It's Only A Holiday, Everyone. Remain Calm.

Merry Whatever Everybody!

The holiday season is, indeed, a great time to get together with friends, loved ones, and unloved ones, to enjoy a lot of food, and money well (hopefully) spent. However, for a lot of us, it can also be a very stressful time. Between strained finances, busy schedules, and reminders of personal voids, many people can find themselves down with a case of the Ebenezers. The Batu Crew have done some winter brainstorming to bring you a locally comprehensive list of things you can do and give to yourself and others, to De-stress and Re-cheer.


"ROOOOO ROOOO ROOO" That is the sound of an elephant seal. Mating. In San Simeon. While we are busy buying, they are busy...getting busy. It's a unique experience and get away that can re-connect one with nature, immerse one in the beautiful scenic drive up the California coast, and make one contemplate, well, seals gettin' it on. That last one may not be a stress reliever, but it IS interesting.

"Shoe fly, don't bother me... oh wait, you're a Butterfly... sorry, my bad... " To the south and the north in our little central coast haven, Monarch Butterflies, the harbingers of delight, can be seen fluttering amongst relaxing Eucalyptus trees. If you've never had one of those little orange happiness airplanes land near you, you are missing out on one of the most invigorating and joyous experiences this area has to offer.

"It's not the money I'll miss... it's all the stufffffff...." Bernadette, you have a point. Stuff CAN be awesome. Especially if it's a basket full of relaxing stuff. Stuff you can get right here at your local House of Bamboo, such as aromatherapy candles, cozy bathrobes, and inspirational scrolls for encouragement and wisdom!

Baby It's Cold Outside: so enjoy a dunk in the pleasant and warm Sycamore Hot Springs. Great for your skin, and your mind, this is sure to relax and warm from the inside out on a cold day.

Tea Time: Hot tea can put you in a mellow mood, and warm the spirits. However, some Kava Kava tea from The Secret Garden will put you on a different level of relaxation. The Secret Garden carries an array of herbs and teas that can elevate your spirits and keep you level headed during the holiday crazies.

Time spent with other people is wonderful, enriching and educational, but it's also important to remember to take time for yourself during the holidays. Here's to whatever keeps you mellow!

Happy Holidays

I hope you have enjoyed your Turkey, Tofurkey, quiche, lamb, mock duck, or whatever was on your dinner table last Thursday. We have one holiday down, and another two to go. Whether it's Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, or the Winter Solstice, it is time for us to look around us and appreciate the gift of loved ones and blessings we have in our lives. For some of us, that means trampling other people to get a flat screen T.V. for next to nothing, and for others, that might mean enjoying a warm meal at a homeless shelter.

From one end of the spectrum to the other, the holiday season is, believe it or not, about more than just an economic boom for retailers. It's about something different for everyone, but mostly, it is a reminder that no matter what the weather is like, we can still feel happy and full of love. We can try to bring a smile to others' faces. We can eat what we want, drink what we want, and renew ourselves for the start of one more year to come.

I invite you to make a list of five blessings in your life: people, material, or theoretical, and draw it up. Make it fancy, how you like it, get it framed. Make it colorful, or black and white. Try and make it out of recycled materials if you can. Old buttons, magazine clippings, etc, and put it somewhere where you'll see it every day from now until the end of the year. Get some family together and make it a group project.

If you like it enough, make it a part of your annual tradition. Keep them, and watch how they change, or stay the same. You'll find that five may not be enough, and that you'll want to make more than one. Happy holiday of your choice!


Here's my list:

My Boyfriend
Coffee
Work
Boston Terriers
My Hair Straightener (yeah... I know)

Song of the day

Zen Parable #53

"The Magician and the Prince"

Once upon a time in a faraway kingdom there lived a bright young prince who believed in all things but three. He did not believe in volcanos, he did not believe in princesses, and he did not believe in God.

One clear summer day, under a sky as blue as corydalis, the prince took his horse on a long, long ride, beyond the boundaries of his father's vast dominions. Near the summit of a high mountain he met a strange old man. This foreigner spoke to the prince of his own homeland, near the volcanoes, among gentlemen and beautiful princesses.

The prince did not believe these stories, so he demanded to see proof. With the old man, he traveled for another day until they passed a pair of princesses on the road, and later climbed to the rim of a volcano.

The prince hurried home on his steed, and ran straight to the king. "Father! I have seen volcanos! I have seen princesses! I have seen God!"

"But son," the king replied, "volcanos, princesses and God do not exist."

"I saw them!"

"Tell me what God looked like." So the prince described the long beard and the unusual hat as he remembered them. The king sat back and laughed. "You have described a magician. You did not meet God. You were fooled. The princesses and volcanos were simply illusions."

Disappointed, the prince hopped right back on his horse to cross the hills and find the old man. "You lied to me," he said. "My father is the king and he has explained your tricks. There are no volcanos and there are no princesses."

"Aha," said the old man. "I haven't tricked you. There are volcanos and princesses in your kingdom as well, but you can't see them because you are under your father's spell. For he is a magician as well."

When the prince returned home again, he looked his father in the eyes and asked him, "Is it true, father, what they say? That you are not a real king, but just a magician?"

"Yes, son, I am only a magician."

"So the man in the faraway land really was God."

"No son, that man was just another magician."

"But I must know the real truth, beyond magic."

"But there is no truth beyond magic," said the king.

At this the prince sunk his head in despair and declared, "I will kill myself."

So the king used his magic and called on Death to appear. The prince trembled in fear. His thoughts then returned to the incredible volcanos, and especially to the beautiful princesses.

"Alright then," he said. "I can bear it."

"Very good, my son," said the king. "You too are becoming a magician!"

(based on a story by John Fowles)

May all your holiday dreams come true this year! Best wishes from Bambu Batu, where fashion and philosophy converge.

New Years Greenollutions

I was watching an episode of Thirty Rock the other day. Tina Fey's character had just purchased a pair of jeans from this high class hipster store, promoting fair trade and green-o-nomics. Her punch line about said pants, was that they would "make up for all the times I took a long hot shower because I was bored!" (As it turned out, the store was owned by Haliburton, and the 'hand made in usa' on the label meant that the jeans had been made by a community of people called the hands, in country who's name was pronounced 'oosa.')

This hits the funny bone of most people, I think, because most of us live a day to day give and take of conservationism. After all, we can't all live textbook minimalist lives, so we balance our green consciences sort of like our checkbooks. We ride our bike to work one day, to make up for leaving the lights on the night before, or we make sure we use reusable grocery bags, because we just can't go without our daily coffee in that hypnotically appealing and wasteful to-go cup. It's these little hypocrisies that make us human. (I'm currently eating a vegan sandwich out of a disposable plastic container. )

We are creatures of habit. I'm sure we all have a few good habits and a few destructive ones. With that in mind, I thought I would offer up on ongoing discussion to you bloggers out there.

Name three good green habits you have, and three you might be afraid to confess to the hippie nearest you. In the spirit of approaching New Year's Resolutions, perhaps we can exchange some ideas, and inspire each other to try, just a little bit more, to keep the world around longer. I'll kick it off, and expose my dirty laundry. (Which I am about to run through a water hogging washing machine, and energy sucking dryer.)


The Wicked:

1. Water Bottle Addicted- I have a problem, in plastic form.
   
2. Hot Showers- long ones. Can't get enough, sometimes twice a day.
3. Paper Towel Insanity- Haven't made that leap of buying cloth napkins and cleaning rags. It's silly, but I can't' make a decision on ones I like.
   

The Win:

1. Reusin': Taking old butter, peanut butter, Tahinni, and any other sturdy disposable plastic or glass container, and making in to my new Tupperware. It may be cheap, but it's also pretty good for the environment.
   
2. Buying locally grown, organic produce: Easy on the pocket book, fun, and environmentally friendly. You avoid putting more pesticides in the air, and create less of a need for large, polluting trucks to drive 300 miles to bring you a head of broccoli, if you walk down to your local farmer's market or co-op.
   
3. CAR-bon: Carpooling, biking, walking, and public transportation. It's good for you, your community, and the earth. (It's okay if the real reason for it, is that cars are really FREAKING expensive. No one has to know that. )
   

So, there's a starter. Hopefully, this topic inspires you (ehem) thousands of readers of ours out there to see the green light. Or maybe just pick one bad habit to get rid of. Who knows. I should mention that you can't say 'I recycle' as one of your green good deeds. We've all been recycling since the eighties. It's old news, guys.

If you find you come up short on your good deed list, come in to Bambu Batu for some green living ideas. We have everything from compost pales, to reusable sporks, to help you get to that next step. We can do it. Together. Oh, we have reusable water bottles on the way? Check.

McFlipside

Alright kids. Settle down.

While on one end of the country, we have McDonald's representatives giving McSeminars to little kids about how to eat healthier...at McDonald's... we have, on the left coast, San Fransisco BANNING the sale of Happy Meals. Maybe, in Oklahoma, McDonald's serves up reasonable portions, uses fresh ingredients, and operates more like an In-N-Out. Not good for you, not bad for you...

Anyway. It's all happening... in San Fransisco. This week, across the Golden Gate, they have successfully curbed the Golden Arches' youth marketing. The San Fransisco Board of Supervisors has approved an ordinance that effectively bans the Happy Meal. The guidelines of the ordinance give specific nutritional qualifications that all restaurants must meet, if they want to include a toy with a meal. This comes as an effort to combat childhood obesity.

The parameters of the ordinance include maximum sodium, fat, and saturated fat levels, calorie guidelines, and require that either fruits or vegetables be sold with a meal if a toy is to be included.

Theoretically, this doesn't eliminate the possibility for Happy Meals in SF, but it does drastically change the face of the childhood treat.

McDonald's has voiced a protest on the grounds that the ordinance not only restricts businesses, but also takes away parental control.

Personally, I say go forth, SF, and fight for your kids. I understand the concern about freedoms being taken away from America's consumers. But we have ourselves an epidemic. An epidemic of children who can't run more than ten yards without wheezing, and not because of respiratory problems. No one has banned the Big Mac. No one has outlawed the Hamburgler. It's just a step to make sure that tomorrows children can, well, take steps.

If it's just a toy you're after, come in and see us. We have some pretty cute and PC toys, without the grease!


Song of the Day Soul Food- The Goody Mob

McReally?

Okay. We all know enough about nutrition now to know that McDonald's is on the bad guys' team, right? Morgan Spurlock, Eric Schlosser, and Micheal Pollan have made that clear enough, right? We don't want McDonald's in our kids' faces twenty-four-seven, right? We wouldn't have them teaching our kids about nutriti....what?

Yup. Not a joke. Not fiction. Reality. McReality. McDonald's is hosting nutrition workshops for elementary school kids. That's like having a convicted predator teach a class on self-defense for women.

It would be one thing if this was just some cheap ploy to improve their image in the nutrition community. No matter who it is dispensing the sermon, it can't be a bad thing to have kids learn about the merits of vegetables. After all, this is what McDonald's representatives claim to be the point of their seminars.

But little 11-year-old Shannon Mulligans claims to have "learned that McDonald's can be very healthy for you if you make the right choices. I usually have lots of cheese, but I had less cheese and more lettuce, and I had chicken instead of hamburger because it has fewer calories," according to a local paper.

Yup. The merits of vegetables.

The "learning" doesn't take place at schools either. It takes place at a McDonald's location: in Stratford, CT, where over 25% of high school students are overweight or obese. Interesting. Hmmm, divide that number, by the number of calories in an Angus Deluxe (750) and add what percentage of sodium and fat is recommended for an adult's daily maximum intake (about two Big Macs) and it equals... oh yeah, one reason kids shouldn't be taking nutritional guidance from the guru of gluttony.

Well, I guess this is just one more notch in the belt of big companies fighting to keep our kids fat. We already have soda companies funding school text books and lockers, in exchange for monopolies in vending machines, and dairy lobbyists making sure that kids drink milk with their lunch. What next? Are corn lobbyists going to dress up like stalks of corn, and hand out pamphlets about the benefits of HFCS (sorry, corn sugar?)

Think I'm kidding? Just consider Coca-Cola's virtual monopoly on Cal Poly campus. As of last year they gained exclusive rights to sell soft drinks (Coca-Cola, Red Bull, etc.) everywhere but the campus food court. That meant elbowing out Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and even organic, fair-trade and locally developed Guayaki. Of course, you probably remember how dutifully the Cal Poly president bowed down to corporate influence when Michael Pollan came to speak last year.

Thanks to change.org for the information about this. Want to send your kids to school with a sustainable way of eating lunch? Come in and get some to-go ware and a handy bamboo spork!

Song of the day

Choose organic. And save money.

I was at the grocery store the other day, with my better half. We were trying to pinch some pennies. We were in the produce department when the following happened. I swear, I'm not making this up. I went to grab a bundle of spinach, and no joke, out of my significant other's mouth, came "Oh, that's organic, that's too expensive."

Now, he was right. That was just more money than we had to spend on spinach. I had to think about that statement though. There's a reason income is the closest linked factor to obesity and health.

Then again, I know plenty of people, who will contest the merits of buying organic based on the price tag, only to drive to the nearest gas station after, and fill up their suburban or unnecessarily large truck with gas, and spend fifteen or so dollars buying candy and sodas at the convenience store.

What can we do to save money, the earth, and our bodies all in one? Organicitsworthit.org has the answers. I decided to bring them to you.

• More Is less: This may be obvious, but it's good to have a reminder. Many products come at a better price when bought in large quantities, so buy in bulk when it makes sense.
  
  
• Tis The Season: It takes a lot less effort to get something to the consumer that is in bloom NOW, so buy things that are in season.
  
  
• Grandmama Tried: While it may be irritating to get stuck in line behind a little old lady wielding paper and scissors, remember; she didn't make it to a hundred and four spending all of her dough. Clip those coupons to save the planet without going bankrupt.
  
  
• Hometown Goodness: Farmer's Markets are a fun way to support your local farmers, eat organic, and save money
  
  
• Good Ol' Home Cookin': It's not only better for you, but it saves money. It always has, and it always will. Cooking organic vegetables at home is no exception to the rule.
  
  
• Choose Your Battles: If you have to narrow it down, chose to buy organic versions of the products that you go for the most often, thereby reducing your exposure to harmful chemicals, and lowering your impact on the environment. Hooray for moderation!
  
  
• The Ace of Clubs: Joining a buyer's club is rapidly becoming an effective way to save money on produce.
  
  

Have more questions? Come in and see us at Bambu Batu. We have a great Shirt you can sport, broadcasting to the world the pride you have for supporting your local farmers! Think green and eat greens (that were organically grown, of course!)

Song of the Day: Amish Paradise- Weird Al Yankovic (He's a local!!)

Here We Go Again

"ATCHOOOOOOOO. CHKKKKKKKK TOOOO!" Oh man. Fall is beautiful. Flu season isn't. We all know lots of ways to prevent catching the nastiness. Hand washing, sleeping, eating right, not running around in the rain; all good ways to not get sick.

However, should those little beleaguering bugs make their way to your membranes, what can you do to get rid of them, and fast, without taking things that will make you worse in the long run? I did a little bit of quest, because I too, like many people this month, am feeling invaded. I found some tips on naturalholistic.org that I'd like to pass on to all of you soon to be sickies.

• Garlic: Keeps more than just the Vampires away. It helps to ease that sore throat and boost your immune system. Garlic will protect the body against infection, and detoxify, all while tasting delicious. Sulfur compounds in garlic are responsible for making it a super food. Garlic soup is easy to make, and will get you feeling better faster than you can say Gilroy.
  
  

• Marshmallow: I was disappointed to find out this was something other than that puffy white pillow of deliciousness. It is, in fact, an herb, whose use goes back to Roman times. Both its leaves and root contain a gummy substance called mucilage, which, when mixed with water, forms a slick gel that is used to coat the throat and stomach. It relieves the symptoms of many ailments, including those of cold and flu.
  
  

• Slippery Elm Bark: This is one of the few herbal remedies for a sore throat, cold and flu symptoms that has actually been acknowledged by the FDA.
  
  

• Ginger: The antiviral properties in ginger can relieve pain and fever, reduce coughing, and make it easier for you to sleep. Too bad this doesn't apply to gingerbread cookies.
  
  

• Mullein: Another herbal decongestant and sleep aid.
  
  

• licorice: Finally something sweet that's good for you...if you like licorice. (I don't think RedVines count.) Oh, you're just talking about the root? What about Jagger? No? Ok. Any way, licorice root is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its ability to improve mucous quality.
  
  

• Onions: Onions are closely related to garlic and share the precious antiviral properties. No wonder they taste so good together. One folkloric remedy suggests steeping raw onions in honey overnight, and taking it as a couch syrup.
  
  

Ok. Three course meal? Garlic and ginger stew, spinach salad with a honey onion vinaigrette, and a gingerbread house with sticky marshmallows and black licorice on top. (This last one is a bit of a stretch.) Either way, hope this helps you all relieve the discomfort and get back on your feet quickly. When you do, come see us at The House of Bamboo for your holiday needs. CHHHHHKKKKK......TCHOOOO.

Song of the Day: Here It Goes Again-OK Go

The Corporate Report Card

It's home coming week here in sunny San Luis. I know this, because I just watched a parade of healthy, energetic and rosy cheeked kids waltz by the store, beating bass drums, waving pom poms and yelling indiscernible half sentences.

Here in America, we are afforded the full term of our childhood, and for most of us, this extends on into college years, before we're thrown in to the fire of making a living for ourselves.

However, in other countries, big companies (often based here in the states) will use the resources of children the same age as those aforementioned painted-face youths. They will pay them little to nothing, drive them to the fourteenth hour, and expose them to harmful, dangerous working conditions. Small hands make quality goods, I guess.

It's not as though any of these companies are going to go around advertising that they save you money by saving themselves money. Additionally, a lot of these businesses commit other atrocities, destroy the environment, and are about as humanitarian as the Third Reich. So how do you know? How can you tell who's a member of the republic and who is a member of the dark force? How can you vote with your dollar confidently, knowing you have the full scoop? My, it would be great if someone put together a handbook of major companies, rating them based on their practices.

What? Someone did? Neat. The Better World Shopper is a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the social and environmental responsibility of companies all over the world. It is an extension of The Better World Handbook, which was written in an effort to fight global apathy and cynicism about the tragedies of the world. Its authors, Ellis Jones, Ross Haenfler, and Brett Johnson (all of whom have their Ph.D ) are on a mission to be the change they wish to see in the world, through education and inspiration.

An invaluable and easy-to-use reference guide, "The Better World Shopper" provides a comprehensive listing of major manufacturers and corporations, broken down by category (food, apparel, etc.) and graded on an academic A-F scale. The grades are based a strict set of criteria including things like labor practices, environmental responsibility, animal testing, quality of materials or ingredients, and so on... everything the responsible consumer should want to know about how his/her money is being spent.

And the results are fascinating. Many of the grades simply confirm what you always knew or suspected. Lowest grade in the book goes to Exxon-Mobile; lowest score in the food industry goes to Nestle. No surprises there. But some results are bit more disconcerting. Guess which company has some of the very worst child-labor practices... Gerber? Yikes! While others are very re-assuring: A+ for Seventh Generation, with top marks across the board. What a relief to know that they aren't just tricking us with warm & fuzzy feel-good packaging. No, they're the real thing!

It's easy to let life get you down. It's easy to look around at everyone else putting down their neighbors, out to get theirs, and be washed away in the "If you can't beat em, might as well get mine" spirit of today's America. This handbook suggests that we can do better through ten actions and seven foundations of basic human compassion. The Better World Shopper helps to make that easier. Now excuse me, the band outside is playing Iron Man.

Pieces of Peace

If someone approached you one day and asked, "Would you wear a nuclear weapon around your neck?" your answer would likely be no. If they told you, however, that it was a symbol of peace, constructed OUT OF a dismantled (and no longer radio active... we know that because Jason has a Geiger Counter) weapon of mass destruction, would your answer change?

Start thinking about it, because it's happening. Peace Bronze is the first company ever to reconstruct disassembled nuclear weapon systems into not just jewelry, but jewelry proudly bearing the many different representations of peace. The material actually comes from the underground cabling that would have sent the launch signal to the missiles.

What's more, this project, while funded by a non Slocal, is being manned by our home town folks. The necklaces will be out in stores, Bambu Batu included, very soon. So if you see it around, give it a glance. You could very well be the first one on your block to own one. If you prefer to go straight to the source, they have a website where you can have a one-of-a-kind necklace or set of earrings put together.

A bit about the peace symbol: This symbol of human compassion and pacifism was conceived in 1958. It is a blended semaphore (or flag signal) of the letters 'n' and 'd', literally standing for nuclear disarmament. Peace Bronze takes that significance to an entirely new level. Not to mention, it's cute jewelry.

Song of the day: Give Peace A Chance - The Plastic Ono Band

Oh My Gas!

Does triple-digit gas mileage sound like a dream to you? Does the ubiquity of gas-guzzling Hummers and SUVs look like anything less than a nightmare? Well, wake up and smell the carbon monoxide.

I'm just kidding, of course. Carbon monoxide is strictly odorless. But our failure to develop more fuel-efficient vehicles over the last three decades -- while flooding the market with less efficient cars (and flooding our seas with oil spills) -- truly stinks.

In 1984 Craig Henderson and Bill Green built a car that got over 100 miles per gallon. And this year Henderson drove his new car from Canada to Mexico on a single tank of gas. He averaged almost 120 mpg.

Read the whole story here!

Federal law now requires automakers to average 35 mpg by 2016. Should we be impressed? By now we should be thinking about new cars that will break the 200 mpg barrier. There's a idea worth dreaming about.

In the meantime, you can petition the EPA to make 60 mpg vehicles the new standard 2025!

Enjoy our song of the day from this once popular quartet from Liverpool.

Don't Stress It

So, it's that time of year once again. For some, the rain, the holidays, and the cold, are all part of the festive nature of fall and winter. However, for others, this time of year can mean stress and winter doldrums. Being that everyone wants to eat more this time of year, I thought it might be appropriate to find out which foods can reduce stress levels, and lift spirits, keeping you chill through the chill. Here are nine cortisol controlling yum yums.

1. Agent Oranges: a great cortisol fighter and an immune system booster. The high vitamin C content in an orange can bring blood pressure and cortisol levels back to normal in a stressful situation, as well as fight off bugs that wear down your defenses.
   
   
2. How sweet it is: Often we crave sweets when under duress, but sugary snacks and simple carbs can only serve to make our stress levels worse (much like drinking water after eating spicy food) Sweet Potatoes, however, can curb that sugar craving and give you long lasting, fiber full energy. Additionally, they are high in beta-carotene, amongst other vitamins, to help keep your brain sharp and functioning under pressure.
   
   
3. Apricots to the rescue: Apricots are rich in magnesium, which is a natural stress buster and muscle relaxant.
   
   
4. Now that's just nutty: Almonds are rich in E and B vitamins, boosting your immune system. Walnuts and Pistachios, like oranges, can lower your blood pressure, leaving you calm, cool and collected.
   
   
5. Gobble: Up the turkey, because the main amino acid in that Thanksgiving bird, l-Tryptophan, has been proven to produce Serotonin in the brain, leaving you relaxed, and even sleepy. (If only people had just eaten turkey instead of taking ludes.)
   
   
6. "I'm strong to the finish!": Spinach, like apricots, contains a significant source of Magnesium (up to 40 percent of your daily dose in one cup!) Bluto, take note. There's a cure for those explosive outbursts.
   
   
7. Something's fishy: Salmon, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, is not only good for the brain and the heart. This sea faring creature will keep adrenaline and stress levels from peaking when, say, you can't seem to find that parking spot, or the girl at the counter has just gotten your order wrong for the third time (seriously, what does she get paid for?)
   
   
8. It's a fruit! It's a fat! It's a... stress reliever? Avocados are high in potassium, the consumption of which, according to the National Heart, lung, and Blood Institute (how official) can significantly lower your blood pressure. Delicious and nutritious.
   
   
9. Good for, well, everything: Is there anything green veggies CAN'T do for you? Well, maybe they can't give you the power to levitate, or make you an omnipotent being, but they can, in addition to bettering your digestive health, improving the efficiency of your brain, giving you longer lasting energy, healthier skin, hair and nails, and curing anemia, replace vitamins lost during times of stress, and boost your immune system. Seriously folks, eat your kale and your broccoli.
   
   

In addition to eating these nine super foods on a regular basis, it is important to get enough sleep, water, regular exercise and laughter in order to keep your cool and get through your day. Avoid caffeine and sugar, as these can throw your blood sugar off balance, leaving your reasoning skills compromised. Find some alone time and read a book or write a book! Chill out and enjoy the season! Since it's getting colder, come in and get some winter wear from Dreamsacks to curl up in. Fun facts provided by MSN.com

Song of the day "By Myself" by the Susie Arioli Swing Band.

Bonus Video: Don't Tase Me Bro.

Some like It Hot. Those People Are Healthier.

Well, I suppose the heat wave is almost over. I can tell because I'm currently not dripping with sweat, sticking to my chair, or wishing I would die. However, all of this hot stuff has got me thinking about hot things: tea, snuggies, and spicy foods. Then the curry craving came, and well, we all know how that goes. Which brings me to today's topic... the many benefits of spicy food.

It may seem weird, especially if you're one of those people who goes out to Thai and sticks with the fried rolls, sweet and sour sauce and a Thai Tea. However, despite the very counter intuitive notion that such striking pain in your mouth could be good for you, that the hot pepper that sent you to other people's tables, drinking their water, just might save your life. (Or at least make it last a bit longer.) Here are ten very noteworthy health benefits to sucking it up and ordering those noodles Thai hot.

• If you want that disgusting Slim Fast you're drinking to actually work, I suggest throwing some Tabasco in it. Or, you could just eat real food that has a bit of a bight to it. (I prefer the second option.) Studies have shown that hot peppers and curries can increase your metabolic rate and decrease your appetite. How's that for a waist trimmer?
  
• While you may think you're about to have a stroke from the fire you just swallowed, it's quite the opposite. Capcaisin, or the spicy stuff, can help get rid of blood clots, lower cholesterol and the chance of stroke, decrease swelling of the arteries, and significantly lower your chances of a heart attack.
• Not just good for your heart, but your circulation too, spicy foods raise the internal body temperature and get the blood flowing. This, in the long run, will lower your blood pressure and keep your vascular system healthy. Peppers are high in vitamins A and C, and therefore aid in strengthening the blood vessels.
  
• Capcaisin can not only help to prevent cancer, being that it is an anti-oxidant, but it can kill certain types of cancer cells before they become a problem. In countries with higher spice consumption (such as Mexico and India) there is a lower rate of certain types of cancers.
  
• There can often be a lot of blame placed on spicy food for digestive problems. In reality, it's most likely everything else that's in your chili dog that's giving you gas and heartburn. Capcaisin will increase blood flow to your stomach as well as the mucus lining. Additionally, spicy foods can kill bad bacteria in your stomach and cure/prevent ulcers.
  
• As before mentioned, many spicy foods have anti-inflammatory properties. Because of this, Turmeric, in particular, can decrease joint swelling in arthritis sufferers, fight bone decay, and help relieve arthritic pain.
  
• It's almost sick season, so this bit should come in handy. Capcaisin can reduce the discomfort of cold and flu symptoms, make you sweat out bacteria, and open the sinuses. Additionally, the aforementioned vitamin C content can help you out on the prevention side of things.
• Instead of reaching for that Ambien, grab a pepper. In Australia (I don't know why, but that makes perfect sense to me) researchers have found that regular consumption of spicy foods can help you sleep better and wake up rested and chipper.
  
• If the fall blues are about to get you down, spicy goodness can help there, too. Because there is some physical pain when you bite into the spicy gold, the brain will release endorphins and serotonin, giving you relief from the pain and a sense of well being. As a result, this can help fight depression and relieve stress.
• Breathe easy, you chose Thai. Hot foods can relieve symptoms of virtually all common respiratory problems, and, as you probably know from the pile of tissues in front you that you've acquired after being inspired to get some spice in your life, hot foods will always clear your sinuses.

There you have it: ten reasons to go for level 10 spicy, or at least as hot as you can take it. Come on, don't be a wuss. My Grandmother is seventy and eats Jalapenos whole (that's probably how she got to be seventy.) Maybe just don't go for a Bhut Jolokia. See you all at Spike's for their crazy hot wings? This message brought to you by Bambu Batu and life Mojo.

Bonus Video: Dummy eats world's hottest pepper.

Hung Over Daze

Welcome new Poly students. You'll find SLO won't always be this hot. You will find that all of the bars on Higuera street will be crowded, that locals aren't too fond of you, and for the entire duration of your stay here, there will be no parking, anywhere, ever.

A week or so back, Mr. Hornaday wrote a little something on feeding your brain the right foods. As we all know, you can eat healthy all you want, but, when you're a fresh fish, regular hangovers are as common as syphilis in Isla Vista. I attended a wedding last night, and am feeling a bit off kilter myself. (hangover off kilter, not syphilis ....) So I got to thinking, what IS a hangover exactly? I've heard different stories; dehydration, sleep deprivation, blood sugar imbalances, etc. But what goes on in your body when you're hung over? I thought, maybe if we all knew, we'd collectively drink a little less (thereby leaving alcohol alley a bit less crowded, AND helping you, the new student, keep yourself in tip top studying shape.)

• Veisalgia, or a hangover, comes from the Norwegian word for "uneasiness following debauchery" (kveis), and the Greek word for pain (algia). I'm sure we're all familiar with the symptoms. Two of the most notable ones are dry mouth and dehydration. See, that second forty of Mickey's goes through you quickly, because alcohol consumption suppresses Vasopressin (the anti-pee- your pants-hormone produced in the pituitary gland.) Because of this effect, your kidneys send water directly to you bladder, as opposed to reabsorbing it in to the body. For every 250 ml of Mickey's you consume, you will expel four times as much water. Hence the dehydration.
• Beer before liquor... There's a reason for this old, and wise adage. Different alcohol's contain different levels of congeners, or the byproduct of the fermentation process. The darker you drink of choice (red wine and bourbon, for example,) the more congeners it contains, and the worse your hangover will be. Additionally, mixing different levels of these toxins will result in a compromised ability to process them. Which is why you puke purple when you've had a glass of cab, two Manhattans, a shot of whiskey and some Guinness. Beer speeds up the effects of booze on the body, so when you drink that Mickey's BEFORE your Franzia, you can't keep up with the rate of intoxication. Besides just increasing your chances of winding up naked on the frat house lawn, this has negative effects on the kidneys, liver, and bladder.
• This one may get a bit technical, so bare with me. When you drink, your liver produces an enzyme to break down the booze. The process of breaking down creates a very toxic byproduct called Acetaldehyde. This is actually what causes that headache. In moderation, your body can quickly rid itself of the nasty stuff with a chemical called glutothione and an enzyme called acetaldahyde dehydrogonese. To put it in simpler terms, the acetaldahyde is the initial first two or three zombies of the zombie apocalypse, and the glutothione and acetaldehyde dehydrogonese, are your friends with machetes. But, you only have so many friends with machetes. When you run out (and continue to drink) the poison zombies will eat your brain and give you a headache in the morning.
  
• Ever feel pretty tired when you're hung over? It's because alcohol suppresses glutamine, your body's natural stimulant. During sleep, after a night of heavy drinking, your body will over produce glutamine to make up for the suppression of it earlier in the night, leaving your mind to wander and keeping you up thinking about strange things, like how Noah and Tron are similar for example.
  
• Oooof, and then you and your roommates had to draw straws for who had to clean to toilet...
  Alcohol is absorbed directly through your tum tum. Because of this, the cells that line the stomach may become irritated. (does your tummy huwt?) Booze also creates hydrochloric acid in the body. When this happens, your stomach will send a message to your brain saying that what's in your stomach is hurting you resulting in vomiting. This same irritation is what causes nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and good old diarrhea the next day.

There are plenty of wives tales about hangover cures: greasy foods, spicy foods, etc. There are a few guaranteed hangover cures, and they're fairly obvious. Vitamins, juice, water, eggs, bananas and aspirin are all great reliefs to your suffering. Good music can help too. But really, the first cure is prevention. Don't be an idiot, drink moderately. Try and limit it to four for the whole night, drink water, eat food, DON'T play beer pong (that's just gross... it's not even good beer) and drink as infrequently as possible. This will keep your brain sharp and your pocket book full. That way, you can come shop here, at Bambu Batu. Fun facts provided by Discovery Health.

Song of the day "Alcohol" The Barenaked ladies

Indian Summer? I Say African Summer.

So it's hot. It's really hot. As I type this, I can think of little else. My original intention for today's blog was to educate you all on a very important bill coming up on the ballot too soon for comfort. But, as it stands, I can't think over the sound of my own sweat dripping in my ears. So, I started looking up ways to keep cool without using an air conditioner (saving the environment and all).

While a few of them were sort of no-brainers, such as drinking cold drinks, a couple of them were pointers I'd never heard before, so I thought I'd pass them on to you in the midst of this Indian Summer.

• Wet your wrists and other pulse points with cold water. This will instantly cool you down and can lower your body temperature up to 3 degrees F for up to an hour.
  
• Turn off hot sources of electricity (such as the computer I'm typing this on, for example). Stoves, lights, anything that puts off heat.
• Eat less, especially meat. You may be inclined to do this anyway, as people tend to lose their appetites in ONE HUNDRED AND THREE DEGREE WEATHER. Protein rich foods require a greater metabolic temperature to digest, and therefore will keep you a bit warmer.
  
• Mint is a natural cooling agent. Mint lotions, mint leaf in your five o'clock cocktail, mint anything will keep feeling cool.
  
• Fill a glass to the brim with ice and breathe into it. The air that blows back in your face will be like an arctic breeze.... just don't let other people catch you, it looks kind of silly. I had to explain to a customer who walked in today.
  
• "Heeee better lay low!" Wise advice, Snoop. Heat rises, so get down to the ground kids.
  

Alright. Six ways to avoid the heat, or at least pretend it isn't there, without turning on that power sucker. Try and keep cool and remember to wear your all-natural sunscreen, available here at Bambu Batu. Friendly Tips provided by GreenTerraFirma.com

Song of the day: Buster Poindexter's "Hot Hot Hot"

Bonus Video: Christine O'Donnell's look on science.

How Sweet (and fattening) It Is

There's a whole lot of shakin' goin' on. It must be time for that insulin shot. Or, everyone's just a bit jittery because they're not sure WHY corn refiners have petitioned the FDA to be able to change the name of the dreaded and infamous High Fructose Corn Syrup, to a more benign sounding and somewhat subversive name, Corn Sugar. Or whether it even makes a difference for that matter.

Today, there's a lot complete ignorance about what goes in food. Because of that, a nutritionist counter culture (or the food punks, as I like to call them) has developed, where anything that might be possibly harmful becomes the topic of the week and the trendiest thing to avoid, without a necessarily complete understanding of said substance or additive. We're all pretty familiar with the recent gluten free, grass fed, organic, GHB-free wave. (NOT a bad thing to have going around, mind you.)

In all of this, one of the original evils has sort of been out of the news, like Paris Hilton before her recent nose candy incident. High Fructose Corn Syrup has been, until last week, soooo 2007. However, there's been a lot of hubub lately about whether or not they should be allowed to change their name to avoid bad press. Dear HFCS, while this tactic may have worked for Prince, I don't think this will work for you. Or that it should be allowed. Go ahead, try and trick your consumers, but here's the deal. I've compiled some information to arm our readers, so your propaganda and sneaky marketing won't work. You ask, "what's so bad about 'Corn Sugar'?"
Here's your answer:

• "FAT FAT FATTY!" According to Science Daily, a recent study conducted at the university of Princeton, found that rats who were given HFCS gained more weight (even with the same caloric intake) than rats who were just given ordinary table sugar. Sumo wrestlers, take note. "When rats are drinking high-fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they're becoming obese -- every single one, across the board. Even when rats are fed a high-fat diet, you don't see this; they don't all gain extra weight." -Bart Hobel, neuroscience and apetite specialist.
  
  
• In an article from DiabetesHealth.com, the composition of HFCS is broken down for us. Essentially, this alternate and cheaper sugar, is made of two things: Fructose and Glucose. Fructose is a monosaccharide, or simple sugar. It does not stimulate insulin secretion, or require insulin to be transported to cells. As a diabetic knows, it's important to manage your insulin secretion and glucose levels. The problem with Fructose, however, is that insulin also triggers leptin, or the "I'm full" hormone. So, if you're consuming calories, without feeling like you are, you're going to gain weight. If you're diabetic, or even if you're not, that can be a big problem.
  
  
• According to me, your dearest lemon, stuff tastes better with real sugar. Haven't you ever had a Coke from Mexico... Dang those are good. I want one right now, it's soooo hot out... Sorry. Back to the facts.
  
  
• If you don't care if you're fat, fine. Go rock that "big is beautiful" attitude. More power to you. I mean, look at Precious, she's awesome. But according to Healthmad.com, (and ANYONE with common sense) obesity leads to heart, kidney, and liver problems. Therefore, indirectly, so does HFCS. It's kind of like the transitive property that says you have slept with everyone your current mate has slept with, but worse. Can I say that here?
  
  

So, whether it's called HFCS, Corn Sugar, or some symbol that can't be pronounced out loud, it's bad. It's evil. It's satan. It's Christine O'Donnell in sugar form (cheaper, simpler, and really really bad for America.) And the next time someone asks you, "What's so bad about High Fructose Corn Syrup?" you'll have an answer. Brought to you by your friendly folks at Bambu Batu.

Song of the day: "Raspberry Beret"- Prince

Bonus Video: some propaganda from Sweetsurprise.com

Sunny Days for Bamboo

Today marks the last day of summer for those of us basking in the warmth of the northern hemisphere. And not a moment too soon for the people of Russia and most of the US where this summer's warmth turned into a wave of blistering, deadly heat. Yet while the rest of the world roasted away and corral reefs were bleached into oblivion, here in California the summer never really arrived. We've had nothing but mild breezes and temperate sunshine, but the Indian Summer still lies in wait, poised for a late season attack.

So what's all this aberrant meteorological prognostication have to do with the house of bamboo? Don't worry, I'm getting to that. Just as soon as my morning typing fingers have a chance to thaw out. In the meantime, don't let your defenses down, because this weekend looks likes it's gonna be a hot one, and bamboo might actually be one of your best defense.

In addition to bamboo clothing's cozy breathability and superior thermal regulating properties, the material also provides an excellent shield against the sun's harmful UV rays. A number of independent studies have all confirmed that bamboo fabric can effectively block out more than 90 perfect of the sun's ultra-violet radiation. This makes bamboo an ideal for babies, those with especially sensitive skin, and anyone concerned about the increasing rates of skin cancer associated with prolonged sun exposure.

We are consistently impressed by the number of customers who tell us that bamboo is one of the only fabrics they can wear because of various allergies, skin conditions and/or chemical sensitivities. Check UV-protection as just one more advantage of bamboo in a world facing severe climate changes.


Song of the Day: "Indian Summer" by The Doors

The Dirty Dozen and The Clean Fifteen

"I always buy organic."

" I wish I could, but it's too expensive."

"I heard there's no point."

"How can you say that? Everything else is terrible for you, AND the environment!"

There's really nowhere to turn and no one to trust in today's crazy world of food fanaticism, nutritionist culture, labels that tell you what to eat, what not to eat, Atkins Vs. Veganism, and a general lack of CONCRETE knowledge about what goes in to our food, and where it comes from. A lot of extreme ideologies about food have developed in this modern age. Personally, I have to say I find it fascinating that in America today, more people die from obesity than starvation, and while we have fought to have equal education for all, we have some of the least educated people in the world. Additionally, the biggest indicator of obesity is income. It's cheaper to buy burgers for your whole family then organic broccoli. But if you're thinking to yourself, "I can't afford smoothies and soy products every day, but I'd like to vote with my dollar," then this article is for you. Here are 15 foods that are just fine to buy conventionally because they are the least likely to contain pesticides, and 12 that you absolutely shouldn't buy any other way than the big O. (NOT an Oprah reference.)

The clean fifteen:

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet Corn
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Sweet Peas
  
• Asparagus
  
• Kiwi
  
• Cabbage
  
• Eggplant
  
• Cantaloupe
• Watermelon
  
• Grapefruit
• Sweet Potato
  
• Honeydew Melon
  

The Dirty Dozen

• Celery
  
• Peaches
• Strawberries
  
• Apples
• Blueberries
• Nectarines
  
• Bell peppers
  
• Spinach
  
• Kale
  
• Cherries
• Potatoes
• Grapes

So there it is, a little money saving device for those of you who can't afford to shop at Whole Foods all the time. Here's hoping that someday, this won't be an issue, and safe foods will be the only option, and an affordable one at that. Until then, write on Micheal Pollan, keep fighting Morgan Spurlock, grow grow grow SlO Grown Produce, and stay on your toes consumers. If you want to have a discussion about it, come down and see us at Bambu Batu... we'd be happy to show you some kitchen ware you can eat your conventional AND organic foods off of!


Song of the day: "Aint Nuthin But a Party" by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Feed Your Head

It's mid-September and school is back in session. And you know what that means. Well, if you live in a college town like San Luis Obispo, it means a general increase in the incidence of public drunkenness and sharp decrease in your odds of finding a decent parking space. But if you're a member of the student body, it means time to sharpen your pencil and your mind, fine tune your memory, and lubricate your neurotransmitters.

So here are a few tips for students of all ages on how to nourish your mind with some all-natural sustenance to keep you sharp, healthy and alert without burning out halfway through the semester.

· Caffeine and sugar comprise the cornerstones of many a student diet, and they do indeed give the brain a good kick start. But to keep going for the duration without the weary crash, consider something with a lower glycemic index. Don't worry, it's as simple as a piece of fruit. The fructose will provide far more stamina than the blood-sugar-spike-inducing sucrose of table sugar. Might even get you through the post-coffee doldrums.

· Third in the collegiate trifecta diet, of course, is alcohol. Red wine in fact is a good source of anti-oxidants, but don't get carried away. Green tea is also famously rich in antioxidants -- key elements in promoting good mental and physical health and neutralizing free-radicals, which can cause cancer. But you know what has even more antioxidants? Chocolate! Yeah, no kidding. (Exercise moderation.)

· OK, so not every student survives off those staples of sugar, caffeine and alcohol. It's rare, but some -- usually archaeology majors and grad students -- actually think about the long term. For the very long term, consider good sources of choline, a cellular building block which has been shown to improve memory and prevent senility. Nothing has more choline than egg yolks, so try to find a good local source and gobble away. Plenty of people in these parts raise their own chickens, so ask around, because commercial eggs may be tainted with salmonella.

· My own personal favorite, for long-term preservation of the cognitive functions, is a hot bowl of curry. Turmeric, a key ingredient in curry, has been shown to ward off symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. So next time you go out for Indian or pick up some Thai take-out, don't forget to order up some extra curry. Or pick up some turmeric and spices from the Secret Garden and conjure your own curry!

· We've all heard the old wives' tale about fish being good brain food. Well it turns out that rumor is more than just air bubbles. Omega-3 fatty acids -- widely found in fish, especially the oily ones like salmon, herring, and sardines, as well as flax oil and hemp seed oil -- provide an essential component to the outer membrane of brain cells. These oils have been shown to prevent memory impairment, and to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

I had a few more suggestions, but believe it or not, this research has worked up quite an appetite. So I'm off to enjoy something oily with a glass of red wine and a slice of chocolate cake. Now if I can just remember where I put my wine opener. . .

Bamboopalooza

Happy Bamboo Day! We promise it's real...

Once upon a time, in Bangkok, Thailand, a group of people called The World Bamboo Organization decided it would be a good idea to declare September 18 International Bamboo Day! The purpose of this celebrated (and if you ask us, highly exciting) event on the calendar, is to increase world wide awareness about bamboo, its uses, and its contributions to a more sustainable environment.

The WBO is a group of individual people, commercial businesses, non-profit institutions, and allied corporations, who have come together in the name of bamboo to educate, promote and expand this incredible plant's potential. Originally the IBA (International Bamboo Association,) they formed in 1992 at the International Bamboo Conference in Japan.

There are many ways people will be celebrating Bamboo Day around the world this Saturday, from conventions, to design competitions, to potlucks. From Brazil to the UK, the second annual Bamboo Day will be recognized in an effort to educate and promote. But you don't have to fly 5,000 miles to participate. Here at Bambu Batu, we will be celebrating Bamboo Day with our Grand Opening party at our new location, 1023 Broad Street. Organic wine from Lone Madrone Winery will be provided, as well as vegan cupcakes from the lovely Amy (Amy Bakes Cupcakes.) Music and fun will be had, so don't miss it. (No pandas please.)
See you Saturday!

Song of the day "The Big Bamboo" by Shuttle Lounge

Ain't That America?

"Ooooh say can you seeeeeee, by the dawn's early light, what so proooooudly we hailed, at Dov Charney's meeting? Who's big scheme and big bucks, had us all fooled to think, this Ameeeeerican brand, wasn't sick and misleading." Oh, that's not how it goes? Someone should let American Apparel know.

A few of you have expressed concerns about products made in China. There's a lot of hype out there about the problems with sending our money over seas and the worry, that, even though we're told there are no little hands making our products, that may not be the case. But before we go getting up in arms over a maybe, let's take a step back and look at our own home front. What better company to put under a microscope than one with a true blue patriotic name, American Apparel.

While they may make trendy, sexy clothing, and have eye catching billboards, American Apparel has been in trouble almost as many times as Paris Hilton. In 2007, they took their sex sells attitude a bit too far, with a billboard of a mostly naked model bending over in a pretty compromising position. The billboard climbed to infamy, when someone tagged it with the following question: "Gee, I wonder why women get raped?" So, they promote rape, no big deal. Then it should come as no surprise that they have been the target of multiple sexual harassment lawsuits. Even Woody Allen, the creator and director of "Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Sex, But Were Afraid to Ask," stated that the company's advertising was "sleazy" and "infantile." Oh well, A.A., maybe Ron Jeremy has something nice to say about you?

So, what does this have to do with outsourcing and importing? Well, nothing. However, recently, American Apparel has been thrown in to the fire once again, but this time because of labor practices. In 2009, an inspection, which started because of C.E.O Dov Charney's advocacy for immigration reform, revealed that one third of A.A.'s employees were not authorized to work in the United States. That billboard girl may be wearing American flag underwear (on a bed, with her legs spread of course) but they probably weren't manufactured by American hands.

Here at the House of Bamboo, we understand your initial concern with a globalized economy, too much outsourcing, companies that use overseas labor not being on the up and up, etc. But companies like Dreamsacks aren't promoting rape or negative self-images for young women. They aren't sexually harassing their employees, and they ARE visiting their factories on a regular basis to develop a relationship with their employees and to insure care is taken with the environment. You decide, and if, in the end, you prefer to buy things made in America, we have that too. We just don't carry any American Apparel.

Song of the Day "The Star Spangled Banner " as done by Jimi Hendrix.

Shui Happens

Feng wha? Is that a fungus? What's that mean? I don't really like things I don't under... OUCH! Jeez, I've gotta move the bed. I keep running in to it, and for some reason I can't sleep at night. Oh, so, you're telling me that's sort of what this Feng Shui business is about? Oh, ok, a meeting of the laws of heaven and earth to govern our aesthetic world, so that we can improve life by receiving positive qi. Well, why didn't you just say so before?

It may sound a bit silly to some, but for us here at Bambu Batu, with our recent move, Feng Shui was on the mind. And with so many people moving in to dorms, and houses with people they don't know, trying to accomplish great academic things, it occurred to us that it might be helpful to you all to have some aid in the concentration, focus and ambition department. Here are a few tips to Feng the Shui out of your surroundings so you can get that 'A' and sleep at night.

To squeeze the qi out of your study room:

• Make sure your office space is tidy. This may be fairly obvious, but it's the first and most important step for concentration.
• If possible, place your desk so that the window is to the left of it. If there is no window, place a mirror there instead. It will have the same effect. Try to avoid having your back to the door, as this will interfere with your concentration.
• To make the room more comfortable and inviting, place a plant or wind chime near the window. This will help to prevent bad influences from coming in the window, and will bring good luck

Don't let the bed bugs bite:

• Keep your head AWAY from the door. Try and position your bed so that you can see the door, but neither your feet or head are facing it. (This is also useful when the zombie apocalypse comes. The head is the first thing they go for.)
• Try and avoid sleeping under a window. Windows are entrances and exits for qi. You can either loose positive energy by dispersing it, or receive the full force of any negative qi that might enter. If you cannot avoid this, then hang a curtain to prevent the flow either way.
• Avoid hanging depictions of water where you sleep. This can cause insomnia and bring bad luck to the bedroom's inhabitants.

Hopefully these six little pointers will help you in the new adventure of the home decor department. It might be a little easier to decide where you like your desk the best, if there happens to be a window in the room. If you decide you're really invested in the Feng Shui of your home, room, or dorm, come see us. We have a pretty neat Feng Shui compass to assist you in your furniture and art decisions. Until then, happy moving!

Song of the Day "The Bed" by St. Vincent

Innocent until proven deadly: 8 colors that should make you run.

"Hey Matt, what's your favorite flavor of gummy snacks?"

"I dunno, I can't decide between the infertility flavor or the cancer flavor... they're both pretty good."

"Dude, I kind of like the A.D.H.D flavor."

"Oh, yeah! that is a good one!"

This is what a conversation about conventional food might sound like, if it were known to most people what those fun colors on your supermarket shelf are capable of. See, back in the day, the world of food was similar to the beginning of Pleasantville... that is, colorless and unexciting. Then, it was discovered that people like color. They want to buy things with coIor. Unfortunately, natural food dye "died" off in the effort to save money and maximize profits, and the age of artificial food coloring painted a money grubbing canvas of heaIth risks across the nation.

The eight most common artificial colors you find in food have been tested on animals, (I know, I know, cute fuzzy bunnies) and have been examined in various studies. The resuIts have shown everything from hyperactivity in little Billy, to cancer In Peter Rabbit. Here, in order of the coIor spectrum, is a list of different color-enhancing agents, and their possible side effects.

RED # 40- Hyperactivity and Allergic Reactions
RED # 3-Cancer, in high doses
CITRUS RED # 2- (used to color orange peels) Carcinogen, which means cancer.
YELLOW # 5- Cellular mutations, hyperactivity in children, and infertility.
YELLOW# 6- Gastric problems, diarrhea, swelling of the skin, vomiting, nettle rash, ADHD and cancer. YUMM MMEEEE!
GREEN # 3- Tumors, Mutations, Eye, Skin, Digestive tract, and Respriatory Tract irritation
BLUE # 1- Banned in several countries at one point, this shade can irritate asthma and, of course hyperactivity .
BLUE # 2- In the same family as blue the first and related to Indigo dyes in structure. Indigo dyes have a very low MlD (or median lethal dose) which means that it's pretty nasty.

So really, is it a big deal if your boy or girl has a candy here or there containing a couple of these sorta poisonous additives? Well, probably not. But the reality is that they aren't used casually. They're in TONS of packaged foods that you likely consume every day. Keep a look out, and DON'T feed them to your kids. We do all these crazy things to make a more efficient and prosperous society for our children and then we wonder why they pop out with three legs and ADHD.

Song of the day: "Roy G. Biv" by They Might Be Giants

Now Open

Well, it wasn't all that easy and it wasn't always fun, but we did it. Moved on Monday, unpacked Tuesday, and re-opened for business on Wednesday. So we didn't exactly put a man on the moon, but it was a pretty big deal, and an amazing display of team work, community support, and good old-fashioned manpower — not a drop of fossil fuel was burned in the move.

Now that we've had a couple days to settle in to our new digs at 1023 Broad, we can fairly say that we love it here. It is without a doubt bigger and in every way better. Drop in and say "hi" next time you're downtown. We're still open seven days a week (including Labor Day), and our selection of bamboo everything is greater than ever.

See you soon!

Fowl Play

So the riddle asks, "which came first the chicken or the egg... or the salmonella?" With the recent out break of fowl nastiness, this bird has attracted a lot of attention in the media. As scientists and doctors try and "crack" this case, let's have a closer look at the origins and problems with chicken farming in its current state.

Raising chickens and other such poultry has been a common practice throughout history. In its earlier stages, it was more of an individual family activity. Families would take their chickens to market to sell, or use them for eggs, meat, feathers and manure, with very little going to waste.

Mass poultry production evolved somewhat quickly in the USA, circa the mid 1920's. Live poultry trains were developed to transport large numbers of chickens, with each car holding around 4,600 squawking beaks. Eggs laid on route went to feed the train conductors, and everyone was happy (with maybe the exception of the chickens.) The birds were raised by a wide variety of producers and sold to brokers.

Now, of course, back in those days, even the farms with oodles of chickens on them were low security. These birds could roam, and peck, and riot, and live somewhat of a decent life. But somewhere between prohibition and disco, people decided it would be a much better idea to coop the cocks and check the chicks. Someone figured out that chickens would put out faster, and in greater number, if they were kept inside with lights burning through the night. But, as we know, when you put a bunch of mongoose on an island to get rid of snakes, then you have a mongoose issue. Similarly, when you cram a bunch of chickens together in a confined space, you have to pump them full of drugs, stack them on wire, and chop off their peckers (beaks, don't have such a dirty mind) to keep them "healthy" and peck-proof.

However, even with these arguably cruel and unfortunate precautions, we still manage to have outbreaks of disease, as with the recent case of salmonella spreading cross the country. An investigation this week found the source of the bacteria in two major farm producers' chicken feed (that is, the mush they have to feed them because they have freak beaks.)

So, if you don't want to give up your morning chicken and waffles, or your breaded chicken fillet, or your cake, or your french bread, or your creamy dressings, or your egg muffin sandos, what can you do to at least not be a part of this problem? For starters, you can cut back on your daily dose of our feathered friends and all their by-products. Choose vegan once in a while. And when you get tired of that, or if you just can't stick to it, support your local farmer, and get farm fresh, free range chicken and eggs. Make sure they haven't been stuck with all kinds of nasty needles. Nobody likes a chicken with track marks. Remember that as consumers we vote with our dollars, and the more you make wise choices, the less you'll burden our resources. Don't be a chicken, go organic!

Song of the day: "People Got a Lotta Nerve" by Neko Case.

We Don't Need Another Hero

The ages of teen idols and celluloid heros have come and gone. Onscreen celebrities no longer impress me. Pop star sensations no longer amuse me. The Hollywood Hills escapades, the Scientology revelations, the doping investigations. We're over it.

A great generation is sinking like a setting sun. A silver tsunami is rising. The boomers are breaking down and cashing out. But rest assured, they will not leave us in want of another victory lap. Their swan songs will run long into that dark night.

And as they do, it is their heroes we are condemned to adore. It is their CEO superstars who have captured our imaginations. These wizards of financial witchcraft have mesmerized us with legerdemain and ledger deceit. Not only that, but hell, they know how to party.

Take James Cain, for instance, CEO sensation of Bear Sterns, pioneering powerhouse of economic catastrophe. While his company led the world into financial ruin, Cain went right on living the high life, smoking grass and cutting cards at one of his frequent bridge tournaments. Eat your heart out, Double-0-Seven. Live it up, Cain, and let the era of baccarat and shaken martinis die.

Look no further for the next king of comedy, AIG's newest CEO, Robert Benmosche makes "Take the Money and Run" look like some kind of holocaust docudrama. Benmosche took this position last summer and spent the first two weeks vacationing at his Italian villa on the Adriatic, where the Mediterranean influence presumably nourishes his endless stream of devastating one-liners. (Better than wasting time adopting Eastern European orphans, or some such philanthropic stunt.)

In one of his first public appearances as CEO, Benmosche told reporters that AIG —recipient of over $100 Billion in taxpayer bailouts —was "Getting stronger everyday." Move over, Will Ferrell! More recently, he put the press in stitches by announcing, "We are on our way to paying back the tax payers." Silver-haired and silver-tongued, these devils are merciless. They won't quit until their audiences die laughing.

We once marveled at James Dean, who enshrined himself in eternal youth — the enfant terrible, the precocious rebel, the bane of the establishment. What little we knew of this budding generation and its capacity for treacherous genius. A generation who refuses to surrender the center stage, who will hog the limelight until its last breath, and will never stop dazzling the world with its cavalier knack for originality. From free love to free trade, will they ever stop innovating? Will they ever stop playing by their own rules?

These old hacks have more lives than Sylvester, more comebacks than Travolta, and more sequels than a teenage bloodbath. Every decade a new crop of heroes, and with the aging of America, the current cadre of sixty-somethings promises to be more ruthless than ever. Even before they gambled away everyone else's life savings and 401Ks like a bingeing bachelor party on the loose in Monte Carlo and never looked back, they'd already put the rest of us whippersnappers to shame.

Song of the Day: "When I'm Sixty-four" from the Beatles.

The Great Creators... Or Recyclers.

With school about to start for so many young college kids, moving is on the mind of many. Even we here at Bambu Batu are moving in true fall spirit. And of course, with a new space, comes the desire to decorate and make that space your own. As decorating can be expensive, we thought we'd offer a few ways to go green and recycle, while decorating on the cheap.

• "You spin me right round baby, right round!" Records are more than just an audiophile's preferred way of listening to music. Those black discs (or colored, or clear even) are a hip and versatile way to add some flare to your dorm or room. By heating them up and shaping them, you can make them in to a pretty neat fruit bowl. Or simply take the records themselves and pin them to your wall in a pattern pleasing to you. But before you go opening your dad's original pressing of his favorite Glenn Miller record and pinning it or melting it, stop by Boo Boo Records. They often have some colorful and interesting records for free out in front, or go digging through their dollar bin. (p.s. the record covers can make cool wall coverings or great material for stencils.)

• If you don't read magazines, I'm sure you know someone who does. Don't let them throw them away when they're done with them. Instead, snake them, and make them in to a spunky collage to put on your refrigerator or wall. Add some personal pictures or a poem, or strips of fabric. Make it colorful or bland. Whatever suits you.

• Empty wine bottles can be more than just the sign of a fun night. Put an all natural soy candle in one, burn it down a bit, and let the wax drip over the glass for and old school appeal, or simply put some water and a single rose in it. Vincent Price would approve of either.

• Got and old bike that's beyond repair? There are all kinds of ways to make that bike into wall art. From the chain, to the spokes to the wheel, disassemble and play around. Even pictures of bike parts can be pretty artsy.

• Old calendar pages make great posters. (Depending what kind of calendar you have, you may not want to invite your mom over.)

There are a thousand other ways to redecorate while reducing and reusing. Get creative, play, and save the earth. When you run out of ideas, come see us and we'll hook you up with some earth friendly home decor that's already assembled! Until then, good luck moving!

Song of the Day: "Movin' On Up" By Jeff Berry and Ja'net Du Bois