mipmup.

new shoesies.

i needed new walking shoes somethin' terrible (the first telltale sign may, just may, have been the fact that i could see the orange foam guts through the inside heel) and i was frustrated because all seemed to be made in china. and i really wanted a non-leather shoe. so i began delving into those internets to see what they had to offer.

thankfully, i found ryan at veganessentials.com who helped me through the whole process. after sending him an initial note asking for a walking shoe rec, he suggested their hardrock trainer by montrail. i replied back about my desire to try boycotting goods made in china and here's what he had to say:

we just came back from the world's largest footwear tradeshow where we spent four days trying to find athletic footwear made in the usa, and despite talking with hundreds of manufacturers, not one who makes athletic footwear is using anything but chinese production as of this time. though, one thing to note is that montrail has a statement on their site regarding the labor in the facility that does their production, and they say the following in regard to it:

"lots of people ask us about the working conditions in our factories.  we believe it is impossible to create high quality outdoor footwear in factories that employ sweatshop or forced labor.  the factories we use are factories that our production staff find acceptable upon their personal visits.  our production staff visit the factories regularly.  without exception, we have found the factories to be well ventilated, properly lit, and with the appropriate safety measures in place.  additionally, we have observed that the factory employees generally make a wage that is substantially higher than other industries in their communities."

we've spoken at length with various higher-ups at montrail and they take the labor issue very seriously and have given us repeated assurance that their facilities are some of the greatest in china.  They have told us that their mission is to work to make a difference and provide a better option for labor in a country not normally known for providing fair-labor alternatives in the footwear industry.  after we had initially spoken with them we did our own research and could not find any evidence to show that they were not being honest with us, so that pushed us to want to support their works and carry their footwear.  We believe that being vegan means being human-friendly as well as animal-friendly, too!

many people believe that all chinese production is sweatshop, but there is a growing movement to get away from such labor practices and increase the standards where people work.  we're in close contact with many different shoe companies, and as it goes, they've been telling us that the market for us and european made footwear is going downhill quickly and that if it is hard to find footwear made in these nations now, it will only be getting worse in time.  companies like montrail would have to sell their shoes for over us $175 per pair if they were made here in the usa.  as much as they've said they wish it were possible, we've been told that they'd inevitably go out of business because people wouldn't be willing to pay that much extra just because the shoes are made here when they'd be able to get similar quality shoes for half that much from other companies using overseas labor.  it is a vicious cycle with how this whole thing works, but hopefully in time we'll be able to bring more footwear jobs back to the usa and get the currency exchange rate normalized so it isn't so difficult for us shops to carry more european made footwear.

he did a heck of a lot better than montrail's customer service rep, who simply emailed me back that the shoes were "made in china."

can't wait to see how the shoes make me feel (inside and out!).

friday favorites.

here are my friday favorites for this week:

• healthy hoof lacquer. my manicurist tops off my mani with this and it works wonders. my nail polish stays put for about a week. $2.49.

• kiln enamel. while i don't have a lot of modern things in my home, i always gravitate toward the look. take these bowls for instance. wouldn't work in my house at all, but i really love them. maybe as an accent piece? i dunno. i just think they're cool.

• j. crew tote. now this is what i needed last week on my trek to texas. roomy enough for my camera, magazines, dad's meds, scarf and snacks. the downside? made in china. grr. $78. currently boycotting.

• earth's intrigue shoe. much like the modern pottery i like, i can't really imagine myself wearing these, but i think they are adorable. and vegan! and good for your back! $89.

• "everyday italian." my better half received this for his birthday mainly due to the fact that he is in love with giada, but upon investigation (and if you can overlook that rather numerous photos of giada), this book contains some very easy and yes, simple, recipes for the "everyday" cook. i found a few i wanted to try already. and having tested some of her recipes from her shows, i think they'll be good ones. $30 (i reccommend waiting to see if you can buy a used version; i wouldn't spend full price on this one).

photo credits: j. crew; powells.com; walgreen's; kiln enamel; earth.

not so super.

has anyone else caught a glimpse of the new mtv disaster "my super sweet 16?" i've watched two episodes and could only bring myself to get about half way through before i had to run to the bathroom and try to kill myself with the thought that this is our future. our materialistic, self-involved, celebrity-obsessed future. granted, i realize these are teenagers and a select few of them at that (thank god), but jesus christ. about the show:

my super sweet 16 takes you behind the scenes as teens prep for the party to end all parties. meet the kids who are determined to go all out to mark this major turning point in their lives, the parents who lavish every wish, and find out first hand what it's really like to turn 16 these days.

in yesterday's episode, this daughter of a nightclub owner in san diego said that in her old new mexican hometown (where she lived with her aunt and uncle - maybe not such a bad idea) she was stared at because she was so pretty and she was "forced" to shop at target. now, with a 7'6" tiny, beautiful and young blonde fiancée (could she be in high school, too?), her father is apparently better equipped to handle a teenager and she now carries dior, gucci and the like. daddy and soon-to-be stepmommy are doing a fab job. the little consumer needed to go to las vegas to shop for her dress because "everyone will be shopping for the party in san diego." well, 900 bucks later, she got one! and she looks like a stripper! hooray.

i was so disgusted that i nearly did myself in.

mtv has a knack for finding compelling television, certainly. it's simply disturbing that by showcasing these "divas" and giving them a forum, young women everywhere may want for their lifestyle. all under the guise of entertainment. isn't there something better? can't we or shouldn't we be expecting more? isn't being a teenager torture enough without having the "haves" shoved in their faces?

or perhaps i'm just getting old and crotchety. maybe i should sit back, relax and enjoy the disaster for what it is: nonsense.

art credit: mtv.

after i die.

the following reasons are given for me going straight to hell upon my demise:

• last night, i watched three episodes (in a row!) of the real world (while my better half proceeded to roll his eyes and put on his headphones) and actually cared when landon missed work at the playground. how could he? he needs that recommendation from laura! we tried to watch the l word, but gave up. season two just isn't doing it for me. (or my better half who can usually tough it out due to the lesbian scenes.)
• i got mad at my mom.
• we get one new appliance and it throws off our kitchen's harmony. now where are we going to put our wine? how 'bout those cookbooks? and what about our cool juicer? i can't hang! (that said, i guess it's worth it considering my better half spends $620.50 on coffee each year. we decided it's about time we brew at home. the first batch was so weak he threw it out. the next batch was apparently satisfactory, though i'm not wholly convinced he didn't just stop at the coffeehouse on the way into the office.)
• i've been in bed by 8:30 the past three nights and getting in there that late was a struggle. shouldn't i be doing something with my time besides sleeping?
• i found four (count 'em: four!) pairs of pants this weekend. this in and of itself needs to be deemed a miracle. my sin? only one pair was on sale.
• our friends eloped and i'm not that happy for them.
• our other friends just had a baby and i'm envious of their lifestyle of the rich and not famous. that kid is set!
• friday was the first time i talked to our not-so-new neighbors. why? because there was a lost dog involved. that shouldn't surprise any of you.
• i'm secretly glad that i don't have to talk to every single dog owner i meet now that i'm wearing earbuds during our walks.

boycott made in china

 

i'm just starting to do some research into boycotting chinese-made goods. it's amazing once i started checking labels the pervasiveness of these products. yesterday, i reached for a banana republic purse and stopped myself for two reasons: 1] leather; and 2] made in china. and i already boycott wal-mart, but apparently there are more reasons to do so.* and china continues to resist change. in december, according to the new york times, the country's government canceled "a meeting of global union and business leaders that aimed to press beijing to do more to protect workers' rights."

to start, a quote from the boycott made in china campaign:

even a partial review of china's myriad crimes against humanity provides sufficient reason for any morally conscious person not to buy 'made in china.' for example, for each purchase that you make, you are funding, promoting or endorsing:

• the suppression of democracy and freedom
• wholesale and indiscriminate use of the death penalty
• commercial harvesting of transplant organs of executed prisoners
• denial of basic rights to chinese workers and farmers
• nationwide forced abortions and sterilizations
• sweeping and brutal repression of all religions
• criminal psychiatric abuse of political prisoners
• routine torture of prisoners
• military occupation and genocide in tibet
• draconian repression in east turkestan
• military expansion and aggression
• world's tightest internet censorship (and)
• the largest dealer of "weapons of mass destruction" to rogue states

some links:
boycott made in china.
china boycott union.

i'll be sharing more research with you as i uncover it. until then, i hope you'll join in the boycott.

you can view the entire show, "is wal-mart good for america?" here.

can you believe this guy?

i'm still stupefied as to how this guy is still president of harvard. here's a ny times article on his remarks and here is the transcript of his little chat (finally). a taste from the article:

among his comments to a conference of economists last month, according to the transcript, dr. summers, a former secretary of the united states treasury, compared the relatively low number of women in the sciences to the numbers of catholics in investment banking, whites in the national basketball association and jews in farming.
— patrick d. healy and sara rimer, new york times

no wonder he didn't want them released. here's hoping that a vote of no confidence takes place.

for now, we can call for his resignation (like now is). write to:
lawrence h. summers, president:
lawrence_summers@harvard.edu

i copied these people:

lydia cummings, ombudsperson:
university_ombuds@harvard.edu

judy fox, director of the ann radcliffe trust in harvard college (the ann radcliffe trust addresses issues of importance to harvard women):
annradtr@fas.harvard.edu

alan stone, vice president for government, community and public affairs:
alan_stone@harvard.edu

ps if you need access to ny times and don't want to register, go here: bugmenot.com.

photo credit: harvard.

something to do while pretending to work.

have you tried konfabulator? it's pretty cool; i'm just starting to play around with it.

konfabulator is a javascript runtime engine for windows and mac os x that lets you run little files called widgets that can do pretty much whatever you want them to. widgets can be alarm clocks, calculators, can tell you your wifi signal strength, will fetch the latest stock quotes for your preferred symbols, and even give your current local weather.

thanks to ugly green chair for the heads-up!

art credit: konfabulator.

bug city.

my apologies for the technical difficulties you may be encountering when viewing this site (especially in ie5). i'm working on the bugs now! thanks for being patient!

(may i recommend viewing in firefox or safari, the more "forgiving" browsers?)

friday favorites.

here are my friday favorites for this week:

lush cosmetics. i think girlfactor (she's back with a gorgeous redesign!) is a big fan of these products and i meant to try them for a long while on her recommendation. i finally did and i'm really enjoying them. first, i'm using herbalism ($10.75; vegan) to cleanse my face. i like the results, but the formula does take a bit to get used to. it's kinda cakey, but it exfoliates which has proven to be a bonus for me. i'm also using their bb seaweed mask (can't remember the price; you can't order this online as it needs to be in the fridge), which has helped calm down my skin. and finally, i think i've found it. the perfect hand moisturizer (maybe good for your cuticles, little things?). their helping hands lotion ($14.95). unfortunately, after i bought it, i see that it's not vegan. i'm kind of peeved because i told the rep that's all i wanted. argh. it does work beautifully though. i need to contact them to see what animal ingredients are involved here. it will be tough to give it up!

el yucateco hot sauce. i'm a fire fiend. if it's not melting off my taste buds, i'm not satisfied. one great thing about the trip to my grandma's: i discovered this hot sauce. my aunt stocks the habanero green and gave me a big bottle to take home. i found the habanero red at the local super s, which my dad put back the first time (i noticed after we checked out), so  i had to snuck off to buy more and happily, it's in my luggage now. can't wait to try it. about $3.

my ipod. i'm really excited that my valentine brought me this. it was totally unexpected after the gorgeous potted phalaenopsis orchid he brought me. i was able to chill out on the plane and drown out the chatter of the people next to us. made it to texas and back on one charge. can't wait to add stuff to it! i'm looking for a way to receive fm radio signal (i need my npr!) and i really need a case for it. any suggestions?

grocery bag system. i'm getting a little teensy weensy obsessed with reducing my use of plastic and paper. this morning, i cringed at the wastebasket in my (much nicer than the one in texas!) hotel room. i used all that stuff? in less than 24 hours? this system looks fantastic. the bags are made of heavy duty hemp canvas; fair labor/fair wage; and each one has a volume equal to standard paper grocery bag. plus, they qualify for free shipping. to me the only barrier is price (what's new?). the set of four are $87.80.

body and soul magazine. tired of real simple, o! and maybe even organic style (though that's hard to do)? try this mag. i like the articles, they're accessible, useful and not too "new age-y." my mom turned me on to this and i really need to subscribe because she doesn't recycle these throughout the family. they're that good. free issue offer, then $14.95 for eight issues.

tales.

just returned from an emergency trip to texas with my dad to see his mother, who is not doing very well and is not expected to live much longer. i am completely exhausted, but please come back soon so that i can regale you with tales including:

my uncle sharing with us his hemorrhoid invention (and he actually called invention submission corporation). complete with pictures!

asking for wireless access at the "motel" (i use the phrase loosely) and being given a router and ethernet cable.

my aunt grilling me on my diet ("you have to eat meat!") and me succumbing and eating eggs for the first time in almost a year (how old am i again?).

learning that my grandma will not be able to be buried along the fence of her chosen cemetery because of her ethnicity.

finding out my great-grandmother was a midwife and businessperson in the late 1800s. my grandma says i look like her and i do.

my great-grandfather crossed into this country for a nickel.

the kids in that small, sad town are without hope for a better life.

knowing i am part of a huge, huge family (i had no idea).

feeling connected for almost the first time in my life.

oh, the stories i have.