Stuff Parisians like…
It only took a little bit before people started knocking off the popular Stuff White People Like — the author did get a very expensive book deal after all. But I think I just came across my favorite one: Stuff Parisians Like. Maybe it’s having lived in France, maybe it’s having a good friend living in Paris or maybe it’s just liking cultural stereotypes, but this blog really is pretty funny.
An excerpt from “Compaining”:
While the French have gained a much deserved reputation for complaining a lot, Parisians take this art to a higher level. In Paris, enthusiasm is considered a mild form of retardation. If you are happy, you must be stupid. On the other hand, if you complain, you must be smart.
A beautiful Parisian syllogism is at hand here: the person who complains is the person who spotted the problem. The person who spotted the problem is the smart person. Therefore, the person who complains is the smart person.
Love it…
A good reason to write a real letter
For design lovers, there’s never been a better stamp… A few weeks back I bought the above collection of Charles and Ray Eames stamps myself, but unfortunately have yet to use a single one of them. It might be because the stamps look so good together and I have a hard time imagining pulling one off and leaving an ugly white space, but my lack of stamp use is probably more related to an unhealthy amount of time spent in front of the computer. Hence, a new goal for the end of the summer: send one real letter — or a postcard which feels a little more realistic — each week. Here’s to less emails and more genuine correspondence.
Friday Photo: Newport, OR
Last weekend I spent an excellent two days at the coast. It was a classic “coast road trip” weekend; stopping at various beaches, walking through coastal towns, and of course the necessary consumption of fish and chips. This photo comes from the Historic Bayfront in Newport; I wanted a photo that would capture the very maritime feel of this classic section of the town and the pulley with the Yaquina Bay Bridge in the background seemed just right.
Why we should all love bikes
Gas is expensive bla bla bla…. we all sound like broken records, but I do love this graphic via Cyclists Inciting Change thru Live Exchange which is a good reminder of just how great a bike is in a $4+ per gallon of gas economy. Plus there’s nothing better than riding your bike on a sunny summer morning.
Consumption, China and carbon emissions
I came across an interesting article on China and its carbon emissions this morning and it got me going. I’ve been trying to be a more conscious consumer for quite some time now, and I will be honestly and say that it’s pretty difficult. Leave it to Michael Pollan to change the way I grocery shop; I can’t even buy a piece of fruit without having an internal dialogue with myself about where the item came from. But food aside, clothes and electronics are even worse, and it turns out that the developed world’s obsession with cheap prices supported by the Chinese export industry are exactly what is leading to China’s extreme carbon emissions.
Here is an excerpt from the blog I wrote over at Wend:
“Economists now say that 1/3 of China’s carbon dioxide emissions can be attributed to the manufacturing of exported goods. That means that in 2005, 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide were emitted into the atmosphere just so that we in developed countries can continue consuming cheap goods.
Studies like these underline the importance of being a conscious consumer; choosing local and sustainable brands over the cheaper imported versions. True, it is difficult to live a 100% import-free lifestyle, but making an effort to support local businesses is a step in the right direction. This holds true for many goods, from surfboards to vegetables. And when you need a product that isn’t produced locally, the best is to seek out companies that are committed to running sustainable operations, and using sustainable materials, abroad.
It’s easy is to blame climate change on someone else, but what we should be doing is taking some personal responsibility. As the Olympic Games kick off and the question of pollution and air quality in Beijing remains an issue we should all be asking ourselves; just how much are we responsible for?”
As travelers and world citizens we need to be conscious about the effects we have not only on our immediate space, but the global space as well; our decisions affect not only ourselves but every human being on this planet. When we travel we interact and learn, making us more aware of our role in a global society; being a conscious consumer is just one of many important responsibilities of that role.
Friday Photo: Kiteboarding at Hood River
Took this when I was out at Gorge Games a couple of weekends back. Made me want to take up kiteboarding as a new sport…
Friday Photo: Sunset on the Columbia
It’s been a long and busy week… after an excellent re-launch party at Wend headquarters last night, I almost forgot to post this! But it’s still Friday west coast time which is all that matters… This shot is from last weekend, taken while driving home from Hood River on the Columbia River.
More cool photo action from Wend
Friday Photo was such a good idea that we decided to use it over at Wend. Today’s is a shot from the Inca Trail taken by fellow travel writer and photographer Lola Akinmade. If you want to get on the Wend Friday Photo mailing list — meaning you get a sweet weekly shot in your inbox — send a shout out to fphoto[at]wendmag.com.
As of today Wend has a flickr account as well, and there’s even a Wend pool, which you can add photos to in the hopes that they get featured on the Wend blog. Check it all out here.
Friday Photo: My childhood garden
Taken in Vaughn, WA.
I went home for a couple of days this week and spent most of it sitting outside in the garden with a cup of coffee… glorious! There are a lot of foxgloves on my parents’ property and I always used to be intrigued by them as a child as they were so beautiful yet poisonous enough that I was afraid of touching them…
New Wend is out!
The summer issue of Wend is officially out. Some great articles including climbing in Halong Bay, Vietnam and surfing in Novia Scotia. For a limited time you can check out the whole issue online for free. Click here to start reading and dreaming about your next adventure.
If you just can’t get enough of Wend you should check out the blog… the best of the outdoor, travel, adventure, and environmental world from around the web.
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