Turn It Up Bitches!

Ever since moving out of college dorms oh so long ago this time of the year seems to be dominated by some ridiculous adult game: who can turn their heat on last. The last time i tried to be last at something it was my goal to be the last person to ever get a cellphone.  That did not work out so well, so i officially withdraw from all "last" type games.  Actually i formally withdraw from all adult games in general.

It is fall in the northeast, i am cold, and i am going to turn my heat on whenever i want.  From now on i am going to be the first one every year to turn my heat on and i will not have a higher heating bill than you because i am also going to be the first one to turn it off on the spring.

Here is how i figure it... 50 degrees in the fall is fucking cold.  When the mercury (well no one uses mercury anymore so when the red dyed alcohol) lowers to 50 after the warmth of summer i am shivering.  i end up sitting around the house in three layers, a hoodie, and a stocking cap.  i hover around the stove as my dinner is cooking hoping to benefit from some of the heat it casts off while cooking my food and i leave the door open after the oven is turned off so that the left over warm air heats the room.

Now in February or March if the temperature hits 40 while i am out snowboarding i am ready to ride shirtless.  After those brutal cold stretches if there are even hints at a temperature anywhere near 60 i am taking out the cargo shorts.  As winter comes to a close i am always more hearty and more adapted to the cold.  That is the time of the year where i can get away with lower thermostat settings and not sacrifice much in the way of comfort or health.

So i am officially going to be first.  First to turn the heat up and first to turn it back down.  Have fun shivering... bastards.

Change Without Change

Soon after his presidency ended  i saw an interview with Bill Clinton where he commented on overestimating America's ability to change.  There was more that he was hoping to do but could not because of the resistance to change.

Now we are in an election where everyone is touting "change".  People do not necessarily want something different, they want something they are comfortable with.  The Bush administration actually carried out a lot of changes, just ones that most of us are not happy with.  People really just want a return to before.

You would think that people's fear of change would make them more driven to do something to minimize the effect of climate change.  But then they would have to change to prevent change, a bit too complex a concept for "real Americans" i guess.  This all, of course, has got me thinking.

A recent purchase made we realize that we can actually solve problems by changing without changing.  My Christmas illumination does not need to go by the wayside.  A change to l.e.d. lighting should prevent the electric bill from doubling this Yule season.  A desire to significantly reduce my carbon footprint did not mean giving up road trips to see friends and family, it just meant getting a more efficient (hybrid) vehicle.  

We do not have to give up our electronic devices, we just have to make electricity a different way.  All clean electricity within the next decade?  Completely do-able.  We just need to make the decisions with our everyday purchases and with our politicians.  Change your consumption without changing your lifestyle.  The options are all there.  Do the right thing.