Do You Have a Will?

Intestacy: Why is it important to have a will? 

When someone dies and they have not made a will, the state declares they died in "intestacy". This means that your estate (money, property, etc.) will be distributed according to the state's laws regarding intestacy. So if you want to be the one that delegates who inherits your estate and who is in charge of your affairs after you pass instead of the state, you need to make a will. 

Wills account for more than your money however, they also dictate your wishes for the funeral, make provisions for you spouse, and allow you to appoint a guardian for your children, if you have any. 

To learn more about wills, how you create one, or when you should revise it, click here or here.

What is a living will? 

A living will is a document that that one uses to dictate what type of medical procedures that would or would not done if they were in a serious medical situation where they could not speak up for themselves, like when they are in a coma, a vegetative state, etc. Living wills do not become effective until an individual is incapacitated.

To learn more about living wills, click here.

California Will

If you've decided you want to create a will, the state of California makes it pretty easy!

Environmental Health & Bottled Water

I chose this video because water bottles have become a normal part of today's society, and I don't think we realize the entirety of the consequences of buying water bottles. I also chose this video because eliminating one's consumption of water bottles is so easy and something all of us can do right now!

I really care about our environment. Before watching this video, I thought I was being responsible in regards to bottled and canned drinks by recycling. I don't buy bottled water a lot, but I buy lots of bottled and canned soft drinks. However, I now realize that just taking my bottles and cans to the recycling center isn't enough. I need to stop buying bottled (and canned) drinks.

The video above discusses how bottled water costs 2,000 times the amount of tap water! That's insane. It goes on to state that the amount of fuel needed to produce water bottles for a year could fuel a million cars for a year. It was estimated in 2003 that at the rate of water bottles we consume and DON'T recycle in the year 2013 (THAT'S RIGHT NOW!) would be enough to create a two lane highway stretching the entire coast of California. To make matters worse, most bottled water is in reality just filtered tap water and is usually just as clean as tap water. In fact, in a study conducted by the NDRC, they found that 22% of the bottled water they tested was contaminated beyond state regulation limits.

I chose this video because water bottles have become a normal part of today's society, and I don't think we realize the entirety of the consequences of buying water bottles. I also chose this video because eliminating one's consumption of water bottles is so easy and something all of us can do right now!

So what do you do? 

• STOP buying bottled water! 

1. Drink your tap water! If you are concerned as to whether your tap water is safe to drink or not, check it here.
2. Get a reusable water bottle to bring to work, school, etc. 

• If you MUST buy bottled water (its your last and only option), RECYCLE! 

1. Its the responsible thing to do, plus you got some extra change towards gas. This website allows you to find recycling centers near you throughout all of California. 

• GET INNOVATIVE! This idea is SO COOL. Please go check it out :) 

Yes, that is a house being built out of water bottles. 

The "Seven Cancerous Sins"