Click the following links below to learn more about this WAY cool event. Unless, of course, it turns out to be complete hooey. In which case, my bad. 

Plus: Find out more about James Nachtwey, the TED Prize, and TED.

Columbus Circle

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found out I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.

"Changing the world is changing ourselves first."

The 2009 Buckminster Fuller Challenge is upon us, and I'm thoroughly excited. The late R Buckminster Fuller was a modern-day renaissance man, whose contributions have had lasting effects in architecture, biology, chemistry and design. He was primarily concerned with one question: “Does humanity have a chance to survive lastingly and successfully on planet Earth, and if so, how?” This question is especially apt today. The Buckminster Fuller Institute-sponsored challenge aims to support design solutions that “present a bold, visionary, tangible initiative that is focused on a well-defined need of critical importance.” The following video sums up the institute's goals for the challenge and presents past winners.

The deadline for this competition in November 7^th 2008, and did I mention that the prize is for $100,000? The BFI is specifically looking for solution that are:

• Comprehensive— addressing the interaction of key issues responsible for present conditions; solving multiple problems without creating new ones;
• Anticipatory— factoring in critical future trends and needs as well as potential long term impacts of implementation;
• Ecologically responsible— reflecting nature’s underlying principles while enhancing the Earth’s life-support systems;
• Feasible— relying primarily on current technology and existing resources;
• Verifiable— able to withstand rigorous empirical testing;
• Replicable— able to scale and adapt to a broad range of conditions.

As a self-professed science and design geek, this contest's purpose and methodology gets me all googly-eyed. I appreciate it when science is translated from bench top to the real world, but often this science, or more importantly the scientists behind it, don't take the human factor into account. This is where good design comes in, designers understand human interaction with objects and solutions better than most. The integration of science and design can yield awe-inspiring innovations; when applied to some of the world's most challenging problems “comprehensive anticipatory design science,” as Buckminster called this concept, truly epitomizes the pinnacle of human thought and ability. My opinion may be a bit biased, but once you see some of the entries in the Idea Index, I think you'll understand where I'm coming from.

Further Reading:

• Buckminster Fuller Institute
• The Buckminster Fuller Challenge

Maybe it is just not the right egg which in turn will produce the right child for you.  Maybe you are not at the right place in your life to be this parent you are intended to be.  Perhaps our world is changing and there are just too many babies already born, and your purpose is to adopt on of these wonderful children who need you.

Whatever the case may be -- you have a purpose.  Understanding that purpose will help you to feel better about who you are. 

Regardless of how you were brought up, or what your believes are -- there is a reason why your life has taken this direction.

At Ancient Arts Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, I treat people for infertility.  I give Acupuncture Treatments along with Herbs that will help your body be as imbalance as possible.  I help get you body back to its natural state.  Most women that come in end up with positive results.  Most women conceive within 3-6 months after beginning their treatment program.

The women who have come in weekly for 3-6 months learn how the body works and learn that all they can do is take the best care of their body that is possible.  After that it really is out of our hands.

Women will become have children without any treatment, women will become have children with Acupuncture, women will have children with IUI, with IVF,  from a suragent mother.  Women will have children through adobtion.  Women will have no children but great aunts, friends, Godmothers, stepmothers etc.

What is important? 

That you find your place of peace and happiness.  That you know you have done what is right for you, and know that whatever you decide to do is right for you, and your loved ones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONvCsos2T0Q

http://leftcoastelectric.com/content/view/13/29/

The New Orleans 100 (NOLA100) is a worldwide initiative founded by AllDayBuffet that "hopes to highlight and encourage discussion among millions about 100 of the most innovative and world-changing ideas to take root in the city since Katrina."

To combat top down media during the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, AllDayBuffet hope to leverage bottom up tools on the social web (email, blogs, twitter, facebook, digg, etc.), which can reach a combined audience of millions to raise awareness about New Orleans and inspire action to make a difference.

A list will be released on Monday, August 25th - the week of the Hurricane Katrina anniversary. The goal is to reach 1,000,000 pageviews by August 29th. So, sign up to the Newsletter and you'll get an email on August 25th of 100 world changing ideas to discuss.

I am interested to see how this develops, if the challenge is met and what projects arrive in the inbox!

 I get so busy that before I know it, another week has passed, another month, then another year. I stop and think to myself "What have I been doing this past _________" (fill in the blank) "Have I done anything of value? Anything to make a difference?"

Then I think, "I better start doing something that will make a difference!"

Have you been there?

The problem comes when I try to adopt the "change the world in a single day" mentality... I don't know about you, but I get overwhelmed by having to change the world by myself. So I am going to share something God has taught me that makes changing the world a tad bit easier

I'm not going to give you a list of "how to change the world in 105 easy steps" but I do want to give you three simple words:

"Love the one"

Don't worry about changing the world for a multitude, it is far too difficult to handle in one bite. Instead, simply love one person who is in your life today. Show them the love of Jesus in a way they may never have experienced. You will be changing the world for one person... and that one person will go on to change the world for one more person, and that person will go on to change the world for one more person...

How easy can it get?

“Umweltbewusst leben und handeln im 21. Jahrhundert ist mehr als die Entscheidung für Bio-Äpfel und Energiesparlampen. Die Lösung weltweiter Probleme darf sich nicht auf das Nachdenken über technische Neuerungen beschränken, sondern verlangt von uns eine veränderte Einstellung.

WorldChanging stellt in mehr als 540 Beiträgen eines internationalen Autorenteams die interessantesten Ansätze und Ideen, Projekte und Initiativen vor und liefert Materialien und Kontakte. Diese einzigartige Zusammenstellung ersetzt viele Einzeltitel zu den Themen Konsum und Wohnen, Stadt und Verkehr, Geschäftsleben und Politik sowie globalen Umweltthemen.

Mit WorldChanging gibt es endlich ein umfassendes und für jedermann zugängliches Handbuch der besten Lösungsansätze für die Probleme unseres Globus. Ein Buch, das auf neuartige und positive Weise Mut macht und zu neuem Denken und Handeln für eine bessere Zukunft motiviert.”

Erscheinungsdatum: September 2008

• Landscape and Urbanism
• Treehugger
• BBC World Service
  
• World Changing
• USAToday
• TV20
• Public Radio International

The team in uganda really had one objective when they came here, and that was to build an educational faciltiy for watoto and to connect with the kids, and we did that every day.  At night after the work day was over, we would walk into the community and mingle with the people, talk to them, give them gifts, and just get to this neibhborhood.  This district had a huge nighlife, and we got right down in the middlle of it. 

Tyson had met a young man whos name is Alex, alex is about 24 and a year and a half ago he gave his life to Jesus.  He has a little sidewalk shop where he sales shoes, im sure you will see pictures of it later.  He is doing his best to make a living for he and his family.  He is responsible for his mother, his sister and his baby.  He had a wife and she ran away, she had the baby, left her with the family and ran away.  She is a precious littl baby girl named praise.

Alex, is not only a shoe salesmen but also a preacher, he goes up and down those streets, and preaches to the pimps and prostitutes and addicts and impoverished and everyone he can talk to about Jesus.

Before i arrived from Rwanda the team had gone out ministering and i hadn't gone yet, it was evening and dark so Tyson, John and I went to the slums.  This is what they call it.  Its off the beaten path.  The main road is one club after another, one pool hall after another, one shop after another, but when you go up this road, where the asphalt ends and you are walking on mud and dirt, the further you go the worse it seems to get.

We took Alex so he could interprate and we went up into the slums.  There were people everywhere, kids roaming the streets, there parents not having any idea where they are, if they have parents. There are men and women out and the smell of marijauna is pungent in the air, and merchants selling their wares, and prostitutes doing the same.  It was shocking how many kids are out and roaming.  We had made a friend, his name was mike he was nine years old, his mom died, his dad moved away and he lives with his older brother, who i don't get the feeling ever knows where he is at.  It is a sign of friendship for friends to hold hands, so Tyson and John are carrying bags with bibles and goodies in them and michael and i were walking along and michael was holding my hand, and alex was telling me of the great things God is doing in his life.

We started handing out bibles, you would have thought we were giving out free food, we gave out 100 i believe and we could have easily given out 1000, Tyson was brilliant though, he would tell them, "i am giving you this, share it with all your friends, bring them over and you all read it together." 

So we would give out bibles talk to different ones abuot Jesus, and tell the Jesu akwagala, Jesus loves you.  They would grab those bibles and say thanks.  It was really amazing.  We continued to walk up the street and we came to a church, I'm sure it is nothing like what you may picturing right now in your mind.  It was a one room building, beat down and run down, but they were keeping it the best they could and were very proud of it, it was called "Christ in you the hope of glory church. We walked in and there were several women and a few children, worshipping God, they were praying, we asked if we could join them, it was one of the neatest moments, i wish i had pictures of tyson, worshipping with them, but i didnt have my camera and the moment was not appropriate for a picture, it was one of those times that is so surreal you have to remind yourself its actually happening. 

After we prayed we begin to sing songs with them, they danced, and we loved on them, and we felt like giving the church an offering, i think what we gave was about 100 dollars, which would probably far surpass the budget for a year, you would not believe the response, they shot off like a rocket, and begin to dance and shout, and we were overjoyed by there gratefulness and simple thanksgiving.  So alex said, pastor you should share with them, and so i preached a short sermon to which the responded with great joy.  We prayed with each of them, and hugged them and the crowd grew by double by the time we were finished with kids and women who heard the commotion. 

As we walked back down, we gave away neclaces, candy, treats and bibles, and we shared our faith with them.  We had told Alex earlier that we were interested in ministering to the pimps and prostitutes, and wanted to give them a bible, so we were walking down the street he had us by the hand, and all of a sudden we ducked into this dark ally, very narrow place, and as soon as we did there were men who grabbed our hands and begin to offer women to us.  It was a disgustingly filthy place and very dark, there were men standing, and many women setting on a bench waiting to be sold.  These were not women being forced at least it didn't appear that way and alex said these were women who didn't want to do anytihng else, so they did this, he said he frequantly tells them they need Jesus and they need to Him to change their lives.

It became very uncomfortable very quickly, so I leaned in to Tyson and I said they are obviously misunderstanding our purpose here.  Which is fairly naive of us, white men from america, handing out gifts and walking straight in to prostitute central, what were they going to think.  I said, "lets back out and try this another way."  We backed out and sense they know Alex and that he preaches Jesus to them and does not approve of their lifestyle we sent him in with a bible.  Then we walked off, knowing we did the right thing, we stopped and had a coke, and when we did the most miraculous thing happened. 

We turned around, and there was one of the prostitutes she had followed us out, she said, "I want to know Jesus."  We were a bit shocked, but right there on the street, we prayed with her and she gave her life to the Lord.  When she asked, another young teenage boy who was standing there said, i want to know Jesus too, so he prayed with us and received Jesus.  While we were basking in the glory of this moment, another prostittute came, she was probably 17 and she said i want what they have, so we prayed with her too, about that time, the pimp sent one of the girls down to tell the two who had given their lives to Jesus not to ever come back, and we said praise the Lord!  We used wisdom and left at that point, but left knowing that we had shared the love of Jesus with people who were hurt and bound by sin, and just let Jesus does, He set them free.

Sometimes we need to leave the asphalt of our lives, we need to say goodbye to the good road and go ahead and trek up that muddy dirt road of the world, and well find that there are people shining a light there, and we will find there are hungry hearts there, we will find people who need Jesus there, and if we take the love of Jesus where the asphalt ends, it will change us as it changes them.

What is the asphalt in your life?  Your comfort?  Your status?  Your pride?  Your fear?  Step onto the dirt, and get your feet dirty, it will be the greatest experience of your life.

My next blog I will tell the rest of the story, we went to alexes house, to reach his mother, it will break your heart for those who need love and help, and inspire you to do what you can to reach another's world.

Please excues type o's and blunders i am using a keyboard that is not like what we are used to and can cause more mistakes than normal, which i'm famous for anyway.

David

West Coast Green

This kind of mainstreaming means improved choices in materials for architects and engineers. It also means more pre-packaged solutions in which the bugs are already worked out -- no need to hack your own solution from scratch.

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007316.html

My argument was that by passing on emails that are false and partisan - emails that were likely written with the intention of misinforming people or sparking hatred for those with opposing political beliefs - or even simply tolerating others passing them on by not calling them out when an email is easily proven to be false, that our society would suffer because the lies would spread and the respect for truth would be diminished.

If people think it is okay to forward an email that attacks their political rivals even though it is based on lies, then they do not have respect for Truth. In their eyes, Truth is not as important as Partisanship.

The LA Times has a piece out today illustrating how false email forwards can manipulate the intelligence of seemingly very intelligent people.

The Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell, was giving a speech recently and opened up with an interesting story about Navy ships having some tense exchange with what they thought was an oncoming ship.

He even prefaced the story by saying, ""Now this is... true. I was in the signals intelligence business where you listen to the people talk and so on. This is true. It’s an actual recording."

You can read the story at the link above, but the point is, it turns out the story isn't true. It was an urban legend. Here is a link to the Snopes.com page that debunks the story.

Now, this example is not as insidious as those that deal with our elections and politicians. I think those are worse because they aim to manipulate the understanding of citizens, thereby influencing who they may or may not eventually vote for.

But this does illustrate how easy it can be to be fooled by these false emails. If the Director of National Intelligence for the United States can be so easily convinced that something so easily debunked is true, well, that isn't good.

Do what you can to debunk these stories when they arrive in your email. Our country and the world might just be better off.

If you're not convinced about the damage false political emails can have, take a look at this:

Now, you’re probably thinking that this shouldn’t be a concern because these folks aren’t likely going to be voting for Obama even if they didn’t believe these lies about him, and that is probably true. But to that I would say, as they go through their day, meeting and talking with friends between now and the election, they will certainly continue to repeat these lies and may convince some to not vote for Obama as a result and that should bother us.

It should not bother us because it is about Obama or the Clintons. It should bother us because it is easily debunked bullshit compromising the basic principles of our democracy. We should be concerned when people spread rumors about Republican candidates, as well.*

We should do what we can to ensure that political debate from both sides sticks to the facts. Argue the policies, fight for your values, but don’t lie to score political points. Rise above that.

The above is just an excerpt from a longer piece (too long, actually) that I wrote in an attempt to explain to friends why debunking these emails is important.

Read the rest here and share your thoughts here or there or both.

UPDATE: I've just received this one. Go debunkers, go!

*NOTE: I’m unable to point to an example, however, because I’ve never received a mass email forward that propagates lies about John McCain or Mike Huckabee or Ron Paul or any of the other ‘also ran’ candidates. I’m not sure what exactly to make of that. I imagine there are some going around, but not among anyone I correspond with.

Before I get to all that though, I should mention a few things.

I have a tendency to get on my friends' nerves. I'm well-aware of this, though I am occasionally reminded. This feels really geeky to be writing, but I do my best to maintain a zero tolerance policy when it comes to mass emails. I refuse to forward any mass, chain-style email that contain anything false or misleading information. I occasionally annoy my friends because I also will respond to tell them when a mass email they forwarded is based on lies or written to mislead. I know they are never doing it on purpose and wouldn't be spreading lies if they knew that's what they were, so I'll check the rumor-debunking site, Snopes.com and tell them when something is wrong. Even though it is never intentional, this can rub people the wrong way sometimes.

However, it's also a great way to reduce the amount of crap coming into your inbox. I've found that after replying-all with a link to the Snopes.com page that debunks a particular email rumor, the sender will usually refrain from sending similar stuff your way in the future. Of course, they may still be sending it to others who are less-concerned with the facts and since they aren't coming to you anymore you can't debunk them, I'll explain further down why I think you should check mass emails for accuracy and debunk those that are false.

What Am I Talking About?

Just to clarify, I'm not talking about emails from advocacy groups or non-profits or emails that just point to an important article. I'm referring to the mass emails that no one seems to know who actually wrote. I'm sure you've seen them. Just about all of them have similar characteristics.

FW: Fwd: Fwd: ALL CAPPED SUBJECT LINE WITH AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!

The subject lines are easy to spot. Numerous FW:'s at the beginning let you know this one has made the rounds, as does the blue column of previously cc'd email addresses you'll likely see towering above the actual content (further evidence of a society with either little concern for privacy or knowledge of the bcc function).

The actual content in these can vary. They can be videos, power point presentations, photo slide shows or just text. The majority of the ones I get almost always have a picture, followed by a few paragraphs explaining what I'm seeing. The fonts are almost always big, 20pt. or larger in Arial or some other unusual font that lets you know it isn't something your friend wrote themselves and it isn't uncommon for the text to be in a bright color, such as pink or green. And animated smiley faces are not uncommon.

I imagine the types of emails one gets depends strongly on the type of people in their social circle. In fact, there's probably an interesting research project waiting to be done here, as it wouldn't surprise me to learn that the likelihood of receiving certain mass emails depends on your profession, religion, political beliefs, income or education level, or perhaps rather how those things stack up among the majority of those in your social circle. Some surely have a smaller, regional reach, such as those dealing with a nearby university, sports team or local politician, while others, which have a general focus will be more-likely to spread nationally.

Some mass emails are innocuous, such as this one claiming that Microsoft CEO, Bill Gates is willing to pay out thousands of dollars to those that forward on a mass email that allegedly tests some new thinga-ma-jigger his company is developing. Money sure is a strong motivator for forwarding emails, as I've gotten this one the most over the past 7 years or so. Too bad it's false or I'd have some very wealthy friends. It's funny to note that I've gotten this email forwarded to me from the same people numerous times. Do they just think the check from Gates for the first time they forwarded it got lost in the mail?

Others don't promise loads of cash for continuing the chain, but do promise curses or blessings depending on whether you forward or delete. These are both funny and sad at the same time. Call me crazy, but I think if there is a God that exists, it likely has better things to base it's judgments on than whether or not I keep your Precious Moments prayer chain going.

Strong On Inspiration, Short On Facts

Some mass email forwards are just nice quotes or essays to make us feel good, but still contain minor inaccuracies, such as this one that claims to be written by Jay Leno, but was actually penned by conservative author, Craig R. Smith.

It's a small error, only concerning who penned the essay and it is minor compared to the falsehoods some other mass emails contain, but it still matters. It could be an honest mistake, but I believe more-likely it was deliberately done because the sender knew that having Jay Leno's name atop the content would probably get a few more people to read it and the original sender, perhaps feeling that the content was important he or she was willing to fib a bit and say Leno had written it to help spread the message.

This assumption is partially backed by what was at the top of the essay:

----- Original Message -----

Subject: JAY LENO IS AWESOME....PLEASE READ TO THE END

Very interesting perspective by Jay Leno...
I hope you will all read to the end. Jay Leno puts it into perspective and

makes us think about the pathetic negativity. That's right, Jay Leno!!

Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....

The sender was certainly using the Jay Leno association to inspire those on the receiving end to read the email. At the end of the "Leno" essay it read "Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people that need to read this and grasp the truth of it all." More evidence that the sender was well-intentioned and just trying to do what he or she could to spread the positive message. A little white lie, perhaps, but no harm done, really.

The 'Feel Good' Factor

The 'feel good' factor seems to be the most-common reason for forwarding. And the Jay Leno email is a classic example.

That's what it's all about for a bunch of people, passing on things they deem important, hoping others will "grasp the truth of it all" and forward it on to their friends, as well. Nevermind the fact that it isn't completely true, it makes us feel good, so it is worth sending, right?

The majority of the email forwards I get are meant to be inspiring and patriotic and call on receivers to show their patriotism by forwarding the message for others to see. An example of this and another great example of the 'feel good' factor leading to some lies in mass email forwards is this one that tells the story of an Iraqi sculptor.

The story goes that Kalat, an Iraqi artist, had been forced by Saddam Hussein to make hundreds of statues of Saddam to be placed around Baghdad and he was so grateful to be liberated by America that he melted the heads of Saddam statues to make a memorial for American soldiers. Some versions of the email also contained this criticism of the media:

"Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news? Because it is heart warming and praise worthy. The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect that a flashed breast or controversy of politics does. But we can do something about it. We can pass this along to as many people as we can in honor of all our brave military who are making a difference."

Well, if you actually look into the facts behind the story, you'll see that a reason this story might not have gotten media attention is because it is only partially true.

Snopes.com has all the details, but simply put, it has been embellished to make it more of a 'feel good' story. The statue is real and was actually made by an Iraqi artist using melted statues of Saddam, however the artist that made it was never forced to make hundreds of bronze busts for Saddam and did not decide to make this memorial statue because he was so grateful to be liberated. Itwas not even his idea. He was commissioned by the military and told what to make. Yet, despite those facts, the story as told in the email, falsehoods included, actually did make it into the news. According to Snopes, it ran in the Dallas Morning News and later was picked up by other papers.

What reasons do you think someone would have for adding the lies to this story? This could also be attributed to the 'feel good' factor. Maybe, the embellisher added the fabrications because it made the story more heart-warming. It certainly paints a nice picture of Iraqi's being pleased to be liberated, which would lead one to think the war and occupation are good things.

Or perhaps this was just like a game of 'telephone' or 'rumor' in which people pass on a story and it gets embellished and changed along the way. Whatever the case may be, it wasn't completely true, yet the story was read in email, published in newspapers and likely believed by thousands of people.

Things like this should concern us, especially an example like this that eventually made it into the press.

To Debunk of Not Debunk

As we move deeper into the election season, email forwards about politics – specifically those dealing with particular candidates – will become more prevalent. And I think we should take care to spot falsehoods and avoid sending them.

A friend got annoyed with me today because I replied to two email forwards he'd sent with the link to their respective Snopes.com pages that indicated they were false. One was about Enron and ties the company allegedly had with the Clinton's.

Here is the email text as archived by Snopes.com.

While the Leno piece only contained a minor lie, this email was full of them. It says the Enron chairman, Ken Lay, stayed at the Clinton White House 11 times, when in fact, he has only stayed overnight in the White House once and that was when George H.W. Bush was President. And the parts about the financial donations are inaccurate and misleading, as well. Snopes.com has the details and supporting sources.

To be clear, I don't bring this up to imply that Democrats have never taken money from Enron. The opposite is true, as Snopes objectively notes:

"Enron traded so much money and influence through its lobbying efforts for so many years – among both Republicans and Democrats, in federal as well as in state governments – that neither party can rightly take the moral high ground in decrying the scandal."

The point of bringing this up is to illustrate the malicious intent behind these emails and the damaging effect they can have. What is the purpose of the Enron/Clinton email? If it is simply to point out that the Clinton's have ties to Enron, why not post a link to a truthful news article or page from OpenSecrets.org showing the donations? Why make up outright lies? And why do you suspect it is being moving around now?

I don't think this is a hard question to answer. It appears to me to be deliberate misinformation intended to associate the Clintons and Democratic Party with this scandal. If we know, as Snopes acknowledges, that both sides do have a history of dealings with Ken Lay and Enron, why lie to make a petty political point? Leave that to the spin masters and politicians. Stick to the facts.

But no, hundreds, if not thousands, of people will get that email and many will believe every word. "All politicians suck," they'll say. And "Democrats are just as corrupt as Republicans," could very well be the takeaway message. But if that is what you actually believe, it is surely a point you can legitimately argue. There are many examples of Democratic politicians being corrupt. Stick to those facts to make that point and I'll respect your view. But pass off easily debunked bullshit lies and I cannot.

To be clear, I'm not saying my friend intentionally sent something she knew was false. I know that isn't the case. But by forwarding something that is false, you are adding to the problem. And I think once you acknowledge that some emails are a problem, as good citizens we should work to fix it.

FEAR OBAMA

If you aren't convinced of the damage these types of emails can have, consider the current misinformation being sent about Barack Obama.

There are several going around about Obama; all seem to focus on a few key points, which happen to also be lies. They say Obama is Muslim, was sworn in as a Senator on the Koran and would do so again if elected President, etc. These aren't exactly insults, but they are intended to be. You can read one version of the email and debunking here.

It's all false, yet the legend is permeating our society and believed by many.

Listen to these sweet ladies repeat the false claims almost exactly as they are written in the mass email.

This is a problem. It should bother us when we see it.

Now, you're probably thinking that this shouldn't be a concern because these folks aren't likely going to be voting for Obama even if they didn't believe these lies about him, and that is probably true. But to that I would say, as they go through their day, meeting and talking with friends between now and the election, they will certainly continue to repeat these lies and may convince some to not vote for Obama as a result and that should bother us.

It should not bother us because it is about Obama or the Clintons. It should bother us because it is easily debunked bullshit compromising the basic principles of our democracy. We should be concerned when people spread rumors about Republican candidates, as well. (NOTE: I'm unable to point to an example, however, because I've never received a mass email forward that propagates lies about John McCain or Mike Huckabee or Ron Paul or any of the other 'also ran' candidates. I'm not sure what exactly to make of that. I imagine there are some going around, but not among anyone I correspond with)

We should do what we can to ensure that political debate from both sides sticks to the facts. Argue the policies, fight for your values, but don't lie to score political points. Rise above that.

Be the Change You Wish to See

It's no secret that there is a lot at stake in the upcoming election and I understand people on both sides are passionate about their candidate winning, but I'm not willing to pass along lies to hurt the other side and I think my friends should hold themselves to that same standard.

And don't get me wrong, I don't really think anything I do will lead to no more false email forwards being sent, but as cheesy as you may find it, I often go back to the Gandhi quote that says, "Be the change you wish to see." I would like for there to be no more false mass email forwards, so I'm doing what I can to stop them.

If you agree with me that some of these emails that contain rumors intended to mislead readers and score political points by lying are bad, then I would encourage you to make a point to debunk them when you can.

When you get an email that contains some shocking allegation you suspect may be inaccurate, take thirty seconds to check it on snopes.com. That way you'll know whether it's true and save yourself from accidentally perpetuating the problem. If you confirm that it is true and it is something you think needs to be seen by others, then by all means forward it on. But if you learn that it is misleading or completely false, let that email chain end with you. It is the least you can do to solve this problem of misinformation and rumor influencing our politics.

I value honesty over partisanship and my country over my party. I will never pass on an email that attacks my political opponents that is knowingly false, because I know that that damages the debate. It weakens our ability to engage in honest discourse. And I refuse to send something on that I suspect could be false. I check every email forward and think you should too.

If you're like me and think your ideas and values are good enough to win without lying, then do what you can to put an end to these types of mass emails. If you receive one and realize it is false, let the sender know and encourage them to be more careful in trying to not send lies.

Now, some people will hear this and just won't care. They are fine sending lies if it furthers their agenda and there's not much you can say to sway these folks. But I refuse to believe that any of my friends sending these types of emails are like this. I know them too well to believe that. They are good, honest people and I think if they learned something was false, they would refuse to forward it on. The challenge though is to get them to make a habit of fact-checking these mass emails prior to forwarding them.

Sometimes I think it's just added effort they don't want to take. If that is the case, you must ask yourself if you'd rather take a few seconds to fact-check the email or live with the fact you helped propagate lies. It's also possible that some people might suspect a mass email may not be true and they don't want to check because confirming that it is false would ruin the fun of sending it on. That's probably not as likely, but again, if that is your thinking, you must ask yourself what you value – easy political jabs via mass emails or sticking to your principles of respecting truth and honesty.

In all this debunking though, it is important to remember that a thin line exists between being an advocate for honesty and turning into an overzealous, debunking prick. So, if you do start debunking the bunk emails going around these days, be polite and don't ruin friendships in the process. Sometimes all it takes is a thoughtful explanation of why you think it's important to make a longer-lasting point. That's what I'm trying to do with this post, only time will tell if it pays off.

Okay, that's about all I can say on that.

....Now, if someone could grab me a step stool so I can hop off this high horse, I'd really appreciate it.

It's why I'm involved with SGCI, contribute to the Green Infrastructure Wiki and why we're advocating for the ProParks renewal...

Concept One:  ---Karma---( as explained on reference.com [The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy it brings to others.] )

>>I like the idea of what goes around comes around. That our actions directly relate to what happens or doesn't happen in our lives. I feel like this can go along with bigger world issues and raising awareness on how we live our lives as well as personal issues. I also think this concept relates to the golden rule of treat others as you would like to be treated.

Concept Two: --- Taking small steps that can change the world---  I feel like a lot of times when one thinks about helping the environment they always think big...and therefore hard to do on your own. I think it would be good to show that every little bit can help. The idea that taking small steps that can slowly help the environment and the world. I was thinking of using imagery of a staircase or a ladder and each step is a small thing you can do individually to help out with a larger issue. It could be as simple as changing your light bulbs to energy efficient ones, or starting to recycle, yet it could go as big as having a hybrid car instead of a huge SUV.