There is not a day that goes by in which you should not be utterly gracious for all that the mighty Earth has given you, and continues to give you successfully, each and every second. As human critters, we need air, water, pressure, cookies, and the companionship of other critters. Since it's apparent that the Earth is going to hell in a handbasket (let this be news to you global warming naysayers out there), it's time we start taking care of the mother of all things fabulous, the great Turtle Island, this luscious third rock from the sun.

One GREAT way to be nice to the Mother is to step lightly and become aware of your rate of consumption. For a pertinent example, we can stop sucking the gas like an addict and hop on our bikes to our next local destination/s! And, when you start biking, you'll need a fabulous messenger bag to carry all of your stuff: laptop, cookies, greens, colored pencils, etc.

Now, there are messenger bags, and then there are messenger bags. Arguably, they're really not that different: put in stuff, place bag over shoulder, go. Timbuk2 and Crumpler and Patagucci all make stellar renditions of such retailed (and essential!) goods. (DISCLAIMER: I happen to have a T2 bag (of 8 years now. very nice.) and I do love it, even though I'm not big enough to schlep all my stuff - a rare problem for regularly sized people.)

BUT when their websites are pitted against each other, only one brand surpasses your most unexpected expectations and comes out leagues ahead of the others, who are left in the dust of superior web-design skillz.

And the Winner is:

[insert drumroll here]

www.crumplerbags.com

I sigh the great sigh of being rendered speechless. Is this not the most creative site ever? for messenger bags? I mean, the chain pulling, the noises, the buttons to push, the moving parts, the games, the secret links -- It's the greatness that we should all aspire to. BRAVO to the Sputnik Agency for their utter brilliance, wit and insanity.

Monday morning, a friend E'd me with Haiku Error messages. For lovers of Haiku, and for those who despise losing data under any circumstance, these capture the essence of frustration and disbelief at this shortfall of the technology that (seemingly) runs our lives. (What would we do without email? Without the interwebs? OMG, [shudder/cringe] let's not talk about it...)

Here are the Haikus from this site:

Your file was so big.
It might be very useful.
But now it is gone.

The Web site you seek
Cannot be located, but
Countless more exist.

Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent, and reboot.
Order shall return.

Program aborting:
Close all that you have worked on.
You ask far too much.

Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.

Yesterday it worked.
Today it is not working.
Windows is like that.

First snow, then silence.
This thousand-dollar screen dies
So beautifully.

With searching comes loss
And the presence of absence:
"My Novel" not found.

The Tao that is seen
Is not the true Tao-until
You bring fresh toner.

Stay the patient course.
Of little worth is your ire.
The network is down.

A crash reduces
Your expensive computer
To a simple stone.

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.

You step in the stream,
But the water has moved on.
This page is not here.

Out of memory.
We wish to hold the whole sky,
But we never will.

Having been erased,
The document you're seeking
Must now be retyped.

Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

Another Haiku-making contest was held on this blog: http://archive.salon.com/21st/chal/1998/02/10chal2.html

Things are unseasonably warm, there are dead zones in the ocean, everyone's favorite Al has a new talk on Ted, and Earth Day is just around the corner. Green is the new black. Check out these sites to add some daily green to your daily 'surfs, and as Mr. T says: remember to eat your [organic] greens.

http://grist.org/ Considered by themselves as a Beacon in the Smog, Grist is a Fab Resource for the latest in Eco-News. Always pertinent, Always witty. And, everyone loves Umbra.

http://www.treehugger.com/ Tips and bits about all things Green. From food and clothes, to technology and how to green your dog's [ahem], to interviews and the latest news and views, it's all there.

http://iamelephant.com/ Boulder's own indie mag of sustainable delights now has a new site that's updated daily.

http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/ This man is an enviro-hero for his low-impact oath.

http://www.storyofstuff.com/ Where does your stuff come from? and where does it go when you're done with it? This documentary/site will make you think twice about what you buy, and what you toss...

http://www.dougfine.com/farewell-my-subaru/ What is it really like to live off the grid? Is it really possible to live off the grid AND have electricity and the interwebs? YES, indeed it is. Just as this dude. it's totally rad.

http://www.pangeaorganics.com/ A local Boulder Company that pledges to produce enviromentally sustainable products and containers. They have pioneered the compostable-plantable packaging: All of their packaging is "planted" with seeds, making it plantable come spring. (I will have a TON of Basil this year if anyone likes pesto...)

http://www.gengreen.org/ Ever wanted to work at a eco-minded company? GenGreen is just the place. Green Collar workers don't always have to deal with important service industries of the future...

http://www.patagonia.com/ The Company that Pioneered organic cotton goes green all over (and there's a store in Boulder! It's like Heaven... so dreamy). While no store is perfect, some try harder than others. Patagonia ensembles can go from the trail to the wall, and back to the streets for din-din -- and then, on to any weddings you may have this summer. Always cute, always fresh, always trendy, always eco-cool.

I've made and consumed a gargantuan smoothie everyday since High School (1995-1999). Sometimes two. Each year, with each non-passing health fadIt's a long held fantasy of mine to have a smoothie/juice/organic vegan cookie shop on Pearl Street (or, in North Boulder, next to a book store and a yarn shop). But I don't want to run it forever; I just want to start it and watch it keep going, like the energizer bunny. I've had friends ask me why I'm not a lifestyle coach / nutrition consultant because of my innate ability to be a health-nut with out being an extreme nut (though, that is up for debate in certain circles). I simply tell them: "Would I have to go back to school for that? I mean, I'd rather learn something I did't know..." [long] Sigh. Oh, the problems that arise when you feel healthy and buzzing and ...omnipotent. (j/k)

So anyway, Here are some sites that are good for you, or spread the good-for-you-news:

When Kris Carr found out she had a rare form of liver cancer, she upped the ante on her life and charged ahead with her alterntative ways to maintain and achieve superior health and wellness, and well, to just get out and live, dammit. Her site http://www.crazysexycancer.com/ is the online spotlight for her documentary of her journey that has inspired and amassed a community of other canser babes and boys, as well as non-cancer folks. Her blog is another blog that I check daily: http://crazysexycancer.blogspot.com/ and was the original informal forum for her buzzing readers. NOW, the blog community has moved into another space in the ethers of the web called http://www.my.crazysexylife.com/ -- the official forum for Crazy Sexy Canser followers. It's a place for tips and tricks for thriving in this round of life, and to be inspired by all of the fabulous contributors.

I learned of the following two sites from the CSL blog. The first is called the Urban Zen Initiative, started by Donna Karan (of DKNY), who's mission is multi-fold: to enhance well-being, empower children and preserve cultures. You can explore the sites many amenites here: http://www.urbanzen.org/our_initiatives.php?animate=1

Animal Lovers and Veggies Unite!: The Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary's website is so fun and furry and fresh and fabulous, and serves a good cause that protects those among us from being, well, served: http://www.woodstockfas.org/index.shtml.

Labels: health and wellness sites, Site of the Week, SOTW

As spring is springing this time of year, the hills are alive with the sound of music (from the birds, mostly). And so are the blogs and the concert venues and the myspace music pages. Music festivals are being launched, the Red Rocks line-up is in queue and tickets sought after. It's only a short road until summer's melodic hum quenches the winter silence along the front range.

As a guide to all things musical, magical and rad (for Coloradoans and those across the globe), I must start this post by introducing y'all to the Fuel Friends blog and it's accomplished, smart and stunning Blogess, Heather Brown. http://fuelfriends.blogspot.com/ Because of this wonderful blog, which is usually the first thing I check every day, my ipod has never been more sated with such a wide range of rockin & mellow music, all equally fabulous and ahead of any trends.

One of the fellows on the local Boulder scene has become a fast favorite of mine: Gregory Alan Isakov. I refer to him as The Gregory. He is at once folky and a medley of other fabulous sounds. Together with his band, The Freight, they make the most beautiful music that stir the soul in the most pleasantly surprising and placating ways. And, I give equally high praises to his website: http://www.gregoryalanisakov.com/ Creative and intimate, with a touch of whimsy and nostalgia and memories of memories. If you're around the Boulder bubble on April 17th, check out his show at the Boulder Theater.

I became been a fan of Denver's own Stuart Davis via his episodes on YouTube, and recently, from his latest album, Something Simple (which has been featured on the new movie Drillbit Taylor (with my personal favorite: Owen Wilson)). All this recent emergence of newness and growth from this artist has also resulted in a new website, that truly rocks visually and functionally (be sure to scroll down below the foundation). http://www.stuartdavis.com/

One of the most adorable band websites that I've ever seen (and wish I had, honestly) belongs to the 'Lucky' band Nada Surf, who's latest CD is as rockin as their star-struck, cricket chirping website. This makes them popular in my book: http://www.nadasurf.com/

Labels: music, Site of the Week, SOTW

I found this a few months ago... but I figure this exemplifies the culture here at Customer Paradigm the best. Enjoy!

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