Friday, December 31, 2010

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Week 6: Alternative Systems

As the information on the statistics page shows, it is expensive to get an education in America.  But the system we in the U.S. tend to take as one of those unfortunate, but undeniable facts of life, is actually anything but that. 


Education is important.  So important in fact, that other countries invest in it heavily enough that it is virtually free.  In the video, Liz mentions Australia.  It is actually a great example and Liz is quite correct.  Australian citizens and permanent residents can get their educations funded, and then pay that back as slowly or quickly as they want through a kind of payroll tax.  If they are not getting paid, or event are not getting paid enough to meet their other needs, the tax is waved.  How about that?

In other news, I had the good fortune to meet the women of Chive last year, and they are incredible, not just in the way they throw a party (see video), but also in their commitment to a new kind of business model that actually respects their workers, and the planet.  If you are in New England, you gotta know about Chive.

Finally, I wrote a nice little blog about my dad, and (shameless plug) if you are into Colorado History, you should take advantage of the after Christmas special prices on his films.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Week 5: The Power is Yours

I've been slacking, and I fell behind by a few weeks. Tonight, Wednesday, and Friday should catch me back up before the new year :) Sorry for the delay.


I have been working with the creators of Captain Planet for a few months. I was in Atlanta a couple weeks ago for the 20th anniversary bash. It was nuts. The event was a plated dinner for 700 people. All of Atlanta's A-list turned out to the Georgia Aquarium for a late night of partying hard.

You can see the work I am doing with the Planeteers at the website, the HUGE Facebook page, and the twitter accounts. That's all for now.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Week 4: Unemployment Insurance

Before I get into this post, I want to thanks Jordan and Victoria for your thoughts!  Keep 'em coming.

I added a bit of information to put this all in a larger context on the Statistics page - along with an invitation for you to declare your own game, and join me in being unreasonable about getting free from debt.


(Sorry the sound sucks - I'll fix that next week)

Be Warned: what is below here is political.  If you want an update on my game, the latest is here.

I hate to go a tad partisan right now, but Mitch McConnell, the Republican Minority Leader in the Senate has vowed to block any and all legislation in the Senate until the Bush Tax cuts for those making $250,000 or more are extended or made permanent.  This power play only works because unemployment benefits are about to run out for millions of us (luckily, myself not included).

I'm sure Mr. McConnell would make the argument that extending those tax cuts will create jobs, or at least prevent the loss of more.  I disagree with him, but even if he is right, those jobs won't come before rent is due for the new year, they won't come before Christmas is spent struggling to get by, and they certainly won't come before people run out of food in their cupboards.

I've only been on unemployment for two months, so I have a lot of time before my insurance runs out.  It's a good thing too.  Unemployment in America is a little shy of 10%.  I have applied for more than 25 positions, and have yet to get so much as an interview.  I don't have kids.  I don't have a mortgage.  I have a Master's Degree, and great flexibility with what I can do.

If I were supporting a family and less flexible in what I could do, I would be downright desperate.

Mitch McConnell is worth $32,756,000 million dollars.  Does he understand what he is putting people through?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Week 3: Greater Purpose

Friends, your generosity, advice and eagerness to help are really overwhelming.  Thank you all.

I added a new page which you can look at by clicking here or going to the tab up top that is labeled Strategies.  There you will find a detailed report of what I have actually done, what I am trying to do, and what I plan to do, but haven't gotten to yet.  If you think I should do more things, list them, and I will likely give it a shot. While you are playing around with the tabs, I have some numbers crunching under the statistics tab too.


The balance between doing something worthwhile, that makes you proud to go to work, and earning enough money to get out of debt and live with financial abundance, is a tricky one.  I just got a letter from a big organization that was looking at hiring me informing me that they are unable to meet my salary requirements (enough to pay the loans) and therefore can't offer me the job.  It would have been coordinating a multi-state campaign to tackle energy efficiency at the local level.  This could be HUGE!  Just listen to Kalia Lydgate at the Marion Institute (video by yours truly). But alas - no-go on the jobby-job.

I am currently working on two projects that are right in line with the vision I expressed in the video this week.  I have been working with the people who created Captain Planet to use the global popularity of the character to communicate message about responsible consuming (among other things).  As of now we have nearly 400,000 people on Facebook, and reasonably cool website.

The other project is straight up crazy.  I am working on putting a team together to build a sustainability research facility and conference center on a private island in the Pacific Northwest.  Take a look at the site.

So in addition to those things (neither of which pays) I am trying to apply for jobs that make a difference.  I did get a gig writing for a website called TheSocioCapitalist, but it is more an awesome outlet for my writing and a great community, and less a significant revenue stream - unless of course you get all of your friends to make it super popular :) (click those links - I made it easy)

I also applied for a few fellowships, some paid, and others unpaid, but prestigious.  I got word today that I have advanced to the next round for one of them, and will have an interview in the next two weeks, so that rocks.  I also have been connecting with people who might need social media services like this web video I just made for Half Acre Beer in Chicago.  I have a couple promising prospects that would do some social good, and even pay in the next few weeks (fingers crossed).

So as you saw in the video - A big goose egg represents my student loan payments this week.  Boo.  I have devised a system beginning two weeks from now to have the money my dad is paying me for the consulting work I am doing go directly to Citibank in student loan payments.  That would be $200/wk, or a little less than 25% of the goal.  Still its steady and significant.