why drinking bottled water is just not smart
imagine that your cell phone could use either the rechargeable battery that is inside of it right now, or AAA batteries that you purchase from the store. you’re a busy professional with lots of things to do. your cell phone runs out of battery. do you plug it into the charger you have connected to an outlet in your bedroom? or do you leave your house, walk or drive to the store and pick up a 20-pack of batteries for your phone on a sunday? now imagine that those batteries weigh about as much as a bag of rice and are just as annoying to carry. oh, i forgot to mention that the store-bought batteries cost about 4000 times as much as the electricity to simply charge your phone at home. one more thing - the batteries are really bad for our earth. would you still do it?
if you consider yourself a smart and savvy individual, you probably wouldn’t, and yet so many americans do something very similar in their homes. for some reason, we’ve been taught that tap water is bad and we should go out of our way to go to the store and pay a 4000x markup for bottles of water that either are tap water, filtered tap water or either about as good or worse than tap water. why? many of my friends majored in finance and pride themselves on being informed consumers, but they still lug home bottles of water from the store. it’s like something out of a twilight zone episode. what’s even weirder is that at restaurants, most of us choose tap over sparkling because we know that we have to pay extra for sparkling. if we are smart about it when we go out to eat, why do we all of a sudden lose that insight when we return to our own homes?
now, some of the smartest people in the world drink bottled water (i glimpsed some super intelligent scientists drinking it the other night at a panel discussion on clean energy!) so don’t feel too bad. sometimes we just don’t want to be rude by refusing it, or we’re outside of our homes, thirsty, and there is nothing else to drink. but next time you’re at the store, why not do your back, your wallet and the earth a favor and skip the bottled water. all three will thank you.
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congratz lori!
lori from brooklyn is the proud new owner of this lovely abercrombie and fitch sweater.
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she got it for free here by offering to make treats for her co-workers and pledging to be nicer to people and animals in general.
thanks lori!
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never buy another envelope again
staples sells the most common size of envelopes, #10, by boxes of 500. yes, the envelopes are made of recycled paper, but what about the energy and gas it takes to assemble those envelopes and then deliver the heavy boxes to the store?
with the exception of those of us that own our own businesses, or just really like to send letters all the time, most of us will buy a box of 100 or 500 envelopes for $10-$30 because we need 1 envelope, use the 1 envelope, and leave the remaining 499 envelopes in a drawer in our desk until we need another envelope…someday.
if you’d prefer not to go through all that trouble, there’s an easier way. just make your own envelopes! here’s how:
take an envelope that you like (it can be one that you received in the mail so you don’t have to buy one), and after taking note of where the envelope is folded and glued, deconstruct it. then lay it on top of a piece of paper or magazine page that you want to recycle.
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trace the outline of the envelope onto the paper
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cut along the line you traced and fold the piece of paper in the same way that the original envelope was folded. then glue where the original envelope was glued. you can decorate the envelope any way you like.
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voila! free and you won’t have that box of envelopes wasting any of your space. plus it looks pretty neat.
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your chance to speak out for green jobs
wecansolveit.org makes it really easy to write a letter to the daily news, the times, the post, the wall street journal, the tribune, and other major players in your area asking for green jobs.
not enough people know how vital it is for us to transition to 100% clean energy. this transition that will not only create millions of new jobs for families across the country but will also enhance national security and reduce global warming pollution.
write yours here: speak out for green jobs
my letter:
Dear members of the media and goverment,
As you know, we have two major problems on our hands: 1. hundreds of thousands of Americans are in need of jobs right now and 2. our dependence on oil is threatening the very earth that we live on and our status as the most innovative country in the world. Why then, are we sleeping on the opportunity to solve both problems with one solution?
In the 50s and 60s, the race to reach the moon was the test of human ingenuity and we proved that we were up to the challenge, surpassing all other nations and cementing our right to say “We were the first.” So why now are we faltering in a race that is the modern-day equivalent to the moon-race? Are we that has-been athlete that peaked years ago and now lives in his dreamworld, surrounded by trophies of the past and convinced that he is still number one?
What about Rocky? What about Blue from Old School? People around the globe love American movies because they show our willingness to get up off our keesters, accept what is wrong with us and fix it. We will never throw in the towel! Let’s return to the forefront of technology. Let’s never be dependent on other countries for our energy needs again. Let’s never again have to fight wars to secure our sources of energy.
The earlier we start creating and training people for jobs in clean energy, the more of a head start we get and the more expertise we build. Though the situation surrounding our financial sector and the resulting loss of jobs are extremely unfortunate, these conditions create the perfect opportunity to harvest the best and brightest consultants, operations managers, bankers, private equity and other finance professionals who may have lost their jobs for cheaper and more selectively than we could have ever done before.
We are ready and waiting.
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super simple somen
we are officially recessed. and i don’t mean in a good way like when class is over. although that’s a pretty clever play on words when you consider that many of us are going to have to give up many of the finer things in life and rough it for a bit. don’t fret - somen is an elegant white noodle similar to angel hair that’ll help you maintain your class through these hard times. plus it’s cheap. don’t you just love that?
super simple somen recipe:
for noodles:
3 bundles of somen (for 2 people)
for mentsuyu dipping sauce:
1 tsp hon dashi granules (this is what the package looks like)
1 tbsp hot water
3/4 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
soy sauce to taste (about 1 1/2 tbsp)
- bring a medium sized pot of water to a boil.
- add the noodles and cook according to the instructions on the packet. if the instructions are in japanese, just cook the noodles for 2-3 minutes or until tender.
- drain the somen in a colander and (unlike for italian pasta) run cold water over the somen, rubbing and washing it gingerly.
- for the mentsuyu, dissolve the hon dashi granules and sugar using the hot water in a small bowl. then, mix in the soy sauce and warm water.
- serve the noodles in ice water with the mentsuyu in small bowls on the side, or for a fancier presentation, place the noodles in wine goblets with any leftovers you might have in your fridge (spinach, cooked carrots, and scrambled eggs are good choices) and pour the mentsuyu over the noodles.
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seafood selector
first eggs were good for you, then they had too much cholesterol, then they were incredible and edible, after that they were a great source of protein.
now we’re in the same boat (haha, reaching, i know) about fish. which tuna is kosher to eat and how much? is it all a conspiracy to keep fish down as some japanese fish advocates suggest? who knows, but to be on the safe side, especially if you are an expectant mommy, the environmental defense fund created this easy, cut and fold pocket guide that you can fish out (okay, i’m stopping after that one) of your bag or wallet at the market or in a restaurant and consult when you’re unsure about which type of seafood to pick.
great way to impress a date too.
get it here: pdf version
you can get it sent to your mobile too: mobile version
many thanks to naomi moriyama for showing us this nifty guide. She is the author of “Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat: Secrets of My Mother’s Tokyo Kitchen,” and i had the honor of meeting last night at japan-c. more on this later…
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can nyc live up to al gore’s challenge?
this summer, al gore challenged america to commit to producing 100% of our energy from renewable, clean, and carbon-free sources in 10 years. can we do it?
be part of the discussion tonight (sorry for the short notice!)
Thursday, October 09 2008 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
The New York Academy of Sciences 7 World Trade Center 250 Greenwich St, 40th FL New York, NY 10007
Sponsoring Organization: New York Academy of Sciences
reception to follow
thanks for the info www.greenhomenyc.org
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illy push button house at the new york food & wine fest
it’s finally here! like something out of a futurama episode, the illy push button house morphs with the push of a button from a standard industrial shipping container into a five-room home, complete with a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, living room and library. you can also sample complimentary coffee and sweet treats, prepare the perfect espresso using illy’s innovative new iperEspresso system, view dance and performance art or take a stand on the illy speakerbox.
illy has really been pushing the envelope with its eco-friendly mission and sustainability awareness projects. i will definitly think about that next time i shop for coffee because i don’t want to simply buy products, i want to buy a little bit of future.
NEW YORK CITY MEATPACKING DISTRICT
LITTLE WEST 12 AND 9TH AVENUE
October 10, 10AM – 11PM
October 11, 10AM – 11PM
October 12, 10AM – 7PM
thanks for the pics, www.mocoloco.com!
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free books!
after seeing the ad many times in the daily paper, and debating whether or not it was some kind of scam, i finally signed up for the metro life panel.
it turned out to be fast, easy and free. i also joined the metro fall book club, and, as promised, got my free book to review!
sign up here: metro life panel
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poster boy
“war is the new black”
at least that’s what poster boy, the new york city subway’s uncalled for resident artist, entitles this piece:
you may have seen his other work too:
ha ha. this guy is great.
my favorite:
although not much is known about poster boy, we know that he’s been compared to ron english and is currently a buschwick resident.
props, poster boy, props. and if you’re reading this, can you do a piece on your take on consumerism and american greed on the 7 or l lines for us? we’d be ever so obliged.
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speaking of bras… triumph’s my chopsticks bra
lingerie maker triumph international japan has really outdone themselves this time. their “my chopsticks” bra features cups that resemble a bowl of rice and a bowl of miso soup. the environmentally friendly part is that there are collapsible chopsticks that you can tuck into the bra and bust out (c’mon, that deserves a chuckle) when it is time to eat. that way, you have no need for disposable utensils!
okay, i admit that this may be taking the concept a bit too literally, but the message is great. it is so easy to use your own pair of utensils, if you just put a little bit of effort into it. it is estimated that japan goes through 25 billion disposable chopsticks in just one year. that is 90,000 tons of waste!
chopsticks bra in action
triumph lingerie model yuko ishida carries around a pair of her own chopsticks regularly and added that “the chopsticks on the sides help add a little extra volume to your bust.”
saving the earth is so sexy!
source: www.pinktentacle.com
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untabooising re-gifting
have you ever received a really nice (and possibly also expensive) present that you just wouldn’t be caught dead wearing? what if someone gives you a stunning tiffany choker, but you’re self-conscious about your short neck and don’t like to draw attention to it? we all have our likes and dislikes. i sometimes find myself in the position where someone gives me a gift and i know someone else who would absolutley love it - but it would be wrong to re-gift it to her, right?
wrong!
in the olden days, people would always show their affection for their loved ones by giving things they already had. it must’ve been the same people who invented valentine’s day and mother’s day that also made us think that a gift is not a proper gift unless it was purchased at a store specifically for the person you’re giving it to. that’s because they want you to keep buying things, even if you don’t need to!
this holiday season (which is going to be a bleak one given how our economy is doing), let’s try to change the way we think about re-gifting. if you have a friend who you know would love the 5-piece bath and body works set that someone gave you, give it to her, unashamed and beaming with pride
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breakthrough backless bra
okay, we all know that swyyne is supposed to help us cut back on our wasteful spending, but sometimes a product is so necessary that we can make an exception. the important thing to remember is to buy things that we will actually use instead of creating more junk.
thank you to amy of queens who wanted to share such a necessary product with us!
amy: this is the answer for big busted women… haha i’ve often had the problem of backless shirts and not being able to wear them because i MUST wear a bra… maidenform has answered my prayers
and at $25, it’s worth it!
pick yours up here.
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j. crew argyle cardigan size xs
it is like new and so soft. it’s just one of those sweaters that i feel does not match any of my pants!
blackish navy, orange and white with a little bit of yellow accent.
free! here’s how: http://www.swyyne.com/pigstyles-free-stuff/
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does this city make me look fat?
as an urban piggy, it’s nice to see that our city (nyc) is so serious about helping us cut back on our calories. not only is the city’s dept. of mental health and hygiene requiring chain restaurants and fast food spots to prominently display calorie counts on those beckoning, backlit menuboards, they’ve gone a step further and have now launched a three-month subway ad campaign designed to remind us to moderate our intake. the ads, which feature calorie counts for favorites like huge apple bran muffins and chicken burritos, are in about 20% of city subway cars.
but wait, is it me, or is our city the least in need of such measures? overall, i think we’re a pretty skinny bunch, no?
apparently, we’re not even on the cnnmoney.com’s top 25 skinniest places to live list! the winner of that race is marin county, ca. i also clicked on most singles to no avail, although a shoutout to hoboken, nj is in order, youngest which we’re not on either, but congratulations for nabbing 25th place manhattan, ks, and hottest (don’t be fooled).
i’m just afraid that the ads will make me crave a burrito rather than worry about how many calories it is. anyone want to bet whether or not burrito and apple bran muffin sales go up this month?
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why is this a site?
swyyne has always been an experiment for me. with all of the other super eco sites out there, i've been feeling like i want to contribute something just a bit different. so for now, here are my random musings.
look for stuff
feed yourself