"Prop 8 - The Musical" Starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and Many More

Carla just sent word of this:

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... by Jack Black

This is marvelous.
Thanks funnyordie!

The Trash Collector

I just found this on newsreview.com, and it takes recycling to a whole new level:

Emmy Winning Los Angeles cameraman Dave Chameides (or "Sustainable Dave", as he's deemed himself) decided last year to reduce his environmental footprint by keeping his garbage for a year... in his basement! Dave's goal, in his own words: "

"I came to the realization that if we were all accountable for our waste, if we couldn’t simply make it disappear, we’d have to deal with some pretty ugly truths about the way we live. And in so doing, it would cause us to start making better decisions about what we buy, where we buy, and what’s left over."

It's a very simple, but powerful idea, literally putting yourself face-to-face with your own waste and impact on the planet. And while Dave's may seem a radical statement or lifestyle, imagine if everyone in the world were forced to be fully responsible for their own waste. How would the visual and tactile realities of our own self-landfills, change the way we interact with our world? I know just looking at my overflowing plastic bin is tremendous personal motivation to both get off my lazy bum and recycle, as well as to reuse or reduce my waste.

So way to go Dave, raising sustainabilty awareness by boldly going where few other humans (or even eco-activists), dare to go!

And check out his blog: 365daysoftrash for great ideas and solutions for how to lower your own waste footprint. Dave started Dec 31st, 2007 and is currently on Day 274 (for the record, that's not Dave in the picture)

Great Picture.

Good morning All,

SuperForester Rebecca just sent us this beautiful photo and a message:

Pepperdine (University) did something cool with that gorgeous water hogging lawn of theirs! Surprising and moving.

A flag for every American soldier killed in the war. There were lots and lots and lots. If you're in the area, reroute for a drive by.

peace! peace! peace!

becca

A big thank you to Rebecca.

It's so important to remember that Peace and patriotism can dance hand in hand down the road of life.

Dig it, I love my country, AND I love Peace!
I also love the free-market economy, capitalism, growth, domestic jobs and security.

Contradictions?

Not on your life, Buster Brown.

Love to All,

Jackson and Team SuperForest

Futurefarmers!

Morning All!

Here's what we're digging on this Thursday.

Futurefarmers!

Futurefarmers is an art and design collective out in California, and they are doing some very cool things:


Sundial watch! Comes in Summer only, or year-round models!


Lunchbox laboratory allows young scientists to participate in screening different strains of algae. This will in turn help the scientists who are developing algael-biofuels. Minty!
The powers of collective effort cannot be underestimated.


Pogo-shovel! Bounce around the field breaking up dirt clogs and burning away flab! Win/win!

Futurefarmers has an artist in residence (AIR) program that provides assistance to artists working on sustainably themed works.


Futurefarmers AIR program.

So if you are or know of an artist currently working to improve the human environment, apply for a grant through Futurefarmers.

Nice work, y'all!

Smart SmartCar!

Hello!

I am in Los Angeles today. Yesterday, a friend and I drove out to Venice and saw something really amazing.

SmartCar has built a showhouse for its North American launch that is truly something to behold.
Located on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, the SmartHouse is a fabulous new approach to selling cars.

You see, what they've done is design this amazing space, a sort of Danish-Modern, Dwell magazine, sustaino-fab hybrid, and integrated the cars into the structure. They built an image of the perfect hipster house/life and are showing you how this car is an integral part of it. Everywhere I looked I saw something that impressed me. The whole thing was just so darned SMART.

Let's look at some of the highlights!


Here's the exterior. Not too in your face, just sort of letting you know.

You walk inside, and right by the front door is a FRIENDLY LADY behind a clean, white booth, who can tell you all about the SmartCar. They've got one parked in the front room, but I forgot to pic it.
She dropped some creamy numbers on me, like the SmartCar gets 40 mpg, is 80% recyclable, and has a starting cost of $12,000. Diesel and all-electric come out next year. I got into the SmartCar and was amazed at its interior space. The roof of the car is tinted glass, which lets you see the sky, and clouds, and birds.

I sort of had to use the bathroom, which was no problem here, as they seemed to have at least two on every level. And in the bathroom was a funny little graphic which I thought very smart. Isn't the station wagon the one from National Lampoon's Vacation? Methinks it is.

On the second floor was another nice lady who offered me a cappuccino and a cookie. There were maybe five people working there, but they didn't stick out at all, they weren't wearing SmartCar gear or nametags. The whole vibe was extremely welcoming and unobtrusive.

They had the Roomba running around, cleaning the floors, and generally being clean and tech-y. I think they had one every level. I was down on my knees, scooting all over, trying to take this picture, but no one seemed to mind.

Everywhere you looked were little areas for sitting and hanging. Lovely furniture throughout, like this delightful shelving unit which reminded me of a bee-hive.

I kept thinking: "I could happily live here. This could be MY life." Which is exactly what they were going for.


All the art was pretty decent. They had worked the SmartCar into some of the paintings, but never in a way that made you cringe.

In the garage they had a SmartCar body, with all the safety features highlighted. The flatscreen behind the body ran a movie loop showing SmartCar crash tests from multiple directions. Genius. The crash test dummies seemed safe and sound.

See? Throw your boards on the roof-rack and you can be out shredding some waves in no time! And you get some darn fine mileage on your way to the beach.

Door color options. I believe these are easy to switch out, so you can change your car day to day.

Here's a pic of the test drive area from an upstairs room.

One of the many SmartCars to interact with. This one had a great orange interior.


All in all, I really liked the care and attention that SmartCar has put into the SmartHouse Venice. They've created a perfect setting for their little jewel of a car.

They've also tapped into a very clever method to advertise, which is: Make me feel like a partner and a guest, not like a CONSUMER. I came away knowing a great deal more about the SmartCar, and more importantly, feeling very good about the people in charge of the SmartCar brand.

These cats are being very Smart.*

If you find yourself in the Los Angeles area, I highly recommend having a gander at the SmartHouse Venice.
It is open until January.

SmartHouse Venice, CA
1319 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
google.com/maps


*except for the fact that they HAVE NO WEBSITE! C'mon yo, it's twenty-oh-seven! Gimme a url.