Once the public realizes how little we have left, they will start turning to those who are already in the business of alternative energies. Now is the time to start working towards a more knowledgeable public. It starts with those who break the current habits and slowly it filters through the rest until it hits in a big way and the majority of the remaining population joins in.

Alternative energies do not just involve the solar cells you buy at the hardware store or the large machines installed in new houses that allow the use of geothermal heat (or realtive lack of heat in the summer) to regulate the temperature of our houses. More and more people are doing things like going the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) route and building their own water heating units. While it is good to plan these things out, this simple method is basically using a large radiator outside that absorbs the sun's energy and flows through pipes into the house's hot water system. The only energy used from the power grid to heat the water might be that used to regulate and monitor the whole system.

Look up the term "Solar Water Heating" online.

OK, let's assume you buy some of this: a logical question for a new coder to ask is 'How do you begin to find or embrace ahppy coding mistakes when you don't even know the fundamentals (or basic craft) of programming?' I think the answer is to always try to find the time to play at whatever level you are at. This is a really important approach that teachers are sometimes lousy at implementing..."

The above section of text is from the book "Processing: Creative Coding and Computational Art" by Ira Greenberg. The sentence that really hits home is "I think the answer is to always try to find the time to play at whatever level you are at." The next sentence regarding teachers is sometimes true as well - I think it might especially be true of traditional piano teachers. I hope any piano teachers do not take offense; so let me explain.

When people begin to learn how to play piano, they are often young, at an age where we really want to play. Notice that when we describe the act of producing sound out of musical instruments we use the word "play." So what do we as youngsters (of any age) want to do with an instrument? We want to play. Yes, we have to put the work into learning how to use the instrument properly but why can we not also experiment with the instrument and learn how to play with it at whatever level we are at. I believe that this might be something that should be encouraged more among newer learners of musical instruments.

When I was young, taking piano lessons, maybe I missed out on the offer of my teacher to set up a person with whom to really play. (Come to think of it, I was probably encouraged to "play" the piano on my own, but I did not really want to play the piano at that age.) It does not have to be with somebody playing the same instrument but it might be somebody who is willing to listen and try new things. The new student should also be encouraged to keep with the playing instead of "not getting it" right away. Again, the important thing is to "play at whatever level you are at." It is also important for the student to be encouraged or at least not be discouraged by those around them, even if that instrument sounds like it could be dying. Of course, to play at something, your playmate can be the instrument itself, so do not worry if you are playing solo!

The whole point is for the student of any discipline to want to go to that lesson, to want to learn, to want to practice, to want to get better. Make it fun, play!