Follow-up to a Storm

Being originally from the northeast, a lot of my attention has been on the goings-on back that way during and following Hurricane Sandy.  It's been a bit of a distraction, really, and the continuation of my home lighting discussion is thus delayed.  But with Sandy and storm clean-up on my mind, what can I write about?  The media (both official and social media channels) have pretty well inundated us with information about the goings on up there, and photos (both real and less genuine) from the scene.    

I am glad that it appears the majority of people I know seem to be taking it in stride - some don't have reliable power, but most seem to have fared well (and luckily) with minimal impact so far.  Excepting, of course, the disruptions for all - limited ability to travel, closed schools and workplaces, falling trees and power lines, and the like.  I'm pleased to see so many people offering to help others who may be having greater hardships.  I'm reminded of the community in that region that's there but less apparent in day-to-day comings and goings.  There's a lot of waiting, and perhaps frustration from not being in control.  And, there are people in real need, without electricity or heat or running water, who are worried about what will happen next.

I would like to spend some time to talking about traumatic stress.  There's a weight that some feel, whether directly impacted and present, or watching from afar, whenever a disaster such as this strikes.  It's a feeling of loss, shock, or amazement.  Perhaps it's empathy for others who have lost so much or "survivor's guilt".  And these tend to be things that people don't talk about as much.  Whether it's because they want to appear strong, don't want to acknowledge,, don't want to make it real, don't feel that they're entitled to feel it... there can be a tendency to deny such feelings or keep them internal.

As the American Psychological Association notes, it is normal to feel shock or denial following a disaster or traumatic event.  The stress of such events can manifest itself in physical symptoms, like headaches, nausea, and chest pain, as well.  Dr. Edward T. Creagan notes common symptoms of stress after a disaster include confusion, disordered thinking, unusual eating and sleeping patterns, fatigue, and anger and frustration.  Time does help heal these "pains", but how long that takes varies for everyone.  So, here are the recommendations from the APA for dealing with traumatic stress.  (These tips aren't unique to the northeast and Sandy, of course.  Please consider these if ever you find yourself trying to heal from a disaster or similar trauma.) 

"Give yourself time to adjust. Anticipate that this will be a difficult time in your life. Allow yourself to mourn the losses you have experienced. Try to be patient with changes in your emotional state.

Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen and empathize with your situation. But keep in mind that your typical support system may be weakened if those who are close to you also have experienced or witnessed the trauma.

 Communicate your experience. In whatever ways feel comfortable to you — such as by talking with family or close friends, or keeping a diary.

 Find out about local support groups that often are available. Such as for those who have suffered from natural disasters or other traumatic events. These can be especially helpful for people with limited personal support systems.

Try to find groups led by appropriately trained and experienced professionals. Group discussion can help people realize that other individuals in the same circumstances often have similar reactions and emotions.

Engage in healthy behaviors to enhance your ability to cope with excessive stress. Eat well-balanced meals and get plenty of rest. If you experience ongoing difficulties with sleep, you may be able to find some relief through relaxation techniques. Avoid alcohol and drugs.

Establish or reestablish routines such as eating meals at regular times and following an exercise program. Take some time off from the demands of daily life by pursuing hobbies or other enjoyable activities.

Avoid major life decisions such as switching careers or jobs if possible. These activities tend to be highly stressful."

Also, take a break from the news.  Check in periodically to stay updated, but allow yourself to think about other things.  Read a book, play a game, talk with friends.

If you have a child who seems to be having a hard time processing and adjusting to life after the disaster, consider these tips from the National Association of School Psychologists.

If you're feeling distressed from afar, know that you're not alone in that, either.  Here are some tips from the APA just for that situation.

Remember that it's not a sign of weakness or some personal deficiency to feel deeply affected by such destruction and disruption to routine.  It's okay, and you're not alone.  If post-traumatic stress starts to interfere with your daily life, reach out to a mental health professional.  You don't need to handle everything on your own.

And, if you'd like to help with Sandy relief in particular, Yahoo has put together a list of organizations that are mobilizing relief efforts.

So, my thoughts and prayers are with those who've been adversely affected by the storm.  I'm thankful for the relatively low human cost, and hopeful for quick restoration.  My wish is for a speedy return to normalcy.

Right, Privilege, or Duty? Go Vote!

I'm working on the next part (what I thought would be the first part, even) to my light bulb discussion, but I want to interrupt that to talk about voting.  It's probably no surprise, especially if you've been near a radio, tv, or internet, that American Election Day is around the corner.  As always, it's the first Tuesday of November, which this year makes it 6 November.  I'm sure no one needs to be reminded that it's a Presidential year. Actually, I suspect some of you wish the election were over so that the ads and constant discussion about the Presidential election would stop.

Don't worry.  That's about all I'm going to say about presidents.  What I really want to remind y'all about is all of the other races going on.  Many people seem to feel disenfranchised from their government, and it's not just at the highest levels in Washington.  The laws and regulations (or absence thereof) that affect you each day start with those passed by your local government, as well as state and national levels.  The Presidental candidates get lots of press, but consider those other races as well.  And don't forget about the various referendums and special questions - things that, if you're a registered voter, give you some opportunity to shape policy.

So, what's the deal about Election Day?


Learn who (and what) is on your ballot before you get to the polls.  When I was growing up in New Jersey, I remember a sample ballot being sent to each voter in the house.  It showed you just what you'd see when you went into the voting booth.  I don't know if my hometown still does that, but it appears they do.  When I moved to Texas and went to vote for the first time, I was completely thrown by how many positions for which I was being asked to pick a candidate.  Railroad commissioners, judges, the electronic ballot was five screens!  I had no idea that half of those positions were even elected.

Just knowing what you can vote for may not feel like sufficient preparation to many of you.  But fear not, you can also find out about the candidates before you head to polls.  A primary function of the League of Women Voters is gathering this information.  The LWV is a non-partisan group that tries to educate voters on how to register, how to vote, and who the candidates are.  www.vote411.org will show you what is on your ballot.  Many local LWV sections interview the candidates, as well, with short questions for reply that are sent to each candidate running for a particular office.  Yes, it goes to everyone on the ballot, whether Democrat, Republican, Green, Libertarian, or other.  Some do not respond, but it's a nice side-by-side comparison.  You can pick up a hard copy in many local libraries, and you are generally allowed to bring the paper of candidates into voting with you.  (MJ and I did, and it was quite helpful to keep the names straight.)

Other websites and organizations also try to get out information on the various candidates, but all, like the LWV, are restricted by how much cooperation they get from the candidates, or how much information they can assemble.  For example:
www.ontheissues.org  Generally limited to House, Senate, and gubernatorial races, with a focus on the two major political parties.
http://www.opensecrets.org/elections/index.php Information on candidate funding for those aspiring to head to Washington.
Of course, also check out your local papers, which often will run information on candidates side-by-side.


Find how when and where you can vote.  Check with your state election office for this one.  They'll be able to tell you whether you're registered and where you're supposed to vote.  Some states allow early voting, while some do not.  The early voting location is often different from where you would go on election day.  (This year was my first year voting early.  It was nice to do it un-rushed on a Saturday!) The rules of absentee ballots vary by state, with some requiring pre-registration, some allowing absentee ballots only under certain circumstances, etc.  And, with recent redistricting in many states, where you voted last time may not be where you need to head this year.

To find your state's information, try googling "state election office" or checking with your secretary of state's office.  The LWV can also give you local polling information, or try searching "where to vote 'my state' ".
In any case, if you haven't yet voted, check this now.  From these resources, you should also be able to find out the hours that the polling place is open and what sort of identification you need to bring with you.


So that's what I wanted to share with you in these last few days before Election Day.  I hope that you'll get out there to vote if you're eligible.  Oh, and also, when things get into heated discussions in the next few days, remember to stay friends.

You don't have to dislike people you disagree with and it doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to have bipartisan friendships in this place. Life's too short to have it any other way. 

Dave Obey Source

Some light on the subject, please?

If you've ever talked to me about sustainability or energy use in person, you'd probably be surprised to not find much (anything) on the topic here. Green light bulbs and lighting are two popular "green" topics that I can get pretty vocal about. It's one example of a field where I think we have a fair bit of greenwashing, political lobbying, and misinformation. And frankly, I think we've beat up the poor incandescent bulb more than it ever deserved.

As soon as you delve into this area, you'll realize the controversy is about energy use. Since the advent of electricity, we've eagerly gobbled up amps chasing the dark out of our homes and workplaces. Of course there are many other ways we use electricity daily, but lighting is one the obvious. And, it's true that the incandescent light bulb - specifically the tungsten A-lamp is an old technology that puts out more energy in heat than in light. You remember your physics classes right? Energy in = energy out. But energy out often features energy lost to side effects. In the case of that light bulb, most of the energy is lost to heat. So,the argument goes, if we got everyone to use a more efficient light source, one that has less undesirable loss to heat, we'd save energy. A good goal.

At the center of this initiative in the lighting world came the incandescent light bulb. Note that this is not a local, American, initiative, but rather one that's global. According to wikipedia, nations around the world either have, or are in the process of having, banned or phased out the tungsten incandescent light bulb as we know it. In the United States, this movement really took off in 2007, with motions in California and on the Senate floor. Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007:

To move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.

You've probably heard of this Act, and the debate over the light bulb may be one of the primary reasons you have. But, as is made clear in the description, there's actually a lot more going on in this Act. Title III, Subtitle B addresses lamps. Or rather, "Lighting Energy Efficiency." And, it's not limited to the incandescent light bulb, but that's the one we hear about most. Why? Because the Act, as written, would phase out the A-lamp  that's most common in residential use.

The Act doesn't actually ban the A-lamp, per se. Rather, it sets efficiency standards for "General Illumination Lamps". Note that there are exceptions for three-way lamps and appliance (oven and refrigerator) lamps.

GENERAL SERVICE INCANDESCENT LAMPS

Rated Lumen Ranges	Maximum Rated Wattage	Minimum Rated Lifetime	Effective Date
1490–2600	72	1,000 hrs	1/1/2012
1050–1489	53	1,000 hrs	1/1/2013
750–1049	43	1,000 hrs	1/1/2014
310–749	29	1,000 hrs	1/1/2014

What's a lumen?  It's a measure of lamp intensity - the amount of light a source gives off.
A table from Energy Star gives minimum lumen output for our standard tungsten incandescent light bulbs:

INCANDESCENT BULBS (WATTS)	MINIMUM LIGHT OUTPUT (LUMENS)
5	250
40	450
60	800
75	1,110
100	1,600
125	2,000
150	2,600

So, as of January of this year, the 100W and 125W incandescent lamps are phased out.  A new incandescent lamp could be introduced to replace them, but the new lamp would need to give off as much light as a 100W light bulb, while using only 72 Watts.


Lighting is important - it gives us the ability to perform tasks, discern objects and colors, and enhances security. It also affects our health - not just our eyesight, but our sleep patterns, mood, and cellular production.
I'll cover more about the differences between incandescent, fluorescent, and LED sources in a separate entry.  In the meantime, my favorite way to save energy?  Turn off the devices you're not using!


Edit: New HTML

Defining an Audience

I haven't posted in a while.  The truth is, the longer I don't post, the easier it is to not post.  And, the longer I don't post the less likely anyone's reading this, because people don't generally stick around for dead blogs.

Back in August, I had all sorts of ideas for things to share, relating to sustainable travel, what it means to be president, and wedding planning.  And then, I let myself (again) get distracted by life.  None of it got written.

All guides to blogging agree.  To get an audience, to have a purpose, you need to post regularly.  So that's my mid-October resolution.  Not just the nebulous "post regularly", but "post twice a week."  We'll see where we go from there.  I think bi-weekly posts are just frequent enough to challenge me without holding me back.  It takes three weeks to form a habit, so the goal is to keep that posting cycle up through Christmas.  Yes, more than three weeks, but today is about goal-setting!

Well, now that's settled, we're back to the matter at hand - Random Musings and Observations.  What do I have?  I originally thought I'd start out writing about things here and there, in a bit of a stream of consciousness.  there's some of that, but it's not become what I thought it'd be.  I suppose I could even argue that I've changed and don't relate quite the same way to the original blog lead. So, I think the blog needs a bit of a face-lift.  The question I have in mind is whether that face lift is in fact starting a new blog.  And if so, is that here on blogger or elsewhere?  I'm deciding to stay here for now, thanks to advice from Pugly Pixel.  There's not really something Blogger is missing that I need, although I do wish it was easier to organize the blog feed.

What is it that I want to write about?  What would a new blog be called?  In my mind, there's hiking/trail reviews (we need to get back to doing more of this), family homelife, sustainability, food resources, and things related to my hobbies and work.  Okay, and sometimes politics, but I really try to keep that balanced and un-ranty - not always successfully.  I want to write more about charity and giving.  These aren't random things.    They're my life and things that go through my mind.  It's a way I find focus and explore ideas.

What do I want readers to get out of this?  In truth, there is a bit of a self-serving aspect to the posts I put together.  I try to research many of the topic and look for opinions from multiple angles.  While it doesn't tend to lead to a totally new world perspective, it does make me consider other points and generally leads me away from a hard-line perspective.  And those are my two primary goals: to educate and create awareness, and to offer, at least, resources to other perspectives.  To break black-and-white thinking on some issues, and to bring attention to others that people may not know.  To share my own experience in hopes that they will interest, or at least entertain, others.  Growth.  I am not just writing for myself.  I hope to generate, and even participate in, new dialogues.

What do I want to get from my readers?  Audience.  Interest.  Challenge.  Dialogue.  Direction.  If I want you to stick around, I want to make sure I'm giving you a reason to come back.  And your feedback helps me to do that!

Where does that leave me?  I'm not really embarrassed of my past - just my inconsistency.  If I can hold to making regular posts, perhaps I could find an audience and they would forgive my early aloofness.  But I'm not happy with the title or blog description.  So, let's take some ownership.  These are Kacy's Musings and Observations.  Perhaps they have some randomness, but not really.  they're related (at least in my mind).


So, here I start on my challenge.  I hope that you'll enjoy it.  I hope you might even find it worth sharing.  Let me know if you're around for any of the ride!