Cool things can often be created from unexpected raw materials. A case in point, The Watchman (above), a salvage art assemblage consisting of an eclectic mix of repurposed clock parts, upcycled watches and an assortment of found items and reclaimed hardware.

The Watchman’s eyes are roller bearings that can cast their gaze in whatever direction you choose. The whole deal is mounted on an antique wood slab that adds another level of visual texture and character. The piece is the first of four pieces in bearpawrustics’ Workman line. You can find it at the artist’s Etsy Shop.

Men’s Health and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) are on a mission to find out if organic food is really worth all of the hype. EWG, a non-profit that investigates the safety of consumer products, recently released a list of the “cleanest” and “dirtiest” produce items, in terms pesticide absorption. So, are our favorite fruits and vegetables so “dirty” as to necessitate busting the bank account to buy their chemical-free counterparts?

Perhaps you can answer this rhetorical question for yourself after seeing what the folks with the EWG found. A decade’s worth of produce data from the Department of Agriculture and the FDA shows us that we may not have to buy all organic in order to avoid pesticides. If you’re looking to buy foods such as apples, strawberries, spinach and lettuce, your best bet is to go organic, as these are just a few examples of “dirty” produce that tend to absorb high amounts of pesticide. On the other hand, onions, corn, kiwi and watermelon are a few “clean” foods that tend not to absorb large amounts of chemicals. (more…)