Paul Hawken first wrote this book in 1994. I don’t think any of us need to be told that a lot has changed since then.  So, in 2010, he revised the original book to make it more timely. Not sure if what he was saying in the 90s had lost any of its potency, but the newly revised edition brings his philosophy and approach into the here and now. I cannot recommend this book enough if you are looking for answers to questions about sustainability and how we get there from here! Buy it. Read it.

Okay, so my Tupperware | Keep Tabs™ containers are finally complete!! Of particular excitement is the fact that the largest of these pieces will hold a whole chicken. All this storage, when not in use, occupies less than one square foot of real estate. And, these are guaranteed to last a lifetime…literally. No planned obsolescence here.

Photos by Richard Gary.

The past few years have been super crappy for me when it comes to footwear. I inherited a smallish bunion on my right foot (thanks Dad!) which makes it increasingly difficult to find a comfortable, much less stylish pair of soles (high heels are completely out of the question). Add to that the fact that I resent spending money on something that is built to fall apart within a few months, or even years. My standard for buying anything these days is: Will I like this not just a year from now, but 10 years from now? And, more to the point: Will it last? My new shoes met this challenge on every level!

I have a love-hate relationship with the car. I am grateful for the autonomy that it offers me. And, as a functional object, I marvel at those vehicles that are well-designed and efficient. But I loathe the beastly, gas-guzzling monstrosities that lately seem to rule the road. These miniature vehicles are commonly referred to as Microcars or Bubble Cars, and (as I have just discovered) they have cult status. They came about as an outgrowth of post WWII ingenuity paired with the need to give mobility to the populations of Europe. The scarcity of materials and resources at that time created the perfect conditions and limitations for the birth of these teeny cars. Some of them are so small that they don’t even have a reverse gear. Instead, they have a handle on the rear end so that you can get out of the car, lift it up and actually turn it around. Sometime in the near future I hope to find myself in Atlanta (I’ve never heard anyone say that!) on my way to the Microcar Museum so that I can get a full dose of these diminutive machines.

I have carried this checkbook cover with me every day…for nearly 28 years. It has a beauty and a patina all its own.