Earth Hour

Earth Hour is tomorrow Saturday, March 28th from 8:30pm to 9:30pm (your local time).

I'm planing to participate by turning off our lights and electronics for the hour. A small step to show our concern about the climate change.

World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

Kind of on a somewhat related side note: Noticing at my friends apartment in Germany last year that at the end of the day they wouldn't just turn off their stereo and TV and whatnot, but also unplug everything, I thought they might be unnecessarily overdoing it. But it's been fascinating to learn, that indeed...

“Whether the lights are on or off, standby power is using more electricity than you realize and contributing to your personal greenhouse gas emissions,” the statement [from Belkin] reads. “Standby power, also called vampire power, phantom load or leaking electricity, refers to the electric power consumed by appliances while turned off but still plugged into a power outlet.”

By the way, my decision to participate has nothing to do with the fact that I was born on Earth Day, which only some years also falls on Administrative Professionals Day (formerly known as Secretary's Day). Just thought I'd throw that in since my birthday is quickly approaching. And, um, I like chocolate. A lot.

CHECK OUT THE EARTH HOUR WEBSITE. And you know they're on facebook and twitter and...

The Band On The Edge Of Forever

Here is another pretty song (and pretty video) by a band my brother works with in Germany: The Band On The Edge Of Forever with Shore Leave.

The trains featured in the video are model versions of the ICE train (pronunciation: [iːtseːˈeː]), which are hands-down the best way to travel through Germany and parts of Europe. If they don't derail that is. So I dare you to try them next time you happen to look for a way to get from Hamburg to Munich.

Ciara Elend: Queensbound & Ciara Couture

Ciara Elend is a wonderful, very talented, hard-working friend, artist and activist. A few days ago the Queens Tribune published an article about her with an emphasis on her Queensbound line of Queens-themed T-Shirt:

“There are no cool Queens T-shirts. People still don’t think of Queens as hip and cool even though I think of it as up-and-coming,” Elend said. “At first, I just made shirts for my friends and they loved them.”

and also the art classes she offers in Queens.

“People who have been laid off can take my classes for free. They just have to fill out a scholarship form and send in a resume,” she said. “When people are looking for jobs, it can be a depressing process. It can only be better for the community when you give people a chance to express themselves creatively.”

But you don't have to live in Queens to appreciate her T-shirts and other fashion items, since she also has another label called Ciara Couture. Her shirts have been featured on prime-time television, political conventions and bring-out-the-vote events and various celebrities.

Also check out her blog about all things Queens and more.

Heckle U

In his position as senior producer at CBS Interactive Scott has been part of producing a new online mini-series called Heckle U: The Chance and Darrell Story.

The official synopsis:

Chance Stevens and Darrell Downing are two of the greatest hecklers of our time. With raw wit and perspiration, Chance and Darrell rocked the collegiate and pro basketball worlds. But their road to fame, fortune, and master heckle-dom was riddled with speedbumps. Watch Heckle U: The Chance and Darrell Story beginning in March to learn the story behind the greatest heckling duo since muppets Statler and Waldorf.

Today they launched the first episode, which you can watch right below (patiently sit through the short Head & Shoulders commercial and admire the man's amazing hair).



Along with the 9 episodes airing in the upcoming weeks, they also launched a video contest, which YOU could enter by doing this:

Create a short, comedic video of your thoughts and you could win a trip for 4 to Vegas. It's the perfect thing to do while you're putting off what you're supposed to be doing.

C'mon, everybody is doing it... even Scott...

EthicsDaily reviews "All God's Children"

Cliff Vaughn of EthicsDaily.com wrote an excellent review of All God's Children - both very informative and thoughtful.

On facebook

All God's Children has a facebook page.

You don't have to have a facebook account to visit the page and look at the pictures from our recent trip to Florence for the film's Alabama premiere or any of the other content.

But if you are on facebook and become a fan, you can leave comments, upload content and, of course, be automatically notified of all the upcoming screenings we have in the works.

Last but not least, if you become a fan of the All God's Children page you will greatly help us get the word out about the film.

The Four Agreements

A friend just posted on his blog "Drew in Zombieland" one of these agreements and a link to the original site of don Miguel and don Jose Luis' Toltec Teachings. Their introduction states that "in these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible."

Aside from finding these words inspirational for my personal life, I can also see the connection to the experience of the people in All God's Children and even to documentary filmmaking in general.

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

George Lindsey UNA Film Festival

Plane, train and automobile (in that order) got me from Brooklyn via Atlanta to Florence, Alabama, where All God's Children will be showing as part of the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival today at 3:30pm (Florence Lauderdale Library).

We already had a very nice time at the opening night party at On The Rocks. Florence is in The Shoals, a very charming area on the Tennessee River and known for its musical history. So the live music last night added a nice touch.

Dianne Couts, who is one of the MKs featured in the film, is on her way to meet us here in time for the Luncheon and then the screening.