wishbone clover

Other Cool Stuff I've Been Doing ... At GreenDaily and Tonic

 

Why yes, this is a photo of me, Cat, holding a Flying Monkey salt shaker. And hour glass pepper shaker. Because I have a very excellent and attentive friend named Suzie.

While I continue my birthday month celebrations, here are a few reading selections from two more sites, GreenDaily and Tonic.

GreenDaily, the AOL green channel:

• Conservation Fashion -- which style eco-fashionista are you?
• Do you know about Plarn? And bags knitted out of Plarn?
• The bees are still disappearing, but some businesses are trying to do something about it
• What shade of green environmentalist are you?

Tonic, the "Positively Good" News site:

• A follow up interview with Ali Hewson/Mrs. Bono, on sustainable trade
  
• An interview with Mary Lynn Fitton founder of the amazing Art of Yoga Project
• Tom Szaky of TerraCycle shared his Garbage Mogul perspective on sustainability
• Fragrance magnate Harry Slatkin talked about his Autism foundation

Earth Day Activism - Join My Starbucks Eco-Cups Cause!

Back in January I learned that Starbucks cups can't be recycled. I was horrified, and wrote about it on GreenDaily and Tonic. I also started a movement on The Point, to make Starbucks switch to recyclable or compostable paper cups in 2009.

The Point is pretty cool, because you can set up a good idea, then collect supporters. No one has to do anything until you reach a critical mass.

My cause, which is called Starbucks Eco-Cup Switch in 2009, goes into effect when we get 1,000 people to agree to go on the "My Starbucks Idea" feedback site, daily, and ask Starbucks to get a sustainable cup into their stores in 2009. 

When I set it up, I emailed it out to more than 100 people. I was nervous about spamming folks, but no one yelled at me, at least to my face. A few even signed up!

To my amazement, every day or two, new people -- strangers -- have found the campaign and signed up. Without doing any marketing, we already have almost 200 people! That's 200 mostly strangers who also want an eco-friendly cup solution, enough to commit to action if we can find 800 more people.

I figure Earth Day is going to be my best bet for getting new recruits. So if you're reading this, and you ever buy Starbucks coffees, how about it? Will you sign up? And will you tell other people about it? Digg it, Tweet, Stumble and old-fashioned email it to friends, family and loved ones?

It would be pretty neat to do something to reduce the 2 billion S'bux cups that go into landfill every year, wouldn't it? What a great way to celebrate Earth Day!

The High Incidence of Genital Herpes Make Sense When You Think About Sienna Miller's Dating Record

Chief and I were watching late night tv when an ad came on for some herpes medication. The voice over announced that one in five adults has herpes. You know, the down there kind, not the "Oh, I get this little cold sore when I'm tired" kind.

Since we're both from the "SEX=DEATH SO ALWAYS WEAR A CONDOM" generation (ah, that late 80s AIDS crisis) we were especially shocked to hear such a high number.

"So three of the people at that party tonight had herpes," he said, incredulously.

"Maybe it's not as evenly distributed as that," I replied, skeptically. Then I went to wash my hands.

Later, I was reading about (oogling pictures of) Sienna Miller's naked breast being fondled by troubled -- and married -- Getty scion Balthazar, I remembered an old blind item about him giving every starlet in Hollywood herpes. Right then a six degrees of separation light bulb went off in my head.

Of course so many people have the herps! Just think about the awe-inspiring number of people Sienna has slept with (that we know about) and all of the people they screwed. This crew is a walking petrie dish! They could bring polio back if they half tried.

The Sienna Miller Former Boyfriend Viral Nexus includes:

Tim Gunn, Please Mend My Closet, Life

Oh, Tim Gunn. I wish you would come over, sort through my endless pairs of ill-fitting black pants and impose order on my life, while Veronica Webb culls the tangle of stretched out lace and satin in my bra drawer. Show me how to wear a belt! Give me an expensive "quality" hand bag! Teach me to make sane decisions in the dressing room.

Naturally I fear the scrutiny, but how I envy the well tailored calm of the women you've brought around to the tasteful side with your caring, thoughtful guidance. Plus you care so much about them!

You're a big softie, you fairy godfather.

John Mayer, Tool

Jessica Simpson may be gone, but the simper remains.

Do you think that tattoo will wash off in his next bubble bath? Or not until he has his arms waxed again?

hair whore

I get my hair done sort of frequently, according to some people. According to me I get it done just often enough. If I could, I would have a full-time person on my staff to blow dry it every morning. That comes after the driver, cleaning lady, chef and daily personal trainer, but it's on my list.

Last week I was in for a little color treatment (don't tell anyone, but no, this isn't my natural color) and we counted up how long I've been seeing this group of stylists: thirteen years! I followed them to four different salons in that time, and now they opened Ginger Rubio, this totally cool space in a ghetto-y part of the Mission. But it's cool ghetto, you know? With a dj station and glitter art and designer mirrors.

In addition to keeping my grays away, I like going to the salon because it is always educational. I see Megan for cut, color and lipstick advice, admire Wendy's shoes and bask in the grand wisdom of Mr. Anthony while sipping wine. He's shared all sorts of tidbits with me over the years. For instance:

• there is always space for another tattoo
• hair should be platinum blond or midnight black
• yes, I would look stupid with blond hair, and I need to stop asking
• time is relative
• if you can't make a home, wreck one
• when in doubt, augment with fake hair
• extensions come in barbie doll and stripper length, and both are covet-worthy
• you can do a stunning number of things in a bathroom, some of them legal
• designer sunglasses are always totally worth the money
• there is no shame in paying retail if you really, really love it, or just broke up with someone
• the gay porn industry is surprisingly easy to break into

...and so many more.

I feel very lucky that I found the gang right when I moved to SF and have benefited from their skill, friendship and knowledge for so many years. It's a good life, always having my next hair appointment on the schedule.

Am I Still a Whore if the Money Goes to Charity?

Today someone sent me an email with a link to an online petition. It supports legislation to get better services for women with breast cancer. Obviously good, right? Unless you dig really deep, like feeding orphans with birth defects, it's hard to find a better cause.

I completed the online form, including the mandatory email address (yes, using my spam address, duh) clicked "submit" and waited for my confirmation.

Imagine my surprise when I was thanked by Lifetimetv.com, and encouraged to watch their show with a character who has breast cancer. The petition is part of a marketing campaign!

(Okay, I blithely overlooked the Lifetime header on the first page. Meh, life is short. Who has time to read the edges of websites?)

So now I'm torn. Do I forward the link to help a good cause (the legislation, not the dumb ass show) get more exposure? Or do I protect my friends from marketing shills collecting emails for nefarious purposes?

Is it better when you give it away for free? Here. You may decide for yourself.