Interesting new blog I found

Just doing more research, I don't think it will ever end really, and I came across a new blog to read. Woo-hoo, more blogs! Its called Yanko, and it seems to deal a lot with technology and design, very relevant, I would say. So enjoy the reading, I know I sure will.

Another Top Ten List

So it seems as if I'm spending quite a bit of time on treehugger lately, but I can't help it, its so very good, and I want to save all of the information I get from them. This booklet is 10 Ways Design Can Fight Climate Change, by Thomas Matthews. Great Read, and very fitting. I'll duplicate the list here, but do check out the real thing.

1. Re-thinking
2. Re-using
3. Using friendly materials
4. Saving energy
5. Sharing new ideas
6. Designing to last
7. Staying local, buying ethical
8. Supporting what we believe
9. Inspiring, having fun
10. Saving money

The 10 Commandments

I found this nice list today via treehugger, which was originally from Swiss Miss, here. Excellent thing to always keep in mind...

Dieter Rams 10 Commandments of Design:

Good design is innovative
Good design makes a product useful
Good design is aesthetic
Good design helps a product to be understood
Good design is unobtrusive
Good design is honest
Good design is durable
Good design is consistent to the last detail
Good design is concerned with the environment
Good design is a s little design as possible

Dieter Rams

Oh the things I didn't know

I was checking around the blog world, and it seems as if I missed a really nifty event by COHDA, on recycling. Darn it. I'll have to keep more up to date on these things. The link to the event is here, and here is the nice link from designSpotter. I think that one is going to have to become a regular haunt.

Be The Change

Today I went to a conference on climate change - Be the Change - "The Sky's the Limit". It was more of an activists approach, with many, many interesting speakers, including Maude Barlow, Julia Hausermann, Frances Lappe, and Vandana Shiva. I have a few pages of notes posted here, raw and un-edited. One of my favorite things said, was by Vandana Shiva

We must move to a living carbon system as opposed to a fossilized carbon system.

It was nice to hear the realism and passion from all of the speakers, poets, storytellers, musicians and entrepreneurs involved, and it was a wonderful place to be for the day, just listening...

Ideology

Just a note that I thought I should write down. I'm currently listening to Vijay Vaitheeswaran on Treehugger's podcast, and he said something really interesting. Often you have to leave ideology at the door to make meaningful change. What was really interesting, was the fact that he talked about how changing people's lifestyle in regards to cars is not going to happen (thank goodness, a realist), what has to change is the way they are fueled. Interesting to finally hear someone talk in a real way about cars, car culture and what the real issues are, and the possible immediate solutions.

A Little Pick-me up

I'm in dire need of a bit of a visual and mental pick-me up. Normally one would go out and buy a new pair of shoes, but that's really not happening on a student budget. 3 pairs of shoes is enough, right? One for walking, one for running, and one for working. The rest are just decorations. I do have boots to add into the equation. 4 pairs. Hiking, caving, snow, and pretty. Wow, now that I write them down, I feel much better about my shoe collection. Do you think I could count my climbing shoes as a pair, and maybe my skates... Anyways, I digress, the real reason I'm writing today is Charlie Harper, illustrator extraordinare. I'm going to stop blathering, and let you look at his wonderful work here in Todd Oldham's book on the great naturalist/modernist....