Hunting for the Greenest, Healthiest Water Bottle

I'm so over plastic Nalgene. It's time to look for the most rugged, greenest, and healthiest water bottle out there. That means no aluminum casing, cheap plastic tops, or carbon positive manufacturing. So far, only the Guyot Standard stainless steel bottle ($25) fits the bill. Any thoughts?

Retro Renovation

How I do enjoy a good DIY remix/revamp. Joelle from Umbu Lumiere recently picked up a curbside freebie and added her own visual twist to the chair. To keep some of the vintage intact, she kept a little bit of the original wood, repainted just the outer frame white, and even reused an old skirt for the seat. Now I kinda wish I had some reupholstering skills.

Why We Need Things

If you can reduce our human evolution to one common theme, it's our gradual increasing dependency on "things." We, the people, who will own more than 400 appliances and electronic devices in our lifetime (Massimini, 1989). As a green-ist originally from the Bay Area, I can immediately point out the problem with this type of uncontrolled proliferation.

Aside from increasing resource depletion, the main problem lies in the intentionalities of man-made objects themselves. It's the need of having to improve on an existing product, whether it be to compete with another similar object or to simply "upgrade." It's how we gauge a better life with our psychological dependence on the cozy anthropocentric illusion of having control. And finally, it's the symbolic power of objects that help define who we are.

Like how the first Indian would carve his knife until sharper than any other man's in his tribe, the item he wields is an extension of his own will - a surrogate of sorts. Today, we have kinetic objects that help define us: cars, boats, and bikes. Or, for all the intellectuals out there, the act of accumulating art - fine or digital. As illogical as it is, the desire to display one's individuality is the largest driver in technological advancement, even more so than survival or comfort.

From the memories held in books to emotions held in music blaring from a stereo; all of these are experiences designed to control the cognitive entropy within our minds, tracking our greatest memories, and attaching us to objects that would essentially be without meaning if not for the contextual human connection. Hence, the paradox of human materialism isn't due to our desire to destroy our planet, but rather our need to transform the precariousness of consciousness into solid items (Csikszentmihalyi, 1981).

While the solution to this human ecological condition is probably no simple one-sentence answer, forcibly disciplining our consciousness may be the first step to a possible cure. That means inner control of Vietnamese Buddhist monk stature. Stepping away from objectified consciousness and realizing items are merely tools in our lives, not all-defining.

Though, to be completely honest, I do kind of enjoy being a materialistic goober, don't you?

Ayaka Onoue Does Sustainability Theory

In Texas. In a bra. About how solar, wind, and battery powered mini-buses will be the future homes of every American in the near future.

The Greenest House In Davis

It's been a while since I've gone venturing off into the Davis wilderness to look for interesting tidbits to write about. Fortunately, I got a call today from my roommate begging me to come out with him to check out a hidden Davis treasure. Upon reaching our destination, I was floored by the marvel which stood before me. See pictures on my photoblog.

Stay Green, Reuse Old-Ass Laptops

If you're lucky, grab an old IBM Thinkpad. They're relatively light if you get one after 2005, especially the T42's and up. Not to hate on HP, Compaq, Sony, or Gateways, but they're pretty much worthless machines if you try to salvage them. Anyway, if you've got a Thinkpad, follow these easy steps to make it running smooth for a few more years.

1. Upgrade it to 1GB minimum.
2. Grab a Windows XP CD, fire up reformat wizard.
   
3. Delete all partitions, then install.
   
4. On another computer, load wireless drivers or wired drivers (depending on your model) on a USB drive.
5. Also load this program: ThinkVantage System Update.
6. On clean system, install internet drivers.
7. Install ThinkVantage System Update.
8. Make sure: Check the internet for latest updates is checked. Install updates.
9. Don't install any IBM applications except for Access Connections and the Battery Maximiser program. Especially avoid R&R, I hear it is useless.
10. Enjoy your new internet browser rig.

Eva Solo, It's All 'Bout The Hydroponics Dun

You know whatI'msayin? It's like not form over function, but function over form nah'mean? Yeah, forreal. Eva Solo keeps things hood. It's sustainability for life, mang, this is how we do shit in Denmark!

Shopping As A Means of Sustainability

I heard this podcast recently and I thought it brought up some very legitimate and thought-provoking points. Green consumerism is a very contradictory topic since we're breaking and creating at the same time, but if we're investing to save the environment - with solar panels, steam-cleaning washer and dryers, and better technology to curb our carbon dioxide release - is consumerism not generating long-run protection? I'm still ehhhh... about it, but take a listen to agree or disagree.