David Byrne - Playing the Building

David Byrne has found a creative use for New York City's Battery - Maritime Building:

Playing the building is a sound installation in which the infrastructure, the physical plant of the building, is converted into a giant musical instrument. Devices are attached to the building structure — to the metal beams and pillars, the heating pipes, the water pipes — and are used to make these things produce sound. The activations are of three types: wind, vibration, striking. The devices do not produce sound themselves, but they cause the building elements to vibrate, resonate and oscillate so that the building itself becomes a very large musical instrument.

Byrne invites visitors to play this instrument, using the keyboard of an antique organ:

It might be an experience in which one begins to reexamine one's surroundings and to realize that culture—of which sound and music are parts—doesn't always have to be produced by professionals and packaged in a consumable form.

I'm not suggesting people abandon musical instruments and start playing their cars and apartments, but I do think the reign of music as a commodity made only by professionals might be winding down. The imminent demise of the large record companies as gatekeepers of the world's popular music is a good thing, for the most part.

We could use that kind of thinking in Detroit. What if our historic buildings were neither left to rot, nor torn down for parking, but were instead used to encourage creativity? What if our streets were not only filled with the dust of the past, and the traffic of the present, but also the music of the future?

Zero Waste for Zero Warming

Zero Waste for Zero Warming:

Take Action to Close the Largest Incinerator in the World!

Please take action today to support community members in the U.S. city of Detroit who are fighting to shut down their local incinerator-- the largest trash burner in the world! Please fill in your information below and click 'Send My Message'. The letter will automatically be sent to Detroit Deputy Mayor Anthony Adams and the Detroit City Council Members.

Phthalates

Cheatsheet: Phthalates

Everything you need to know about phthalates

What is it?

Phthalates are a common industrial chemical used in PVC plastics, solvents, and synthetic fragrances. They've been around since the 1930's, and now they're pretty ubiquitous; when they tested 289 people in 2000, the CDC found phthalates in all of the subjects' blood at surprisingly high levels. They're often referred to as a plasticizer, which we think sounds rather like a kind of exercise to be done on the living-room floor in front of videos hosted by Jane Fonda. But we digress.

What are the possible health effects?
Phthalates are endocrine disruptors linked to problems of the reproductive system, including decreased sperm motility and concentration in men and genital abnormalities in baby boys. (Oh, and did you know that average sperm counts have decreased significantly since the 1940's?) More recently they've also been linked to asthma and allergies.

How can I minimize my exposure?
Avoid these, and you'll also be avoiding phthalates:
1. Nail polish: Dibutyl phthalate is often used to make nail polish chip-resistant. Look for it on the ingredients list, where it may be shortened to DBP.
2. Plastics in the kitchen: Take a critical eye to your cupboards. Phthalates may be more likely to leach out of plastic when it's heated, so avoid cooking or microwaving in plastic.
3. Vinyl toys: Phthalates are what make vinyl (PVC) toys soft, so don't give them to children. Opt instead for wooden and other phthalate-free toys, especially during that age when they put everything in their mouths!
4. Paint: Paints and other hobby products may contain phthalates as solvents, so be sure to use them in a well-ventilated space.
5. Fragrance: Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is often used as part of the "fragrance" in some products. Since DEP won't be listed separately, you're better off choosing personal care products, detergents, and cleansers that don't have the word "fragrance" on the ingredients list.
6. Vinyl: Vinyl shows up in a lot of different products; lawn furniture, garden hoses, building materials, and items of clothing (like some raincoats) are often sources. Aside from carefully choosing materials when you're making purchases, there is one easy change you can make: switch to a non-vinyl shower curtain. That "new shower curtain" smell (you know the one) is a result of chemical off-gassing, and it means your shower curtain is a source of phthalates in your home.
7. Air Fresheners: Just like fragrances in personal care products, most air fresheners contain phthalates.

Where can I learn more?
1. Here's a link to Phthalates in the Chemical Index.
2. Phthalates were just one of the hormone-disrupting chemicals we found contaminating the San Francisco Bay.
3. NRDC has the low-down on phthalates in air fresheners.
4. EWG's Jane Houlihan discusses phthalates in children's personal care products.
5. Olga explains a recent study linking phthalates to asthma and allergies.

The Hidden Determinants of Good Health

The Hidden Determinants of Good Health

by Carey O'Rielly, DDS

Avoiding toxicity in any form is one of the main determinants of good health and an extension of the guiding light that is the Hippocratic Oath: First do no harm. Since October of 2002, state law requires informed consent materials at your dentist's office that describe some of the dangers of mercury. As of 2006, California and Maine are the only states to mandate this information. The most recent version of
the California fact sheet can be found at: http://www.dbc.ca.gov/pdf/dmfs2004.pdf.

Currently there is research showing that in communities with fluoridated water at 1 ppm (parts per million) for forty years or so, they found a 20-40% increase in hip fractures, 20% increase in bone cancer and a 15% increase in renal failure - which is among the top 15 causes of death in this country. The popular fluoride toothpastes you see at the store contain higher levels and are a cause of poisoning
among children, according to the Center for Disease Control, Marketing and propaganda have kept everyone in the dark, including your dentist, even though there is a poison warning on the toothpaste label.

Marketing, propaganda and the publics belief that the FDA always looks out for their interest has brought about another unexpected source of toxicity that undermines healthy living. Since 1938 when the FDA de-regulated the cosmetics industry, thousands of synthetic chemicals have been added to the full spectrum of personal care products. Items like soap, shampoo, bubble bath and baby wipes, as well as toothpaste, all contain toxic ingredients. According to a documentary made by Bill
Moyers in 2000, there is not a single child born today who is free of synthetic chemicals in their blood.

The documentary reports that more than a decade ago the cosmetics industry guaranteed the public that adequate testing would be done to insure the safety of ingredients. This assurance turned out to be a stalling tactic that has worked to our detriment. Though the doses are minute, most people use anywhere from five to ten such products daily.

Since adequate testing has not been done, the cumulative and synergistic effects of all these minute amounts of toxins has never been established.

Today limiting the damage caused by toxicity is the hidden determinant to good health. I see limiting toxicity as an even bigger problem than getting proper nutrition. Your body has the wisdom to convert whatever you feed it into nutrients it can use, but over time the response to relentless, cumulative toxicity just wears the body down. Since no one is paying attention - it's become easier to be poisoned and more and more difficult to maintain health.

Several years ago Senator Edward Kennedy introduced a bill about changing labeling laws on personal care products, but still most people are in the dark about this problem, even those who are health conscious and aware. The bottom line is that in order for the cosmetics industry to sell you a cost effective product, it must be
produced cheaply, look and smell appealing and have a shelf life. Artificial colors and scents that affect the immune system make it look good and smell good. Plastic and preservatives that are hormone disruptors enhance shelf life. Solvents keep the plastic fluid.

One of my colleagues, naturopathic physician Catherine Saltzman of Encinitas, has been testing for solvent poisoning in her practice and has found that 65% of her patients tested positive. Bill Moyers' documentary says, "We just don't know what these products are doing to us." Products full of toxins penetrate our bodies transdermally on a regular basis, eroding the skin's ability to function properly as an organ of detoxification. As a holistic dentist and health practitioner I want to go on record as saying that we do know…we know that the many toxins surrounding us are responsible for breaking down our immune systems, leading the way to chronic ill health and disease.

The following are some of the key toxins to be found in personal care and household products. Please be advised that some of the more expensive products with extensive marketing saying "pure" or "natural" still contain solvents and preservatives along with their beneficial ingredients. Most of the information on the following ingredients has been taken from the Material and Safety Data Sheets of Oxford
University, U.K.

Aluminum: On the list of likely and known carcinogens in the MSDS. A commonly found ingredient in anti-perspirants, aluminum produces this effect by blocking the pores to prevent sweating. While deodorants are useful, it is not advisable to prevent perspiration altogether since this is one of the ways the skin detoxifies.

DEA, Diethanolamine MEA Monoethanolamine TEA Triethanolamine:
According to the MSDS, a severe skin, eye and respiratory irritant, harmful if swallowed or inhaled. A facts sheet on cosmetics published by the FDA in 1999 released information on a study that showed DEA to be carcinogenic.

DMDM (Dimethylol Dimethol Hydrantoin) and Imidazolidinyl Urea: Two ingredients often used as preservatives in skin care products that break down into formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is known to be highly toxic by inhalation, ingestion and through the skin, where it is readily absorbed. It may cause genetic damage and is a known carcinogen.

Glycerine: The MSDS advises that contact be minimized with this substance, which is used as an emulsifier in food and in anti-freeze as well as in skin care products. It is known to cause dehydration at humidity below 65 per cent. It may therefore dehydrate the skin when used in lotions and be an irritant to the gums when used in products for whitening teeth.

Lye or Sodium /Potassium Hydroxide: Lye, also known as potassium or sodium hydroxide, can be purchased in the hardware store for cleaning drains. It is known to be highly caustic and can cause permanent eye damage. Bar soaps are sometimes made of lye combined with animal fats, and it is also found in toothpaste. Toothpastes that claim to get teeth whiter are sometimes using lye as a bleaching agent. No warnings
are posted on toothpaste tubes.

Methylparaben and Propylparaben: These toxic and allergenic synthetic preservatives are found in many cosmetics, including those in the health food store. Research at a university in the UK found that parabens are estrogenic, are hormone disruptors and& may interfere with fetus development.

Mineral Oil: A petroleum derivative commonly found in skin care products mineral oil, according to the MSDS, "May be harmful by inhalation, ingestion and through skin absorption." By clogging the pores mineral oil may create skin toxicity leading to acne. It is also on the list of known and suspected carcinogens.

Propylene Glycol: Classified as a hazardous substance by the United Nations, this major skin irritant is commonly found in industrial solvents along with numerous personal care products from makeup and lotions to shampoos and conditioners.

Saccharine: An ingredient sometimes found in toothpastes and mouthwashes that is a known carcinogen, according to the MSDS.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): Found in even so-called "natural" toothpaste as a detergent and surfactant, SLS can cause the gums to separate from the teeth because it denatures protein. It is found in floor cleaners, car wash soaps and used to de-grease engines. According to the American College of Toxicology, animals exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, severe skin irritation, corrosion and death. Other research indicates that SLS may be damaging to the immune system.

Talc: According to the MSDS, talc is generally considered safe, however talc with "asbestiform particles" is on the list of suspected and known carcinogens. This substance is widely used for intimate personal care of infants and common sense says that it should definitely be avoided.

Triclosan: This ingredient has gained popularity as an anti-bacterial agent in soaps and is currently being introduced into toothpastes. It is registered with the EPA as a pesticide and is similar in structure to PCB's and Agent Orange. Manufacturing may produce dioxin, a potent hormone disruptor and carcinogen. Triclosan is a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals that can kill friendly bacteria and cause skin
irritation. It is also suspected of causing cancer in humans. Scientists warn that Triclosan may be forcing the emergence of "superbugs" that it cannot kill. It's the active ingredient in the popular hand wash Softsoap.

Other additives that have raised questions are: Isopropyl Alcohols, Plastic Polymers, Coal Tar Dyes, Artificial Colors and Fragrances.

The information can seem overwhelming, but there are some simple guidelines you can follow: 1) Read your labels. Learn the main toxins to avoid. 2) Take anti-oxidants for protections 3) Have enough essential fatty acids to detoxify and 4) Eat sufficient protein to rebuild tissue.

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage | Sustainable Community Living | Intentional Community Living

Sustainable Community Living
Dancing Rabbit is an ecovillage and intentional community set amid the hills and prairies of rural northeastern Missouri. Our goal is to live ecologically sustainable and socially rewarding lives, and to share the skills and ideas behind that lifestyle.

Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage | Sustainable Community Living | Intentional Community Living

Dystopia: Fuel-Hungry Pirates Steal Used Cooking Oil to Run Their Cars

Dystopia: Fuel-Hungry Pirates Steal Used Cooking Oil to Run Their Cars: "Restaurants across the United States are reporting that thieves are stealing their used cooking oil, turning it into black-market biodiesel made in garage distilleries. In many cities where biodiesel fuel is popular, restaurants can earn up to $1.25 per gallon of the used stuff. Oil pirates, however, are rarely looking to make a buck. They are just whipping up biodiesel for their own uses, cutting out middlemen who go through a complicated certification process with the Environmental Protection Agency in order to distill the fuel from oil."

N. Texan Builds Car That Costs $7 For Every 300 Miles - Community Events News Story - KXAS | Dallas

N. Texan Builds Car That Costs $7 For Every 300 Miles - Community Events News Story - KXAS | Dallas:

"David Murray may drive the quietest car in North Texas, powered only by a small electric motor, and not creating any emissions.

'The most common question I get is, ‘Is this an electric car?’ and then they're like, 'Is it a hybrid?’ Nope, it's a real electric (car),' Murray said.

When his car is low on fuel, Murray simply plugs the power cord into the nearest outlet.

'Yeah, just plug it in here. Just a regular old extension cord,' Murray said.

The self-described computer geek from Kennedale bought the 1993 Eagle Talon from a junkyard for just $750.

'First thing I did when I got the car home was pull the engine out,' Murray said.

He then spent about $4,000 more to convert the gas-guzzler to run on electricity alone, doing all the work himself in his garage at home.

'I bought the electric motor and I was like well, I gotta figure out a way to couple it together with the original transmission,” he said.

The car can hit 55 mph, driving right past the high prices at gas stations.

'I hear people complain about them at work all the time. I just grin,' he said.

Murray spends just $7 per month on electricity to charge the batteries -- enough to go about 300 miles.

'I don't even look at the"

From Dr. Mercola:
As food shortages and hunger crises loom on the horizon, I found Pollan’s speech -- and the ideas it represents -- to be a ray of hope. There is a reason why Joel Salatin, the farmer mentioned in the video, can easily call his farm Polyface “beyond organic.”

“We are in the redemption business,” it says on the farm’s homepage. “Healing the land, healing the food, healing the economy, and healing the culture.”

What a breath of fresh air.

Contrast that to the plague of modern agriculture, whose factory farms are among the worst polluters in the United States, and it’s easy to see how the future of our land and food supply lies in people who are willing to embrace the principles of permaculture.

What is Permaculture?
The Permaculture Institute puts it quite well. They define permaculture as an “ecological design system for sustainability in all aspects of human endeavor.”

The word itself comes from “permanent agriculture” and “permanent culture,” and at its foundation is developing agricultural and other systems that are interconnected and dependent on one another. In other words, they mimic the natural ecologies found in nature. The focus is not on any one element of the system, rather the focus is on the relationships between animals, plants, insects, soil, water and habitat -- and how to use these relationships to create synergistic, self-supporting ecosystems.

“Though the problems of the world are increasingly more complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple,” said Bill Mollison, co-founder of the world-wide permaculture movement. And I couldn’t agree more.

What is Needed is a Return to Nature
Those of you who are new to the natural health scene may find it surprising that the modern food system is in danger of collapsing. The food system began its dramatic decline the second the world turned away from the farming practices of our ancestors, and began to attempt to outdo nature with technology.

Now, producing food on a massive scale at the lowest price possible has taken precedence over obeying the laws of nature. The system is pushing natural systems and organisms to their limit, forcing living creatures to function as machines.

Of course, “whatever we may gain in industrial efficiency, we sacrifice in biological resilience,” Michael Pollan pointed out in Our Decrepit Food Factories.

Soon, the animals, and consequently your food supply, become unhealthy. The honeybees begin to get sick and die off. The bacteria prove that they can outwit man-made antibiotics, and create super-versions of themselves.

And as nature has shown us many times before, when you take away one part of this integrated, living system, things begin to crumble.

You may be wondering what you can do about all of this. Well, short of starting your own sustainable farm (which you can do on a small-scale in your own backyard), you can steer clear of foods that come from factory farms, and instead support sustainable agriculture movements in your area.

You can also stay informed and help to spread the word about the problems with the modern food system. Michael Pollan, for those of you who don’t know, is a New York Times author who has written extensively on this topic. He wrote the brilliant article about the perils of factory-farmed beef back in 2002, and he also published the book Omnivore's Dilemma in 2006, which is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in the future of food.

NY Times - Chasing Utopia, Family Imagines No Possessions

The New York Times profiles a visionary family:

Like many other young couples, Aimee and Jeff Harris spent the first years of their marriage eagerly accumulating stuff: cars, furniture, clothes, appliances and, after a son and a daughter came along, toys, toys, toys.

Now they are trying to get rid of it all, down to their fancy wedding bands. Chasing a utopian vision of a self-sustaining life on the land as partisans of a movement some call voluntary simplicity, they are donating virtually all their possessions to charity and hitting the road at the end of May.

My family has no plans to travel this far down the path of simplicity, but we are working to rid our home of excess clutter. When we need inspiration, we'll turn to the Harris blog:

Why are we doing this?

Because we have a dream. A dream of a better life and a better world. A dream of a reality where people get what they need... where all people have a right and the ability! to live within their natural state: Health, Freedom and Joy! A world where we truly use our minds and our bodies to their fullest intended abilities and really, truly, enrich our souls!

Earth Policy Institute

"The purpose of the Earth Policy Institute is to provide a vision of what a sustainable economy will look like and a plan for how to get from here to there."

As a librarian, I'm excited to see that their methods include the distribution of free information. For instance, they've made books such as Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization by Lester Brown available for download. I haven't had a chance to dig too deeply into the book, but I can already see that it's going to be an interesting and relevant read:

In agriculture we often look at how climate affects the food supply but not at how what we eat affects climate. While we understand rather well the link between climate change and the fuel efficiency of the cars we buy, we do not have a comparable understanding of the climate effect of various dietary options. Gidon Eshel and Pamela A. Martin of the University of Chicago have addressed this issue. They begin by noting that the energy used in the food economy to provide the typical American diet and that used for personal transportation are roughly the same. In fact, the range between the more and less carbon-intensive transportation options and dietary options is each about 4 to 1. With cars, the Toyota Prius, a gas-electric hybrid, uses scarcely one fourth as much fuel as a Chevrolet Suburban SUV. Similarly with diets, a plant-based diet requires roughly one fourth as much energy as a diet rich in red meat. Shifting from a diet rich in red meat to a plant-based diet cuts greenhouse gas emissions as much as shifting from a Suburban SUV to a Prius.

Of course, this kind of thinking makes the Motor City uncomfortable. (In Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth, Brown defines "the manufacture of internal combustion engines" as a "sunset industry.") But it's the kind of thinking Detroit will need in order to move forward into a sustainable future.

One World Everybody Eats

One World Everybody Eats

This is another restaurant that is doing more of a community project rather than a restaurant ... actually they are set up now as a non-profit (they started for profit) and call themselves a "community kitchen". I really like that term. They even have a guide to starting your own community kitchen which doesn't talk about legalities specifically, but does give some good information about how they organize the daily operations.

Path to Freedom

Path to Freedom

I haven't been able to search through the website in depth yet but I think we could gain some info.

Rob Brezsny's Free Will Astrology

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Week beginning May 15
Copyright 2008 by Rob Brezsny
http://FreeWillAstrology.com
Grammar key: Asterisks equal *italics*

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The daytime TV soap opera *The Young and the Restless* has been the most highly-rated show in its time slot for more than a thousand consecutive weeks. First appearing in 1973, the show ascended to the top slot in 1988 and has never slipped since. I'm happy to announce that in 2008 you have the potential to begin a comparable run of success, Taurus. Whether you're able to cash in on that potential may depend on the preparations you make in the coming weeks.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): "Pain is weakness leaving the body," says fitness trainer Mark Duval. If that's true, you have gotten a lot stronger in recent weeks. By my astrological reckoning, you've shed a few months' worth of emotional distress, you've purged a few years' worth of frustration, and you've exorcised a couple of lifetimes' worth of confused dreams. Congratulations on all the new vitality you've earned through your constructive losses.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): As part of the arrangement your soul entered into before you were born, you were given the mission to accomplish five specific miracles. Three of these you have not yet even guessed the nature of. Why? For one thing, none of your elders or teachers ever named them for you while you were growing up. Secondly, you have been overly timid about imagining what you're capable of. That's the bad news, Cancerian. The good news is that you're very close to the mystery spot where one of those undiscovered dreams has been moldering.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): "The maxim for any love affair," wrote Charles Williams, "is 'Play and pray, but do not pray when you are playing and do not play when you are praying.' We cannot yet manage such simultaneities." But I strongly disagree with Williams, especially in regards to your destiny in the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you can and should play while you pray, and pray while you play. In fact, I recommend that you blend reverence and irreverence in every way you can imagine. Explore the revolutionary concept of sacred fun.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Seems you're pushing to learn all you can from places and ideas you barely even know existed a few months ago. Your experiments continue to provide such valuable lessons that you'd rather not wrap them up yet. That's fine. No rush. Take your time. We here at the Grind will welcome you back anytime you're ready. We completely understand if you want to stay out there on a limb until you're absolutely sure that the butterfly won't have any reason to try changing back into a caterpillar.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): "Dear Rob: I've been a Libra all my life, and I'm always puzzled by those who say that Librans have trouble making decisions. My experience of the Libra approach to life is that we are connoisseurs of completeness. We work hard to be considerate of other people's viewpoints. We strive to include all the applicable information in our deliberations, even if it's at odds with our personal perspective. Now it's true that urgency and speed are the cultural norms. 'If it can't happen immediately, I'm not interested in it' is an approach that has infected the majority. In that light, Librans may seem wishy-washy and hesitant. But in fact, we're actually thoughtful and judicious. Please help correct the bad stereotype about us. - Discerning Libra." Dear Discerning: You make excellent points. I will pass them on to my Libra readers because it's crucial that in the days ahead they avoid being misinterpreted in the way you described.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A journalist visiting the home of Nobel Prize- winning physicist Niels Bohr was surprised to see a horseshoe nailed to the wall. "Can it be that you, of all people, believe a horseshoe will bring you good luck?" he asked. "Of course not," Bohr replied, "but I understand it brings you luck whether you believe it or not." I suggest you adopt the physicist's mindset in the coming week, Scorpio. Without dumbing down your powers of logic, be open to the possibility that you will benefit from forces that are beyond your imagining or unaccounted for by your belief system. [Source: *Living Biographies of Great Scientists,* by Henry & Dana Lee Thomas.]

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In his folk song "Farewell to the Gold," Nic Jones tells the story of a failed gold prospector. After two years of finding no more than a few flecks of the precious metal, the unlucky man is giving up his search. "Farewell to the gold / that never I found," he sings. "Goodbye to the nuggets / that somewhere abound. / For it's only when dreaming / that I see them gleaming / down in the dark deep underground." If I'm reading the omens correctly, Sagittarius, it's time for you, too, to say goodbye to a quest that hasn't panned out. Yes, it'll be sad. But here's the happy ending: Within a month of the time you surrender, you'll be led to a better quest with more chance of success.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): During your entire life, you have maybe never been as free as you are now from the need to be rescued by some savior. You don't need anyone to rescue you from your own dark fantasies because, at least for the moment, your bright fantasies have rendered them obsolete. You don't need anyone to liberate you from oppression or enslavement, because you are fully empowered to do the job yourself. You don't even need anyone to deliver you from evil, since your recent hard work has made evil allergic to you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The complexity of your current astrological aspects almost overwhelmed me. I couldn't see how to compose a meaningful oracle in the face of such rich and confounding prospects. I was stumped. Then, as my deadline approached, the unthinkable happened: I decided to goof off. Fleeing my office, I wandered down to the beach, where I strolled aimlessly and emptied my mind. At one point I spied a fortune cookie perched absurdly on top of a fence post. The moment I broke it open and read the fortune inside, I knew I'd found the perfect message for you. It said, "If you have a difficult task, give it to a lazy man. He will find an easier way to do it."

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In their lust to prove there's no God, atheists often invoke the existence of suffering. "What kind of deity," one asked me, "allows a child in Darfur to starve to death after seeing soldiers kill his mommy?" While I don't claim to have the authoritative answer to that accusation, I think it's worthwhile to consider the possibility that suffering is a gift God gives us in order to prod our evolution. On a personal level, your longing to escape your suffering is a primal force in making you smarter. On a collective level, nothing refines and ennobles us more than our passion to keep others from suffering. For every dead child in Darfur, 100 people in other places on the planet have responded with a radical commitment to create a world in which future Darfurs won't happen. These are worthy ideas for you to meditate on in the coming weeks. You will have a tremendous capacity to convert your old wounds, as well as the old wounds of others, into brilliant opportunities.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I hope you've been trying to bolster your stick-to-it-iveness, Aries. I trust you've been pumping up your follow- through and supercharging your determination. If you haven't been attending to this unglamorous yet heroic work, play catch-up. Your final exam will be administered no later than May 24. Here's a sneak preview of some of the material you'll be tested on. If a teammate drops the ball, do you: a. quit the game; b. throw the ball in your teammate's face; c. pick up the ball and start running in the direction your teammate was
supposed to?

300 arrested in Iowa immigration raid at largest U.S. kosher meat plant - On Deadline - USATODAY.com

300 arrested in Iowa immigration raid at largest U.S. kosher meat plant - On Deadline - USATODAY.com

I caught this explosive paragraph neatly tucked in the middle of the article, very easy to just breeze by it ...

"The source also reported that some employees were running a methamphetamine lab in the plant and were bringing weapons into the plant, which employs about 1,000. He said he was fired after he told his superiors."

Wow. A meth lab inside the meatpacking plant ... the superiors obviously knew, the source was fired when he brought it to their attention. I mean, I had heard before that these workers have serious drug problems due to the stress of the work ... but bringing it inside the plant and having it backed by the company to keep their workers so doped up so they will keep operating like machines is beyond my comprehension.

This is a "kosher" company.

Couple to grow vegan lifestyle opportunities

Business project will include a restaurant, yoga studio and living space in Eastern Market. DETROIT -- A change in focus will hopefully evolve business for Detroit Evolution Laboratory as owners Gregg Newsom and Angela Kasmala in April stopped offering one of their most popular services -- vegan and raw food dishes -- so they can focus on managing growth and expanding the company.

read more | digg story

GLREA RENEWABLE ENERGY INTRODUCTORY SEMINARS

We're pleased to announce that Gregg will be attending these seminars on the 17th!

GLREA RENEWABLE ENERGY INTRODUCTORY SEMINARS

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope all those mothers out there have a wonderful, restful day. The pot in this picture is my Mother's Day gift from my 2-year old, Ramona. She planted the seeds herself (with some help from her teachers), and decorated it with some lovely crayon art. I'm so excited to start getting these kind of homemade presents now!

Have a fabulous day, everyone!

-Amy

Rushkoff - Riding Out the Credit Crisis

Douglas Rushkoff provides a remarkably lucid diagnosis of our nation’s current economic ills. And he concludes his essay by prescribing a great course of treatment:

Think small. Buy local. Make friends. Print money. Grow food. Teach children. Learn nutrition. And if you do have money to invest, put it into whatever lets you and your friends do those things.

Biodegradable (and recycled) seed pots!

A great way to start seedlings is to plant the seeds in halves of used eggshells (for those of you who eat eggs...).

I soaked the seeds in tepid water for a day before planting, to help them get a good start.

When ready to put into the ground, just crack up the shell a little, and plant the whole thing. The shells will give the new seedlings nutrients while they grow.

Spring is in the swamp!

My daughter and I stopped for a quick adventure in Hines Park today. I'd seen a nest in some bushes, and had hoped to spy a mama bird in action. The nest was abandoned. But the swamp was full of tadpoles. Brings back memories of frogging in a country ditch with my cousins. Coming back with big filthy smiles, and jars of tadpoles to watch grow. We did have to promises Grandma we'd put them back. Here are a few links to nurture the frogger in your life.

Frog life cycle coloring page
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/amphibians/label/froglifecycle/label.shtml

How to care for tadpoles, but put them back please :)
http://www.organicdownunder.com/tadpoles.htm

Eco kids article on frogs in danger
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/frogs/intro/01_intro.cfm

Slate Magazine - Meatless Like Me

A really thoughtful dissection of what it means to be a vegetarian. One of the best lines (which sums up my opinion of other eating meat) is - "As you're enjoying that pork loin next to me, I am not silently judging you." I know it sounds amazing but that is really it - I don't judge you so please respect my decision not to eat meat.

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Evolve Detroit! May 8th, 2008

This is the Detroit Evolution Laboratory's weekly newsletter Evolve Detroit! The Lab is an Open Source Sustainability Development Project that promotes Vegan, Raw and Yogic lifestyles. This week's edition shares a great deal of gratitude, a dedication to Dr. Albert Hoffman, the yoga colum Drishti, and the Lab's yoga and vegan/raw class schedule.

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Never pay for another new water filter again! [DIY]

This article shows you how to refill your own water filter with activated carbon. It seems like a pretty simple process. I can't wait to try it out!

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McCain's "Spiritual Guide" Wants America to Destroy Islam

You may have heard of Rev. John Hagee, the McCain supporter who said God created Hurricane Katrina to punish New Orleans for its homosexual "sins." Well now meet Rev. Rod Parsley, the televangelist megachurch pastor from Ohio who hates Islam.

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