Posts from — March 2008

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Most of us receive offers for limited edition products.  Sometimes we even get really excited about them! They’re usually special and always scarce - hence the limited-edition. We cannot get an edition more limited than Earth - if ruined, it would be really tough to restore.

Unlike most types of art, we cannot make reproductions of this original (as far as I know). It’s also rather impossible to purchase and bring home.
The one thing we all can do - and in fact we do this every day - is add our personal signature. How we sign it depends on how we treat it. Do we treat it like the fine art it should be? How would you treat a prized Picasso or Renoir if you could bring one home? When you think about it, earth is quite a magical thing that’s easy to take for granted. How much are you willing to pay to preserve your art - last time I checked, even getting a simple picture frame was rarely less than $10 http://pictureframes.com. Imagine the cost to frame the  earth, if we even could. As the earth has a diameter of 7,926.41 miles (12,756.32 kilometers), the frame would need to roughly 31,705.64 miles (51,025.28 kilometers) of material - and that’s without a nice beveled mat! I realize this may be a silly comparison because one does not usually live on a piece of art (or do you?). But the fact remains that earth is a limited edition - there’s only one. We should do what we can to take care of it - and restore it so future generations have the chance to enjoy all that it provides. Sign it gently and enjoy!

If you’ve not done so, please join the Million Faces Project - it’s easy!

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We in the United States enjoy unprecedented luxury and consume the lion’s share of the world’s resources - 80% by some estimates. We also create about 80% of the global warming pollution. We are certainly a glutonous lot. A recent study by Consulting Group Sustainability in partnership with the World Wildlife Federation reported that if the entire world enjoyed the same standard of living as the United States, it would take five earths to support us. Of concern is the fact that countries like China and India, with huge populations are quickly striving to raise their standard of living - which is placing more stress on the one earth we do have. Therefore, it benefits all of us to do what we can on the home front to help - if everyone did this, we would make a big impact. We do have to start somewhere, so here are ten things you can do right at home: 

1. Change your lightbulbs to Compact Florescent or LED. If you’re like me, you’ve resisted this change because Florescent’s can put out a really ugly color of light. But they’ve improved - buy the warm-white version and you’ll feel like your using standard lightbulbs. Avoid the ‘daylight’ version unless you prefer the classic flourescent look. To save even more energy, look into LED lights - just coming into their own. They reportedly last for many years, but are on the expensive side. Check them out here - http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/led_bulb_replac.php

2. Recycle. I happen to live in one of the most recycling friendly cities in the country, so it is easier, but look at your local programs and try to keep as much rubbish out of the trash as possible. If you don’t have good local programs, consider writing your garbage provider and local politicians. Again, it’s got to start somewhere - Portland was not always so progressive.

3. Shop local - look for products made within your local area. Think about buying what’s in season - we’re spoiled by being able to have just about any kind of food year around. Make eating what’s in season a game. Think about buying those tomatoes flown in from South America, etc. Granted different parts of the country pose different challenges here - but at least check out the options available.

4. Build a garden - growing your own vegetables can be rewarding and not that difficult. You really just need good soil and good sun at least 6 hours per day. Getting  your hands dirty can also be therapeutic - and it’s a great thing to be able to walk out your door and grab fresh veggies for an evening meal. An added benefit is the taste so good.

5. Indulge, but less often - it’s not about giving everything up, but spread them out. Don’t buy a latte everyday and throw that cup away. Make it a special event. The key is to spread it out.

6. Build a water collection system to capture the rainwater from your roof. This takes a few tools, and if you’re not inclined, enlist the help of a friend or family member. We’re going to build one this year and I’ll follow up with a photo of the end result. Once built, you can use the water for your garden! There are many options - here’s a quick guide: http://rainbarrelguide.com/

7. Check your house for air leaks - windows, doors and crawl spaces are prime areas to look for. Is your floor cold in the winter? If so, some good insulation will keep it warm and lower those rising heating builds - typically for less than $1 per square foot. Depending on your heating costs, this could pay off quickly. Replacing or caulking the weather seals on doors and windows is very easy. Many local utilities offer free energy audits to pinpoint opportunities for savings and offer rebates on new windows, insulation, etc.

8. Make your own greener cleaners. You really don’t need all of those different cleaners companies try to sell you. And you certainly don’t need all of those toxic chemicals. Here the simplest recipe that really works - just buy or reuse an existing spray bottle: 1/3 Vinegar plus 2/3 water - shake and use!

9. Buy less stuff. Think about what you REALLY use in a day, month or year. If you think you need or want something - hold that thought for a week or so, and if you still do, then go ahead and buy it. Resist impulsive purchases that sit around adding clutter and collecting dust before going out the door. And when you do buy things, particularly on large purchases such as furniture or appliances, buy the best you can afford. This is especially important with stuffed furniture like sofas and chairs. Make sure the frame and fabric will hold up. For example, we saw a cool-looking sectional sofa at IKEA that was less than $1,300. Many go for much more. However, when we went back two months later, it was already sagging and losing it’s shape - a clear sign of poor construction. Many companies such as Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel and Restoration Hardware actually use cardboard as padding beneath the fabric! Check the construction. Mitchell-Gold is one maker using solid wood - we have a 10-year old sofa that still has it’s shape! It costs a bit more upfront, but it’s more comfortable and actually less expensive long term. And you don’t need to buy the best - it’s more about finding something well constructed. 

As for wood furniture - check to see if it’s real wood or particle board. Again, companies such as Pottery Barn often use a think veneer - 1/32 of an inch or less over particle board. This makes fixing nicks or dents tough - and lessens the ultimate life of the item. They may look great in the catalog, but after a few short years with the kids and dogs, you’ll think otherwise.

10. Look at your travel habits - do you go frequently go to the store for small purchases? Can you group your trips together to save gas and time? Most of us have limited time and if you’re like me, you don’t relish time in traffic. Just by making fewer trips, you may uncover free time as well as cut that rising gas bill.

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As part of The Million Faces Project, Thinkfrog.org is giving away 10 new Toyota Prius’s. But why take money away from protecting rainforests? First, it’s an incentive for you to contribute - and one that has pretty decent odds - at lease one in one-hundred thousand (more if you donate more - you get one entry with each $10. Second, it’s a fun thing to reward people who take positive action. We’re all creatures of habit - it’s hard to make fundamental changes unless we literally reprogram ourselves. Scientists have proven that change causes physical pain in us (link to article), therefore we want to make the process of fighting global warming actually fun. As it can be. Most reports on Global Warming are rather depressing - and getting more down about it is not going to help. We need to take positive action - we need to focus on what we REALLY CAN DO. Why not have some fun with it. Hence the Prius offer. We’re also prone to not taking action. We excel at procrastination. Because we need to fight Global Warming NOW, it’s a little push to not wait. 

We’ll be personally delivering each car and featuring the lucky recipient right here at Thinkfrog.org’s online headquarters. As we get going, we’ll include a counter on how close we are to the next Prius giveaway. Join now and stay tuned! You can have any color you like as long as it’s green.

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Fighting global warming can be a daunting task. This morning, we’re launching the Million Faces Project  as a positive step forward. When you look at the magnitude of the issue - and how difficult it is for one person to make even a tiny ding in the problem, it’s easy to become discouraged, throw up one’s hands and focus elsewhere. While it’s true not ONE person can make a difference, no matter how hard they try, a lot of people each doing just a little can make a difference. And that’s the purpose of Thinkfrog.org and the Million Faces Project. it’s about the power of many doing a little. It’s about focus and hope. 

Thinkfrog.org was born out of the frustration of not being able to make that tiny ding alone - and looking for ways to do so. Thinking that a lot of people may feel the same, we looked for the easiest, least demanding way for busy people everywhere to contribute. All you need to do is donate $10 and submit your favorite self portrait. When 1,000,000 people do just that, we can start to make a big, tangible difference.

What we’re doing with the donations is buying rainforest lands in South America to protect from development. You’ll be able to see the forest areas we purchase right here on this sight as we’ll be tracking them through Google Maps. In working with Cool Earth, an organization devoted to this cause, there will be local monitors ensuring the forests we buy are protected. We selected rainforests because they’re one of nine critical tipping points towards irreversible climate change.

Scientist say we have only 10 years before we reach the tipping point on global warming. That’s not much time to make big changes so we need to act now.

Why not just give money? Because it’s more fun to build a community of people who care - and be able to show governments and politicians that individuals really do care and want them to as well. Everyone that joins us and submits their picture will be included on this site. This may well be the single largest collection of faces in one place on the web. We also hope to mount a companion exhibit of all of the faces that will travel around the country as well.

So please join us - think about the impact you can have with just $10 and a great picture of yourself - pretty much three Grande Lattes for those who enjoy their caffeine (like myself). Get your friends to do the same - it’ll be a scrapbook of people everywhere and put many faces on the fight against global warming.

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