Hey there SF,
Today I’ve decided to spotlight one of my all time favorite bands: Man Man. About a year ago, whilst randomly Google image searching “Kentucky”, I stumbled upon a blog post describing their amazing live performance and once I found their MySpace page, I was infected with the disease of fandom. A stunning mix of all that is funky and far out, their music is something I absolutely cannot get sick of.
A few months ago, they released a music video for one of (in my opinion) their best songs, Rabbit Habbits. Directed by Lex Halaby with an amazing cast, the video centers itself around sweet blind dates, rejection, werewolves, eating Fred Armisen and acceptance–in that order. Sounds weird? Well it is! But its that wonderful brand of strange nothing short of brilliance that goes hand in hand with the music it is set to. Enjoy,
There is nothing extraordinary about Doc Hendley. You could walk into your local pub, order a drink from the guy behind the bar, and that guy could be Doc Hendley. In fact, that guy is Doc Hendley. And yet, for the most ordinary of guys, Doc is achieving extraordinary things.
A local bartender in Blowing Rocks, North Carolina, Doc has been pouring drinks and saving lives simultaneously for the past 5 years. The non-profit aid organization that he created is called Wine to Water and it’s a very simple idea. Here’s how it works: Doc sponsors and often hosts charity wine-tasting events to raise money for clean water projects in developing countries throughout the world. Then, he takes those funds and uses it to build functioning water wells and sanitation systems in water crisis zones such has Cambodia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan and India.
His whole system is built around the precept of individual action and community empowerment. On the fundraising side, he taps regular customers, people who enjoy wine and good company and pools their collective resources into a positive outreach outlet. On the operational side, he works closely with native communities, training them to build and maintain cost-efficient drill pumps and water systems, using inexpensive tools and materials readily available in their villages and towns.
Many large scale organizations often come in and drill $15,000 bore holes in places where wells already exist, but have fallen into disrepair. It’s the difference between giving a man a fish versus teaching him how to fish. Doc Hendley tries to provide natives with the education and tools needed to make clean water a sustainable solution.
Each well that Wine to Water builds costs little more than $500. Each bacteria killling bio-sand filter costs $100. In the last year alone they have installed more than 26 wells throughout rural Cambodia and hundreds of filters in Uganda. They plan to double these numbers in the coming year.
The truth is, lack of clean drinking water is more than a crisis, it’s become an epidemic. Here in the developed world, we Americans don’t realize how deeply precious clean water is. We turn on a tap and PRESTO… Water! But according to UNICEF statistics, nearly 1 billion people live without access to clean water. That’s 1 in every six humans on the planet. Waterborne diseases claim more lives than any war, HIV/AIDS virus or malaria combined. And for every 150 gallons the average American individual uses a day, the average African family uses 5 gallons.
It’s a serious issue with an overwhelming amount of need. And while talking about it, practicing effective water conservation, and raising awareness are all wonderful ways to get involved and make a difference… there is nothing more transformative than sinking your hands in the mud and drilling a fresh hole. And in this, Doc is an inspiration, working both sides of the equation: running the foundation’s fund raising events in America and building and teaching well-maintenance to villagers in the field.
Doc has been called a Community Crusader and a hero. But the truth is, he’s just a normal guy who took his best talents — serving drinks and building relationships — and found a creative way to harness and effectively apply those humble skills to affect tremendous change in thousands of peoples lives.
In his own words: “You can be a bartender in Raleigh, North Carolina; you can be just a regular anybody. And you really, really can change the world. You can touch thousands of lives. I’m walking truth of that.”
This to me is what makes Doc’s story so inspiring. The idea that anyone, no matter what your level of access or experience, can take action and build an international, life-changing operation out of nothing… is simply awe-inspiring. It’s the positive sister to the Capitalist American Dream. Instead of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps, you pull those beneath you up instead. I call it the trickle-up theory.
So please, don’t just read this, smile to yourself and then plunge into your warm bath. Go to the Wine To Water website and find out more. Make a donation or sponsor your own wine (or ice-cream, or miracle-fruit) tasting event.
Better still, think about what you can do with the many skills at your disposal to affect positive change. It doesn’t need to be about water, it could be anything. Start Small but Think Big! If a bartender can do it, why not a student? A soldier? A manicurist?
This all new guitar coming from Gibson USA is a delicious piece of musical candy. Feast your eyes on its psychedelic powers which were created with no paint involved. This tasty guitar just made the top of my list. Kudos to the awesome luthiers at Gibson USA.
I had seen this video floating around the web and for reasons unknown, I wasn’t curious enough to watch it. That was, of course, beforeSuperForester Cole sent this in:
“How it would be, if a house was dreaming” is the title of a 3D projection instillation courtesy of Urbanscreen. The design idea was to break up the unadorned lines of O.M. Ungers’ Galerie der Gegenwart in Hamberg, Germany. The projection puts a modern twist on Ungers take on cubism, further setting the example that today’s artist are thinking outside the box….pun totally intended :) This is just the latest addition to a series of projections by Urbanscreen. Enjoy!
Wow! That was crazy! Apparently, I was really missing out when I didn’t watch this before. Thanks very much for sharing, Cole!
Love,
C
You can find UrbanScreen’s website by clicking here!
And to read SuperForester Cole’s wonderful blog, click here!
Several weeks ago, SuperForester Jackson informed us about “Truck Farm“, an online documentary by Curt Ellis and Ian Cheney about their adventures in converting an old grey Dodge into an amazing food producing fiend. Today, I found that they’ve released a second episode!
Since their initial preparation and planting featured in their fab first episode, the project has really flowered. A solar panel has been installed on the roof of the vehicle to power a video camera that records time lapse videos to track the growth of the plants. They also took a couple samples of their vegetables to nutritionist Marion Nestle of NYU who does an excellent job of reminding us of the insuperable value of locally grown foods!
It’s time to spill the beans about one of the fabulous projects that is currently being arranged here at SuperForest. About a month ago, the incredible SuperForester April and I teamed up and created “1+1=1”. A project that revolves around a simple concept: reach out to similar blogs, websites, and organizations and create partnerships. SuperForest Siblings!
With the dawning of the internet, millions and millions of websites, organizations, and bloggers have surfaced. All unique but at the same time, a lot of them can be strung together by similar goals and ideas. That’s where this project comes into play. The rich diversity of the internet also fills it with a lot of redundancies, as in, people all over the world do similar work. Now imagine for a second what things would be like if all of those similar sites joined forces and helped each other achieve their respective goals. With “1+1=1”, we hope to demonstrate the awesome power of open communication and idea sharing. It’s a daunting task, no doubt, but it is very possible, especially with your help and input. Yes, you.
Here’s the plan, SuperForesters: First, we will reach out to similar sites and highlight our similarities; similarities like, attempting to improve our environment, promoting good manners, promoting peace, etc. Once those similarities have been established, we will suggest combining forces to create an awesome super power that will be difficult to ignore. Second, if all goes well we’ll be able to create a family of websites that are joined with the intention of the betterment for mankind. If one of us comes up with a wonderful product, a project, or an idea, we then share it with each other, post about it, and blast it to an audience much wider than what a single site could’ve achieved on its own. SuperForest would eventually play host to a major think tank of websites; a think tank that will help develop and promote ideas and concepts to a group of websites to whom it matters the most.
And this is where you come into play: if you have any ideas or suggestions, please let us know! The more input, the better. And if you have any suggestions for similar blogs or websites (including your own) that we could include in this grand movement, we want to hear them!
We will demonstrate to the world how one and one coming together forms a unified entity that is difficult to shatter. Because in attempting to solve some of the world’s biggest problems, this equation will truly be key. It’s a concept that can be summed up by a beautiful song: Badly Drawn Boy’s “Year of the Rat”
As many of you may know, Comic Con 2009 took place here in SD this past weekend and I was lucky enough to attend! I know what a lot of you are thinking: nerd convention, right? Well four years ago when I first attended, I was thinking exactly the same thing. Even embarrassed to attend, I had gone in a simple handmade LOST t-shirt and told myself I was going strictly to meet a couple of the cast members of my favorite television show. Upon arriving, however, I was met with a group of the most enthusiastic, amazing people I had ever met! This year was very much the same…
I went this year under the assumption that I’d just be “along for the ride” and I hadn’t exactly planned anything out but when I got there, I realized that Ian Somerhalder of LOST was going to be there signing autographs for his new show Vampire Diaries.
(Yes I enjoyed finding that picture)
Now, if you’ve never gone to Comic Con you probably won’t be aware of the mobs that swarm to each of these line–making getting an autograph rather impossible—but my friend and I, after failing to make it to a LOST panel, a Chuck panel, and a line for Twilight merchandise–decided we’d give it a go. Amazingly, we made it and met the entire cast of the show, giving our otherwise disappointing day an incredibly joyous ending.
When I got home, I realized that I had spent a day with the most fun group of people I had ever encountered. Unadulterated by the obligation of acting like bland, normal human beings, I saw people let their souls shine. And in a convention center full of other people doing the same, the environment was awesome! Rather ironically, under all that make up and costumes are the most genuine people out there and I highly recommend making the pilgrimage to the Mecca of Creativity and hardcore AWESOME at least once in your lifetime. And if the people don’t convince you to come, maybe the SWAG will!
Have a great week!
-iman
Last week, SuperForester Frida wrote us with her ace suggestion for this series: divvying up your week and showering those you love with love on a day specifically designated for them. Here it is:
“Everyday, choose someone who will be with you (almost) all day, and do everything to make that person happier. I use this system:
Mondays: Dad Tuesdays: Mom Wednesdays: Brother Thursdays: Sister Saturdays: Friends I’m going out with Sundays: People I don’t know Fridays are my favourite day of the week, so it’s for me.”
We think spreading love seven days a week is a wonderful way to make the world better. Thanks again, Frida.
Have you ever thought to yourself, I wish I could learn more about water conservation and raise money for charity at the same time? Well… now you can! With givoogle.com
It’s the same thing as google, only for every 1000 hits, advertisers pay money, 100% of which goes to the American Cancer Society. Search the web, learn a whole bunch of good information, and fight cancer all at the same time! Win win win!
Kauai boasts incredible natural beauty. As a writer and photographer, it has been my privilege to document this pristine western island of Hawaii. I’ll be sharing with you a few different phases of the place, focusing on a given subject, element or narrative. As we are just beginning our journey together, I thought a collection of landscapes would allow us to meditate on the union of all things Garden Isle.
Off the Hanalei Ridge, July 6.
Behold the majesty of the North Shore! This snap is from the Hanalei Ridge trail, which walks the spine of Puff the Magic Dragon, whose snout you can see at the far end of the bay. Hanalei is your quintessential Hawaiian surf town, especially during the winter when the vaunted north swell comes up to crash upon the beach.
Looking into Kalalau, June 29.
Oh, Kalalau, as isolated as it is sacred. Once the home of early native settlers , this valley was home to over 2000 freed minds in the 1970s. Today only a dozen or so folks live there permanently, but there’s a regular influx of campers coming in and out preferably by the arduous, beautiful 11-mile hike. Here we can bask in the beauty of twilight dancing on the ridges while souls dance below.
Kilauea River mouth at Rock Quarry beach, July 3.
An adorable islet rests at the intersection of the Kilauea River and the maw of the great Pacific. The camping nearby is great, depending on the skies. Rain opens up the river, making crossing strenuous. In the heat of July, the midday sun drops shadows directly below the coupled copses of trees, dappling the lazy summer river.
Secrets Beach, July 5.
Just down the road from my temporary home, Secrets Beach turns the setting sun into theatre. Waves crash upon the sand and the rock, sending energy into the island and the lucky few gathered on the beach. I made this picture at late twilight, just after the sun fell over the horizon, sending up purple, peach and orange into the sky and surf, also allowing for a longer exposure to gather friendly photons.
Polihale Beach, June 3.
Known as the land of the dead to native Hawaiians, Polihale is a massively gorgeous beach on the west side of the island. A cotton candy phoenix flies across the darkening sky, bringing rest to those who seek it. Even by Kauai standards, Polihale grows exasperatingly warm during the day, but dawn and dusk create redemptive daily bookends.
I’d love to offer you a little food for thought without being very ‘preachy’, if that’s at all possible. As you may have noticed, health care has been center stage as of late. The U.S health care system is the most expensive in the entire world (31% of our total expenditures in 2007, not to mention private investment in health insurance corporations), and yet there are numerous inherent problems in the way we’ve been doing business (because that’s exactly what it is, a multi trillion dollar investment opportunity). If everyone reading this post was diagnosed with cancer tomorrow (God forbid!), the Gross National Product, or GNP, would go up in the short term. How terrible is that?
That said, health care shouldn’t be about sick care. We should be concerned with our health day to day, not to mention the health of the environment, and something tells me both are inexorably linked. We all know that hamburgers and red meat aren’t necessarily good for our bodies, but they definitely are not good for the environment either. Maybe we should consider taking more bike rides to help our bodies and the planet. But did you know that a vegetarian driving a car is using less fossil fuels than a omnivore uses riding a bike? How crazy is that?
Not so crazy when you realize that 1/3 of our fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, etc) is allocated for the production, upkeep, and transportation of animal agriculture. Not only that, but it’s a double edged sword when you consider that we actively cut down forests for grazing ground and waste insane amounts of water in production. It’s a “food factory in reverse”. Consider this: one pound of beef requires an input of roughly 2500 gallons of water in contrast to a pound of soy, a source of all 9 essential amino acids, which requires 250 gallons. Animal agriculture “consumes an amount of water roughly equal to all other uses of water”! Absurd!
I know, you’re saying, “But Chris, meat is such a good source of calories and protein!” Sure, if we were living in the 18th century I might have agreed with you. Times have changed; however, and with the current challenges (opportunties) we face, it’s useful to note that one calorie of animal protein requires about ten times the fossil fuels (ten times the C02) than one calorie of plant protein. Wicked, right? Consider the enormous amount of carbon sucking, oxygen spewing forests that could have filled the land that is instead filled with the nearly 1.3 billion cows in the world. The U.S. imports 200 million pounds of beef from Central America every single year. A Smithsonian study in 2002 showed that in order to make room for all of those cows, highways, railroads, power lines, etc, an area equivalent to seven football fields of forest are clear cut every minute, and here in the United States we have so far cut down 260 million acres of forest for agricultural animals.
What does this mean? This means that our eating habits are undermining all of our natural resources. We’ve only got one body and we’ve only got one planet. Something tells me we should treat each with the respect they deserve. I’ve only touched the tippy top of a huge iceberg (something I hope stays the same size for a long time). I realize many of my facts have gone uncited, but I’ll list every website I read here. There’s a whole spider web of sources out there. Have fun. You’ll learn something new.
http://bicycleuniverse.info/transpo/energy.html – A very cool website outlining the simple facts along with a very handy carbon calculator that takes diet and activity into account. It’s great.
Jeff Scher is a wonderful painter and experimental filmmaker. Together, these awesome talents make for a pretty wicked combo. As described by the fine people over at It’s Nice That, Mr. Scher “makes dreamlike animations in rotoscopic form with water colour, ink, collage and an excellent absence of a computer.” I’ve watched several of this artist’s work and to call them stunning and inspiring, doesn’t even begin to describe them. They are all great but being that we are in the thick of a fabulous summer, it is only fitting to share Scher’s latest work, “L’eau Life”! (It’ll make your head spin)
Awesome work, Jeff Scher! Truly refreshing!
You can find more of Scher’s animations on his blog or on his website. And! You can follow his twitter, too. (There, you’ll find awesome tips and tricks, like how to master the perfect pan with a tripod!)
SuperForesters are all over planet Earth, all united in exploring how to redefine "environmentalism" and "sustainability" to encompass every aspect of our lives.
Everything you find on this website has been personally created to uplift and inspire you.
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