small holes on a cheese grater to grate about 1/2-1 cup)
2- 8 oz. containers of Mascarpone cheese (I found mine at Marina Safeway and Corte Madera Trader Joe's. I like the Safeway stuff a bit better) - let cheese warm up to around room temperature.
2 Packages Lady Fingers (whole foods Mill Valley close to the Safeway has the right ones, rite aid also has them).
1 small container of whipping cream (Safeway or Trader Joe's)
Vanilla extract
Espresso blend (I got the safeway stuff, I'm sure there is much better out there)
Alrighty, how to make this stuff work:
-Eggs First: The first thing you will want to do is separate your egg whites from your yolks. I am terrible at doing this task, but I found a good method. Crack egg in the middle, open it part way, and pass it back and forth without entirely separating the shell halves. Do this six times to get six yolks. Save 5 of the egg whites in another bowl. Try not to get any yolk in with the whites.
-Warm Egg Whites: Place the bowl with the egg whites in another bowl of warm water to expedite the room temperature warming process (do not use really really hot water, because you don't want to cook the egg whites).
-Back to Egg Yolks: mix in 3 tbls. of sugar into the egg yolks. Do not mix in the liquor yet.
-Grab a pot and fill it 1/4 way full. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and place the bowl with the egg yolks/sugar mixture. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Pour in 1/2 cup of amaretto or liquor of your choice. Whisk continuously until mixture thickens. As it thickens stir vigorously and remove from heat. Set aside.
-Congrats, you've made zabliagone. An italian custard. As you are whisking, you can also add some cinnamon and cocoa powder to it if you wish.
-The Mascarpone: Place the mascarpone in a bowl. Pull out an electric mixer. Mix the mascarpone on a low setting.
-Brew Espresso: You can use a drip coffee maker or melitta brewer (I used the melitta). I suggest the following ratio: 6 tablespoons ground espresso to 12 oz. water. I'm really unsure what the ration would be for a drip coffeemaker. All I can say is: make it strong and make about 3 cups worth.
-Measure a half a cup of espresso and slowly add to mascarpone while using the electric mixer. Make sure you mix it up well. The result should be slightly fluffy, tan/brownish in color.
-Mix in 3 tbls. of sugar to the mixture. Set aside.
The Cream:
-First step- measure 1 cup of whipping cream.
-Step two- use the electric mixer to start mixing the cream. Start low and move to high. As it starts to firm a bit add 2 tbls. powdered sugar and a 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (I added more since I couldn't find our 1/4 a tsp. measurer). Whip to soft peaks (It should look like cool whip. Not stiff, but very soft and creamy).
-Set aside
The Egg Whites:
-This is the most challenging part. Use electric mixer and mix egg whites. Use high setting and move the mixer around. Using room temp egg whites makes the process go faster. Once you reach a consistency similar to the whipped cream you've already made. Add 2 tbls. of powdered sugar (this is to hold the whites together). You can also try cream of tartar (which I have never used, but is common for beating egg whites).
-Whip eggs to stiff peaks.
Mixing things together:
To mix it together do exactly as is written.
-Fold egg whites into egg yolks. To do this: place the egg yolk/zabliagone mixture into a larger container(there won't be very much of it).
-Take the bowl that has the whites and let it slide out onto the egg yolk mixture.
-Take your rubber scraper/spatula and draw a line down the center.
-Fold half over onto the other half and keep repeating until it's all blended a bit.
-NEVER STIR! It'll make it runny.
-Set aside
Constructing the tiramisu A.K.A. now it's time for ladyfingers (also known as the part I have yet to master completely)
-Place remaining 2+ cups of coffee that you did not use in the mascarpone in the fridge to cool to room temperature.
-Once coffee is cool, place in a cereal type bowl (one that is wide and allows the lady finger to be fully submerged is good).
-Start dipping the lady fingers sugar-coated side down. Do this quickly.
-Once ladyfinger is dipped, place on bottom of pan (I used a 9x13).
Layering:
-Dip ladyfingers in coffee until the entire bottom is layered.
-Use spatula/rubber scraper and scoop out about half of mascarpone/espresso mixture. Spread evenly over ladyfingers.
-Sprinkle a bit of chocolate over it if desired.
-Scoop out about half of the egg yolk/white/zabliagone mixture, spread evenly over mascarpone layer.
-Scoop out half of whipped cream and spread over top.
-Sprinkle chocolate shavings over whipped cream.
-Dip lady fingers again and cover whipped cream layer.
-Spread rest of mascarpone
-Spread rest of egg/zabliagone
-Spread rest of whipped cream.
-Top with rest of chocolate.
-Refrigerate at least 3 hours. Enjoy!
Tips:
-It takes me thus far about 3 hours to construct a tiramisu to place in the fridge.
-I suggest using a container that has a snap on lid or experiment and make mini tiramisus in other containers.
-I usually let mine refrigerate overnight.
-Be prepared to wash a lot of dishes
I'm sure there will be more later.
I also find reading the instructions to be a bit difficult. Friends, I can show you how to make it sometime if you want!
So, I decided to take on one the complex desserts: Tiramisu.
I love tiramisu, at least I do now. It's kind of funny and ironic, taking how much I enjoy it now and looking back on how much I used to hate it. I can forgive the tiramisu hatred because up until the last few years, I'd never had real tiramisu. There are so many pretend versions of it out there that judgements on this wonderfully fantastic dessert can be incorrect. Point in case: a co-worker brought a cake to work a few years ago that was supposedly tiramisu. It was hard, had a few layers, and tasted like coffee. There was no creamyness, no layers of traditional ingredients just a cake like substance topped with some sort of hard substance that tasted like coffee. Not good!
Anyways, I enjoy a challenge and decided to take on this dessert for kicks. I've made it twice now and the second time was definitely the charm, the first was an experiment with getting something that I hoped would resemble tiramisu.
My recipe:
6 tbls. sugar
4 tbls. powdered sugar
6 eggs: separate yolk from white into separate containers. Allow whites to warm up to room temp.
1/2 cup amaretto (this is what I used, I hope to try Brandy next).
A chunk of german chocolate (use the small holes on a cheese grater to grate about 1/2-1 cup)
2- 8 oz. containers of Mascarpone cheese (I found mine at Marina Safeway and Corte Madera Trader Joe's. I like the Safeway stuff a bit better) - let cheese warm up to around room temperature.
2 Packages Lady Fingers (whole foods Mill Valley close to the Safeway has the right ones, rite aid also has them).
1 small container of whipping cream (Safeway or Trader Joe's)
Vanilla extract
Espresso blend (I got the safeway stuff, I'm sure there is much better out there)
Alrighty, how to make this stuff work:
-Eggs First: The first thing you will want to do is separate your egg whites from your yolks. I am terrible at doing this task, but I found a good method. Crack egg in the middle, open it part way, and pass it back and forth without entirely separating the shell halves. Do this six times to get six yolks. Save 5 of the egg whites in another bowl. Try not to get any yolk in with the whites.
-Warm Egg Whites: Place the bowl with the egg whites in another bowl of warm water to expedite the room temperature warming process (do not use really really hot water, because you don't want to cook the egg whites).
-Back to Egg Yolks: mix in 3 tbls. of sugar into the egg yolks. Do not mix in the liquor yet.
-Grab a pot and fill it 1/4 way full. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and place the bowl with the egg yolks/sugar mixture. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Pour in 1/2 cup of amaretto or liquor of your choice. Whisk continuously until mixture thickens. As it thickens stir vigorously and remove from heat. Set aside.
-Congrats, you've made zabliagone. An italian custard. As you are whisking, you can also add some cinnamon and cocoa powder to it if you wish.
-The Mascarpone: Place the mascarpone in a bowl. Pull out an electric mixer. Mix the mascarpone on a low setting.
-Brew Espresso: You can use a drip coffee maker or melitta brewer (I used the melitta). I suggest the following ratio: 6 tablespoons ground espresso to 12 oz. water. I'm really unsure what the ration would be for a drip coffeemaker. All I can say is: make it strong and make about 3 cups worth.
-Measure a half a cup of espresso and slowly add to mascarpone while using the electric mixer. Make sure you mix it up well. The result should be slightly fluffy, tan/brownish in color.
-Mix in 3 tbls. of sugar to the mixture. Set aside.
The Cream:
-First step- measure 1 cup of whipping cream.
-Step two- use the electric mixer to start mixing the cream. Start low and move to high. As it starts to firm a bit add 2 tbls. powdered sugar and a 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (I added more since I couldn't find our 1/4 a tsp. measurer). Whip to soft peaks (It should look like cool whip. Not stiff, but very soft and creamy).
-Set aside
The Egg Whites:
-This is the most challenging part. Use electric mixer and mix egg whites. Use high setting and move the mixer around. Using room temp egg whites makes the process go faster. Once you reach a consistency similar to the whipped cream you've already made. Add 2 tbls. of powdered sugar (this is to hold the whites together). You can also try cream of tartar (which I have never used, but is common for beating egg whites).
-Whip eggs to stiff peaks.
Mixing things together:
To mix it together do exactly as is written.
-Fold egg whites into egg yolks. To do this: place the egg yolk/zabliagone mixture into a larger container(there won't be very much of it).
-Take the bowl that has the whites and let it slide out onto the egg yolk mixture.
-Take your rubber scraper/spatula and draw a line down the center.
-Fold half over onto the other half and keep repeating until it's all blended a bit.
-NEVER STIR! It'll make it runny.
-Set aside
Constructing the tiramisu A.K.A. now it's time for ladyfingers (also known as the part I have yet to master completely)
-Place remaining 2+ cups of coffee that you did not use in the mascarpone in the fridge to cool to room temperature.
-Once coffee is cool, place in a cereal type bowl (one that is wide and allows the lady finger to be fully submerged is good).
-Start dipping the lady fingers sugar-coated side down. Do this quickly.
-Once ladyfinger is dipped, place on bottom of pan (I used a 9x13).
Layering:
-Dip ladyfingers in coffee until the entire bottom is layered.
-Use spatula/rubber scraper and scoop out about half of mascarpone/espresso mixture. Spread evenly over ladyfingers.
-Sprinkle a bit of chocolate over it if desired.
-Scoop out about half of the egg yolk/white/zabliagone mixture, spread evenly over mascarpone layer.
-Scoop out half of whipped cream and spread over top.
-Sprinkle chocolate shavings over whipped cream.
-Dip lady fingers again and cover whipped cream layer.
-Spread rest of mascarpone
-Spread rest of egg/zabliagone
-Spread rest of whipped cream.
-Top with rest of chocolate.
-Refrigerate at least 3 hours. Enjoy!
Tips:
-It takes me thus far about 3 hours to construct a tiramisu to place in the fridge.
-I suggest using a container that has a snap on lid or experiment and make mini tiramisus in other containers.
-I usually let mine refrigerate overnight.
-Be prepared to wash a lot of dishes
I'm sure there will be more later.
I also find reading the instructions to be a bit difficult. Friends, I can show you how to make it sometime if you want!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Prison
This topic has hit me like a wall and it's been hard to figure out what to do with it. I toured a maximum security facility about a month and a half ago. The experience left me absolutely shocked and unable to comprehend my thoughts about the prison system.
Until recently, I've debated back and forth about the different scenarios and have found my viewpoints rather flexible when arguments have been made for or against certain points.
After a lot of processing and thought, I thoroughly believe that prisons ought to be re-evaluated.
Go back and think...ever watched the news, learned of a felon at large who was made out to be terrible, learned he/she was seized by police, heard a bit about the trial, learned he/she would spend life in prison and thought: good! I'm safe. Did you think about that person at all once they were locked away? Probably not. Now that this bad person was in prison, you had less of a chance at being harmed, minds at ease and you've forgotten all about them. Sound familiar?
That was how I thought about prison, prisoners, felons, bad people, what have you, until I had the opportunity to walk through a facility and have a reality thrust right down my throat. I've had a family member do time...I forgot about that part of their life. I've heard about people on the news...I forgot about them after they were imprisoned.
That is what I think needs to be re-evaluated. We need to not forget about people who are incarcerated. As a country that has one of the highest numbers of incarcerated men and women, we need to think about them and figure out how to change society.
I've heard about many different programs developed to re-think prisons.
Two examples:
Nalini Nadkarni found the benefits of green space/green business to inmates
Life Science in Prisons
Sunny Schwartz: Dreams from the Monster Factory: A Restorative Prison Program for Violent Offenders.
Book Information
Maybe it is time that we got on board and started to think about prisons. I know that people cannot change unless they choose to and actively work at it. This means more thought needs to be put towards programs that help people out. Programs that cover everything from understanding how ones own actions impact others, programs that teach one successful ways to make it in the work force, and most importantly: programs that are in all of our communities that can prevent individuals from being tossed into the penal system.
-I believe mental health care should not be taboo.
-I think our school system ought to be rethought. It is stuck in the stoneage and current research shows that teaching children problem solving skills, social skills, and having them understand themselves goes hand-in-hand with their need to learn things like math, science, etc.
-More programs to help citizens out who are at the bare threads.
-A great mental shift in society where people are not looked down upon for mental health needs or needing help making it financially.
I don't think anyone should be locked up and forgotten about, most people deserve a second, third, fourth chance.
I do understand that in the population there are the exceptions. There are people who are unfit to return to society. The current system determines that they are ineligible for treatment and they either spend a lifetime where they are or are put to death depending on locale. While these individuals may never be able to leave prison, perhaps there is another option for them. Their second chance may be further scientific research looking into understanding what is going on, new/innovative programs that have them being productive members of society in someway even from a treatment facility.
Overall, what I saw on my tour was our answer to addressing a need to secure our streets, but a problem that is so difficult and politically touchy that no one can figure out how to make it move forward. It's stuck, stationary, and quite sad.
I felt terrible walking past people in cells looking in like they were on display. Yet, without that opportunity, I would have not understood the reality of the penal system. You can study it and read about it, but until you experience it first hand, you really can't understand. My visit resulted in a complete paradigm shift, one that I would have never had without actually being there and seeing it all first hand.
To conclude: I've processed that our penal system is stuck. We need to stop filing it away in the back of our minds. We may feel safe and better when people are place behind bars, but that does not mean the problem goes away. Despite the heinous crimes, we are talking about human beings. Several thousand are incarcerated practically in my backyard...this is unacceptable. We need to find a way to keep individuals out of prison by finding out what society is lacking and face the problems we have in the real world. On the other side, behind bars, we need to figure out new, innovative programs that help people out in some way.
Until recently, I've debated back and forth about the different scenarios and have found my viewpoints rather flexible when arguments have been made for or against certain points.
After a lot of processing and thought, I thoroughly believe that prisons ought to be re-evaluated.
Go back and think...ever watched the news, learned of a felon at large who was made out to be terrible, learned he/she was seized by police, heard a bit about the trial, learned he/she would spend life in prison and thought: good! I'm safe. Did you think about that person at all once they were locked away? Probably not. Now that this bad person was in prison, you had less of a chance at being harmed, minds at ease and you've forgotten all about them. Sound familiar?
That was how I thought about prison, prisoners, felons, bad people, what have you, until I had the opportunity to walk through a facility and have a reality thrust right down my throat. I've had a family member do time...I forgot about that part of their life. I've heard about people on the news...I forgot about them after they were imprisoned.
That is what I think needs to be re-evaluated. We need to not forget about people who are incarcerated. As a country that has one of the highest numbers of incarcerated men and women, we need to think about them and figure out how to change society.
I've heard about many different programs developed to re-think prisons.
Two examples:
Nalini Nadkarni found the benefits of green space/green business to inmates
Life Science in Prisons
Sunny Schwartz: Dreams from the Monster Factory: A Restorative Prison Program for Violent Offenders.
Book Information
Maybe it is time that we got on board and started to think about prisons. I know that people cannot change unless they choose to and actively work at it. This means more thought needs to be put towards programs that help people out. Programs that cover everything from understanding how ones own actions impact others, programs that teach one successful ways to make it in the work force, and most importantly: programs that are in all of our communities that can prevent individuals from being tossed into the penal system.
-I believe mental health care should not be taboo.
-I think our school system ought to be rethought. It is stuck in the stoneage and current research shows that teaching children problem solving skills, social skills, and having them understand themselves goes hand-in-hand with their need to learn things like math, science, etc.
-More programs to help citizens out who are at the bare threads.
-A great mental shift in society where people are not looked down upon for mental health needs or needing help making it financially.
I don't think anyone should be locked up and forgotten about, most people deserve a second, third, fourth chance.
I do understand that in the population there are the exceptions. There are people who are unfit to return to society. The current system determines that they are ineligible for treatment and they either spend a lifetime where they are or are put to death depending on locale. While these individuals may never be able to leave prison, perhaps there is another option for them. Their second chance may be further scientific research looking into understanding what is going on, new/innovative programs that have them being productive members of society in someway even from a treatment facility.
Overall, what I saw on my tour was our answer to addressing a need to secure our streets, but a problem that is so difficult and politically touchy that no one can figure out how to make it move forward. It's stuck, stationary, and quite sad.
I felt terrible walking past people in cells looking in like they were on display. Yet, without that opportunity, I would have not understood the reality of the penal system. You can study it and read about it, but until you experience it first hand, you really can't understand. My visit resulted in a complete paradigm shift, one that I would have never had without actually being there and seeing it all first hand.
To conclude: I've processed that our penal system is stuck. We need to stop filing it away in the back of our minds. We may feel safe and better when people are place behind bars, but that does not mean the problem goes away. Despite the heinous crimes, we are talking about human beings. Several thousand are incarcerated practically in my backyard...this is unacceptable. We need to find a way to keep individuals out of prison by finding out what society is lacking and face the problems we have in the real world. On the other side, behind bars, we need to figure out new, innovative programs that help people out in some way.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Breakaway
Today celebrated the opening of a new building at work and the beginning of the reality phase of a massive project. It was wonderfully successful, started with a bit of stress, and ended with a sense of fulfillment.
A lot of things came out of today and I am rather proud of them. There's the basic stuff, like seeing something I've worked hard on become real and watching the faces of those enjoying a chance to see something new. Then, there was the stuff that really blew me out of the water. One example was a comment made to me about how wasteful this was, since the project has changed from its original intent. I commented back about how we get to reach hundreds of people we could have missed with the message of two divided sectors joining together. As time passed, the individual approached me and said something to the effect of: you're right, this is working, it is great, and it's important.
I was blown away with that, because the message is getting through.
This inspires me to believe that as a whole, we'll breakaway from this comfortable place we've landed into and start looking at things from a whole new perspective. I hope to make a difference in some way, the way that promotes cooperation and partnership and sees everyone working together to protect and compromise.
At work, it will start small, I may never see it fully resolve, but I believe, these very tiny moments that inspire me to push forward are also inspirations for my personal life, which wasn't full of as many successes today.
Even with all the happy moments, positive outlooks, and the greatness I did have, my lack of sleep or something spiraled less hopeful views through my mind.
Making my voice heard has been a difficult challenge. I'm quiet because I'm a listener and I try to enter conversations respectfully, yet I tend to get lost about every time I try to speak. I also feel like I've been lost in the system. I'm working hard to make a name for myself, trying to reach out and create a future, yet, as I do that I get stuck and miss important opportunities. I feel like I'm rather aware of things, but somehow, I'm realizing I'm quite oblivious.
I'm not certain what to do to reach further, but I'll try, because I do like what I do and intend to make it a career and don't want to quietly resign to failure. I'm committed to succeeding and I do not want to give up something that fulfills me, challenges me in skill and intellect, and also expands my social skills. My job is important to me. I've picked a place that is nearly impossible to catch a break in, but somewhere, I'll carve myself in, somehow.
I've also reached some tension in finding people not believing in or trusting that I can successfully do something. I want to be a leader. I'm learning to be a leader. It's not perfect, but it'll find its way there. The hardest part is when people cannot believe in me and jump on top and take control. I see this as the world telling me to learn to stand up and regain control. Even with that being the case, it'd be great to have a chance to establish confidence in my leadership role.
Apart from work, I also keep beating myself up for my social skills. They are very poor. I'm at a loss for ways to improve them, but don't want to let that stop me from trying to go somewhere. I think I've failed more than I've succeeded, but I hold hope that adapt and learn the important skills necessary to keep wonderful people around me throughout my future. They also say: it's hard for people to like someone that cannot like themself.
All of these thoughts remind me of a major shift I made in my life. The shift of breaking away from patterns. I jumped out of the comfortable norm and into the uncomfortable in order to grow. As these spiraly thoughts try to blow up my little wall of self confidence, rather than running away, I'm going to breakaway and take a different path and become better.
With that: Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway (my theme song to life, a reminder to take the path less traveled by every once in awhile).
"Trying hard to reach out, but when I tried to speak out, felt like no one could hear me. Wanted to belong here, but something felt so wrong here, so I pray, I could break away. I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly, I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky"
"Breakaway"-Kelly Clarkson Song
A lot of things came out of today and I am rather proud of them. There's the basic stuff, like seeing something I've worked hard on become real and watching the faces of those enjoying a chance to see something new. Then, there was the stuff that really blew me out of the water. One example was a comment made to me about how wasteful this was, since the project has changed from its original intent. I commented back about how we get to reach hundreds of people we could have missed with the message of two divided sectors joining together. As time passed, the individual approached me and said something to the effect of: you're right, this is working, it is great, and it's important.
I was blown away with that, because the message is getting through.
This inspires me to believe that as a whole, we'll breakaway from this comfortable place we've landed into and start looking at things from a whole new perspective. I hope to make a difference in some way, the way that promotes cooperation and partnership and sees everyone working together to protect and compromise.
At work, it will start small, I may never see it fully resolve, but I believe, these very tiny moments that inspire me to push forward are also inspirations for my personal life, which wasn't full of as many successes today.
Even with all the happy moments, positive outlooks, and the greatness I did have, my lack of sleep or something spiraled less hopeful views through my mind.
Making my voice heard has been a difficult challenge. I'm quiet because I'm a listener and I try to enter conversations respectfully, yet I tend to get lost about every time I try to speak. I also feel like I've been lost in the system. I'm working hard to make a name for myself, trying to reach out and create a future, yet, as I do that I get stuck and miss important opportunities. I feel like I'm rather aware of things, but somehow, I'm realizing I'm quite oblivious.
I'm not certain what to do to reach further, but I'll try, because I do like what I do and intend to make it a career and don't want to quietly resign to failure. I'm committed to succeeding and I do not want to give up something that fulfills me, challenges me in skill and intellect, and also expands my social skills. My job is important to me. I've picked a place that is nearly impossible to catch a break in, but somewhere, I'll carve myself in, somehow.
I've also reached some tension in finding people not believing in or trusting that I can successfully do something. I want to be a leader. I'm learning to be a leader. It's not perfect, but it'll find its way there. The hardest part is when people cannot believe in me and jump on top and take control. I see this as the world telling me to learn to stand up and regain control. Even with that being the case, it'd be great to have a chance to establish confidence in my leadership role.
Apart from work, I also keep beating myself up for my social skills. They are very poor. I'm at a loss for ways to improve them, but don't want to let that stop me from trying to go somewhere. I think I've failed more than I've succeeded, but I hold hope that adapt and learn the important skills necessary to keep wonderful people around me throughout my future. They also say: it's hard for people to like someone that cannot like themself.
All of these thoughts remind me of a major shift I made in my life. The shift of breaking away from patterns. I jumped out of the comfortable norm and into the uncomfortable in order to grow. As these spiraly thoughts try to blow up my little wall of self confidence, rather than running away, I'm going to breakaway and take a different path and become better.
With that: Kelly Clarkson, Breakaway (my theme song to life, a reminder to take the path less traveled by every once in awhile).
"Trying hard to reach out, but when I tried to speak out, felt like no one could hear me. Wanted to belong here, but something felt so wrong here, so I pray, I could break away. I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly, I'll do what it takes 'til I touch the sky"
"Breakaway"-Kelly Clarkson Song
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