• Was discretion the better part of valor? Obama Punts Tricky Pipeline Decision Past 2012 Election – reuters
• A scary number…25% of Mammals at Risk of Extinction, IUCN Reports – livescience
• Ogopogo sighting, or just bad camera work and some ripples? Canada’s Loch Ness Monster Caught on Tape? – yahoo! news
• X-ray Facility to Study Conditions at Earth’s Core – bbc
• Hmmm….NYT: Did Coke Get Grand Canyon Bottle Ban Axed? – msnbc/nyt
• This solar design would produce residential heat and electricity simultaneously…Solar Design From MIT Does Double Duty – enn
• Headstrong…Maui Bull Freed After Giant Tire Stuck on His Head – myway

Mark the date: 12.1.11

Rock star and artist Ringo Starr drums up support for WaterAid with limited edition Earthkeepers boots to be auctioned off via eBay… according to Starr, “For thirty years, WaterAid has brought clean water to millions of people in the world’s poorest communities. This partnership with Timberland will allow others to make a real difference in these people’s lives, and the boots are a reminder I’m with them every step in this journey.” WaterAid is dedicated to improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene in the world’s poorest communities. According to the press release:

“Starr’s original design will appear on 75 pairs of the Timberland® Earthkeepers® City 6” Leather and Fabric Side Zip boot, each of which he signed personally. This marks the first time (more…)

California furniture designer and woodworking craftsman William Stranger and his company, Stranger Furniture, create one of a kind sustainable designer furniture. The primary source of the wood for Stranger’s rustic work is local urban salvage – wood recovered from storm damaged or diseased trees and trees cut down on construction sites.

Most of Stranger’s furniture is finished with zero-VOC, natural linseed oil.

related: more salvaged and reclaimed wood furniture

In a disturbing development for honey lovers in the USA, tests done for the web site Food Safety News reveal that over 75% of honey sold in our grocery stores doesn’t qualify to be called “honey”.  Food Safety News tested more than 60 jars of honey from a variety of stores and producers in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Testing results show that the pollen, the key component of honey, is frequently filtered out of products labeled honey. The removal of these microscopic particles from deep within a flower make the nectar flunk the quality standards set by most of the world’s food safety agencies. The World Health Organization, the European Commission and dozens of other food safety organizations have ruled that without pollen there is no way to determine whether or not the honey came from legitimate and safe sources.

Over 75%  of samples bought at groceries like TOP Food, Safeway, Giant Eagle, QFC, Kroger, Metro Market, Harris Teeter, A&P, Stop & Shop and big box stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Target and H-E-B has had the pollen filtered out. An astounding 100% of the honey sampled from drugstores like Walgreens, Rite-Aid and CVS Pharmacy contained no pollen.  (more…)

These cute little cork Christmas Trees, made from recycled wine corks, would make a perfect addition to your holiday mantle or tabletop.

These wine cork Christmas trees also make a great DIY project for those crafty folks with a drinking problem and glue gun.

find various sizes, all handmade and one-of-a-kind @ the 4 Eyes and Ears Etsy Shop

related: more earth-friendly home decor ideas

A Red and Green Holiday – O’Connor featured in USA Today’s Guide to Green Living

You’ve just escaped from the cold and chilly outside world that is 17 degrees Fahrenheit. To say that you are frozen would be an understatement. Your fingers feel like they are about to fall off as your body chatters its way into the comfort of your home. So, let’s crank up that thermostat! Think again.

The following are some eco-friendly tips on how to waste less heat while keeping your body nice and toasty:

• Turn down your thermostat while sleeping or when away from your home. According to the Department of Energy, anywhere from 5% to 15% of your annual heating bill can be saved just by turning down your thermostat by 10-15 degrees for a period of 8 hours.
• Install a programmable thermostat. If you live in an apartment, talk to your landlord about the benefits and cost savings these devices provide. A programmable thermostat will automatically adjust the heating and cooling temperatures for your living space according to the hours of your own choosing. See Energy Star’s page about the three different types of programmable thermostats. (more…)

• It’s a start…Biofuels Start to Take Off in The Airline Industry – npr
• Not to worry…Giant Asteroid Passes Close to Earth – cnn
• Much like humans…Personality Predicts Success of Invasive Species – livescience
• I believe it’s called industrialization…Air Pollution Causing Stronger Cyclones  – Study Finds – enn/science & development network
• Maybe the U.S. should rethink getting out of the ‘space’ business…Russian Mars Probe Loses Its Way – bbc
• More study is needed…Earthquakes in Oklahoma? Is Fracking to Blame, or Something Else? – cs monitor

Related: more eco news

Artist Hazel Bryce took six years to complete her incredibly intricate paper maché “Seahorse” sculpture. Below is a vdeo interview with the artist.

The artist covered pieces of trash and industrial waste with shreds of the Financial Times newspaper to form the cacophononous sea of words that comprise the Seahorse’s surface.

Bryce created the Seahorse to pose questions to anyone viewing the piece. The Seahorse symbolizes the challenges faced by many creatures in today’s environment – a world too often dominated by waste, greed and excess.

Related: eco art

Via: recyclart

We just tried Gaiam’s new video streaming service, GaiamTV, and what do we think? … We love it, here’s why:

• it’s easy to use, eco-friendly and fun
• you can watch what you want, when you want
• no DVD’s pile-up in your home or need to be shipped anywhere
• unlimited access to quality programs with no commercial interruptions
• selection of programs is first-rate (designed to entertain, educate or inspire)
• signing up & navigating is easy
• membership is risk-free and reasonable: Membership includes a FREE 10-day trial and then it’s $9.95/month with no long-term commitment, you can cancel anytime if you’re not satisfied

The service is so convenient – just click, download and experience your personally customized series of tv programming … wherever you and your laptop may be. After creating my account, I selected about a dozen programs and added them to my Playlist. The first video I viewed was Rodney Yee’s 15-minute, Desktop Yoga. The program was wonderful and the service is addictive. So far, I’ve enjoyed the feature-length doc, The Real Dirt on Farmer John; Ayurveda for Weight Loss; Donna Karan’s Dream and Kundalini. There are many other titles that I look forward to viewing as well.

The library is diverse — not only can you practice yoga, Pilates or T’ai Chi, or tone & condition with the best in the fitness biz, you can receive inspiration Deepak Chopra, the Dalai Lama and top

personal growth & spirituality teachers; choose features and TV programs for you or your kids; explore metaphysical topics or learn about how to Green your Home with Danny Seo. In addition, they feature the online Mayo Clinic Wellness Solutions Series (12 videos) with helpful guidance on weight-loss, insomnia, back pain, heart health and diabetes — available in GaiamTV’s Wellness Center section.

Give it a try @ GaiamTV.com and let us know what you think.