2010 March | elephant journal

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Enjoy the top 10 blogs of the week free in our e-newsletter.

My Yoga Conference Experience.

by Julia Lee on Mar 31, 2010

“expectations are often surpassed” I spent the past weekend taking workshops at the Yoga Conference and Show in Toronto. It was my first time attending, and my first time studying with Dharma Mittra, Seane Corn, and Natasha Rizopoulos. I had been looking forward to it for a long time – but, as they say, expectations [...]

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Having The Courage to Take the First Step. ~ Julia Lee

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 31, 2010

There was once a time in my life when I was paralyzed with fear. Fear of strangers, fear of new experiences, fear of the unknown. I was painfully shy. I am still haunted by the memory of the day my mother made me order my own meal at McDonald’s for the first time. Rather than [...]

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Practicing Aparigraha.

by Julia Lee on Mar 31, 2010

Aparigraha – the yogic concept of non-possessiveness and non-hoarding – is the “last” of the five yamas, and often one of the most difficult to recognize and overcome. On the surface level, the idea of “non-hoarding” generally means “stop buying things you don’t need”. Okay, easy enough…until there’s a clearance sale at your favorite store [...]

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45678Comments 3Practicing+Aparigraha.+2010-03-31+23%3A48%3A36Julia+Lee

Yoga = a Lifestyle?

by Julia Lee on Mar 31, 2010

In a perfect world (or in a world where money grows from trees), yoga would be freely accessible to all. There would be no such thing as $100 spandex pants or exorbitant yearly pass prices. Unfortunately, the world is not a perfect place – nor does money grow from trees. Let’s face it – I’m [...]

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Walmart the Corporate Person, But Where’s the Empathy?

by William Harryman on Mar 31, 2010

Jim Hightower ran this brief story today (picked up by Common Dreams), which brings up everything that is wrong with the recent Supreme Court decision giving “personhood” to corporations (see here and here). Rather than explain, I’ll just quote (Joseph Casias is a 29-year-old former employee of a Walmart store in Battle Creek, Mich.): Casias [...]

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Boulder Bike News: Find your way using google maps.

by Claire Lochridge on Mar 31, 2010

Are you a Boulder biker? Here’s some great news: Boulder qualified as one of 150 US cities chosen by google to have a biking directions feature. Go to maps.google.com and select Get directions, then select Bicycling in the drop-down bar, type in your destination and you’re on your way. This feature just became available to [...]

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43591Comments (0)2010-03-31+19%3A18%3A13Claire+Lochridge

Know thyself, and stand by it. ~ Shashi Joshi

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 31, 2010

Know Thyself It is very important to know oneself. Be it spiritually, or practically. In real world’s success, one must know oneself: likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, abilities, skills and interests. This applies to startup entrepreneurs or to large scale leaders of masses. We need to know what ticks us and what ticks us off. A lot of [...]

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Fair Trade My Home. ~ Karen Snyder

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 31, 2010

Quick! What is the easiest way to fight poverty? If you said buy stuff, you are close to being right. Every time you purchase a product, you are not only supporting the people who made or cultivated the item, but the trail of supported jobs continues to those who distributed the goods and retailed them. [...]

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Kombucha: bad. Beer better?

by Rusty Ralston on Mar 31, 2010

We at elephant really love Dr. Andrew Weil, and he has been interviewed and featured many places on Elephant Journal, including this fantastic video. In fact, I had a great time shooting the above photo of him last year, in Denver. Some of us also love Kombucha (although I personally think it tastes wretched and [...]

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legalize gay american apparel rights equality marriage tee shirt

American Apparel going out of business?

by Waylon Lewis on Mar 31, 2010

American Apparel going down on U.S.? L: founder Dov Charney in a detail of a typically controversial early years post-coital ad featuring…himself and a “friend.” R: AA has consistently taken risks, both good and occasionally iffy. Since selling to The Man, everyone’s favorite innovative hipster company has traveled a rocky financial road. Frequent updates via [...]

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Why we Travel.

by Peggy Markel on Mar 31, 2010

How can we find ways to open ourselves up to the unexpected opportunities and connections that might take our life in a completely new direction? Something happens to me when I think about traveling. Something close to mischievous. My appetite swells and I become ravenous for the road. An easeful smile comes over my face, [...]

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Green, yes. Sexy, maybe. Ditzy? Definitely.

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 30, 2010

“We have more eco girls all the time.” WTF? Okay, here’s the deal: I need to blog about something, I’ve already blogged three times on Jamie, so I start looking around “green” and “organic” and “ecofashion” on youtube. Gotta be something good, there, right? Well, at least in the case of this here video from [...]

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What to do with your friendly everyday Toxic Waste (don’t trash it). ~ Rick Gilbert

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 30, 2010

Product Stewardship So what do we do with our pharmaceuticals, paint, mercury-bearing lamps, electronics..? We’ve always been good at manufacturing and consuming products…and bad at figuring out what to do with them (and the chemicals it took to make them) once they’ve become obsolete or broken. by Rick Gilbert (who knows what he is talking [...]

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Catching Thoughts: S/He loves me, S/He loves me not…..

by Celia Aurora de Blas on Mar 30, 2010

Do you keep feeling disappointed by your relationships? Are you able to love yourself first in a relationship? Here’s a good question to ask yourself…..

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Melissa McGinnis of Greenopolis (+ Waylon Lewis of elephant journal) reports from The Organic Center VIP dinner at Natural Products Expo West. {Video}

by Waylon Lewis on Mar 30, 2010

“All the people that started the organic industry are here.” ~ Anthony Zolezzi Steve Hoffman, Dr. Andrew Weil, Jeffrey Hollender, Melissa McGinnis, Anthony Zolezzi, Sara Snow, Mary Lou Henner, George L. Siemon, Waylon Lewis. I have a huge crush on Melissa. And Anthony. And all the Organic Center VIPs who gathered at the amazing, huge, [...]

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elephantjournal.com reviews: Natural High Lifestyle’s eco laptop table.

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 30, 2010

Green Gift Think of the next Seven Generations: protect your lap with the Natural High Lifestyle’s laptop table. an elephant journal review “The most eco-responsible, elegant, stylish laptop table on Planet Earth.” Probably my personal favorite product I’ve reviewed in years. Natural High Lifestyle’s fully “eco-reponsible” laptop table is comfortable, stable, and will save your [...]

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First Friday Cultures (+ Sculpts) Your Ass – April 2010.

by Erin King on Mar 30, 2010

National Guide to First Friday events art + community + fun + party Welcome to the second installment of getting fit with Art walks! Same set up as last time – if you’re interested in fine art, social purveying, and getting that tight lean and sculpted buttocks you’ve always wanted, then you’re in luck! It’s [...]

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Who is the “Eastre” Rabbit?

by Cora Wen on Mar 30, 2010

Did you ever wonder why rabbits and eggs are symbols of Easter..? Before Passover and Easter, many ancient cultures celebrated the Rite of Spring… Before Christianity, Easter, Eastre, Eostre was goddess of dawn, spring and fertility. No, it’s not a typo: Eastre is a Goddess and she loved rabbits. Did you ever wonder why we [...]

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How to Save Our Schools (with a Paintbrush + a Party)

by Rachel Znerold on Mar 30, 2010

I often wonder if I would have become an artist without the amazing support and instruction of my public school art teachers. For many students, the arts programs are what keep them in school, or at least what keep them engaged. Yet, in public schools all over California (and all over the country as well), [...]

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5 Photos from my NYC life (Hipsters, MSG, murals, and other things)

by Rusty Ralston on Mar 30, 2010

Here are some photo observations / comments from my daily NYC life, which is typically me going between Brooklyn (Williamsburg / Bushwick) and Manhattan. From vats of MSG on the street, to beautiful sunny days overlooking the East River atop the Williamsburg bridge… the variety present in 1 day in New York is astounding. So, [...]

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David Letterman interrupts, argues down Jamie Oliver…it’s both serious + funny.

by Waylon Lewis on Mar 30, 2010

Loved watching this. Letterman does a great job being depressing, accurate, honest, forceful…and Jamie does a great job staying open, hanging in there, and finally gesturing to Dave, he says “You can see I have a huge challenge!” The talk show at its best:

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5 things Jamie Oliver Wants You to Know.

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 30, 2010

Up the Revolution Who’s fault is it that this is the first American generation of children who won’t live as long as their parents? Hint: it’s not the children’s fault. And it’s not the fault of french fries or pizza or hamburgers, either.

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One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Contraceptives

by News on Mar 29, 2010

Via Lauren Egdahl of NewEraNews.org.
After decades of taking pills that make us have mood swings and bloat, ladies? We can finally rest.

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A Life Worth Breathing (Kind of a Book Review)

by Jay Winston on Mar 29, 2010

Kind of a review of yoga teacher Max Strom’s new book A Life Worth Breathing…with jokes…

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“A Fortunate Homosexual”

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 29, 2010

Living La Vida Happy Via Washington Post: “Martin said he wasn’t sure how the news would affect his career: ‘It doesn’t matter. . . . The word ‘happiness’ takes on a new meaning for me as of today.’” Ricky Martin, having made his millions, comes out. While we may not give a care about celebrity, [...]

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Are You a Svennebanan? Ridiculous Swedish Video

by Anna Brones on Mar 29, 2010

I’m a diligent Swede. I check Dagens Nyheter at least once a week, I know how to correctly make meatballs and I know how to pronounce every single product name at IKEA. Hell, I’ve even got Stieg Larsson’s Millenium trilogy (in Swedish of course) stacked on my bookshelf. But despite every attempt to keep up [...]

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Yoga: Detalles importantes para la práctica de āsana

by Yesica Pineda on Mar 29, 2010

Yoga: Detalles importantes para la práctica de āsana Bajo la enseñanza de B.K.S. Iyengar Los requisitos 1. Sin una base sólida, la casa no puede mantenerse en pie. Sin la práctica de los principios de yama – no hacer daño, no engañar, no robar, tener comportamiento impecable incluyendo el comportamiento sexual, y no acumular cosas [...]

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Spring Meditation.

by Lindsay Jean Thomson on Mar 29, 2010

Two lists to change your life. Each month the staff at International Orange [I.O.]—a studio and spa where I teach yoga—gathers to grow our community. Last week Amy, the lovely co-founder of I.O., led our group with a sweet meditation and journaling exercise focused on transitioning from winter to spring. I enjoyed the practice so [...]

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Lululemon has great values. Why don’t they feature “green” more?

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 29, 2010

Lululemon posts record profits—again. Time to spend maybe 5% more on expanding their eco-responsibility in manufacturing, shipping, stores and apparel? If Lululemon did more in the way of organic, PET…even just a little more than a little…if they got half as eco-responsible as, say, prAna, Blue Canoe or Patagonia, they would become my fave company [...]

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An Ecofashionista visits the Ethical Sourcing Forum. ~ Kelly Drennan

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 29, 2010

When “The Man”—big corporations—talk about going Green, is it a Black or White Situation? Or Gray? I am a small business owner, active within the social and environmental space. I am a concerned citizen, parent and consumer. And I’m proud to say that sustainability is at the core of both my personal and work life. [...]

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Composting Toilets: Doing Good Business While Taking Care of Business

by News on Mar 29, 2010

Of the many exotic wonders in Ecuador, composting toilets definitely make it near the top of the list!

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Tango with the Dancing Bear.

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 29, 2010

If it displeases you, leave it alone. Terchen Barway Dorje I’m having a hard time getting this article past my wife, the editor. I suppose my tone is spoiling for a fight. It’s times like these that I find myself discovering a whole new level of appreciation for the teachings of the whispered lineage. Every [...]

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Jamie Oliver: the Chicken Nugget experiment w/ Children.

by Waylon Lewis on Mar 29, 2010

If Children know what they’re eating, will they still eat it?

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The Debate (gets Heated): Does God Exist? Deepak Chopra + Jean Houston v athiests Dr. Michael Shermer + Sam Harris.

by Waylon Lewis on Mar 29, 2010

God v Science? A fascinating, heated and important debate. As a Buddhist (non-theist), I’d like to believe in the sort of god Henry David Thoeau talks about—but I certainly can’t, and don’t believe in the sort of Old White Man God represented in the Bible. It’s mythology, to me, though full of mostly wonderful teachings [...]

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“One of Michael Vick’s dogs, Gypsy.” {Warning: graphic image}

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 28, 2010

~ How we can Stop Dogfighting. In the Buddhist tradition I was brought up in, horrific, horrible images like the above—that show suffering and the horrible results of our craving, aggression and ignorance—are considered important not to shove away but to hold up and look at, and feel. Let’s do Tonglen for those helpless victims [...]

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Vegan Dog Treats? Ruff, ruff. Max & Ruffy’s, via Farfel’s Farm.

by Waylon Lewis on Mar 28, 2010

Max and Ruffy’s dog treats are, indeed, a “positive choice for your dog and the environment.” Vegan dog treats so good your dog will think they’re raw steak. “Dogs, people and all living beings deserve respect and compassion…[these are] ethical, hand-baked, organic, non-outsourced, human-grade, nutritious, flavorful, compassionate treats [without] artificial coloring, flavor enhancers, additives or [...]

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China Claims His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama is “Living Somewhere in Tibet”

by Reverend Danny Fisher on Mar 28, 2010

Recently, I blogged about news of China’s promotion of its own Panchen Lama. This week, Beijing assured the press that the true 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, who has not been seen or heard from since he and his family were taken into custody by Chinese authorities on May 17th, 1995, is “living somewhere [...]

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Ngawang Sangdrol-la: The Story of One Tibetan Political Prisoner

by Devon Ward-Thommes on Mar 28, 2010

Last Wednesday, March 24th, Tara Mandala Retreat Center hosted a Tibetan visitor from New York city. Ngawang Sangdrol, a 33-year-old Tibetan woman, spent 11 years in a Chinese prison for protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and Tibetans’ lack of political and religious autonomy in her home country. During her trip to the southwest, she [...]

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I rate New Planet gluten-free beer an 11.

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 28, 2010

New Planet Beer: Gluten-free beer that tastes Gluten-free-free. I give it an 11. It’s great with little sandwiches. Disclaimer: elephant received a six pack of New Planet beer, free. Rough job. Honest to god, I get lucky, sometimes. When I was a child I managed to watch Spinal Tap without anyone having told me it [...]

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Michael Pollan: you are “processed corn, walking.” Enter Beanitos chips.

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 28, 2010

Gluten-free, Corn-free Beanitos Chips I just ate four bags of Beanitos. Not all at once—I spaced out my enthusiastic eco bachelor excess with at least one or two five minute breaks in between. They’re yummy. They’re gluten-free, full of fiber and omega 3s. None of which I know anything about, but vaguely realize are good [...]

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A Trucker Hat still Made in the USA.

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 28, 2010

ECOFASHION: Aviator Nation. I recently posted re: my frustration that one of the most iconic and American of fashion (or anti-fashion) creations, the trucker hat / farmer cap, is now made almost exclusively overseas. You can still buy and print on Made in the USA trucker caps, but you’ve got to look—hard. Even my trashed [...]

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My new favorite joyful sad band.

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 28, 2010

Home is Wherever There is You. {Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros} A few months back, elephant somehow wound up sponsoring a little known but big buzzful band called Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, when they came to my hometown theater, the Boulder Theater. I’m a three minute bike ride from the 800-seat theater—but [...]

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Obamacare Final Solution Going According to Plan

by News on Mar 28, 2010

Acorn has become the official Obamacare Pharmacy! Muhahaha…

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Book Review: Natural Wakefulness: Discovering the Wisdom We Are Born With (Gaylon Ferguson)

by Todd Mayville on Mar 28, 2010

In his first book, Naropa University professor and meditation instructor Gaylon Ferguson explores meditation not from the standpoint as a path towards enlightenment per se, but as a path towards simply waking up, towards claiming our innate sense of who we are. Not just another book on meditation, Ferguson includes guided meditations as well as [...]

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Chelsea Handler and PETA vs. Kelly of Real Housewives of New York. Video:

by Waylon Lewis on Mar 28, 2010

“Messing with PETA is like standing in front of Hitler and singing dredel dredel dredel.”

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Catching Thoughts: I would like to “try” to introduce myself to you.

by Celia Aurora de Blas on Mar 27, 2010

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U Pyinya Zawta at the Oscars

by Reverend Danny Fisher on Mar 27, 2010

My latest “On the Buddhism Beat” post at Shambhala Sun Space is an interview I did with U Pyinya Zawta, a founding member and the executive director of the All Burma Monks’ Alliance. One of the leaders of 2007′s “Saffron Revolution”–the nonviolent demonstration by thousands of Buddhist monastics calling for economic and political justice in the [...]

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Verizon: your opinion doesn’t actually seem to matter.

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 27, 2010

My experience buying + using the mifi wireless card. Recently, say six months ago, I signed up for the touted mifi wireless card via Verizon, which I’d heard many good things about. A month ago, I found that the counter that measures how much you’ve used of your allotted service was being measured differently than [...]

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Is Boulder too “White”?

by elephantjournal.com on Mar 27, 2010

Stuff White People Like: Diversity. I was at a Topo Ranch party in downtown Boulder last night, and a nice, blond (and yes, white) German lady was thinking about moving to Boulder. Our mutual Indian-American friend was one of the few non-white guests at the party, along with my friend Tashi (half African-American, half White). [...]

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