19 november 2006

Saturday Night = Laundry Detergent Rave

spacer YPSIDIXIT WALKS ON THE WILD SIDE: Why, just today I departed from my usual "Bio-Pak" laundry detergent to try a box of powder Seventh Generation soap. I spent my usual crazy Saturday evening quietly reading the box. Imagine my surprise to find that most laundry detergents are petroleum-based! It's revolting how Big Oil creeps into one's life in so many unsuspected, insidious ways.

Y. couldn't wait to try it out. I gathered up the usual piles of laundry (as a long-underwear-wearing biker, there's always a lot) and piled it in. Used the recycled post-consumer plastic scoop to scoop in a generous amount. Mesmerized, watched the clothes agitating, noting the icky greyness of the water (proof it's working). Hauled out a big load of scent-free clothes washed clean without animal testing, "optical brighteners," or ickies that persist in the environment. Piled it on my wooden drying-racks. Sparkling clean.

When via email I shared my laundry discoveries with the freethinking friend (who was working), imagine my astonishment when he confided, "It's the brand I used today." O, serendipity! Yet more excitement awaits tomorrow when we're scheduled to rake leaves together. And have tea. Wanton sustainable debauchery, for which Y. quietly counts her blessings.

Posted by ypsidixit at 12:01 am | Comments (1)

18 november 2006

100 Mile Thanksgiving

spacer THAT'S THE GOAL, AND CHALLENGE. Can you help pool your knowledge with other kind readers to collectively figure out where to buy Thanksgiving food items that were grown within a 100 mile radius of Ypsi? I really want to know, and to do this this year. But I only know a couple things. Maybe you do too--all together, now, where in the Ypsi area can one pick up all the ingredients for a 100-mile Thanksgiving?

The map shows a 100-mile radius based on nearby weather radar. You can see it includes foods made in Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Toledo, Cleveland, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and oh, we'll throw Cadillac in there. Plus we have Toronto and London in Canada. Let's make a list, for fun and for future reference!

OK, I'll start.

100-MILE TURKEY: The Ann Arbor People's Food Co-op has turkey-lurkeys raised in northern Ohio, for 1.69 a pound. Y. is placing an order today!

Posted by ypsidixit at 10:55 am | Comments (18)

17 november 2006

There's Gotta Be More to "Sustainability is Fun" Than A Bunch of Dumb Word Searches

FOLLOWING UP on one sustainability group member's great comments last night about the dearth of sustainbility fun, Y. went a-searching for same. Dull quizzes. Boring recycling trivia. Yawnful word searches and the kind of simple, twiggy crosswords created by...educators. BORING!

Last night's speaker was right. Sustainable folk tend to be doom and gloom. Worried, stern faces. Austere credos. That won't win over the masses. Start where the student is at with what folks find entertaining.

Well, this World Wildlife virtual house is pretty interesting (click on the green "Enter House" button at right). You get a new question every time you start over. The artwork is bouncy and bright. And there are (cute) roaches in the kitchen! Here, Y. learned how to tell cheetahs apart and what chopsticks are made of. Fun Meter: 6 out of 10.

This blogger correctly states, "We need some theories on the intersections of sustainability and debauchery, sustainability and drinking, sustainability and beer-pong, sustainability and humor, sustainability and acting silly, sustainability and gettin' freaky!" He doesn't offer any ideas, though.

Our work is cut out for us.

Posted by ypsidixit at 08:54 pm | Comments (35)

NEW poll at right, in line with the post below. I'll leave it up over the weekend.

Posted by ypsidixit at 01:20 pm | Comments (3)

Sustainable Ypsi Group (SYPSI) Bursting with Ideas, Energy

[Written by sustainability goddess Lisa and posted with her permission!]

What a GREAT Sustainable Ypsi (SYPSI) meeting we had last night! Lots of exciting discussion!

For those who didn't attend, a summary follows.

Mich Green Energy Economy - had some discussion of Wednesday's PBS program on investment in renewable energy industries around the state. A bunch of companies were highlighted that are making solar & wind components. Could Ypsilanti attract such businesses, for example, to Exemplar? Could we start a pressure campaign on DTE to get a little bit of momentum on renewable energy sources like Consumers Power & Mackinaw Power are doing?

Mayor's 20/20 task force - Here is Mayor Schreiber's description of the Ypsilanti 2020 Task Force: "Ypsilanti 2020 will have an urgent goal: Developing, within Schreiber's first 100 days in office, at least five innovative, yet practical ideas for promoting increased economic development, more public/private partnerships, greater government efficiency, and more effective regional cooperation—all aimed at helping Ypsilanti deal quickly with its immediate budget crisis and build a more solid economic foundation." We discussed the possibility of doing research and serving as a citizen's committee on the task force promoting sustainability ideas like those in the documentary. Lisa wrote to the mayor and proposed the idea. He agreed to meet with her to discuss it. Other SYPSI folks are welcome to join Lisa to trade ideas with Mayor Schreiber, when a date is decided upon.

Local Currency - Lisa continues to be jazzed at the idea of a local currency, based on the success of Ithaca Hours. (See the attached comic that explains how it works.) Seems like the unique configuration of our upstart community might make this idea really work well in Ypsilanti. Lisa will order the "How To" booklet on Ithaca NY's local currency system. Some of the wide ranging benefits include:
HOURS expand the local money supply (and keep it in the local economy)
HOURS promote and expand local shopping, with an endless multiplier
HOURS increase the local minimum wage to $10.00, benefitting not only workers but businesses as well, who find new and loyal customers
HOURS enable shoppers to afford premium prices for locally-crafted goods and for locally-grown organic food
HOURS help start new businesses and jobs
HOURS reduce dependence on imports and transport fuels
HOURS stimulate community pride
Partnering with YpsiVotes/Business Forum - Lisa talked to Amanda Edmonds of Growing Hope & Mark Maynard of YpsiVotes.com about ideas for collaboration, possibly the local currency idea? Mark is thinking about how SYPSI might be present at the Shadow Art Fair on 12/2/06 to launch a drive for participants.

Sustainability and Entertainment - Ruben described his facinating philosophy that sustainability must involve every aspect of life, as well as every single person, reaching them with our message. He pointed out the gloom & doom tendency of environmentalists and plans to create films that associate sustainability with joy and fun. His films could be linked to our blog. He's also working on a project now with the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor. Welcome, Ruben & Juliana!

Website/Blog - it's in the "sandbox" phase, using WordPress, an open source platform. We envision all the regular attenders of Sustainable Ypsilanti having rights to post as contributors. So far, we thought of the following sections: ; a page listing all things sustainable LOCALLY including goods & services; a page for our Initiatives (Ypsilanti 20/20 task force, No-Cup Coffee, Local Currency, Partnering); Discussion of those initiatives & other sustainability gossip in the blog area; Automated letters to legislators on relevant sustainability issues; Regular weekly post on your personal actions/thoughts/worries on sustainability (like "open mike Fridays"); Links & Reading List. Theresa, Lisa & Fritz are developing a workable structure. Hope to have it running by the end of the month.

Dreaming BIG - Google Foundation is run by a guy who has local ties and an interest in sustainability. Maybe if SYPSI were to write a grant, we could get the big bucks for a project not otherwise achievable. Let's think: 25 compact flourescents for every household in Ypsi? 1000 solar arrays free to residents? A light rail system?

Posted by ypsidixit at 12:31 pm | Comments (5)

Open Mike Friday

"Intelligent highway" self-driving pod-cars? Thanksgiving family-gathering nervousness? Your favorite of the two finalist names for the new Ann Arbor high school, "Northcrest" or "Skyline"? Up to you!

Posted by ypsidixit at 10:25 am | Comments (17)

15 november 2006

Rocket Off to a Strong Start

YPSIDIXIT and the freethinking friend checked out the Rocket today after a fabulously delicious dinner at Dalat, where I'd never eaten before. Oh, was that food good. I had vermicelli with braised beef, shrimp, bean sprouts, and egg roll bits and it was such a variety of wonderful tastes and textures--so good. The FF had a veggie tofu/seitan stir-fry, which was also very tasty.

Afterwards we crossed the street to check out the Rocket. Some things you can buy there: a variety of metal lunchboxes (makes a great gift wrap, as the kind and helpful clerk pointed out; two gifts in one), vintage metal tabletop bowling set, Ypsicentric T-shirts emblazoned with "Tower Power" and "Pearl Street Blues," hand-painted martini glasses, a "Nun-Chuck" nun gun (nun ammo included), Giant Pencil from the Kids' Room in back, and a pinata that you can fill right there in the store with your own custom blend of candy from the Rocket's racks of candy-bins--AND they even have pinata bats.

The obvious pleasure that the kind proprietor took in the range of his wares was a pleasure to see. He was so enthusiastic and nice as well--a really likeable person. Y. and the FF. bought a beautiful blue enamel teakettle and two red enamel cups to match. So pretty. It's the "spatter" style of enamel, and the red and the blue look so snappy and bright and fun together. Y. loves enamelware, and the FF. admired the way the blue and red looked so smart together. We were absolutely delighted with our purchase, with the outstanding customer service, and with this very promising new store.

Posted by ypsidixit at 10:47 pm | Comments (2)

(drumroll) Ypsinews.com just sent out its inaugural email bulletin advertising its Council videos, juicy gossip, and an informative take on goings-on around town. It's the city's long-awaited news site! Kudos and thanks to its kind creator.

Posted by ypsidixit at 09:38 am | Comments (9)

Dip a Candle With Me

YPSIDIXIT will be historically-reenacting Lucy Look, the original inhabitant of Cobblestone Farm's rustic early-19th-century cabin, on Sunday, Dec. 3 from noon to 4 p.m. Come and visit and let me help you make a hand-dipped candle you can take home! I'll be the one in the hand-sewn calico dress and lame homebrew day-cap.

The handsome gentleman you'll see tending the woodstove, the one with twinkly grey eyes, an enchanting smile, and a beguiling air of lighthearted fun, is my hired man, Rafe. He's just my hired man, mind you. There to tend the woodbox, cut wicks, and help the wee ones get their candles started. He's a mighty big help to a single woman farmer in the wilds of pioneer Washtenaw County, I must say. And a dreambo--er, a fine worker. Fine worker! Come and have fun at Cobblestone Farm Dec. 3!

Posted by ypsidixit at 01:30 am | Comments (1)

13 november 2006

Bear With Me as I Venture Into Cryptozoology

AS A LONGTIME SUBSCRIBER to Skeptical Inquirer magazine (and the Weekly World News, but ignore that for now) Y. may be categorized as a bona fide rational, clear-eyed, show-me-the-money skeptical inquirer...um, true to my heavily Virgo nature. So imagine my surprise when, spurred by the discovery that Washtenaw County leads the state of Michigan in Bigfoot sightings, I researched the topic over the course of a week and found stories, pictures, hair-raising, leave-the-light-on-at-night audio files, and other evidence to make me seriously consider the existence of this creature. I know. It's wacky. But the hundreds of plainspoken stories from ordinary people like Y. seem too numerous to be explained away as a collective delusion.

Posted by ypsidixit at 11:28 pm | Comments (2)

 
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