So, it seems I've managed to not do anything productive on here in over a year.  In reply to those of you who have sent me notes inquiring about my possible demise, please know that I am not, in fact, dead. Not for lack of trying.  It's been a rough year. Some good news, though!  Heading off to graduate school in the UK this September!  I'll be on a plane for the first few hours of my birthday--which sucks--but that also means I'll be spending my birthday night in freakin' England.  Then it's off to Wales, where I'll be getting my Master's (and hopefully my Ph.D) at Cardiff Uni.  Any people in the area want to show me around?  I'll buy you

Take a good, long look at this: Not at just the horrifying image, but the chart below it.  Maybe you've never done a beach clean-up and honestly don't know how bad it really is.  Maybe you haven't seen, firsthand, what crap like an innocent-looking plastic bag or 6-pack rings can do to an ecosystem.  But I have.  It's disgusting and devastating, and, more than anything, it enrages me. There is no reason why we can't, as a society, just learn to clean up after ourselves.  See a piece of trash on the street?  Pick it up.  Just stubbed out your cigarette?  Find a place to throw it away instead of leaving it in the gutter. Sadly, not everyone-

(copied and pasted from last year, cuz I'm lazy) Hey, wanna help the Earth? I work for a very green company, and every Earth Month (which, for us, starts in Feb. and ends in April) we have donation drives for the Surfrider Foundation and the Global Greengrants Fund.  Both of these organizations are worthy causes that help keep our oceans and waterways clean. Our donation goal company-wide ranges in the millions.  Our specific location's goal is $4,000 for each organization, and I'd like to do all I can to raise funds. Last year I made jewelry and sculpted fragrance bottles for the company to sell for the charities (with awesome success!),