Two different gentlemen present to us extraordinary gifts of garden delights.

Bitter Lawn Gnome has a show-stopping Peony, and a dark, magical Tulipa Black Parrot.

Lord Whimsy has a bold, white, nameless flower that commands attention, and there's an exquisite Voodoo Lily, a Venus Flytrap and more visceral treats.

Just lovely, guys. I'm green with envy.

Chasing Utopia, Family Imagines No Possessions or, Voluntary Simplicity

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.

[Read More »] | Blog

Radical Simplicity:
Small Footprints on a Finite Earth
by Jim Merkel

Imagine that you are first in line at a potluck supper. The spread includes not just food and water, but all the materials needed for shelter, clothing, healthcare, and education. How do you know how much to take? How much must you leave for your neighbors behind you - not just the 6 billion human beings, but our fellow creatures and the yet-to-be-born?



Some believe that recycling and use of energy efficient appliances is sustainable living. In Radical Simplicity, Jim Merkel argues that to live in a sustainable manner requires a complete rethinking of our way of life. If the world's total bioproductive area is divided by the world's population, each of us gets a 4.7-acre share. Right now Canadians use up on average 22 acres of natural resources a year. To close this gap truly requires radical solutions.

Another thing I heard him say once was to think in terms of NEED and WANT when you're met with a consumer issue.

"Do I NEED this item, or do I simply WANT this item? Try to stick with just what you NEED."

This book came out about 5 years ago, but it's been crossing my path recently and followed me here to Easy Bake Coven.

Buy Book | Order Film | Global Living Project

What does Al know that we don't? by Steven Weber

Why, given the opportunity that's been presented to him on a silver Prius, is this man not going to run for (and win) the presidency of the United States? If ever there was a clarion call to be answered it is this one: heed the will of the majority of the people, take back the yoke Bush and his cracked team of highjackers have used to steer the country into the ground and pull the ship skyward again.

Why, after his self-imposed banishment to the wilderness (suburbia), where he along with every other sentient being has observed the feckless evil of the current executive tenant and his Neo-posse, does he demur? Could he know that any run at the office would surely turn out to be a hollow chrysalis which, after gestation, would not incubate a butterfly but more likely belch forth a wingless, blind slug; that an educated, experienced, wise adult can lead more effectively and make more of a difference by being an activist/celebrity and riding a wave of pop-culture popularity, rather than relying upon the rusted and jury-rigged contraption quaintly referred to as the electoral process?

Maybe Al knows that America (to paraphrase Paddy Chayefsky) is a dying giant, that perhaps she is dead already. And the "business of government" is merely the scramble of organisms over the carcass's wan, flaking skin; any rumbles from within aren't the sounds of legislators engaged in constructive debate but the gasses issuing from the anuses of the bacteria digesting the sad corpse's putrefying innards. Are we destined to have the presidency so finally and utterly mediocritized that it no longer holds any attraction for the most qualified person in recent memory who would imbue it with the honor and prestige it -- and we -- deserve?

Well then, that's what Al must know. Because only that kind of realization would prevent him from participating. He says that politics no longer holds any allure for him. And really, why should it? He won an Oscar, for chrissakes. He's raised awareness of a real issue that actually effects us all in a way that makes him truly a uniter -- not a divider. He is the world's activist uncle. George Bush standing in front of his American Enterprise Institute portable backdrop can barely scrape up a strangulated hosanna from his meticulously vetted and dwindling audiences.

Having only once appropriated the toxic phrase "cut and run" to describe the result of catching my fishnet stockings on a partially extruded staple embedded in the side of a bed post (A long, dull story. Forget I mentioned it.) I am forced to resurrect it once again. It's an extremely ugly phrase, wielded by extremely ugly people but I will use it as that mediocre apparatchik/harridan Jean Schmidt never intended: to provoke the discouraged conscience of the marginalized true-patriot who would ably restore what has been so ignobly destroyed. On second thought, it's so shallow and inflammatory that I can't stand to apply it even in a good cause. There has to be some other way to convince this man of his worth. May be we need to convince him of our worth?

Because this country, for all its gaudy fascinations, for all its daily desperation to fend off reality by consuming goods from China as though they were oxygen atoms is also a country of souls betrayed by their loyalty to the idea of America the beautiful, the judicious and the brave. And it is not the loyalty itself that is at issue but those whom we have entrusted with it. A presidential election is not a parlor game, though it may resemble one far too closely. It is as close to being a sacred exercise as this secular republic asks of its congregants. We require a real leader now, one with a true understanding of the importance of why this country must function correctly and efficiently. We and the world depend on it. So here's your hat. And there's the ring. America needs you need to lead us now more than ever.

That's what we know that Al doesn't.

A wee bit pretentious, but effective.

link

Anti-Oil Antics

Outside of the New York International Automobile Show at New York City’s Javits Center, as the smell of burnt pretzels wafts through the air, a group of 10 people form a line. Standing shoulder to shoulder in black t-shirts that read "OEA," they put their hands over their hearts as they take an oath to reduce oil use in America.

The people in line are members of the Oil Enforcement Agency (OEA), and the oath is a skit—one of many stunts the group has pulled at auto shows and car dealerships across the country. The group is the comedic arm of the Free From Oil Campaign, which was created by the non-profit Rainforest Action Network to "end America’s oil dependence, reduce oil related conflicts, and stop global climate change by convincing the entire auto industry to dramatically improve fuel efficiency and eliminate vehicle greenhouse gas emissions," according to the OEA’s website.

Once inside the auto show, a small OEA task force huddles together as Jodie VanHorn, the team leader, gives instructions. They’re going to "impound" (which in OEA speak means put caution tape around) the Toyota Tundra, whose measly mileage (14 miles per gallon in the city and 18 on the highway), makes it one of the most polluting of vehicles on the road today. "We step up in the absence of better leadership," says VanHorn. Then she gives the order: "Agents, it’s time to impound the Tundra."

via | Watch Video | Oil Enforcement Agency

You may have read about some of these items before and I feel they're important enough to be dusted off and hauled out again. See what you can do as a consumer to help our planet and global family.

Buy Blue has responsible consumerism and invites you to vote with your wallet. Lists political contributions and ratings. Toyota, Home Depot, Campbell's Soup -- where do they stand?

Free Cycle is where you give things away you no longer need for free. Many countries are involved now. Take a look. You'll probably find your town listed.

Responsible Shopper supports global research & action to stop corporate abuse. The parent site, Co-op America has many more ideas for a just planet.

Bloggers For Darfur
A Global Online Community Calling for Action to Stop the Genocide in Darfur - Created by Marilyn and Jill.
link

RE-BLOGGING

The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's an international grassroots movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Since I first posted about it, many other communities have opened up their own Freecycle groups. Put in your zipcode and check it out.. Best thing I've freecycled or bartered lately? The car I'm driving was bartered for my husband building someone a deck.

Locally, Hendersonville and Ashevilleboth have busy groups.

* Bandnews.org - Live from the Web | Search & Read official Music News - Band Directory - Archive. "Bandnews.org is a search engine keeping track of what is going on in the band scene. A bot collects the news from official band websites and magazines so you can read them on one page." [via: DJ Martian]

Professors publish case study of successful nutritional treatment for cancer. Link [via: Rutabaga Stew]

November 15, 1969. 250,000 War Protesters Stage a Peaceful March and Rally in Heart of Washington. - Link [via: One Thousand Reasons]

AOL has a new stand alone browser. They took some ideas from Firefox, like tabbed browsing, and there's some nice, new features of their own. Check it out @ AOL Explorer. For Windows, Mac, and Linux. 10 minutes download for modems; 1 minute for DSL, Cable.

Now Playing - Incredible String Band - The Sun In Pale Silence

Don't miss the Mowendi Art Gallery. Nice clean graphics with fun back.

Entheogenesisis 2: From Darkness Back To Light is a conference scheduled for May 21-23, 2005, in Vancouver, BC. Great roster and excellent topics. Appropriate venue. Featuring 3 days of lectures & slide presentations, Psychedelic art on display, and one evening gathering with Guest DJ’s, a live acid jazz band, a chill room with special film screenings, treats, prizes & more.

The Goddess Ungirdled: Encounters with the Sacred Feminine
--by Lisa Sarasohn (cross posted to Every Woman Is A Goddess; From Susun Weed's April eZine - [Link])

{Local}
Asheville Freecycle group on Yahoo! that's very busy. We discussed Freecycle here last year. Check a search engine to see if your area has one that you can use.

Today's Quote
As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of being.
- Carl Jung

np: Jefferson Airplane - Wooden Ships

The worldwide Freecycle Network is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns.

Speeding up Firefox the right way. Link His info is more suited to all connections and computer speed. (via: del.icio.us)