Gangsta’s Paradise = 2012 Olympic Stadium

Each year, England’s police forces manage to gather an impressive pile of metal in the form of guns, knives, and old keys. Most of the weapons are confiscated off of criminals, while other metal comes from spent ammunition at police firing ranges.

Scotland Yard’s 2009 pile contained 52 tons of metal, much of which is being used as part of recycling projects. One of the major projects for the metal is in the construction of the 2012 Olympic site in Stratford, east London. The weapons will be melted down and reused in girders and other steel that is needed for the construction efforts.

Source Green Daily

H&M Organic Cotton Isn’t 100% Organic

Over a year ago, H&M announced that they were introducing more organic cotton into their lines.  I’ll admit- I buy from H&M (yes I contribute to fast fashion too) and I have purchased at least 3 tshirts based on the fact that I was sold on the whole organic cotton thing.  Well, looks like someone pulled a little “Sigg has no BPA’s” white lie.

Lothar Kruse, a director of the independent testing laboratory Impetus in Bremerhaven, who examined the cotton fabrics claimed around “30% of the tested samples” contained genetically modified (GM) cotton. The head of the Indian agricultural authority, Apeda, Sanjay Dave, told the newspaper they were dealing with fraud on “a gigantic scale.”

The GM cotton found in the brand’s collections has been traced back to India which now supplies nearly half of the global supply of organic cotton. According to Organic Exchange figures – to be released shortly – India produced 61% of the total amount of organic cotton produced in 2008/09 with some 107,000 tonnes of fibre out of the total 175,113 tonnes grown worldwide.

Via GOOD

Trash Turned Into Shadow Art

Dirty White Trash (With Gulls), 1998

British-born and -based artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster skillfully skirt the boundaries between beauty and the shadowier aspects of humanity, playing with our perceptions as well as our notions of taste. Many of their most notable pieces are made from piles of rubbish, with light projected against them to create a shadow image entirely different to that seen when looking directly at the deliberately disguised pile.

Dark Stuff, 2008

Metal Fucking Rats With Heart Shaped Tail, 2007

Source Environmental Graffiti

Look What Washed Up On Our Beaches

Southern California beaches delivered our own trash right back at us after last week’s storms.  Rubber tires, shoes, bottles, cans, toys, food wrappings, shopping carts and over all crap washed up on shores, putting the Department of Public Works on overtime mode to clean it up before the next rain comes in which is supposed to be today.

Next time that trash falls out of your car and you just leave it, remember that winds and rain eventually pull that into our storm drains, creeks and riverbeds which leads into our oceans.  Take pride, don’t litter.

Source/Picture (Allen J. Schaben) LATIMES

Amber Alert

Just like my pretend lover Michael K from Dlisted says, “What the hell kind of GD outfit is this”?????  Most people say they wear fur to keep warm, but this?  I just can’t..

The prettiest people do the ugliest things 
For the road to riches and diamond rings
. . .
We’ll buy a lot of clothes but we don’t really need ‘em 
Things we buy to cover up what’s inside

—Kanye West, “All Falls Down”

Boxer Puppy Cam!!!

Live Streaming by Ustream.TV

Shiba Inu 6 was all the rave last year but right now it’s all about these Boxer pups! I love me some Boxers, just like my Kobe, who by the way is recovering fine. Thanks to those who have inquired.

Feeling blue because of the rain?  Puppy cam will take those blues away.  Enjoy!

Earth Hour 2010

It’s coming up…who’s participating?

Earthhour.org

Donate Old Cell Phones And Shoes For Haiti

There are an estimated 130 million phones retired in the United States every year.  If even a small percentage of them are sent to Phones for Haiti, it would contribute millions of dollars towards relief from the devastating earthquake. ReCellular will give 100% of the phone value as a contribution to the American Red Cross; charities like the March of Dimes and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have already earned more than $10 million dollars in contributions through their partnerships with ReCellular.

With rescue and repair missions already underway, it is critical that funds get to the region quickly.  By using the postage paid label, supporters can have their used phones, chargers and cell phone batteries sent to ReCellular within just a few days, allowing for the rapid distribution of funds.  All phones are accepted, though newer phones will provide the most value to the charity – in some cases $100 or more.

Sport Chalet is collecting shoes to benefit the Haitian people who have been devastated by the massive earthquake. Gently worn men’s, women’s and kids’ shoes can be dropped off at any Sport Chalet locations through Jan. 31. The shoes will be sent directly to Soles4Souls for distribution to the Haitian people along with necessities such as food, bottled water, medical supplies and baby products.

Coco Eco Mag Issue No. 9 With Gossip Girl Kelly Rutherford

How smoking hot is Kelly Rutherford, the mom from Gossip Girl?  I had the pleasure of co-styling Kelly along side Sielian Li (from Sielians Vintage Apparel) for this shoot and I must say, she took us all by surprise when she showcased her fun and sexy side for the camera.

Go to Coco Eco to view the rest of the Kelly’s pics and here to read her interview.

They Say It’s Your Birthday…It’s My Birthday Too

As some of you know- I have several jobs (Hey mon, I Jamaican!  I got tree jobs, what about you?  You lazy coconut!) and one of my favorites is handling operations for a DJ I’ve loved since I was a wee one.  His name is Marques Wyatt and he’s been running DEEP here in Los Angeles for 11 years strong!  Some of you may remember his other joints- Brass, MAC’s Garage and Does Your Mama Know?- what, what?!?!?!  Damn, I’m aging myself.

Although I’ll be working this Sunday night, you can find me shaking my birthday butt on the dancefloor to some other legends such as Timmy Regisford, Dj Adam 12 (She Wants Revenge, AFEX) Anthony Valadez (KCRW/Dublab)  and the lovely Joplin.  No work or school on Monday so I’ll be looking forward to seeing some of you there.  If I can still see at that point.  : )

1/16 Happy Birthday today to one of my favorite Capricorns- SADE!  Queen is 51 and still looks the same as back in the day!

1/11 You know I love me some Mary J!!

1/19 Dolly Parton shares my actual day. Love this song with her and Willie Nelson from 1965.

1/16 Ok, she’s not a singer but hot mess Co-Kate Moss is another Capricorn I gotta give props to.  Why?  Johnny Depp is why- Durrr!  Here she is doing her best Nomi Malone pole impression, minus the glitter, high waisted thong and big hair.

It’s Alive!! Green Bling That Grows

I love these rings by cbijoux.  Not sure if they’re for sale or just concept designs since the site is in French but they remind me of the moss pieces (below) by Icelandic designer Hafsteinn Juliusson.

Source Ecouterre

American Apparel Nail Lacquer

Made in the USA by a family-operated nail polish manufacturer in New York City, these are available only in American Apparel stores and online. The 18 unique shades of high-quality color are DBP, toluene and formaldehyde-free.

Banksy: I Don’t Believe In Global Warming

Here is a Banksy piece that popped up at the end of December.  It is partially submerged in the Regent’s Canal under the Camden Street Bridge in London.  How do you interpret Banksy’s message?

Ojai, California

I had the best weekend ever celebrating the new year and upcoming birthdays with a group of friends in Ojai, California. We stayed on a private ranch with 4 cabins, 1 pool, 2 separate jacuzzis and patios.  It was amazing that this small hidden paradise was only an hour away from our concrete jungle.

If you’re looking for a weekend retreat with friends and family, I would definitely recommend the Rolling Thunder Ranch or one of their other properties.

Thanks to everyone that made this a special weekend!

PS.- Below are bday gifts I gave out to my friends.  Instead of buying paper bags and making waste, I reused my shoe + purse bags!!

Birthday Sex..

I wish!

Off to Ojai Valley for some early birthday madness.  If I have the brain cells, I’ll write a few posts from one of those chairs up above…but I’m not making any promises!  A drink would feel so much better in my hand than a laptop.

Happy Birthday to all my fellow Capricorns!  This one goes out to the ones I’ll be spending this weekend with.  xo

I Love Lalalu Organic Pride Tee’s

How adorable are these organic tee’s created by Bay Area native, Luz Tello?  I love the multi cultural and earth conscious messages.

I’m without a baby friend at the moment but these are making me want one ASAP!

Visit Etsy to see the rest of the line  I Love Lalalu

Thank you Karl.  That Pho clip has my name all over it!  xx

Bob Barker Plays ‘Bullseye’ On Japanese Whalers

Another whaling ship arrived in the Southern Ocean today, unexpected and right on time: the Bob Barker.

Thanks to a $5,000,000 contribution from American television personality and icon Bob Barker, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society was able to quietly purchase and refit the former Norwegian whaler in Africa. The ice strengthened fast chaser boat quietly departed from Mauritius on December 18th to join up with the Sea Shepherd ships Steve Irwin and Ady Gil in the Southern Ocean.  Barker has also funded the cost of a helicopter that will accompany the society’s ships. The aircraft is named The Nancy Burnet after the president of United Activists for Animal Rights, an organization Barker also supports. This new helicopter will participate in future campaigns.

“I’m delighted to be able to help the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in its mission to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans,” said Barker.  ”There is lot of talk about preserving our ecosystems and species, but this is one organization that puts these words into action.”

And remember, Bob Barker reminds you to help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered. Goodbye, everybody!

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Kelly Rutherford In Coco Eco Magazine

We just finished shooting Kelly Rutherford from Gossip Girl.  Stay tuned for the issue to drop on January 15th.

Vintage Jewelry By Nola Singer

Thanks to Nola Singer for blinging me out on NYE.  LOVE.

Make Art On Trash, Win Free VIP Coachella Tix

TRASHed :: Art of Recycling celebrates 7 glorious years at Coachella in 2010.

Get TRASHed In Front of 60,000 People & Win Coachella Tickets!!

If you were born with the artistic ability to design a recycling bin like no other…
If your notebook doodles or murals alongside the 101N leave more to the imagination than
the mayans, the ghost kid from three men & baby + the dinosaurs COMBINED…
Then you’re invited to participate in TRASHed Coachella.

Everyone from Hunter S Thompson to Fugazi has represented during the past 7 years.
Now here’s your shot to make the history books and get your redesigned recycling
bin in front the world.

There’s two rounds of competition. Winning Northern America and then the world competition.
20 finalist will be selected each receiving tixs and vip passes for Coachella Festival 2010.
Submit your artwork and be considered to design one of the 20 recycling
bins featured at Coachella. What’s even better is that the non offensive redesigned bins
will be placed in schools throughout Southern California after Coachella to inspire the future
recyclers of the world! Next steps? Send a link to your artwork, concept and/or website.

On January 31st, 2010… 20 artists and 5 alternates will be selected to redesign 96 gallon
recycling bins.

For more info go to Global Inheritance Email:  Coachella [at] globalinheritance [dot] org