Paul Jimerson

Classic Bugatti (c 1932), Monterey, August, 2010

2010-08-17T22:31:00.001-07:00

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton, Car Week, Monterey, 2010

2010-08-17T16:31:00.001-07:00

1933 Auburn Salon Boatail Speedster, Car Week, Monterey, CA

2010-08-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

Sleek Black Ferrari, Monterey

2010-08-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

1953 Jaguar, Car Week event, Pacific Grove, CA, Friday, August 13, 2010

2010-08-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Car Week, Monterey Peninsula, 2010

2010-08-14T15:25:00.001-07:00

James Dean, Making a rare Pacific Grove appearance, in a replica of the car he died in, a 1955 Porsche

Ford Shelby

Ferrari

Ginetta, British, limited production, 1960s (?)

Ferrari tail lights

1957 (?) Corvette

Corvette insignia

The wood on this odd custom MG is maple; interior detailing is curly maple.

The owner of this hand-built MG said it took him five years to complete it.

This door detail shows the intricacy of the placements of screws, and highlights some of the maple grain.

Wave Jazz, Pacific Grove, 2009.

2009-09-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

Wave Jazz, Pacific Grove, 2009.

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Wave Jazz, Pacific Grove, 2009.

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Wave Jazz, Pacific Grove, 2009.

2009-09-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

Once of my photographic genres is the wave splash backlit by the setting sun. I have a lot of them, and will begin posting them more often. The wave caught in mid-air creates a nice abstract image, and the glassiness of the water is accentuated by the dramatic light. I enjoy photographing these waves, but have to be careful that I don't get drenched. When I was trying to come up with a name for this genre, the phrase "wave jazz" came into my mind; it's a little corny, but I can't think of a better name for these photos. Any ideas?

snapshot • gull devouring crab

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What I can't figure out is what happens to the crab once it's in the gull; they swallow them whole. Must be one tough-ass stomach!

Rock, Pacific Grove, 2009.

2009-09-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

snapshot • sea stars on concrete post, monterey

2009-09-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of sea stars around Monterey Bay, but I don't see all that many of them. I am particularly fascinated with stars; they have an extraordinary water vascular system that allows them to move their thousands of tiny tube feet, which is how they get around, as well as stay put. You can see just how tenacious they are when you watch them cling to rocks as they are being battered by the surf. These ochre stars were hanging out on a pier under the deck of the Monterey Plaza Hotel.

Paul as media celebrity

2009-09-04T14:42:00.001-07:00

snapshot • bather, Lovers Point, Pacific Grove

2009-09-01T16:26:00.000-07:00

2009-08-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

Radiolarian

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/people/klf/MicroGalleryLarge_files/Radiolarian2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/people/klf/MicroGallery.htm&h=432&w=393&sz=51&tbnid=hoIpi6B7qHamBM:&tbnh=126&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dradiolarian&usg=__lCocVKCJohMMIsiz4sn9AdSyuEk=&ei=_g6bSquqA4zusQPW4-2UDg&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image

Gratitude, Salt Water, Cormorants and Blogging

2009-08-23T21:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends;

I was thinking about Gratitude this morning, and how I can train myself to be more grateful. I thought about posting something I am grateful for on some of my SNS sites, like FaceBook. (I am grateful for FaceBook.) The first thing I saw when I opened my computer (Yahoo Mail is my homepage), was an email notification that one of my FaceBook friends, Sue Bates, encouraged me to get on the Gratitude Page on FaceBook. So I did, and wrote a little piece about gratitude and the Ocean.

It’s cloudy and 57 in Pacific Grove, and may rain later; I see by my Mac Dashboard that it’s 77 and stormy in Northampton (at 12:21 EST). It was foggy and cloudy all day yesterday. While standing at the bus terminal in the midst of Edgewater Plaza, a huge shopping center next to the dunes of Seaside, I could see the sun behind the fog, and it was really beautiful. So, of course, I took a photo of it. I was on my way back to Monterey from Borders, where I had a wonderful time looking at SNS books and drinking my blended chocolate chip coffee drink. I had been searching for months for a Barnes & Noble, so that I could browse and find books on SNS that I could not find elsewhere, including the libraries. I haven’t checked the college libraries. Anyway, I did manage to find several interesting books on WordPress, twitter, and blogging. I sat down next to a distractingly beautiful woman, sipped my icy drink, and skimmed through the books, winnowing down which I would buy (and return). I noticed the guy next to me was reading a book on CSS, so we had a great convo about web design, blogging, sns, and all kinds of groovy things. I gave him my (free Vistaprint.com) card, and he said he would be happy to answer any questions I had. Really nice connection.

I have been thinking a great deal about SNS lately (no kidding!), and feel a bit like proselytizing (if you hate SNS – read this paragraph anyway!). I used to think that SNS sites were for losers, people who couldn’t find ‘real’ friends, or people who were just unable to interact with the world, so they frittered away their time ‘friending’ people. Thanks to (award-winning blogger, and dear friend) Keith Carlson, I began blogging, and have become obsessed with file sharing sites. As I have mentioned, I am on many sites, including FaceBook, twitter, delicious, Flickr, StumbleUpon, WordPress, Blogger, MySpace, Gaia.com, Squidoo and others. My Blogger site (pauljimerson.blogspot.com) is the most developed site, but I am now updating and expanding my WordPress site (pauljimerson.wordpress.com), which is quite beautiful, I must say. Blogger is easier to get started in, but WordPress is more elegant and has more options. I found a template that changes color depending on the color of the photo (or text) of the post; I know this sounds corny, but it works aesthetically. Last week, I went to see Tetro, the amazing new Coppola film, with some new friends I found on Meetup.com.

As I said, I used to think that SNS was for Losers and people with too much time on their hands. I now realize (cue swelling symphonic music and Jesus Rays) that sns (I like the little letters better) can be used in all kinds of amazing ways. For example, I find inspiration from reading Gaia.com, and connecting with people who also have a spiritual inclination (sometimes it is a little too NewAgey, but you can get past that). I can follow people I care about, and some interesting strangers on various sites. I have been thinking a great deal about how these sites can be used to promote environmental issues and political (is personal) causes (I’m sure you’re connected to MoveOn.org). Or just inspire people to find beauty around them. I won’t get into inspirational stories, but there are many. I have found amazing web sites I would otherwise never have stumbled upon without StumbleUpon.

Here are the three books I walked home with:
• twitter Tips, Tricks, and Tweets by Paul McFedries

• The Rough Guide to Blogging

• WordPress 2 (Visual Quickstart Guide) by Maria Langer & some other person

I am going to rec to library that they buy these books. Obviously, I am getting into this stuff in a serious way, which takes a lot of time and energy. I would encourage you to look at some of these books, just to see what potential sites like twitter have; it’s pretty amazing.

OK, so here’s my pitch: If you don’t have a blog, start a blog. It is unbelievably simple, and takes literally just a few minutes. Blogger is easier, but WordPress is more elegant. You can spend as little or as much time working on it as you want. (Ann – great place to make a family photo album that anyone can see.) If you aren’t on twitter, do so as soon as you finish reading my highly entertaining letter. And find a book on twitter so that you have some idea what the fuss is all about. And FaceBook – if you aren’t on it, get on it, and connect with friends there. It’s not only fun, but potentially very useful. And addictive. Like eating chocolate, you have to know when to stop. It’s a hell of a lot better than watching TV. You don’t have to be a writer to blog; just post photos you like. Here’s the deal: If you friend me, I will friend you. If you link to my site, I will link to your site. I have my Blogger site configured to send an email every time somebody comments on my blog. It’s pretty cool. OK, so I’ll shut up.

Today, my plan is to learn as much as I can about WordPress. I will try to get to the beach, hang out at Café La Strada, read the NYT, send messages to my sns friends (my Blogger blog now has 28 followers and counting). And get my job-hunting life organized. Friday, I sent some copy to the women’s surf safari place in Carmel (surflasolas.com; I may do some writing for them). Yesterday, I spoke on the phone for 1.5 hours to Douglas Ogg (douglasogg.com), artist-cum-cartoonist-cum-postmodern artist, who is hiring me to write an intro for his blog. Really interesting guy, and it was great to have a long conversation about art (he’s very smart and funny) and life. I’ve got some other irons in the fire, and will be looking into making supplemental money from blogs. Watch for them.

Well, I’m getting restless to get outside… by the way, yesterday I was sitting on a rock above the baby waves crashing around me, taking photos of the Brandt’s cormorants blanketing Point Sarah, and I espied a rather larger wave heading my way. Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to cover my camera case as the wave hit the rock just below my feet. I was grateful to be soaked with seawater. I walked home, refreshed, salt water dripping from my glasses, and prepared to head into town.

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch, Paul

Paul Jimerson: Abandoned Gas Station (Rear), Pennsylvania, 2004.

2009-08-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

Paul Jimerson: Abandoned Gas Station (Rear), Pennsylvania, 2004.

Surf Las Olas ~ Surf Safaris for Women :: recognized as the world's premier

2009-08-17T19:26:00.001-07:00

Surf Las Olas ~ Surf Safaris for Women :: recognized as the world's premier
surf camp for women. Recently noted by the San Francisco Chronicle as "The
Golden Door of Surf Camps", Las Olas has been featured in Oprah, Newsweek,
Time, Outside, Travel & Leisure and more.

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snapshot • baby blue 1956 Thunderbird, Monterey

2009-08-16T22:38:00.000-07:00

snapshot • baby blue 1956 Thunderbird, Monterey

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snapshot • baby blue 1956 Thunderbird, Monterey

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snapshot • Paul with baby blue 1956 Thunderbird, Monterey

2009-08-16T22:24:00.000-07:00

This is my kind of town: T-Birds everywhere; the town is lousy with 'em. The owner of this gem was gracious about letting me photograph her car, and even offered to take a photo with me in it. She said she's been driving it for about twenty years.

snapshot • Lamborghini VT, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Ferrari, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Ferrari, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Jaguar, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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When I was about 10, this was one of my fantasy cars; it still looks pretty good. It is one of the sleekest, most stylish cars ever built.

snapshot • Jaguar, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Jaguar, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Woodie, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Spyker C8 Spyder, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Spyker C8 Spyder, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Spyker C8 Spyder, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Spyker C8 Spyder, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • young woman, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Veritas, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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I'd never heard of (or seen) a Veritas, so this was a bit of fun. I'm not sure of the cosmological implications of calling a car "Truth," but maybe the manufacturers - or the drivers - know something I don't. It's a pretty cool car, in any case, although the design is a little overwrought for my tastes (and my wallet). Nevertheless, a very cool car.

snapshot • Mercedes, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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snapshot • Alfa Romeo 8C, Portola Hotel, Monterey, August 15, 2009

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Fluid the world flowed under us (Percy MacKay)

2009-08-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Concours Week concludes in Pebble Beach this weekend with the Concours d’Elegance (literally, ‘elegant contest,’ a term coined mid century (20^th) for a parade or contest of classic cars) on the famed 18^th Fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links. With tickets starting at $150, I’ll have to wait ‘til next summer. The $500 packages includes, according to the Carmel Pine Cone, special parking, full breakfast, buffet lunch and “other amenities.” I want to know what the “other amenities” are; if they have anything to do with Scarlett Johansson, hold me a ticket. (The paper didn’t say which celebrities would be there.) Also today, the Automotive Fine Arts Society is being held alongside the Concours.

I’ve been thinking a lot about cars this week; about our addiction to cars, our fascination with cars, our identification with cars, our manipulation by the auto industry, our fetishization of cars, and on and on. I don’t have anything particularly profound to say about it, but I am finding it fascinating to be around such luxurious and fantastic (in all senses) automobiles. I waver from lusting after these Tin Lizzie Platonic ideals to waxing philosophic. What else can a poor boy do? For now, I’m content to simply gaze in stunned silence, and dream.

Yellow Lotus, Monterey

2009-08-15T21:32:00.000-07:00

There's a new love in my life...

The Force That Through The Green Fuse Drives the Lotus

2009-08-15T18:29:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought I'd be rhapsodizing about automobiles? I hardly ever even think about cars. I have a love/hate relationship with those gas-guzzling, exhaust-belching, animal-executing death traps.

I love to drive, and I miss my beloved 1997 deep blue mint Mustang convertible. Driving has always been enjoyable to me, but driving the Mustang was ecstatic. My joy was tempered, however, by the knowledge that every time I stepped on the gas pedal I was bringing about the end of civilization as we know it - which, come to think about it, may not be such a bad thing.

I remember clearly the first time I drove through a boggy area in Western Massachusetts and heard the damp symphony of peepers engulfing me; the first time I drove through the dark canyons of Manhattan, the spectacular buildings towering over me; driving north on 91 when it started to rain, and rain harder, until it was pouring, and, top down, I didn't feel a drop. I could go on and on, but the point is, driving my convertible was one of the great pleasures of my life.

Since we moved to California nine months ago, we have been car-less. On one level, I don't miss having a car at all. Obviously, it is inconvenient, but I have done a lot of walking, and have discovered that I like to walk, especially since I am often walking along Monterey Bay. The bus is pretty good, and I don't have to worry about insurance, parking, parking tickets, and all the other hassles of life with Auto. The best part is that I don't feel guilty every time I step on the gas. I feel like proselytizing for walking, and taking the bus, and riding a bicycle. I see these monstrous vehicles everywhere, and watch in horror as people leave them idling while they talk on the cell phone, or, worst of all, watch the sun set over the Pacific (which, incidentally. looks more spectacular because of the smog).

Going to the Concours on the Avenue (the annual car show in Carmel-by-the-Sea, part of an entire week of fab car events around the area) on Tuesday, was a revelation. Well, maybe not quite a revelation, but it was interesting to see the various ways in which slouching amidst all those remarkable cars affected me. I got in touch with my inner guy/car self, and traveled back on that gray highway to my childhood, when I cut out pictures of cool cars from Life Magazine and heaped them into a hand-made scrapbook. Standing on the blocked-off street in Carmel, I felt lust in my heart. A white Lotus simply caught me unawares. I walked around it, scrutinizing every curve, examining every door handle and gauge, caressing the brushed silver gas cap with my eyes. I do realize that it is just a fantasy, but what a fantasy! Every inch of the car was perfection. I'm not a gear-head - it's mostly an aesthetic thing with me. Parked on the narrow streets of Carmel were some of the most luscious sculptures I have ever seen. Every once in a while, when a Ferrari or a Lamborghini cried out like a magnificent African animal, a thrill went through me. The exhaust smelled good, like a fine cigar, or a pile of burning leaves on the curb of our home in Birmingham, Alabama, when the aroma evoked a season, a way of life, releasing a flood of memories. Once in a while, I would remember that these smoke-spewing beauties were actually causing global warming, and it would kind of harsh my mellow, but the environmental reality would soon give way once again to the erotic thrill of the shapely Jaguar, the ferocious Ferrari, or the paunchy Porsche.

Maybe some day, we'll figure out how to value the environment enough to produce emissions-free automobiles, and value beauty enough to create gorgeous cars for everyone to drive. In the meantime, I have to get back to the Platonic Lotus fantasy. On my walk home.

snapshot • Carmel Concours on the Avenue

2009-08-14T00:35:00.000-07:00

snapshot • 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, Carmel Concours on the Avenue

2009-08-14T00:23:00.000-07:00

snapshot • new Lotus (details), Carmel Concours on the Avenue

2009-08-14T00:03:00.000-07:00

The first beauties we beheld at the 2009 Concours on the Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea were the two Lotuses. I was so mesmerized by these two exquisite automobiles that I almost didn't make it to the rest of the show. I don't often lust after cars, but certain thoughts flashed through my mind. These are true works of art; drivable sculpture. And I wanted them.

snapshot • new Lotus (rear), Carmel Concours on the Avenue

2009-08-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

snapshot • classic Porsches, Carmel Concours on the Avenue

2009-08-13T23:47:00.000-07:00

snapshot • 2008 Lotus (details), Carmel Concours on the Avenue

2009-08-13T23:36:00.000-07:00

snapshot • 2008 Lotus (rear), Carmel Concours on the Avenue

2009-08-13T23:33:00.000-07:00

snapshot • 1971 Maserati Ghibli, Carmel Concours on the Avenue

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snapshot • 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder, Carmel Concours on the Avenue

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snapshot • 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta, Carmel Concours on the Avenue

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snapshot • 1958 Fiat Abarth, Carmel Concours on the Avenue

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snapshot • BMW Isetta, Carmel Concours on the Avenue

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snapshot • 1966 Bizzarini GT Strada, Carmel Concours on the Avenue

2009-08-13T23:02:00.000-07:00

shapshot • 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia SS • Carmel car show

2009-08-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

shapshot • 1965 Innocenti Spyder • Carmel car show

2009-08-12T23:35:00.000-07:00

shapshot • Maserati • Carmel car show

2009-08-12T23:34:00.000-07:00

shapshot • Fiat 750 • Carmel car show

2009-08-12T23:28:00.000-07:00

shapshot • Lamborghini

2009-08-12T23:24:00.000-07:00

This Lamborghini was just parked casually off the road in Carmel. Foreplay.

shapshot • Ferrari convertible

2009-08-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

shapshot • Ferrari convertible

2009-08-12T23:09:00.001-07:00

This car was just hanging out on the street, a prelude to the real show.

shapshot • 195? Chevy low-rider

2009-08-12T23:07:00.000-07:00

shapshot • black Porsche

2009-08-12T23:04:00.000-07:00

This rather pedestrian Porsche was not part of the car show.

snapshot • Sarah marking the corner where we parked in Carmel

2009-08-12T22:59:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Chris Page visited from Massachusetts for a couple of days before he attended a FileMaker conference in San Francisco. Monday, we drove down to Big Sur, and Tuesday Sarah joined us to check out the annual car show in Carmel. I've been to a few car shows, but nothing like this. To be sure we could find Chris' rental Kia, I photographed the corner where we parked.

snapshot • fog obscuring Point Sur, Big Sur

2009-08-11T00:46:00.000-07:00

snapshot • fog obscuring Point Sur, Big Sur

2009-08-11T00:45:00.000-07:00

snapshot • fog, Big Sur

2009-08-11T00:41:00.000-07:00

Wave, Big Sur, 2009.

2009-08-11T00:39:00.000-07:00

snapshot • Ochre sea stars, Julia Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur

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snapshot • Black Oystercatcher, Julia Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur

2009-08-11T00:34:00.000-07:00

Julia Pfeiffer State Beach, 2009.

2009-08-11T00:33:00.001-07:00

snapshot • rock formation, Julia Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur.

2009-08-11T00:29:00.000-07:00

snapshot • Chris capturing ocean with iPhone, Julia Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur

2009-08-11T00:26:00.000-07:00

snapshot • rock surface, Julia Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur

2009-08-11T00:23:00.000-07:00

snapshot • gallery stairway, Big Sur

2009-08-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

snashot • cactus

2009-08-11T00:19:00.000-07:00

snapshot • stump, Big Sur

2009-08-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

snapshot • jay grabbing crumb

2009-08-11T00:11:00.000-07:00

This jay kept swooping by, and I kept trying to get a photo. Finally, Chris started putting out crumbs to get it to land on the counter (which normally looks out over the Big Sur coast), and I managed to capture it during the split-second it took it to grab the food.

snapshot • jay, Big Sur

2009-08-11T00:04:00.000-07:00

Normally, the view from Nepenthe is a spectacular vista of cliffs plunging into the ocean; today, it was close-up, so we focused on bird-watching (Chris is a serious birder) and fog-watching.

snapshot • glass house, Big Sur

2009-08-10T23:57:00.000-07:00

One of the pleasures of Big Sur is spotting the remarkable homes scattered along the coast. This one perches at the top of a hill overlooking the Pacific.

Fog, Big Sur, August 10, 2009.

2009-08-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

Chris Page and I drove to Big Sur today. The day started out sunny, but as we traveled south, the fog started rolling in. By the time we got to Nepenthe restaurant, there was no view, so we watched the fog and the jays.

paul Jimerson

2009-08-08T17:11:00.001-07:00

paul Jimerson

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Giant Cypress Collapses

2009-08-06T23:28:00.000-07:00

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Fallen Hero

2009-08-06T23:09:00.000-07:00

Fallen Hero

2009-08-06T23:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends;

This morning, a giant was felled. Outside, the chainsaws are revving up. They will begin the dismemberment with the trunk that landed on the house next door, chopping it into tiny pieces. Already, the branches are piling up in the driveway. The smell is glorious; an odiferous farewell from a majestic conifer. The surgeon estimates the tree was 80-100 years old. There are 4 major trunks; the largest is about a foot and a half across. Where the old cypress spilt, near the base, you can see the rot. Besides a potential wound to a covered car, there doesn’t seem to be any damage. Removing it will be a carefully orchestrated affair.

Losing a tree that size is always a cause for sadness. When I lived in Leverett, Massachusetts, there were two huge White Pines standing like a royal couple by the road near my house. A bolt of lightning spilt one in half. It was like losing an old friend.

Sarah remembers when our cypress was “nothing by crows, crows, crows.” “Remember when I rescued that baby crow?” She had snuck it into the Aquarium in a shoebox with holes punched in the lid.

For now, the Spanish moss still twists with the breeze; by the end of the day, it will be in the chipper.

Now the machine is making a horrendous racket, an inglorious end for a century of faithful service. Maybe its remains will be sprinkled around somebody’s shrubbery, maybe even here in Pacific Grove.

I imagine I will choke up a little every time I walk out my front door and see the space where that glorious cypress one stood. Now, instead of its beautiful, Spanish-moss-covered branches, I will see the ugly apartment building across the street. But maybe it will open up a space to see the other glorious neighborhood trees. Rest in pieces, my friend.

Paul

Some Things I Do To Save The Earth

2009-08-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

We all need to be reminded/remind ourselves that our actions have an effect, not only on those around us, but on the Earth. In that spirit, I share with you some of the little things I do to reduce my consumption (which is far better than recycling in terms of its environmental impact). Colleagues in the environmental organization I worked at used to say, “I’m not telling you what to do; I’m just letting you know there are choices,” implying that the choices they/we make often have harmful effects on the environment. I don’t hold myself up as a paragon of environmental stewardship, but I try to change my habits on a daily basis. Here are some things I do:

• Air-dry my hands. I am horrified to see people using 3, 4, 5 paper towels after washing their hands. Yikes! I would love to know how much paper I have saved in the past year by not using paper towels. Paper towels = Trees.

• Re-use or bring my own cup to coffee shops. Sarah recently bought me a large, cheap plastic cup at Target that I put in my backpack and hand to the barista for my iced tea or coffee. There are all sorts of ways you can avoid using disposable cups. It may mean a slight change of habit, but, after all, don’t we continually take from the earth? Is it too much to give back a little?

• I don’t buy paper napkins, and I try not to use them at all when I’m out. Sometimes this means licking my fingers, but I’m not proud.

• I rarely use paper towels. If I have to clean up a spill, I use a cloth towel or a sponge.

• My brother is a gardener and has been trying to get me to compost, even though I don’t have a garden, and live in an apartment. So, I have begun putting my organic waste into a large plastic pitcher to rot. I’m not sure how I’m going to use it yet, but maybe I’ll get inspired to garden, or dump it somewhere where it will nourish the Earth. By not using the Insinkerator, I’m using less water (a precious commodity here in California), and less electricity.

• I don’t flush the toilet unless it’s really necessary, Enough said.

• When I’m at a public sink with an automatic switch, I keep my hands to one side so the water isn’t running constantly, then move my hands back (to the left) to rinse (then of course air-dry!).

• I use as little soap as possible to get the job done.

• I never use a straw.

• I recycle when it is possible.

• I turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth.

• I smoke filter-less cigarettes. Did you know that filters contain plastic, and that 30% of beach trash is cigarette butts? If animals swallow them, they can die.

• I don’t watch TV. I don’t have a TV. This means less electrical usage, but most important, I’m not polluting my mind with the insidious messages continuously spewed forth by the Corporate Media. You can learn a lot more about the world by being in Nature. You can get your news online. You can watch DVDs instead of movies or shows on TV. You can recycle you TV!

• I ride the bus. I realize that it is not always practical, but, since I don’t have a car, I have no choice. We Americans believe that choice is good, and in many ways it is. But how much of this is just being spoiled or entitled? I like not having a car, because, besides the fact that I’m not spewing exhaust into the air every time I have a little errand to do, it forces me to plan carefully, it forces me to think about the world in a different way and has taught me that you don’t HAVE to have a car. Since I’ve been walking more, I have lost weight, am in better shape and see things along the way I would not normally see zooming by in an automobile, like flowers. You have a choice. You can plan your life around taking public transportation (when possible), and really save a lot of gas and protect the Earth.

• I don’t buy stuff I don’t need. I know this amounts to sacrilege in our disposable, Consumerist society, but I am trying to really think through whether I really need this magazine or whatever before I buy it. Helping the Earth means really being more conscious about how we live.

These are some of the thinks I do to save the Earth. I encourage you to be creative and find new ways to reduce consumption, and share them with me and others. We need to gently remind ourselves every day that the little things we do can have a real impact on our beloved Earth home.

snapshot • mark at woodstar

2009-08-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

My brother Mark at my favorite cafe in Northampton, MA. At least Mark came to visit me; I can't get the cafe to come West to save my life...

Gray Tar Square, 2009.

2009-08-04T01:54:00.000-07:00

2009-08-04T01:42:00.000-07:00