Re-thinking Capitalism

Photo courtesy of RollingStone.com

"You don’t have to be the best of the best. Just do what only you can do." -Jerry Garcia

I've always thought that for all it has brought us, capitalism is mainly a vehicle for greed and corruption. I'm obviously not the only person who feels this way.

Check out this article , entitled How Much Can we Give for All We Get? to put the above quote into perspective. Published by green@work magazine, the article is written by Cradle to Cradle authors, William McDonough and Michael Baungart.

I am loving the way these guys think.

Negligence Starts Tomorrow*

This book is changing the way I understand the concept of sustainability. The book's authors, William McDonough and Michael Braungart present a new paradigm for industry, challenging us to move forward with only ecologically intelligent design. They argue that natural is not always better and that synthetics, when produced and recycled correctly, will be the materials that save the earth. The ideas they share about separating "biological nutrients" from "technical nutrients" make a world of sense and challenge many of the eco products being marketed today.

The book is actually made from a recyclable plastic and though it's a bit heavy, even this lover of real things can't argue with the logic presented in its physical design.

Though the authors promote a person-made world, they use nature as the grounding inspiration for how the world should work. It's a book that poses problems, but that also offers innovative and reasonable solutions. Change in industry is never easy, but the ideas presented in Cradle to Cradle are mind expanding, for sure.


*This is my husband's favorite quote from the book. He's the one who introduced me to it - he's taking a design class and this book is the only required reading.

Squeaky Clean Fruits and Veggies

It seems like there's always a new use for vinegar. While visiting my mom, I learned a very useful one. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle and use it to clean your store bought fruits and vegetables. Vinegar kills bacteria and breaks down the waxy layer that is common on fruits like apples. Spray it on, scrub it in (if skins are tough) and rinse.

Simple, cheap and effective!

Marriage Equality - Will Phillips Keeps it Real

Have you heard about the 10 year old who respectfully refuses to recite the Pledge of Allegiance because our country does not provide "liberty and justice for all"? He's been ridiculed by fellow students but hasn't backed down on. It's nice to see a kid who's confident enough to take a controversial stance and parents who support him.

Way to go, Kiddo!

See Will's CNN interview here.

Nearness to Nature

Nearness to nature... keeps the spirit sensitive to impressions not commonly felt and in touch with the unseen powers. - Ohiyesa

Note to self: Get off the computer and get out there!

Clotheslines are Beautiful

The line drying controversy was news to me.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Visit the Project Laundry List website to learn about the movement to restore everyone's right to air their clean laundry.

Things that are Real

This is a brief list of the embrace/avoid list around here.

real ...................................................not

wood..............................................particle board

glass..................................polycarbonate

wool...........................................acrylic
multi grain...........................................wonderbread
All Things Considered.............................RushLimbaugh Show
love for country/religion despite flaws..............blind allegiance
flipping the pages of a book....................flipping the channels on tv
breast milk ..........................................formula
cloth ...................................................disposables

It's about tuning in, being aware and striving for truth and purity.

This is What Starting a Blog Feels Like

This is me four years ago.

My husband and I were visiting some of his extended family near Oslo. Our host, Tor, took us to his friend's farm to pick plums and to swim in the fjord. Not knowing what a fjord was, I brought my suit and went along. The water was deep and the "diving board" was nothing more than a steel beam that wiggled with every step.

It was scary but I knew that if I didn't jump in I'd regret it.