Merry day-after-Christmas and throughout the whole house,
the gifts we’ve received have been strewn all about. Read the rest of this entry »
Posts Tagged consumer culture
Junky Gift Syndrome (a.k.a. The Plastic Disaster)
Cruising across town on December 24, one can be treated to the sights and sounds of almost-but-not-quite-Christmas. ‘Tis the season for shimmering-glimmering red, green and gold tinsel decorations, multi-colored Read the rest of this entry »
But It's SOOOOooooooo CHEEEeeeaaaaP!
We all need a few basic necessities every so often…a loaf of bread, some 2% moo juice, a few pantry staples and since we’re at it, it’s probably high time that hole riddled socks be replaced with a crisp, day-glow-white 18-pack. We’re not Read the rest of this entry »
Waste Not, Want Not
With the self-assured, rooster-strutting confidence of Saturday Night Fever’s Tony Manero, he enters the office with ‘Here-I-am!’ bravado, somehow convincing himself day after day that the swirl of smoke, mirrors and glittery glitz Read the rest of this entry »
The Micro Toothbrush – A One-Hit Wonder With Lofty Landfill Aspirations
If hundreds upon thousands of common global citizens walking along the streets of our major cities were asked what single thing they could eliminate in their lives in order to help our planet, it’s likely that the majority of them would point their fingers at plastic – but it wasn’t always that way. The first modern day plastic made a splash on the U.S. market back in 1937 and our love affair with the inarguably convenient and positively resilient material has been fast and furious ever since. We’ve loved our Tupperware…we’ve been hopelessly devoted to the endless supply of cheap, disposable plastic goodies that we’ve guiltlessly chucked in the garbage…and when plastic bottles and bags made their debut in stores across the land, we became weak at the knees. There’s just one problem. Our googley-eyed affection was unrequited. Read the rest of this entry »
Blame It On The Babies – A Cock and Bull Story
People with strong belief systems can either be a good and truly inspiring thing…or a furrow-your-brow and clasp-the-sides-of-your-head baaaad kind of thing. While it can be easy enough to exchange simple pleasantries and common courtesies with a strongly-opinionated person, once ideas and agendas clash, things can get a little tense. Jaws clench, eyes dart around in all sorts of obviously uncomfortable directions and awkward periods of silence ensue. Without being blatantly rude and announcing to them that you’d rather endure voluntary bloodletting via 1001 hungry little leeches than suffer another minute in their company, I’ve found that the best strategy to secure Read the rest of this entry »
Ugly Fruits and Vegetables — Why We Be Hatin' On Them?
In America, we like our fruits and vegetables to be as flawless, impossibly glossy and runway-ready as the beauty pageant contestants and bobble-headed supermodels that our culture reveres. Hang out in the produce section of Read the rest of this entry »
Look Toward Mother Nature For Inspired Gift-Giving Ideas
No matter what part of the world you hail from, it’s quite common to celebrate a diverse array of traditional and slightly quirky holidays throughout the year…come on, who doesn’t like to par-tay? It gives us a perfectly good excuse to loosen up, temporarily forget life’s pressing issues and drink ourselves silly (or so I’ve been told). Back in the day, special occasions warranted bestowing our friends and loved ones with the tender gift of a sincere smile and a pat on the back, but in today’s rampant consumerist culture, offering a similar heartfelt gesture might well cause you to get popped in the eye and potentially labeled as a thoughtless cheap-o. Ch-ch-ch-changes. It’s gotten so crazy out there that we’ve become programmed to expect a gift even if the brand new holiday we’ve decided to celebrate is exclusively reserved for dreadlocked gnomes with freckles and funky David Bowie eyes. Read the rest of this entry »
Agricultural Biodiversity 