by elephantjournal dotcom on Jul 31, 2009
Shoyeido natural incense: a Natural Tradition Incense is toxic when burns—unless it’s natural. Try Japanese / Boulder-based Shoyeido, in the biz since 1795. ~ review via Maron Greenleaf Shoyeido has been in incense since 1705. But they’ve only recently realized that names like “Great Origin” and “Golden Pavilion,” leave us cold. Want to make it [...]
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by elephantjournal dotcom on Jul 31, 2009
Eco-Friendly Inner Tube Messenger Bags, Totes, Book Bags, & Belts. ~ On the Road Again ~ Two years ago, Heather English walked into the basement of her Nederland, Colorado home with an old innertube. A few hours later, she walked out carrying a messenger bag. “I was a hardcore vegetarian,” Heather explains, “and wanted something [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 31, 2009
Healthy + Yummy ~review via Katiya Slivinskaya Sambazon stands for “sustainable management of the Brazilian Amazon,” and it lives up to its name, making the 60-foot-tall palm trees that produce their miracle product more valuable standing than cut down. It helps that the basis for all their stuff is dark purple berry that tastes as [...]
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by elephantjournal dotcom on Jul 31, 2009
Use the word Soaponification in a Sentence Your strawberry shampoo, likely, has about as much to do with strawberries as…Big K Diet Orange soda with oranges. Conventional soap manufacturers put a lot of crap in their products, some of which serves to get you clean. What their products leave behind, however—both on your skin and [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 31, 2009
Pangea Organics: Spring Cleaning ~ review via Lina Plioplyte My skin was rough. I was depressed. So I plopped on this clay and moss and sea kelp and peppermint organic Pangea mask, covered my face in a towel and my skin said, “Hey!” Revitalized , cleaned, wrinkles faded, life seemed shiny and new, again. The [...]
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by elephantjournal dotcom on Jul 31, 2009
Yogini’s Choice ~ review via Maron Greenleaf Every time I wear these show-offs, someone stops me: “What are they?” Earth Shoes. That’s right, the ’70s cult fave is back–with 21st century style. These are of the school of Uggs: tall, fuzzy, warm as hell. And they’re 100% vegan, made of fabulous faux-sheepskin that looks and [...]
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by elephantjournal dotcom on Jul 31, 2009
Soy…candles? Normal candles, if scented, are toxic when they burn. Get your romance on, naturally, with these here candles—so natural you could eat ‘em. (If you want to gag). Cleanliness is Glowiness. Soy. First it was edamame. Then it replaced petroleum-based inks (these very words, when they first appeared in elephant journal, were made up [...]
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by elephantjournal dotcom on Jul 31, 2009
To Netflix Or Not To Netflix. I just signed up for Netflix. Why? ‘Cause I’m too undisciplined for cable, but I like to watch the occasional movie. And my local, independent video stores charge $4/per and gives you one, or at most two nights to return before late fees kick in. Netflix is simple. $18/month [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 31, 2009
Sacred? Or Degraded? (Or both) Are Tattoos—once underground, now ubiquitous—sacredly profane or just street cred for yuppies? Tattoo on the lower back? Might as well be a bullseye. ~ Vince Vaughan, in Wedding Crashers, 2005. One thing is clear: tattoos have become fashion. Once the provenance of sailors and military vets, tattoos are now common, and [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 31, 2009
Call me biased (and I am)…but it would seem to be common sense that regular food, real food—ie food not pruned in a lab, or coated with chemicals, or doused in sewage sludge—as is so-called “conventional” food—would be cleaner, stronger, healthier. After all, take the food out of conventional food and all you’re left with [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 31, 2009
We’ve all heard about successful efforts to clean up the Hudson River, once a toxic soup unfit for human, or fishy, life. But our rivers and oceans still need some basic municipal improvements: Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, shared her viewpoint that there are solutions available—the problem is that they [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 31, 2009
I first met the good folks at The Coast a few years back, when visiting my momma in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where half of the Boulder Buddhists moved, back in 1987. My friend/mentor Jim Gimian, publisher of The Shambhala Sun magazine, introduced me to Kyle at The Coast, and we stayed in touch off and [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 30, 2009
Until we actually reviewing these products, I can’t recommend any of the below (except for number 10). I’m just going to have to list them, and let this be a resource for you eco-minded iPhoners out there. If you get or have one of the below, let us know how it works! 1. The iTube. [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 30, 2009
Apparently, you can even walk inside the big famous old metal Japanese Buddha, which is to Japan, perhaps, as the Empire State Building is to America. Love this lovely Vimeo Video by kedarvideo of Daibutsu—The Great Buddha of Kamakura: Daibutsu – The Great Buddha of Kamakura from kedarvideo on Vimeo. “I did it with my Canon XH [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 30, 2009
New York City, 1982. Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche—widely credited with pioneering the transmission of Buddhism in terms immediate and accessible to the modern West—teaches on “building enlightened society.” Finally, a few more videos of this great teacher are available on Youtube. For many more videos, go to Shambhala.org. “In an open forum, The Venerable Chögyam Trungpa [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 30, 2009
New Stupa dedicated to Chogyam Trungpa to be built at Karme Choling in Barnet, Vermont. ‘Cause one Stupa just ain’t enough. New Video. Buddhists like to take the Bodhisattva vow, which dedicates their every energy to the welfare of others. Buddhists looove to build stupas, beautiful, meaning-imbued traditional reliquaries that embody various aspects of the [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 30, 2009
Samba Yogi at the Bali Spirit Festival. This (unintentionally perhaps) video was just sent to my attention via twitter. Enjoy! Samba Yogi goes to Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Positive energy, chi, prana, and magic abound when the sacred arts of dance, yoga, chi gong, and music come together on an island known [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 30, 2009
I’m an eco boy, and have some decent style…and I live online. But I’ve never, ever shopped on etsy, though I’ve been on craigslist and ebay a thousand times. What’s wrong with me? Etsy, for the two of you who don’t know, is a big wide online world of eco, handmade, vintage gifts…it’s a wondrous [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 30, 2009
Do Your Bit. Where Mindfulness practice & Eco-Responsibility come together. Why does elephantjournal.com focus so much on “green”? Personally, I don’t give a shiite about the hype, but I do view it as right action, and a great gateway into mindfulness. ~ ed. Turn your lights out when not in use. Minimize use of AC [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 30, 2009
Like Father, like Son? Chogyam Trungpa as…Gesar Mukpo . (click here for trailer of Gesar’s new movie, Tulku) Saw this on Facebook, had to steal/share it. This LOL funny hahah picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ll let it be—and without further adieu, present you:
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 29, 2009
United We Stand. Here’s the GOP ad against Universal Healthcare coverage: A new poll on the NY Times show that the Republicans, and some Democrats, have succeeded in not only pushing back the vote on Universal Health Care coverage, but on seeding fear and doubt in our public’s minds. That’s fine. It’s good to have [...]
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by Todd Mayville on Jul 29, 2009
Dalai Lama Renaissance could be considered a study in irony. Forty men and women: scientists, artists, and philosophers, gather as “The Synthesis Group,” with the goal of holding a week long conference, then presenting their ideas for solving the world’s problems to His Holiness. Almost from the start, intellectual chaos ensues, resulting in a movie [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 29, 2009
My ex-photographer Caroline Treadway ordered a keg of Upslope Brewing, a then-brand-new microbrewery, for my New Year’s Bash (literally: broken window, broken dishes) at Hotelephant, my eco-renovated Victorian in downtown Boulder, Colorado. A few months later, a friend brought by a six-pack of Upslope. We drank it. That coulda woulda been the end of that…but [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 29, 2009
Now so famous that Lance Armstrong hunts him down, The Bike Snob blog is worth a read, ‘specially if in NYC. The Bike Snob—profiled in the New York times (though he hides his anonymous profile)—is a wonderful examples of rule-number-one of blogging, or what used to be called writing. Write what you think. Damn your audience, [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 29, 2009
Brilliant truth, er, lying in advertising. And funny. And effective—so effective the New York Times just wrote ‘em up for innovation in advertising. Of course, it helps that there’s a disclaimer clear and bold on every one of their true, false, funny and effective ads, below: {Write your lie here. I wrote mine, it’s the [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 29, 2009
The Thrilla from Wasilla This might be funny, but it’s actually important—the calling up of video clips and quotes and intelligently foiling or piercing the bullshiite therein. Best quote, that stuck with me since I first watched this: “Why do I think Palin’s concern for media accuracy is in reference to the 100,000 wardrobe story [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 29, 2009
Goodbye, Solo Cup. Hello, Solar Panels. A New Image for Fraternities? Kappa Sigma goes Solar, rescues helpless puppy: an Only in Boulder moment? FRAT HOUSES GO SOLAR: ONLY IN BOULDER? You know solar is beginning to make sense when it reaches beyond the environmental crowd and straight into the heart of mainstream, just-wanna-have-a-good-time America. Kappa [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 29, 2009
Don’t you wish your ancient spiritual tradition had videos like this, oh Judeo-Christians and Buddhists? With thanks for the tip to UltraBrown.
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 29, 2009
Obama ain’t American, even if he was born in America and has a Hawaiian birth certificate (technically). “He is not an American citizen, he is a citizen of Kenya!” “Yahhhhhaahahahahah!” Jon Stewart & Co at his/their best. The Born Identity, revealed by a realtor/lawyer/dentist. To add your name to petition, click here. The Daily Show [...]
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by Joana Smith on Jul 29, 2009
While spending time at the Wanderlust festival in Squaw Valley, it certainly felt a bit more like “wander lost” than anything else. On Day 3 I finally figured out how to read my map, though by that time changes in the yoga schedule and the musical guests had rendered my “travel guidebook” (aka program) obsolete. [...]
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by Lindsey Block on Jul 29, 2009
IS IT GOOD OR BAD WHEN BICYCLING BECOMES A FAD? In Brooklyn, New York, the coolest accessory ain’t a car. It’s your “fixie”—fixed gear—bike. Now, they’re being sold through Urban Outfitters, the official purveyor of hipster cool to the masses. When did biking become less about transportation and more about fashion? If this will get [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 29, 2009
ARE GMO SUGAR BEETS IN BOULDER COUNTY PART OF THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MONSANTO? Update: “Monsanto is upon us… “Dear Boulderites: I am requesting the attention of all Boulder County residents who care about the planet: There is a hearing this afternoon regarding planting GMO sugar beets in open space – thousands of acres to [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 29, 2009
Update: Funny riff on the Wanderlust theme via NPR. Update: new vids: loooove this! John Friend & Merry Band & MC Yogi rockin’ out: “Wanderlust Day 3: Sunday 7/26 – Sianna Sherman and Kenny Graham led a fabulous arm balance class w/ the help of MC Yogi. To our surprise they cut it short and led [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 29, 2009
Boulder: a greener, liberal Orange County? Or: Reputation trails Reality. Last night, on my way to a cool Manhattan-worthy sushi joint (Hapa) with my hip buddy LC, past a bunch of college bars and trendy joints worthy of Aspen, past multi-kajillion dollar developments that have gone up in the past year or two, I ran [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 29, 2009
A Rambling, Pre-Coffee article on Ben Wyskida, Pinko Magazine, Geothermal living, Living life fully, and Geothermal Dog Houses. Pinko Magazine is one of elephantjournal.com’s 10 favorite sites (see sidebar to the left). It’s a site we actually read from time to time, along with Nytimes.com, thedailyshow.com, a few others. Anyways, Ben Wyskida, the force of [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 29, 2009
Letting go sucks. Letting go isn’t pretty. Pablo Neruda, a poet for sad, bad mornings. Plus, Chogyam Trungpa, on tonglen. Letting go ain’t sad. Sometimes it’s bad. Letting go isn’t about birds and cages and things coming back if they truly love you. Letting go is about heartburn, claustrophobia, heartache, angst, growling. Letting go is [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 29, 2009
It’s hard to go wrong with Cyndi Lee, Melanie Smith, Tara & Tim Dale, Duncan Wong, Elsie Escobar, Shiva Rea, Sharon Gannon & David Life, The Gubers, O2 Aspen, Andre Hartwich, Dharma Mittra, Baron Baptiste, Seane Corn, Kino MacGregor, Desiree Rumbaugh. But what makes Jade’s ads brilliant aren’t just its impeccable taste in choosing yoga teachers. [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 28, 2009
Colorado: the 2nd Annual All-Women’s Ride for a Cause Venus de Miles Sunday, August 30th, 2009 ~ an elephantjournal.com sponsored event ~ In the spirit of sisterhood and charity, the 2nd annual Venus de Miles is set for Sunday, August 30th, 2009 – meandering through the beautiful foothills outside of Boulder, Colorado. The ride is [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 28, 2009
Swaparamamamamama! Last week my friend Katherine invited all of her stylish (and broke) girlfriends to a happy hour clothing swap. At first I was a little hesitant about the idea. I couldn’t think of anything in my closet my friends would find remotely appealing (although… I was certain my sexy red wrap dress would be [...]
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by Joana Smith on Jul 28, 2009
The village at Squaw Valley was an epicenter of activity. There were independent merchants selling goods, food, plenty of people watching, and some really great lesser-known acts rockin’ the Casbah stage. Bhi Bhiman’s deep, soulfull baritone voice filled the village. He did an absolutely transcendent, downtempo cover of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy. Elizaveta has the voice [...]
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by Todd Mayville on Jul 27, 2009
As a typical rule, as soon as someone claims themselves to be awakened or enlightened, I get a little skeptical, having come across too many hippy-dippy, New Age hipsters preaching love, light, and warm cookies to all. Fortunately, that’s not what Adyashanti does in his newest work, The End of Your World. In fact, he [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 27, 2009
Dovekins. If they were a stock, I’d buy. But they’re not. They’re a hipster folk merrymaking band that everyone at least in these here parts will know the name of in one year, and then they won’t be cool anymore. But that won’t matter, ’cause you’ll still want to listen to them, because they’re actually [...]
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by Waylon Lewis on Jul 27, 2009
Some towns nestled along the Rockies are full of pretentious eco-hipsters. Not Louisville. Money Magazine names Louisville, Colorado, the number one US town to live in. Egads. While Louisville “has a Conoco-Philipps facility,” it’s also mercifully free of “pretentious eco-hipsters”—unlike some towns (yes you, Boulder and Ft. Collins—we assume Money ain’t referring to Colorado Springs, [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 27, 2009
Summer Rayne Oakes, “eco model,” demonstrates bike-powered blender—in full Sex & the City-worthy regalia. I’m an eco-minded man. I’m also a man. One day, I was blogging away, all alone…and despite a half-gallon of fair-trade Conscious Coffee, I fell asleep…and dreamed of Summer Rayne Oakes, our favorite do-it-herselfer, workin’ a bike-powered margarita blender. Susty.tv » [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 27, 2009
Some funny quotes in this three-minute trailer—especially the last one re Noam Chomsky. HOW I SPENT MY SUMMER VACATION: hitchhiking documentary road film preview! from Marc Israel. This is a trailer for Phenomenal World Cinema’s first feature-length documentary. I’m proud to now offer it on DVD. By 1997, I’d been a traveling musician for 5 [...]
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by elephantjournal.com on Jul 27, 2009
Michael Franti’s our kind of gentleman. Why? He doesn’t take himself seriously, though he takes his work (peace) and his craft (music) very seriously. He has fun. He inspires others to do the same. He’s not lazy, even when he’s got appendicitis (which just happened last weekend, causing him to miss Wanderlust Festival). Say Hey [...]
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by Joana Smith on Jul 27, 2009
Sunday we took more time to enjoy the music on top of the mountain at the Gold Coast Stage. Andrew Bird serenaded… The crowd was mostly green, and they had come, wanderers all… This morning I got a chance to talk with Andrew and I asked him where he got the inspiration for what he [...]
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by Saraswati J. on Jul 27, 2009
by Sarah Miller I’m sitting here typing with my one month old nephew in my lap, his twin brother wide eyed on a blanket next to us. My nephews are making me think. And I can’t help but feel a sense of urgency about life. There is so much to do!! Sometimes I have moments [...]
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by Reverend Danny Fisher on Jul 27, 2009
Jaimal Yogis, author of the new book Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer’s Quest to Find Zen on the Sea (which I favorably reviewed for this website) is coming to Colorado next week. Check below for appearance listings. And for other engagements elsewhere, follow this link. Tuesday, August 04, 7:30 PM Boulder Bookstore 107 Pearl St., Boulder, CO [...]
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by Nadia Ballas-Ruta on Jul 27, 2009
Is labeling yourself Spiritual more important than being a good person? Recently, a reader of my blog made the comment that he had no idea what being spiritual meant. As I read his comment, I realized that I didn’t have a definite answer either. The ironic thing is that there was a time when I [...]
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