• The war in Iraq costs $200 million a day. Bush to Commit $2 Billion to Climate Change Fund – reuters
• Tres bien! Bordeaux to Measure Wines CO2 Footprint – yahoo!
• Deer Hunt Set to Begin – Inside NJ Preserve – msnbc
• Nature bites back, or, who tastes better now? Man Catches Shark, Shark Bites Man – livescience
• Action Needed on Home Emissions – bbc
• Flame Retardant Chemical Found in Rare Tasmanian Devils – natgeo

I have to say, one of the most beautiful gifts I received over the holidays was from one of my closest friends. What makes this gift so extra special is knowing that the gorgeous, hand-woven basket was made by survivors of the Rwandan genocide, and the proceeds go into the hands of the weavers and their families. The average weaver’s household has 8 children.

Each uniquely crafted piece in the series was commissioned by Macy’s, and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity: “The Path to Peace Project and the income it generates has impacted the lives of at least 18,000 children, transforming them in amazing ways.” To support the cause, which is “based on trade, not aid” you can review the collection online @ macys.com. My heart goes out to the survivors and craftspeople of the Land of a Thousand Hills. namaste.

Drawing inspiration from a prenatal yoga class, Andreea Ayers founded an eco-friendly tee shirt company to help us look good, feel good and do good. Choose from an array of feel good phrases (seek balance, laugh often, choose happiness, practice kindness, and more, or my personal fave, chase dreams) and know that with every tee that’s purchased, a tree will be planted via a partnership with American Forests’ Global Releaf. For ultimate comfort, tees are made with either 100% organic cotton or 70/30% bamboo/organic cotton, and low impact dyes. For spring ‘08, come up with a phrase that Andreea likes, and if it gets made, receive a free tee. check it all out @ teesforchange.com

Readers can log on to bookmooch.com and exchange used books for free, through a unique points system. Eco-Libris, at ecolibris.net, on the other hand, is a green org whereby publishers, writers, bookstores, and other organizations can balance out the paper they use in printing books, by planting trees. Because Eco-Libris and BookMooch have come together, BookMooch members can now earn points for book exchanges by planting trees with Eco-Libris. Talk about being eco-friendly!  Start getting balanced @ ecolibris.net

• The recession will now trump emissions. Auto Companies Press States on California Emissions – reuters
• They don’t know where it might land…Defunct Spy Satellite Falling From Orbit – aol news
• Just writing a check may not get it done. Value of U.S. House’s Carbon Offsets is Murky – msnbc
• Let’s get some more logging done before we leave town…Bush Administration Strips Protections From America’s Largest Forest – earthjustice.com
• Our European friends have given us the ubiquitous house sparrow and starling. UK’s Birdwatching Event Begins – bbc
• Nothing is ever really ‘free’. Legal File-Sharing Service Touts Free Music With Ads – reuters
• Let’s pick a tropical paradise with a lonnng emissions producing flight and have a climate meeting. Brilliant!! World’s Biggest Polluters Meet in Hawaii Over Climate – reuters

A lot of people are researching space heaters due to the massive ad campaign running nationwide by the marketers of the Heat Surge space heater. We thought we’d provide a couple of alternatives to those wishing to spend less, or those seeking a heater with good reviews and highly rated design.

If you’re dead-set on getting a flueless electric fireplace fireplacedirect.com has a lot of options.  Choices range from the very expensive (it’s all about the mantel), to Heat Surge comparable smaller, or movable units.  Remember, any 1,440 btu electric heater will give off the same amount of heat (they heat a 200 to 600 square ft. room).  Make sure you fully evaluate the range of settings, fan capability and if they have an adjustable thermostat to keep the temperature where you like it.

We find the site ConsumerSearch to be a good aggregator of product reviews. Here are a couple of more inexpensive space heaters that will get the job done if heat, not esthetics, is the primary issue. Their recommendations:

• DeLonghi SafeHeat Micathermic HHP1500 – if you have a modern decor and are looking for a convection heater, which is highly rated for its: slim profile, silent operation, reliable performance and light weight. Uses the mineral, mica, as its heating element, has two heat settings and can be wall mounted. $ 149.99 @ amazon.com
• If you’re looking for a less expensive option, the Holmes HQH319-U Quartz Tower Heater with 1-Touch Electronic Thermostat may be a good choice. This model is a radiant heater best designed for small spaces. Radiant heaters heat objects directly in-front of them in a room. It has two quartz heating elements and like most space heaters, 750 and 1,500-watt settings. $59.99 @ sears.com

When shopping for a space heater remember that almost all heaters provide a maximum of 1,500-watts and 5,120 btu’s. This is the maximum amount of wattage allowed through a typical household outlet. Remember to put your space heater safely away from drapes and flammable objects and fabrics. And place it under a window or other cold air or draft producing source to warm cold air as it enters the room. Unvented propane or kerosene heaters should never be used in the home.

Remember that space heaters are not an economical replacement for insulation — weather-stripping and thermostats that can give you control over the various zones / rooms of your home. The savings a space heater provides to the homeowner is only when you can augment the heat of the room you are in, while lowering the thermostats in the rest of the house. Electricity is still an expensive and inefficient way to heat a home.

previous post on Heat Surge

Want a chance to win some free storage? Just hit “post a comment” – above, right – and be sure to include your mailing address, which of course, we won’t publish. No hidden agenda or ulterior motives.

Drawing of 3 Winners will take place on Friday, Februay 1, 2008. Winners will be announced here, at 12noon, and notified by email. Contest sponsor, FarFromBoring will mail the bamboo 256mb USB drive/key chain directly to all 3 lucky winners.

find more eco friendly promotional items @ farfromboring.com

Maurizio Savini’s mind-damaging sculptures are bizarrely pink and possess a disturbing level of detail. Are these works a comment on our culture’s voracious appetite for all things pink, be it a jug of Pepto, a fistful of Pink Twinkies or a gaping maw of Bazooka Bubblegum, or simply a skilled artist working with an offbeat medium? The raw material hasn’t been chewed so it doesn’t qualify as recycled but it certainly is re-purposed. Behold.

more info on the artist @ pastificiocrere and galleria next door
photos by rezinka

(via: funforever)

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The World Wildlife Fund works hard to protect endangered wildlife and wilderness around the world. You can help by adopting an animal, whether it be an African wild dog, a zebra, or some exotic creature in between.

With your donation of $25 or more, you receive an adoption certificate and photo of your animal; and by donating $50, you receive a stuffed animal to remind you of your contribution toward helping endangered critters. A great gift idea! The site is worth a visit, even if only to read the factoids on each animal available for adoption.
find more info @ worldwildlife.org

• The usual cocktail of issues. Massive Wind Farm ‘Turned Down’ – bbc
• As Supplies Dry Up, Growers Pass on Farming to Sell Water – enn
• (video) Whole Foods and The Plastic Bag Debate – reuters
• This may be a factor in next year’s ‘Fantasy’ draft. NFL’s Tony Gonzalez Goes Vegan – ecorazzi
• (video) Measuring Huge Python is Seven Person Job – breitbart
• Best Bathroom Gadgets – switched.com
• This thing looks more like a toaster oven hat. Helmet Could Turn Back Alzheimer’s – daily mail