Freedom through conservation
Human life is messy, and human beings even more so. Working out our "stuff" together is no easy feat. And it's made no easier by the flood of all kinds of information into our minds, too much of which pollutes our internal lives rather than edifying our personal existence. The powerful tsunami of junk info we face daily comes in the forms of advertisements, which are pervasive, continual, and … [Read more...]
For a couple of years now we've been hearing about social enterprises, social capital and social networking. With so many of us on social websites like Facebook and Twitter, sharing things in common with old friends and new, both in-the-flesh and virtual, is now the norm. It's as everyday as e-mail. The social network While there's definitely some valid criticisms floating around out there about … [Read more...]
Recently a local monthly newspaper, Echo, ran a story about the unsafe levels of Benzene, a carcinogen, found in sealed, parked cars baking in the sunlight. According to the article (sorry, not available online), off-gassing from all the plastic and petroleum-based components in the car builds up under sunlight. The author advised that drivers and riders ventilate the car before getting in, … [Read more...]
In a world increasingly hampered by economic decline, which is itself hampered by energy decline, there are few things more patriotic than simply using less energy to do what you need and want to do. From turning off lights in daylight hours to eating more foods in their natural state to walking more and driving less, there are many fairly painless ways to use less energy and still enjoy a great … [Read more...]
However much you might want one, you don't need a bike-powered sewing machine to take care of your sewing needs. You might need one after the collapse of the industrial economy and the end to cheap fossil fuels, but let's leave that bleak scenario for another day. In the meantime, for an inspiring option watch a short video of a tender love story about a hybrid bike-sewing machine: The … [Read more...]
Americans are among the least vacationing people of the industrialized world. So when our few national holidays roll around there's a gigantic sigh of relief as we gain access to a rare day in which to purportedly either celebrate the meaning of said holiday, relax, get away, or drink ourselves into oblivion. Sometimes all of the above. ACT NOW! The other allegedly great and essentially … [Read more...]
May is National Bike Month and the blogosphere has gone wild with bike-related posts. Not only that, but since bike riding has been trending upward, due to a combination of more intentional bike-commutes, higher gas prices, and the craze to stay fit through preventative practices, we're seeing bike riding as among the totally hot things to do for all ages. I don't usually feel like I can … [Read more...]
On their album A Hard Days Night, the Beatles famously sang I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel all right I'll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel all right 'Cause I don't care too much for money, 'cause money can't buy me love And it's true. For all our hankering for a "ring" from a fella it's not the diamond we really want, it's the guy. His whole heart, … [Read more...]
Ever since I was a little girl I've loved riding a bike. That helped since my parents weren't the kind to shuttle me around. "You can walk" was the common response whenever I requested Mom's Taxi Service. In my childhood existence outside the 'burbs of Washington, DC., I could walk most places, or ride, including as far as the high school, or over to the mall. When I went away to college, in … [Read more...]
