Steve goes back to college

Running past William and Mary’s Grim Dell and Crin Dell, en route to the Chesapeake Room, I knew that I was in for a good night. I was visiting my friend Nathan, at his stomping ground and we were going to catch Donald Glover perform stand-up.

Nathan is not your typical drink of water. He speaks Arabic, does improv, pulls all-nighters to make board games, and he’s had his cell phone number screened by Kinokii footpads due to an exorbitant amount of prank phone calls. So usually the stuff coming out of his mouth can be pretty out there, but that still never prepared me for the question he asked – the question that I will forever associate with William and Mary:

“Steven, do you want to go to Vietnam or the Opium Den?”

After careful deliberation we decided to go to Vietnam and see where the night would take us.

VIETNAM:

Passing through a modest living room, smelling of some freshly blazed gonj, I made my way for the loud music and clamoring of people behind the Pike House. I walked out into a sea of green and brown. Guys in fatigues and girls in peace garb were vying for space among bamboo reeds, a stationary military surplus truck, and a wooden watchtower, while a giant floodlight draped the grounds in a hazy glow.

This was it. The theme party where everyone commits, where the guys that get the girls are not the doushebags who act hard, but the funny eccentrics who allow conversations to volley and goofiness to reign supreme. This was the party where kegs flowed freely, girls and guys mixed at an equal ratio, and the setup made you believe you were in a different time and place.

Unfortunately, this was also the party that got raided about 30 minutes after our arrival. Nathan, being one who is well in line with the auspices, had the intuition to get us the hell out of there in time. This brought us to our next locale.

THE OPIUM DEN:

It turns out the opium den is where the quirky gay guys on campus hang out. Yes, at William and Mary “Drinkin With the Bitches” is the slogan proudly displayed in the den. And yes at William and Mary the gay guys hold just as much as much currency as the frat guys with women - I mean crazy-insane-only-in-a-movie type women.

Let me tell you about the femme fetale entity that is Foxy, Bouncy and Polish. These girls not only flirted with everyone at the party, they seemed to pull strength from lips they locked onto. Foxy used her curly hair, Bouncy her love of dance, and Polish used her heritage and her high heels to work her seduction. You loyal readers know that I have a girlfriend, so when the freaky femmes paid me a visit, I immediately said the noble thing: “I’m gay. Sorry I’m not interested in women.”

Okay, maybe not so noble.

I said to Foxy, “see, even if you girls were to make out, it would have absolutely no effect on me.”

Instead of a “yeah right” or an eye roll, Foxy grabbed Polish by the waist, tongued her neck, and then the two made out. I’ve got to say, I’ve always envied the benefits gay guys have around women, and it felt pretty exciting exploiting the benefits at the den.

THE AFTERMATH:

William and Mary student body, you are excellent. Nathan if you read this, you are Captain Glory. Though I was not particularly eco-conscious during my campus visit, I learned some things along the way. It is crazy important to have fun, more so than worrying about my carbon footprint in lieu of seizing the moment.

Being a true environmentalist requires a lot of saying “no” to things. Like no to fossil fuels, no to delicious hot dogs, and no to savory sausage on deep dish pizza. I’m not sure if I can be a “no” person.

After this trip, I’m very inspired to pull a page out of a book of a very wise friend of mine known as “Lata,” who is living his life “en Vivo.”Essentially, every time there is a moment that could build what he considers an enriching life moment, he goes for it. I love this style, and I’m going to have to see how it fits into the environmental movement.

Earth-side Down

Sometimes if you want to create a masterpiece you have to turn your vision upside down. Instead of staring into a Degas and trying to reconstruct his ballerinas, you have to turn his canvas upside down and try to paint the inverted lines.

French Impressionist, Edgar Degas, was more interested in movement than color. Disregarding classical rules of composition, Degas changed the realm of impressionist painting with his use of the oblique angle. Perhaps our modern world can pull a page out of Degas' book, challenging the role of multinational corporations by prompting these behemoths to lead our environmental revolution instead of running counter to it.

As an aspiring environmentalist it’s easy to detest multinational corporations. Walmart, Coca-Cola, McDonalds, you name it, they pretty much rock the gamut of every environmental, social, and political injustice out there, BUT that’s not a fixed certainty. For example, mixed in its arsenal of selling the cheapest, shittiest, and dirtiest products, Walmart also sells organics. Then there's Pepsi Cola, which recently announced it’s aim to do away with plastic bottles.

The beauty of these massive corporate entities is that they predictably peddle goods as cheaply as possible to turn the greatest profit. Yet, with people everywhere waking up to the havoc these goods wreak on their fellow citizens and the earth, MNC's now have to sell socially responsible products or consumers will turn elsewhere.

And that’s where the painting starts. That’s where our world can come together like George Seurat’s dots and construct a masterpiece.

Our citizenry is beautiful on the whole. Americans require justice like it were oxygen. However, we have a phenomenal disconnect when it comes to knowing the effects of the things we buy. But that disconnect is shrinking. Even in a climate of campaign contributions, political favors, and lax regulation, the consumer’s voice and choice is spreading. It’s a battle of information and once the individual learns how the goods they consume affect their social, political and environmental justice, the individual will consume to the best of their budget constraint.

I’m blessed with being poor right now. I get energy subsidies which allow me to purchase green energy, food stamps which I will get to use at the Farmer’s market starting April 3, and a budget constraint which pushes me toward purchasing second-hand clothing. Some people aren’t as fortunate to have these rationale choices aligned so readily before them.

But then again, some people with crazy-wealth purchase the shiza of the world because they have yet to learn they can be better, freer, and engage in the pursuit of happiness while upholding the citizens of Gaia’s natural rights.

Special thanks to Ileana Vink for the inverted painting motif and Erin Givarz for the Pepsi Cola link.

Finding Veritas

I taped-up a political cheat sheet today as my first step toward being more present. I aim to understand which legislative and executive committees play the largest role in shaping environmental legislation. I also plan to use this cheat sheet to understand which legislators are most influential and in the most opportune positions to receive campaign contributions.

Though I’m often guilty of hurling angry superlatives about our nation’s lack of perfect information, there’s literally an indomitable fleet of the stuff available on our information superhighway. It’s crazy actually how much we are capable of knowing. Especially as a result of people like the WikiLeaks rogue, the young revolutionaries of the Middle East, and the enterprising journalists of every beat who do not rest until they expose their discoveries to the public. It’s this insatiable drive for truth, justice, and freedom, inherent in the human condition, that makes me so excited to be alive.

Around 1:30 a.m. last I night, I finished watching “Food Inc.” Prior to the film, I had been reading the book, so I had a feel for what my trip down the rabbit hole would be like. But what I saw made me realize that I was fighting a battle in my life between truth and ignorance, and I was losing to ignorance.

Instead of getting nourished from farms, nasty, mechanical, Soylent Green-like operations are dominating the free market, stealing my health, dignity and sovereignty.

A lot has been pinging around in my head today, because of that movie, but the winning concept was to be more pragmatic and more deliberate. In order to achieve results I have to know where I want to wind up and what elements of a system I would like to see bettered.

First Step: Knowing where I want to end up

When I’m old and wrinkly I want to be able to look back and believe that my time on this earth lent itself to harmony with Gaia. If I can do the following, I think I will be happy in wrinkled years.

- I want the energy that I consume to be carbon neutral

- I want the food that I eat to be part of a sustainable life-cycle

- I want the earth to stay beautiful so everyday people can become wildly inspired

- I want the clothes on my back and the material goods in my life to be cradle-to-cradle

- I don’t want to add waste to our closed system

- I want the money I earn (my material good sovereignty) to be earned in harmony with Gaia

- I want these rights to be accessible to others

Second Step: Getting There

Some parts of my wish list are more readily attainable than others, but one thing’s for certain, I’m going to build an evolving strategy for each of my wishes so that I can one day get there. Below are links to the evolving plans for my checklist:

- I ain’t no Fossil Fool!

- Fooooooood that’s gooooooood

- Keeping Gaia Beautiful

- Going cradle-to-cradle

- Waste: Cutting that shit out

- Wage against the machine

- Anything I can do, you can do better

Power Up:

Energy: World Resources Institute estimates that there is a potential market for clean energy products to reach India’s rural poor. The market potential is estimated at $2.11 billion/year and companies surveyed to supply clean energy to India’s rural poor have reported annual gross revenue to have grown by 36% since 2004. In other words, the base of the pyramid – the world’s poorest people - are starting to be able to afford clean energy.

Food: The following is an excerpt from Food Inc. the book: Now nearly ten years have passed [since Fast Food Nation . How has the story of America’s relationship to food changed in that time?

“There has been a sea of change in American attitudes toward food, especially among the educated and the upper-middle class. And there is now a powerful social movement centered on food. Sustainable agriculture, the obesity epidemic, food safety, illegal immigration, animal welfare, the ethics of marketing to children – all of these things are now being widely discussed and debated…There’s been a huge change in eating habits and awareness among the well-educated and upper-middle class. For proof of that just look at the success of Whole Foods, the Food Network, the rise of celebrity chefs, the spread of farmers’ markets, all the best sellers about food…I hope the food movement will grow and extend more broadly throughout society. And we need a government that encourages that.”

~ Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation

America's Food Revolution sparks 'Food For Thought'

This image, given on Food Inc.'s official website, brings hope, disdain, syphilis and a festeloon of other evocations while it resonates as a symbol of the Food Revolution, which is currently sweeping the States.

“There are no secrets in life, just hidden truths beneath the surface.” Also, “the way to the heart is through the stomach.”

So much wisdom, so much relevance, so much to write about. The brilliant words of Dexter Morgan and of the Infinite Mind’s Foods and Moods podcast are an apt summation of my dance with destiny right now.

I’ve just waltzed into America’s Food Revolution. Yes, I’m very late into the game, but better late than never. I picked up the book Food, Inc. from the library last week and guess what, I’m already incensed. But motivated! I’m ready to punt those fucktard factory-farm behemoths straight out to the Mariana Trench. As for Fast Food, it’s sayonara time. Truth be told, it’s been sayonara time for quite a while now, but I have those occasional backslide moments, after a few too many of the world’s finest Pabst Blue Ribbons, where I indulge in late night Fast Food. Nunca más – the Bert Boycott has begun.

So here’s the skinny of our nation’s food situation, but for the love of all that is sacred don’t take my word on it. Read Food Inc., Fast Food Nation, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, or Food Politics. We’ll have a discussion that could blow the Finer Things Club out of the water, and then we’ll take our knowledge and transform our vapid eating styles into something momentous and in line with the pursuit of happiness.

Anyway, the skinny… (You’re supposed to read this like you’re Dick Vitale, cramming dump truck loads of information into an ESPN-sized allotment of 30 seconds.) READY, SET, GO

FacFarms wreak havoc on the landscape due to runoff from agricultural inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, or animal waste, in the case of the meat industry. The runoff in turn causes people to get sick …We’ve got blue baby syndrome arising from pesticide runoff and workers getting a host of ailments from the animal waste. Meanwhile FacFarms are very deeply entrenched and very protected by Uncle Sam. They make a lot of money and have lot of lobby bucks to ensure their survival. As these FacFarms currently operate, they disburse their foods to all ends of the country and around the world, so their carbon footprint gets quite extensive. As a result we’ve got personal welfare, democracy, and climate change all at stake.

So what the hell is there to do about it??? Farmers markets and Whole Foods is a start. If you’re like me and you don’t have a lot of money to spend, I suggest doing the easiest thing, start cutting meat out of the diet. The meat packing industry’s malfeasance dwarfs the heck out of other ag industries. Plus, less meat is better for the figure.

For my own personal effort I am going to begin Food For Thought. All of you loyal readers who have been anticipating Food Game, I apologize for the craziness. It will all be explained when the rules for Food For Thought get hashed out.

Eco-clensing begins

Invasive Plant Program Coordinator Sarah Archer (right) and Master Naturalist Lou Ott (left) hash out plans to engage the students of Claremont Elementary School in a biodiversity service learning project.

They call themselves “Four Play.” This is largely in part due to the restoration work they carry out along Four Mile Run, and partially because they think it’s fun restoring Arlington’s natural heritage. Well, no actually. The "Four Play" sobriquette isn't even remotely true, yet they do find their work to be fun and the Four Mile Run Restoration Group is working diligently to restore Arlington’s landscape to Gaia’s original beauty.

This is why I love them, and this is why I’ve decided to drag my tuckus out from my Tiki Hut in the early morning. I will aid them in their invasive species removals. My first challenge, however, is to turn more S.S. Yes, much like Hitler’s loose marbles panged out the idea that only an Aryan race was fit to inherit the world, naturalists came to the consensus that non-native plants must perish at the expense of original species.

I get it. They don’t belong there. Non-native species have invaded, and they’re choking out other plants that cohabitate with native species. Shit becomes shat and non-natives catalyze biodiversity loss, weaken food chains, and before long we’re facing a potential biological dead-zone and a corridor for disease vectors.

Truth be told, I just need to grow a pair and stop drawing parallels between the onslaught of invasive species and the decimation of once oppressed populations. These plants are the bad guys here, and by eliminating them, I’m not the Gestapo, the Khmer Rouge, or the KGB. I’m not the Jolly Green Jackal, I’m an eco-purifier. The sad truth is, if non-natives aren’t eradicated, it will be sayonara time for many ecosystems. So, I enter the bio-field as a foot soldier.

A Mallard Duck dives for something utterly delicious in the waters of Four Mile Run.

Steve-adon Milosevic readies for some eco-cleansing

Today, during my break from serving as a teacher’s assistant at Claremont Elementary School and my job at Virginia Gardens, I met with Invasive Plant Program Coordinator Sarah Archer of the Four Mile Run AmeriCorps Group, Special Projects Coordinator Cherie Nelson and Master Naturalist Lou Ott to discuss the possibility of having students from Claremont Elementary School and Greenbrier Learning Center take part in a service learning project outside Claremont Elementary school.

As fortune would have it, an extremely biologically diverse region, the Magnolia Bog, exists in Claremont’s backyard, about six football fields away. But as misfortune would have it, a large concentration of invasive species are located on the grounds of Claremont Elementary and they are breeding and spreading into the bog. With this being the case, the kids have a unique opportunity for a really cool service learning project, where they could first view the unique wonders offered at the bog, and then learn about what invasives are doing to the landscape around their school, and perhaps lend a hand to pull a few.

We’re zeroing in on a day in May, to do the project. This way the kids will be done with their dreaded SOL’s (Standards of Learning) and the teachers will be more apt to be engaged. Vi ska se.

An interesting kicker to the whole Claremont project is that the Four Mile Run Restoration Group needs the approval of Principal Cynthia Johnson, in order to do any invasive removal work on school grounds. I learned today that Claremont is a sort-of-hub in which invasives fan out and spread into Barcroft Park. If the group gains permission to do eradication work on the school’s grounds, it could eliminate this invasive stronghold and really strengthen the park’s condition.

It will be interesting to see how Four Mile Run approaches Principal Johnson. Perhaps with the face time I’ve had with her, luck will be on our side. In the meantime, my volunteer work with "Four Play" begins. I will be volunteering 6-7 hours each month.

Four Mile Run Stream meanders 9.35 miles. A portion of the stream, such as the the segment shown in this picture, ripples through my backyard at Columbia Grove Apartments. During thunderstorms the stream surges and creates a marvelous scene for paper boat races.