A book by its cover

Title: Pollution and the Death of Man
Author: Francis A. Schaeffer
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Date Published: 1970
Printed: USA
SBN: 8423-4840-9
List: Unknown
Paid: $0.00 (Gift from Mark King)

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Date 07/9/2008
n/w?: Want

Comment: Aside from this book having one of the most amazing covers ever, it also discusses a topic I have been hungry for information on. Ecology, sustainability, treehuggers and Christians don't go together very often. Most Christians seem to believe that being given dominion over the earth is a free pass to plunder it of all it's resources and trash it like a rockstar in a cheap motel room (but without as much style). However, I believe it's our responsibility to take care of it, being that we are the only species who can reason and solve problems outside of our natural instinct to survive. My pastor gave this too me, following a conversation we had about investing in solar panels for the roof of the church. He had an extra copy laying around and thought I would enjoy reading it. What I find fascinating is that it was written in 1967 and it's foresight and relevance is incredible. We've known about the issues we are facing now 40 years ago and have made little to no moves to curb any of them. With our population growth out pacing the regeneration of our natural resources, we really need to start thinking—and more importantly—living differently. Alright, enough preaching from me.

Since it seems like it's been so long between posts recently, I wanted to bring up the catch 22 of writing a blog about the things I buy, while I'm learning to buy much less in the process. I talked about this issue in my interview with Murketing, and it can be frustrating because I enjoy writing and sometimes I feel compelled to buy something, just so that I can make a new posts. And with my recent announcement and solicitation of support for my trip to Africa, I have been even more conscious than normal about what I buy and how I'm spending my money. I will need to start buying gear for my trip soon though, so be on the look out for that—unless anyone has some camping/backpacking/safari gear they would love to loan or donate to the trip. I'm also interested in getting a portable solar charger for my camera, anyone have experience with the Solio? I plan to capture my upcoming journey as best I can for everyone who will be interested in reading about it when I get back.

Allergy free from Gary

Make: Clean Rest
Model: Allergy Free Pillow
Size: Standard
Color: White
Part: RN117729
MSRP: $39.99
Paid: $0.00 (Gift from Gary Goldberg)
Made in: China

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Date purchased: 06/28/2008
n/w?: Need

Comment: This could be my first unofficial sponsorship. After discovering my blog and reading about my mystery allergy, Gary Goldberg (the CEO of Clean Rest) was generous enough to send me one of their new allergy free pillows. As I've said before, I love free stuff, especially if it's something useful that I would have bought anyway (and I needed an extra pillow for guests coming to visit). The most ironic part of receiving this pillow in the mail today, was that I had just come home from an appointment with an allergist, where they did a full skin test to find what I'm allergic too. But—not surprising to me—the results all came up negative. So far, whatever is causing my eye lids to swell up on a quarterly basis, is still unknown. I happened to have another reaction last week (almost 4 months to the day of my last episode...right on schedule), so I called an allergist to try to solve the mystery, once again.

I actually looked at these pillows when I purchased my Tempur-Pedic, but it's hard to really test out a pillow when it's on a shelf at the store. I remember feeling the Clean Rest (with my hand) and thinking it was too soft, and I would need to buy more than one. Since they each cost $40, after buying a couple I would have been paying as much as I would for the Tempur-Pedic. I went with the space-age memory foam based on family recommendations. It took me a couple weeks to get use to the firmness of the foam, but (sorry Gary) I've grown to love it. However, the Clean Rest pillow is much better for lounging on the couch and napping. If I had a few of these on my bed, they would be great. It definitely simulates the soft fluffiness of down remarkably well for being synthetic and the health benefits from the pillows allergy barrier are great. This is also not as crinkly and plastic feeling as the allergy covers you would put on regular pillows, a huge plus if you've ever experienced those. Thank you so much Gary for sending me the pillow and protecting my sleep.

Journey to Africa

Title: Culture Smart! Kenya
Author: Jane Barsby
Publisher: Kuperard
Date Published: 2007
Printed: Malaysia
ISBN: 978-1-85733-349-7
List: $9.95
Paid: $9.95

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Date 06/14/2008
n/w?: Need

Comment: If you are one of the few people who have followed this project from the beginning or have just found it recently and actually took the time to read back through all the old posts, you may remember, while I was defining the purpose of this project, I voiced my desire to do mission work in Africa. At the time, though I would have loved to do so, the opportunity wasn't available. However, less than a year later, a door has been opened that will lead me to Kenya this fall. I have known about it for a couple months now, but just committed to the trip yesterday. I am very excited to finally make this journey and I have a lot to do in the upcoming months to prepare for it. For the last few years, faith has been an important part of my life and it has played a large roll in how I've dealt with this experience and how I've grown from it. We are such a privileged society, and far too often we take those privileges for granted. I know that this trip will have a profound impact on my evolving perception of our consumer culture as I experience first hand what it means to have not.

You can read more about my upcoming trip at journeytokenya.info

Advantage consumerism

Make: Wilson
Model: Advantage Court II
Size: 10
Color: White
Part: WRS2960
MSRP: $45.00
Paid: $29.99
Made in: China

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Date purchased: 06/12/2008
n/w?: Want
_________________________

Make: Nike
Model: Fit Dry Short
Size: Medium
Color: Black
Part: RN56323
MSRP: $35.00
Paid: $28.00
Made in: Thailand

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Date purchased: 06/12/2008
n/w?: Want

Comment: First off, I feel terrible for buying two pair of shoes in less than 3 days (part of the reason I delayed making this post). It's funny that I now think of a pair of shoes as a substantial purchase. It's something that is used frequently (or should be) and has a substantial lifetime (compared to so many other things in our disposable culture). My problem with shoes is that my lifestyle tends to warrant having many pair. It's like my growing collection of bikes, they all serve a specific purpose. I can't run in laceless Converse and I can't play tennis in running shoes (although that's debatable). Tennis is one of the few things in my life that I will undoubtedly say that I was really good at. Was being the key term. I spent many summers in tennis camps and taking private lessons, honing my skills (i.e. a wicked serve) only to quit playing my sophomore year in high school because of a bad relationship with my coach. Much to my father's chagrin, I gave up tennis for a guitar and a punk rock band (we played two terrible shows before breaking up). I have only played tennis once since then, my freshman year of college, and I've continually told myself that I am going to start playing again.

I dug my old racket out of my dad's basement, last fall while I was back east visiting, and it has been sitting in my closet ever since. Last week I finally dropped it off to be restrung, picked up some balls, shorts (the only pair I had were cut off jeans), and my second pair of shoes in a matter of days. I decided that tennis balls and string fall under the category of disposables, since they don't retain any value once you begin using them. I also learned that Penn (America's #1 selling ball!) is the only tennis ball made in the USA. So next time you are in the market for balls, be a patriot and buy Penn.

Grün ist das neue Schwarze

Make: Adidas
Model: ZX500 Grün
Size: 9.5
Color: Fresh Green
Part: 30243
Serial: n/a
MSRP: $80.00
Paid: $80.00
Made in: Vietnam

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Date purchased: 06/10/2008
n/w?: Want

Comment: I'm not much of a sneaker freak, occasionally I come across a pair of Nike Dunks that I love, but they're just not my style. Sneaks are a lot like vinyl toys, I love the idea of them, but I could never see myself having my own collection. However, when I came across the new Adidas Grün collection I fell in love with both the medium and the message. Since I decided to start running again and my laceless Allstars won't do, I was in the market for a new pair of shoes. What better then a classic runner made from the latest recycled materials?

Coming from a company like Adidas, this collection is similar to the Nike Considered project. When it's such a small percentage of their total shoes it seems like a greenwashed "me too" ploy. But the shoes do show a genuine effort, even if the practices aren't implemented across their entire line. These shoes use recycled cork in the soles, PLA (corn polymer) for all the plastic like details. The mesh upper, lining and laces are recycled PET (plastic bottles), while the tongue uses bamboo. All of these sustainable materials come together to create a really fresh looking shoe, far from the aesthetics of Simple and Veja, which have their own respective appeal. One thing to note though is that there was a small tag tied to the shoe with the following disclaimer:

Adidas Grun is a collection that aims to reduce our impact on the environment. To do so, natural and recycled materials have been used in the construction of these products. This means that the products unique construction and use of materials does not guarantee that they will perform like Adidas athletic shoes. These materials may require special care. Some recommendations include avoiding damp environments, prolonged exposure to sunlight and other conditions that may stress the materials.

I figured with a lack of history using the materials this serves as a liability disclaimer for Adidas, but I still plan on running in them as if they were any other pair of shoes. It's discouraging that a company as large as them won't stand confidently behind their product. I guess I'll see how well they hold up.

Some love from the Treehug

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A couple weeks ago I was interviewed for Murketing.com and then Lloyd Atler, over at Treehugger picked up on my site and made a post there last week. That was pretty exciting, since I've been an avid Treehugger reader for years (way before Discovery bought them) and they have a very large audience, which means I have many more people looking at photos of my socks and underwear than I ever expected.

However, everyone I have heard from who admires the consideration put into my purchases, and who long to remove themselves from their own overwhelming collection of possessions is always encouraging to hear. It's good to know that something many would perceive as tragic, can be used to inspire others to contemplate their own consumption habits.

Enjoy.

Pocket size nav guide

Title: Not For Tourists Guide: New York City 2008
Author: Various
Publisher: Not For Tourists, Inc.
Date Published: 2007
Printed: China
ISBN: 978-0-9793945-2-2
List: $15.95
Paid: $10.00

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Date 06/07/2008
n/w?: Want

Comment: I bought my first Not For Tourists Guide back in early 2006, it was for NYC then—and though I live in Chicago—it's for NYC now. I've visited Manhattan more than any other city that I've not lived in. I had a poster of the city hanging over my bed throughout highschool and I had planned on moving there after graduating from design school. I made frequent weekend trips, via the Chinatown bus, while in college and I loved every moment of them. However, my plans have been very organic and I've had the pleasure (minus this past winter) of living in some of our countries other great cities. That doesn't mean I've lost sight of the Big Apple, NYC is still in my future (*cough* jobs anyone?).

If you've never used an NFT Guide, check one out next time you are at the book store. The information design is incredible. Each neighborhood is broken down into three maps, each one highlights a different type of infrastructure (entertainment, essentials, and transportation). This keeps the maps uncluttered and legible. There is also a fold out map of the subway in the back. The books are called Not For Tourists because—unlike tourist guides—there are no photos of landmarks or instructions on how you should explore the city. It's a functional tool to help navigate the city yourself. I had planned on buying this before my last two trips to NYC, but always remembered before it was too late to order on Amazon (I wanted to save a few bucks). But this weekend I was at the Printer's Row Book Fair (where I got to meet Rob Walker) and they were being sold for $10, so I took advantage of the savings (and avoided the unnecessary shipping). It does bother me that NYC is the only book that fits in your pocket. When I asked about the sizing of them, I was told that it has to do with relative area of the city (which makes sense) and that the LA book is the largest because it's meant to be more of an auto resource, since no body leaves their vehicles there. It's good to have this back for future trips to NY.

BuyByBrian x Murketing

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I was just recently interviewed about my project by Ada Puiu, for Rob Walker's blog (Murketing.com). Rob writes a column called, "Consumed," for the New York Times magazine and is the author of the book Buying In, which is about the relationships between consumers and the things we buy (I was lucky enough to get a free advanced copy at Likemind last week). The books subject matter happens to strike quite a parallel with what I discuss here and I look forward to reading it while I'm traveling this weekend.

I want to welcome all of the new readers and visitors and let you know that you can start by reading about what happened and why I'm doing this by following the corresponding links.

This started out as an easy way for me to catalog my things as I re-bought them, but has evolved into an introspective look at my consumer habits and our consumer culture in general. We all have way too much stuff, and the problems we face in the future won't be solved by buying even more of it. However, it's in our nature to consume and we work hard in order to enjoy certain luxuries, but it's time that we really start to consider the lasting impact our habits have, now and in the future.

Enjoy.

I got the magic stick

Make: Oxo Good Grips
Model: Soap Dispensing Dish Wand
Size: n/a
Color: Clear
Part: 1050162
MSRP: $6.99
Paid: $6.99
Made in: China

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Date purchased: 05/18/2007
n/w?: Need

Comment: I never bought proper drinking glasses when I moved into my new apartment. Instead I began collecting and reusing Pom Tea glasses and eventually glass peanut butter jars (that I can't seem to get the labels off of). The bottles that Pom Tea come in are designed to be reused as drinking glasses, but they're fairly narrow and I can never seem to get a sponge or my hand deep enough in them for a thorough cleaning. This never caused too much of a problem, as I usually just drink water out of them, but occasionally a glass of milk would leave behind a trace of dairy that I couldn't seem to reach, leaving my next few glasses of water tasting like skim milk. I had been meaning to get a bottle brush for a while now, but kept forgetting to pick one up when I was out. But now I've finally got the perfect tool for cleaning all of my jars (as well as my Klean Kanteen). I love that it's Oxo, but I hate that it's plastic. I had the option of a natural bristle and wood brush, but wasn't sure how long it would last. The Oxo wand allows me to replace just the sponge head when it's been worn out (although a portion of the sponge is plastic that screws on to the wand). So, I'm not sure which was the more responsible choice in the long run. But this seems to serve it's purpose well and should last me quite a while.

Beaming with soy

Make: Soybeam
Model: 6: Lemongrass & Cedarwood
Size: 10oz
Color: Green
Part: n/a
MSRP: $44.00
Paid: $35.00
Made in: USA

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Date purchased: 05/17/2008
n/w?: Want

I think I may be more embarrassed posting this than I was about the tweezers. I don't buy candles often and I surely don't spend this much for them when I do. However, I had been considering buying one recently to freshen up my apartment and add a little accent to my otherwise bare furniture. I actually read about Soybeam candles back in February on Treehugger, but never followed through to their website. When I came across the Soybeam booth at the Chicago Green Festival, it was a beautifully designed oasis, void of the Papyrus, earthy, organic, fair trade, vegan, world-saving hippy crap that most of the other companies shouted equally loud. The thing is, Soybeam is pretty much all of these things (sans crap and Papyrus). The candles are made from soy grown in the USA (instead of crude oil like paraffin wax candles). The aromatherapy scents come from organic essential oils, and the glass comes from repurposed wine bottles (which can be used as a drinking glass after the candle has run it's course). But the Earth-loving thoughtfulness doesn't stop there. The packaging is not only well designed, it is printed with soy ink on 100% recycled, bleach free paper. The box is folded together, instead of using glue (making it completely biodegradable), and the candle seal is made with seed paper that can be planted to grow your own mini wildflower garden. I don't think I would ever buy one of these at full price (at least not for myself), but I think they would make a great gift for any candle loving hippy in your life.

Loopy purchase

Make: Klean Kanteen
Model: Stainless Loop Cap
Size: n/a
Color: Black
Part: n/a
MSRP: $5.95
Paid: $4.00
Made in: China (Responsibly)

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Date purchased: 05/17/2008
n/w?: Want

Comment: When I bought my Klean Kanteen a couple months ago, the size I wanted came with a plastic sport cap. I probably could have just swapped the cap with one of the larger bottles, but it didn't seem right. The store I was at didn't carry the individual caps for sale either, so I just settled. The problem with the sports cap is that it's plastic. It's non-leaching plastic, but if I choose to drink through it, I would still absorb the plastic taste, rendering one of my main reasons for buying this bottle obsolete. You also can't squeeze steel, well I can't, so the water kind of dribbles out unless you suck on the vacuum sealed cap like a baby's bottle. Not cool. This cap is stainless steel on the inside so my water never comes in contact with the plastic and the loop allows me to clip it on my bag with a carabiner or twirl the bottle around my finger when I'm bored. I looked into ordering this online, but it retails for $6 and then I had to pay another $5 shipping, making a new lid cost almost as much as the bottle. But while I was at the Chicago Green Festival this weekend, I came across the Klean Kanteen booth and was able to pick one up for just four bucks. Win win.

Buying in for free

Title: Buying In
Author: Rob Walker
Publisher: Random House
Date Published: 2008
Printed: USA
ISBN: 978-1-4000-6391-8
List: $25.00
Paid: $0.00

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Date 05/16/2008
n/w?: Want

Comment: I am always a fan of free things, especially when they are useful or something I would have bought anyway. I was recently introduced to a blog called Murketing, which is run by author and New York Times Magazine columnist Rob walker. Rob's blog serves as an introduction and on-going observation of the ideas outlined in Buying In, which comes out in June. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy at Likemind, which is a monthly gathering of strangers in different cities around the world, who meet up for coffee and conversation. I found out about Likemind through Murketing and decided to check it out. So I showed up at 8am at a coffee shop downtown and met a whole group of friendly people who met for no other reason than to have a cup of coffee and talk with other interested people. There is no agenda or schedule or mission to adhere to. Our discussions ranged from new blogs we'd found, the price of gas and where to store your bulk toilet paper from Costco when you live in a downtown condo. The diversity of age and professions kept the perspectives interesting and the conversations engaging. It was a great way to start a Friday morning and I look forward to future Likemind gatherings. However—to be honest—my initial reason for going was solely because Random House (Rob's publisher) was sponsoring this month's Likemind with free coffee and an advanced copy of the book. But you could say after attending that I've proudly bought in to Likemind.

I'm really excited about this book because it parallels this project of mine quite a bit. It focuses on consumerism and what makes us buy the things we do, and how that defines who we are. It dissects the new consumers who—like myself—consider themselves immune to marketing, but at the same time become evangelists for the brands they themselves embrace. This emerging market leads to the kind of unexpected and often unexplainable explosion in the popularity of brands ranging from Hello Kitty to Pabst Blue Ribbon (which I was a loyal consumer of in college). I'll be sure to update this with a review, or link to one, after I've finished the book.

What a tool

Make: Spin Doctor
Model: Essential Tool Kit
Size: 18 piece
Color: Gray
Part: 40-2451
MSRP: $79.99
Paid: $44.99
Made in: Taiwan

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Date purchased: 05/12/2008
n/w?: Need

Comment: I use to have this same tool kit and a few of the items that I always carried in my back pack actually survived zero day (pedal/15mm wrench, allen wrenches). The quality of these tools aren't the greatest, but they get the job done. Some of them better than others. However, if I bought some of these tools individually—three of them alone would cost as much as this whole set. So I opted for frugality. Between this kit and my newly purchased bike stand, I have all I need to do all of my bike repairs and maintenance myself. I think it's ideal for anyone who rides or commutes on a bike to learn minimal maintenance—like changing flat tires and cleaning /lubing their chains. Knowing how to adjust your brakes would be convenient too, but gets a little more intimidating for most people. One of the richest resources for learning about bikes and bicycle maintenance is the late Sheldon Brown's website. If you ride, or are thinking of riding—Sheldon's website has the most reliable information you will find on the web.

Taking a stand

Make: Spin Doctor
Model: Pro G3 Repair Stand
Size: n/a
Color: Black
Part: 40-2198
MSRP: $199.99
Paid: $149.99
Made in: China

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Date purchased: 05/12/2008
n/w?: Want

Comment: I finally gave up trying to tune, clean, and mess with my bike while propping it up in various positions against my wall or trying to wedge it in a corner. I have enough black marks on my wall to warrant repainting before I move out. Spin Doctor is one of the house brands for Performance Bicycle, and the quality varies depending on the item. This is their higher end bike stand and it's made really well. It's an almost identical design to the Topeak Prepstand Elite, but this was cheaper and in-stock. This will definitely get a lot of use for keeping my bikes clean and in good running condition. It also folds down to the size of a large tripod and can be hidden away in my closet when it's not being used. Big plus.

Nau on sale

Make: Nau
Model: Nori SS Tee
Size: Small
Color: Clay
Part: 108M825
MSRP: $65.00
Paid: $32.50
Made in: Turkey

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Date purchased: 05/3/2008
n/w?: Want




Make: Nau
Model: Introverted LS Shirt
Size: Small
Color: Mushroom
Part: 108M827
MSRP: $110.00
Paid: $55.00
Made in: Thailand

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Date purchased: 05/3/2008
n/w?: Want




Make: Nau
Model: Patrol Relaxed SS Shirt
Size: Small
Color: Mushroom
Part: 108M829
MSRP: $98.00
Paid: $49.00
Made in: Thailand

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Date purchased: 05/3/2008
n/w?: Want




Make: Nau
Model: Merino1 SS Henley
Size: Small
Color: Soot
Part: 108M527
MSRP: $85.00
Paid: $42.50
Made in: China

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Date purchased: 05/3/2008
n/w?: Want




Make: Nau
Model: Gauzian LS Shirt
Size: Small
Color: Clay
Part: 108M825
MSRP: $110.00
Paid: $55.00
Made in: Thailand

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Date purchased: 05/3/2008
n/w?: Want

Comment: If you read the previous post about Nau closing shop, you know how bummed I was about the news. Today was the last day their stores would be open and everything was 50% off, so I went on a shopping spree. I am really picky about my clothes, which translates to me not buying much more than Levi's and American Apparel t-shirts. I hate being a walking billboard and most of the clothing out there fits like a potato sack or has some lame trendy print on it. When I discovered Nau last year, I loved their clothes, but couldn't afford them at the time. After moving to Chicago, I was thrilled to find out that there was a storefront here—and even better—it was walking distance from my apt. I finally had access to clothing that fit great, looked great, had no logos and were produced by an amazing company. Now I will no longer have that. So I took the opportunity to buy more clothing than I have in a long time. It was time to add more than just t-shirts to the mix anyway. So here you have it, the last Nau purchase I will ever make (with 5% going to my preferred non-profit, Kiva.org).