So I’m in this Sustainable Engineering and International Development class currently and I absolutely love it.  It has been one of the most interesting concept classes I have taken during college, probably because it is one of the rare and few concept classes I can take.  Anyways lately I have seriously been thinking about ‘sustainability’ and its meaning.

My question is, how do you draw a line where you start limiting the potential sustainability?  I’m not quite sure how to word that question, let me explain myself further.  Ok, so I love that people and companies are trying to help developing countries with lighting systems, water filtration systems, and water pumps….etc…etc, but really how sustainable are these products?  Sure they might be beneficial to a community initially, but will there be waste accumulated overtime from use of this products.  For example, the most popular way to give lighting systems to developing countries, in small villages, is a solar panel, linear fluorescent light bulb, and a lead-acid battery.  How do you think these lead-acid batteries get recycled?  My guess, probably not very efficiently, if at all.

So then ok, let’s make a product that is SOO sustainable, like it’s net=0.  It needs nothing, and everything to repair the product is within this community.  The company who brought the product here thought of everything.  Alright, but this product more than likely costs a significant amount of money…still sustainable?  Ok, no Tom this product is made out of space material so it’s incredibly cheap.  Alright, so now your product that is apparently ‘perfect’ is so far ahead of time for this little African community that there is no possible way to convince the villagers to use your product.

This is why I’m confused, how do these companies decide how far to go?  I mean there is certainly no way a company should try to make their product 100% sustainable.  I’m not saying that I don’t want these products to be self-sufficient, these products should be very sustainable, but in a way that is reasonable and is sensible for the situation given.  Ok, so now I’m a company and I KNOWINGLY made a product that is not as good as it could be.  This product is not perfect, I know that I am giving this African community an ‘un-perfect’ product.  So now, do we have ethical issues?  Do I lose all of my morals because of this?  I know the line needs to be drawn somewhere in this ‘grey area’.

So where do you draw the line?

via i.imgur.com

What’s the difference?

-Digg.com

If you’ve seen the movie, Miracle, about the 1980 U.S. Hockey team, you will appreciate this.  Even if you haven’t, it’s pretty sweet.

August Rush - Dueling Guitars (HQ) (via JelleDros)

I love this scene, and the music is just fun to listen to.

So the other day I was in Wal-mart doing some miscellaneous shopping and I met a guy in the ‘notebook’ aisle, he was probably a graduate student of some sort, he looked a little older.  Anyways, he must have had an IPhone or Blackberry that had an external speaker for listening without headphones, because he was walking around with some Avril Lavigne song blaring(as much as a I-phone can ‘blare’).  Getting over the fact that it was quite annoying to have to listen to his music, it was much more amusing.

He chose his 3-Subject notebook and went on his way, walking to his Avril—> his own theme song.  It made me think of how much fun it would be if you had your own theme song to walk to.  What song would you choose?

If it were me, I think it would have to be something classic, like “Don’t Stop Believing” (Journey) or maybe the theme song to “Space Jam”(I’ve always loved that one).  I mean how awesome would it be to see Star Wars fanatic enter Wal-mart with the Star Wars theme song announcing that he was here.  I think it would be a lot of fun finding out what song would fit each person.

I found this on Digg.com, it was titled “4 Awkward Moments in Facebook Likes.”  This one was my favorite. Haha!

I would never have thought to be, well, an athlete whatsoever, but to think that I could be considered a ‘triathlete’ is absolutely astonishing.  The race was a grueling, mind-over-matter obstacle, which I conquered without an mp3 player.  When I trained for the race, I always had music in my ears.  For some reason, the atmosphere and adrenalin rush combined were enough to fuel myself into finishing the race.  Was it ever worth it though, you really feel good about things after completing something like that.

Well, I don’t know, maybe next year I’ll do it again….Go faster?!?  Who knows..

By the way, for those who read this unattended blog, I apologize, life is pretty busy right now, hopefully I can get some time to let y’all into what’s up in the Rich ‘n Fabulous Life of Tom Cooper….oh wow.