Go Green Toolshed

danny@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd plans to invest about RM100mil in sustainable programmes in Malaysia until 2012.

Chief executive officer Johan Dennelind said DiGi had RM40mil in such programmes since 2008 and planned to invest another RM60mil over the next three years.

We are committed to spending up to RM100mil for such programmes and initiatives until 2012, he said after DiGis Deep Green Challenge for Change Industry Dialogue and award presentation yesterday.

The industry dialogue was titled The Challenge for Climate Action: is Industry Really serious? The winning teams of the inaugaral DiGi Deep Green Challenge for Change were presented with a trophy each and cash under two categories main and topical challenges.

There were 15 teams that participated in the competition which began July last year.

The main challenge was won by Fresco, comprising students from Universiti Sains Malaysia, for its application on renewable energy for underserved communities in Malaysia.

For topical challenge, the award went to another group of university students for increasing the efficiency of the existing community-based microhydro projects in Sabah.

The awards were presented by Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.

Dennelind said: Based on this years good response, we plan to make DiGis Green Challenge for Change competition an annual event, but the format and challenges may be different.

He said DiGi was taking the lead in supporting sustainable programmes in Malaysia and hoped more local corporations would follow suit.

While its a collaborative effort from all the sectors, including the Government to protect the environment, the private sector can play an important role by supporting sustainable programmes and initiatives, he said.

Dennelind also urged the Government to consider giving more incentives to companies that implement such programmes.

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15. DiGi to invest RM100m in sustainable initiatives

Shuttle leader says extending program still feasibleBY WILLIAM HARWOODSTORY WRITTEN FOR CBS NEWS “SPACE PLACE” & USED WITH PERMISSIONPosted: March 10, 2010

Clarifying what he described as “a big misconception,” the shuttle program manager said Tuesday that NASA’s vendors could restart production and deliver the parts and hardware needed to extend shuttle flights beyond the current September retirement target.

But lawmakers lobbying to keep the orbiters flying until new commercial rockets are available to replace them would need to come up with about $2.4 billion a year to pay for it. And there would still be a two-year gap between a decision to proceed and production of new flight hardware beyond the handful of external tanks and boosters left in the shuttle inventory.

“The real issue the agency and the nation has to address is the expense,” said John Shannon, the shuttle program manager at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

“The shuttle program is fairly expensive, we burn at about a $200 million a month rate. so that gives you a base of about $2.4 billion a year that it would require to continue flying the shuttle, almost irregardless of how many flights you flew during the year. … There’s just a base cost there you have to pay to keep the program in business. where that money comes from is the big question.”

NASA currently plans to fly just four more shuttle missions between now and the end of September. Discovery is up next, scheduled for launch April 5, followed by Atlantis on May 14, Endeavour on July 29 and Discovery for a final time on Sept. 16.

Launch dates for the final three flights may change depending on payload processing issues and other factors, but the orbiters and mission assignments are expected to be flown as currently planned.

The shuttle retirement date was set by the Bush administration, which announced plans in 2004 to complete the International Space Station by the end of fiscal 2010, to then shut down the shuttle program and to develop a new family of rockets to carry astronauts to and from the space station and eventually back to the moon.

But the Obama administration’s 2011 budget request would cancel NASA’s Constellation moon program and turn over flights to and from low-Earth orbit to private industry. With some 9,000 shuttle- and Constellation-related job losses expected in Florida alone, congressional criticism has been widespread, with some lawmakers calling for an extension of the shuttle program until new rockets become available.

President Obama plans to visit Florida’s Space Coast in April for a conference to discuss his administration’s new approach to manned spaceflight.

“A foundational element of this new strategy is to invest in the development of a targeted set of inter-related technologies and capabilities that can help us travel from the Earth’s cradle to our nearby solar system neighborhood in a more effective and affordable way, thus laying the foundation to support journeys to the Moon, asteroids, and eventually to Mars,” the White House said in a statement.”

Extending the shuttle program would not appear to be an option, but looming job losses have prompted widespread discussion. Asked about extension possibilities Tuesday, Shannon said the real issue was money, not restarting the shuttle’s complex supply chain.

“There’s a big misconception out there (regarding) the shuttle supply chain, (people believe) they’re all out of business because we’re ending the program and to get them back would be this enormous effort,” Shannon said.

“It’s not like there are small companies or small businesses out there that made shuttle widget number five and now that we’re not flying the shuttle anymore, they’re out of business. For the most part, our suppliers and vendors are major companies.”

As an example, Shannon cited North Carolina Foam Industries, which supplies the foam insulation that covers the shuttle’s external tank. the company is a major player in the commercial insulation business, Shannon said, and “shuttle is a small part of their business.”

“Because the shuttle is going out of business does not mean that those companies are gone,” he said.

Last week, in the wake of congressional discussion of a possible shuttle extension, “we kicked off … a study for each of the program elements to go out and physically touch base with each of the vendors and the sub vendors and the entire supply chain and understand where we might have some issues if we were to restart the program.

“I get those results on Thursday and we’ll formally write that up and submit it to headquarters,” Shannon said. “But there’s this misconception that there’s all this big supply chain that was shuttle specific only. Shuttle is for the most part a sideline business for these major companies that support the actual program.”

Another issue for shuttle extension is recertification. In the wake of the 2003 Columbia disaster, the accident review board concluded that if NASA wanted to fly the shuttle past 2010, the vehicle should be recertified, a costly and complex procedure intended to make sure the aging spaceplanes can be safely maintained and operated.

While not required given the decision to retire the fleet this year, recertification-class reviews have been underway since 2005.

“We’ve pretty much, over the last five years, gone through the entire orbiter vehicle to make sure we’re operating within the environment that the different orbiter pieces were originally certified for,” Shannon said. “We feel like we’ve addressed recertification.

“We did not stop there. we continued and had meetings with aging vehicle experts to understand from an aviation standpoint what types of things do they typically find, what types of things do they typically look at, we benchmarked things like the B-52 bomber, things that have been flying for greater than 50 years. And as a result of those meetings, we added 23 additional inspection points into each of the orbiters that we hit every time we turn the vehicle around.”

While he does not see any insurmountable problems with the shuttle’s supply line or flight certification, Shannon said it would take about two years to build new external tanks and other hardware.

“We’ve addressed the orbiter recertification issues, we are addressing the supply line issues,” he said. “I don’t expect to find any problems there. the real issue we would have is just in manufacturing. while you have a supply chain, while you can get a workforce back to go and build things like external tanks, there would be some type of a gap. right now we estimate that gap would be about two years from when we’re told (to start) to when we’d have the first external tank rolling off the assembly line.

“You could address that in many different ways, by slowing down the shuttle program until that two years was up or you’d just accept that gap and do other things.”

That leaves the issue of money to pay the thousands of workers required to maintain and process space shuttles for launch. even with a reduced flight rate, Shannon said, the cost would be roughly what it is today, or about $2.4 billion a year.

Shannon did not say whether he personally favored an extension, telling reporters “we just provide the data, and we’ll let the nation go off and decide what they would like this team to go do.”

Even so, he added, “from a personal standpoint, I just think it’s amazing that we’re headed down a path where we’re not going to have any vehicles at all to launch from the Kennedy Space Center for an extended period of time. to give up all the lessons learned, the blood, sweat and tears we’ve extended to get the space shuttle to the point where it is right now, where it’s performing so magnificently.

“But it’s a money discussion,” he said. “If we don’t have the resources to do that and to continue to logistically supply the space station, then I understand that, it’s the path we’ve been on and we’ll take this team and try our hardest to seed them out to either the commercial sector or into whatever NASA is going to do next to bring those lessons learned … to try and make the next program as successful as possible.”

Additional coverage for subscribers:VIDEO:CAN THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM AVOID LOOMING RETIREMENT? PLAYVIDEO:WHAT ABOUT ADDING ONE MORE SHUTTLE MISSION? PLAYVIDEO:FULL BRIEFING BY SHUTTLE AND STATION OFFICIALS PLAYVIDEO:DISCOVERY REACHES PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEFVIDEO:OVERNIGHT ROLLOUT BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEFVIDEO:ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER HI-DEFVIDEO:ORBITER ROLLS OVER TO THE VAB HI-DEF

Shuttle leader says extending program still feasible

you just don’t mess with lipstick. It’s too important. It’s the only thing that separates a hockey mom from a pit bull.

During the Great Depression, which may come to be known as Great Depression I, there was no consumption drop in lipstick. The “lipstick effect” is a common term used to describe the fact that even in times of extreme economic distress, people will find the money for small luxuries that make them feel better.

So imagine my astonishment when I opened my e-mail to find an alert from my cottage industry cosmetics trade organization that the Colorado legislature was considering a Draconian bill that would take away my lipstick.

House bill 10-1248 would have banned the sale in Colorado of any personal care products that contained even one molecule of any substance that any one of thousands of governmental agencies or “groups recognized as authoritative” considered to be carcinogenic or cause “reproductive toxicity. zero tolerance.

The proposed legislation included no public enforcement provisions. The bill just set up a platform for civil lawsuits. Further, it would have allowed “bounty hunter” lawsuits to be filed solely on the basis of listed ingredients. no harm to anyone need be proven. California Proposition 65, a similar measure passed a few years back, prompted starving California attorneys to troll the moisturizer section and create havoc with a rash of lawsuits.

Why, with all the challenges facing the State of Colorado, and in an atmosphere of daunting budget deficits, are legislative resources being expended on regulations to save us from our stupid selves and make it harder to do business in Colorado? we Coloradans believe we have a right to make bad choices. this state defeated a mandatory motorcycle helmet law.

There is no doubt that many personal care products contain all manner of evil stuff that is not good for us. I make a lot of my own personal care products for this reason.

Not only is the shampoo aisle a potential deathtrap, the entire grocery store probably ought to be surrounded by yellow crime scene tape. Even organic apples still have cyanide-laced pits. It occurs naturally. Liquor stores, tobacco shops and tanning parlors are known menaces. zero tolerance? Then don’t drink the water. Don’t breathe the air.

The natural radiation emanating from the geography of western Colorado from Aspen to Uravan would probably justify a protective fence around a good chunk of the state. Then there are the proven carcinogenic effects of solar radiation (much higher exposure at altitude), medical x-rays and wood dust. Second hand tobacco smoke, negative thought patterns, genetics and a plethora of other factors are thought to contribute to cancer and birth defects.

After I received the advisory e-mail from my trade group, I contacted three business associates who collectively contacted over one-hundred people.

A lot of other folks also mobilized the troops. One lawmaker reported she received 700 e-mails on the subject over a five day period prior to the Health and Human Services Committee hearing on the proposed bill. some lawmakers unplugged their fax machines. HB 10-1248 was opposed by both small Colorado businesses and industry heavies like Mary Kay Cosmetics, Merle Norman and Target.

The bill was killed in committee. The committee noted that the bill lacked scientific rigor and did nothing to benefit consumers. Further, the committee was loathe to allow Colorado business to be regulated by such “authoritative groups” as the European Union, which already has its own regulatory nightmares.

I e-mailed four Colorado lawmakers to express my opposition to the bill. two of them responded personally after the committee defeat.

Rep. Laura Bradford thanked me for my input and expressed her satisfaction that the bill died in committee. Rep. Dianne Primavera, co-sponsor of the defeated bill, contacted me with her publicized personal motivation for initiating the legislation. The lady has dealt with several bouts of cancer, and decided that daily doses of questionable chemicals in everything from deodorant to eyeliner were likely to blame.

I don’t question Rep. Primavera’s assessment of her situation. her desire to prevent further injury is well-intentioned. However, the answer is in consumer education, not cumbersome regulation. Consumer awareness is quickly reducing use of high fructose corn syrup in grocery items. I suggested to Rep. Primavera that some cosmetics and pseudo-foods may warrant warning labels like those on tobacco and booze.

HB 10-1248 was just another battle in the ongoing war against overregulation. Maybe the bill would have died without concerned voters burning up lawmakers’ FAX machines. Maybe not.

I have never been a hockey mom, but I most certainly house an inner pit bull; things can get very ugly when I feel compelled to unleash her. do not, I repeat, do-not-mess with my lipstick.

Barbra Lucks: Legislature need not save us from ourselves

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‘We need to get emissions down from agriculture’

Plans to boost food production in Britain and reduce its impact on the environment have been unveiled.

The government’s 20-year food strategy includes making land available for people to grow their own food and more healthy cooking courses.

Minister Hilary Benn said shoppers had led the push for free-range eggs and could do the same for sustainable food.

The Tories said ministers “belatedly” recognised the need for food security after a decade of declining production.

Environment Secretary mr Benn unveiled the government’s Food 2030 plan at the Oxford Farming Conference and said a rising population and climate change meant food could not be taken for granted.

Smaller portions

The document includes proposals for a “healthy food code of conduct” to help people choose what food to buy – ideas include clearer labelling, smaller portions for “energy dense” or high salt foods, reducing fat and sugar in foods and nutrition information on restaurant menus.

The government also wants less food waste, more food bought in season to reduce environmental impact and to encourage people to buy sustainably-farmed food.

It says it will pilot healthy cooking classes for “at risk” families as part of efforts to tackle obesity and will help local landowners and community groups work together to make land available temporarily, to grow food.

It would also look into a community “land bank” to act as a broker between land-holders and community groups who want somewhere to grow food.

Mr Benn said the expansion of fair trade and free-range food illustrated how shoppers could drive trends in food production – and he hoped they could do the same for sustainable, locally-grown products.

“A decade ago, only 16% of eggs produced in the UK were free range. In the last 10 years that’s more than doubled to just under 40%. Waitrose, M&S and the Co-op now sell only free range or organic eggs,” he said.

“And with the UK 80% self-sufficient in free-range eggs this is a great example of how our farmers have responded to what consumers want, to the benefit of both.”

More expensive

Mr Benn told the BBC that 20 years ago British families spent about 20% of their income on food, now it had dropped to “just under 11%” – although families on low incomes still spent about 15-16% on food.

Asked whether it would mean food becoming more expensive, he said everyone was responsible for what they ate and the government was just giving people information to make their own choices.

The National Farmers’ Union said the government’s plans were a “useful blueprint”, but said the government needed to achieve “the right balance” between productivity and sustainability.

NFU president Peter Kendall said: “Farmers and growers are already demonstrating that they can produce more food while impacting less. What we now need are policies that underpin and enhance a productive agriculture sector.”

The Conservatives unveiled their own plans for a supermarket ombudsman at the same conference – to settle disputes between retailers and suppliers.

‘Rock bottom prices’

Shadow environment spokesman Nick Herbert told the BBC: “We welcome the fact that the government has belatedly recognised the importance of food security, but they presided over a decade of declining British production, and we’re importing more and more food from overseas.

He accused them of “turning their back on proposals like honest food labelling, a supermarket ombudsman, animal health measures”.

For the Lib Dems, Tim Farron said English farmers had been “badly hit by rock bottom farm gate prices which have slashed incomes” and an independent regulator was needed to deal with “over-powerful supermarkets”.

“There’s no point in having a strategy for 2030 if farming is dead by 2020,” he said.

“It’s clear that the government’s model for sustainable farming isn’t working. What farmers need right now is a fair price for their produce.”

Plaid Cymru said they had been campaigning for a supermarket ombudsman, better labelling, more local food and more local land to let people grow food for some time.

The Welsh party’s Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd said: “The plans outlined by the London parties show that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

“But I am afraid that today only emphasises how far behind us they are in developing meaningful and sustainable policies to support the industry.”

UK's 20 year plan to boost food production & sustainability

Allison Strong, Union City, N.J.
My boots were made for walkin.’ Power walkin’, that is. No matterwhat I’m wearing—boots or sneakers—I’m always headed somewhere andburning rubber while I’m at it. If you thought that after I retiredmy character shoes last month my power walking—and sometimes powerrunning—days were over, you’d be wrong. All that’s changed is thescenery.

Now, instead of my former mission of making it to the job on time,I’m walking feverishly to University Hall for two-and-a-half-hourlectures like it’s my job. Rather than dodging starry-eyed touristsarmed with oversized cameras in Times Square, I’m dodging hazy-eyedcollege kids armed with backpacks so heavy they could probablysquish my toes on my way to the theater building. oh, and there aretrees and dining halls with meal plans, instead of skyscrapers andoverpriced delis. It’s nice and normal but not exactly a change ofpace. After all, being out of work isn’t an excuse to be comatosewith your eyes open. when your job is over, you just have to shiftgears—or in my case, change shoes—and move toward a new set ofadventures.

No. 1: to survive my course load, which has become a surefirefun-sucker. I write about two papers a week, and I’m alwaysskimming the pages of some textbook. For my philosophy class, I’vehad to read so many Bible verses you’d swear I was an apostle. No.2: to continue my training. I now take piano, ballet, and jazztwice a week, and surprisingly I’ve started going to the gym.Luckily, I live right next to it, because I probably wouldn’t be sogung-ho otherwise. I’ve also enrolled myself in acting techniqueclasses and have started studying dialect, my dream since I saw”Mary Poppins” in first grade.

No. 3: to keep new York in my life. going in for auditions tricksmy mind into believing that I never left, that I’m just taking alittle sabbatical. No. 4: to keep up with the latest Oscar farelike “Crazy Heart” while retaining guilty pleasures like the DisneyChannel. No. 5: to stay connected with friends, new and old.Returning after a semester on Broadway to a single room in anontheater dorm might suit an Emily Dickinson but not a socialbutterfly like me. so I have my fill of dinner dates on campus andin the city, and it keeps me happy and surrounded instead of sadand solitary. why not just kick back and put my feet up? Most willprobably call it overachieving, but it’s just a bad case ofrestless leg syndrome—so for now I’ll just keep power walking,thank you, and change into my old house slippers somewhere down theroad.

Derek Lui, Los Angeles
Reconnect and revisit. this pretty much sums up my February. Lastyear, I spent eight months working on a monologue show named “Sex,Relationships, and sometimes Love.” It was definitely a challengefor me. I had not been involved in theater productions lastingalmost a year in the past. To be honest with you, I had my ups anddowns during my eight-month performance. I tried my best to keepeach performance fresh and organic, but knowing my character toowell became a challenge for me. I tried so many methods, likechanging the routine of my preparation work, making new choices,and exploring other possibilities. I have to say this show wasreally a valuable acting lesson for me.

After three months of hiatus, director Joelle Arqueros invited meto return to the show for its February run. The show has beenrunning for over six years in new York and Los Angeles, and I amglad to revisit the show because I have found something new to helpwith my performance again.

My character is a Japanese man who has just ended a relationshipwith a much older American woman and is feeling nostalgic about hisfirst, more innocent love in Japan. when I was home for Christmas,I accidentally came across an object my real-life first love leftin my room. Part curious, part in the name of research, I invitedmy first love, whom I haven’t seen for 11 years, to dinner. That’sprobably not a usual way to prepare for your role, but this casualcatch-up dinner helped me understand the monologue in a whole newlight. when I performed this same piece again, I felt more alive,vibrant, and different. this rediscovery process is amazing.

Besides this little chapter of reunion, my reconnection with afriend also brought me a pleasant surprise. One day, I was homere-watching a DVD of a film I was in, and it reminded me that Ihadn’t written to one of my co-actors, whose work I trulyappreciate, for quite a while. call me old-fashioned; I am the kindof guy who still occasionally writes to friends just to catch up. Igot a reply from her the following day, telling me that my emailreminded her that a friend of hers was auditioning Chinese speakersfor a McDonald’s radio commercial. She then referred me to theaudition, and I ended up booking the voiceover job. Two weekslater, she invited me to another audition for a Web series she isproducing. These all started from a friendly email.

Human connection works in some miraculous way. sometimes a trip tothe past could bring a new light to your future. I am revisiting mydemo reel as we speak. with another year of experience earned, Idecided to re-edit a new demo reel to improve the inadequacies fromthe past, hoping to shape a better future.

Nick Martorelli, Philadelphia
Whenever I have an audition, friends who are not in the actingbusiness ask me, “How was it?” I usually have no idea what to tellthem. sure, I could tell them all acting things about preparationand whatnot, but they wouldn’t understand that. To them, art is assimple as sports. Score the touchdown, win the game. go to theaudition, come home with the part. People not in the business willnever understand why great auditions still don’t get you cast. and,truthfully, some actors don’t understand either. It canoccasionally be a hit-or-miss process with no logic to it. but inearly February I was lucky to have an audition that gave mesomething very solid to point to and say, “Do it this way from nowon.”

The audition was for “516″ with Philadelphia Theatre Workshop, thefinal show of its 2010 season. when I went in for the first generalaudition, I did so with a very clear intention: to have fun andplay around. I had read the provided audition scene when it wassent to me, looked it over, and then let it sit on my desk for awhile. I intentionally avoided making any big choices ahead oftime, instead relying on my instincts and impulses when I was inthe room. Hand in hand with this idea, however, came the commitmentto fully honor those impulses and to really go nuts with any ideathat hit, even if it wasn’t 100 percent appropriate. and so, armedwith that game plan, I faced my audition, read the role, and thenleft with my head held high.

Then, halfway through the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, I gotthe call that I had earned a callback for the role, which was tooccur on the following night. this time, they sent the completescript in addition to the sides we were to prepare. I sat down inthe afternoon and literally devoured the script. by the time I wasdone, I had dedicated myself to getting this part, so I went intothe callback fully prepared. when I got there, I met Katie, theactor reading opposite me. when we auditioned for the director, heworked with us, letting us explore different options and workthrough the scenes multiple times. I began working as if I hadalready won the role and this was our first rehearsal. I would tryideas, see if they worked, and then filter the good stuff along andsee what else I could throw into the mix. Katie and I worked verywell with each other, and I was proud of the work that I did.

I will now ruin the suspense to tell you that I did not get thepart. I was disappointed when I found that out, but I remembered myearly goal going into this process. I knew that I had given a solidaudition performance. I did everything that I possibly could have,and the final decision came down to some other “intangible” that isout of my control. but that’s just something that you have toaccept in this business: realizing that we will never havesomething as clear as scoring a touchdown to signal success. Butthis time, I scored myself at 100 percent, and I can work towardthis in every subsequent audition and every potential job. Even ifmy friends still won’t understand.

Octavia Spencer, Los Angeles
As I record the travails of this past month, I’ve decided to focuson positive people rather than ruminate on the negativeexperiences. To traverse the depths of darkness one only needs tosurf the Internet, which since its advent has seen theproliferation of blogs designed to shock and awe with scandal andcharacter assassination. That’s not my style. as I write this I’mreminded of Shakespeare: “The evil that men do lives after them;The good is oft interred with their bones.” so, before my bones areinterred, I’m taking the time to praise the good.

I’ve often been asked who’s my favorite actor I’ve ever workedwith. Honestly, it’s hard to pin me down to just one of anything.On stage, nothing compares to working with my “Trailer Trash” castmates: Beth Grant, Dale Dickey, David Steen, Joe Pat Ward, andDebby Holliday. On screen: Allison Janney, Will Smith, DrewBarrymore, Tichina Arnold, Jordan Black, Mary Steenburgen, TedDanson and the entire cast of “Becker,” Mark Paul Gosselaar and thecast of “Raising the Bar.”

Why? If you’ve ever had the good fortune of meeting any one ofthem, you’d know immediately. It’s not that they are allexquisitely talented; that goes without saying. It’s not that theyeach inspire me to strive for excellence in my craft, because theydo. It’s not their tireless work ethic, because it shows in theirprofessional achievements. It’s the simplicity of who they are:genuine and kind people.

All embody that Everyman spirit and are the type of people I’d liketo sit and have a beer with (if I drank) after work. each treatedme with the utmost respect when I visited their sets and wereemotionally and personally accessible to me both on and off screen.For those of you lucky enough to headline a project, know that yourset is your home away from home. your guest cast should be treatedas such.

In mid-February, Jada Pinkett-Smith and the cast of “Hawthorne”welcomed me with open arms to their home, their set. I’d like toadd them my list of favorites. I’ll never forget stepping off theelevator of a defunct hospital (where the show shoots) and beinggreeted by the hair-and-makeup team, as my first day of work wouldbe the very next day. Introductions were made, and the departmentheads decided on our plan of action. Down the hall to my right wasvideo village and executive producer–lead actor Jada Pinkett-Smith.She walked over, gave me a hug, and again welcomed me to the show.from that moment forward, things went from splendid to even moresplendid. The cast and crew were overwhelmingly supportive andgraceful. I applaud Jada first and foremost because her name is atthe top of the call sheet, thus she sets the example. MichaelVartan, Suleka Mathew, James Morrison, Collins Curtis Pennie, AdamRayner, and Christina Moore, thanks for being you: wonderful actorsbut good and kind human beings.

Richard Rella Jr., new York City
I just came back from another stint on the national tour of “Tonyn’ Tina’s Wedding.” we performed at the historic Proctors Theatrein Schenectady, N.Y. Originally built as a vaudeville house in1925, Proctors has seen its stage graced by such legendaryperformers as comedians Red Skelton, George Burns, and GracieAllen; magicians Harry Blackstone Sr. and Jr.; and bandleaders DukeEllington, Louis Armstrong, and Glenn Miller. in recent years, ithas hosted entertainers Tony Bennett, Carol Channing, and RobertGoulet. this 2,100-seat theater is also a major stop for mostnational touring companies. in fact, my wife performed here yearsago on the national tour of “How to Succeed in Business WithoutReally trying.” I love theater history, so having the opportunityto sing 22 songs on these historic and meaningful boards is aunique experience for me.

The best aspect of touring, though, is the ability that I have tocreate my daily routine. Like clockwork, I am up by 7 a.m. I have arelaxing breakfast by myself, answer emails, and check in at home.I’m working out by 10 a.m. and reviewing any notes from theprevious day until lunch at noon. I’ll get to the theater by 2 p.m.and immediately get to work stretching and vocalizing. when thesound engineer arrives at 4 p.m., we will work together for thenext few hours, tightening cues. I’ll get to makeup and wardrobe by6 p.m. and curtain by 7:30 p.m. I never allow anything to get inthe way of this routine, and I know that I definitely reap therewards for sticking to this schedule.

When I get back to Staten Island, however, I am promptly greetedwith a dirty diaper. I have a 22-month-old daughter who, thanks toSkype, I have at least been able to see for the past few weeks.before we even leave the train station, my wife gives me a laundrylist of tasks and myriad problems to solve. getting back to my homelife is the most difficult transition for me. when I’m on the road,I can truly focus on acting, singing, working out—me. when I’mhome, my focus is pulled in all different directions. Don’t get mewrong, I love my home life. this is just part of the challenge aswell as the allure of this career. I had a “real job,” and I gotbored, complacent. I felt myself and my gifts dying a little bitevery day, until that glorious morning when I decided, much to mymother’s chagrin, to decline my contract at Monmouth University. Asfrightening as it was to lose that job stability, I was only 25years old, and I needed to pursue my career as a performer.

The interesting, exciting, and ever-changing dichotomy of mytouring life versus my home life will energize me for weeks andmonths to come. I’ll try, often in vain, to stick to a schedulewhile home. I’ll squeeze in workouts while my daughter naps, vocallessons between family visits, auditions between background work,acting classes between auditions, and I’ll rejoin the Off-Broadwaycast of “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding.” as much as I like being on theroad, it’s good to be home.

Human Contact

NEW YORK, Mar 08, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) –While interest in alternative vehicles may be growing, consumers do not see ‘green’ as the only purchasing factor and are demanding more from automakers, according to an Accenture /quotes/comstock/13*!acn/quotes/nls/acn (ACN 42.01, -0.05, -0.12%) study released today.

Accenture’s survey showed that six out of 10 consumers are more likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle only when it is superior to gasoline-only models in every way, so while automakers are increasingly focused on addressing the demand for greater fuel efficiency and economy they should also address those areas that continue to influence the consumer. ‘Green’ is not enough by itself.

In-vehicle services which satisfy different customer needs including commerce, entertainment, safety, maintenance, communication and infomobility (i.e., navigation) will not only be key influences on consumer choice but will also play a key factor in the development of more fuel efficient vehicles.

“Our study suggests that while consumers are increasingly embracing and understanding the value of alternative vehicles they still want models that represent a new phase in the evolution of the automobile. In-vehicle services will play a key part in this and car manufacturers have an opportunity now to ramp up their capabilities in this area to achieve competitive differentiation.” said Luca Mentuccia, managing director of Accenture’s Automotive group. “Both OEMs and suppliers need to start building strategic partnerships that will lead to distinctive capabilities, particularly around safety, environmental protection and entertainment.”

The Accenture study surveyed more than 1,800 consumers and indicates that interests in attributes other than fuel efficiency is increasing, as just 36 percent of respondents cited higher gas prices as a reason to buy a green car. moreover, those that have driven a hybrid or electric vehicle rate fuel efficiency as being very good to excellent, but most rate the ride, performance, style and maintenance as good at best.

Forty-two percent of the respondents said they are likely to buy a hybrid or electric auto in the next two years. (This rose to a high of 62 percent in Italy). Most of these (80 percent) are more likely to buy hybrids than all-electric vehicles.

Accenture has also a new point of view on in-vehicle services (defined as In-Vehicle Infotainment or IVI) which is a view of the European marketplace and is available by clicking here: Accenture In-Vehicle Infotainment.

The study was based upon market research and an online survey conducted by Accenture of 1,850 consumers in five countries, including Germany, France, Italy, the United States and Canada in February 2010. The respondents ranged in age from 18 to 61 years and over, and were a near even split between male (52 percent) and female (48 percent) consumers.

Editor’s Note

A fact sheet that demonstrates each country’s percentage of respondents based on survey questions follows this news release.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 176,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$21.58 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2009. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

Accenture Global Auto Consumer Survey — Fact Sheet March 2010

Overview — Accenture’s survey showed that six out of 10 consumers are more likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle only when it is superior to gasoline-only models in every way, so while automakers are increasingly focused on addressing the demand for greater fuel efficiency and economy they should also address those areas that continue to influence the consumer. ‘Green’ is not enough by itself.

Methodology – Accenture surveyed 1,850 consumers in five countries, including Germany, France, Italy, the United States and Canada, to gain insight into hybrid and electric vehicle buying preferences. The respondents ranged in age from 18 to 61 years and over. in terms of gender, there was a near-even split between male (52 percent) and female (48 percent) consumers. Key findings per country are:

Survey Question Germany % of France % of Italy % of U.S./Canada % of Respondents Respondents Respondents RespondentsMore likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle that is better than 74% 55% 46% 65%a fuel-only car in every wayRate the fuel efficiency of a hybrid or electric car very good to 59% 64% 45% 74%excellent, but rate ride, performance, style and maintenance as goodMore likely to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle in the next two years 29% 51% 62% 31%More likely to purchase a hybrid in the next two years 67% 63% 71% 70%More likely to buy an electric car in the next two years 17% 22% 19% 5%Everyone should own a hybrid or electric car 21% 39% 57% 26%Would pay nothing more for a hybrid or electric car compared to a 45% 52% 46% 56%fuel-only vehicleDesire a payback time for a hybrid or electric car purchase to be 64% 83% 73% 82%five years or lessAssuming a hybrid or electric vehicle could run on an electric 55% 44% 52% 20%charge for 200 miles, want the driving distance between re-chargingpoints to be every 11 to 50 milesWant re-charging to take less than 20 minutes 72% 73% 69% 50%

SOURCE: Accenture

Accenture Benedict Payne +44-20-7844-0440 +1-703-421-2050 benedict.j.payne@accenture.com or Cam Granstra +1-312-693-5992 cameria.l.granstra@accenture.com or Val Brown +1-313-204-5699 valdina.brown@accenture.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Consumers want Green Vehicles to Offer More Than Fuel Savings, Accenture Finds

Helping heavy-eyed students stay awake this spring is the brand-new, 100 percent organic, Fair Trade coffee now being served all over campus.

Through Jordano’s Food Service Program, Green Star Coffee has taken over the coffee program at City College.

During the first day of school, Green Star and Jordano’s representative set up a booth on campus to let passers-by have a taste, and student Austin Brenner did.

“This is really good,” he said.

Under the original name Santa Barbara Coffee, locals Daniel Randall and Kevin Donnelly founded the small company in 2003. Randall is the coffee bean roaster and works at the Santa Barbara roastery.

In 2008, the pair went on to exclusively produce fully organic coffee and tea with the mission to support environmental sustainability through organic, fair Trade, shade-grown coffees.

Organic coffee is better for farmers’ health, because there is no use of pesticides or contact with other chemicals, Randall said. Also, the fair trade helps supporting farmers’ health by requiring fair working conditions.

“Coffee is a perishable product,” Randall said. “And to make the difference taste-wise, Green Star roasts its beans very close to the actual brewing process with its local roastery.”

The cafeteria’s new coffee machines are making a great improvement in taste and the staff is pleased to serve Green Star products, said Cafeteria manager Enrique Valladares.

To insure the farmers’ working conditions make proper health requirements, Green Star Coffee uses the organization TransFair USA. This is why the coffee deserves to be labeled with the fair Trade mark.

“We actually have an employer who is from Guatemala, and when he visits his family he also checks out the plantations,” Randall said.

Randall said that when students and teachers on campus buy the organic coffee, they support fair Trade programs. The more interest and awareness it raises, the more resources will it acquire for further development.

Students who prefer tea to coffee can buy Green Star Coffee’s organic tea. No matter what your poison, the campus caffeine should help students stay bright-eyed and focused, the organic way.

Local, organic coffee now served at cafeteria, campus cafes – Features

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By Rebecca Bakken | Special to the Kalamazo…March 10, 2010, 6:00AMGazette fileIn this file photo, Janet Dapson and her husband Dick, owners of Fabrications in the Clocktower Green Development in Richland, spread out a piece of fabric for cutting.
RICHLAND — the peace silk used to make Jillian Granz’s Oscar dress may be expensive and hard to find, but Kalamazoo-area stores offer a variety of natural fabrics.

View full sizeCourtesy of Brandon HickmanAward winning: Jillain Granz, of Canton, designed this environmentally friendly dress, which was worn by director James Cameron’s wife, Suzy Amis Cameron, to the Academy Awards on Sunday.Dick Dapson, co-owner of Fabrications in Richland, said the natural and sustainable trend in fabrics has gone through an ebb and flow over the past 25 years but that he and his wife, Janet, have remained faithful to natural fibers.

“We easily have the greatest inventory of (natural fabrics and yarn) on this half of the state,” Dapson said.

Dapson supported the idea that bamboo, while fast-growing and not in need of pesticides, may not be the most sustainable options as the chemicals made to break it down into cellulose likely do environmental harm.

Instead, his store, at 8860 N. 32nd St., focuses on cotton, wool and other non-synthetic fibers. They owners await the arrival of naturally pigmented cotton, which grows in shades from tan to green. It’s been a battle to get it in stock, Dapson said, because of its rarity.

Field’s Fabrics, 5401 Portage Road, in Portage offers a variety of organic cottons and cotton with prints made from vegetable dyes, said manager Connie Prior.

For those who truly prefer the texture of bamboo fabrics, they also carry many variations of the fiber, including one that mimics linen. Prior said the organic cotton and bamboo fabrics have a median price of about $9 per yard.

Perhaps the easiest, most cost-effective and sustainable option for making one’s own sustainable clothing would be to go to a local consignment or thrift shop and find clothes that can be altered to fit personal styles and body types. This avoids waste altogether for sewing novices.

Kalamazoo-area stores offer Earth-conscious materials, fabrics – Kalamazoo Gazette