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• Save Some Fuel

  Perhaps you've noticed, gas is expensive! Really, really expensive. Here are some tips on things that not-smart people might have told you to do in order to save gas, that are actually totally made up. Some key examples that you may be doing: using premium gas. Even if your car tells you it needs it, your car is lying to you. Think about that.
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  • Date: May 15 2008
  • Posted by Morgan Clendaniel

• Fractal Furniture

  Exploiting complementary self-similarity, this fractal-inspired bureau makes use of every cubic inch available. It's made by Takeshi Miyakawa, but it's unclear how, or if, one can buy these right now.
  
  Via Core 77.
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  • Date: May 12 2008
  • Posted by andrewprice

• Bibliophilia

  This collection of photos from some visually interesting libraries is worth checking out (ha!) The pictures are from a book, Libraries, by Candida Höfer. Via Better World Blog.
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  • Date: May 08 2008
  • Posted by andrewprice

• How I Spent My Stimulus

  An old friend of GOOD, Rudy Adler, has put together an amazingly fun dialogue project called How I Spent My Stimulus. Is this an awesomely tangential rejoinder to our consumer spending concerns of yesterday? You bet it is.
  
  From the homepage: In January, Congress approved $152 billion in economic stimulus checks for millions of American households, intended to boost the economy and avert a recession. Just how this money will be spent remains to be seen. We hope this website helps shed some light on where the stimulus money is going.
  
  Our favorite, by a landslide, is Alex from Reston, Virginia. He purchased the kitten above.
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  • Date: May 06 2008
  • Posted by Patrick James

• Fighting Flier With Flier

  Apparently 1/3 of what we buy goes straight into the trash. That's according to the Akatu Institute, a Brazilian organization that promotes conscious consumption. To combat the tricks retailers use to encourage us to buy more than we need, Akatu enlisted art director Mihail Aleksandrov, who created fliers that "advertise" wasted, decaying food, and handed them out in front of supermarkets. Aesthetically, the fliers are reminiscent of those Diesel campaigns that subvert the glossy advertising style. While at least 1/3 of these fliers probably went straight into the trash too, we like the creative approach and we'll assume the net effect of the campaign was positive until we hear otherwise. Via Computerlove.
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  • Date: May 05 2008
  • Posted by andrewprice

• Nau, You'll Be Missed

  We heard news today that our friends at the clothing company Nau are closing shop. We're not happy about it. From the super-efficient "Webfront" stores to the 5% donation on every purchase, Nau took its responsibility to our collective wellbeing seriously. This oldish profile from Fast Company explains Nau's effort to build sustainability into every aspect of its business. A letter on their blog explains the circumstances.
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  • Date: May 02 2008
  • Posted by andrewprice

• Ben, Jerry Buy Nation Ice Cream

  Our friends at TakePart remind us that today is Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's stores. Is this a public relations stunt? Yes. Will it net you some delicious ice cream? Also yes. Find the Ben & Jerry's in your neighborhood here.
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  • Date: Apr 29 2008
  • Posted by andrewprice

• Consume®econnection Project

  For his 30th birthday last month, New Yorker Scott Ballum embarked on the Consume®econnection Project, a year-long effort to meet the people who make the stuff he buys. For everything he consumes, Scott wants to establish a personal connection with someone along the production chain, be it a designer, a factory worker, or even a trucker.
  
  He's chronicling the experience online. Barely two months in, Scott has already encountered some obstacles, but a recent trip to the Maker's Mark distillery in Loretto, Kentucky was rewarding. We'll be following the project with interest.
  
  The Maker's Mark distillery in Loretto, Kentucky
  
  When we finally snuck away from the pimento cheese finger sandwiches and headed towards some buildings not on the tour, we found ourselves approaching a tall, burly fellow in a brown MM sweatshirt, work boots, and well-worn cowboy hat. A Godsend.
  
  Jude is a barrel-roller. He is one of about 18 guys who rolls empty barrels off trucks from the warehouse into the cistern, where they are filled with whiskey ready to become bourbon, and then rolls the full barrels back onto another truck to go back to the warehouse. 360 barrels a day, each one 150 pounds empty, 500+ pounds full. But as Jude put it, "It's not so bad, you let the whiskey do the work."
  
  Given that all of the Maker's Mark Bourbon in the world is distilled in Loretto, and that Jude is one of only eighteen people who move these barrels, there's a high likelihood that much of the Maker's I've consumed in bars or at home, and will continue to consume, was aged in barrels he's rolled.
  
  Vats of bourbon
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  • Date: Apr 28 2008
  • Posted by andrewprice

• Mural Dishwasher

  The Mural Dishwasher moves from cabinet to cabinet, washing as it goes. It looks incredible, saves you the hassle of loading and unloading a separate appliance, and saves energy by letting dishes air dry. It's not on the market yet, but it's a reminder that potential design improvements are all around us.
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  • Date: Apr 28 2008
  • Posted by andrewprice

• Sideways

  For your weekend shopping spree, we want to let you know about this book Sideways, which is in some way connected with the arrival, a few months ago, of the Smart Car on our shores. The book features art works from various awesome international magazines on the broad subject of sustainability, etc. Even if you're not into the subject, the art is beautiful. Check it out.
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  • Date: Apr 25 2008
  • Posted by Morgan Clendaniel