Designer Dana Otto has created the beautifully atmospheric lamps of her ‘Growth Series’ out of wire and recycled paper.  The work was created as part of Pratt Institute’s George Kovacs Lighting Competition.

via: yanko design

• But I just saw such a nice ad for “Clean Coal”…‘Safe’ Climate Means ‘No to Coal’ – bbc
• 5 Wild Diseases We Got From Animals – livescience
• It’s all about $$. Opposition to Australian Carbon Trade Hardens – reuters
• Power Industry Sees New Phase in Energy Use – npr
• Drink up…Half a Glass of Wine Per Day May Extend Life Expectancy by 5 Years – sciencedaily
• 17 More Images You Won’t Believe Aren’t Photoshopped – cracked.com

While most of today’s one billion cigarette smokers realize the damage being inflicted upon themselves with each draw from their treasured cancer-stick, the majority have no idea of the harm their bad habits are inflicting on the environment.  Sure they feel bad about the inability of their toxic butts to biodegrade, the enormous amounts of trash that their packaging and plastic lighters create, and the fact that they continuously take first place on the most littered item list, but there’s much more to this picture.

The tobacco plant is responsible for massive amounts of soil degradation and erosion as it draws nutrients from the soil quicker than every other plant crop.  Aside from the 200,000 hectares of land cleared annually to grow the tobacco itself, nearly 5 million hectares are brought down each year to cure the leaves and enable them to be processed, stored and transported.  This curing process oftentimes takes place within wood-constructed curing barns, placing further demand on the forests. Moreover, each rolling machine utilizes six kilometers of paper per hour, averaging an entire tree for only 300 individual cigarettes.  Smoking has also been convicted for initiating nearly (more…)

Students and graduates of Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, have created an energy efficient prefab home prototype they call Mod.Fab.  This great looking one-bedroom, 600 square foot prefab is designed for sustainable desert living.

The Mod.Fab can tap into the local power grid or function “unplugged” by relying on low-consumption fixtures, rainwater harvesting, graywater re-use, natural ventilation, solar orientation, and photovoltaics to reduce energy and water use.

(more…)

Jig-A-Loo may have a funky name, but the makers of automotive and home improvement products new eco-friendly line of products, EconoGreen Plastics, appears to be a greener trash bag option.  The EconoGreen family of products include trash bags and drop cloths designed to help consumers reduce environmental waste. The heavy duty bags are 100 percent oxo-degradable, made from 100 percent recycled materials and are said to break down within two years after use, considerably quicker than traditional plastic bags.

(more…)

• A bad rap?  This is Not the Porky Pig Plague – livescience
• Nobody wants to pick up the check at this dinner…Some Progress at U.S. Climate Talks – reuters
• And why would you do this?  Glowing Dogs Created in Lab – msnbc
• I’m feeling a little conflicted…Rush Limbaugh Not Feeling the Love From Hunting Groups After Humane Society Endorsement – ecorazzi
• Where did I leave those french fries? Fatty Foods May Boost Memory – natgeo
• Seeing will be believing…China’s Greener Future? – nature.com

Times are tough, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun.  Swing on down to nimli’s pop up store before it’s no more.  Add a touch of green or eco fashion your wardrobe head to toe with ecoSkin, Beau Soleil, Tees for Change, Ella Vickers, Cri de Coeur, try Sea Chi Organics, and don’t forget, Bring Your Own Bag.

Take a mini spring break, now through May 17, 11a-7p by popping in, or visit nimli online anytime.

Hemp enthusiast, Jilly Cholmondeley, has scored again.

Eco chic designer of one hundred percent hemp bed linens for adults, Jilly recently extended her high end collection to include cot sized sheets and blankets for the mini me, eco friendly set.  Her wonderfully soft, naturally anti-bacterial, thermo-regulating linens provide maximum comfort for little, green sprouts.  Keeps tots warm when it’s cold, and cool when it’s hot.  A comfy baby brings much joy to tired mommy and daddy, yes?  Like Jilly, we, too, consider hemp “the thinking person’s fabric of choice.”

Blanket and Cot Sheets – Coordinated Set, (£130)
Hemp Cot Sheets – top & fitted bottom (£75)
Hemp Blankets are off-white, and edged in pink, blue or white satin ribbon, (£85)
find @ jillycholmondeley.com

Related: previously on altCon, (5.22.07)
Jill Cholmondeley – fine, hemp bedlinens

• New York-sized Ice Collapses Off Antarctica – reuters
• A catchy name grabs headlines.  Every year standard flu viruses kill hundreds of thousands world wide…More Countries Confirm Swine Flu – bbc
• File under: Eliminate the competition…Amazon Buys Kindle-Competition Stanza – cs monitor
• Tinker Bell was here just a minute ago…Chihuahua Blown Away by Wind – aol news
• Building Power Lines Creates a Web of Problems – npr
• For all the phonies out there…Apple and Verizon Consider iPhone Deal – usa today

The Earth Angel vibrator is marketed as the world’s first 100% eco-friendly, wind-up sex toy.  Made from recycled parts and plastic, you crank a handle, which unfolds from the bottom of the vibrator, to charge it.  4 minutes of cranking gives you 30 minutes of battery-free power, 8 minutes of cranking creates an hour’s worth of vibrating fun and games.

Positives – this eco gadget eliminates the need for expensive batteries and keeps them out of the landfill, has 4 speeds and will provide the user some exercise in a couple of different ways. Possible negative – Do you think 8 minutes of cranking that handle might break your concentration/mood?

a pricey £64.99 @ lovehoney.co.uk via: coolest gadgets

A Cirque du Soleil moment?   If you have storm damaged trees in your yard or woodlot, you might want to consider this DIY project.  Designer Jurgen Bey created this fusion of nature and furniture out of a log and a few bronze, classical chair backs.

Arborists and tree surgeons should note that as an art furniture project the bench is list priced for an incredible $20,200 – yet, since tree trunks are locally available it’s stated that only the chair benches are for sale @ droog.com

Our quaint (real estate lingo for “small”) Upper West Side, New York apartment has a lovely terrace that provides us with glimmering sunset views, breathing room in the big city, a place to entertain our friends and, unfortunately, ants. The little critters have been making themselves known as the weather has warmed up, creating a little creepy crawly trail all the way from the terrace door to the kitchen.

I immediately huffed it over to my corner drugstore, on a mission to find a non-toxic ant killer, but trying not to get my hopes up – this particular New York drugstore chain is not known for their extensive selection. To my surprise, (more…)

My girlfriend, sensitive Sue’s been mixing together baking soda, tea tree oil and peppermint oil to concoct a Do It Yourself blend of toothpaste.  After just a handful of uses, her pearly whites are brighter, and her dentist even complimented her on how great her teeth looked when she visited him last week.  She prepares enough paste for about a week, and stores it in a clear glass jar.  Gotta get me some peppermint oil and start DIY-ing. (see comments for proportions)