Do U Know?

This is a continuation of our regular series blog posting of a “Did U Know” message to help us all be a little more knowledgeable about the environment and sustainability in our communities.

Sustainability
How many tons of waste materials were diverted away from disposal in 2005 through recycling and composting?
A: 79 million tons B: 20 million tons C: 15 million tons D: 7 million tons



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Did you know that? – answer to the Sustainability quiz:
Answer: A - 79 million tons - Recycling a ton of waste has twice the economic impact of burying it in the ground. The global recycling industry today employs more than 1.5 million people and is valued at $160 billion.

Do U Know?

This is the next entry into our regular series blog posting of a “Did U Know” message to help us all be a little more knowledgeable about the environment and sustainability in our communities.

Sustainability Nationwide, organic sales are growing at _____ percent every year.
A: 5%
B: 7%
C: 10%
D: 18%

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Did you know that? – answer to the Sustainability quiz:
Answer: D – Green business is booming! Help keep the momentum going.

Geography is no longer an obstacle. Blogging, microblogging, instant messaging, webcasting, etc. have made instantaneous communication the norm in today’s world, even more than the telephone did.

What do you think?

Combating the Common Cold

Two of the most common over-the-counter supplements for colds are vitamin C and echinacea. Whether they work is a matter of debate. In a study published earlier this year in "Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology," hospital volunteers were tested to see if taking daily echinacea during the winter months would reduce the symptoms of respiratory tract infections compared with symptoms in volunteers taking placebos.

The group that took echinacea daily reported several sick days per person in an eight-week period; the group that took the placebo reported more sick days per person during the same period. The researchers were unable to conclude whether the difference was due to anything more than chance because of the small number of participants.

Similarly, no conclusive evidence has been published indicating that taking vitamin C supplements will reduce the frequency or duration of cold symptoms. Still, "treatment" with either echinacea or vitamin C is generally harmless, so I don't argue with my patients who swear by the effectiveness of these supplements.

But all it really takes is a little attention. If you focus on what I call the "4H" approach, you'll be able to prevent and treat a cold:

Hand-washing. Conscientiously washing your hands after exposure to anyone with a cold will reduce your chances of being infected.

Hydrate. Drink plenty of fluids. Your body loses fluid as a result of fever that may accompany an infection. Cold viruses cause your body to produce excess phlegm, and drinking water will help keep that phlegm from thickening and drying out.

Heat. A fever is nature's way of making your body inhospitable to intruders, so resting in bed and staying warm with blankets can help Mother Nature help you.

Help. Acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents ease muscle aches and pains as well as sore throats; antihistamines help decrease drainage in nasal passages; mucus-thinning agents reduce the thickening and buildup of phlegm; and decongestants work to keep the sinuses more open. Talk with your doctor about the right medicine for your needs.

from USA Weekend Oct 3-5, 2008 edition. http://www.usaweekend.com. Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and CEO of Dallas' Cooper Clinic, writes HealthSmart every week.

Do U Know ?

Do U Know

This is the next entry into our regular series blog posting of a “Did U Know” message to help us all be a little more knowledgeable about the environment and sustainability in our communities.

Sustainability Quiz: By recycling your newspaper everyday, you are having the same positive effect on the environment as_____. A: Planting 6 trees B: Driving 300 miles less per year C: Removing 245 lbs of CO2 from the atmosphere D: All of the above

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Did you know that? – answer to the Sustainability quiz: Answer: D – At 70%, newspaper’s recycling rate is the highest of all paper products in the U.S.

Do U Know

This will be a regular series blog posting of a “Did U Know” message to help us all be a little more knowledgeable about the environment and sustainability in our communities.

Sustainability Quiz

What is the fastest-growing source of electricity in the USA?
A: Solar energy
B: Coal
C: Natural gas
D: Wind energy

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Did you know that -


The answer to the Sustainability quiz:
Answer:D - At 5-8 cents per kilowatt hour, wind energy is the most cost-effective

Creative Communities and the New Economy

Today’s economy getting worse and the future is looking grim. Compared to what once was - where the US was the global economic leader, companies and manufacturing were thriving, and the wage earning potential was strong.

Today, a far different tale is being heard from the economic leaders and analysts. Manufacturing is down and the economy is struggling. What will the future hold? West Virginia is not waiting to find out. We are building on a new emerging economy and spurring creative growth. One example is the Create WV Conference chaired by Jeff James, Creative Communities Team, A Vision Shared.

More than 250 West Virginians responded to a vision and attended the first Create WV Conference in 2007. Since then, the creative spark has led to new energy and activity in communities across the state, from Huntington to Hinton, from Wheeling to Welch.

This year at the second annual Create WV Conference, communities that have developed their own creative vision and are acting on it will be celebrated. These communities of creative thinkers are taking matters into their own hands and forming plans for their own creative communities.

Many people share this vision. Creative communities can be described as those communities that take ownership over their own future. It is a group of people who come together to creatively solve problems and identify unique opportunities. These people are action oriented, entrepreneurial and take risks for a better future. They embrace new economy principles to succeed in today’s globally connected marketplace.

This West Virginia initiative is part of a larger global debate on the role of creative communities, or the creative class, and its relation to growth in the new economy.

The concept of the creative class was popularized by the research and writings of Richard Florida, Ph.D., who as a professor at Carnegie Mellon University published The Rise of the Creative Class and The Flight of the Creative Class. The book A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink, has championed the belief that we are already moving into the Conceptual Age, in contrasts to the prior Information and Industrial Ages. One of reasons the creative economy/society is different from the industrial and agricultural economies is that it relies on a resource (creativity), that every single human being has.

What do you think is possible for WV? When you think of the state’s future - and your future - what do you see?

Tips for starting your social media platform

Things to consider when implementing your social media platform. Be it an account on Twitter or a blog. Here are ideas for starting out, things to support your efforts with, writing ideas, and next steps.

•If you’re blogging, make that a home base for all your other social media efforts.

•Pick three social networks to join based on where your target audience might be (blogging, facebook, twitter, etc.). Three might sound like too few, but it probably will be too many.

•It is important to think about your posting schedule and subject matter. Try to regularly post at least once or twice a week.

•Subscribe to 10 or more blogs similar to yours, including similar content blogs, and any industry blogs.

•In writing of your posts, be human, and write a human-sounding profile. Use a human-seeming profile picture.

•After you’ve written your first blog post, take time to comment on some of those 10 blogs, but NOT about your first post.

•Make sure it’s easy for people to subscribe to your blog, via a reader, RSS feed, or via email. This will alert them of new content postings and keep them coming back for more.

•For whatever reason, graphics in posts improve audience.

•Consider a nice clean theme for your blog’s design. There are many free themes for different blogs, and some inexpensive ones.

•Seek out opportunities to guest post on popular blogs in your area of interest. Don’t be spammy and over-link to your own site/posts. Add value to their topic.

•On social networks, look for ways to contribute, even when it’s not directly related to your interests or expertise.

•Build relationships outside of having a specific need. Social media is all about making and sustaining connections.

•To create consistent content, read daily, and not just in your area of interest. Skim, synthesize, and post.

•Riff off other blog posts you like, and add some value beyond linking back to those original posts (and always link back to those posts).

•To help with content development, ask your audience what they need, what they’re struggling with.

•Invite your audience to guest post and give feedback where appropriate.

•Remember to comment on other people’s blogs frequently, and show your participation in the communities where you have presence.

www.chrisbrogan.com, http://www.4hoteliers.com/4hots_fshw.php?mwi=3222, Chris Brogan.