The TED conference has transformed dramatically over the years thanks to the launching of TEDtalks which I’ve posted on several times. This past year, TED launched another brilliant event called TEDx which allows individuals to host their own local unofficial TED like events. Since March 2009 several events have taken place around the world. How awesome!
A few weeks back, I attended the TEDxBoston event which I wanted to post about, but had no videos to share. As of today, TEDx videos from around the world can be viewed and shared on the TEDx YouTube Channel as well as play lists from each location like TEDxBoston. I’ll post the TEDxBoston videos after the jump, and make sure to watch the last video with our favorite Ben Zanders conducting the Youth Orchestra of Americas.
I use read all kinds of books about colors and how they affect behavior, appetite, emotions, and all kinds of other odd phenomenons. The strangest one was about McDonalds using yellow, which is an inviting color initially but uncomfortable over time, hence wanting to leave, leaving more seats at Mcdonalds which included their not so comfy chairs, which yes, are made to be semi uncomfortable so you don’t just hang out in them.
Anyhow, I just came by this great little update on how colors affect your productivity and success. Not as detailed, but a nice glimpse into colors. Red makes you more productive and detailed, blue makes ya more creative and less critical, blue will make you eat less, and green is rather zen like. Give it a quick read, then go spice up your work space with stuff.
“Alternative packaging for supermarket produce, highlighting the distances that some foods travel from and the resultant carbon dioxide released during the journey. The receipt features a boarding card style tear-off strip.”
Awesome! I’ve always wondered when food labels would change my buying decisions. Some receipts tell you how much to tip , but none have been more eco-educational than this concept. Forget calorie counting, lets count carbon miles from food transportation. I’d definitely buy something for a bit more, knowing it used less carbon miles than another product. Think how the word Organic or Local has become such a buzz… hopefully one day, the carbon food miles will do the same =)
“In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.”
Go watch the film, get everyone you know to see it, and don’t bring too much food into the movie while watching. Start buying from farmers markets, eat organic, get local schools to serve healthy meals, and have restaurants display nutritional facts. Food Inc will not scare you away from food, but it’ll influence your food buying decisions while giving you a better idea in how some foods are manufactured, treated, transported, and concealed.
Artist Boey has a fun collection of drawings on Styrofoam Cups using one of our favorite pens the mighty Sharpie. Boey’s cup collection is an endless diversity in curiosity and whim that will hopefully end up in a major brands series soon. Make sure to see his Process and video of him making one of the pieces which I’ll add after the jump. I think he does commissions too if you want…
I know plenty of people willing to pay a small premium to have these disposable cups any day! Or maybe just provide pens with every cup making it a DIY disposible cup.
I’ve had my share in using sharpies on everyday objects including Styrofoam cups, though my favorite is still the backside of a paper plate for some reason. I’ve always mentioned to students about drawing on more than just paper. Draw what you visualize after reading a page in a book… right on top of the page, sketch on a sphere, a cylinder, clothing, walls, shoes, chairs, wallets, pencils, CD’s, your desk, etc. Just because an object isn’t made to b drawn on, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.
I’ll post a few of my favorite cups from Boey’s collection after the jump. (more…)
Who ever knew! I’ve been doing it wrong my entire life!
If your the majority of people I know that peel open a banana from the stem, then check out this video and be a bit baffled how simple it really is to open he correct way!
I’m finding monkeys surprisingly smarter than myself after watching this! Also watch this video on how to split a banana into 3 wedges.
Waterproof bags have always been popular in protecting your goodies from getting soaked. Taking it a step further is Timbuk2 and their new Dolore Chiller bag ($110) that not only prevents water from coming in but also keeps it from going out, hence making a pretty nifty bag that also acts as a summer Cooler holding some 20 drinks with ice and a bottle opener on the side.
Sometimes doing the opposite makes something better. I recall a story about kayak shoes, where previous shoes prevented water from getting in, but the problem was that once some water got in it was really hard to get out. So Puma took a flip side and said, hey, let’s make a shoes that lets water in really easily which will let it out easily, hence the puma k1 shoes!
I went to some open studios last week in Boston and met Susan Jane Belton who some years ago was bored, and started painting what happened to be in her studio space, which just so happen to be a pile of to go coffee cups sitting in a corner. Ever since she’s been collecting, bagging, and painting her daily cups of coffee… not all, but the ones the intrigue her. I wish I took a picture of her wall of plastic bags full of coffee cups. Nice simple collection!
I’ve been a fan new juices for some time and usually post about them after trying them out. I came across this new juice called Gloji packaged in a light bulb like container mixed with apple juice or pomogranite, and I’m sure many other buzzy fruits like Acai soon. If anyone can find them, let me know how it tastes.
I’m one of those crafty types that fold the paper sleeve you get with chopsticks in a restaurant to make a neat little stand to rest the sticks on, though usually I’ll get lazy and just fold the sleeve a few times. We’ll, if your one that likes disposable chopsticks, but want something a bit more clever, simple, and fun, check out these Bambu SnapStix which add an extra cut on the back end of the chopsticks which snap off to become a stand. sweet!
Thought of the week: Exploring new environments pushes for progression, but don’t always go in with the knowledge you carry from your past. Go in with experience, not necessarily your knowledge.
I was introduced to VerTerra’s intriguing dinnerware products during this years GEL conference. At first sight these unique plates seemed like raw sheets of veneer pressed into structural shapes, but then the founder gave a quick overview of the project. Simply put:
“Our environmentally-friendly plates, bowls and serving dishes are made only from two products: fallen leaves and water. They’re non-toxic, biodegradable, compostable, durable, lightweight, convenient and downright stylish.”
I love it! Collect fallen leaves, steam press them to shape, then deliver it. The plates will run you about a dollar for a pair, but once they get into Wholefoods later this month, I’m hoping Verterra will be affordable enough to be a abundant in everyday gatherings.
I wished I grabbed a few samples when I had the chance, but I’ll just have to wait for the next gathering to get some…unles someone from Verterra can send me some for my next party
If your seeking an alternative, check out Wasura paper plates, which will cost you a bit more, but just as cool looking.
Some pictures from VerTerra’s website after the jump.
I’m one of those crafty types that fold the paper sleeve you get with chopsticks in a restaurant to make a neat little stand to rest the sticks on, though usually I’ll get lazy and just fold the sleeve a few times. We’ll, if your one that likes disposable chopsticks, but want something a bit more clever, simple, and fun, check out these 
Thought of the week: Exploring new environments pushes for progression, but don’t always go in with the knowledge you carry from your past. Go in with experience, not necessarily your knowledge.
