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.