AND I managed to get most of my website back up and running yesterday so you can check it out again by clicking the portfolio link over there to your right.  

AND thanks to the lovely suggestions and my own research I finally decided on this little guy for my new digital camera: 

I got a super-great deal on Ebay and it arrived on Thursday, so portable and tiny and cute and very make able to take excellent pictures.  It's now tucked safely away in it's cute hedgehog pouch in my purse for easy inspiration pictures.  Woohoo! 

This Lifepod is one more of Kyu Che's "ecobeautinal" (eco+beautiful+functional) creations. Che is an Architect / Artist based in San Francisco where he has received international recognition for his projects, which range from high-end interiors to experimental art projects.
Kyu is an enthusiastic supporter of non profit organizations involved in art, environmental sustainability and community service.

Lifepods are designed and constructed using the most advanced 21st century automotive, aeronautic, nautical and RV technologies. Plus, Lifepods are versatile, collapsable, lightweight, and nomadic. Inspired by roaming mammals, this futuristic prefabs are designed as ‘quadrupedal fuselages’ with footings that are fully adaptable to their environments. All Lifepods fit into 40 ft containers so they can be shipped anywhere around the world. Woohoo!

To see more of Kyu Che and his Symbionic Design Studio go to http://www.kyuche.com/

Problem #2: Good vegetable stock is hard to find.  The different brands in the store have either a high sodium content or a low taste content.  When I make homemade, I use perfectly good vegetables in the stock, and then I toss them and feel wasteful.

Are you seeing a correlation here?

I've decided to start a Stock Veggies bag in the freezer.  Whenever I peel a carrot or chop an onion, I put the ends and the skins in the Stock Veggies bag.  Celery, garlic, broccoli and mushroom ends go in too.  And I'll probably throw in a few wrinkly and overripe tomatoes, when the time comes.  When the bag is full, I'll dump it all in a pot, add water to cover, toss in some pepper and turmeric, and let it simmer.  Ta da!  Fresh vegetable stock from scraps of veggies.

It's not the best idea for being green, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.  Even though I'll throw all the scrap veggies away after they've been made into stock, at least I'm reusing them.  I can't believe I never thought of this before.  I can save money and vegetables at the same time.

Bonus: I'm also going to start a vegetable soup freezer bag, and put leftovers from suppers in there that I won't use for stock; things like peas and corn and green beans and regular beans and other side dishes we have too little of to eat for another meal.  Then, come wintertime when the bag is full, I'll put the whole thing in the crockpot and make vegetable soup.  Eat your heart out, Campbell.

So what's causing it? Well Its Fuel prices.... And people still needing to use their vehicles, but wanting to reduce their carbon footprint somehow. Motorists converting their cars from petrol to LPG can save up to 60p per litre, LPG currently costs 51% less than petrol - and 56% less than diesel. It represents quite a turnaround for the LPG car, which spent a few morose years in the doldrums following the Government's decision to end grants under its PowerShift program.

LPG is well worth considering and you can either join the rush for the few LPG cars at auctions - or consider converting models yourself, with the help of a specialist. This generally costs £1,800, but you could try to strike a deal with a local convertor (approved, of course; be wary of non-approved conversions) as most garages will haggle to get the business.

With over 1400 LPG outlets in the UK now it's even one less excuse not to convert to LPG and don't worry the other common concern associated with this is "what if the LPG runs out?" well it will automatically change over to the petrol/diesel fuel supply. Even car leasing companies are starting to push out LPG cars directly from the manufacturer, and even Subaru seeing this is definitely the way forward and currently have a LPG forester which runs only on LPG.

Still not convinced? Well it may interest you to know that two years ago the Royal household ordered all of Her Majesty’s vehicles be converted to run on LPG in the interests of cutting the Royal fleet running costs and emissions. If the lady who owns half the country can see the financial and environmental sense, who are we to argue?

Tawlailir

Originally uploaded by rhyme fanai

eco-drive is what all about today's top concept car designer talk about. well here ... we got one!!

It's been a good week thus far, all things considered and today, I met with a nice man who works for a rather large supermarket and who has the potential to be a very nice man. Buyers aren't all bad you know and sometimes you have to trust your instincts and speak from your heart. Only time will tell if we get a listing with the company in question, however, it still feels completely liberating to come out of a meeting knowing I'd given something my honest best shot, and seen a buyer smile in the process.

Can't forecast the future too specifically; nonetheless, we remain eternal optimists and preparations are well underway for Hagar and I to travel off to the Wokingham Food & Drink Festival from tomorrow, while our wonderful friends in the ChickPea Charriot are taking their Aquapax off to visit Camp Bestival on ye magical Isle of White.

Irrespective of the weather, there’s always someone to talk to and engage with as we continue our revolutionary quest to change the bottled water market, with or without the supermarkets in support.

Besides those people we meet who have real ecological passion, there are always more than enough folk looking for freebies – some of whom delight in tasting things they already know they’re never ever going to buy. If you’re in the neighbourhood, why not come on down, as some cheesy game show host once said. We’re not too cheesy and we would relish your company.

ps. for those loyal customers who keep me smiling, I'll be doing a tasting at Fresh and Wild in Clapham on Friday, in case you can't make it along over the weekend. :-)

Laurence Jordache

Umberto Eco.    Cuando telefoneo al dentista para pedir una cita y él me dice que no tiene ya ninguna hora libre para toda la semana siguiente, yo le creo. Es un profesional serio. Pero cuando alguien me invita a un congreso, a una mesa redonda, a dirigir una obra colectiva, a escribir un ensayo, o participar en un jurado, y yo le digo que no tengo tiempo, no me cree. "Vamos profesor", dice, "una persona como usted se puede dar tiempo".

Evidentemente, nosotros los humanistas con frecuencia no somos considerados profesionales serios, somos unos gandules.

He hecho un cálculo. Invito a los colegas que desempeñan trabajos análogos a hacer también ellos la prueba y a que me digan si estoy en lo justo. En un año no bisiesto hay 8,760 horas. Ocho horas de sueño, una hora para levantarse y asearse, media hora para desnudarse y poner el agua mineral en la mesita de noche y no más de dos horas para las comidas, se nos van 4,170 horas. Dos horas para los desplazamientos por la ciudad hacen 730 horas.

Dando 3 clases semanales de 2 horas cada una y una tarde para recibir a los estudiantes, la Universidad me ocupa, durante las 20 semanas en que se condensa la enseñanza, 220 horas de labores didácticas, a las que añado 24 horas de exámenes, 12 de discusión de tesis, 78 entre reuniones y consejos varios. Considerando una media de 5 tesis anuales de 350 páginas cada una, cada página leí­da como mí­nimo 2 veces, antes y después de la revisión a una media de 3 minutos por página, llego a las 175 horas. Para los ejercicios, dado que muchos los revisan mis colaboradores, me limito a calcularles 4 por sesión de examen, 30 páginas cada una, 5 minutos por página entre lectura y discusión preliminar, y nos ponemos en las 60 horas. Sin calcular la investigación, llegamos a un total de 1,465 horas.

Dirijo una revista de semiótica, VS, que publica 3 números con un total de 300 páginas al ano. Sin calcular los manuscritos leí­dos y descartados, dedicando 10 minutos a cada página (valoración, revisión, pruebas) estamos en las 50 horas. Me ocupo de 2 colecciones relacionadas con mis intereses cientí­ficos, calculando 6 libros al año con un total de 1,800 páginas, a 10 minutos por página, son 300 horas. De mis textos traducidos, ensayos, libros, artí­culos, ponencias en congresos, considerando sólo las lenguas que puedo controlar, hago una media de 1,500 páginas anuales a 20 minutos por página (lectura, control a partir del original, discusión con el traductor, en persona, por teléfono o por carta), y sumamos otras 500 horas. Después están los escritos originales. Considerando también que no escriba un libro, entre ensayos, intervenciones en congresos, ponencias, esbozos para las clases, etcétera, se llega fácilmente a 300 páginas.

Calculemos que entre pensarlas, tomar notas, pasarlas a máquina, corregir, produzca como mí­nimo una página por hora, y suman 300 horas. "La rustina di Minerva", siendo optimista, entre encontrar el argumento, tomar notas, consultar algún libro, escribirla, reducirla al formato necesario, enviarla o dictarla, me lleva 3 horas: multiplico por 52 semanas y me dan 156 horas (no calculo otros artí­culos excepcionales). Finalmente el correo, al que dedico, sin lograr despacharlo todo, 3 mañanas a la semana desde las 9 hasta la 1, me ocupa 624 horas.

He calculado que en 1987, aceptando solamente el 10% de las propuestas, y limitándome a reuniones estrictamente disciplinares, presentaciones de trabajos dirigidos por mí­ y por mis colaboradores, presencias imprescindibles (ceremonias académicas, reuniones convocadas por los Ministerios competentes), he totalizado 372 horas de presencia efectiva (no calculo los tiempos muertos).

Dado que muchos compromisos eran en el extranjero, he calculado 323 horas de desplazamientos. El cálculo tiene en cuenta que un viaje Milán-Roma lleva 4 horas entre taxi al aeropuerto, espera, viaje, taxi a Roma, instalación en el hotel y desplazamiento al lugar de reunión. Un viaje a Nueva York representa 12 horas.

El total que resulta es de 8,094 horas. Restadas a las 8,760 que tiene el año, da un resultado de 666 horas, esto es, una hora y 49 minutos al dí­a que he dedicado a: sexo, relación con amigos y familiares, funerales, curas médicas, shopping, deporte y espectáculo. Como se ve, no he calculado el tiempo de lectura del material impreso (libros, artí­culos, historietas). Admitiendo que lo haya hecho durante los desplazamientos, en 323 horas, a 5 minutos por página (lectura pura y simple y anotaciones), he tenido la posibilidad de leer 3,876 páginas que corresponden a sólo 12.92 libros de 300 páginas cada uno. ¿Y el tabaco? A 60 cigarrillos al dí­a, medio minuto entre coger el paquete, encender y apagar, son 182 horas. No las tengo. Tendré que dejar de fumar.

]]> http://fredgazzola.wordpress.com/?p=7 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:47:57 +0000 fredgazzola http://fredgazzola.wordpress.com/?p=7

Eu me envolvo,

tu compartilhas,

ele coopera e

nós pertencemos!

Patricia Otero*

A cada ano, as questões socioambientais vêm se tornando prioridade nos municípios brasileiros. No entanto, é preciso um esforço diário por parte de todos os cidadãos para reverter o cenário de degradação ambiental, escassez dos recursos naturais e injustiça social que herdamos e vivenciamos hoje.

A crise socioambiental é ampla e nenhum governo sozinho pode dar conta de tantas ações necessárias. O governo municipal, os vereadores, as empresas e a sociedade civil organizada (ONGs e associações) devem se reconhecer como parte de um mesmo ELO, para que juntos possamos formular e implantar políticas públicas, projetos e ações em prol da sociedade e do meio ambiente.

Nosso município ocupa uma área de cerca de 650 Km², situada entre a zona serrana e o planalto ocidental.  Na sua belíssima paisagem, predominam colinas, morros, mata atlântica, matacões, córregos e rios. Temos um potencial voltado para a natureza com áreas de lazer, parques, fazendas, chácaras e loteamentos que reafirmam Itu como uma Estância Turística. O principal eixo de articulação desta paisagem são a água e as matas que restaram ao longo de um processo socioambiental histórico de ocupação.

Temos também as Unidades de Conservação Ambiental, como as Áreas de Preservação Ambiental: Itu – Rio Tietê; Bosque Alceu Geribello; Cidade Nova I; Represa Braiaiá; Fazenda Vassoural e também as Áreas Naturais Tombadas: Parque e Pedreira Varvito, entre outras.

Com tudo isso, temos que considerar como elemento central o patrimônio natural que nossa cidade abriga e a felicidade das pessoas que aqui vivem buscando não só o crescimento econômico, mas também o desenvolvimento local e da qualidade da vida.

Se envolver, escutar os desejos da população, compartilhar responsabilidades, somar os esforços e promover a cooperação entre projetos, ações e colegiados, desenvolvidos no município e na bacia hidrográfica Sorocaba Médio Tiete, é o caminho para a construção de uma sociedade ituana sustentável. Vamos tentar Fred?

Patricia Otero* é pedagoga especialista em meio ambiente, atua no movimento ambientalista desde 1987.

Last night, the United Nations Environmental Programee inaugurated at the National Theatre in Casco Antiguo their "For the Earth" Festival. It will last a month, with several activities within Casco Antiguo, ranging from poetry to rock concerts. Most of the activities will be held at the Anita Villalaz Theatre.

Here are some pictures of the inauguration reception. It started with a concert by Panama´s National Orquestra and ended with a cocktail at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs located at the lovely Plaza Bolivar. It is an amazing building. I was glad to see a full house last night, and familiar faces from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Juan Maté got awarded for his research in Panama, congratulations!) and other environmental NGO´s.

Tonight they´ll be inaugurating an art gallery in Las Bovedas, next to the Ministry of Culture. This gallery will host workshops about art and recycling during the festival for children. 

"28 percent of consumers now prefer a memory foam mattress* - and Ecomfort is offering this huge group their first eco-friendly option," said Jeff Scorziell, president of Ecomfort. "Hundreds of companies today are considering changes in infrastructure, manufacturing and delivery to become more "Green." But at Ecomfort we want to do more than follow a trend - we want to set the industry standard for earth-friendly memory foam products."

Ecomfort's proprietary EcoMemoryFoam conserves energy, employs patented zero emissions technology in the manufacturing and refining process, uses other sustainable resources like bamboo for product materials, and even uses pre-consumer recycled products in its base layer. Ecomfort has also reduced their mattress shipping footprint by 80 percent to save fuel with each shipment. In addition, the company's U.S.-based manufacturing facilities save large amounts of fuel compared to their competitors who ship mattresses from the Far East.

With over 20 years of experience in medical industry sleep systems, Ecomfort founder David Farley has a passion for improving the quality of people's sleep. Ecomfort utilizes the patent-pending Neutral Posture Support System, which is scientifically designed with seven support zones to relieve the stress on your back muscles. Using open cell technology, the mattress also breathes and helps you sleep cooler.

"In the past, environmentally friendly products have not always been friendly on the pocketbook, typically costing more than their counterparts," said Scorziell. "But with Ecomfort's EcoMemoryFoam, we are proving that doesn't have to be the case, since these mattresses cost less than traditional memory foam products."

Today, almost 25 percent of sleep products sold are specialty sleep products, creating a $2.6 billion market*. Almost half of those sales are memory foam products that use older, less eco-friendly processes and materials. Consumer demand for environmentally friendly products has grown rapidly in recent years, and 48% of consumers indicate they will purchase Green if given the choice**. Ecomfort is proud to offer consumers the highest quality, most comfortable, eco-friendly memory foam products on the market. Listen to a podcast to hear more about how EcoMemoryFoam is revolutionizing the memory foam industry.

About Ecomfort

Ecomfort, the mattress division of Anatomic Global, Inc., is setting an industry standard by manufacturing the EcoMemoryFoam line of comfortable plant-based memory foam mattresses, pads and pillows. Ecomfort mattresses utilize the patent-pending Neutral Posture Support System, which is scientifically designed with seven support zones to relieve stress on your back muscles. Patented zero-emissions technology is used to create the coolest-sleeping, most supportive memory foam beds available

they won't respond to emails and they won't take down my images. i'm just plain mad. but i'll get over it. i've had several kind offers of pro bono legal help offered. thank you. you know who you are.
not having to think about this and having someone else handle it allows me to get back to what i really need to be doing-making and selling my work and visiting a 4th grade classroom each week.

you know, i could just ignore the whole thing and go on dyeing and creating. but i do feel a responsibility to the greater good to do my small part to stop this sort of thing. even if it feels like i'm swimming upstream. this is just the tip of the iceburg. today i found a second similar site using my images- but they have since removed them. i'm only a small fish in a huge ocean. buyer beware.

it is hard enough to make a living this way but when people just brazenly co-op your work for their own profit it really is too much! it appears as if these ladies want to test out the viability of selling furoshiki products. So with that in mind they create a website and populate it with stolen images. mind you, they don't own the rights to these images nor do they have an inventory to support it- just the images and the grand idea of selling furoshiki. they didn't dye the silk, create, invent, design the item, or even photograph it. they simply searched the internet and flickr for images they liked and thought were creative and pretty (gee..thanks..i'm flattered) and threw them up on their site to see what stuck. then they went around the internet and posted links, wrote "articles", and sent press releases.
this is what passes for entrepreneurs these days. so much for a background in art. looks like we need to be teaching ethics instead of grantwriting in art school.
sheeeesh!

i feel better already. onward and upward! thanks for hearing me out.

(note*-to see the outcome of this situation, go here.)

Enfática melodía aderezada con fragmentos de saxo, suaves rasgares de guitarra, tímido sonar de tambores… voces afroamericanas en la sensual mezcla, los sentidos decayendo a suave ritmo, los ojos cerrándose, el cuerpo elevándose, marcando el paso con palmas y chasquidos, sólo déjate llevar…

Incógnito, viajero del sonido, rompiendo la barrera del silencio, haciendo vibrar hasta el mismo pavimento. Transitando por los graves y agudos, caminando por pentagramas con lentes obscuros, haciendo fuego con los pies. Escucha de su misma voz, los ecos del tiempo que se pierden adentro de la caja musical en la que te envuelve, minúsculos decibeles que acarician el oído.

Suave, suave jazz, experiencia auditiva… vibrando el cuerpo, marcando el paso vas con los pies, los ojos cerrados y tal vez, hasta leves movimientos de espina dorsal. Disfrútale a cuerpo completo, al fenómeno astral que es este sonido, que brotando va del aura del saxofonista, partiendo de los dedos del pianista, naciendo Incógnito… eco, eco perdido, embebiéndose con su voz el ambiente, llena de sabor lo insípido del enmudecido, seduce desmedidamente al oído, roba lo gris de la calma, y hace del alma, rítmico sonido…

2. Hold off on the heater- When the weather gets cooler, try the opposite. Use blankets and sweaters before turning on your heater. This can save on either the gas or electricity bill.

3. Go Fabric- We've purchase some inexpensive washcloths and keep them by the dining table. Instead of using paper towels, we use the washcloths. Once they're used, they get thrown in the washer.

4. Use reusable grocery tote bags- If you absolutely have to use plastic bags, make sure they get a second use. They can also be donated at some stores who accept plastic bag returns.

5. Repair broken household appliances or fixtures- Fixing a leak prevents water from getting wasted. Fixing broken appliances also means not having to buy a new one.

Here is one of the small crocheted bags Mom has created. The thread is made of shreaded nylon tights,...a few years ago she crocheted a fairly large mat and it was a fun and useful item.

I think we will try to dye one of these bags, they actually resemble more baskets,...

Tights once cut in thin threads are great to knit headbands, so eco-chic!