The Story Of Stuff: A Review

The Story of Stuff: 1. Extraction, 2. Production, 3. Distribution

Annie Leonard, a former Greenpeace worker, is fascinated with material things, especially garbage.  She says when she looks at a cell phone, sweater, or paper cup “it's entire life cycle flashes before [her] eyes.”  It's an obsession that lead to a popular animated short and follow-up book called "The Story Of Stuff" [published in March, 2010].  And along the way, she's been accused of being un-American by followers of Glenn Beck and Fox News.

4. Consumption

"The Story Of Stuff” gets you to think about how material things come into your life and where they go after they are tossed.  We are asked to consider the hidden health, environmental and social impact of all the stuff we consume.  The book is a very understandable and entertaining read.  The tone is upbeat and ultimately hopeful, and it raises important concerns like resource depletion, toxic chemicals, worker safety and economic justice.  It also discusses the roles big business, governments and people play in over-consumption.  More stuff doesn't de facto produce greater happiness either.

5. Disposal

The author believes we can make products better without destroying our health or our planet, and corporations can be both profitable and socially responsible.  She asks us to be open to new ways of thinking.  

Although some of her critics accuse her of misrepresenting scientific terms and data, the book is a worthwhile read.  It's good to take stock of what's working and what's not … to question the status quo and to change the way we do things in order to make life better on a global scale. 

There isn't a single solution to ecological problems, but her book correctly advocates sustainability and gets readers to focus on the big picture.

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Autumn's Purple Haze

There was a time when only an emperor or the Pope could afford to wear purple because it took many shellfish to make the pigment.  Interestingly enough, Byzantine princesses delivered their aristocratic children in purple chambers.  That's how it was for centuries, until German chemist, William Henry Perkin, created a synthetic purple dye in 1856, making the color of privilege available to the masses.  Purple was rock legend Jimi Hendrix's favorite color, so that's what he painted his Haight-Ashbury house.

Now purple is showing up as a hot make-up trend on runways and red carpets, as well as, in everyday life.  I see it all around while walking down a city street.  In addition to clothing and accessories, there are lavender eyes, plum lips and mauve, or violet nails.  Purple is a bold color that flatters everyone.  Say goodbye to drab browns and invisable beige.  All eye colors and skin tones can wear some shade of purple. Whether you wear a little or a lot, it's pretty, bright and irresisable!  The royals knew it all along; such a sultry color and versitle.  No wonder it's been sought-after throughout the ages.

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Go On A Skin Diet

It's common sense: Want beautiful skin?  Eat a diet fortified with foods that keep you young.  A junk food diet, consisting of grease, sugar and white flour, will take a toll on your health and the texture of your skin, hair and nails.  So if you want to look your absolute best and have glowing skin as long as you live, plan meals with a good balance of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  Below are some nutrients known for their skin boosting properties:

1) Drink liquids – Pure water is the king.  Green, white and black teas are excellent choices too for their anti-oxidants.  So is coffee in moderation [up to 24 oz].  Doctors now say coffee and teas do not dehydrate the body and can be counted as fluids [unless you have a heart condition].  The day I found this out, coffee stopped dehydrating me!  Like many of you, I drink a cup in the morning.

2) Protein – Lean meats, low fat milk, yogurt and cottage cheese are excellent sources.  Protein is the building block of the entire body.

3) Anti-oxidants, especially Vitamin C – Blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe, tomatoes, watermelon, and red peppers.  These foods build collagen and fight off free radicals.

4) Vitamin A – Eat carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos, spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, and eggs.

5) B Vitamins – Whole grains, breads, baked potatoes, bananas and peanut butter.

6) Omega 3 fatty acids – Salmon, tuna, sardines, nuts and flax seeds are rich in omega 3's, which fight UV cell damage.

7) Iron – Lean beef is a super source of iron.

8) Selenium – Stimulates antibodies to fight disease, keeping skin healthy.  Super sources include cod, red meat and Brazil nuts.

9) Zinc – Helps to produce collagen.  Oysters, red meat, pumpkin and lentils have plenty of zinc.

10) Biotin – Avocados are great for the skin, rich in biotin, niacin and monounsaturated fats.

But let's face it, once in a while everyone needs a treat.  Treats with anti-aging properties include dark chocolate and red wine; however, to benefit only have them in moderation.  Dark chocolate has flavonoids, which get converted into anti-oxidants.  And red wine is rich in polyphenols, another anti-oxidant that includes resveratrols.  Scientists are working to put high concentrations of resveratrols in pills to help people stay young ... so stay tuned.  Meanwhile, start your skin diet today to look and feel your fabulous best.

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Fashion's Night Out

Madison Avenue hosts Fashion's Night Out tomorrow for a second year in a row.  Stores stay open until 11pm and offer live music, champagne, h'orderves and, of course, the latest fashion to the public.  Some have reductions of 20%, or more.  Other events include photo booths, games with free giveaways and celebrity appearances.  You will find tons of style at every price point.  Conceived in 2009 by Vogue editor, Anna Wincour, FNO is fast becoming a global event in major cities.  It's also the perfect time to visit New York City with all your fashion forward friends! 

Update, September 12:  I joined the party on the Upper East Side and was surprised by how good the food and drinks were: Champagne at more stores than I care to mention and interesting cocktails at others.  Snacks included wrapped tuna squares, hickory almonds, tiny containers of flavored wild rice, bites of filet mignon on bread and dollops of red velvet cake with icing (at Ivanka Trump's shop).  I loved the friendliness, the festive atmosphere of listening to the in-store musicians and outdoor bands, walking past the window dancers and open-air mimes, and seeing very bony, super models on the arms of famous designers.  Valentino had a celebrity poker game happening. You could play musical chairs at Barney's and ping pong at several shops.  And the new fall clothes are gorgeous!  I had fun.

Fashion's Night Out has, so far, been in early September

Click map for a partial list of NYC's luxury stores

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Easy Labor Day Fare

Well here we are ... approaching another long weekend.  Why not celebrate the last summer holiday with easy-to-prepare summer food and an icy summer drink?  I love a great burger grilled to perfection, with just a touch of coarse salt, pepper and maybe a sprinkle of Worcestershire sauce, plus all the fixings like purple onion, romaine lettuce, pickles and a slice of tomato.  The trick to a great burger is, don't mess with it.  Form a loose patty, flop it on one side and don't touch it until it's brown and ready to flip over on the other side.  When both sides are done, slap it on your warmed bun.  Pair it with golden brown french fries, if you wish.  I cut up fresh potatoes, brush them with olive oil and a dash of salt and bake them until crispy.  My condiments of choice are good ole American ketchup and freshly ground pepper.  Usually I'll also prepare a quick salad consisting of:  romaine lettuce, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and a vinaigrette dressing.  Or some sides, like grilled vegetables, baked beans, or corn on the cob.  Simple, satisfying and flavorful.

What more do you need?  How about a refreshing drink, using watermelon and Jim P.'s tempting recipe:

Sirloin or sirloin-chuck is tasty

Jim's Watermelon Margaritas

Make watermelon fresca by blending:

Watermelon chunks (It's ok to keep the seeds.)

1 cup, or so of water (Eyeball all ingredients.)

A few teaspoons of sugar to taste

The juice of one lime
Strain the blended watermelon juice to remove the solids and seed particles.

Take 4 oz of the mixture and add:

1.5 – 2 oz tequila

   .5 oz triple sec

Add a little more lime juice

Add a little more sugar, or syrup if you like it sweeter.

Blend in a shaker with ice.  Then serve it straight, or on the rocks.

Jim says “The agua fresca's good straight up too.”  Many thanks for the recipe, Jim, (and for being the impetus for learning a little Spanish).  What a fitting drink, along with comfort food, for a relaxing Labor Day weekend.


¡Buen provecho

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How Will Changes In Health Care Effect You?

When my parents were a young married couple, they paid for doctor visits, shots and medicine out-of-pocket. At the time few people had great health insurance, if any.  But in the 60s, office visits cost $6. Shots were $4. Even hospital stays could be paid off in installments of $112 dollars a week [$16 each day] over a short period of time.  And that's how my parents paid for medical expanses, from check-ups to a premature birth.   Those days are gone. Now health care has gotten very sophisticated, and each procedure can cost thousands of dollars.  The reality is an average Joe could quickly go bankrupt without health insurance.

In the United States many of the urban poor are covered.  My hairdresser, who works at a ritzy Manhattan hair salon – but earns a low wage without benefits* – receives comprehensive health care from top New York doctors at a prestigious hospital as a Medicaid patient.  And contrary to what you hear about government-run programs, my retired relatives on Medicare are content with the level of care they receive. Many of us don't remember a time before these safety nets were in place.  Nowadays it's often the middle class who must worry about losing health care should they max out their insurance, or loose their jobs.

So it's worth taking a look at what the Obama Administration fought hard to pass.  Regardless of where you stand on health care reform, some of the changes take effect starting in September.  According to Organizing For America, a pro-Obama volunteer group, here is what the new reforms will do:

Directly quoted:

"1.  Prevents insurance companies from canceling your policy if you get sick.  Right now, insurance companies can retroactively cancel your policy when you become sick if you or your employer made an unintentional mistake on your paperwork.

2.  Stops insurance companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Beginning in September, discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions will be banned―a protection that will be extended to all Americans in 2014.

3.  Prohibits setting lifetime limits on insurance policies issued or renewed after Sept. 23, 2010. No longer will insurance companies be able to take away coverage at the very moment when patients need it most. More than 100 million Americans have health coverage that imposes lifetime limits on care.

4.  Phases out annual dollar limits on coverage over the next three years.  Even more aggressive than lifetime limits are annual dollar limits on what an insurance company will pay for your health care. For the people with medical costs that hit these limits, the consequences can be devastating.

5.  Allows you to designate any available participating primary care doctor as your provider. You’ll be able to keep the primary care doctor or pediatrician you choose, and see an OB-GYN without referral.

6.  Removes insurance company barriers to receiving emergency care and prevents them from charging you more because you’re out of network. You’ll be able to get emergency care at a hospital outside of your plan’s network without facing higher co-pays or deductibles or having to fight to get approval first.”


And of course, the most controversial aspect of the new health care bill is being challenged in the courts -- namely that everyone must have medical insurance. 

I think it's vital we take the time to learn how the new legislation will effect us and not simply listen to political pundits, who appear on television.  Recommended reading: Heath Care Reform by Jonathan Gruber.  You have every right to your opinion.  Just be informed, so that fear based on misunderstanding doesn't rule the day.


*It's worth noting that businesses, which once offered employees benefits now hire workers as independent contractors, so they don't have to pay for health care.

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10 Wardrobe Pieces Every Man Should Own

When it comes to fashion, I haven't forgotten about men.  But since I'm a woman, I went straight to the source:  I asked a couple of stylish men to come up with their list of what every well-dressed man needs in his closet.  See if you agree.

Here is Carl's list:

1. Blue, or grey pinstripe suit

2. Blue, or black blazer

3. Nice denim slacks

4. A pair of chinos

5. White cotton dress shirt

6. Simple-design tie

7. Loafers

8. Black leather, dress shoes, with leather soles

9. Polo shirts

10. A pair of walking shorts

Dave said:

1. Polished black shoes

2. Black suit

3. Dress shirt, a solid color

4. A bold tie that is not busy

5. Two watches, one dressy and one classic

6. Argyle socks

7. Polo shirts, 3 different colors

8. Non-cargo shorts, white and navy blue

9. Nice sunglasses

10. Tennis shoes that are clean and comfortable

Thanks men for contributing.  With classics like these, every man can [pare down and still] look his best.


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10 Wardrobe Pieces Every Woman Should Own

Nowadays I shop with a less is more mentality.  It's liberating, but you have to develop a smart antenna.  I look for classic pieces that are easy to care for, yet hold up well over time.  With few exceptions, my clothing can do double duty -- be mixed and matched with other articles to stretch my wardrobe, plus go from casual to dress up.  My values are to scale back, but I still want to put my best foot forward and look pretty.  Here are my picks for basics that are eternal, the gold standards, in any woman's wardrobe:

Coco Chanel

1) Dark blue denim jeans – They are dressier and more versatile than lighter washes.

2) Leather jacket – It's positively fetching and will outlast/outlive you.

3) Long black leggings – They are casual chic and make legs look endless.

4) Pearl or diamond stud earrings – Buy the one you can afford.  You can't go wrong either way.

5) A little black dress – First created by Coco Chanel -- I saw the original in a museum.  If you put that first dress on today, you'd still look ultra-modern and like a knowout.

6) Ballet flats – I love patent leather flats.  They dress up everything from the little black dress to blue jeans.

7) Pumps – A two-inch heel is a classic.

8) A scarf – Either cotton or silk in a beautiful, complementary color to make your outfits pop.

9) Cardigan sweaters – One black and another in a light shade that flatters your skin.  I buy cashmere for winter and cotton to wear in the summer months.  They last for years.

10) T-shirts – 100% cotton, or made with a little lycra to hold their shape.  I wear T-shirts to layer under a dress or pair with pants under a blazer.  You can buy T-shirts in so many styles and wear them in place of a cotton blouse.  They are so easy to wash and wear and stay winkle-free, so they're perfect for traveling.

That's my list of ten essentials.  What would you add?

Now go out in style, and enjoy!  (See the 10 pieces every man should wear.)

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Relief For Sore Muscles

You won't believe what I put on an overworked knee.  I can hardly believe it, myself.  Let me explain: I live across the street from an old style pharmacy.  It's been in the neighborhood for two generations.  When you walk in the door, the employees really seem to care.  You get personal service that's reliable, along with recommendations for pain ointments that are downright unconventional.  The day I walked in the door to buy a rub for my sore knee, I never imagined I'd leave carrying 16 oz of Absorbine Veterinary Liniment.  There's a silhouette of a horse on the bottle!  It gave me pause, to say the least.  Did I walk into a drug, or a horse supply store?  Was this a joke, or what?  It turned out not to be a joke, and the ingredients, while potent, seem harmless.  The liniment contains a herbal formula with plant extracts like calendula, echinacea and wormwood.  Other active ingredients include menthol, chloroxylenol and iodine.  The label says it relieves muscle soreness, stiffness and swelling.  It stimulates circulation, acts as a “bracer” and “tightener” and you can even use it on cuts and abrasions.  Talk about multi-tasking!  Maybe it also keeps bugs away?

But the label never mentions whether people should use it.  The directions only explain how it's good for your horse!  Perhaps, I shouldn't be surprised that a horse incurs temporary aches and pains and stiffness from a workout.  And now I know, Absorbine Veterinary Liniment helps relieve these discomforts.  It should be applied to all four legs and rubbed on the back, loin and shoulders, before covering your horse with a heavy blanket.

Ok ... but what about a human knee?  There was only one way to find out.  So on the advice of a zany* pharmacist, I took the liniment home and rubbed it on my sore knee.  I only had the one leg to try it on.  But, you know what?  My knee does feel better! Although new to me, this stuff has been around since 1892, and it just goes to show, what's good for a horse is good for me. Whatever works, I always say.  Cost: 10.98 for 16 oz. 
*in a good way

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The Everly Brothers Sing, Reviews

The Everly Brothers appearing on "Music Scene" in November, 1969

Many music fans know the Everly Brothers for their early hits like "Bye, Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Suzy," and perhaps "Cathy's Clown," a mega hit that put their second record label, the newly minted Warner Bros. Records, on the map.  The Everly Brothers went on to record albums [together and separately] throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s, and the quality of their later albums never waned.  Although not as accepted by the American public, nor music critics -- who wanted Don and Phil to remain the same 50s duo -- their later releases were every bit as good as their early hits.  Here are my reviews for two of their later albums: 

The Everly Brothers Sing: 

The Everly Brothers were often accused of trying to sound hip when they performed or created music in the late 1960s - early 1970s, and why should that be?  Some listeners forget just how young the brothers were when they first hit the charts in 1957.  Phil was 18, and Don had just turned 20.  They were still young men in the late 60s and early 70s.  Why wouldn't their music (and hair) reflect the contemporary times they were living in?  Many of the 1960s musicians who followed and were influenced by the Everly Brothers were in the same age bracket as their idols.  Note that Don was born in 1937, Phil in 1939, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones in 1936, John Lennon of the Beatles in 1940, and Eric Burdon of the Animals in 1941.

So why listen to this neglected and their later albums?  My answer is for the voices ... and to hear recording artists, who, indeed, changed the times, but also allowed themselves to be changed by the times.  On this album the hit, "Bowling Green," Don's solo, "A Whiter Shade of Pale," and the reissued "It's All Over" -- with Phil singing the solo lines -- are all brilliant songs.  Both Don and Phil are spectacular lead ... and harmony singers.  A listener will never find better voices.

Some Hearts:  (The last studio album)

It would surprise no one that I have all three of the Everly Brothers' Mercury studio albums. I like this last album just as much as the first two (produced by Dave Edmunds). "Some Hearts," produced by Don and Phil, themselves, features what they do best - love songs, and they sing them ... well ... from the heart. Once again their songs capture interesting observations about falling in and out of love. Like their first two 80s albums, this last one brings the Everlys' sound up-to-date while keeping the emphasis on their crisp, stirring voices. Standouts, for me, include the ballad: "Be My Love Again" and the stompers: "Ride the Wind" and "Angel of the Darkness."  There is always a little bit of country and a lot of rock and roll in the Everly sound.  And what is true of their music overall also holds for this, their last studio album, namely, you'll never grow tired of listening to it. {Also pick up Roots, which Rolling Stone calls "one of the finest early country-rock albums."}

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Homemade OxiClean Is Cheap

Do you ever use a product and wonder why it's so expensive?  I like adding the booster OxiClean to detergent when I do laundry.  Perhaps I've been brainwashed by effective advertising because I use it to make my detergent clean better.  I want to keep my clothes bright and stain-free.  And since the stain remover doesn't contain bleach, it's safe to use on colors and whites alike.  But lately, I wonder why a 3-pound tub costs $10 - $12.  That really adds up!  Usually if you can find out what's in a cleaner, you can make it for pennies.  And as it turns out, OxiClean has just two ingredients, and they are cheap and easy to obtain.  What you get is a liquid, not a powder, but I can live with that.  The active ingredient in OxiClean is sodium percarbonate (Na2CO3•H2O2), which is a combination of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Here's how to make the laundry booster at home: 

1} Buy washing soda. – (not baking soda)  Washing soda is sold in the laundry detergent aisle of your supermarket, and it's cheap.

2} Buy hydrogen peroxide. – Available at any drug, or beauty store. And, it's cheap.

3} Get a mixing cup, or buy a spray bottle.

4} Combine your two ingredients:  2 tablespoons of washing soda for every 1 cup [8 ounces] of hydrogen peroxide.

Add to your laundry with your detergent, or use the spray bottle mixture to spot clean.  Just let the solution sit for several hours beforehand to form the sodium percarbonate, and be sure to give the spray bottle a shake every time you use it.  

Now in addition to saving a few bucks, don't you feel like a chemist?


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