December 2007 Archives
It's impossible to provide a definitive top 10 reading list, but these are the books, in no particular order, that inspired The Daily Mantra's writers over the past year.
- A History of Last Night's Dream
by Roger Kamenetz
Everyone from the biblical Joseph to Sigmund Freud needs to chillax more and think less about their dreams. At least, that's what author Kamenetz learned from his work with dream shamans. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review)
- Eat, Pray, Love
This best seller inspired one of our writers to travel and another to get her meditation groove on. Who knows what it may inspire you to do.
- Dreaming True
It's not just science fiction; via dreams, Moss shows readers how to tap into the power of precognition. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.) We also loved The Three Only Things
- Secrets of the Monarch
The real life Medium who served as the inspiration behind Patricia Arquette's TV character uses life lessons culled from her extensive conversations with the dead to encourage her readers to live life to the max. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
- Big History
From the big bang and the formation of matter to the rise of agriculture and today's developed cultures in a mere 248 pages. After reading this book you'll come to the realization that Brown's holistic approach to humanity, politics, history and geography is the only way to tackle such big subjects.
- The Spiral Staircase
How a former nun and all round brilliant Brit became one of the foremost secular writers on religion: a beautiful book. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
- UnChristian
Someone once said "the truth shall set you free." During the research for this book, Kinnamen held up a mirror to organized religion. The reflection was not flattering. By laying out the unfiltered facts, Kinnemen underscores the need for progressive change, and points us towards the core truths we should be living, embodying, and celebrating. (Click HERE for the Daily Mantra's interview with the author.)
- The Kundalini Experience
A book with a spine: the seminal tome explaining the experience of awakened Kundalini to the West. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
- A Voluptuous God
Don't let the whole crucifixion thing fool you; the Christian God offers a good time. Just ask the Baptist minister who authored this book. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
- The Elements Of Organic Gardening
Price Charles, who was born the same year as fellow environmentalist Al Gore, and is greatly respected by him, talks dirty, organically speaking. Whether you're a royalist or a republican, whether you have an acre or a plant pot to play with, this holistic approach to gardening, and ultimately life, makes for an invigorating philosophical read. (Click HERE for Daily Mantra review.)
And finally, with full disclosure that this is by one of our own.....
- Echoes Across Time
For reincarnation buffs, dreamy Pisces and loyal Daily Mantra readers, a "spiritual adventure" and "feminist fairytale" that's right up our alley and is likely to resonate deeply with readers attuned to past-lives, dreaming or cross-cultural experience.
Contributors: Lael, Marisa, Leigh and Nicole
You might also like to check out our Top 10 DVDs and Top 10 Essential Listening List.
Shame on everyone who took part in the brawl at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. According to an AFP report, seven people were injured today (Thursday 27th December 2008) when a fight broke out between Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests at the church which is said to mark the site of Christ's birth. The fracas began after Greek Orthodox priests set up ladders, which encroached on space set aside for the Armenian priests, while attempting to clean up their part of the shared church. Palestinian police were called in to stop what the BBC called "pitched battles" which involved about 80 "holy" men wielding brooms.
How can any of those involved dare to call themselves followers of Christ and behave like this? Their behavior is especially shameful at such a place and time! I mean how hard is it to understand the meaning of "love thy neighbor" (Mark 12:33) and "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:39). Both are concepts we expect Sunday school kids to understand, never mind grown men of the cloth. The priests on either side shouldn’t be allowed to preach to anyone until they all make amends to the brothers they were so readily brawling with today.
The U.S. bottle water industry is now worth an estimated $11 billion per year, and one city in America has decided it wants a piece of the action. From Jan 1st 2008 Chicago will impose a 5 cent tax on bottled H2O, becoming the first city in America to do so. The city hopes to raise an additional $10.5 million in revenue with the new tax to help with their budget deficit.
Locals are worried that the tax will create a black market for the beverage however, with the average price of a 24 bottle case increasing from $3.99 to $5.19, a rise of $1.20 which represents a 30% increase. "Just like people go to Indiana to buy cheaper cigarettes and gas, people are going to be going outside Chicago to buy bottled water," said David Vite, president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. "Once they're at the grocery store, they're going to do more than just buy bottled water. They'll do all their grocery shopping there."_
Once welcomed as a healthy alternative to soda (which sadly Americans still gulp down more of), in recent years bottled water's image has been tarnished by the increasing toll it takes on the environment. The Earth Policy Institute quantifies the resources we're pouring down the drain, estimating that 17 million barrels of oil are used each year to manufacture bottles for water consumed in America alone, which it claims is enough to fuel more than 1 million U.S. cars for a year. And since the Container Recycling Institute estimates Americans throw away 60 million of these bottles a day, with only a fraction being recycled, the damage continues long after the water is drunk.
The question is, is this new surcharge:
- A: A step forward for the environment.
- B: A tax on healthy habits (soda comes in bottles and cans and has a similar eco-toll, but what would you rather people drink?).
- C: Another ruse to help politicians balance their blubber-filled budgets.
- D: An attention-grabbing stunt aimed at eco-aware voters.
We think the answer’s E: All of the above. They'll be taxing air next.
Want Art’s Christine and Justin are a couple of artists from New York who have given creative visualization a whole new, and rather literal meaning. They paint the things they want, and then sell their acrylic on canvas artworks for exactly the price the item depicted would cost.
Their current list of wants ranges from a modest $3 for “A Slice of Pepperoni” pizza, to $100 “To Help Kids in New Orleans” and $ 432.42 for "An iPhone." Some of the more bizarre items on their list include $27.09 for "A Tan," $100 for "A Night We Won't Remember," $1,056.07 for "One Month's Rent," and $1,000,000.00 for "Financial Security." Once a painting is sold, the duo promise to use the money to buy the item depicted. One item they'd like to have which money can't buy however is "Sleep," a painting which the duo are offering for free (though the buyer must pay for shipping).
The Daily Mantra saw a preview of Tim Burton's masterful gothic re-working of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd yesterday. While the 'priest pies' (see clip HERE) might put off our vegetarian readers, and the numerous cockroaches that died in the making of this movie may upset the PETA posse (well Mrs Lovett's kitchen is a dangerous place for any living thing to be), we have to say the ruby red blood fest is very entertaining, and strangely festive. Johnny Depp does pure evil disturbingly well, and handles the demon barber's vocal duties with aplomb, as does Helena Bonham Carter in the role of his pie-loving partner-in-crime. At least her baked goods have sustainably-farmed fillings, which on balance probably serve the environment better than the appetites of her hungry customers. Like the pies, the film is only for those with strong constitutions.
Short on time but still want to give something worthwhile? Why not give an insta-charity gift card from Tisbest.org. The cute and colorful cards are delivered by email, and start at just $10. You can also include a personal message with your gift card. What's great about TisBest is that the recipient chooses the ultimate destination for your donation (which also makes this a great gift for those you don't know well). The organization works with a slew of charities, from Action Against Hunger and the African Wildlife Foundation to UNICEF and the Young Women's Leadership Foundation.
All proceeds go to charity minus a $3.95 transaction fee (hence this is more economical for larger donations) and a 3% credit card processing fee, and 100% of the purchase price is tax deductible (which is important with tax season approaching). The gift card must be "spent" within three years of purchase, but at TisBest unlike Best Buy, all unredeemed funds go to charity rather than cooperate coffers, which is an important consideration since it's estimated that more than 10% of gift cards go unspent.
Music to inspire, create and make love to, these albums have been in heavy rotation in the Daily Mantra's life this year.
- 1 Giant Leap / 1 Giant Leap
After receiving numerous, and quite justified, complaints about missing the 1 Giant Leap documentary
- An Ancient Muse / Loreena McKennitt
After the unexpected death of her fiancé in 1998, Canadian singer and harpist Loreena McKennitt withdrew from the limelight. A reflection on the Celtic singer’s extensive travels in the intervening years, Ancient Muse marked a highly anticipated return from her self-imposed exile and a venture into more wordly sounds.
- Colour The Small One / Sia
The Daily Mantra has a preview of copy of Sia's excellent new album, Some People Have Real Problems, which is set for release on Jan 8th 2008, but for now fans of the bluesy, sometimes Zero 7 songstress will have to make do with Color The Small One, which rose to prominence after the breathtaking track "Breathe" was chosen as the soundtrack to Six Feet Under's long drive into the sunset.
- Conjure One / Conjure One
Woefully ignored when it was released, the self-titled debut from Conjure One (aka B.C. born ex-Frontline Assembly member Rhys Fulber) features one of the most stunning vocal performance ever from Sinéad O' Connor on the impassioned “Tears From The Moon.” The follow up album, Extraordinary Ways, is also well worth a spin.
- Ultimate Kylie / Kylie Minogue
Since Kylie Minogue's post-cancer comeback album X has yet to be released here in the U.S., check out this double CD hits collection which boasts everything from the highly infectious worldwide smash "Cant' Get You Out Of My Head" to the lesser known, but equally worthy, "Where The Wild Roses Grow," an unexpected, yet delightful, collaboration with Nick Cave. The soundtrack of a survivor.
- The Mating Game / Bitter Sweet
You may not have heard of the band, but you'll have heard their super-sexy, laid-back, lush grooves promoting everything from ABC's Samantha Who to Victoria Secret's undies and Korbel's bubbles. Sex sells, and this is nothing short of aural Viagra.
- Alright Still / Lilly Allen
Like the song says, "it makes me smile, makes me smile." Let's just hope she avoids the tabloid attention-grabbing pitfalls of her position and gets back to the music in 2008. The U.S. has Britney and the U.K. has Amy as their uncrowned drama queens, and neither country needs another. Allen should just stick to making us "Smile" with her bittersweet, and very funny songs.
- Rock Paper Scissors / Michael Brook
The third Canadian to make our list, producer and musician Michael Brook is not only famous for inventing the infinite guitar used by U2's The Edge, but also for composing the score for the Al Gore documentary An Inconvenient Truth. Rock Paper Scissors, Brook's most recent solo album, is a cerebral ambient soundtrack for life.
- Live At Grand Performances / Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra
LA's Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra have picked up the baton and brushed off Parliament's Funkadelic classic Vietnam-era peace anthem "Come In Out Of The Rain," making it more relevant than ever. "When will the people start getting together, learning to live, and love one another..."
- Sounds Eclectic: The Covers Project / Various
Radio-freedom fighters KCRW raid their audio vaults, bringing together a collection of classic covers recorded live in their Santa Monica basement Morning Becomes Eclectic studios. Sia makes The Pretender's "I Go To Sleep" her own, K.D. Lang comes over all spiritual with "Hallelujah," and The Magic Numbers do something completely 'out there' with their cover of Beyonce's hit song "Crazy In Love."
The winter solstice has been declared Global Orgasm Day. Organizers, the anti-war organization Baring Witness, are asking participants to simultaneously climax at 06:08 a.m. GMT on Saturday December 22nd (10:08 p.m. PST on Friday Dec 21st on the West Coast and 1:08 a.m. EST on Saturday on the East Coast). The goal is "to effect positive change in the energy field of the Earth through input of the largest possible instantaneous surge of human biological, mental and spiritual energy." So get jiggy in the name of world peace y'all. But remember a really good time doesn't have to lead to babies, and since over-population is a major cause of our planet's crisis the emphasis here is on orgasmic energy rather than fertility.
Take the weight off a stressed friend or loved ones shoulders by providing them with access to a personal assistant whenever they need it. You'll be amazed at how economical it can be. Web based concierge company Ask Sunday has a team of personal assistants that are accessible online and by phone 24 /7. The rules are simple: each request can take no longer than 30 minutes, and must be something that can be accomplished by phone or online. They can make appointments, reservations and travel arrangements, book theater tickets, send gifts and flowers, give directions and do all kinds of research. They'll even wait on hold for tech support or a customer service representative, and patch you in when they've reached a human being. Membership, either for yourself or as a gift, starts at just $29 a month and provides 30 requests a month, with additional requests costing just $2 each. Gift Memberships can be activated at any time within 12 months of the date of receipt.
Comedian Ricky Gervais debates the merits of God vs. Santa with Anglican church leader Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in this BBC audiocast (click HERE to listen).
"I think his biggest mistake was giving me free will," says Gervais. "I think a lot of theologians would agree with you there," replies the Archbishop.
Round one to God.
This is such a hectic time of year that we could all use a voucher for some pampering and relaxation. SpaFinder.com makes the gift of such indulgence easy, offering gift certificates starting at $50 that are accepted at over 4,000 locations worldwide. What's more, they can be bundled with goodies such as an elegant "Reflect" melanoma awareness bracelet (for an additional $4.95), a cosmetic purse ($10), a box of Harry & David chocolates ($15), or a super-Zen Japanese candle and rock garden ($17) to make your present extra-special. As a bonus for late shoppers, Spafinder will also send an elegant e-card so you can let the recipient know your gift is on its way. Spafinder gift cards can be ordered online or by calling 866-546-0610.
The world's fastest eco-boat will attempt to break the powerboat round-the-world speed record using bio-fuel made from human fat cells sucked out of its skipper's back. Earthrace, a futuristic-looking tri-hulled, wave-piercer, is scheduled to set off from Valencia in Spain in March 2008 (the Current clip above mentions an outdated route). The record which Earthrace has to beat is 74 days, 23 hours and 53 minutes.
Race rules state that the boat must be under 150 ft (Earthrace is 78ft). Both the start / finish line and the route can be determined by the crew. They may circumnavigate the globe in either direction, but must pass through both the Suez and Panama canals, refueling in port rather than at sea.
While racing to win the speed record, New Zealand skipper Pete Bethune hopes his bio-boat will inspire greater eco awareness. As a testament to his commitment, Bethune and two of his weightier pals underwent liposuction, donating the extracted cells to power the low-emission engines. The virtually carbon-neutral craft, which has a cabin floor made of hemp, will also be using more conventional bio-fuel made from both animal and vegetable fats. "If it were up to market forces, biofuels wouldn't happen at all," said Bethune to England's Daily Mail newspaper. "Politicians must be prepared to stand up to the oil industry, and be more supportive of the biofuels industry to make sure the production of biofuels is sustainable."
Constructed from carbon and Kevlar, Earthrace's space-age, weighted-hull design, allows it to slice through waves rather than riding on top of them. Powering through the swell in this way means the vessel can achieve high speeds in both calm and rough conditions. It has a range of 3000 nautical miles (6000 km), and a top speed of 45 knots. "Our boat is easily fast enough to get the record," says Bethune, "but we've got to make sure we get it round in one piece. That's the challenge we face."
The road to eco-hell is paved with good intentions. Future presidential hopeful Will Smith is following in Al Gore's footsteps, putting his green dollars where his mouth is. Well, actually, where his behind is to be more exact. It seems the gadget-loving actor has imported some high tech paperless toilets from Japan, which blast the user's bum with water and air, negating the need for a good old fashioned wipe.
"It's a gift from heaven, believe me. People think it's all about suction and that they're going to have their insides removed by this marvel of modern engineering - but it doesn't suck, it blows," said Smith to a reporter from The Daily Mail. "Not everyone can handle this thing emotionally, so I've made sure I also have a few normal toilets in my house."
Smith is obviously well intentioned where his bathroom habits are concerned, but I'm not sure I'd want to trust my intimates to his hi-tech air and water assault. Regardless, by the time these eco-latrines have been imported from Japan surely any environmental gain from the fact they're paperless has been negated by the carbon toll of their transport, and the energy consumed by their operation. And, since the prospect of using them is so unsettling, Smith was forced to install them alongside, rather than instead of, traditional ones to cater to those with nervous dispositions. So at this point you have to wonder whether Will and his WCs are ahead or behind in environmental terms.
Such a dilemma reminds me of the time a friend was remodeling a newly purchased condo. Before contracts on it could be exchanged, the three original, perfectly good toilets (two upstairs and one downstairs) had to be removed and replaced by low-flush toilets to comply with new codes brought in by well-meaning, conservation-conscious bureaucrats. However, the gauge for toilet waste pipes was standardized before the super-sizing of America, and this condo has been purchased by a rather substantial gentlemen, who produced rather substantial waste which the flow produced by "low flush" toilets couldn't begin to shift. To avoid constant blockages (imagine trying to propel a bowling ball up a straw with a trickle of water, and you'll get the picture), and to comply with the "low flush" laws, three special high tech vacuum models were installed. He'd now been through a total of nine toilets; And that was when the fun really started.
A few months, and many successful flushes, later, out of the blue my friend received a letter explaining that the vacuum super-toilets had been recalled since they had one fundamental flaw; they had a nasty habit of exploding. Worried about prospect of porcelain shards being propelled where the sun doesn't shine, my friend was again forced to weigh his, by now, very limited, options. Desperate measures were called for, since he now realized he risked life and limb (or bum and balls) each time he did a dump in one his apparently killer kharzies. At the suggestion of a Mexican plumber, three new "normal" toilets were smuggled north of the border. Of course, when the condo is eventually sold on, these contraband crappers will again have to be replaced.
And so, a simple homeowner, with larger than life human waste issues, put his life on the line, got caught up in a Mexican porcelain smuggling ring, and will have gone through a total of FIFTEEN toilets, all in the name of water conservation and the environment. Like I say, hell by good intentions.
Landfills were made for these three choice gift ideas (well someone's got to keep them in business).
Courtesy of The Unemployed Philosophers' Guild, these make the perfect Christmas gift for f#%k-ups everywhere. Why settle for a few minutes in a psychiatrist's couch when you can spend the rest of your life walking in Sigmund Freud's shoes for a fraction of the price!
Customer review: "It's easier to put on slippers than carpet the world."
This exercise apparel will give the man in your life a unique sense of freedom while swimming or doing yoga. Made from 100% lime-green spandex, that'll be around on this earth long after he's gone (no matter how much yoga he does), these official Borat mankini thongs make a big statement, and come in an easy-to-buy 'one size fits all.'
Customer review: "Excellent fit and it sure is eye-catching. I wore this while teaching a lifeguard pool safety course at the park district and had a blast. Be careful with tan lines on this one."
Big Ox Canned Oxygen ($9.99 for a 3.5 gram can)
Help a friend stockpile some of the world's natural resources, while wasting yet more, with Big Ox's canned oxygen. It comes in flavors such a Citrus Blast, Mountain Mint, Polar Rush, and Tropical Breeze, so you can smell the great outdoors without bothering to get out in it.
Customer review: "Hey I tried this stuff from a convention in St.Louis and was skeptic... Was I wrong! It actually works, I can't explain it. It doesn't seem that oxygen in a can would be much better than what we breathe, but I could breathe unbelievable in my race and my recovery time was much quicker.
The good intentions of our previous gift suggestions may make the soul feel warm and fuzzy, but the body might need something a little more material to keep the winter chills out. Send the gift of comfort and joy with PajamaGram’s delightful gift sets. They have a large range of cute sleepware for under $50, such as the 100% cotton ‘Christmas Chaos’ PJs pictured here, which cost just $39.95.
All womens' pajamas come packaged in a stylish periwinkle organza hatbox, and come with a “Do Not Disturb” sign, a lavender-scented sachet, and a personalized gift card. PajamaGram, a sister company to the popular Vermont Teddy Bear Company, also deliver a satisfaction promise with their products, so gifts can easily be returned or exchanged. Order online by 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, December 22nd for guaranteed delivery by Christmas.
A British hotel chain is hoping to make amends to the ghosts of Christmas past by offering free hotel rooms to couples named Mary and Joseph this season. Married couples wanting to take up the offer must register online and provide proof of identity. Qualifying Marys and Josephs will be sent a voucher for a free room at any of Travelodge's 322 U.K. hotels, which can be redeemed for one night's accommodation between Christmas Eve and Twelfth Night.
According to a Travelodge press release, "the 'gift' of a free night's stay is to make up for the hotel industry not having any rooms left on Christmas Eve over 2000 years ago when the original 'Mary and Joseph' had to settle for the night in a stable." Mangers will be available upon request, and a complimentary parking spot will be provided for the modern day Marys & Josephs' donkeys. In addition, any shepherds and wise men in the party can get a discounted room from just £29 ($60) per night.
A spokesmen for Travelodge said, "The phrase no room at the inn is something that resonates with us in the hotel business. Therefore this year we have decided to evoke the true spirit of Christmas and invite Mary and Joseph as our guests."
One word of warning however, as the Daily Mantra reported earlier this year (see story), the hotel chain has been troubled by a plague of naked sleepwalkers, so any Mary and Josephs sleeping at Travelodge's inns this season should not suffer from a delicate disposition, or be easily shocked.
Buy them for a friend or rent them for yourself, either way these DVDs are guaranteed to entertain, inform and enlighten.
- An Inconvenient Truth
You can't argue with the Nobel committee's good taste.
- Who Killed the Electric Car?
More joyously ironic to watch now Toyota has sold it's millionth hybrid, and GM has been forced to rejoin the green wagon.
- The Secret
If Oprah's powers of attraction do the same for Obama as they did for this film, we'll see our first black president come 2008 (as long as all the votes are counted this time around). Opinion polls say they're not working so well. Perhaps she should dust up by watching this movie again.
- The Fog of War
The point of history is that you learn from the mistakes of the past. The problem is you need leaders who paid attention during their history lessons.
- Sicko
Skip the first 10 minutes, which are too grim for words, and enjoy the pleasure and pain of the remainder of Moore's ode to national healthcare.
- Idiocracy
A smart, frightening, funny, and frighteningly funny look at our coke-swilling, burger-munching, Fox "news" watching, dumbass leader-following future.
- The Blue Planet - Seas of Life
When the BBC showed the first episode of this beautifully shot documentary series in the U.K. a nation was converted to the cause of ocean conservation overnight.
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Don't Panic. Those looking for the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, need look no further.
- Rome - The Complete First Season
All the intrigue of Dynasty but with togas instead of shoulder pads, and more sex (the Romans knew a thing or two about how to do decent sex scenes). A BBC/HBO gem that reminds us that great empires come and go.
- Gattaca
The right to privacy is something worth fighting for. Watch it and you'll get the terrifying implications of what's happening now.
Sometimes life is so predictable. As we prophesied in our story two days ago, our always good-for-a-giggle pal over at the Catholic League, Bill Donohue, has got all worked up about the prospect of popwreck Britney Spears playing Madonna (the mother of Jesus of Nazareth rather than David of Malawi) in a modern day nativity film called Sweet Baby Jesus.
"She is seriously miscast," fumed Donohue to New York's Daily News gossip rag. "She would be better suited to play the lead role in a flick called 'Monica' [as in Lewinsky]. If she did, the Catholic League would be delighted to send her a box of cigars!"
How very (Un)Christian of him!
The California Milk Processors Board (CMPB) has threatened PETA with a lawsuit over their parody of the Got Milk? slogan. Lawyers representing the CMPB allege that PETA's Got Pus? campaign infringes on the Got Milk? trademark, and have demanded that the animal rights organization cease using the phrase in its campaigns. In addition, the CMPB wants PETA to hand over all merchandise stock bearing the contentious slogan, and profits from all Got Pus? goods sold to date.
PETA deny the allegations since parody is protected under law, as long as it "does not confuse the public as to the source of the usage." Their lawyers have fired off a response stating that, "As part of its mission to educate consumers about the industry's practices, PETA has, among other things, parodied the 'Got Milk?' slogan that the milk industry uses to market milk. Such parodies include PETA's 'Got Zits?,' 'Got Heart Disease?,' 'Got Breast Cancer?,' 'Got Sick Kids?,' 'Got Diabetes?,' and 'Got Veal?' campaigns as well as the 'Got Pus? Milk Does' campaign at issue here. PETA launched each of these campaigns to draw attention to the fact that drinking milk is linked to these various health ailments as well as to support for the veal industry."
Pus gets into the milk supply due to infection in a cow's nipple, which causes inflammation. The condition, known as mastitis, has been linked to the use of Monsanto's bovine growth hormone Prosilac, which stimulates cows to produce milk in unnaturally large quantities. Dairy farmers feed cattle antibiotics en masse in an attempt to control the problem.
To combat this issue the milk industry have developed a system called the "somatic cell count," somatic being a fancy word for pus. According to standards set by the dairy industry, the somatic cell count shouldn't exceed 200 million per liter, though Milk Sucks, an anti-dairy organization, claims that milk entering the food chain often exceeds these safety standards, with the national average being 322 million per liter.
"Chances are good that when you consume milk, you're consuming pus," says PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich in a statement. The organization reckons that each glass of milk contains between one and seven drop of pus. "Instead of squandering money on groundless threats, the milk industry should be more concerned with the pain and misery that it causes for millions of cows and their calves."
The CMPB contends there's no truth to the pus claims however. "Milk is one of the most regulated, tested and therefore safest products that consumers can buy," said Steve James, CMPB's executive director. "Pasteurization has been required for almost a century in order to remove harmful organisms and bacteria so it's safe for human biology."
Until all cows are happy natural cows, The Daily Mantra's sticking to hormone-free organic milk in our morning coffee, but this still leaves us wondering what else is floating around in our cup!
Gifts From Causes offer the perfect presents for avid Facebookers with too much worldly stuff. The program allows you to buy a virtual gift icon, which the recipient can proudly display on their Facebook profile, and make a charitable donation to a cool cause. All proceeds (minus a credit card transaction fee) will go to your chosen non-profit.
A $10 soccer ball icon sends funds to love.futbol, a non-profit that makes soccer fields for children in impoverished communities worldwide, and is the perfect gift for a soccer-mad Facebooker. A $15 super-cute teddy bear icon provides a real life cuddly companion to comfort a sick child at the Children's National Medical Center. $20 buys a flock of chicks to help a family in the developing world via the Heifer Project. A $50 virtual puppy will pay for the Humane Society to rescue a dog, and $200 will buy an OLPC laptop computer to educate a child in the developing world.
The Daily Mantra has caught the Facebook bug, so buddy up to us by clicking HERE.
It's all a question of priorities. On Wednesday George Bush vetoed legislation, which had bi-partisan support, that would have expanded state health insurance to cover more children. His reason for the veto was that the expanded program would cover children from above-median income families.
However, since prices have risen while wages have stagnated over the last few years, even middle class families are finding it harder to live from paycheck to paycheck. Gas prices have shot through the roof since 2002, and the average family is spending around $40 per month more on groceries alone compared to 12 months ago, consequently even above median income workers are finding it a struggle to provide health insurance for their families if they're not covered by group schemes.
And is it fair to hold innocent children responsible for their parent's poor decisions? If a three-year old can't get desperately needed surgery because her parents chose a flat screen TV over health insurance, should that three year old be made to pay for his or her parents bad judgment? It is often said 'a society is judged on how we protect the weakest amongst us.' I would therefore argue that as a civilized society we should cover ALL of our children, irrespective of their parents circumstances, since they shouldn't have to suffer for the sins of their fathers (and mothers), however silver their spoon.
We truly have the choice to change things; it’s not about lack of funds. The war in Iraq has so far cost $476,746,000,000 and counting. According to NationalPriorities.org, we could have insured around 285,476,000 children for one year for that amount of money (the US population as a whole is 303,588,000, so we'd have quite a lot of change if we just insured our kids). As the death toll in Iraq rises how many Americans have we lost here at home through lack of healthcare? And how many more lives have been destroyed by the financial ramifications of getting well?
We've made our hospital bed, and now we must lie in it, even if that proverbial bed is in a box in the gutter of life. Can you live (or die) with that?
T'is the season to get very silly. This one's for cat lovers everywhere. (Click HERE to view if player fails to load).
We love Atom Film's Christmas eco-animation, The North Pole Is Melting. Click HERE to view full-length version. It seems Frosty the Snowman's reduced to a puddle, and Santa's looking to Al Gore as his savior. Perhaps he should start leaving rechargeable batteries rather than lumps of coal in the stockings of the world's naughty boys and girls to get the message across. That might stop little Johnny leaving the lights on.
A British charity has scored a hit amongst prisoners with their Cell Bed Yoga booklet. The instructional pamphlet, which was produced by The Prison Phoenix Trust, offers solutions to the problems incurred when yoga is practiced in cramped surroundings. The 15-step guide adapts classic yoga poses so inmates can practice yoga in their beds - even if they sleep in bunks.
"It's a great way to ease a back that's tired after lying too long on a sagging mattress," said a spokesman for the charity, which according to their website, "encourages prisoners in the development of their spiritual welfare, through the practices of meditation and yoga, working with silence and the breath."
The trust was founded in 1988 with initial support from Prince Charles' Prince's Trust after founder Ann Wetherall began corresponding with prisoners about their spiritual experiences as part of a research project. The organization promotes spiritual wellbeing in prisoners by offering books on yoga and meditation. Their two key works, Becoming Free Through Meditation and Yoga and We're All Doing Time (which are also available on tape for prisoners with reading difficulties), can be ordered from their website.
"Through yoga and meditation my peace of mind has grown beyond my wildest dreams," says a prisoner from Belmarsh Prison in southeast London. "I used to be so moody and angry and the things I used to dwell upon and hold onto don't cause me to resent anyone or anything any more. It's only the gift of meditation and breath that has made me see that I couldn't progress until I let go completely of all the anger from within me"
Illustration by Korky Paul.
US Weekly are reporting that popwreck Britney Spears has been offered the role of a not-exactly-virgin Mary in an updated celluloid version of the nativity story. The film, entitled Sweet Baby Jesus, is about a pregnant teen from Bethlehem, Maryland, who is unsure of her baby's paternity and gives birth on Christmas Eve, sparking rumors of a second coming.
"I had to convince my partners because they were like, 'Oh, no. Britney?'" said the film's French producer Philippe Rebboah. "I thought it was brilliant. It's a bit ironic that she would play the Virgin Mary, no?"
One person who can be counted on to get excited about Britney playing a modern day Madonna is our good friend Bill Donohue over at the Catholic League. The pop-tragic star is certainly no Meryl Streep, with famed film critic Rodger Ebert saying quite bluntly that she "couldn't act" while reviewing her 2002 teen epic Crossroads.
It's unlikely that any film starring Spears would even get the insurance it would need to move into production right now. The troubled singer was 12-hours late to her own music video shoot two weeks ago, and has thrown a high-profile sicky today, as reported by TMZ. The celeb-stalking blog says that according to Kevin Federline's attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, the singer used an "unspecified medical condition or illness" as an excuse for flaking on a court ordered deposition, which was part of her ongoing custody battle with her ex.
This casting joke seems like a desperate ploy for publicity on Rebboah's part. The filmmaker has just two past credits listed on IMDB, the most significant being as an associate producer on the indie picture The Guitar, which is set to premiere at Sundance in January 2008 and stars Boston Legal's elevator sex addict, Saffron Burrows. Rebboah claims Lily Tomlin and Melanie Griffith are both considering roles in his new film, and says Spears “likes the idea." Yeah, right, y'all.
Does one size fit all when it comes to worship? And should that size be XXL? Brian Tome, the lead pastor at Crossroads Community Church in Cincinnati, OH seems to think so as he proselytizes on the benefits of consolidation.
"There too many freakin' churches in every city. It's crazy that you've got a town of maybe ten thousand people and you have ten churches of the same exact denomination in that town," says Tome, in this Current TV interview (click HERE to view if player fails to load). Tome feels the megachurch phenomenon, which has grown tenfold in the last three decades, is the work of God. He also seems to want his parish to become a little over-dependent on his Goliath of a church, which is more than a little worrying.
"If it wasn't for this church we would be screwed," says Tome, "that should be the legacy of every single church." Hmnn? Would the big guy really approve of such megalomania? I hope not. "If the community that you're residing in doesn't come to the recognition where if you were extracted and left there, that they would be screwed, then you should screw yourself," Tome continues. "You should just leave right now. You're taking up valuable land that could be a Target."
Perhaps Wal-Mart may be a better analogy in Tome's last statement. As super-churches push the little guys out, surely the community suffers as they trade their individuality to join a larger flock. How can a pastor possibly get to know each and every one of his parishioners in a church as large as Crossroads? How can they understand and serve the needs of five thousand? Don't we suffer from too much consolidation in our lives, rather than not enough, as Tome seems to think?
Hey, I get the fact that some people may appreciate the relative anonymity of being a small fish in a big pond. Others might get off on the energy that large gatherings create, and the rock concert-worthy service production values that such organizations can support. People have different needs from their churches, and different ways of feeling closer to their god, which is why I disagree with Tome's bigger is better philosophy. Bigger is not necessarily better, just different, which is what some individuals may want.
On the upside, though Tome's church looks like a Discount Shoe Warehouse from the outside, he shuns the buy-your-way-to-faith markets found in many other blockbuster churches. At Crossroads they give away books and CDs, feeling their mission is to "bless people" rather than cash in on the congregation, which puts them way ahead of many more commercialized mega-churches in my book.
Carbon offsetting is the environmental equivalent of going to confessional. Obviously it's much better not to have sinned in the first place, but, if you do, a few Hail Mary's can certainly help atone for your misdeeds, taking the weight of the sin off your soul.
Terra Pass offsets the damage of your CO2-squandering misdemeanors, by funding planet-positive projects (such as wind farms) on your behalf. Their eco credentials are regularly audited by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions, so you know your green guilt money is in goods hands.
You can give the gift of a guilt-free 2008 with Terra Pass' themed gift certificates. Their annual Road TerraPass promises a year of carbon balanced driving. Prices start from $29.95 to offset low mileage hybrid drivers, to $79.95 for high mileage drivers of large cars or trucks. Other options include the Flight Offset pass (ranging from $9.95 for a "puddle jumper" to $1,749.95 for the serious "aviator") and the Home Energy pass (ranging from $29.94 for a small home to $139.72 for a mansion dweller).
Take advantage of the season to encourage your friends and loved ones to get fit or take up that hobby they've always talked about. You'll find many local gyms, and dance or yoga studios have special holiday gift membership programs, but if you're stumped as to where to start looking, The Daily Mantra has a few suggestions:
Yogaworks, which have studios in Los Angeles, New York and Orange County, offer gift cards that can be exchanged for classes or goodies from their store, or a combination of the two. Members of the super hip Equinox gyms can buy one-month gift memberships starting at $135.00 to get non-members into the gym thing. More utilitarian than the luxury Equinox clubs, Gold's Gym are offering three-month gift memberships for just $99, and have locations in 40 states.
Venturing further out of the box, Great American Days offer a wide range of activities at locations nationwide. Their experience voucher scheme is an excellent way to introduce someone to a new hobby or sport. You can preselect an activity from an extensive list which includes: paint balling (from $21), mountain biking (from $29), horseback riding (from $60), scuba diving, whitewater rafting (from $58), kayaking (from $85), rock climbing (from $69), golfing (from $67), surfing (from $55), and stock car racing (from $60), to name but a few. Or give a voucher for a preset value and let your giftee decide what they'd like to try out. For those that are less active, they also offer vouchers for more sedate activities such as bowling (form $34), sushi making lessons (from $80) and perfume workshops (from $40).
Whether the recipient is 6 or 60, a chance to get out of a rut, get fit, and/or learn a new sport or skill is truly a priceless gift.
Today is Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day. Unfortunately I only found out about it just before 7 p.m. (PST). I've therefore just got changed into my dressing gown, and have put a cup of coffee on, and am pretending I have traveled back 12 hours to 7 a.m., so I can live the day again with my new found knowledge. If you want to join in, check the Wired website for the rules, which I've already broken by writing this blog entry (you're not supposed to tell people you're a time traveler in case they think you're crazy????).
As a Pretend To Be A Time Traveler Day bonus I'll leave you with this special 7 minute Dr. Who episode (if player fails to load, click HERE to view). Broadcast exclusively in the UK as part of a Children In Need charity telethon, it features both the fifth time-traveling doctor, Peter Davison (1982-1984), as well as the current master of the Tardis, David Tennant.
Running after the most popular toy on your child's behalf is one way of demonstrating your love. To teach about a less consumerist approach to the holidays, you might in addition or instead make the toys and other goodies that you give to your kids. A hand made gift can make a deep impression on a young, impressionable mind. It sends a message of engagement, creativity, self-reliance, freedom and the pleasure of trying something new.
If this sort of option appeals to you but you feel your skills or ideas may be deficient, several websites offer suggestions and instructions. Knitting-and.com gives directions on how to make knit and stuffed teddy bears, Sewing.org offers free patterns and instructions on how to sew adorable washcloth puppets, and SouthernMomsOnline.com teaches you how to transform a cardboard box into a dollhouse. These are just a few of many, many options. Chances are, if you want to make it, you will find instructions for doing so online.
A fantastic holiday activity for families is to deputize children as junior elves themselves. They and you can work together making the gifts your family will give. An excellent book, Gifts Kids Can Make
Not so sure your kids will welcome your handicrafts? Prime them for your hand made presents by reading aloud to them from the Laura Ingalls Wilder's books
The Daily Mantra indulged in one of our guilty pleasures, hitting the Spice Girls
Posh may not be the best singer, Sporty may not have Posh's looks (but makes up for it with a voice that beats the rest), and Baby may have been carrying a few extra pounds of post-pregnancy fat but sang and danced like she didn't care (so neither did we). And that's the point. Instead of being a ubiquitous homogenized group, they celebrate their individuality, each bringing what they can to the table to create something very unique. It was refreshing to see a performance that didn't pimp the bump n' grind (Scary Mel B may have got saucy once or twice, but she wasn't baring her crotch like Beyoncé) or pander to the unhealthy consumerist bling-bling thing. They delivered a warm-hearted, family-friendly (honoring their kids and mom's with a cute video montage during "Mama"), well produced, fun-packed show. "People of the world, Spice up your life." Indeed.
The New Jersey Chapter of the Muslim American Society chose YouTube as their medium to distribute the message of peace and unity in their video I Am Muslin (click HERE to view if player doesn't load). This witty short certainly gets the message across, challenging popular misconceptions, and white-robe wearing, camel-riding, date-eating, tent-dwelling stereotypes.
While we're at it: I am English. I do not have bad teeth. I don't know your friend that once visited London eighteen months ago. Nor do I know the Queen (though I have a friend that does). We have indoor plumbing (indeed our toilets flush way better than yours do and rarely get blocked thanks to wider pipes). We also probably have better cell phones than the one in your pocket or purse (thanks to more competition in the marketplace and the adoption of the GSM world standard). Our TV technology is also of a higher quality than yours; we have PAL versus NTSC, which even American techies and geeks joke is an acronym for Never The Same Color, AND we have set top boxes that deliver free digital TV, no cable or satellite dish needed (you could too if it weren't for the killjoys at the FCC). We're not all soccer mad (though most of us, guys as well as girls, like David Beckham). Our food isn't awful (where do American's eat when they visit the U.K.?). In England a crumpet isn't something you eat (even the mighty Wikipedia's wrong on this one), it's something you shag (like David Beckham). We don't live 24/7 surrounded by fog, and we don't all talk like Dick Van Dyke. In fact none of us do. He was born in West Plains, Missouri and had the worst Hollywood mockney accent ever in Mary Poppins
What stereotypes and misconceptions about your nationality, faith or culture irk you? Set the record straight in our comments section.
Rupert Murdoch's Fox Entertainment Group has bought itself a whole lotta faith acquiring Beliefnet, "the largest spiritual website." Founded in 1999, Beliefnet had prided itself on being "independent and not affiliated with any spiritual organization or movement." The site will now become part of Fox Digital Media, whose portfolio also includes online networking monolith Myspace.
"Beliefnet has garnered respect for its commitment to quality, editorial strength and unbiased approach to faith and spirituality from a broad range of consumers, religious and political leaders, journalists and advertisers," said Dan Fawcett, President of Fox Digital Media, in a statement released to the media late yesterday. "FEG's goal is to leverage these characteristics across a broader media canvas and provide programming, production, advertising sales, technology and marketing expertise that will enhance an already terrific product in a rapidly growing market."
"FEG's vast resources will enable Beliefnet to expand our audience, enhance our offerings and more effectively carry out our mission to help people find and walk a spiritual path that brings comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness," said Steven Waldman, Beliefnet's CEO, Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder.
The move will leave many rolling their eyes in a country that strongly associates the Fox brand with the religious right. However in the U.K., where Murdoch has been a mass market media player for much longer, his corporations' outlets are known for being more flexible, moving with the popular political currents of the time to achieve more power and influence through greater market share. (These tactics have helped Murdoch's News Corporation become the world's third largest media conglomerate, behind Time Warner and Disney.)
In the late 90's there was a significant shift in the editorial slant of Murdoch's British news outlets as Margaret Thatcher and John Major's monetarist empire was being swept aside due to increasing popular support for "New Labour" and its promise of more egalitarian trickle-up economics. Sensing the changing political tide, Murdoch held a come-to-Jesus meeting with left-wing Labour leader Tony Blair in Australia in Dec '96, where it was agreed that some of his outlets would switch teams in exchange for future political concessions. In May '97, with Murdoch's support, Blair swept to victory in the General Elections, becoming the first Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in nearly two decades.
This is just one example of Murdoch's Machiavellian machinations as a king-maker. Perhaps with Beliefnet the media mogul has aspirations on influencing the offices of those above mere kings, trading fleeting political power for something more divine.
Gift cards are often a great option, they're cheap to mail and mean your giftee ultimately gets exactly what they want. But have you ever wondered how many go unused? According to research conducted by the TowerGroup, more than 10% of gift cards are never used.
That's a lot of lost purchase power when you consider that according to the Incentive Gift Card Council 87.7% of shoppers will purchase two or more gift cards this season, with the average consumer being expected to spend $122.59 on cards versus $116.51 in 2006. With sales expected to exceed a total of $26 billion in the run up to Christmas alone, that's $2.6 billion worth of cards that are likely to go unredeemed – just from this holiday season!
The smart folks at GiftCardGiver.com have come up with a great idea to release the potential of these unused cards. They match donated cards with appropriate charities. A Home Depot card for example might go to Habitat for Humanity. Other charities that benefit include The American Red Cross, Children's Health Care Hospitals, Big Brother Big Sister and the Salvation Army.
If you have an unwanted or half-used card you'd like to donate, simply write how much is left on your card using a permanent marker and mail to:
GiftCardGiver.com,
554 West Main Street, Bldg A, Suite 200,
Buford, GA 30518
The Documentary Network is a veritable online goldmine of shorts and full-length features. Visitors can watch sample documentaries from a selection of 81 for free. Repeat customers can register and watch more stuff for free, plus a further selection of pay-per-view films which start at around 1 Euro (approx $1.50). As an added bonus, funds go directly to the filmmakers, minus a modest hosting fee, which makes this a great way of cutting big media distributors out of the equation.
The Daily Mantra got sucked in watching the illuminating Global Dimming, a Nova/BBC production that hypothesizes that the true power of global warming has been significantly underestimated, being masked by the counter effects of global dimming, which is caused by visible pollution such as smog and airplane contrails. To support this theory they interview scientists who collected and analyzed data from 5,000 weather stations taken during the three days after 9/11 when a flight moratorium was imposed, and our skies were free of planes and their contrails for the first time in decades. The three-day period created a sudden data spike, with the temperature change jumping significantly.
Continuing on the 9/11 theme, the Documentary Network has the seminal internet conspiracy flick, Loose Change, which outlines numerous inconsistencies and loopholes in the official version of how 9/11 played out. In the interest of being fair and balanced they're also showing Conspiracy Theory, which sets out to debunk the debunkers, and The Great Global Warming Swindle, which has a pretty self-explanatory title and should appeal to the diminishing pool of flat-earthers.
Talking of being fair and balanced, the Documentary Network also has OutFOXed, which documents "Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism." One journalist who certainly won't be suppressed however is Greg Palast, who showcases his homage to Bush's Election Fraud on the site. In his 15 minute short he succinctly explores the statistical anomalies of the "spoiled" and simply "not-counted" 2004 votes, and shares with us some misdirected emails from Rove to Bush which indicate the not-so-dynamic duo are plotting to use illegal caging-list techniques to steal the election in '08.
Other films well worth viewing include the Pirates of Silicon Valley, which takes a humorous look at the characters in the Jobs' and Gates' camps who formed the technological landscape we know today, and the eye-opening Origins of Aids, which explores the idea that the disease may have infected humans due to contaminated oral vaccinations made from chimpanzee tissue that were used in an immunization program in the Belgium Congo. (Indeed something similar occured here in the U.S. in the 1950's with the polio vaccine which was contaminated with the simian virus SV40, potentially exposing 98 million Americans to the monkey disease which has been linked to cancer in humans.)
It's often said that truth is stranger than fiction, and continuing in this spirit there's documentaries on corrupt world governments (The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and Stealing A Nation), the CIA (Crack The CIA and Secrets of The CIA), Iraq (Baghdad ER, The Power of Nightmares and Iraq For Sale), and the environment (Biofuels: Think Outside The Barrel), plus an investigation into the conspiracy theory perhaps above all others, the "faked" lunar landing (Moon Hoax: Astronauts Gone Wild), which all add up to a most enlightening video vault that remains open long after Blockbuster closes the doors on their edited-for-content DVDs.
A pair of intrepid geeks, Dan Egnor and Heath Hunnicutt of 8ball.ofb.net, have tempted fate and performed an autopsy on a Magic 8-Ball in an attempt to uncover its great mysteries. With power tool in hand they began with some exploratory drilling. After failing in their initial attempt to drain the ball of its murky blue liquid prior to opening, they switched to a rotary tool to split the shiny black outer case.
Inside they discovered an inner-white chamber which houses the heart of the sacred Mattel oracle. At this point the duo sought one final prophecy from the core of the 8-Ball before completely deconstructing it. It said, "Outlook not so good," which, under the circumstances, was pretty accurate. After draining the blue fluid from the inner sanctum, using two drilled drain holes, a final incision was made into the cylinder and the answer device was extracted.
Further examination of the fortune-telling icosahedron revealed that 50% of the planes carried positive messages, 25% carried negative messages, with the remaining 25% carrying vague non-answers such as "Better not tell you now." Further investigation into the fluid revealed that out of a test group of two, 100% reported it had a "hideous taste" and experienced "numbness on the application area" when a small amount was applied to the testers tongues, and 50% experienced side effects including "blue fingers" and a "headache." Click HERE to view detailed notes and photos of the procedure.
The Daily Mantra would urge its readers not to try this at home. Research such as this should be left strictly in the hands of professionals. Though the mechanics of the Magic 8-Ball may have been revealed, the mystery still lies in the eye of the beholder. For those in immediate need of answers, click HERE to consult Mattel's virtual online 8-Ball oracle.
Guerilla cuddler Juan Mann took his Free Hugs campaign from the streets of Australia via YouTube to Oprah Winfrey's TV studios. Along the way a lot of authority types got very worried about liability, bi-laws and red-tape, as like-minded cells of renegade huggers surfaced across the world. (We got our free hugs in Victoria, B.C. - see photo below.) At one point Mann got banned from doing his street corner hug deals in his hometown by city officials who couldn't get their heads around his hugs-not-slugs brand of subversion (see previous There's No Such Thing As A Free Hug story). So on October 22, 2007, Mann decided to move his Free Hugs campaign indoors for a while, offering an open house to anyone who fancied stopping by his humble abode at 30 Bucknell Street in Newtown, New South Wales - and that's when his troubles really began.
In the first 36 days of Mann's planned year-long open house, around 80 guests dropped in for a little hospitality. Some offered knowledge in return, others offered bribes (a TV producer offered cash if Mann would pull out of a scheduled interview with a rival station), and one rather-too-enthusiastic young lady even pinched Mann's bum after cooking him dinner. But on the whole, all seemed to be going well. Many of the conversations with those who stopped by were recorded and put up on the newly launched JuanMann.tv website, as well as on YouTube, where Mann has a burgeoning viewership.
Unfortunately one of Mann's new viewers turned out to be his landlord, who subsequently evicted him, complaining that his activities posed "a security risk to the building" and a potential "nuisance to the neighbors." Consequently, with just 21 days left in his current abode and a mere $9.16 in his pocket, the hapless hugger is on the hunt for a new place he can call hug-central.
Those who are sympathetic to Mann's plight can order a Free Hugs T-shirt from RemoGeneralStore.com/FreeHugs. Between now and Christmas you'll get one shirt free with every shirt ordered. And since 25% of the purchase price will go directly towards a new home that Mann says "you are more than welcome" to visit him in, it really is a great gift. Let's recap: buy one shirt, get one free, and get an open invitation to hang out with Mann at is new pad in NSW - plus all the hugs you can handle – a bargain at just $31.22 (plus shipping).
Ben Underwood is an inspirational teen, who despite losing his sight to retinal cancer when he was just two years old, has never chosen to see the limitations his blindness might impose. As a toddler, Ben taught himself to use echolocation instead of a cane. Making clicks with his mouth and fingers, he can detect the size, shape, composition and distance of objects. The technique works a little like sonar, and is similar to that used by animals such as dolphins and bats. Ben has become so adept at using echolocation to navigate his way through life, that he can now rollerblade and skateboard with confidence, and plays basketball and foosball - to win - with his friends and siblings. As this CBS News video clip (click HERE to view if player doesn't load) shows, he also has an unfailingly accurate aim when it comes to pillow fights.
Energy-saving light bulbs are the perfect gift for the person who has everything, since the kind of person who has everything is probably too busy watching their flat screen TV or playing with their Playstation 3 to take care of such eco-details. This is truly a gift that keeps giving, especially if you offer to fit them too (thus ensuring they don't go straight from the bottom of a Christmas tree to the back of a cupboard).
Buy an energy-saving E26 bulb from Ikea for a mere $3.99 and you'll likely save its recipient $30 in energy costs over its lifetime. Think about it, if you give four bulbs as a gift, which would cost you less than $16, it's really like giving away a whopping $120.
Ikea's energy efficient bulbs use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs, and last up to 10 time longer. What's more the company's so cool it gave all of its 9,600 British employees six of the bulbs to take home in an effort to save the planet, and promises to replace them for free when they eventually expire (see Guardian story). According to Energy Star, if every household in America replaced just one bulb with an approved low-energy replacement the emissions saved would be equivalent to more than 800,000 cars - now that is reason to celebrate!
