Steve Trash

HB - 274 - Anti-Recycling Bill in Alabama

2012-02-13T10:01:00.000-08:00

Feb. 13, 2011

Dear Alabama House of Representatives,

Please do not support - HB274.

Its stated intent is tosupport private business in Alabama, but this is not what it will do. The proposed state-law over-reaches and willharm recycling across the entire state. It may even harm the businesses who already recyclethrough existing municipal programs across the state.

Recycling in most communities(like mine in Franklin County) have drop off recycling locations. Our trash is hauled away by the county. This is a service we pay for, but we hold outmuch of our waste (aluminum cans, paper, cardboard, plastic, and glass) to berecycled. My family and I store it atour home and then take it to a drop off location.

The way I read this bill…these drop off locations would be prevented and would leave us with no place totake our recyclables and would also require local business (all over the state)to start paying for the recycling they already enjoy. If a municipality is forced out of “drop offrecycling” and out of “recycling for local businesses” the new cost ofrecycling will be transferred to “the backs” of local businesses.

Here’s an example. If I own a printing shop and the process ofprinting generates a lot of waste paper that I have been recycling through mylocal government, I’d now be forced to use a commercial recycler/wastehauler. This will increase my business operatingcosts. The effect of HB 274 would be tosupport one business (the Waste Hauler) at the expense of all other local businesses.

Recycling is good forAlabama.

RECYCLING IS GOOD FOR ALABAMA - Recycled raw materials save energy,resources, and cut down on the pollution required to create new things we all needand use. Every time an aluminum can or apiece of paper is wasted (sent to a landfill) it harms our rivers, streams,air, and land. That’s because eachresource (which will never be reclaimed or biodegrade in the landfill) must befound somewhere else. I don’t know about you, but I love Alabamaoutdoors. I love being outdoors in thewoods, on the river, or at the beach, and if you allow ANY law toimpede/stop/slow down recycling you are doing the state a huge disservice inthe name of getting “government out of the way” of business.

WASTE HAULING IS NOTRECYCLING - Please understand, waste hauling and recyclingare two very different things. Waste isby its very nature… the result of an inefficient process. We Alabamians’ create 4.5 pounds of wasteeach and every day. We used products andservices and when finished there was a lot left over. This waste must be recycledor landfilled.

CASH FOR TRASH - It can be very difficult to make moneyrecycling and in many cases it’s less expensive for a waste hauler to dump therecycled materials into a landfill than actually collect, transport, separate,bale, sell, and then start the process all over again. Thereis not a lot of money to be made in recycling, but there is a lot in wastehauling and sometimes these two enterprises get confused.

LANDFILLING IS NOT RECYCLING- Government IS many times slow to act, bureaucratic, intrusive, andcumbersome, and I personally really hate ANYONE telling me what to do, or howto do it. But in this case,municipalities may be the only institutions able to deal with the wildfluctuations of price for recyclables. And even when a business can handle the market changes for it’s productsit sometimes ends up dumping the recyclables in a landfill because landfilling(tipping fees included) is cheaper than actually getting the stuffrecycled. Landfilling collectedrecyclables is not recycling.

BUSINESS IS GOOD - I fully support private business in Alabamaand do not feel that government should be getting in the way of local businesses. I have been a proud Alabama business ownerfor over 27 years. My company ConcreteDream Inc (based in Frog Pond Alabama) produces digital & liveentertainment. We are known all over theworld for the world class content we create from right here in our state.

I re-read the proposed lawlast night and I was struck with the simple question.

Why make this a law for the entirestate of Alabama?

IT’S A LOCAL SPAT - Accordingto Rep. Kurt Wallace - HB 274 stems - from a disagreement between a local wastehauler and local municipality in south Alabama. A law that will have effects across the statebecause of one or two businesses disagreement with a local county commissionseems an out of proportion response to me.

BUSINESS VS MUNICIPALITY- Also, being a business owner, thesituation and response don’t “match” my business experience. Supposea business came to a municipality and showed that they could run the recyclingand waste hauling program more - 1. efficiently, 2. better, and 3. cheaper. Any government/municipality/organization would jump on that, becausemany communities are looking for ways to cut costs but keep up services andsupport local businesses - all at the same time. Somethingabout this situation “feels” not exactly right to me.

VIABLE WASTE HAULING BUSINESS- Also, who gets to determine whetherthe waste hauling business is a viable enough business to halt all municipaldrop off recycling programs? Accordingthe the draft I've seen - two local waste hauling businesses can legally prevent themunicipality from recycling drop offs and recycling local business waste. If a guy with a couple of trucks claims tobe in the recycling/waste hauling business... does he qualify? The wording, in the bill, is vague enough toallow two people with two trucks (and a business license) to shut downrecycling in the entire region even if they cannot do it cheaper, more efficiently or effectively. Again, this seems punitive to me.

Please do not harm recyclingin Alabama in your efforts to help local business.

Please write a law that helpsgrow business and recycling in Alabama and I will personally be your champion.

Sincerely,

Steve Trash - 2.13.12 – 10:58am.

Here's the proposed bill as of 2.13.12

"1 HB274

2 136022-2

3 By Representatives Greer, Wood, Beckman, Wallace, Beech,

4 Moore (B), Barton, Long, Buttram, Rich, Johnson (K), Collins,

5 Bridges, Fincher, Chesteen, Poole, Mask, Williams (P), Brown,

6 Baker, Ball, Baughn, Roberts, Mitchell, Gaston, Weaver,

7 Sessions, Tuggle, Farley, McCutcheon, Hill, Henry, Nordgren,

8 McClendon, Williams (J), Merrill, England, Grimsley and

9 Patterson

10 RFD: Commerce and Small Business

11 First Read: 09-FEB-12

Page 0

1 136022-2:n:02/09/2012:LLR/tj LRS2012-459R1

8 SYNOPSIS: Currently a county, municipality, or solid

9 waste authority may provide commercial front-end

10 loader, roll-off, or commercial recycling

11 collection services within the county or the

12 municipality even if there are two or more private

13 solid waste providers offering those services in

14 the county.

15 This bill would prohibit a county,

16 municipality, or solid waste authority from

17 providing commercial front-end loader, roll-off, or

18 commercial recycling collection services within the

19 county or the municipality if there are two or more

20 private solid waste providers offering those

21 services in the county.

22 This bill would exempt a governmental entity

23 that provides residential solid waste and recycling

24 collection within its own jurisdiction and allow a

25 governmental entity to collect residential solid

26 waste and recycling collection within its own

27 jurisdiction.

Page 1

1 This bill would require each county,

2 municipality, or solid waste authority in violation

3 of this act, within six months from the date of its

4 approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming

5 law, to cease its operations that are in conflict

6 with this act.

8 A BILL

9 TO BE ENTITLED

10 AN ACT

12 Relating to management of solid waste; to prohibit a

13 county, municipality, or solid waste authority from providing

14 commercial front-end loader, roll-off, or commercial recycling

15 collection services within the county or the municipality if

16 there are two or more private solid waste providers offering

17 those services in the county; to exempt a governmental entity

18 that provides residential solid waste and recycling collection

19 within its own jurisdiction and allow a governmental entity to

20 collect residential solid waste and recycling collection

21 within its own jurisdiction; and to require each county,

22 municipality, or solid waste authority in violation of this

23 act, within six months from the date of its approval by the

24 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law, to cease its

25 operations that are in conflict with this act.

26 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:

Page 2

1 Section 1. (a) A county, municipality, or solid

2 waste authority may not provide commercial front-end loader,

3 roll-off, or commercial recycling collection services within

4 the county or the municipality if there are two or more

5 private solid waste providers offering those services in the

6 county.

7 (b) A county, municipality, or solid waste authority

8 may not cross its jurisdictional lines to provide commercial

9 front-end loader, roll-off, or commercial recycling collection

10 services.

11 (c)(1) This act shall not apply to a governmental

12 entity that provides residential solid waste and recycling

13 collection within its own jurisdiction, and the governmental

14 entity may collect only residential solid waste and recycling

15 collection only within its own jurisdiction.

16 (2) A county, municipality, or solid waste authority

17 that operates a solid waste disposal facility or recycling

18 facility may not offer additional services that compete with

19 private providers within its regional planning district.

20 (d) A county, municipality, or solid waste authority

21 in violation of this act, within six months from the date of

22 its approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law,

23 shall cease its operations that are in conflict with this act.

24 Section 2. This act shall become effective on the

25 first day of the third month following its passage and

26 approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Page 3

ECO-FRIENDLY MAGICIAN STEVE TRASH HELPS MAGIC GO MAINSTREAM GREEN ON AMERICA RECYCLES DAY (NOV 15th)

2011-11-12T06:03:00.001-08:00

The Rockin' Eco Hero Magically Levitates on the cover of Magic

Magazine's Special Green Issue

As American's celebrate recycling on Tuesday, November 15th, America Recycles Day, it becomes ever more apparent that sustainability and being “green” have become a mainstream part of our culture; from Sustainability departments at Top 100 corporations, all the way down to the tiny niche world of magic tricks and magicians. Thanks to the nationally recognized annual America Recycles Day, the granddaddy of eco-magicians, Steve Trash is featured on Magic Magazine's special green issue, magically levitating in the woods outside his home in Frog Pond, Alabama. The Rockin’ Eco Hero has been at the “green magic game” since 1984. “We’ve come a long way in all that time." Trash said. "Now people really are seeing that we must use the planet's resources in smart sustainable ways. America Recycles Day, which is sponsored by Keep America Beautiful is a great way to keep people excited and focused on being green.” Thousands of events are planned nationwide in celebration of America Recycles Day, all designed to educate, motivate and inspire individuals to recycle more. It's the one day to make recycling bigger and better 365 days a year. In celebration of America Recycles Day, Trash will be performing his Big Green Show in Huntsville, Alabama for 1800 grade school kids, sponsored by Operation Green Team and the City of Huntsville. The shows are a “thank you” gift to the kids of Huntsville for doing a great job of recycling all year long. According to Trash, “We have many miles to go before we have a sustainable economy, but at least we are moving in the right direction. We get to celebrate our success on America Recycles Day. I’m excited!”

For more information on Steve Trash, please visit www.stevetrash.com

###

Tips For Making Your MAGIC SHOW - GREENER

2011-10-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

I put together these green tips and tricks for a special "green" issue of MAGIC MAGAZINE (November 2011). I wrote them with amateur and professional magicians in mind, but they can really apply to anyone that does any type of show or likes to "make" stuff. Enjoy.

Making Your Magic SHOW Greener (some tricks and tips to lesson your impact on the planet)

1. Use Rechargeable Batteries – (AA or 9V) Here’s a big one for touring entertainers. You’re gonna use 100-500 disposable batteries (or single use batteries) for each (1) rechargeable battery that you use. That’s right! If you choose NOT to use a rechargeable battery (for your Sidekick or Wireless Microphone, or Rising Card or whatever), you’ll end up buying between 100 and 500 disposable batteries. Even if you don’t “give a whit” about the environment or green or eco-hippyness, there can be a huge COST SAVINGS (that's cold hard stinking cash) for you to purchase rechargeable batteries and a battery charger. Rechargeables make ecologic AND economic sense. Being green can get you more… green. ☺

2. Reuse Cardboard Cereal Boxes – I started using cereal boxes to organize my onstage magic show many, many years ago. I vaguely recall glancing behind Tom Mullica’s Tom-Foolery bar in Atlanta and seeing lots and lots of cardboard boxes taped together. This could be a faulty memory. It could have been some other great magician, but my mind gives him credit for this idea. Whomever it was, it’s a brilliant idea. Cardboard boxes are cheap, light, easy to cut, easy to rearrange, easily taped/hot glued together, to organize your onstage show props. Change your show? No problem, change the cardboard boxes. It doesn’t matter that the boxes look cheesy inside your show case, the audience won’t ever see it. The most important aspect of this cardboard organization system is it that you’ll be able to find a specific prop instantly during your show. This will make you look and feel much more professional. Reusing all those cardboard boxes is actually a greener choice than even recycling them. Less energy is needed to reuse a resource than to recycle it.

3. Reuse Show Confetti – Speaking of reuse, I love to use confetti (I used lime green of course) in my green magic stage show. I’ve found that if you collect it after your show, you can actually reuse it many times. I have a bag (mine is a mesh bag that practice golf balls are sold in). After each show I sweep my confetti into this mesh bag. I end up sweeping dust and dirt from the stage too, but I give the mesh bag several shakes over the trash can and the dirt and trash fall out and the reusable confetti remains. This allows me to reuse the same confetti over and over. An added benefit of reusing confetti is that the venue will love you for cleaning up your own mess. Reusing confetti is not only good for the environment, but it’s good for your pocketbook as well, you don’t have to buy as much.

4. Buy Eco-Edition Playing Cards – This deck of cards is specifically made to be environmentally friendly. Crafted by U.S. Playing Card Company from sustainably harvested forest paper, starch-based laminating glue, and vegetable-based printing inks. The deck has no gaffs or gimmicks, but its back design and red faces have been replaced with a olive/forest green.

5. Make sure that wood for your illusion is FSC. Forest Stewardship Council certifies that the wood you use has been harvested from a forest that is “well managed” for sustainability. Don’t worry, Home Depot works very hard to carry wood that has FSC certification. So check for the label and know that you’re doing your part!

6. Use post consumer waste recycled paper in your promo. Printing your press kit and promo on recycled paper is good, but printing on post consumer (paper that’s been used and then recycled into new paper) is great! Most clients will appreciate the fact that you bothered to use recycled stock. It WILL cost a little more (maybe 10% more), but it’s worth it simply for bragging rights. The quality of recycled paper today is very good compared to even 10 years ago. I’ve been buying post consumer recycled paper for 25 years, believe me, it’s gotten better. Be sure to include the recycle symbol on your promo to let people know you’re doing your part to be green.

7. Don’t print any promo. One of the great things about the digital age is that it’s given us the ability to book shows without any printed material at all. The VAST MAJORITY of my shows these days (Performing Arts Centers, Fairs, & Schools) are booked without ever having to print anything. I can get almost everything the client needs on my web site (stevetrash.com) and on my YouTube site (stevetrashnetwork). Less printing means less resources used, and that’s a much greener choice.

8. Biodegradable Glue – Max 1 Glue is the most amazing glue you’ll ever use. It’s also biodegradable… which makes it amazingly green. Not something you can usually say about most modern chemical bonding agents. Max 1 is capable of bonding porous and non porous surfaces together (glass to wood or metal to glass). Just as important, it really is completely biodegradable. Originally used by military doctors to quickly seal wounds, it will instantly bond flesh. So do not get it on your fingers and touch them together, or you’ll instantly have a new definition for the Linking Finger Ring trick. ☺

9. Improve you MPG. We’ve got to get to gigs. Most of us have neither the luxury nor desire to ride our off road trail bike to our shows. Can you imagine yourself with a sub trunk balanced precariously on your shoulders as you tool down the highway on your bike? Me neither. So most of us end up driving to our gigs. One way to green your show is to improve your mpg (miles per gallon). The less fuel we use the less fuel ultimately must be searched for, drilled for, transported, refined, transported, stored, and then sold to us. Fuel and energy are good things but the less non renewable fuel (gasoline refined from oil is non renewable) we can use in our day to day lives, the easier it is on the planet. I recently switched from a big van to a smaller van. I downsized from a 350 Ford Van to a Ford Transit Connect. This did take a good bit of reorganizing and repacking of my show, but it’s been wonderful to go from getting only 14 mpg to 25 mpg. With the larger van, I had been focused on getting the show into the venue quickly and out of the venue quickly. This new show (with the new smaller van and much less storage space) must be packed a lot smaller, so I’ve had to break the show down for transport into a MUCH smaller space. I can’t load in and load out as quickly, but I’m getting MUCH better mileage and that makes me and the planet happy. There’s also a financial benefit, I get a lot better mileage which means that I get to keep more of the money I make. I’m not adding to the burden on the non-renewable energy supply and I’m keeping mo’ money.

###

2011-10-17T08:22:00.000-07:00

Here's an essay that I wrote for MAGIC MAGAZINE several months ago. It was edited into an article that featured many of my green magic friends in the November 2011 issue. Here's the whole essay written by me and edited by Gabe Fajuri. Enjoy.

Why Green Magic? by Steve Trash_®- Rockin’ Eco Hero

Revolutions happen all the time. In fact, agreen one is happening right now.

Inthe 19^th century, Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin revolutionized magic bydressing it up, taking it off the streets, making it respectable societyentertainment, and adopting an acting persona of “being” a real magician. Hisapproach was unique for the time — even revolutionary — and the public lovedit.

Atthe dawn of the twentieth century, Houdini revolutionized the field again, thistime by becoming a symbol of the everyman’s desire for freedom. When heperformed, escapology was as much a symbol as it was a trick. Totalitariangovernments across Europe were clamping down on their citizens and Houdinibecame an icon for the ability to escape persecution and be free. The publicloved it.

MarkWilson revolutionized magic once again, starting in the 1950s with his TVmagic. The small screen became a cultural touchstone and a shared experiencefor all, no matter where they lived, worked or “experienced” the shows. “Didyou see that on TV?” became a pervasive and national catchphrase. It’sestimated that more people saw Mark Wilson’s TV magic specials than saw Houdiniperform in his entire lifetime.

Astime passes, the public craves change. When the 1970s arrived, out went the tophat and tail-wearing image of a magician. A charismatic young Canadian, Doug Henning,came along with his hippie wizard look and wonder-filled magic. The public ateit up. His contemporary take on magic set a new tone for the craft, and putmagic back in the collective public consciousness. Doug’s bellbottoms and longhair connected him with current and fashionable thoughts about “peace,” “freelove,” “consciousness expansion,” and most of all “wonder.” The public rewardedhim with sell-out runs on Broadway and exceedingly popular TV specials.Throughout the 1970s and early 80s, Henning was magic’s guiding, driving force.

Atabout the same time, two new forces in magic burst onto the scene: David Copperfieldand Penn and Teller. Copperfield took his successful appearance in TheMagic Man,his romantic storytelling, MTV style illusions, Emmy-winning TV specials, (allthings that were popular with the public at that moment in history) and createdstratospherically high quality and very successful global touring illusionshows.

“The Bad Boys of Magic,” Penn and Teller, developed a reputation as hilarious and thoughtful advocates forskepticism wrapped in a ball of cynicism, illustrated with magic tricks. Togetherwith Copperfield, they were game changers. And the public loved them for it.

Therevolutions continue today. As we crept into the twenty first century, the timewas right for two new revolutionaries: David Blaine and Criss Angel. Theydidn’t wear suits or costumes. They dressed as themselves: young, urban, andstreet savvy. With a heavy dose of help yet again from TV and YouTube, theyreshaped and conquered the magic world. Angel and Blaine’s heavily editedstreet-style broadcasts addressed something the public wanted (even if itdidn’t know it wanted it).

Sofar, I haven’t told you anything you don’t already know. We all know the basicsof these “revolutionary” tales by heart. So what’s the point?

Thiscollection of magicians is connected by at least one thread: public interest. Eachmagician, in his own way and own time, addressed something the public had anappetite for. Whether by design or by accident, each entertainer fulfilled thepublic’s wishes to be entertained in a new, different way.

Asworking magicians we sometimes forget that tricks and illusions don’t happen ina vacuum. Magic always takes place against a backdrop of current events andcontemporary thought, even if it’s not performed onstage. What is happening inthe world? How are each generation’s beliefs and ideas shaping their view ofhow the world works?

Whichbrings me to green. Green is happening. Popular magic has always responded towhat’s flowing through the hearts and minds of the public, and the “green”concept is very much a part of the public’s collective hearts and minds rightnow.

Don’t’believe me? Read on, oh ye of little faith:

•Wal-Mart, the largest retailer on the planet, has sold hundreds of thousands ofenergy efficient CFL compact florescent light bulbs (which save 80 percent ofthe energy consumed versus standard incandescent bulbs), and according to theirdirector of Strategy and Sustainability, Candace Taylor, the firm has also seta company wide goal of creating zero waste at all of its retail outlets. Currently,Wal-Mart recycles or reuses most of the waste generated on site and is workingtoward a goal of no waste at all. None.

•BMW, the German auto manufacturer, designs its cars with disassembly in mind.This way, the parts can be replaced, reused or recycled easily. It’s a smartbusiness choice and a smart green choice.

•Each year, Popular Science Magazine publishes a list of the 50 “Greenest Cities” inAmerica.

•Las Vegas, a town not known as a sustainability-driven hippie haven, is investingalmost $50 million in renewable “green” energy, with substantial investments insolar energy generation.

•There are currently over 8650 curbside recycling programs in cities across theUS and many more around the globe.

• BestBuy (the huge electronics retailer) has implemented a program called “E-Cycle.”The company will take back all broken electronics regardless of where they werepurchased or who manufactured the device.

•Ask any school age child what “the three R’s” are they will immediately respondwith, “Reduce, reuse, recycle.”

•Coca-Cola Recycling has implemented a “take it back” program that has recoveredover 200 million pounds of recyclable plastic coke bottles to date. Afterreturned, the bottles are recycled into new plastic Coke bottles.

•Most of the major automobile manufacturers (including GM, Nissan, Mitsubishi,and Ford) offer electric cars for sale alongside their internal combustionengine vehicles. Electric cars and hybrids are “greener” than other vehiclesbecause they can potentially rely on a renewable fuel source, the sun, fortheir energy.

• Themajority of Fortune 500 companies have established “sustainability” divisionsdedicated to energy efficiency and reducing their impact on the planet. Ineffect, they are greening their companies.

Thelist goes on, but most importantly, none of this activity has happened in avacuum. It’s happening right now, and because green is what is on the public’smind right now, we, as entertainers, need to be a part of that consciousness,too.

Ifcurrent issues and ideas — green chief among them — are not at least a smallpart of our magic, we risk being irrelevant and we become yesterday’s news. Ina culture that moves at light speed or faster, yesterday’s news is no longernews at all.

Soconsider using this “green” issue of MAGIC Magazine as a jumpstarter for agreen theme in your show or routine or act.

Thinkof it this way: good magicians are always looking for a story or idea that willconnect them with a crowd. There is plenty of evidence that green will connectyou with today’s audiences. So go ahead. Give it a try. I am.

###

Recycled FASHION SHOW ideas

2011-10-11T10:10:00.000-07:00

Fashion is constantly being recycled. I really loved big "bell bottom" jeans back in the 1970's. Guess what? They're back! And they look just as cool now as they did then. If you think about it though, recycled fashion doesn't have to be about STYLE only, it can also be about the MATERIALS used too. This is where the idea of recycled fashion starts to get really interesting for me. I recently participated in a RECYCLED FASHION SHOW in Largo, Florida. Largo Recycles - Recycling Coordinator - Marissa Segundo does a stunningly good job of inspiring young people to create really BEAUTIFUL dresses from trash/recycled/reclaimed materials and to enter the local fashion show contest. These are not tacky dresses with garbage chaotically duct-taped to them, they are really beautiful and fashionable creations. The young women (who mostly make their own dresses) make "one of a kind" dresses for the fashion run-way that are recycled AND beautiful. Examples of their creativity in materials included an awesome black sparkly dress made of recycled VHS VIDEO TAPE (great idea right?), a really wonderful dress made of several VICTORIAS SECRET shopping bags, and an incredible dress made entirely of plastic forks and spoons. Yep, you read that right... plastic forks and spoons. Each contestant had worked really really hard on their dress and they were all truly amazing. Here is a link to the LargoRecycles page, you can see many of the dresses in a photo gallery there. If you decide to do this yourself to encourage recycling and creativity in your community, here are a few things to remember. NUMBER 1. Make sure everyone understands that this is a REAL FASHION SHOW. The dresses are NOT a joke. They are beautiful creations from beautiful and creative minds using recycled materials. You're there to showcase that! Consider enlisting local fashion designers to "pitch in" or give "helpful tips" to get the contestants started. NUMBER 2. Make sure you design your runway to look just like a "REAL" fashion runway. Do it in a theater. Do it AS theater. Use REAL theatrical lighting. Use a follow spot. Make the whole experience "pop". And when possible, use professional MC's (a great choice would be local TV personalities who can ALSO get you some great local publicity too). All this will make the show better! The clothing and women should all look beautiful and feel special. NUMBER 3. Have fun. Maybe you have the next "sustainable/green Bouchra-Jarrar" in your town and don't even know it. We'll never know unless you give it a try. Good luck and stay green!

How to Make a "Recycled" Envelope

2011-09-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Paper is really amazing. Many beautiful paper products (calendars, maps, blueprints, wallpaper) end up being used only one time. Here's a cool idea. Why not "repurpose" them into super high quality beautiful envelopes? Here's how you can do just that.
SUPPLIES - Pencil, Ballpoint Pen, Sharpie - ultra-fine, Scissors, Glue Stick - Scotch brand is best, 12" thin metal ruler.

ENVELOPE MAKING MATERIALS - Calendars, Road Maps, Blueprints, Wallpaper, Heavy Gift Wrap, Topographic Maps
SUGGESTED SOURCES FOR ENVELOPE MAKING MATERIALS - Home, Workplace, USGS, Architectural Firms, Friends (old calendars, posters, etc.), Merchants (free calendars), Recycle Center, Home decorating stores.
PATTERNS - Gently pull apart envelopes from bills, greeting cards, note cards stationery, etc. Use as many different sizes as possible. Carefully trace around envelope onto a medium-weight card stock such as an old file folder, calendar cover, or atlas cover. Cut out pattern.
ENVELOPES - Trace around pattern on REVERSE SIDE of envelope material. Generally you'll want to use the largest pattern that will fit the envelope area. Use a dark marker so you can easily see, but make sure it's compatible with the envelope material (i.e., a Sharpie on this map paper will bleed through.) Carefully cut out the envelope. Using ruler or straight-edge as a guide, fold side flaps in, then bottom flap, then top flap. Make sharp creases. Glue side edges of bottom flap to side flaps.

SPECIAL NOTES - Careful cutting and sharp creasing make a more professional-looking envelope. Make sure your pattern is right side up on the picture! Find scissors that are sharp but easy to use for close cutting (less tiring on the hand.) Generally you don't need to worry about trying to position the pattern on a picture; in most cases the envelope comes out beautifully! Watch out for holes in the tops of calendar pictures. Yes, you CAN send your envelopes these through the US mail. Use address labels and self stick stamps. Special Thanks to VCRS - Valley Community for Recycling Solutions in Palmer Alaska www.valleyrecycling.org for this excellent idea!

Litter Champs Trophy

2011-09-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

Kids love trophies! And the bigger the trophy... the better. So it occurred to me, why not create a really really BIG trophy for the best LITTER PREVENTION SCHOOL in our community? I pitched this idea to my local KAB affiliate KEEP THE SHOALS BEAUTIFUL last year (of which I'm a founding board member) and they (being really smart people) pounced on it.

The campaign was basically a contest for primary schools in our three county area to keep their schools the "most litter-free". Our board members would drop in (unannounced) over the course of the year and evaluate how well each school was doing. At the end of the year we tallied the votes and awarded the trophy to the LITTER CHAMP school for that year! It was very very well received. The kids liked working on something important and most important they WANTED THAT BIG TROPHY! The winning school got to be a part of a big press conference and they received a plaque and a cash prize. The trophy, plaque, and cash prize were all donated by local businesses who wanted to help us build a "cleaner and greener" ethic in our community. And here's the smart part. The trophy is a "traveling" trophy. So the winner must win it again each year or they lose this big, huge, symbol of how awesome they are! I'm really pleased at how well this LITTER CHAMP idea has taken off for KTSB. I hope you can use this idea in your community too. It's high impact and low cost. And it will make a difference in your community. Greenfully Yours, Steve :)

NC State was great!

2010-10-31T06:03:00.000-07:00

I have been a professional eco-entertainer for over 25 years and I almost always enjoy my job, but this year at the North Carolina State Fair was really really terrific. The weather was beautiful. The fans were fantastic and I'm pretty sure I did my job well. Thanks NC State Fair... we celebrated what's great together.

Shhhhh... it's a secret.

2010-10-23T06:16:00.000-07:00

Don't tell anyone, but KEEP THE SHOALS BEAUTIFUL and Steve Trash are about to launch a really cool litter prevention contest for school kids. It's gonna be fun and magical. Stay tuned. By the way... there's a BIG prize.

Fighting Figures and Real Magic

2010-08-20T04:37:00.000-07:00

When I was a child, I was very lucky. I was loved, well fed, and very happy. I also had access to my own very healthy personal imagination and I had the freedom to go where it took me. I would spend hours staring at the clouds and huge oak trees covered with Spanish Moss and imagine them to be alive and animated (the clouds and the trees). It's as close to real magic as you can ever come. Being a professional magician, that's the feeling I try to capture for my audiences everyday. Sometimes I succeed VERY well. Sometimes I fail terribly, but it's my goal (as well as making sure the bank doesn't take away my home and my car). My friend Rob - The Whacky Wheeler (look it up... one of the most original acts on the planet) had been telling me about Dr. Evermor and his Forevertron for years, but because our schedules are always so hectic, we'd never made it up there. Dr. Evermors Park is about an hour away from Madison (kinda near Baraboo, Wisconsin)... so we really needed a full day off to check it out. Well the stars aligned this August and Oh Man!!! You see, Dr. Evermor was an industrial scrap guy. He spent his whole life scrapping interesting stuff. But not just interesting stuff... BIG INTERESTING STUFF...Like; rocket ships and huge towers of steel, and telephone booths, and aluminum and even thousands and thousands of oversized scissor blades. But he is no ordinary scrap guy, Dr. Evermor is an artistic and slightly comical cosmic genius. His park is filled with hundreds of very large bird shaped sculpted pieces and huge faux spiders and odd shaped structures that are just plain old cool. For example the main piece in the center of the park is called the FOREVERTRON. It's massive and looks like a launching pad for a steam punk space ship. In fact, it might even be just exactly what it looks like. I'm not sure. But the piece that captured my imagination the most was his... I don't know what they are called. I named them THE LITTLE METAL WARRIORS. Each small sculpture (about 12 inches tall) of a little fighting warrior is mounted on springs (they hold weapons and look fierce) they are all lined along a 20 foot metal pole. When you move the pole.. all the little metal men begin to fight. I bounced the pole and watched. It was magic. As I stood there watching the THE LITTLE METAL WARRIORS fight, I was taken back to the clouds and the trees of my childhood. Fantastic! Dear Dr. Evermor. I am Forever your fan! Steve Trash :)

Art Cars and Art Lives

2010-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I travel a great deal. In most cities and towns I don't get out and see much. I do my shows and head back to the hotel or I drive to the next town that I'm scheduled to appear in. I know it's kind of pathetic, but not getting "out and about" is a combination of the physical effort (load in/show/load out...usually two times each day) required to do my shows and my desire to stay healthy for my next gig.
But recently I booked my TRASH AND RECYCLE school shows in Sugar Land, Texas (just south of Houston) during the HOUSTON ART CAR PARADE. My shows were sponsored by Keep Sugar Land Beautiful and I discovered that I'd be free over the weekend to go see the parade. I have always been a fan of art cars. Basically they are wild expressions of creativity in the form of some sort of mobile vehicle. This can mean almost anything; cars with recycled toys all over them, cars made to look like other things (guitars, flowers, animals), or cars that are not really even... cars. For me, the common characteristic of an art car seems to be that they make me smile. Don't get me wrong. I love beautiful cars... I think the Tesla is almost perfect just the way it is. I think the BMW Z4 series cars are some of the most beautifully designed and sleek autos on the road. But they are beautiful, art cars make me smile.
Early Saturday morning I left for downtown Houston in search of Art Cars. Because I left so early, I was able to see the cars queuing up for the parade and speak with the artists and take pictures. I took hundreds of pictures! I walked up and down the line of cars along Allen Parkway. I'd smile. I'd see another car and I'd smile some more. At some point in my four hours of looking and watching I realized what I liked about the cars. They were doing what I try to do as Rockin' Eco Hero - Steve Trash; bring a little happiness. I try to teach. I try to entertain, but most days, I'm happy if I can just lift my audiences' spirits a little bit. Art Cars are the artists way of doing EXACTLY the same thing. It's perfectly captured by the bumper of one of the art cars (a colorful spaceship car with helmeted driver) that I saw. Printed across the back were these words; "Laugh, Point, Smile, Wave". That's exactly what art cars do. They elicit happiness from the viewer. That's what I try to do. The cool thing is... right now...just thinking about them is making me smile. Thank you art car artists. :)

My Iowa State Fair Appearance last Summer

2010-05-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

I just found this terrific video done by the IOWA PUBLIC TV folks during my appearance at the IOWA STATE FAIR last year. Good stuff.

Panoply 2010

2010-04-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

When I was a young magician, I became TOTALLY fascinated by the concept of "Street Magic". It's a style of magic that has no stage, no lights, no trappings of theater yet it can be (if done correctly) some of the "best" theater you've ever experienced. My friend Jim recently shot me performing some green street magic at the PANOPLY ARTS FESTIVAL in Huntsville, Alabama. The audiences are always great at this festival (intelligent and fun) This audience however was particularly good. Check out the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KVhK7xopbA of me performing one of my favorite "found object" magic tricks. Steve :)

Recycled Ink

2010-04-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of recycling for years. Recently (for the last two years or so) I've been buying my printer ink from Carrot Ink http://www.carrotink.com They re-manufacture and recycle ink cartridges AND they'll take your empty old ones back to be recycled. They'll even send you a postage paid box. Closing the loop baby that's what it's all about.

Dozing Into The Future

2010-04-14T06:10:00.000-07:00

One of my many dreams is to create a green digital production studio to shoot, rehearse, edit, and perform all of my creative projects. On Monday last, we took the first step in this very cool and exciting direction. We (the Queen & I) hired a bulldozer and driver to level the dirt road that leads to our home (it gets very bumpy thanks to rain and mud) AND to clear a little patch of land to put our "green energy" studio in. We plan to "birm" the building into the earth (just like our home)... so we needed to start digging a hole to put the building in. The earth has excellent insulative abilities and we want to use this natural characteristic to reduce our energy consumption. Next step. Get more green to build green. :)

2010-04-12T05:18:00.001-07:00

Charles Moore was a groundbreaking civil rights photographer in the 1950's and 1960's. He was also a stunning portrait photographer. Friends introduced us and in the summer of 2003 he came out to my home in "Frog Pond" Alabama and shot some photos of me in the woods. He was always so delighted to be shooting and I was a willing subject. During the shoot, he spotted a small frog. I reached down and picked it up. It stayed in my hand. It didn't jump off. It didn't even appear to be worried that a big huge magician standing in the middle of a creek was holding him thousands of feet in the air (by frog height measurements). He was ready for his... "Charles Moore Close-Up"... so Charles began shooting and shooting and shooting. That frog stayed on my hand until Charles was finished shooting (probably 5 or 6 minutes). It was a great day and Charles will be missed. Thank you Mr. Frog for a great day with a great photog.

2010-04-12T04:57:00.000-07:00

I LOVE to compost! We compost almost all of our kitchen scraps (excluding meat and greasy stuff) in a claw foot bathtub behind our house. Composting is natures way of recycling, AND even more important... my wife can use the excellent "composted material" in our garden. Which is awesome! So I'm starting an experiment with this new 100% compostable Sun Chips bag. I've put it in our second composter (beside the garden) and I'll be checking its degredation over time. I've NOT had very good luck with "so called" biodegradeable plastics in the past. This is supposed to be different...I'll keep you posted. :)

Wind Up Here Toy Store

2010-01-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

Several months back I was honored to make a special appearance at the WIND UP HERE toy store in Olympia Washington. I was promoting my green magic set made by IMAGIPLAY and sold by great green stores everywhere. The folks that showed up were wonderful. The little kid wearing the purple/pink dress was a trip. She was hilarious. It's always fun to share magic with an eager audience. Good times. Thanks WIND UP HERE peoples.

Spellbound

2009-12-29T06:13:00.000-08:00

My fantastic family got this book for me SPELLBOUND - THE WONDER-FILLED LIFE OF DOUG HENNING by John Harrison for Christmas. Wow! What a fun read. I've had trouble putting it down. I don't even think you'd have to be a magician to enjoy the story of this wonderful man. If you enjoy biographies of interesting people... this one is truly fascinating. Available at all bookstores and Amazon.com. It's around 45 bucks for hard cover. Great job John Harrison on filling in the bits and pieces that made up a truly inspiring life... the wonder-filled life of Doug Henning.

No Smoking In Sillyville

2009-12-21T04:15:00.000-08:00

I think this pretty much says it all. :)

Late Night Magic in Las Vegas

2009-12-10T04:28:00.000-08:00

For years the magicians of Las Vegas have gotten together after their evening shows and shared magic, ideas, and gossip with each other. I was lucky enough to be in Vegas for the IAFE convention recently and got to go to Boomers Lounge (in the back room of course) and hang out with the magic crowd. It was terrific. I got to visit with the incredibly generous and talented Gary Darwin (in photo). He showed me a terrific version of the "retention vanish". It totally made me rethink my use of this tricky sleight of hand vanish. I've been working on it ever since then. Thanks Mr. Darwin! I also got to visit with the incredibly talented Steve Daley - Tiny Bubbles - has his finger in so many show-biz pies... it's amazing. I loved hearing the plans for new projects (late into the evening) and am sure he'll make them all happen. Good luck Stevo. I got to meet many other talented and interesting performers this time out. Many thanks to you all. Hope I get to see you all soon.

LOVE

2009-12-07T04:29:00.000-08:00

Every year for the last decade or so, I have attended the IAFE convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's a booking convention for Fairs and Expos. If you have a county or state fair... someone from your town is probably at this convention. Generally the convention is held at the Paris Hotel (a really nice hotel by the way) in December. I really enjoy the convention and Vegas this time of year. At the convention I get to meet lots of new people and catch up with friends I don't get to see through-out the year, but probably my favorite thing is seeing Las Vegas shows. Wow! The shows in Vegas can be sooooo amazing. The quality is astounding... shows I've seen and loved in the past include... The BLUE MAN GROUP, CARROT TOP, GEORGE CARLIN, CHICAGO, MAC KING, FITZ OF LAUGHTER, LANCE BURTON, SECOND CITY, STEVE WYRICK and PENN & TELLER. But I finally got to see The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil last week. Man o' man was that a terrific show! First of all, they start with some of the best pop music ever made (The Beatles), but it's been remixed to give it a new flavor. I was unsure if I'd like the new mix (I don't think you should mess with perfection) but I was quickly converted when I heard the new mix from the most awesome surround sound system I've ever witnessed. Then add to that the "dreamscape" style show that Cirque is able to create full of non-literal images and color, and skill, and it was one of the funnest theatrical evenings I've ever spent. Between my smiles, I sang along to almost the entire show. The show also reminded me of something... all you need is... love. Steve :)

Plarn Purse

2009-11-30T12:51:00.000-08:00

Today I was at the IAFE convention in Las Vegas and met Caroline Craig from the Topsfield County Fair, MA. She showed me the most marvelous purse. It's made of plastic shopping bags, but it's not REcycled. It's REused. She formed the bags into yarn... which apparently is called PLARN. Get it? The words Plastic and Yarn are conjugated or contracted or co-joined or something... anyway. She found the pattern on a marvelous web site that shares exactly what you need to know to make these bad boys. www.myrecycledbags.com is the site. It's full of great info and the best part... it's free. If you're into DIY. Try it. :)

Wind

2009-10-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

Good news! My web sites www.stevetrash.com and www.concretedream.com are now 100% Wind-Powered. FatCow - my web site hosts - buy 100% powered by wind energy to offset the energy used for their servers, data centers, and offices. So now their machines are fully eco-friendly. This energy is purchased from Community Energy. Very good idea... the wind is harnessed to make electricity for green magic shows. I like it! Steve :)

NEW Green Jobs Czar Announcement

2009-10-12T04:56:00.000-07:00

It's official. I - Steve Trash - am running for the advisory position of Green Jobs Czar. Van Jones - the last adviser got booted about a month ago. I know what you're saying. "Hey Steve... you're not a political guy. It's why we love you". I know. I know, but hear me out. I'm NOT very political, but I AM the right guy to be the adviser to President Obama on Green Jobs. Here's why. I've been a small business owner for over 25 years. I know what it's like to make payroll. I know what it's like to borrow money to invest in my company (Concrete Dream Inc.). I know what it's like to take a risk on myself and my business. I know business, BUT I also know green. I've been a green entertainer most of my life. I live in an earthbirmed energy efficient home (thermal mass concrete filled walls, on demand "gas" water heater, south facing windows to capture the suns energy in the winter). My wife and I compost in a clawfoot bathtub in my rural "Frog Pond" back yard. We recycle like crazy and most important of all. I get it. I get that it takes both a healthy economy and a healthy environment to make the world work. So please take a moment to VOTE for me at www.votetrash.com. Thanks and remember. There is no red, nor blue... only green. Steve Trash - Rockin' Eco Hero :)

Run Stevie Run

2009-10-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

I'm officially running. Big green news coming on Monday Oct. 12th, 2009! Please check back.

Ernie Kovacs is my Hero

2009-08-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

I've always loved surreal humor. I loved Steve Martin's hilarious take on a oblivious rank amateur showbiz pro with his silly rabbit ears and arrow through his head. I loved Steven Wrights' slow delivery and wildly cosmically accurate comedy observations, but my favorite has always been ERNIE KOVACS. Whenever I'm writing comedy... I try to channel Ernie. I love that guy. Sharp and hilarious. Steve Trash :)

What is Green?

2009-06-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

Lets face it. These days, everyone seems to be trying to go green. From Mega Big Corporate boardrooms to Planet Green Network bedrooms everyone seems to be talking about “going green”. Green choices are everywhere. We’ve got green this, green that… green green green green green.

But what does all this “green stuff” actually mean? Glad you asked!

Here’s a basic law of nature. Everything in nature is connected. Consequently economics (what people choose to drive, wear, eat, work at, play at, or entertain themselves at) has an effect on the environment. Economics and ecology can’t be separated.

But, the people of our dear planet only recently got the memo about this whole “economics/ecology thing”, so lately we’ve been trying to whip ourselves back into shape. The idea of trying to re-align the economic things we do with the ecological world, is what we call “being green”.

So what exactly does “being green” mean for us exactly?

At first glance, being green seems very complicated, confusing and frustrating. The questions become endless. Must I drive a wimpy little electric car instead of my sexy SUV? Should I feel guilty if my printer paper isn’t bleach free, or should I go completely paper free? And if it’s so free why is it so darned expensive?

At its core, being green is simple. It boils down to this question. Are we working WITH or AGAINST Mother Nature? Of course, Mother Nature is simply an anthropomorphication (and I’m not sure that’s even a real word) of all the principles of nature that govern the biological world. Here are two ways Mother Nature works.

1. Everything in nature is BALANCED. Oxygen that allows animals (including us people types) to breath is generated by plants. They, in turn, absorb the Carbon Dioxide we exhale… so nothing gets out of balance.

2. There is NO WASTE in nature. Zip. Zero. Nada. All water on the planet is reused in a very sexy, elegant and closed system. The same water that was used in Julius Caesars day… is the same water that’s being used today. It’s constantly being recycled by Mother Nature.

So you may be saying… hey Steve thanks for the fifth grade science lesson, but how does this help me get green?

Because Mother Nature creates no waste and everything remains in balance… it’s the perfect template for us to design our economies and our personal actions around.

So our best test for “is it green” is to ask ourselves are we WITH or AGAINST Mother Nature.

Simple huh?

Compostable Chip Bags

2009-04-24T09:07:00.000-07:00

I just learned that FritoLay Company is going to start manufacturing a completely compostable chip bag - made from plant-based renewable materials - for it's line of healthy SUN CHIPS. Who says we're not making progress? Way to go Sun Chips! Go to www.greeneffect.com for more info. The promo is called "Disappear"... think they need a green magician?

Gettin Country Wid It

2009-03-02T05:30:00.000-08:00

Back in the '90's commercial music was trying lots of things. Hip hop and country and pop and rock were all trying new things and doing what the industry calls crossing over. Once while I was daydreaming about this, it occurred to me that it might be hilarious if musician Will Smith and country singer George Jones were to merge into one person. That album cover might have looked something like this. Image created by the Art Goddess - Dianne. Steve :)

Show Biz is Dangerous!

2009-03-02T05:16:00.000-08:00

Most of you probably think that ShowBiz is glamorous, sexy, and easy... but please understand... it's also EXTREMELY dangerous. Notice in this photo that Sandi and Susan are being required to wear "hardhats" and "eye protection". Now that's showbiz baby! Steve :)

Vh1 Top 20 Video Countdown

2009-02-25T04:58:00.000-08:00

Sometimes life just works out great. I was recently in NYC to promote my Green Magic Set. Which by the way will be out in a few months. I partnered with the Toy Company - Imagiplay - to bring it to market. While in New York, I got lucky and VH1 decided to use me for a "bumper" segment on VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown. It was a short segment... but I had long enough to crack the host Jim Shearer up - on camera. I like it. I love making people laugh. The best part of all... my nephews Asa and Eli... happened to be watching Sunday morning TV and started yelling and screaming at the TV... because Uncle Steve was on it. A terrific surprise. This made me really happy. Sometimes life just works out great.

Toy Fair 2009 - WooHoo!

2009-02-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

Wow. Toy Fair in New York City was just fantastic! I met a bunch of cool people, saw a bunch of cool toys, and the feedback on the worlds first GREEN MAGIC SET was just terrific. Imagiplay's booth was colorful and fun and the Imagiplay team and I had an awesome time. Barbera Aimes - the owner of Imagiplay - even got good at performing the POLLUTION PADDLE trick. Good magic takes practice. And she practices a lot! The best news. VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown taped a segment with me. I was able to perform the Eco Wands trick from our magic set. The show is slated to air this week... so check your local listings. Even more good news. Amazon.com is going to carry the entire line of Imagiplay products - which includes the official STEVE TRASH GREEN MAGIC SET. Wow is that great or what? All the work to get the tricks themed and figured out and up to snuff has been worth it. The sets should be available in a couple of months. I'll keep you posted. Steve :)

Butman

2009-01-11T05:42:00.000-08:00

Language is nuanced. Language is subtle. Sometimes it downright impossible to understand... especially if you're from a different culture. Here's an example. Batman is popular all over the world... so people everywhere want to have a part of his likeness... his coolness... his mojo...his...name. I took this hilarious photo on a subway train in Tokyo many years ago. This guy thinks his shirt reads, "Batman"... it actually reads, "BUTMAN". It's printed over and over and over on his shirt. "Ta Dah... here I am Butman to save the day!" Butman vs Batman. This may explain why I'm having sooooo much trouble getting the quality issues worked out with the manufacturer of my green magic set... which has now - by the way - had it's release date moved back several months because of quality control issues. They can't seem to understand the small changes needed that will make the difference between a great trick and a lousy trick. The difference between Butman and Batman. Small... but it makes all the difference in the world. Stay tuned kids... we'll see if Butman or Batman actually win this one. Steve :)

Worlds Strongest Redneck

2009-01-10T05:32:00.000-08:00

I live in Frog Pond Alabama... and have shared many a happy conversation with folks that you might call... uh rednecks. I've spent... much time on a tractor... driving a truck with waaay too many dogs in the back...and yelling inappropriate stuff in public. So I was really pleased the meet the very friendly and funny WORLDS STRONGEST REDNECK Steve McGranahan recently. He and his lovely wife were super nice and he posed for this picture with me. Please notice my muscles are MUCH smaller but my scowl is MUCH more ferocious. Steve :)

Recycling Containers that WORK!

2008-12-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

My friend Nancy Morrison - who's been the recycling guru for Pierce County Solid Waste in Washington State for years and years - shared some info with me recently. She said, "you've got to check out the CLEARCYCLE recycling containers. They really work at fairs and festivals and other events because the bags are clear and the tops have holes in the shape of the recyclable item." I did. And it's amazing. When people at - what's called - "away from home events" see the clear bag and the OBVIOUS holes for recycling... they DO IT. They recycle. That's what we want. There are huge advantages to the clear bag. People realize that ONLY recyclables go into that container, because they can see inside. These containers work even BETTER if you put the CycleMax Recycling Container NEXT TO a trash container. I loved this collection system so much... I purchased a set of the CycleMax containers myself. They're going to travel with my theater show... everywhere I go. By the way... I don't get any money for endorsing this system. I just really really like it and think it can make our public events must more sustainable and make recycling easier.

It's OFFICIAL...Steve Trash Green Magic Set release in February 2009

2008-12-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

Well it's official. The first GREEN MAGIC SET... EVER...officially created, designed, and babied into existence by ME and my wife Dianne... will be released by the green toy company IMAGIPLAY in February 2009. I'll get to be in the booth at Toy Fair performing tricks from the magic set for Toy Buyers and the media. Each magic trick included in the set - there are three - has a green theme and is manufactured in a green fashion. The box is a solid wood and all the tricks are made from sustainably harvested wood with water based non-VOC paints. It's been a huge amount of work to get it done, but I'm excited. Sometime in late February... you'll be able to buy them online. Each OFFICIAL STEVE TRASH GREEN MAGIC SET is 29.95. We're hoping to get them placed in places like Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Whole Foods Markets, and more... we'll see. If your favorite local green store carries stuff for kids please have them contact www.imagiplay.com to get their order in. Hey... if I'm in your town... I might just show up to teach kids that buy the set... the tricks. You never know.

Big Green Year!

2008-11-21T06:21:00.000-08:00

I know that the economy is in the tank and things are challenging for many people around the planet right now... but I've just returned from the RECYCLING SUMMIT in Point Clear Alabama and wow was it refreshing. It's amazing how businesses have caught on to the concept that stuff that is recycled is cheaper to manufacture and that cost savings is driving the recycling market right now. There were only a few curbside recycling programs twenty years ago... guess what? There are just under 9000 US curbside recycling programs in operation today. There is much movement on the business side of recycling these days. In the coming months... watch for the Coca-Cola Recycles campaign. They've made a committment to try and help get recycled content collected...so they can put it in their drink bottles and cans. That's pretty exciting right? I like it. When business gets on board... things really start to happen. Woohoo!

Financial Crisis Government Fundraising

2008-11-21T06:08:00.000-08:00

You know things are bad in the financial market when cities resort to renting street signs out :)

We Can Solve It

2008-11-10T07:36:00.000-08:00

We can solve it. Moving the globe towards a sustainable future has always been one of my favorite things to work on. It actually makes complete sense to me... nature has no waste... all systems are closed. Build economic systems that work with ecologic systems and you've really got something exciting to build on. I'm going to plug in another COMPACT FLEURESCENT light bulb in my office right now.

Kids First Endorsement

2008-11-06T04:39:00.000-08:00

Great News! Our video KIDS MAKING BETTER CHOICES has been officially endorsed by the national kid friendly vetting organization KIDS FIRST. We received the news yesterday. It's an honor to be endorsed by yet another national organization... particularly a kid oriented one. We hope endorsement will get the word out to more kids that making good eating and exercise choices can be fun and magical. Much more information to come.

Iffy Mart

2008-10-22T05:47:00.000-07:00

For years I have shot pictures of funny stuff I've seen on the road as I travel. There's never been any particular reason to capture the images...just that they make me laugh or smile. I was recently doing a show for the kids at Madison Cross Roads and saw this gas station/quick stop type store. I screeched on the brakes and flipped my big, huge, white, van around in the parking lot to take a picture of the IFFY MART. Maybe they'll have the beverages and cigarettes you want... maybe they won't. It's kinda iffy. Hope it makes you smile.

Life as a Journeyman Entertainer

2008-09-15T08:42:00.001-07:00

Most people believe that showbiz and entertainment are about the stars and buzzworthy people they see on Showbiz Tonight or Entertainment Tonight or the cover of People Magazine... but the truth is... MOST professional entertainers go through their lives making a good living and never being recognized by the "star maker/star breaker machine". I call these folks Journeymen. I'm one of them. We all make good livings. Live comfortably. We have cars... a mortgage... families...like a lot of other people... but our job involves entertaining people and making them forget their troubles for a little while. Over the years, I've been fortunate enough to share a dressing room with some special journeymen and journeywomen... and the Big Star World will probably never know about any of us. We do our thing and hope we left our mark and a couple of happy smiles on peoples faces when we're done. Besides... we all wear underwear when we get out of our limos. :) Peace.

Kids Making Better Choices Release Date Set

2008-08-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

After completing or KIDS MAKING BETTER CHOICES video back in April... we finally have a release date. The 30 minute video - which teaches better eating and exercise choices for kids using magic tricks and slapstick comedy - is scheduled to mail to Alabama Primary Schools on Thursday August 21, 2008. There are cross correlated study guides and downloadable pdfs on my web site...www.stevetrash.com.

Steve Trash Eco-Magic Tricks

2008-08-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Some exciting news appears to be on the horizon for Concrete Dream Inc. - the official name of my entertainment company. I recently had an excellent conversation with the president of a really cool toy company. They manufacture fun toys for kids in a sustainable manner. In effect, they use sustainably harvested wood, water based paints, and all their manufacturing practices are designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the process of actually making the toys. If all goes well we'll begin licensing some Steve Trash Eco-Magic Tricks soon and have a couple to offer by Toy Fair in NY in February. Keep your fingers crossed I've never found a company before that I believed would truly walk the talk, but I think these folks are the real deal. Steve :)

Garbage Art

2008-07-09T12:07:00.001-07:00

For years now I've been fascinated by... garbage. You know the stuff people throw away. No really, ever since I was a kid I'd travel around my neighborhood and look through stuff other people had thrown away. I would always find something wonderful. Sometimes it would be a cool steamer trunk or a velvet Elvis painting or a broken secret decoder ring. I never knew what would turn up. This fascination with other peoples trash lead me to the development of the worlds only eco-magic show done almost completely with found objects. Not only did I create magic tricks, but sometimes... I'd build garbage sculpture/garbage art with the stuff I'd found. Recently there was a festival in my home town - to honor Sam Philips the founder of Sun Records. Sam recorded many many famous singers - Carl Perkins and Elvis to name a few. A friend asked me to create a guitar art piece for the celebration. I used many many bottle caps, a piece of cool rusty tin from a barn and an enourmous amount polyurethane that had turned brown with age. I like the way it came out. What do you think? Peace & Recyclage S.T. :)

Frog Pond Style

2008-07-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

I live in Frog Pond, Alabama. It's in the northwestern part of the state - Franklin County to be exact. It's smack dab in the middle of...well nothing. I'm surrounded by hills and trees and more trees and more hills. I have not always lived here. In fact, I have lived and traveled all over the world. I've lived in New York City, Los Angeles, California, and even spent a few crazy months living in Miami. I've worked all over the world too - Japan, Canada, Australia, Greenland... all sorts of cool places... but I love Frog Pond. I have room to stretch out and think. My stuff is there. I get to hang out with my dogs and family. Life is good in Frog Pond. I hope you have your own Frog Pond... a place you can go to find peace and harmony and help you make great choices with your life. Even if this harmonious place is only in your mind... it's good to have it. Peace & Recyclage - S.T.

Working for a living

2008-06-25T05:01:00.000-07:00

Let me say right off the bat that I've done many many jobs in my lifetime. Some of them stunk and some of them were okay. I've delivered drugs...for a pharmacy. I've delivered auto parts. I've washed dishes in a southern style home cooking restaurant. I've swept the floor in a factory. I've even been a temporary secretary at 55 Water Street in the famous financial district of NYC. Even with all that uninspiring career experience, there are days that I start to look only at the downside of my life as a touring entertainer. Each day - especially when you're on tour by yourself - can be a real personal challenge. In most cases I'm in a town that I've never been in. I'm in a venue that I've never played in. There is no one in that town that knows me. They don't care if I'm sick. They don't care if I locked my keys in the van. They don't care if someone just sideswiped my van. They don't care if I haven't had one day off in over 27 days. They don't care if I have another 476 miles to drive and I'm already really really tired. They don't care about anything having to do with me. There is a real sense of isolation that can set in when you travel alone. The worst part is... it feels like there is no one else in the world looking out for you. This type of thinking can be very mentally very taxing and it will get to you over time. But these feelings can be emeliarated when I actually get to do what I came there for. The show! It's why I love show business. I love to make people happy. I love to hear kids cheering. I love to hear Moms and Dads laughing out loud at something I said. Their happiness... makes me happy. I guess it's why I put up with the other part. The good part is way better than the bad part. Hope your life is like that too.

Photo of no unauthorized Photography Sign

2008-05-01T04:03:00.000-07:00

I often wonder how much of what we become - in life - is in our own personal biological chemistry - ie our DNA - and how much we actually choose for ourselves. My grandfather was a ad man, professional photographer, poet, and gun collector. He lived in Dallas, Texas almost his whole life. I'm sure that his life has had a real effect on mine... although we spent very very little time together. Now it's totally amazing to me, but I seem to be constitutionally incapable of NOT WORKING on something creative and artistic. It seems to be the thing that I chase the most... maybe I chase fame and fortune more, but I don't think so. The passion that gets me up in the morning is to tell a new story or to device something that will make people laugh, or to create something that has never existed before, or to express something that is hidden from the world and can only be revealed through my vision and expression. I suppose everyone feels this way. I don't know. I haven't met everyone yet. So here's my contribution for today... a photo of a sign dictating that no photos be taken! Cheers. :)

Kids Making Better Choices on YOUTUBE

2008-04-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

My company CONCRETE DREAM INC. recently received a grant to conceive, write, produce, and edit a video that might help kids make better eating and exercise choices. Kids today face many very serious health issues, and they need good quality information presented in an inspiring and fun way. This is exactly what I tried to do with KIDS MAKING BETTER CHOICES. I wrote the script with as many slapstick jokes and magic tricks as I could weave through it. I also wanted Mom's and Dad's to be able to share the video freely. KIDS MAKING BETTER CHOICES was created under a CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE which allows people to copy and share the entire video legally - as long as the sharer gives credit to the copyright holders, does not change the content, and shares, but doesn't sell the content.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. The video was created and produced through a grant from the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, Inc. and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. To make it easier for people to see and share... we've uploaded it in tiny little bite sized pieces to YOUTUBE. You might want to check them out. It's our sincere desire that kids everywhere live happy and healthy lives. Maybe this video will help them a little.

2007 Outstanding RC&D Project Award Winner

2008-04-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

Any career is going to have ups and downs. Last week was a real up for me. I was awarded the 2007 OUTSTANDING RC&D PROJECT AWARD by The Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, Inc. In 2007 the Northwest Alabama RC&D Council sent me to selected Alabama schools with my TRASH & RECYCLE SCHOOL SHOW to share magic and ideas about Reducing Reusing and Recycling. The kids were great and I hope we made a difference in the way they see their relationship to the natural world around them.

Media Riot & Jakprints

2008-04-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready to print some Steve Trash stickers with my NEW printer Jakprints. I met them at SXSW in Austin, TX. I wanted something really cool and new, but just couldn't seem to get the design right. Dianne - my wife - tried to update an old logo for me, but it just wasn't working. So I e-mailed some more cool folks I met at the SXSW festival - Media Riot. After two or three pretty good attempts... they came through with a GREAT sticker design - based on a pretty recent studio photo of me taken by Patrick Hood. I really really love it. I hope we can get Jakprints - a green printer - to print them really soon. In fact I may even go for some T-shirts too. I wonder if I met any t-shirt people at SXSW?

Cartoon Steve Trash

2008-04-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

Last year I finally incorporated my business. It's now called Concrete Dream Inc. I think it's a good name. It sounds both solid and ethereal all at the same time. It's kind of yen and yang. Kind of Salt and Pepper. Kind of sweet and sour. I like it. The most hilarious part is that once the name Concrete Dream Inc was listed, I started getting mail for "all my concrete/construction firm needs". I can get you a REAL bargain on mortar mix and gravel... anytime you need it just have your people call my people. Anyway, thinking of myself as a corporation has actually helped me a lot. It allows me to look at creative projects in a different way. I can step out of myself a little better. It's been really good. In fact, it's been great. Over the next few months we're going to be developing and pitching many Steve Trash - Rockin' Eco Hero concepts & projects. In fact, we've worked up a cartoon version of Steve Trash... it's currently called Steve Trek. Pretty cool huh? Basically an animated Steve Trash travels around in a magic trash can. The rest is a secret... you'll have to wait and see if the show gets picked up. Stay tuned. In the meantime... how thick do you want this slurry... it's drying fast.

Ernie Kovacs

2008-04-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

Back in the mid 1980's... technically... last century... I moved to NYC to become a famous entertainer. Well actually I moved there because that's where my girlfriend Pam wanted to move, but that's a totally different story. Anyway, we lived in Greenwich Village/The Village in Manhattan on Spring Street. It was quite an experience to drive all the way to New York City jammed packed into a tiny Ford Escort with everything we owned - including cats - from the mean streets of Florence, Alabama only to arrive at our 5 story walk up apartment... get out of the car and there's a guy standing there peeing on the sidewalk. Hey cool... Welcome to New York... make a note... it's okay to pee on the sidewalk. Actually it's NOT okay to pee on the sidewalk, but that also is a different story. Anyway... I had a few bucks in my pocket when I arrived and spent the first few months in my new home walking around the streets of New York. I would just wander around and see what I could see. One day, I stumbled on to the Museum of Broadcasting. It was magic. I went inside and there was an exhibit about a guy named Ernie Kovacs. I'd never heard of him. Apparently, he was a tv guy in the 50's... so I sat down and watched reels of his stuff. I was blown away. I kept looking around at the other people in the museum trying to see if they thought he was as hilarious as I did. He was so silly and funny and at the same time what he was doing contained some real substance and art. That day I became an instant Ernie Kovacs fan. I have in some ways, tried to be as much like him professionally as I can be... mostly because... my life feels sometimes like his tv show KOVACSLAND - scattered, silly, funny, but mostly never makes any sense. I wish I'd gotten to meet him. God Bless You Ernie Kovacs.

Why I Recycle

2008-03-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Recycling is messy. Recycling is not very convenient. Recycling takes more time than just throwing that yucky old garbage out in the dumpster.

That’s all true. But here’s why I recycle anyway.

1. Recycling reduces wasted landfill space. The landfill is the place where ALL your garbage goes when the garbage truck picks it up and it leaves your house. It’s a place where the co-mingled waste of the planet’s people just sits around taking up space. No one can build a house on that land. No one can put a farm there. No one can turn it into a wildlife preserve. No one can open a Krispy Kreme donut shop there. And that’s silly, because land is valuable and filling land with trash... wastes that excellent space. Why waste valuable land? Recycling reduces wasted space.

2. Recycling saves energy. It takes so much more energy to make a new aluminum can than it does to take the recycled materials of an old can and transform them into a new can. In fact, producing an aluminum can from recycled materials saves 95% of the energy that would have been used to produce a can from virgin/raw materials . Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep your TV running for a whole three hours. Recycling a glass container? Same thing... recycling one glass container saves enough energy to light a 100 watt light bulb for 4 hours. Cool huh? Recycling saves energy.

3. Recycling reduces pollution.
Making stuff creates pollution. We’ve got to make and use stuff. And and I’m really okay with that. So the smart thing to do is choose a way to create stuff while making less pollution. Recycling does this really well. Paper made from recycled paper makes 95% less air pollution. And glass that is made of recycled materials creates 50% less water pollution. That sounds like the way to go to me.

4. Recycling conserves natural resources. A resource is anything that can be used. The earth is round. That means you can start at one side and as long as you “keep moving in a straight line, you’ll get back to the same place you started. The earth is not infinite. It doesn’t keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny. Neither do our natural resources. We have plenty of natural resources on this planet, but ONLY if we use them wisely. Using something only once is very NOT wise. In fact it’s a really poor use of natural resources. Using a resource over and over and over is the best use. That’s exactly what recycling works. It’s using a resource over and over again. Besides, nature is already recycling our air. Nature is already recycling our water. Nature is already recycling all organic stuff like; plants, trees, animals, humans. It’s all turned back into earth that other living things use for food. Recycling is simply people doing what nature is already doing. Did you know the we use over 65 BILLION aluminum soda cans every year? And every one of them could be recycled. There is no limit to the number of times an aluminum can can be melted down and used over again. Did you know that, every year enough paper is thrown away (not recycled) to build a wall from New York City to Los Angeles, California? Or did you know that, one ton of recycled steel (the kind of container your dog’s food comes in) saves 2,500 pounds of the raw ore, 1000 pounds of coal, and 40 pounds of limestone? Recycling sounds like a great way to conserve resources to me.

Recycling IS messy. Recycling IS NOT very convenient. Recycling DOES take more time than just pitching the yucky old garbage out. But, it reduces wasted landfill space. It saves energy. It reduces pollution. And it conserves natural resources.

So that’s why I recycle. I hope you will too.

Free Green Magic Book

2008-03-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

I self published a book of 22 magic tricks that illustrate ecological principles over 10 years ago. We were offered a deal with a national kid book publisher, but the terms of the agreement were not very good... so we just did it ourselves. My wife Dianne created the drawings... magic books MUST have good drawings or it's too difficult to understand what you're supposed to be doing. The book is called THE MAGIC OF ECOLOGY. It's a really good resource for primary school teachers trying to share eco-principles with their students - grades 1-5 - in fun ways. It's free in pdf form and can be down loaded here. Steve Trash Resources It's being shared under a Creative Commons license - which allows copying, sharing, duplicating, yelling at, dancing around, calling unflattering names, but NO selling. Please pass the word. I'd love for kids everywhere to get just a little bit greener and to be a little more magical.

Michael Eisner & Steve Trash entertainment impresarios

2008-03-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

So I decided to go to a party that the creators of THE ALL FOR NOTS - a webisode docu/comedy about a touring indie rock/pop band invited me to. I'm still in Austin at the SXSW festival and figured... hey they're nice folks, I should go... so I went. I was standing around at the party and there in the corner was a very tall guy - I'd say at least 6.3 or 6.4 - that looked exactly like Michael Eisner the founder of VUGURU - a new media entertainment firm and the Ex-boss at Disney. I'm a fan of his business book WORK IN PROGRESS. In fact, most of the magic tricks I've learned over the years and most of the business concepts I've learned, most of the green/environmental concepts I've grown to embrace and share with the world, have all come from books. I'm a book worm. I read really really slowly, because I'm dyslexic... so I guess I'm a slow worm... but that's another story. So I walk over to this guy and sure enough. It was Michael Eisner and he is producing THE ALL FOR NOTS and was super nice and let me have my picture made with him. Pretty cool huh? The rest of the party was really fun. I hope THE ALL FOR NOTS is a huge success, because it will pave the way for other digital media success stories. Maybe Steve Trash will be one of them.

Sandra Bullock in DFW & a book

2008-03-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Well... I haven't even gotten to SXSW Film Festival yet, and I've had my first really cool film related experience. I had a layover in Dallas at DFW... on my way to Austin. The plane was delayed so I pulled out Blake Snyders' screenwriting technique book SAVE THE CAT. As I'm reading page 93 - which features the film MISS CONGENIALITY starring Sandra Bullock - as a great example of a high concept/logline. It also features a picture of her in the book to illustrate the point clearly- I look up from her picture. I actually see her. There's Sandra Bullock sitting across from me in the terminal at the airport! My head made that weird wobbly noggin shaking noise that you see on cartoons... because I am staring at a star... who is also the picture I'm staring at in a book. It was too weird... so at the risk of making a scene... I very very quietly wandered over and asked her to sign her picture in the book. She did and she was very nice about it. In a way my head is still making that wabby noggin noise... come to think of it... that may be normal for my head.

George Lindsey Film Festival featured Billy Bob

2008-03-08T12:04:00.000-08:00

The Shoals Alabama - my home community - played host to the incredibly talented TRIPLE THREAT OF ENTERTAINMENT - actor, writer, director - Billy Bob Thornton this past weekend at the UNA/George Lindsey Film Festival. Billy Bob, Lucas Black, and Natalie Canerday shared stories about the making of the now classic movie - Sling Blade. The movie was written, directed, and it starred Billy Bob Thornton. The event at the Shoals Theater included clips from the film and then the cast shared stories about the making of the movie and its subsequent effect on their careers. It was a really enjoyable evening hearing the stories and seeing that Billy Bob seems to be a regular guy and he's also really funny! No green content to the evening, but a great evening anyway.

I'm headed to Austin, Texas tomorrow for the SXSW film festival. I had so much fun last year that it actually turned out to be the highlight of my year. I'm told there will be a very large green component to SXSW this year. They're very serious about integrating sustainability into the SXSW events and screenings. Should be fun to see what they do.

Generation Green

2008-03-06T08:47:00.000-08:00

Recently an article ran on the AP wire GENERATION GREEN - KIDS ENLIST HELP OF PARENTS TO SAVE THE PLANET - written by Leanne Italie. Green Generation is a cool new moniker for kids that are passionate about all things green... ie recycling, carbon footprint reduction, bio-degradable materials, etc., but from my perspective it's a hollow moniker if green kids only focus on the outside environment. Don't get me wrong. I live in an earthbirmed house. I recycle passionately. I compost. I use an on-demand gas water heater in my home. For crying out loud - I created an entire magic show with trash!

But your body is also an environment... as is the local community you live in. Treating your body with respect is being green. Treating your neighbors with respect is being green. We can't separate our bodies from our communities or from the global world around us. So three cheers for Generation Green... just don't forget to eat your spinach. S. T.

Honda goes for Zero Landfill in Alabama

2008-02-06T06:34:00.000-08:00

My home is in Alabama. I live in beautiful downtown Frog Pond, Alabama - population 76 when I'm not home - and recently I saw an ad for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama that touted it's Zero Landfill initiative. If I understand this correctly, Honda Manufacturing in Alabama will build close to 300,000 cars and no waste will go to the landfill. I assume most of the waste is recycled and what's left over is converted to non-polluting energy. If this is really true, I'm really impressed. Not only does Honda build great cars, but they're doing it in a smart green way right here in Alabama. Way to go Honda! I'm filled with a great deal of hope for the green-ness of our future. When big companies truly understand that we must create an economy that works WITH the natural world and not AGAINST it. We will all win. Woohoo!

KIDS MAKING BETTER CHOICES video

2008-01-29T06:59:00.000-08:00

Part of my mission as Steve Trash is to empower kids to be the best they can be. I'm really really happy to announce that the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils - that's Resource Conservation & Development - will underwrite the cost of a 30 minute video for kids ages 6-12 years old called KIDS MAKING BETTER CHOICES. In this video we'll teach kids better exercise and eating choices they can make to live healthier and happier lives. We can't all go out and be great if we aren't healthy... this video aims to help kids make better choices...so a big hurrah for the Alabama RC&D's. Way to go. We'll be shooting the fun, funny, and magical video over the course of the next month or so. Stay tuned. It will be made available to ALL Alabama primary schools. Woohoo!

Steve Trash finally arrives in blogosphere

2008-01-28T06:21:00.000-08:00

Well it's about time, but I've finally decided to add a BLOG to my www.stevetrash.com web site. 2008 looks like it's going to be a fabulously green and magical year. I have a real interest in both of these... so I'm going to put my two cents in.
Steve :)