Activist to Bono: Retire!

August 5th, 2008 | By Kelsey | No Comments »

A fella from Chicago is demanding that Bono retire:

“Bono’s philanthropy efforts are self-righteous, ineffective, & counter-productive;… The grassroots leaders of the global fight against AIDS didn’t ask for Bono to be their frontman. Its time for Bono to step down. We’ll all pledge donations to the Global Fund, but no pledges are collected until Bono retires from public life.”

So far this campaign has raised $1,002, which is nearly equal to the amount of money Bono raises scratching his butt. Although, the money will not actually be donated unless Bono does retire. Go ahead and donate a Gazillion-bazillion dollars because chances are you’ll never have to pay.

The main target of the campaign is not Bono, it’s the RED campaign. Bono is the angle to get people talking about it. I for one don’t want Bono to retire. Sure he’s got a big ego, but he’s got an even bigger fan base that he educates about poverty whether they like it or not. Plus, who doesn’t love U2?

It is almost always annoying when celebrities confuse their worldwide fame for being a worldwide expert. I’ve read that even the other members of U2 get fed up with Bono’s rants. But in my eyes, talking about poverty and AIDS is better than not. You gotta respect when someone tries to use their fame to do good. An argument can be made that his intentions are self-serving, but in that regard are there any true acts of charity?

I’ve planned from the beginning to donate a portion of my earnings from “Where am I Wearing? to organizations that work with garment workers, but I have thought better of it. I don’t want to be accused of using this as a marketing angle to sell more books. But even if I did include such a note, what’s wrong with that? Isn’t that a win-win for both charity and author?

I will be donating, but I won’t be shouting it from the rooftops. Unless you consider this post shouting and this blog a rooftop and, in that case, feel free to criticize my charity. I can take it.

As for the RED campaign, it probably does need to be looked at if, in fact, they have spent $40 million more on marketing than it raised from selling RED products. But what is the value of raising awareness? Maybe the message funded by the $40 million discrepancy has reached 40 million people who are now more aware about AIDS in Africa or poverty in general. What’s that worth?

Read the RED manifesto: , browse their products, or if you think it’s all a bunch of hooey donate to the “Bono Retire” fund.

Decide for yourself.

On a different note, The Point is pretty cool site. You should check it out.

Creepy bumper sticker of the day award

July 31st, 2008 | By Kelsey | 3 Comments »

Ferrets are little children in fur coats

The car’s license plate: WOOZLE

Awww, wook at the wittle ferret…

Nightmare on Sesame Street

July 17th, 2008 | By Kelsey | 3 Comments »

K’Nex, makers of Lincoln Logs, are in the cross heirs of the National Labor Committee for the poor conditions under which a Sesame Street play set is produced. The play set in questions is Ernie’s Building Set.

From the story in the New York Daily News:

“Every single labor law in China was being violated at this factory,” said Charles Kernaghan, director of the committee.
The report says that 600 workers - including 100 16-year-olds and some children as young as 13 - are forced to work seven days a week, up to 15 hours a day, often going for months without a day off.

The workers are allegedly paid 43 cents an hour and sometimes forced to work 23.5 hour shifts.

The Ernie Building Set in question retails for $10.99.

In the interest of full disclosure: Ernie is my favorite Sesame Street character. I never cared much for Bert.

Budweiser: Belgium for beer

July 14th, 2008 | By Kelsey | 6 Comments »

I’ve probably drunk less than half-a-case of Budweiser in my life. I know, I know that’s very un-American of me and very, very un-Midwestern American of me. But Budweiser has brought me great joy, all the same. (And NO, Annie did not fall for me after a night of heavy Bud drinking either.)

I’ve enjoyed Budweiser’s ads, especially the Real Men of Courage ads – brilliant.

And I always enjoy being in a foreign country and seeing Budweiser listed under the imports. Do foreigners actually pay more money to drink American beer than their local flavor, which probably tastes better (and less filling), anyhow? Why? Does it help them capture some of the rugged, do-it-yourself boot-strap-pullin’ up, raw Americanism?

Alas, those days are gone. Now Budweiser is a Belgium beer. Even though it will probably start tastin’ greater and be less filling, I’m sad to see Budweiser go the way of so many other victims of American inflation.

Budweiser…(grabs bottle of Becks)…this ones for you.

In defense of OneDerWear

June 28th, 2008 | By Kelsey | 3 Comments »

I never thought I would live to see the day someone came to the defense of disposable underwear. Today is that day. (And here I expected there to be peace on Earth.)

Morgan in response to my post on OneDerWear
:

You must take shower at night otherwise how do you get enough time to dry your washed underwear. I may start with a 10-pack disposable briefs, but I’m not occupying the same amount of space as the trip goes on. That regained space may be good for taking home a souvenir or two.
Nobody is tossing the underwear in the woods. The disposable is made of 100% cotton. Cotton is a biodegradable and renewable material. How is that not environmentally friendly? It is at least no worse than the detergent you flushed down the drain that pollute the water.

Morgan, Morgan, Morgan. Do ya work for OneDerWear?

In your comment you don’t say anything about how comfortable OneDerWear is. If you are in the underwear business, you should know that comfort is key. No one gives a hoot about the environment compared to comfort. Even so, your argument for the environmental-friendliness of OneDerWear seems a bit of a stretch.

The production and shipping of a single pair of disposable underwear probably does not use any less energy or resources than the production and shipping of a single pair of non-disposable underwear. Yet non-disposable underwear may be worn for years and the energy/resources consumed per wear are far less.

You talk as if it would be impossible to have a clean, dry pair of underwear waiting for you post-shower. That’s why I travel with three pair – one pair being washed, one drying, and one clean.

What I’m saying, Morgan, is that your arguments are weak and your underwear are uncomfortable. And if I ever see someone wearing OneDerWear, there is a good chance that – in the name of Mother Earth and not being lazy – that someone is going to get an atomic wedgie.

Unspeakably Uncivilized

June 26th, 2008 | By Kelsey | No Comments »

I think sometimes news in other countries makes us feel more civilized. Makes us think, “That couldn’t happen here.” But it does. Anything unspeakable everywhere else happens in some fashion right here.

Cambodia and other SE Asian nations are infamous for their child prostitution. Well…

FBI arrests hundreds in child sex crackdown

We are no more or less civilized than anywhere else in the world. It’s sad that we are reminded of this so often.

Ever really thought about the banana?

June 26th, 2008 | By Kelsey | No Comments »

Dan Koeppel has. He wrote a book on the fruit titled Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World.

Koeppel in the NY Times about bananas:

That bananas have long been the cheapest fruit at the grocery store is astonishing. They’re grown thousands of miles away, they must be transported in cooled containers and even then they survive no more than two weeks after they’re cut off the tree. Apples, in contrast, are typically grown within a few hundred miles of the store and keep for months in a basket out in the garage. Yet apples traditionally have cost at least twice as much per pound as bananas.

I’ll never look at ‘nanas the same.

Nike’s Marty McFly Hyperdunks take sneaker lovers Back to the Future

June 25th, 2008 | By Kelsey | No Comments »

From myairshoes.com:

Nike will finally answer the cries of millions of sneaker fans- after years of waiting, speculating and begging - as it releases the Marty McFly Hyperdunks in limited quantities…Although not exactly the same as the ones worn by Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future, these McFly-inspired Hyperdunks may be the closest McFly fans will ever get to the mythological pair.

Really? Sneaker Fans have been crying for Marty McFly Hyperdunks? I’ll admit it, I’ve dreamed of purchasing a Delorean and I even took up skateboarding (until the first fall) after seeing the original Back to the Future, but this is taking Back to the Future fandom a little too far.

What, no power laces?

George Carlin on stuff

June 23rd, 2008 | By Kelsey | 1 Comment »

George Carlin died. He left a lot more with us than just a bunch of stuff, including this line on stuff, “There stuff is shit and your shit is stuff.” from this bit on stuff…

(found this clip on WorldHum)

A curious grandma and a can of pepper spray don’t mix

June 11th, 2008 | By Kelsey | 2 Comments »

“I’ve got a Grandma story,” Mom said. “Your Aunt bought her a can of pepper spray…”

Sparing you some of the details, Grandma is okay, but my Aunt now has a stained sink in her bathroom.