My Halloween Celebration

Halloween is a special time of year for me as I notch another year of sobriety in my most treasured life accomplishments.

@StLHandyMan #congratulations ! So blessed to be here & #enjoy another day booze-free ! My path is similar. We are SOOO BLESSEC!
— organics count (@LizzySm25755296) November 1, 2014

There was a couple of reasons for giving up booze and the destruction it was causing in my life.  Some people say that a Drunk will only stop drinking when they hit rock bottom.

I don't honestly know if I reached rock bottom.  I do know that I didn't make positive life choices while under the influence of booze.

One of my rock bottoms came when a very dear lifetime friend stopped talking to me because my bad drinking decision stopped him from participating in his favorite past times of attending a Kansas City Chiefs football game.

This was a straw that broke the camels back in re to my drinking. 

I treasure my friends.  Loosing a trusted lifetime friend gave me the realization that a change was needed.

 I stopped drinking, by making the conscious decision- booze was wrecking my life and all that I treasure.

Its now been 12 years since I gave up booze.  Sobriety has worked for me and if you are contemplating leading a life free of bad influences.  I suggest to anyone to give it a shot.

Here's how I did it: I tricked my mind by performing a life experiment.  I know my mind has the instilled philosophy of never giving up.  So I worked this into an experiment in sober living.

I learned through talking with drunks, addicts, people who went sober, and attending a few AA meetings (that I honestly thought was a crock of shit): many people gave up drinking and then went back to drinking after a short time period.

To trick my mind I created an experiment: I would go without booze for 1 year, at the end of the year I would look back for positive changes and examine if my life was better. (edited after posting: My original booze free experiment was to go 3 years first- to really give my mind a chance, and is similar to how I read the Metallica Band Member went 'booze free' years ago.)

I learned during that years sobriety experiment that it was possible to live without the booze.  I didn't jeopardize any friendships or lose friends and even gained new Friend's that supported my endeavor.

Proof Positive, sobriety worked.  I then said to my mind-let's experiment for another year.  And  I  have continued this successful experiment every year and have continued to live a sober lifestyle.

I don't know why my experiment in tricking my mind has worked.  I do know that:

           I don't or allow my mind to dwell on thoughts of drinking everyday, because of my experiment, where every Halloween I look back to make the next years decision on whether to drink the coming year or not.

Its now been so long that thoughts of whether I'll drink this year are pretty much nonexistent.

Nevertheless, I reaffirm my next years 2015 experiment and weigh my prior years 2014 successful experiment.

Find what works for you when battling your inner demons and issues.  And take it from me, that no matter how big of an issue your mind may make of something- you can change.

My best to everyone.  Happy Halloween.  I'll give a sobriety update in 2015.

Tele Convo Details Solar Rebate RENEW MO

I just had an informative telephone conversation with RENEW MO Director Mr M Walter (Corrected and Updated Information 11/12/2014 Scotty).  We discussed a few things about the State of Affairs specifically AmerenUE suspending the Solar Rebate option for customers in the St.Louis Region.

Thumbs Up Clean Energy Solar in St.Louis

I'm going to share some of our conversation that was not included in his email (see corrected post below):

• Corrected and updated information via Mark-Renew Missouri 11/12/14 (strikethrough comments were/are partially incorrect)
  • Even though Ameren UE has suspended (illegally) the Solar Rebate that is paid to customers who install a clean energy system.  He suggests: "still apply for the Solar Rebate".  
  • His reasoning is: "We the Voters voted this program into existence" which was then challenged by the Lobbying Efforts by the Electric Companies statewide.
  • Just because this program is in limbo is by no reason for not applying since the Legislation is being challenged.  If RENEW MO is successful in their ongoing Court Battle:
  Anyone who has applied and installed a Clean Energy System could benefit retroactively from the Net Metering Request
  
  
  Thanks for the blog post the other day.  Has it gotten much attention?  In the future, Renew Missouri and I personally would love to be involved in your blog in whatever capacity we can.  If you wouldn't mind, we would appreciate it if you'd run any of our conversations by us before you post them on your blog.  There are a couple of things that aren't accurate on the blog post that I'd like to try and get straight.
  
  
  First, there are a few lawsuits going on in Missouri, and Renew Missouri is only involved in one of them.  
  1. In September, we wrapped up a case against Empire Electric in the Supreme Court.  We're still waiting to hear back on the verdict, but if we win then people in Empire Territory only will likely have their rebates reinstated.  We're encouraging solar installers to prepare rebate forms for their customers in Empire Territory only so that should we hear a positive verdict, we can create a rush of solar rebates for customers.
  
  
  The other big case in Missouri right now is Solar LLC (representing several solar companies in the state) and Missouri Coalition for the Environment vs. the Missouri PSC attempting to reinstate rebates for all of the Investor Owned Utilities.  Should they win the case, it is likely that rebates will get reinstated for all customers in IOU territory.  It is possible that if people were wrongfully denied solar rebates (i.e. they applied for solar rebates during the time that the IOUs decided they weren't paying) that they can then get retroactive payment through a separate lawsuit, but since Renew Missouri is not a party to this law suit in any way, we aren't advising our supporters to do anything like that.  I'm sorry if I wasn't very clear in our conversation and I accept total responsibility for any murkiness there.

Mark Walter
Renew Missouri
Deputy Director
(573) 590-2255

End- Corrected Information

• Which is a great thing!  Especially since Ameren is a Co-Owner in any clean energy system that is hooked to the grid.  Thats right: if your system is hooked to their power supply via your electric meter-
  They partly own your system because they can then count this net metering towards the Renewable Energy Target set by the Voters of Missouri.  (The energy created by your clean energy system that you do not have to pay for or buy from the electric company gets credited to Ameren.)  You reap the savings and Ameren gets the credit and then skirts their duty on paying for the Solar Rebate established by Missouri Voters.

I personally have no desire to help a company that poisons the world with Dirty Coal Pollution.  

So I've been working behind the scenes on a way to bring the Residents of St.Louis a clean energy solar system that is affordable and will enable you to completely eliminate Ameren from the mix.

My Goal: 

1. Provide St.Louis Residents with an option to have a clean energy system that is affordable without the Solar Rebate from Ameren. 
2. I've set up an accounts with a Solar Finance company's who is helping everyday Americans become self sufficient by generating their own clean energy electricity without having to burn Dirty Coal. 

Drop me a line, Send an Email, or fill in the contact form and I will help you become energy independent and free you from the Electric Companies grip on your finances and health.

Scotty,

"It was great chatting with you this afternoon.  I think it's pretty clear that we're both in the same place on the issues facing the solar industry today.  I'm glad you have found a good product to offer your customers to help them get over the big front end investment.  I'm sure that will make a big difference as you work harder on sales.

Like I was saying, we've been putting together a campaign with solar installers around the state to reach out to their previous customers and hopefully get some referral business for them while educating the homeowners on their solar rights.  As the legislative session gears up again, we'll be trying to build our grassroots supporters so they can call their legislators and let them know what they'd like to see done, and this will be an important step in that direction.

Let me know what you think or if you have any input on anything else.  It will be great to chat with you as we move forward this year.  And as always, if there's anything we can do to help you out, let us know.

All the best,

Mark Walter
Renew Missouri
Deputy Director
(573) 590-2255"

Background on Renewable Energy Standards via RENEW MO

• In 2007 and 2008, Renew Missouri spearheaded the Missouri Clean Energy initiative via the statewide ballot process. The initiative, which was called Proposition C, passed with 66% of the vote makes Missouri the 27th state to have a renewable electricity standard (RES), and only the 3rd to pass it by ballot initiative. 
  
  • Prop C requires investor-owned utilities to get 15% of their electricity from clean energy sources by 2021, 2% of which must come from solar.
  • Through 2030, Prop C is expected a carbon reduction equivalent to permanently removing 2 million cars from the road by 2021.
  • Prop C includes a solar rebate program that will make it cheaper for most Missourians to install a solar system on their home or business.
  • Over the next 20 years, Prop C is predicted to save Missourians $331 million on their electric bills and is expected to stimulate in-state generation of renewable energy sources resulting in thousands of new “green-collar” jobs.

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BlogActionDay2014 Stats Feedback AfterFacts

How well did your #BlogActionDay2104 post do?  

I had world wide web saturation with my #BAD2014 blogger posts which proves to me that this years #Inequality topic is a Worldwide Issue.

The Google Analytics photos below are the perfect example of how even my little blog contributes to the #Inequality topic and how Social Media is a catalyst for positive change for everyone regardless of class or creed.

 Inequality is not just a #FergusonOctober Issue.

@StLHandyMan thanks not onlyfor your great blogs, but all the extra effort you have put in to promote Blog Action Day We noticed your effort
— Blog Action Day 2014 (@blogactionday12) October 16, 2014

•  

My #BAD2014 Readers "World Wide" visited the #blogger post on #inequality >>#googleanalytics Map pic.twitter.com/NX9Kwpe2pH
— Scotty (@StLHandyMan) October 18, 2014

#Education #Inequalities #BAD2014 Pt1 http://t.co/jxib3BSZl2 and Pt2 http://t.co/uLMy3gp3oE pic.twitter.com/5t5Jo0HpUj
— Scotty (@StLHandyMan) October 16, 2014

• 
  

#ShoutOut> @LizzySm25755296 as a #BAD2014 Blogger for>> highlighting & contributing on #inequality subject! << http://t.co/KWXnL46zug
— Scotty (@StLHandyMan) October 16, 2014

• 
  

signed up and listing on the Blog Action Directory      see the lack of internet traffic	On the 18th of October 2014 I went to Google Analytics and viewed how well the #BlogActionDay2014 posts was performing on the Web. I took the photos on the left directly off the Google Analytics website for my #BAD2014. The First Photo is where I signed up and listing on the Blog Action Directory Second Photo-highlights world wide coverage Map-Does anyone else see the lack of internet traffic from the center of Asian Continent
About | News  Hi Scotty Unbelievable — 116 countries, over 1700 bloggers. That's quite a day. Thanks for being a part of it. It's worth reflecting on what that meant: for one day, we generated an unprecedented conversation on how we can address inequality. An audience of millions saw that message — which will continue to ripple forth for some time. “Malala knew the power she had to speak up for herself, and those who couldn't, by sharing her story. Authentic voices are always the best way to convey struggles of inequality and tell stories of our shared humanity.” — Malala Fund post  “Extreme inequality should not be ignored—or worse, celebrated as a sign that we have a high-performing economy and healthy society.” — Bill Gates' post  “Being a female and from a country where gender discrimination continues to be an enormous problem, I didn’t have to think twice about the topic to write on. The fight starts off from my mother’s womb.” — Blogger Rekha Dhyani's post These are just a few tastes of the conversation that started yesterday. If you'd like to see some other highlights, the best place to do so is Orbit http://launch.orbit.do/. Orbit is Blog Action Day's sister platform, where you can feature your own blog's content as part of a conversation, like we saw around #inequality yesterday. You could also search for #BAD14, #BAD2014 and "Blog Action Day" on your social media networks or visit our participants list Thanks to our key partners Corelab  for curating Orbit and helping make Blog Action Day a possibility, alongside Oxfam and Engaging Networks and our other supporting partners. But thanks mostly to you — the blogging community that is showing the power of sharing your ideas, stories, opinions and dreams. Together, as we showed yesterday, we can lift our voices up to connect with each other and be heard. Karina & Jason On behalf of the Blog Action Day team www.blogactionday.org	Blog Action Day Yesterday 7:34 AM   Our key partner Oxfam International wanted to thank you for taking part in Blog Action Day and focusing the world's attention on Inequality on October 16th.  Below is a message from the Executive Director of Oxfam International, Winnie Byanyima. Dear friends, On behalf of Oxfam International I’d like to say thank you for taking part in Blog Action Day 2014. By sharing your stories and experiences, you joined an important global discussion about why and how to tackle the inequality that is doing so much damage to our societies. I was amazed by the range of different entries from all over the world. From school classes, to women’s networks, to international financial institutions, a huge diversity of participants took part in the global #inequality discussion on an equal footing. A few of my highlights were: * English language blog on gender inequality in the workplace, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20141016032403-2893498-gender-inequality-at-work * French blog on the causes of and solutions to inequality http://genmorency.wordpress.com/2014/10/16/les-inegalites/ *Spanish blog on inequality and employment. http://alvillamo.wordpress.com/2014/10/16/desigualdad-y-empleo/  And we’ve posted many more highlights on our Storify. http://www.oxfam.org/en/action/lets-talk-about-inequality-join-blog-action-day-2014 As of 12GMT on October 17, we know that 1760 bloggers took part in the day from over 116 countries, showing that tackling extreme inequality is an issue that unites us all. The winner of our competition will be announced next week on our Blog Action Day page. It’s going to be a very difficult decision as there were so many inspiring blogs posted! http://www.oxfam.org/en/action/lets-talk-about-inequality-join-blog-action-day-2014 The issue of inequality is very close to my heart.  I have seen with my own eyes the enormous progress that many of the poorest countries have made in the struggle against poverty. But this progress is being threatened by rising inequality, which allows the wealthiest to bend the rules in their favour – rules that are keeping people in poverty. Oxfam knows that extreme inequality isn’t inevitable – it’s the result of political and economic choices. We also know the policy solutions and actions that can reverse it, from free public health and education services that help everyone, to progressive taxation so that the rich pay their fair share. Later this month, we will launch a world-wide campaign to expose the impact of rising and extreme inequality, and demand action from governments, companies and the public to reverse it. You can help us get the campaign off to a flying start by joining our Thunderclap that will go live on the day of our launch. As we begin this journey, please stay in touch with us and continue helping to spread the message about this vitally important issue. Oxfam was proud to act as a key partner for Blog Action Day 2014 and to have shared this day with you. Thanks again for being part of it and for joining the growing global movement to end extreme inequality. Winnie Byanyima
	Follow Blog Action Day on Social Media

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Blog-inequality blog-999 hunger - homelessness - helping others

#inequality blog #999 #hunger & #homelessness & #helping others

#Inequality ...  An interesting topic that brings out uncomfortable feelings.  A topic I would never had chosen to delve in to had a friend not suggested to join this #Blogaction14.  Tough subject, it’s everywhere!  Rarely in the ebb and flow of the earth, animals, people, or anything is there equality.

#Ferguson (MO) #inequality is a hot topic, and for good reason, obviously.  What is going on in #Ferguson has to do with the #inequality topic that has haunted me in this lifetime and it’s regarding people and especially little children, who have not enough food or basic shelter while others have too much money to even spend in this lifetime.  That’s about as #BAD2014 as it gets.  How can we, as a people, indulge while others starve or are homeless?

Take for example, Viola Davis, an actress, who stands out socially thanks to her profession and who just spoke at a Power of Women gathering.  She confesses that as a child she never knew where her next meal was coming from.  How can this be in a country where millionaires live?  Does #inequality get any more obvious that a starving children?  I applaud and admire that Ms. Davis is using her position to work with the “Hunger Is” campaign to help others less fortunate.

Read the full article here:  http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/10/viola_davis_grew_up_ashamed_of_poverty.html

This picture represents #inequality and some of the hardships that #children endure everyday.  This is true grit.  How does it make YOU feel?

Do you feel it’s Time to Share?

If we want to help solve one of the most pressing issues of our time regarding #inequality we may, as single people or a community, need to stand up, get busy, and help our neighbors as Viola is.  Even if you can’t donate cash, more importantly you CAN do as the Gateway Garlic Urban Farm fella in St. Louis, MO, did and start a community vegetable garden as many in the inner cities are doing, share seeds, or donate time and ingredients to provide a cooking class at your local community center.  #Support #Education.  If you don’t want to give the guy on the corner cash “arm yourself” with bags of healthy snacks.  Make a difference.  Peace.

@StLHandyMan wild 2 b a part of #BAD2014
— organics count (@LizzySm25755296) October 18, 2014

@StLHandyMan Ty 4 encouraging me to join #BlogActionDay & 4 all of the help posting etc. learned a lot. #urock
— organics count (@LizzySm25755296) October 16, 2014

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