Your Vision

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.

- Carl Jung

I like this quote. I founds  it on this blog, Reach the Sky.  I stumbled upon this particular blog, because somehow someone came from there to here. I like it when I discover things this way.

Let me start with saying I only know of Jung and not so much about him, so I did some quick research to make sure he wasn’t a crazy megalomaniac, or a human slave trader or slayer, etc. It seems he was none of these things. He was a white, Swiss psychiatrist turned philosopher. He was way into alchemy, astrology, sociology, as well as literature and the arts. His most notable ideas include the concept of psychological archetypes, the collective unconscious and synchronicity. This is cool because I like the quote and am now interested in what this Jung may have to say. My mind has been in need of something new to absorb…

Anyway, back to the quote, I think the heart he speaks of is the soul or part of the collective unconsciousness and through connecting to that collective unconscious, we begin to change the thought process of the world.  Our energy begins to shift. People or the individual I should say do not realize the power they have to change the world just through their mind/soul/heart. To see the world just as it is in front of you is an unrealistic vision, only a part of the whole. The reality of the world/universe/existence is more than we can see physically, but not metaphysically….that’s right I said it.

Awaken yourself.

-Cara

Be Nice Has Some New Styles…Wanna See?

A New Shirt, "Wind Power"

This week Be Nice is releasing additional super fresh designs, shirts, and colors on the fantastical site ubenice.com. We will also be changing the look of our “store”, because change is good. Please bear with us as we go through this transformation, it won’t take long. Until then we will be deactivating the online store. What this means is if you see a shirt (or shirts…don’t let us hold you back.) you like, you will have to email us at info@ubenice.com. Then we will send you your invoice through PayPal.

For the size chart visit the FAQ section.

We hope you like the new designs.

-Cara

Sweatshop Free Shopping

Nerds Are Cool

I remember back in the good old days of this blog I’d do a lot of eco-shopping entries. I’ve since been trying to shave down what I already have. I have always been a pack rat and love to buy stuff. If it wasn’t for the fact that each time I move I am more lazy than obsessed with hording stuff, I’d be one of those guys, you know on Clean Sweep or Cops.  See lazy sometimes is good. I donate stuff to the Salvation Army, or those clothes boxes sprinkled throughout NYC, or drag stuff to swap meets in Queens, or bring them to my job and leave them on a counter outside my office, eBay, etc… Someone, somewhere wants my stuff.

I do have a point to all this. I now find I need to do some shopping for a new backpack. I may document this journey further, but for now I just wanted to share some resources I am using to research said bag. By the way, for those interested, my perfect bag would be an eco, fair trade, non sweatshop, sustainable, long lasting, locally made, recycled, durable, solar energy source, super fresh, comfortable, user friendly, big when it needs to be back pack. I am sure I am missing other specs, but you get my point.

For company ratings on social and environmental issues, see Co-op America’s sweatshops.org.  The Fair Trade Federation also lists companies committed to “fair wages and good employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans and farmers worldwide.”  If they meet these guidelines I have completed part one of this journey.

OK, let me get started, my backpack is almost in pieces.

-Cara

Real Nerds Keeping It Real

This video speaks for itself. Thanks for sending me this Marine.

:]

-Cara

Music Break – Hearbreak Make Me a Dancer

Ladies and Gentlemen, the official video for the new Freemasons and Sophie Ellis-Bextor track ‘Hearbreak Make Me a Dancer’.

Ummm,  love it…

-Cara

Wanna Watch Something Funny?

Kinda…

Sorry to everyone I could only find  this video with annoying ads. I try to avoid this whenever possible.

Kill your MySpace. Delete your profile.

I said it.

-Cara

Something to Watch and Read

Last night I was watching a movie I found somewhere, somehow called, “Ecological Design: Inventing the Future” [1994]. We have known a lot of eco stuff for along time, now we need more action.  I challenge you to find this movie, watch it and be creative with a cool eco-design. That’s right I said it, a challenge.

One super fresh topic covered in the film was the Whole Earth Catalog. The Whole Earth Catalog was published regularly from 1968 to 1972, the founder, Stewart Brand. According to the catalog, “Whole Earth eschewed politics and pushed grassroots direct power—tools and skills. At a time when New Age hippies were deploring the intellectual world of arid abstractions, Whole Earth pushed science, intellectual endeavor, and new technology as well as old.”

To check out some of the older catalogs online, click here.

Technology and ecological design are awesome.

-Cara

Ninjin – The Way Of The Vegetable Assassin

Do not fear. There is a way to avoid the assassin…at least if you live in the Northeast.

Here is a cool link for the seasonal fruits and veggies in the San Francisco Bay Area. You can also use this interactive map to see what’s fresh in any area, by month.

Eat fresh.

-Cara

Fair is Fair

New York Governor David Paterson—the sponsor of the marriage bill currently before the legislature—delivered poignant remarks to the thousands recently assembled in midtown Manhattan. I like this guy.

The New York State Assembly recently passed the marriage equality bill which now heads to the state senate. I think it’s time for marriage equality to come to New York, so I sent my state senator an e-mail through the Human Rights Campaign.

They’ve made it super simple to send a personal message to legislators. With the scare tactics being used by our opponents, we need senators to hear from as many supporters of equality as possible.

This issue is very important to me, and taking action will only take a millisecond. Please join me in writing to your senator today.

Click here:

http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/nysenatemarriage/step1

Fair is fair.

-Cara

Thought For the Day

Here’s what is on my mind…who is the person that will invent a Facebook-like social network and use it only for good, sustainable stuff and not unleash a fafillion marketing widgets, gadgets, capsules, snippets, modules, minis, badges, webjits, flakes, games, programs, pop-ups and gutter ads for unsustainable crap on the masses? …and no it’s not me, I’m busy!

I killed most all of my social web 2.0 drama like LinkedIn. I figured why am I part of a group called Linked In when all I really want to do is get off the grid. That whole scene is not my deal. I also killed my MySpace. Listen people…Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp…really? If you don’t get that, do some research. I don’t want to be any part of Fox News and all those brothers’ drama. Friendster, what is the point? I slowly killed most of them.

Here is my dilemma, the Facebook still has a hold on me. I think it may be because a lot of people that I had lost contact with and who were a significant part of my life found me on the book of face, more than on any of the other social network sites. It is nice to know all these people are easy to get a hold of, you are reminded whose Birthday it is (see Tony), you can check out what new pictures they have up, what drama they are up to, ETC!!! You know to be able to be a welcomed voyeur of people’s life…that’s good stuff.  :]

So who wants to invent the book of face for good?

-Cara

It Is A Big Universe Out There

All night time-lapse video of the sky in Fort Davis, Texas. The footage was taken with 15mm fisheye lens.  An array of stars, constellations, meteors and satellites can be seen passing overhead for most of the evening. The video ends with the bright galactic core of the Milky Way rising above the horizon and overhead. Higher resolution videos and astrophotographs here.

Hot stuff.

-Cara

D.E.B.S. A Fun Movie That Rocks!

OK, I admit this movie has nothing to do with being green or saving the world, but I love it. I, being somewhat gay, had heard of the film before, seen it around, you know the deal… It never drew me in, until a couple of weeks ago when I decided to check it out and that was a wrap…I fell in love.

I love the campiness of it all, from the uniforms, to the sound effects, to Lucy Diamond and the lovely Ms. Bradshaw, everything.  I would also like to give a special shout out to the truly fantastical, slightly cleaned up John Watersesque actress Jill Ritchie (Kid Rock’s sister, which means former sister-in-law to Pam Anderson…what?).  She plays Janet the screamer and homie to Amy,. Without her I feel this movie would not have been half as good. Jimmi Simpson (Scud) is fresh as well, in the same kind of way, but different.

Listen, I love pulp fiction novels and cult classic wannabe B movies and D.E.B.S. fits this bill perfectly. Wait, why am I making excuses for loving this movie…

I put it on my P2.

:-D

-Cara

Google is Everywhere

According to Scroogle,

“Google is asking webmasters who use AdSense,  to update their privacy policy and warn of Google’s new tracking system.

[The DoubleClick DART cookie is used by Google in the ads served on publisher websites displaying AdSense for content ads. When users visit an AdSense publisher's website and either view or click on an ad, a cookie may be dropped on that end user's browser. The data gathered from these cookies will be used to help AdSense publishers better serve and manage the ads on their site(s) and across the web.]

If you see any big sites with AdSense (”Ads by Google” — JavaScript required) that have not updated their policy by Google’s 2009-04-08 deadline,

[The posted privacy policy should include the following information about Google and the DoubleClick DART cookie:

• Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on your site.
• Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to your users based on their visit to your sites and other sites on the Internet.
• Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.]

email that site’s owner. If they ignore you, scroogle@lavabit.com wants the URL of that site.   We plan to compile a list !

We might ask Google to pull these AdSense accounts if the list gets long enough. If that doesn’t work, some privacy activists may decide to complain to the FTC.“

More information:    Link1 Link2 Link3 Link4 Link5

Fear not soldiers there is ccleaner, a fantastical tool that will annihilate cookies and a whole lot more.

I like my privacy.

-Cara

Something My Grandfather Taught Me

Here’s  a simple trick for all users of hand soap, dish soap, and all other liquid soaps. When you get to the bottom of the soap vessel and think you are all out of your precious cleaning elixir, this is when you add a little hot water to the remaining soap and voila, you’ll get at least a few more days of washing. Good times.

Waste not, want not.

-Cara

Drip, Drip, Drip

Why save water?

Of all the water in the world, only 3% is fresh. Less than one third of 1% of this fresh water is available for human use. The rest is frozen in glaciers or polar ice caps, or is deep within the earth, beyond our reach.

To put it another way, if 100 liters represents the world’s water, about half a tablespoon of it is fresh water available for our use.

Remember that our local water supplies are part of a bigger global water cycle.

Fix those dripping faucets. If it drips every second it can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.

Filling up your tub can require up to 70 gallons of water, where a 5 minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons.

When you brush those teeth of yours don’t run the water. That way you save about 8 gallons per day.

Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.

Don’t let water run while shaving or washing your face. It’s just a waste.

Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator. You snooze you loose.

I myself save water by never drinking it except in restaurants. ;-]

Just some things to think about.

-Cara

The Grid

An update on my life…

I’ve decided to get off the grid. This begins with eliminating the million email accounts I have, Google ones for various jobs, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. The fafillion social networks, Myspace, LinkedIn, etc I am a member of. I don’t want to be LinkedIn. We’ll see what I keep.

I have a bigger plan, but for now I am going to disconnect from this web 2.0 world.

Big Brother is watching, stop preforming.

-Cara

Zeigeist: Addendum

Zeitgeist (n) – the spirit of the time; the spirit characteristic of an age or generation

Addendum (n) -something to be added

I never watched Zeitgeist: The Movie. I came across Zeitgeist: Addendum the other day and since my thinking hasn’t been the same. It has given me a better sense of focus, new ideas to think about and hope. Look, I am not saying I am drinking the Kool-Aide, there are things I don’t agree with; for one, their take on religion. I get where they are coming from, but I am enlightened to something else.

I will not go on and on about the movie. If you want to watch it for free you can here (although I am not sure why they would choose Google Video to host the movie. It is part of the problem, not the solution. Maybe they feel it will reach a bigger audience, but I am not too sure that is the way to go.). I myself downloaded it from someone else.  I am going to watch Zeitgeist: The Movie at some point, but for now I still have a lot to think about with Zeitgeist: Addendum, so I’ll wait. Addendum can definitely stand alone.

I would love to hear people’s opinion after watching the film. I have already had a few cool conversations about it. I have burned it for a couple of people. I would like to keep passing it around and then people can pass their copies around and see how fast it spreads.  I want a better world and I know it is possible.

Do not fear the robots.

-Cara

You’re So Gay!

Here’s a little blurb about what’s going on with my organic, handmade t-shirt company I run with Ms. Marine Boudeau.

Good times.

-Cara

Join us at Pridefest this year in the West Village:

Hudson St. between Abingdon Sq. & West 14th St
Sunday, June 28th, 2009
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Come check out our handmade, organic, super fresh t-shirt collections, hang out, take pictures and buy plenty of shirts for you, your peeps, lovers, family…

Sign-up for our newsletter to receive any Pridefest updates and possibly discover many other amazing and interesting things.

To learn more about this super gay weekend visit NYC Pride.

Cara & Marine
Founders of Be Nice

Impeach Judge Jay Bybee

Common Cause has called for the impeachment of federal Judge Jay Bybee for his role in signing a 2002 memo released last week that authorized torture. Put enough pressure on Congress to launch impeachment proceedings.

Tell your Representative to launch impeachment proceedings on Judge Jay Bybee of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Sign Here!

-Cara

In Local News – TechnoTrash

If you live in New York City and have electronics you want to get rid off in a green, eco, recycling way. Here are two upcoming events I found on the Lower East Side Ecology Center’s website:

April 26th, 2009
Central Park
West 67th Street and Central Park West

and

May 2nd, 2009
119 W 23rd Street at Tekserve between 6 & 7th Avenues
Manhattan

Here is what techotrash consists of:

Working and non-working:

Computers (laptop & desktop),
Servers, mainframes
Monitors
Printers, scanners, fax-machines, copiers
Network devices (routers, hubs, modems, etc.)
Peripherals (keyboards, mice, cables, etc.)
Components (hard drives, CD Roms, circuit boards, power supplies, etc,)
TVs,VCR & DVD Players
Audio visual devices
Radios/Stereos
Cell Phones, pagers
PDAs,Telecommunication (phones, answering machines, etc.)
Media (floppies, cd’s, zips, VHS tapes)

I have a bag of stuff I have been saving up for the next techno recycling gala event. This is such a sweet deal.

Goodbye old and improperly burned cds, printer ink cartridges, old laptop batteries, etc…goodbye.

-Cara

Ketchup Packets

The first thing to do with ketchup packets is not use them.  When you order delivery remember to say, “no condiments” and “no plastic utensils” is also a good way to go. I bet you have ketchup at home and I am sure most people have utensils, so you don’t even need them.

I have a hard time remembering this as I looked at ketchup packets siting on my counter this morning from last nights delivery. I decided I need to look up some information on said ketchup packets that will really push me to remember the little things that make a big difference.

Here’s something I found,

Heinz sells 11 billion single-serve packets of ketchup per year around the world. That’s 2 packets for every person on earth. That means that 11 billion packets are landfill-bound. This is just Heinz packets.

Enough said.

-Cara

New York Seasonal Fruits and Veggies

I have put together a schedule of what is in season or well at least the harvest times of fruits and veggies I like in the New York/Northeastern area last night. It is always good to buy local and helpful to know when you can.

Enjoy.

-Cara

Some More Scroogle

I saw a hipster on the subway tonight, sporting a puma bag while wearing his black satin jacket with “Google” emblazoned on one of his sleeves.

Are people so easily distracted?

-Cara

Keep Antibiotics Working!

Marine is doing some research for our organic t-shirt business, be nice and sent me this web site, http://actionnetwork.org/. They are a part of Environmental Defense. One of their featured action alerts has to do with humans increasing resistance to antibiotics. Go here to send a message to your Congressperson and Senators.

I, myself have never been a big fan of Western medicine, especially that flu shot. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that flu shot is just the government doing some crazy testing on us or something to that affect. I am sure of it! It is the same way with goldenseal root and penicillin, if you take them for too long or just take too much you become immune to their positive/healing effects. I also think that Western medicine mostly covers up the aches and pains of sickness till you heal, unlike natural vitamins and herbs that act as a preventative measure and heals you rather than covering up the sickness.

Heal naturally when possible.

-Cara

Music Break – La Rage

Keny Arkana is fresh.

-Cara

Going To France

Here is a collection of pictures from my first trip to France (the one in Europe).  Marine (who is French from France not Canada) and I traveled together.  We were in Praz-De-Lys for 7 days (March 7th to the morning of the 14th), then spent two days in Paris (March 14th and 15th).  A shout out to Marine’s mother Suzanne for hooking us up with her superb Air France connection, making it possible for us to travel in a more bourgeoise fashion than usual.

We traveled from New York City (our home) to the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, then off to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport, next a bus to Taninges, then a cab to Praz-De-Lys, France. It took over 24 hours to complete the trip (March 6th).

We slept most of Saturday and Sunday we truly began our snowy, winter wonderland trip in the French Alps. A week later,  we flew to Paris to spend our last two days in France. It was awesome. :]

Here is the link again of this amazingly fresh vacation.

-Cara

Read A Book – Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
My cousin gave this to me to read awhile ago. I remember she laughed a lot while reading it.

I brought it on a very long trip to the French Alps last week and loved it.

Elizabeth is fresh…I liked her style.

A simple review, I know. :]

-Cara

Save A Word Today

I adopted lambition [n. act of licking or lapping] today.

For some reason I found this word very apropos…

;]

-Cara

God Hates Protesters

It is awesome…

-Cara

Clean Coal

New Reality ad directed by the Academy-award winning Coen Brothers.

In reality, there’s no such thing as clean coal.

Learn more. Join the campaign.

-Cara

Greg’s Got Feelings

I dedicate this song to me and my shitty day.

I got hurt feelings.

-Cara

Coffee to the Rescue

Living in NYC, it is strange to wrap my mind around all that nature and chimpanzees swinging around everywhere. I think any of those jobs would be cool. The coffee sniffing, the chimpanzees studying and the farming, but maybe not on such a large scale. I’m more of a fire escape gardener than coffee farmer.

I love organic coffee, chimpanzees and fair trade!!!

-Cara

Paper Clip Guy

A friend at work gave me this poem today.  She thought I would like it and I did.

-Cara

Paper Clip Guy

Yesterday I fell out of a dream and onto my floor.
My god…I thought…I really need to vacuum.

You know that little guy?
That looks like a paper clip and always pops up on your computer to politely offer his assistance in reformatting word documents and does little dances and shit when you ignore him for long enough?
Well who is he?
And does he just help you format word articles…or does he also do some vacuuming on the side?

I ate an omelet for breakfast and it reminded me of all of the omelets I’ve eaten in the past and then it reminded me of all the omelets I’ll eat in the future and then it reminded me of the future and that is always scary.
I’ll be eating omelets forever at this rate and Jesus…that’s a lot of fucking omelets.

Which means that’s a whole lot of eggs.
Which means that’s a whole lot of chickens
Which have to be raised by a whole lot of farmers.
A whole lot of farmers raising a whole lot of chickens to make a whole lot of eggs to feed a whole lot of people who…like me…have a special affect for omelets.
Especially in the morning.

Me? I’m just another consumer of omelets made with eggs made by chickens raised by people who make money so they too can eat omelets for breakfast now and forever.

When you think about that.
It seems that I’m that little guy…that looks like a paper clip…politely offering assistance in omelet consuming and perhaps on the side.
A little vacuuming.

-Michelle Kaye