Street Books - Madame Bovary Gustave Flaubert

Found - Central Park, NYC
Picked up because - Its a classic

In the days of high speed Internet and cable T.V. its hard to realize how monotonous life was back in the 1850's. In France at the time there was a big difference between everyday life and the popular novels. Gustave Flaubert wanted to point out this fact in his first novel "Madame Bovary." In this story a young Doctor marries an older widow his mother picked out. Then he becomes a widow himself, ah such is life. When he meets the young Miss Bovary she marries the Doctor. He moves from one small town to a slightly bigger town in northern France, near Rouen in Normandy to please his new wife. The book is told through his "eyes" till this point. Then the reader gets into Madame Bovary head. She wants luxury and romance, but gets bored with her not so sharp husband. Walk with her down the wrong road of infidelity and debt. This bestseller of the 1850's was put on trial when it came out for "offenses against morality and religion." The story of longing and seduction is considered a masterpiece. Reading it now over a century latter the themes seem to echo forward. After all life might be different but the struggles of love are the same.

Greedaid -- Change for Change

Here is a great idea on how to bring the green back into our inner-city neighborhoods. This company makes "Seedbombs" that are dispensed by candy machines. This is a way to use your change to make a real difference. This mixture of clay, compost, and seeds will take that vacant lot and bring it back to the green side of the spectrum. By anonymously throwing this green explosion one can make what was gray and empty green again. This is as much about awareness as it is plants. If some of these derelict urban site's become randomly green it makes people think. Maybe we could be using this space better. If this does not help support public gardens and green space, what does? They will send you a "SeedBoumb" Vending Machine anywhere. The best part is that they are all ready out there. From the street and all you have to do is put in your change and make a change in what surrounds you.

San Francisco at Bi-Rite Market
Denver Co at Unity Boutique
New York Machine @ Union Square Market on Wednesdays Andrew's Honey Stand
http://thecommonstudio.com/index.php?/project/greenaid/

This was found in ReadyMade Magazine..
http://www.readymade.com/
More from ReadyMade....Recycled Artistic trash Can..
http://www.readymade.com/projects/small_mighty_rich_brilliant_willings_artistic_trash_can Remote Control Drawer Pulls..
http://www.readymade.com/projects/macgyver_challenge_remote_control

Common Studios: Green Aid from ISHOTHIM on Vimeo.

D.I.Y. Shower Curtain

Using fabric to decorate will soften and add texture to any room even the bathroom. Here is a quick and easy way to add color to even the smallest of bathrooms. It is not hard to find scarfs around. They are in abundance at Thrift stores, in lost and founds everywhere, or maybe an old closet. Just pin together Scarfs that match in some way. Then use big safety pins to connect the scarfs to the rings of a plastic shower curtain. This can be any plastic shower curtain.Like the ugly ones they sell at dollar stores. No one will know because the outer layer is beautiful fabric. Silk scarfs work well, they dry fast. If you would like to change the look just find different scarfs. One,Two, Three and your done.

CouchSurfing

You can not take a couch into the ocean so just put that out of your mind. No, that's not what CouchSurfing is all about. To be a couch surfer one does not even have to know how to swim or be close to the water. This is a internet sight that helps traveler's get around the world by staying on couches, in extra rooms, on floors and sometimes camping in front yards. This is the green way to travel. No extra energy used to cool/heat a hotel room. No mass amounts of linens to wash every day. No electric signs or all night lights. No small plastic shampoos and extra soap. Just nice people that want to share their culture along with their homes. Why would you give your money to big corporations or strange motels. Hostels are one way to travel and most of them are as green as they can be. Most hostels leave you with a nice bed and a small breakfast, but no more outside help with checking out the city then a map. Some hostels are great but booked. With the help of this site you can stay with locals and they know the skinny on everything worth seeing when you are short on time. The important thing to do is have a full profile and join your city's group. Then you get to meet fellow surfers when you go out where you live. Make connections, friends, and get a good sense of the world by meeting surfers from all over. Hosting is fun and pretty safe because of how well the site is put together. If you don't get to see other countries then bring those countries to you by hosting someone from that side of the globe. This is a new and greener why to see the world.

http://www.couchsurfing.org/

Grub - A Community Dinner

One way to be green and promote the community is to have a Grub. This is kind of like a potluck/gathering that is good for you and the environment. Some people that have them now are active in other community projects like Food-not-bombs and Really Really Free Markets. You can join them at their table or set up one of your own. Just collect food that is wasted, or bring together ingredients from everyone's kitchens. Some food co-ops could help with this kind of neighborhood dinner. Volunteers can be asked to show up early to help cook. Others can stay and clear the plates with full bellies. This is a way for people to meet and have a easy going good time. The whole DIY approach is refreshing. Small gatherings can bring lots of people together in a big way.

NYC Grub - A Community Dinner
Grub is a free and open community dinner hosted by A New World In Our Hearts on the first and third Sundays of every month.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=80510307592#!/group.php?gid=80510307592&v=wallgid=80510307592&v=wall

Host a Community Dinner
How-To-Guide at : http://www.eatgrub.org/?page_id=29

Food-not-Bombs --
http://www.foodnotbombs.net/

Really Really Free Markets --
http://recyclechic.blogspot.com/2009/09/really-really-free-markets.html

Street Books - Valley of the Dolls Jacqueline Susann

Found - Coat check in Atlantic City
Picked up because - wanted to read again

Vally of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann was a instant hit. Her tale of three friends brought together by life in 1940's New York City, was a sensation in 1966. Even now one can find it in every book store, or when getting coats from a casino in Atlantic City. This book is worth reading a second time. This is hard because when you lend it out to people it never comes back. That's what happens with really good books, they come in and out of your life. New York, if you can make it there you can make it anywhere, hard to say why this rings true. People come to New York to catch a dream. Each of Jacqueline's women has a dream to achieve, each one has heart to break, and each find help in the "Dolls." Those beautiful little helpers that keep everything on track. This story is set when women were on the verge of liberation. It has all the dangers that have to be overcome to make it on your own. Read it and then pass it on, its that good.

Landmark Theaters

Landmark Theaters is not only America's largest independent film theater group, they are also as "Green" as the movies can get. This independent "chain" of theaters have over fifty theaters around the USA. In 1974 this company started as "Landmark Theaters" living up to the name by fixing up old movie houses, restoring them to former glory. Form California to New York they saved theaters by putting restored classics, documentaries and indie films on their 224 screens. Not only helping the historic look of some neighborhoods but also helping the community by bring patrons back into the "Downtown's." Some of the best of these restorations have won awards like the Tivoli in St. Louis, the Inwood in Dallas and the Oriental in Milwaukee. This year they have become even more conscious and started using Biodegradable Popcorn bags, along with the other 100% recycled paper products used through out the theaters. (Napkins, TP, Paper Towels, Office paper, Etc.) Every theater also recycles Paper, Plastic, and Cardboard following state guide lines. All this and more. There Tickets are printed on receipt paper, which is thinner than card stock. This saves paper and time at the Box Office. Inside at Candy counter you will find the old stand by like Milk Duds and JR Mints with other upscale refreshments, and plenty of smiles. They even have that impossible to find Independent film on DVD. In some city's patrons get the advantage of staying up late for Midnight Movies. So If you love movies and want to support not only independent Film but also a "Green" minded theater check out a "Landmark Theatre" near you.



http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Index.htm

Join the Film Club and get Show times and specials:
http://filmclub.landmarktheatres.com/

The Oil Spill is Not the Only Petroleum in the Ocean..

In this modern time we have given up a lot for the luxury and convenience. Anyone that thinks that this oil spill in the Gulf, not to be taken lightly, is the only plague to our oceans is wrong. Our society's addiction to plastic has caused a disaster in the Pacific. In the gulf the Petro spills from a man made well that was made because we are addicted to oil, but if you think that oil is just used for gas prepared to be surprised. Petroleum is used in the production of plastics and the demand for this toxic "product of the Future" has made any other option "obsolete." Plastic has taken over. We used to rely on more organic materials that biodegraded much easier with little harm to our environment. These traditional materials like wood; stone; horn and bone; leather; paper; metal; glass; and ceramic are looked over by corporations because of how easy and cheap plastic became. Now plastic is not as easy or cheap with the cost of Petro going up all the Time. Plastic recycling in not as easy as people think. The many different types of plastic make sorting hard and time consuming, and not all plastic gets to the recycle bin. Billion's of tons of plastic has been discarded and most will not biodegrade for hundreds or even thousands of years. Where does this plastic go? Into land fills and other dumping grounds? Well to much of it ends up in the ocean. Then the currents swirl around this floating menace till it collects together. According to Wikipedia the scientists estimate the size of this Garbage Patch to be about the size of Texas to one larger than the continental United States. “At this point, cleaning it up isn’t an option. It’s just going to get bigger as our reliance on plastics continues. … The long-term solution is to stop producing as much plastic products at home and change our consumption habits.”, said Chris Parry, public education program manager with the California Coastal Commission in San Francisco. If we expect to be able to clean up the gulf then why not put forth effort to stop the "Garbage Patch" from getting even bigger. Right now samples taken show that plastic particles big, small, and tiny are at 80% with plankton only taking 20%. This means that fish and other wild life that eat plankton are digesting more plastic then there food sorce. "digesting" is the wrong word because they can't get the plastic out of there bodys. This posin is making its way into our meals in Tuna and othe wild cought fish. Is the Pasic the ony ocean that is plouted? Will other floting plastc ilands start popping up in other bodys of water? Right now from space you can see the Great wall of China, the lights of Vages, and the "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLrVCI4N67M&feature=player_embedded

Apology

The author of this blog has been slow with posting because of a family emergency. This has keep her from posting for sometime. We apologize and will be posting soon.

Green Organic Dry Cleaning

If you are truly chic, than you have some "dry clean only" garments in your closet. If you are truly Green, then you need the skinny on a better way to dry clean. Most traditional Dry Cleaners use harmful Perchloroethylene (Perc). There are greener ways to do dry cleaning and some companies want you spend your greener dollar with them. The most environmentally friendly Wet-Cleaning and GreenEarth technologies can be better for customers and the environment. The State of California has approved using GreenEarth™ Cleaning technology that uses sand (of all things) to clean your clothes. Then there is Carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning that uses high pressure to make carbon dioxide gas into liquid. This liquid helps biodegradable soaps clean clothes before the pressure turns it back into a gas. It all sounds confusing and it is. Some of these "clean" methods are not as clean as they say. Not only are some of the things that replace Perchloroethylene (Perc) just as bad, but some chemicals are worse. Like Hydrocarbon solvents that are petroleum-based and contribute to greenhouse gases by emitting volatile organic compounds. (VOCs) The only way to be sure is to ask questions, look up facts and make a informed decision. There are lots of other ways dry cleaning can clean up their act, like using recycled hangers and paper instead of plastic whenever possible. What about the trucks driving clothes around? How green are they? The best thing is to find a way to be a green consumer that makes it easy for you. Here are some sites to help.....


http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/garment/gcrg/cleanguide.pdf

http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/ppc/cleaner_near_you.htm

http://www.greencleanerscouncil.com/

Green laundry at home:
http://www.greenworkscleaners.com/laundry/

Street Books - Inner City Hoodlum Donald Goines

Found - Eastern Parkway and Washington Ave across the street from the Brooklyn Museum of Art
Picked up because - The name of the book "Inner City Hoodlum"

This is a short little fiction that is set in the "Cesspool of Los Angeles." This story is about the streets and from the streets. This is the last book from who is concerted one of the first African American writers of urban fiction Donald Goines. Inner City Hoodlum, which Goines had finished before his death, was published posthumously in 1975. Donald did have a hard life on the streets. He Lived and finally died on the streets when he and his wife were shot to death in Detroit one October night. Goines has been a thief, a pimp, drug dealer and an addict. He has lived the life of his characters. He wrote 16 books in just five years, most in jail or the Penitentiary. Some of his books have become films, such as "Never Die Alone" and "Crime Partners" with Ice-T and Snoop Dogg. Many rappers have praised Goines and his writing like RZA, 2Pac, Nas, Ghostface Killah, Ludacris, and Common. This career criminal with seven prison sentences proved he could also be a writer and could give the "real" story from the ghetto. In this book he has a good story of two friends that get pulled deeper and deeper into the "game." A story that runs into some tight spots that make it that much more exciting. To bad this author was gunned down in the streets and the identity of the killer or killers remains unknown.

Note About Phones

There are lots of products that are made better every year. There are new innovations all the time and technology has to keep up. Like Cadillac did with cars, Phone companys are doing with personal hand held devices. Every time one of these "New phones" come out lots of people run in to buy them. Even if you are not at all the type to run to the store for a "New phone," sooner or latter you have to go in and get an upgrade. This is cool and fun and totally acceptable if you think before you buy. Yes, Yes check out what you want in a phone before you go into the store. BUT also think about recycling the old phone, charger and any other phone related electric devices. Most every phone place takes old stuff for recycling. Not just the big guys, even the little place on down the street. They know like us that the plastic, resins and other chemicals used in the production of electrics are harmful and should be recycled properly. Not just in the trash or in a box next to your trash. There are other ways to give it away like Craiglist, freecycle, or a Really Really Free Market. BUT if you think before you buy. Take in the old equipment when you go in for the new one. Then its all done and off you brain. This mind set works on more levels. More and More stores are taking in the Old to sell you the New.

Street Books - Present at the Future Ira Flatow

Found- Ludlow and Stanton St. in the LES.

Picked up because - Ira Flatow is on NPR.
Ira Flatow is the heart of NPR's Science Friday. He has come out with a book to help us realize that we live in the future now. This book makes things like Cosmology and Nanotechnology look easy, well easy to explain anyway. He does us a favor by breaking down science principles in such a light hearted way. The first five chapters look inward to the mind. These are kind of a searching exercise for you brain. Then he moves out to space before coming home again to Global Warming. This look at the energy crises does not stop there. No Mr. Flatow dives deep into the types of energy we use and could be using in the future. One of the most eye opening chapters is about technology at its smallest, Nanoscale Science and Engineering. Before it all over he dabbles in the everyday science he likes to point out in a segment he calls "Beauty in the Details." In this book Ira Flatow shows us that the future is now so we are all "Present at the Future."

Some Green Tips for the Kitchen

Lets face facts most of the the waste in American house holds comes out of the kitchen. There are lots of new appliances and new green products to go out and buy, but there are some cheap tips to use in the kitchen too. You can start at the market where you buy your food. The place that you choose to shop at is key. Some are lucky to have farmers markets and organic groceries. Others live in neighborhoods with lots of small family owned stores to shop at. For those who have no choice and have to shop at mega stores with fluorescent lights and big air conditioners try to find one with a store brand you can trust. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are some of the greener supermarkets out there. Some supermarkets in the nation have joined GreenChill and reduced their emissions and are emitting fewer ozone-depleting refrigerants and greenhouse gases than their competitors. Its important to try new places all the time to find the right store for you. At the store there are decisions to make. Do they have a bulk section? Buying things in bulk or in bigger containers means less waste. When you check the packaging there is one or two things to look for. After checking out the Nutrition Facts look further to where the product was manufactured, most of the time one can find a local brand. The less traveling the food does to make it to the shelf the less impact it has on the environment. Then avoid individually packaged items and look for brands that minimize packaging. Look for you favorite foods in one package not two. You can find things that are not bagged and then boxed. If you buy stuff that comes in only one package then you are throwing out less. When at home you can cut down on waste too. Grow your own spices in your window or buy them fresh. Then right before they go bad dry them out in paper bags or hang them in a window to dry. If you saved the last basil container or a small glass jar you can refill your dried spices without throwing anything out. Same goes for bread crumbs, save the tin and when the last two slices or the end Pieces are left toast them and break up into the old bread crumb tin. You can also make your own croutons in the oven. Also if you save your extra pieces of vegetables that you don't use in traditional cooking in the freezer you can boil up some great for everything vegetable stock that will stay good is a glass jar for a week. Food and spices are not the only way to waste not-want not in the kitchen. We all should have stopped buying trash bags long ago and should be using the plastic bags that seem turn up (no matter how hard we try) inside our homes from purchases. There are easy ways to reuse these bags in an organized way. (see Plastic Bags Organized under label plastic) Taking paper bags whenever possible is better for the environment and you can save them too. In and around the sink can be taken care of in a green way. If you don't have a double sink make one by using a big bowl or pot for the soapy water. If you think you need all the harsh chemicals to clean you counter, stove, fridge or floor your wrong. You could go out and buy the new green cleaning products. Or by using house hold items like Backing Soda, Salt, Vinegar, Lemon even Water Softener and Toothpaste you can save the earth from all the weird chemicals in cleaners bought from the store.

GreenChill Stores:
http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/04/30/how-green-in-your-grocery-store/

Check out PBS's Cleaning Guru - Haley's Hints
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/haleys_cleaning.php
http://feministreview.blogspot.com/2009/05/haleys-hints-green-edition.html

Green Cleaning Tips:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/14-green-kitchen-cleaning-tips.htm

Lots of green Tips check out
Make Your Own Eco-Friendly Dishwasher Detergent
10 Tips for Using Apple Cider Vinegar
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/food-recipes/cooking-tips