Gratitude- The Real Point of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving - the name says it all! I am one of those people who are truly grateful everyday. I don't need a special day to remind me. I won't go into why I am this way you'll just have to trust me it is an earned awareness.
Here is a sampling of things I think about on a daily basis that I am truly grateful for;
The Love of my family (priceless).
Food (a seemingly never ending supply.)
Medicines (regardless of cost).
Heat in the winter (generated by something that I don't have to carry in from outside).
Water that comes into my home, and is available in both hot and cold!
The Internet with its endless source of information and that allows me to do what I do at Arid Solutions Inc.com.
People who care enough about our earth to continue their efforts clean it up and value its gifts by not being wasteful.
People who are using their time on earth trying to help people to think outside of themselves, (like Dr. Laura and Rabbi Telushkin)
and the list goes on and on.....
Enough said, let's go eat!!!
Thanksgiving
Rabbi Telushkin
Dr. Laura Schlessinger.

Quality Drinking Water, Isn't That What It's All About?

Thanks to New Mexico Business Weekly I can pass on the the following information about New Mexico's drinking water quality and how people can find out about it. This is only a portion of the article that was published Nov.14, 2005.

..."This new database means the people who get their water from the state's 1,280 public drinking water systems can be more directly involved in the monitoring of their drinking water," said NMED Secretary Ron Curry.

Users can look up the results of the most recent tests or search for test results from the past 12 years, reviewing measurements of contaminants ranging from arsenic to total coliform. The data can be compared to federal and state standards listed for each.

Also listed on the Web site are contact names and numbers for water system managers as well as any violations or enforcement actions taken against the respective system. Sampling schedules, a breakdown of the water sources for each system and a glossary explaining the terms used are also identified on the new web site...

The linked published in NMBW did not work yet but I found where one needs to go,
Drinking Water Watch. Also, here is the link for the entire New Mexico Environment Department.

Who should care about this information? I say everybody, but particularly people moving around and into the state and the realtors and developers serving them. The liability could be tremendous if realtors and developers did not at least pass on the web site and let their clients conduct due diligence before investing in our state.

New Mexico Business Weekly
drinking water
sustainability
New Mexico real estate
environment

The Collective Well

I friend of mine, also in the rain barrel business, sent me an article from the New York Times. "Steps to Take Before The Collective Well Runs Dry". The article mentions many companys' products and steps people are taking to conserve water. Arid Solutions Inc.com was not specifically mentioned, but that's okay. We are doing our part to provide a dependable, safe and attractive rain barrel to store rain and greywater. We're helping to make rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling mainstreamed in the U.S. and we'll be here when water collection is typical for all.

When the NY Times has an article about saving water in shower to be used again we know that our fresh water supply is in danger and we must take steps to use less, use it again and put a price on it equal to its value.

There is talk of keeping gasoline a $3 a gallon to keep people aware of its value and to encourage conservation. An increase in cost is often the only way to get people to use less of anything. Water is WAY too cheap for its value. Regardless of where one lives it should truly represent its cost...priceless.

"When the well runs dry, we know the worth of water." Ben Franklin

rain barrels
NY Times
rainwater harvesting
water conservation