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While most of us sit around at home on unemployment, wishing the holidays weren’t about to end and wondering “what the hell am I going to do in 2010?” – Our friends Chris Clark and Derrik Kapalla are busy shaping the future (pun intended). I just read some awesome press they got in SURFER Magazine and I want to keep the momentum going. The issue, Board Buyers Guide 2010, hits news stands this week but you can read the whole profile online and show support by following them on twitter. Cheers to working hard and doing what you love!
Our East Coast friends are at it again. Leah Goren & Diwa Tamrong (founders of LVEO) were asked to curate the December edition of Pilfered Maganizne’s, The Annex. “Founded on the spirit of web democracy, and built to aid in communicating ideas and concepts,” Pilfered is an online publication that encourages “artists, photographers, designers, and the inspired” to share striking visuals they’ve pilfered from the web. The issue is available for download here. Please view it and spread the good word.
Don’t know what to do with those empty lighters laying around your place except to regretfully throw them into the trash? Take them apart and you’ve got classy paper clips for your notes. Utilize the bottom part of the lighters for colorful stands for board game pieces. Don’t play with fire. Play with sustainability. via (embrace)
Today is December 15th and my mom continues to remind me that she needs me to write down a list of things I want for Christmas. I am like you. I like things. Many things are valuable to me and some things, I’m sure, are necessary for living. Somewhere along the line, long before I was born, thing-makers decided to make shitty-things – either that or we decided on (or were tricked into) liking shitty-things - I’m not really sure. I’ve heard of many scholars researching these ideas and finding valid whos, whens and whys on our acceptance of shitty-things but for me, it’s simply a matter of common sense. I don’t want any more shitty-things[period] I told my mom that this is the reason I have trouble making a list of things I want – I simply don’t know if the things I want exist. Maybe only cheap replicas of the things I want exist. Let it be known – there are manufacturers that still believe in the quality of their product; that still “make ‘em like they used to.” BillyKirk is really great example… that’s why I wanted to share this video.
[foot note]
There exists a dilemma, however.
Most people can’t afford nice things (or even healthy food for that matter) The things that are accessible to people like me tend only to be industrial replicas of nice things that once-upon-a-time actually held value and were passed down generations. The realization that the only things I ‘legitimately want’ are either used and impossible to find or hand made and too expensive makes the annual Christmas List quite a challenge for me to create, if not a ‘catch 22′ in itself. Sorry Ma’ just get me a box of Ferrero Rocher – I’ll love you either way.
I come from the highest avocado producing county in the United States. I know how to treat an avocado. The most preferred method of preparation is the Taco Bell style “Guack-a-mohl-EEE dip.”
Today you will learn how to properly construct guacamole.
Red Onion (dice) as much or little as you want. I go big in this area.
Cilantro (tear) this is non-negotiable. Anyone not including cilantro is very likely also a user of sour cream and tomato, an unconscionable offense.
Garlic (mince) maybe go with a darker purple hardneck if available.
Lime (juice) or Lemon :)
Salt (sprinkle) go with a sea salt producer in your area.
Avocado (crush) with a heavy handed drop of your knife, chop the seed and and twist for easy extraction.
Now if you’re concerned about the water issues in California (which you should be) then go ahead and try easy-to-grow fava beans. They require less water than avocados and can be produced in many parts of the world. To achieve a smooth consistency: soak, boil w/olive oil, and puree. Add more oil as needed.
Because of our insatiable appetite for watching young people kick-ass, I felt I needed to share with you some news from our friends in New York City: The press release for ‘Swill Children’ just came knocking on my door (actually it came via email) – it’s a new label that acts as an umbrella for a variety of physical and digital objects to reside. It’s awesome to see some of the initial releases from artists such as LA’s Lucky Dragons, San Diego’s own David Potes (Hamburger Eyes), and our friend Diwa Tamrong. Her printed project Somebody Else’s Problem is featured. Keep an eye on Swill Children and read more at http://www.swillchildren.org/
I just stumbled on Nick Rodrigues’ portfolio site and was blown away by his ‘Human Interaction’ pieces. Absolutely hilarious and perfectly critical on the vices of our culture. I don’t know much about Nick except I like the way he thinks and I want to be his friend. The ‘Porta-Party,’ The ‘AdverTie‘ and ‘Auto Armor‘ are among my favorite. “In observing the shifting patterns of current social behavior, I have noticed that each human’s insecurities are often highlighted by the products that they embrace.” See for your self at http://www.nickrodrigues.com/
Now, we all know that buying new shit isn’t the answer to the world’s problems. Regardless, TMY is proud to present you with the opportunity to have clean water on the go and support a worthwhile set of organizations at UCSD. We’re peddling these radical water bottles with built-in filters that are suitable not only for everyday use with tap water, but camping, emergencies, and apocalypse preparedness as well! Dip it in a river or lake, snap the top back on and enjoy. Check the specs here.
The student organization responsible for this fundraiser, Aquaholics Anonymous, states that “All proceeds go towards developing a low-water irrigation system for the Urban Farm, Compost Site, Neighborhood Garden, and Native Plant Garden at UC San Diego.”
As a member of the Sustainable Food Project at UCSD, the push for an Urban Farm on campus is a project I’m currently working on. In the wacky world of student politics, I’ve learned that a little bit of dough has to stretch a long way, and that every opportunity to fund a sensible project is valuable. Our goal is to create a rich learning environment at the school where students have the opportunity to learn biointensive organic farming methods, and reconnect with the food cycle.
If purchasing one of these bottles and supporting a noble cause interests you, please contact me via email. We are selling these BPA-free bottles for $20 each (They’re up to $25 plus shipping online!) and have a life meant to last over 300 refillings. Max and myself will be offering free bicycle delivery of the bottles within San Diego City (Anywhere that falls South of the 8, North of the 94, and West of the 125). If you live elsewhere, delivery can be easily arranged.
I grew up in a very conservative area of Southern California, rife with five-bedroom track homes and their three-car garages, sod lawns, and complex irrigation systems. I’m from the old part of town where we don’t have swimming pools, and growing up with a dirt backyard and a mother who paints things bright colors and hangs other things from trees always made me feel different. The bad kind of different. I really wished my parents drove an SUV, voted Republican, and ate bacon.
In 1996 Harriet the Spy came out. Our heroine, ten-year-old Harriet, is ridiculed by her rich classmates, but it’s no matter– she gets to hang out in a magical garden of junkyard art where soda bottles hang from trees! From then on I’ve always pretended that I’m Harriet.
Now that I’m older and don’t live in California anymore, I can really see layers of importance in what used to embarrass me as a child. Once, years ago I flew into the small airport in Carlsbad, CA and it was really scary what I saw while landing– there’s the ocean, then the neighborhood I lived in followed by a maze of developed homes, and beyond that, yellow, leveled-out land dotted with bulldozers. Not only is this horrible for the environment, they’re building more mazes of uniformity as far east as people are willing to live. There are so many ways to change your landscape for the better, all while making you look really ‘hip’ and ‘progressive.’ ;)
My California home uses Xeriscaping, or landscaping with native plants that conserve water, require less maintenance, and are all-around better for the environment. There is an array of trees (orange, lemon, plum, kumquat, and avocado) that over the years have grown to be quite fruitful. Also, weird outdoor art installations to brighten up the dirt lot. Here are some visuals.
Plum tree and Tibeten prayer flags, taken with a Holga. So many alternative things going on here. I pretty much live off of the plums during the summer, there are hundreds of them.
Jade! I drew this in the backyard. Jade is a succulent, it requires little water, and it will look really cool decorating your room, especially if you plant it in a recycled soup can (but don’t put that sticker on it, that’s kind of lame).
Loquat tree (not to be confused with kumquat) with paint and bottles and things you can’t really see and more Tibetan prayer flags coming off of it.
