The Frys.com Open, is committed to reducing the tournament’s environmental impacts and increasing the personal and public profile as an environmentally and socially aware event. The tournament’s carbon offset partner, EcoAid (http://ecoaidnow.com), is committed to helping the Frys.com Open become a fully carbon neutral golf event. EcoAid’s strategy encompasses four major areas: the quality of the vendors, the products going into the tournament, the use of the products/facilities, and the control of the waste. Through reducing, reusing and recycling, EcoAid, the Frys.com Open and its vendors are committed to taking steps towards our part of a sustainable future.

The Grayhawk Golf Club, home of The Frys.com Open, has taken many environmental strides to ensure that the course represents both their high quality standards and their commitment to sustainability. Some initiatives include: replacing all incandescent and halogen bulbs with CFLs and LEDs; changing to LED exit signs removing 50,000 watts; updating their clubhouse with a new HVAC system that increased efficiency more than 40%, by using non-ozone depleting refrigerants; and installing programmable thermostats to control the building’s temperature. In addition, Grayhawk has plans for a 30kW Solar installation to help power part of the facility.

Here are a few initiatives that participating companies are promoting in their own practices and also at the tournament. EcoAid (http://ecoaidnow.com)feels it is important to combine sustainability initiatives without having to compromise the quality of the event.

Sustainability at the Frys.com Open

- Collaboration with vendors who have a commitment to sustainability
- Control output of waste and increase recycling
- Support of environmental education for the public
- Minimization the use of transportation
- Offset of carbon emissions generated by the event

Being Carbon Neutral

EcoAid has made this event carbon neutral by offsetting the tournament’s carbon emissions not lessened though 'reduce, reuse and recycle' efforts. This occurs by purchasing certified and verified carbon offsets that support domestic and international “clean air” environmental projects. The two offset projects supported by the Frys.com Open are the Big River/Salmon Creek Project in California (Climate Action Reserve) and the India Renewable Energy – Windmill Project #1328 (Chicago Climate Exchange).

EcoAid has accessed the following areas to get the tournament’s carbon footprint, which is 337 MT of CO2e:

- The club house and tent facilities
- Vendor vehicle use and diesel trucks
- Consumption of food and preparation
- Player air, vehicle travel and accommodation
- Electricity and gas consumption
- Computer servers

Sustainability Partners

Many of the vendors at Frys.com Open already have implemented measurable initiatives within their own companies to reduce their impact on the environment. Following are descriptions of some of the green initiatives that companies have taken at the office/on-site and/or at the tournament. The tournament has the privilege of using several vendors that are not only involved in sustainability initiatives at the Frys.com Open, but are also global sustainability leaders.

Waste management is committed to recycling as much of the post-consumer tournament waste as possible. With the cooperation of patrons and their own skills, they will be able to recycle over half of the garbage from the tournament. Waste Management’s role ensures that the tournament waste will not contaminate the unique Sonora desert environment.

Waste Management is a recipient of the Climate Action Leader award, a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and is also committed to reducing their Carbon emissions by 6% by 2010. They have developed initiatives to lower their carbon footprint and, in addition, initiatives to capture landfill emissions and store carbon. Not only does capturing landfill emissions reduce our impact on climate change, but it provides opportunities to generate electricity from a renewable source. In addition, ProEm has partnered with Waste Management for the Frys.com Open to help recycle waste, such as Astroturf.

Marriott Hotel, the official hotel of the players and other spectators at the Frys.com Open tournament, has also taken numerous initiatives in becoming more sustainable. Their supply chain looks at green initiatives as well as encourages their guests to consider the environment through such measures as utilizing recycled materials in key cards and pillows. For resource consumption, the Marriott is also reducing its fuel and water consumption by 25 percent over the next 10 years; installing solar power; and expanding their “reduce, reuse, recycle” programs throughout their hotels. Due to its initiatives with low flow sinks, showerheads and fluorescent lighting, over 200 Marriott hotels have achieved many aspects of environmental design, including ENERGY STAR® labeling. Ten of these certified hotels are located in the Phoenix Metro area.

Cox Communications is creating a recycling program to turn waste into growth. By separating out the different waste streams as a new channel for profits, Cox Communications reinvests that money into work and education programs. They also are focused in several key areas including energy management, water management, greening their transportation fleet and controlling consumption. As members of both the Arizona Recycling Coalition and Arizona Businesses Advancing Sustainability, Cox Communications is currently a contender as the largest solar consumer in Arizona.

LG Electronics promotes recycling, environmental design and reducing the impact that electronics have on our environment. Through specialized programs, LG has recycled electronic waste (e-waste), such as old cell phones. Furthermore, LG looks to interactively reach consumers through education, Ecolabelling and motivation to recycle e-waste products.

Many of the vendors are local or utilize local resources, promoting sustainability and the nearby economy. Mobile Mini has focused on consolidating their trucking in order to cut fuel to deliver their product coming from local areas. United Parking Systems is in charge of the valet services and has come up with creative ways to promote sustainability at their company. Their valet tickets are printed on recycled paper and at the Frys.com Open, their valet team carpools to the location. At the office they promote recycling and offer incentives for using alternative transport such as hybrid vehicles. T & B Equipment, another local Phoenix company, uses temporary seating and flooring. In addition, they separate out all of their waste, recycle and reuse wood products.

Rosendin Electric is committed to sustainability as a certified green business provider. Utilizing their LEED accredited professionals and in-house green team, they work with renewable energy and green practices.

At Outback Sports, the hospitality company, nearly all of their products are reusable and have minimal waste. For the tournament, they have mapped out routes and will store reusable materials until the next tournament in California to avoid unnecessary shipping. At the Frys.com Open they have worked with local companies to utilize supplies in order to cut transportation emissions.

The Future

EcoAid and the Frys.com Open hope this tournament will set future standards for public events. These events do not need to be wasteful or cause a large impact on the environment. This can be done if we as organizers, vendors and patrons are committed to doing our part in helping the environment.

To determine your carbon footprint, visit www.ecoaidnow.com/Calculators.aspx and for more tips and ideas on how to reduce your costs while creating a sustainable event or business model, visit http://buycarboncreditsandoffsets.com.

The Korean mobile phone maker has recently unveiled a new rugged handset, namely the durable The new device comes with features and specifications that are meant to make it a great option for those users who are fond of adventures. The new Samsung B2100 Xplorer is able to offer them tri-band GSM (850/900/1900MHz) connectivity, as well as support for EDGE data.

When I it was time to pick up the kiddo today, I rushed out of the house so I wouldn't be late.  I looked over the horizon when I got to the main street and saw the darkest rain clouds I've ever seen looming above the kiddo's school.  As I waited in the parking lot, I prayed that we'd beat the storm. Alas, we didn't.  About two minutes before the bell rang the Heavens opened up.  I only had a small parasol that I got from the Houston International Festival to protect me from the buckets of rain falling on my head. The parasol was pretty much useless.  At least the kiddo was wearing her raincoat! The husband saw that it was raining cats and dogs and met us in the driveway with his ginormous umbrella and helped us get into the house. (awww :P)

When we got in the house and out of our wet clothes, the kiddo requested popcorn for her after school snack.  She doesn't like microwaved popcorn, she likes for me to make it on the stove in a pot.  As the popcorn popped, it started to pop the top off of the pot.  Normally this isn't a big deal, but this time a couple of popped kernels fell on the burner and caught on fire!  I quickly covered the burner with the pot top and prayed for the fire to go out.  It seemed like it took forever! Then I started cursing the fire out (notice I went from praying to cussin'). "Just fucking die already! Will you hurry up and lose oxygen you shittin' ass fire!"  Finally the fire went out and the kitchen filled with smoke.  The kiddo stared at me in amazement and I realized I must have looked like a lunatic standing in the kitchen in my underwear cursing out a fire.

Oh yes, before any snarky jackass decides to tell me that fire and water aren't really elements, I'd like to say "Duh! I know that! However, it made for a nice dramatic title." 

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This depression lapse is really starting to piss me off.
Whatever I feel though, it's doubled, perhaps even tripled when I'm at college. Because when I'm at home, I don't stand the risk of being bullied or being judged - even the comments mam makes aren't as bad as the ones I'd get at college. Yes, my mam does have the power to make me want to instantly want to cut myself, but when I'm at college - I don't have my chance to slink off and do so. Even if I do carry around my staple remover or a blade with me, it's only a comfort - it's never really safe to use it in college. It's there for emergencies though, if I ever do need it that badly.

Media Studies kicked off the day by depressing me. Mondays are coursework "planning" and "researching" lessons. I've already researched my chosen topic. I know so much about Rammstein, having been a die-hard fan for 5 years and completing 3 educational projects on them beforehand. I've already planned my production. 3/4 of the script is written and all the location, camera and costume notes are saved. I still haven't discussed it fully with Ash... I am really scared of her response. I never like to share ideas with Ash. Even if she doesn't reject them - I always think she's resenting her agreement, either that or she's biting her tongue. Fair enough, Ash is virtually perfect - in every area that I'm not, anyway...

In my break, I ate a bag of cheddar and onion McCoys, a sausage bun and drank 3/4 of a bottle of water. I'd forgotten to bring my bottle out of the fridge, so I ended up buying them. Finally though, water is economically priced in college. Bottled water should be no more than 50p.

English was cancelled - and we were supposed to find slagface Sue to give us our work - but we couldn't find her. So after hanging about for a pointless 20 minutes and resenting talking to the rest of the arseholes who were waiting with me - except Sefeena of course, she's sound - I went back downstairs. I couldn't be arsed going in the LRC, so I ended up listening to Lisa and playing the odd few games of Solitaire.

I'd wanted to do something today, but I didn't end up doing it.
I wanted to write a letter, sort of - basically a confessional letter adressed to mainly Shelly, but would have areas relevent to maybe Ash and Adam. Basically outlining how I feel right now.
This depression lapse is the worst one I've had yet - but what's pissing me off the most is the fact I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT...

When Shelly came, we weren't excactly close. She was holding my hand and trying to console me, but I refused to kiss her or cuddle up to her. She thought it was because it was her - but it wasn't. I wasn't in the mood to show affection full stop. I didn't care that we were in college - I'm starting to get over my sexuality. Well, I was never uncomfortable with it anyway. I wouldn't care if I groped Shelly's boobs and snogged her face off infront of a crowd of 50,000 - I just can't understand why people use the word "lesbian" as an insult.
I can understand them calling me "fat" as an insult, because being fat isn't exactly a good thing. It's a danger to your health - but being a lesbian isn't.

I ended up shouting at her in Photography because she fucked me off. She did her usual trick of treating me like I'm stupid. Reality check for her - I have three A* grades, she doesn't have any.
And what annoyed me the most was that it was over the most trivial of things - she didn't think I knew that the fact I was mashing the F5 button caused the page to reset.
WELL FUCKING NOR. I'D REALLY SIT THERE AND MASH A RANDOM BUTTON HOPING SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN.

So she went to the other side of the room. Didn't bother me none, I had Lisa.
Paul came over - but I was deliberatley rude to him. When he started talking about my ideas, my responses were the usual, but my tone said differently.
I hate getting ideas now. The problem is - they're all fucking mint - but they're all going to be either wasted, or not used to their full potential - and the results will turn out shit.

I bought a new sketchbook - fucking beasty A3 one - and that was a cunt to carry back to the bus station.
I did about 3/4 of the first page - writing an epic introductory wankery paragraph.
(I seem to do a lot of things 3/4 today.)

Although now I'm home, I still feel depressed - but nowhere near as bad as I was all day.
The bruise from Tuesday has proper come up. It's huge. It's like 5 inches wide - and it's bright yellow. Mam made the comment: "well you have big calves, so it must be a big bruise" - well nor, I'd look a bit stupid being a size 18, 13-14 stone and having SMALL CALVES to compare to a rounded body. Stupid cow.