Fabric London

fabric
fabric's Saturday nights showcase underground DJ talent, internationally-renowned electronic music legends, and accomplished live acts. Its playlists are dedicated to cutting-edge house, techno, electro, disco, dub-techno…and anything else that fits within the confines of the night’s future-forward and ever-evolving programming. fabric’s weekly residents are Craig Richards and Terry Francis every Saturday. Craig is also involved in programming the night, frequently inviting artists from all over the world to perform. Regular Guests: Regular Guests: Adam Beyer, Âme, Andrew Weatherall, Carl Craig, Cassy, Daniel Bell, Dave Clarke, Dixon, Doc Martin, Eddie Richards, Ellen Allien, Ivan Smagghe, Iz & Diz, Jamie Jones, Jay Haze, Jus-Ed, Luciano, Luke Slater, Magda, Marco Carola, Mathew Jonson, Matthew Dear, Matt Tolfrey, M.A.N.D.Y. Mark Farina, Metro Area, Nathan Coles, Omar-S, Radio Slave, Ricardo Villalobos, Robert Hood, Rub N Tug, Slam, Steve Bug, Swayzak, The Amalgamation Of Soundz, Tiefschwarz, Tobi Neumann. Regular Nights: Wiggle, Clone, Innervisions, Kompakt, The Nothing Special, Underground Quality, Horse Meat Disco, BPitch Control, Tyrant. Not to mention our latest addition, the 30 hour nonstop disco - On & On…& On.

"Fabric’s Saturday night is highly unpredictable and utterly compelling." – The Guardian



FABRICLIVE
FABRICLIVE is a Friday night soundclash, touring all tempos from hip hop through dubstep and drum & bass to indie and electro. Here’s where you’ll hear the Plump DJs' bleeps and beats; The Filthy Duke's trashy electro rock; Sinden's bass-heavy bumps; Caspa, Skream and Benga’s throttling dubstep and the Perverts' tricks and cuts, alongside the blistering drum & bass of Andy C, High Contrast, Noisia and Goldie et al; next to the future bass explorations from the likes of Ramadanman, Ben UFO and Breakage, often all in the same night. Eclecticism is the key with varied but complimentary line-ups each and every Friday showcasing the best in underground club music. Regular DJs: Scratch Perverts, Goldie, Andy C, Skream, Benga, Caspa, Rusko, High Contrast, Commix, Spectrasoul, Noisia, Filthy Dukes, Simian Mobile Disco, Craze, DJ Hype, Grooverider, Fabio, Toddla T & MC Serocee, Alix Perez, D-Bridge, Instra:mental, Ramadanman, Untold, LTJ Bukem & MC Conrac, Shortstuff, 2562, Martyn, Tayo, Stanton Warriors, Buraka Som Sistema, Marcus Intalex, Ben UFO, Pangaea, Duke Dumont, Ali B, N-Type, DJ Marky, The Gaslamp Killer, Breakage, Drop The Lime, Starkey, Shackleton, Boy 8 Bit etc.. Guest Nights: Club Autonomic, Marky & Friends, Hessle Audio, Soul:ution, Cool & Deadly, Playaz, Get Familiar, Plump DJs Present Headthrash, Kill ‘Em All, Breakbeat Kaos, The Doctor’s Orders, Adventures in the Beetroot Field and more..

[Fabric London]

Lyrics: My Girls

There isn't much that I feel I need
A solid soul and the blood I bleed
With a little girl, and by my spouse,
I only want a proper house

I don't care for fancy things
Or to take part in a vicious race
And children cry for the one who has
A real big heart and a father's grace

I don't mean to seem like I
Care about material things,
Like a social status,
I just want
Four walls and adobe slats
For my girls


-Animal Collective

More Chad Pugh...

Just another piece by Chad Pugh that I'd like to share.

[here]

Art: The Science Machine, by Chad Pugh

Its really cool...
Check out more Chad Pugh stuff [here]
click more for video



Video:

Science Machine from Chad Pugh on Vimeo.

"Just how bad is Facebook for you? "

"The examination period is always stressful, both for those sitting GCSEs, A levels and the International Baccalaureate and for their parents and siblings who get 'second-hand stress' without even a certificate to show for their efforts.

My friends and I used to revise together, hoping that it would create enough social pressure to keep us working through the evening, but being in the same room is clearly no longer required. My daughter, in the midst of IB exams, and my son, facing GCSEs next week, have email, instant messaging and of course Facebook and other social network sites to keep in touch with their school mates and share revision tips and exam guidance.

Some revising schoolchildren probably found their access to Facebook severely curtailed last month, however, after The Sun revealed that those who checked the site every day dropped a grade in their studies while heavy users were doing as little as an hour of school work a week.

The story was far from exclusive to The Sun, as a quick search of Google News reveals. It made dozens of papers and websites, including The Times, The Calgary Herald, and The Australian, which told its readers that "Facebook fixation harms student grades" and referred worried readers to a Sydney University-based group called "I want to sue Facebook if I fail university".

Social networking scare stories are becoming increasingly popular, perhaps because the internet remains strange and mysterious despite its popularity while the long term impact of the network on our society is only just becoming apparent.

Cancer risk

Bill Thompson
The research which looked so conclusive in the pages of The Sun is actually far from definitive.
Bill Thompson
Journalists, who probably have more to fear from the growth of social tools and conversational media than most, may also be keen to highlight the dangers of the new technologies.

So we see absurd stories like the Daily Mail's recent claim that "using Facebook could raise your risk of cancer", stories that entertain and frighten readers in equal measure by combining carefully selected psychological research with unfounded speculation to create a tale that has no basis in fact but aligns perfectly with widespread fears about new technologies.

This could also explain the love-hate relationship with Twitter in the press, where the service is a dull and tedious celebrity circus one day, and a cool way to stay in touch the next.

Facebook's impact on academic grades seemed to be different, however, as it was backed up by some real science. The findings were based on a survey of 219 students at Ohio State University carried out by doctoral student Aryn Karpinski and Adam Duberstein of Ohio Dominican University and presented to a prestigious meeting of the American Education Research Association, which is as scientific as the media gets.

But of course things are never as straightforward as they seem, and the research which looked so conclusive in the pages of The Sun is actually far from definitive.

Karpinski's presentation, "A Description of Facebook Use and Academic Performance Among Undergraduate and Graduate Students," was not an invited peer-reviewed paper but a less formal poster session at the conference. The data showing a correlation between Facebook use and academic performance had not been published, and most of the news coverage seems to have been based on reading the abstract of the session without looking at the detail.

"Very basic"

The press coverage prompted further investigation, and in an article for the online journal First Monday Josh Pasek, Eian More and Eszter Hargittai describe how they analysed data from other studies to see if Facebook did have the claimed effect on grades. They found no support for Karpinski's findings, noting instead that "if anything, Facebook use is more common among individuals with higher grades."

Karpinski then defended her work, noting that "my exploratory study and subsequent poster presentation were very basic. I merely planned to do this... to get some ideas and network with more experienced researchers in this area." She also took the time to consider the methods used in the other surveys, offering a detailed and technical critique that demonstrates just how complex this area is. This is real science, and it has to be done if we are to establish a sound basis for our understanding of these new technologies. Talking about coding methods and regression analyses may not be exciting for headline writers, but it is at the heart of this current debate.

None of the newspapers and websites that were so keen to exaggerate the original claims seem interested in following the real scientific debate, with the honourable exception of Carl Bialik in the Wall Street Journal who was careful to discuss the limitations of the original research and said right from the start that the area needed more study.

The press move on to another scare story, the impression that Facebook is bad for your studies remains, and the detailed research that will help us understand the emerging network society remains unread and unremarked upon. Perhaps we will have to wait for the semantic web and intelligent search, so that anyone calling up a dodgy article about the dangers of social networking is forced to review the latest academic research before they proceed."

taken from [here]

Is Starbucks Evil?

"We’ve all heard the anti-corporation brigade yelling about Starbucks and how it’s turning the world into a giant corporate generic mess, exploiting farm workers in the third world, driving small cafes out of business, and burning their beans to make them look darker. But Starbucks says they’re a model corporate citizen, donating large amounts of money to the third world, rejuvenating neighborhoods and employing thousands as they pay above market rates.

So who is right? Is Starbucks really evil? You decide.



The negatives:

* The Organic Consumers Association says Starbucks is lagging on using Fair Trade coffee, where the grower of the coffee bean itself is paid a living wage, no matter what the going rate of coffee is. “Despite repeated pledges, Starbucks is still buying coffee and chocolate produced under exploitative labor conditions, and in the case of cocoa plantations in Africa, workers who are actually slaves.” According to Global Exchange, Starbucks buys over 100 million pounds of coffee each year, yet less than 1% is purchased from coffee farmers who are guaranteed a living wage. Source: Scotland on Sunday, May 4, 2003

* Starbucks employees aren’t always happy with their bosses, and that’s why they formed the Starbucks Baristas Union. The union, along with fair trade outfit, Global Exchange, want Starbucks to increase the amount of fair trade coffee they purchase from 1% to 5%. Says the union leaders, “We see our struggles for humane wages and working conditions as united [with the coffee growers [-] No longer will Starbucks be allowed to run roughshod over its baristas or coffee farmers.” Source: Inter Press Service, July 7, 2004

* Starbucks was called to task by environmentalists “for failing to adhere to its Environmental Mission Statement by slipping from industry leader to laggard on Fair Trade, and for adopting a patchwork approach to sustainability through its “Commitment to Origins” line of coffees.” Source: The Green Life



* Though Starbucks makes claims of improving workers conditions in the third world, the company will not allow human rights monitors to verify their claims. Critics say that there is little evidence that any improvement programs have been implemented. Source: Biodemocracy News, March 2001

* Starbucks refuses to guarantee that milk, beverages, chocolate, ice cream, and baked goods sold in the company’s stores are free of genetically-modified ingredients, including recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), a Monsanto-produced cow steroid. The substance is banned in every industrialized nation besides the U.S., because it is known to cause health problems in dairy cows, and is “associated with a higher risk of cancer in humans.” Source: Biodemocracy News"

taken from [here]

Bustin Boards

Bustin Boards is a company based in NYC that specifically deals with creating 100% custom longboards for their customers...check out more...





Bustin History

Hand Sanitizers, Good or Bad?

"What started out as an informal classroom experiment at East Tennessee State University has turned up disturbing evidence about some alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers — the antiseptic gels and foams that have become popular as a quick way to disinfect hands when soap and water aren't available.

Many such sanitizers — whether a brand name or a generic version — work well, and are increasingly found in hallway dispensers in hospitals, schools, day care centers and even atop the gangways of cruise ships as one more safeguard against the hand-to-mouth spread of disease. Several studies from such settings have shown that use of the alcohol-based rubs on hands that aren't visibly soiled seems particularly helpful in curbing the spread of bad stomach and intestinal bugs.


But a study published in this month's issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases found that at least one brand of sanitizer found on store shelves, as well as some recipes for homemade versions circulating on Web sites about crafts or directed at parents, contain significantly less than the 60 percent minimum alcohol concentration that health officials deem necessary to kill most harmful bacteria and viruses.

"What this should say to the consumer is that they need to look carefully at the label before they buy any of these products," said Elaine Larson, professor of pharmaceutical and therapeutic research at Columbia's nursing school. "Check the bottle for active ingredients. It might say ethyl alcohol, ethanol, isopropanol or some other variation, and those are all fine. But make sure that whichever of those alcohols is listed, its concentration is between 60 and 95 percent. Less than that isn't enough."

Scott Reynolds, a specialist in infection control at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Mountain Home, Tenn., discovered the problem inadvertently, in the course of giving a simple demonstration on the merits of hand washing to a friend's class of biology students at nearby East Tennessee State.

Mr. Reynolds had the students place their hands on agar plates of growth medium before and after one of several experimental conditions: rubbing their hands briskly under tap water; sudsing with hospital-grade soap and then rinsing with water; or rubbing their hands with a dollop of one of two types of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. The sanitizers used were a foam version from the hospital that contained 62 percent ethanol, and a gel version Mr. Reynolds's wife bought at a local discount store.

The next day, much to Mr. Reynolds's surprise, the culture plates from hands doused and rubbed with the store-bought gel were covered with clumps of bacteria that had, in some cases, formed a visible outline of the student's handprint on the plate.

Only when he flipped the bottle around to read the label on the back did Mr. Reynolds see that the gel's active ingredient was "40 percent ethyl alcohol."

"Otherwise, it looked like all the rest you see in the store," he said. "Same price. Same claims. Same pump bottle."

In a more formal follow-up study, Mr. Reynolds and two colleagues replicated the results, and confirmed that the lack of sufficient alcohol was to blame. If anything, he said, the faulty gel seemed to mobilize the bacteria, spreading them around the hand instead of killing them.

Allison Aiello, an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan who has studied the use and relative effectiveness of alcohol-based gels and antibacterial soaps by consumers as well as hospital workers, said she wasn't surprised by Mr. Reynolds's results from the low-alcohol sanitizer, but she was concerned to read that such a product was on the market.

"I used to work in a virology lab," Dr. Aiello said, "and we knew — it has been known for decades — that an alcohol concentration under 60 percent won't kill the microbes. It's really frightening to think that there are products out there that contain levels lower than that."

Sometimes much lower. One recipe Mr. Reynolds and his colleagues discovered on the Internet for a bubble gum-scented sanitizer aimed at children called for half a -cup of aloe vera gel and a quarter cup of 99 percent rubbing alcohol, with a bit of fragrance. That translates to a concentration of roughly 33 percent alcohol, Dr. Aiello said.

Since 2002, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended that health care workers routinely use high quality alcohol-based gels instead of soap and water on their hands when moving from patient to patient — as long the worker's hands aren't visibly soiled.

Alcohol doesn't cut through grime well, so dirt, blood, feces or other body fluids or soil must be wiped or washed away first, if the alcohol in the sanitizer is to be effective. In such cases, hand washing with soap and water is advised.

In October 2005, a committee appointed by the Food and Drug Administration met to discuss, among other things, whether consumers should also be encouraged to use the alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Dr. Tammy Lundstrom, representing the nonprofit Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, argued that they should. The committee's decision is expected this month.

"About 60 percent of surgery these days is outpatient," Dr. Lundstrom said last week in a phone interview. "We have so many people caring for ill family members at home. Maybe you're without running water because of a hurricane or blackout, or you've got a bad hip and can't move easily to get to the sink as often as you should to wash your hands. What about after you sneeze in the car, or stop to put in contact lenses?"

In all those cases, she said, alcohol-based hand sanitizers — of the correct formulation — could be a godsend, not to replace soap and water, but as an important supplement.

Dr. Aiello sees even more potential uses in the office. "Studies show that the computer keyboard, the phone receiver, and the desk are worse than the bathroom in terms of micro-organisms," she said. "Washing with plain old soap and water should be your first choice. But if you're stuck between meetings and about to grab lunch at your desk, or just use somebody else's keyboard, using a hand sanitizer before and after could be a really good idea."

How much goop should you use? Vigorously rub all sides of your hands with enough gel or foam to get them wet, and rub them together until they are dry. If your hands are dry within 10 or 15 seconds, according to the C.D.C. guidelines for health care workers, you haven't used enough."

taken from [here]

10 Tips on Maintaining a Positive Attitude

"Having and maintaining a positive attitude is vital for success in life and business. Zig Ziglar gets it right when he says, "It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude." Sure you need skills, but you can learn skills - in fact a positive attitude will make it much more likely that you will learn the skills necessary to succeed. If you take two people with an equal skill set the person with the better attitude will win.

Unfortunately it is not always easy to stay positive and keep a good attitude. As things go wrong throughout your day, it is easy to let negative thoughts start to take over. Thankfully there are many things that you can do to help maintain a positive attitude. These are things that you can do on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis to make sure you keep your positive focus.

Read on for tips...



10 Tips

1. Read Positive and Inspiring Books

One of the best ways to maintain a positive attitude is by reading positive books. These books serve to encourage you, inspire you, and teach you. Reading requires that you sit still and focus, and by focusing on something positive it helps you to keep a positive mindset throughout the day. (My favorite books can be found here.)


2. Listen to Podcasts/CDS

The advantage of listening to podcasts or compact disks is that you can listen on the go. You can listen to motivating podcasts while you clean your house, exercise, or on a flight. In your car, you can play encouraging compact disks that help you make better use of your commute. Listening to recordings from people like Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, or John Maxwell can both teach and inspire you. (My favorite podcasts can be found here.)


3. Wake up Early

One of the best ways to help you maintain a positive attitude is to create the habit of waking up early. Waking up early allows you to get a head start on the day. You can prepare for work and start your day without feeling rushed. You can get a head start on important projects before the rest of the world is awake to interrupt you. You can spend time reading or in prayer or meditation. I start each day by listening to a 10 minute motivational podcast. (Bonus Article: Simple Ways to Burst Out of Bed.)


4. Exercise

Very few things in life leverage your time as much as exercise. Obviously it makes a difference for your physical health, but it also has significant benefits to your mental health. Exercise is useful to combat depression and to improve overall positive mood. Further, if you exercise early in the morning you can go through your day knowing that you have already completed the most valuable activity you had to do! (Bonus article: How to Develop the Habit of Daily Exercise.)


5. Plan Your Week and Day

Having a clear plan to your day and to your week can go a long way to helping you maintain a positive attitude. By knowing what you want to accomplish you will be able to focus on your important life priorities. A weekly plan allows you to match your long-term goals to your weekly accomplishments. Your daily plan allows you complete the activities you need to do so that you meet your weekly goals. (My weekly planning process can be found here.)


6. Understand that Things Won't Always Go as Planned

If you plan and expect everything in life will go as you planned, you will be quickly disappointed. One of the keys to maintaining a positive attitude is to understand that things will go wrong. If you expect things to go wrong, you won't be phased when they do. So have a plan, but understand that things won't follow the plan. The plan allows you to adapt to what went wrong and move back towards what is important. (Bonus article: A Beautiful Method to Find Peace of Mind)


7. St. John's Wort and Griffonia Seed

These two herbal supplements can have an important role to play in helping you maintain a positive attitude. Many people know about St. John's Wort as a natural supplement to help prevent or treat depression. St. John's Wort is really a mood stabilizer. Griffonia seed works to elevate positive mood. Together they are helpful in maintaining a positive mental attitude.


8. Get Spiritually Connected

Naturally this one will look different for everyone, and this is simply an option to consider. If you are spiritually connected, you will have a positive outlook on life. This might mean prayer, meditation or reading Scripture. Set aside time each day to be connected spiritually.


9. Be Thankful

Take some time and be thankful. Be thankful about what you have, who you are, and what your life is like. Think through all of the things that you can be thankful for. Even if you are in a tough time in life there are many things you have that you can be thankful for. You need to look for them and recognize them. The very act of focusing on what you are thankful for will help you maintain your positive attitude.(Bonus article: The Principle of Thankfulness)

10.Surround Yourself with Positive People

Taken from Dumb Little Man

In Bruge

"In Bruges is a 2008 black comedy film, directed and written by Martin McDonagh. The film stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as hitmen in hiding, with Ralph Fiennes as their gangster boss. The film takes place within the Belgian city of Bruges. In Bruges was the opening night film of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. The film opened in limited release in the United States on 8 February 2008; premiered at the Dublin Film Festival on 15 February 2008; later went on full release in Ireland on 7 March 2008; and opened 18 April 2008 in the United Kingdom.
Colin Farrell won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for the film, while Martin McDonagh won a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay."
For extended synopsis click "more"


Plot
"Two hitmen hide out in the Belgian city of Bruges, and amidst the city's storybook background they come to terms with issues of guilt, morality, and redemption.
During his first job, fledgling hitman Ray (Colin Farrell) accidentally kills a young boy. He and his senior colleague Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are sent to Bruges by their high-strung employer Harry Waters (Ralph Fiennes), and told to await further instructions. While Ken takes in the sights and historic medieval buildings, Ray is morose and withdrawn, wracked with guilt over being responsible for the death of a child (Theo Stevenson). One night, while observing a film shoot with the dwarf actor Jimmy (Jordan Prentice), Ray strikes up a romance with Chloë (Clémence Poésy), a local drug dealer and thief, moonlighting as a production assistant. On a date, Ray gets involved in a fistfight with a couple from Canada (Željko Ivanek and Stephanie Carey), mistaking them for Americans. Later that night, Chloë's former boyfriend Eirik (Jérémie Renier) threatens Ray with a handgun loaded with blanks, but Ray disarms him and shoots Eirik in the face, partially blinding him.
Despite his budding romance with Chloë, Ray's guilt at his accidental killing of the boy continues to haunt him. Ken finally receives a call from Harry, who orders him to kill Ray on the principle that the killing of a child — even accidentally — is unforgivable. Ken retrieves a handgun from Harry's local Belgian contact and tracks Ray to a park. As Ken sneaks up behind Ray to kill him, he sees Ray is about to shoot himself. His concern for his young charge overrides his sense of duty to their employer, and Ken prevents Ray's suicide. Ken then confesses to Ray that he had been ordered by Harry to kill Ray, although Ken denies that he intended to go through with the execution. While the two discuss the situation, Ken disarms Ray and convinces him to leave the city and the business. Following Ray's departure, Ken calls Harry, reveals his insubordination and location, and abruptly hangs up. An enraged Harry immediately heads to Bruges, where he gets a gun from his contact.
Before Ray's train has traveled far from the city, he is arrested for assaulting the Canadian couple and escorted back to Bruges. Ken and Harry meet for a drink, before ascending the steps of Bruges' belfry. At the top of the carillon tower, Ken declares that Ray deserves a chance at redemption, and offers his life in exchange for Ray's. Harry, while furious, takes pity on Ken and, rather than killing him, shoots him in the leg. Meanwhile, Chloë bails Ray out of jail, and the two share a drink on the market square beneath the belfry. When Eirik informs Harry of Ray's location, Ken attacks Harry to protect Ray, and is shot in the neck. Harry descends the steps to confront Ray, leaving Ken. Seriously wounded, Ken drags himself back to the top of the carillon tower and searches for Harry in an attempt to shoot him before he harms Ray, but due to fog, he cannot see from the tower. Ken decides to jump off with his gun, hoping to allow Ray to use it in his defence. Landing in the plaza, he lives just long enough to warn Ray of Harry's arrival. However, the gun is shattered by the fall.
Ray flees back to the hotel for his gun, which Ken had stashed in a drawer in their room. Harry arrives soon after, but the pregnant owner (Thekla Reuten) of the hotel refuses to allow him up the stairs. Shouting through the stairwell, both men agree that Ray will try to flee from the back of the hotel, and Harry will run after him and shoot him if he can. Ray jumps on to a passing boat and loses his gun in the process. Ray looks back, in time to see Harry drawing down on him from a bridge, but doubts that Harry will be able to make the shot due to the distance. Despite the long range, Harry fires and hits Ray in the chest. Harry pursues the now-wounded Ray through the streets, before stumbling onto the film set where Jimmy is in costume as a schoolboy. Harry shoots Ray another three times and in the process inadvertently blows Jimmy's head off. Mistaking Jimmy's headless body for that of a child, Harry commits suicide, saying he must, on principle. The gravely-wounded Ray is lifted onto an ambulance as he sees Eirik, the pregnant woman, and Chloë in turn. Once in the ambulance, Ray wonders if hell consists of staying in Bruges forever at which point he says he hopes to live. He then slips into unconsciousness, leaving his fate unclear." [Source]

Shalgo industries

Some wallets and some tees, that's what Shalgo is. Their wallets are all made out of duct tape, and they definitely upped the bar for the duct tape wallet. The construction is amazing, durable, and you would never think it was actually duct tape. No messy strands or thick width. It is just like an ordinary wallet, but better.





About
"When Dutch designer Vanessa Vermolen met American entrepreneur Charles Peacock in New York in 2003,the moment was notable for two reasons. First, they were wearing each other's clothes. More importantly, however, the two looked just like brother and sister.

After some deep genealogical sleuthing, Vermolen and Peacock soon discovered that they were both descendants of mysterious 19th century shipping tycoon Luis Shalgo. Borrowing their forefather's name and his penchant for international commerce, Vermolen and Peacock quickly founded Shalgo Industries with the goal of spreading their handcrafted one-of-a-kind creations to the masses. Right after that they got married, which freaked people out who thought they really were related.

Shalgo Industries is dedicated to creating hip, utilitarian products with a touch of fun and whimsy. Shalgo draws inspiration from industrial materials and post-Nintendo color palettes. Shalgo's favorite beverage is Ginger Ale. Yum."

Shalgo

Moomin

The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts (and later in Finnish by WSOY) in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white and roundish, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses. The carefree and adventurous family live in their house in Moominvalley, in the forests of Finland, though in the past their temporary residences have included a lighthouse and a theatre. They have many adventures along with their various friends.
In all, nine books were released in the series, with five picture books and a comic strip also written by Jansson being released between 1945 and 1993.
The Moomins have since been the basis for numerous television series, films and even a theme park in Finland.

I don't really know much about this cartoon or its characters but I know that there is some pretty cool merchandise out there if you want to buy.

Buy

More info: Wiki

Imprint Magazine

Imprint Magazine is a webzine that is devoted to the life and culture associated with college. Now you might think that its just about stupid drunken stories, throwing up, and hooking up...Just like all those other college sites, right? Well it isn't the truth in this case, because Imprint is actually cool. Imprint Mag reports on topics such as money and politics, entertainment, life and style, music, sports, and so on, all from the perspective of college students. Some of their posted content is even extremely helpful for college students offering out advice on just about anything.



About
"Imprint Magazine is one of a kind. A national college life magazine, exclusively online, based from Ithaca College.

Imprint is comprised of five editorial sections: Arts & Entertainment, Life & Style, Music, Money & Politics, and Sports, as well as two transcending multimedia sections, Photography and Video, to fully capture what words can't.

There are blogs and features, photo albums and interviews. Sometimes we comment briefly in shorthand, others we report in the form of classic, professional journalism. In our eclectic gathering of prose, genre, ethos, media and intent, Imprint Magazine seeks to capture the multifaceted culture of the undergraduate life. So that's why Imprint, along with everything else over the last five years on the college scene, has changed immensely.

One thing consistent, however evolving throughout Imprint's history, is our focus on community. We strive for inclusion through writer/reader connections via comments, and our continual expansion into other social media networks. Look for Imprint Magazine on Myspace, LastFM, Facebook, Digg, Flickr, and Youtube. Comment on our Dugg articles, connect with us on Myspace, fall in love with, and introduce us to new music on LastFM.

And for the first time in our history, Imprint Magazine is successfully expanding our contributing boundaries. Since its inception in 2004, writers from Indiana University, Columbia College Chicago and the University of Missouri have signed on, and Imprint is always open for more. The addition of a Public Relations department has connected Imprint with those both far and near, helping to tie together the many layers that is college life.

As a community, we can all leave our Imprint."

Check it out...Imprint Magazine

Make Your Own Deoderant!

Step 1 Materials
To make your own deodorant, gather up:

Corn starch
Baking soda
Coconut oil
Essential oils (opt. - adds smellpretty!)
Vitamin E (opt. adds ooohskinsoft!)
An empty container to be filled with your new deodorant

Some great essential oils for deodorant also act as antimicrobials (since bacteria is what causes the smell, using something to wipe them out is even better!) While the oils of bay, cinnamon, clove and thyme are the most inhibitory, they can also lead to major sensitivity in the pit-ular area.

Tea tree, sandalwood, lavender, lemon, and neem oils are all good alternatives. Use one, none, or create your own blend!



Step 2 Mix it up
Combine 1/4 cup (60mL) cornstarch with 1/4 cup baking soda.

Add essential oils - I used 8 drops of lavender with 3 drops of sandalwood.

Add 2 Tablespoons coconut oil and a few drops of vitamin E oil (opt). Though the coconut oil I got for this project had a low melting point, the stuff I have at home has a higher one, which I would recommend. That kind I bought in my grocery store near the Crisco and other baking needs.

Mush the ingredients together until they start to form a silky mass. Add more of the coconut oil or dry ingredients to adjust. Then you're ready to start packing it in to your container.


Step 3 The Genius Part
If it's ever bothered you that you don't know when your deodorant is going to run out until suddenly the whole thing has dropped out onto your bathroom floor rendering it scuzzy and no longer useful (though you pick out the gross and use it anyway) I suggest cutting out a piece of colored tissue paper to use as a flag.

Fill your container with about and inch or so of deodorant, insert your flag, and fill the rest of your container!


Step 4 Finish!
Clean up the container and make your own clever label for it (like you won't remember what it is. . . )

Let it set up for a day or two.

Use liberally, and encourage others to do so as well!

_

Some final notes based on early comments:

Odor is caused by bacteria, not by sweating. The essential oils I mentioned are great antimicrobials and should do a real number on all that nasty bacteria. But I do look forward to hearing about some of the more interesting scents you all try too!

This product will not keep you from sweating. Aluminum is the key ingredient in antiperspirant, and that's the bad guy in our story here. It took me a long time (and many Texas summers), but I was finally able to get over my discomfort of sweating.

Enjoy!


Taken from Instructables. Click here for pictures and more info.

The truth about American Apparel

American Apparel is a leading t-shirt and apparel manufacturer and one of the fastest growing apparel companies in the United States. The company has aggressively promoted itself as a socially responsible company and purported that its products are manufactured "sweatshop free." However, for the over 2,000 American Apparel employees, the workplace is not without significant problems.



In September 2003, workers at the factory began organizing a union with UNITE (now UNITE HERE) to address their concerns and to gain a voice on the job. Issues such as no paid time off, lack of affordable healthcare, production methods, and treatment by supervisors were the main issues of workers trying to organize.

The workers efforts to organize and gain the right to collective bargaining were immediately met with serious resistance from the company. Owner Dov Charney and his management team immediately launched an anti-union campaign, even though Charney had publicly stated that he would never interfere with employee organizing and would remain neutral in the process. Through intimidation, interrogation, and threats of closing the facility, American Apparel created an atmosphere of fear that quickly chilled the workers attempts to organize.

The company's activities included holding captive meetings with employees, interrogating employees about their union activities and sympathies, soliciting employees to ask the union to return their union authorization cards, distributing anti-union arm bands and t-shirts, and requiring all employees to attend an anti-union rally. The company's most devastating tactic though was threatening to shut down the plant if the workers organized.
One worker reported that a supervisor told him and others "if the Union came into the Employer, it was possible that the Employer would have to shut down and move locations. He said that where Unions enter companies, problems are created and companies choose to move locations." The worker also reported that he was told that his support for the union "would put 1200 jobs in danger."

The workers and the union filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board for the company's violations of Federal labor law. The company settled the charges by agreeing to post in the facility a document stating that it would not engage in anti-union activity. However, the company's previous behavior and threats had already succeeded in preventing workers from organizing.

Rather than truly commit to the principles of being "sweatshop free" and respecting the workers' freedom of association and the right to form unions, American Apparel denies its workers the right to collective bargaining and the ability to have a voice on the job. Many workers still believe they would greatly benefit from union representation and collective bargaining, but are waiting for an atmosphere free of harassment and intimidation that would fairly allow them to exercise their right to decide on union representation.

HHO Kits

HHO kits can be installed on nearly any car or truck. The idea is that the fuel cell will use water and break it down into HHO, commonly known as Brown's Gas. This will enter into the engine through the intake and into the combustion chamber and cause fuel to burn more efficiently. Many have reported anywhere from 20 to 50% increase in fuel economy, regardless of the car or truck.

"HHO gas is the latest innovation to increase gas mileage, increase power and improve emissions. Your car will not be totally dependent on water but will be a hybrid of sorts by utilizing water as a catalyst once it is broken down to HHO also known as browns gas. By using HHO gas one can expect to see and increase in gas mileage of 20 - 50%. This is not new technology but is starting to get rediscovered as gas and diesel prices continue to increase.

You can find HHO gas car kits online for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Believe me they are worth every penny! The key here is that if you have a vehicle and you would like to make your own HHO or browns gas kit for your car or truck there is a lot of information online.

How is HHO gas utilized in your gas or diesel engine. When you convert your car to burn on water you are converting water to a gas that you engine can use. Some even refer to this as hydrogen on demand. Through a process of electrolysis water that is in a sealed container under your hood is converted to hydroxy also known as browns gas or HHO gas. This gas is then introduced to the airflow in the intake manifold using your engines vacuum. This gas is then mixed with the gasoline providing better gas mileage.

The process is so amazingly simple and the parts to build the system can be found around home or in your shop. This homemade hydrogen generator is easy to build. What you are looking at is a sealed quart size container, electrical wiring, baking soda, an automotive fuse and some vacuum hose. There is a handful of other parts but if you are wanting to make such a system it can be made for under $100 per vehicle! What is nice is it requires very little modification to your vehicle and can be removed within minutes and no one would even notice you had it installed.

There are forums online that focus HHO gas or browns gas technology as an alternative energy to reduce car emissions, increase gas mileage and improve power. HHO devices for cars are starting to get noticed. This technology has even been brought up in th news for improving gas mileage."

Fullbleed Clothing

I recently discovered Fullbleed clothing on the web. It is a small online store that sells these really cool t-shirts and prints. All designs are printed on American Apparel basic tees, so what comes out it a quality t-shirt with a really cool graphic. Click "more" for examples of Fullbleed graphics.







More Fullbleed

Fargo

Fargo is a 1996 American dark comedy film produced, directed and written by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen. The film is about a car salesman who hires two men to kidnap his wife for $80,000. Small-town police chief Marge Gunderson investigates the crime, which sets off a chain of murders. The film stars Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare and Harve Presnell.
Fargo earned seven Academy Award nominations, winning two for Best Original Screenplay for the Coens and Best Actress in a Leading Role for McDormand. The film also won the British BAFTA Award and the Award for Best Director for Joel Coen at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.

This movie falls into the category of all time favorites. While it was produced and created on such a low budget it still comes along as a movie that belongs on the same screen as some of the highest budget blockbuster. The Coen brothers write with a magic touch so to speak, with lots of repetition in dialogue, which add an edge of humor, and also portray some dark humor, while all at the same time not stifling once from the main idea of the film. It is definitely one of the "greats" in American cinema and it comes highly recommended.

Steps to Being Green

There are plenty of us who find being "green" too hard and complicated. However, Planet Green just published 30 steps to being green, and there are a few things you can do , that aren't exactly any sorts of "tree hugger" extremes.

Some Simple Steps:

1. Conserve Water
2. Simplify Your Travels
3. Recycle at least one thing
4. Green Your Commute (carpooling)
5. Clean Green (avoid harmful chemicals and detergents)

Planet Green's lists is comprised of a total of 30 ways to be green, check out the rest here

Stress Relief: Stars of the Lid

Artist: Stars of the Lid

Album: And Their Refinement of the Decline

Genre: Ambient

This is and album I picked up a few months ago knowing it is a good way to relax and mellow out. Stars of the Lid specialize in super ambient music and sounds and most of their music doesn't even really have any beat. I find this music really good for stress relief but it can also be great background music when in thought or when trying to think of an idea (i.e. for a project, your own song, anything...I used it once when thinking of a movie idea for my film class).

Sample Song: Articulate Silences Part 1


Background and History
Stars of the Lid is a duo specializing in drone-based ambient music. They list among their influences minimalist and electronic composers such as Arvo Pärt, Zbigniew Preisner, Gavin Bryars, and Henryk Górecki, as well as Talk Talk (both bands have tracks named "Taphead"), post-rock artists Labradford, and ambient innovator Brian Eno. Their songs are largely beatless soundscapes, composed of droning, effects-treated guitars along with piano, strings, and horns; volume swells and feedback fill the gap of rhythmic instruments, providing dynamic movement within the songs. Their sound has been described as "divine, classical drone without the tedious intrusion of drums or vocals".

Formed in Austin, Texas, in 1993, SOTL is composed of two members — Brian McBride and Adam Wiltzie. McBride explained in an interview that the band's name refers to "your own personal cinema, located between your eye and eyelid", suggesting the colors and patterns one can see with closed eyes (either phosphenes or closed-eye hallucinations). Both have released solo material, the former under his own name and the latter under The Dead Texan alias. Their two most recent releases have been triple LPs released to generally positive reviews. Adam Wiltzie currently lives in Brussels, Belgium and Brian McBride in Los Angeles.