This weekend, instead of combing our usual haunts, we visited the India International Trade Fair currently underway in New Delhi. In our infinite wisdom, we decided to take the Metro rail instead of driving down to Pragati Maidan (Advancement Arena!!). But Saturday was a bad day for Delhi Metro. Trains were running late. The one we took from Dwarka Sector 9 was jam packed by the time we reached Dwarka Mor. “Minding the Gap” was impossible as we stood on each other’s toes, breathed into one another’s ears and cursed. Train attendants rushed from door to door pushing people in and closing the automatic doors. Pictures of my previous near death experiences in local trains of Mumbai flashed across my mind. By comparison, this was mere massage of tired limbs. This attempt of Delhi Metro to bring Indians together irrespective of cast, creed, gender and nationality was laudable. I had no business deploring it. Excruciating circumstances precipitate philosophic resignation. This was enlightenment! Braced against the crushing weight and odour of humanity, I wondered if it was all an illusion, a spell of “samsara”. But the hair getting into my eyes and the elbows ramming my ribs were too concrete to be a mirage. Relief came when many passengers got off at Karol Bagh. We were already late by an hour and half. As a parting shot, the disembodied voice of Metro hoped “we had an enjoyable journey” and looked forward to “seeing us soon”. This bit of sardonic wit was not lost on the passengers.

We had already purchased trade fair tickets at the Metro Station, and passed though security check quickly. Ravenous, we headed straight for the food court. “Bharath Ka Khana” welcomed us with open arms. The food court was littered with people occupying every available inch and digging blissfully into idlis, vadas, puttu, mutton chaps and many interesting yet unidentifiable forms of grub.

Watching mad maws on overdrive only amplified our appetite. The cataclysmic force of craving scattered us in different directions. I landed up at the Nagaland counter and ordered rice with pork and bamboo shoots (Rs.100.00 only). Meanwhile others explored Odisha (Orissa), Bihar, Bengal and Tamil Nadu counters. When we gathered for barter I had a plate of rice with 3 handsome chunks of pork in a near bland gravy and a paste of fish and chilies. Others had come up with Vada/ Ghughuni (Urad Dal vada and Chole)from Orissa, Litti – Chokha (Atta balls stuffed with Sattu [barley] and garlicky potato) from Bihar, Idli – Chutney from Tamil Nadu and fried fish (fillet of unknown fish coated with flour and deep fried) from Bengal. These were rapidly decimated and replaced with Vada-Pav (Maharashtra street food specialty). To drown it all we had tea (Rs. 5.00) from the Tea Board counter. Being used to milky tea, I didn’t like it much, though it was probably more authentic.

More philosophy! To live we all need food. For some, food symbolizes luxury and has ceased to be a necessity. Coffee table magazines and news paper supplements catering to the hyper-gastronomic anxieties of such elite flourish in metro cities like Delhi. Even though I do not belong to that elect category, the gourmet fare that they nibble at has frequently attracted the desperate foodie in me. For others, food is incidental. I do not belong to this category either. Food, to me, goes beyond the survival value and enters the realm of sensory delight, good conversation and companionship. Good food begs good company. A solitary eater, according to me, is a miserable creature. I couldn’t resist that digression. Sorry!

Satiated, we took bearings and headed for the international pavilion. Crowded! There were exhibits from Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and surprisingly Papua New Guinea. Credit cards were not accepted. We ended up buying an onyx candle stand from Karachi, Pakistan and a papyrus scroll of Isis from Egypt. The guy manning the Egyptian counter was peremptory, intent only on money and hissed Anubis, Isis, Osiris, “Balance” replying to customer queries. Entertaining…

The most interesting counter of the Trade Fair belonged to NMBA, National Mission on Bamboo Applications. Apart from promoting bamboo as food, they have innovated various light weight and durable bamboo based wood substitutes and composites, construction and structural applications. A two storey house with steel frame and walls, roof, ceiling, columns, railing, doors and windows made entirely of treated bamboo was displayed at the exhibit. The treated bamboo was termite resistant and fire proof. Installation time was a mere 48 hours and it cost only Rs.13 lakhs. There were bamboo frame exercise bicycles coupled with a dynamo which generated and stored electricity sufficient to light an entire room. Specialty mud kilns for producing high grade carbon from bamboo for use in Tandoors and activated carbon for water treatment facilities were also on display. NBMA also promotes gasification of bamboo which can be an environment friendly source of renewable heat energy and electricity.

There were pavilions from all states of India. We could only visit those of Jharkhand and Kerala besides Techmart India where industrial machinery were on display. The Trade Fair was a wonderful fusion of business and pleasure. It provided a forum for small scale industries from all states to interact with other industries and the larger public.

 My only regret was not being able to visit pavilions of North Eastern States. I was also not able to sample Haleem chicken and other specialty cuisine from Pakistan. All in all, it was an informative, fun and relaxing jaunt.

One of the most random things on this campus is a bamboo forrest.

At Stony Brook their is always talk about bamboo. Many students have a stick of their own, but where is it coming from.

In the back of the apartments there is a bamboo Forrest.  It used to be much bigger but most of it has been taken down due to the construction of new dorm buildings.

What is the purpose of this forrest being there?  Most students do not know.  I am pretty sure it was put in for simple decoration.   Too bad this is not what the students think of it.

Years ago when it was much bigger students use to throw parties in them.  There are many paths and many dug out areas that students use to bring kegs to and have a good time.

Now even though it is much smaller there are still paths and dug out areas but I do not know if students still party there.  If I had to take an educated guess I would say they do.

Doggie Designs Introduces  100% Bamboo Tanks.

They state Bamboo has a soft , luxerious feel, is Hypo-Allergenic, Anti-Microbial and Anti-Bacterial.

With our society becoming more earth conscious and “green” it’s no wonder that the Bamboo & Eden Collection, made from a bamboo and micro-modal blend, is in such demand. It claims such benefits as being 4x more absorbent than cotton, anti-static, an odor preventative, and not holding heat.  Aside from the benefits, men and women both agree that the look and feel is beautiful. It has a great sheen to it and melts on your skin.
The two collections vary in style for sure- here’s the skinny:
The Bamboo collection has elegant long pajama pants, camisoles, 3/4  sleeved shirts, robes and baby dolls. My favorite of this is by far the tank baby doll. It has wide straps over the shoulders with small buttons adorned in the middle of the chest. Very feminine and  classic. It has an understated elegance to it. When Cosabella signed a licensed agreement with Sex and the City to design a collection for each cast member they used this collection for Charlotte.
The Eden collection is filled with a very fashion forward theme. Women are constantly commenting on being able to pair the baby doll with jeans to wear out. These pieces scream style and comfort. You will find rich earth colors such as radish, onion, earth, and sage.
To date, this has been one of our biggest selling collections in the shop. We’ve noticed that men buy it for women, and women, no matter their age, size, or fashion sense, LOVE it.

The Edison Garden Market and Creative Cottage are two added activities at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates on Thanksgiving Weekend.  The Estates will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM – 5:30 PM and closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Throughout the weekend more than 30 vendors and the Estates Garden Shoppe will offer a wide variety of unusual plants including heritage plants, orchids, bamboo, bromeliads, fruits, vegetables, roses, edibles and gift items for the garden and home.  Holiday gifts such as the Estates Heritage Herb baskets and other items from the Estates Garden Shoppe will also be available.  The Edison Garden Market is a free event located in the Estates public gardens and the area near the Banyan Tree.  Edison Garden Market hours are Friday, November 27, noon – 5 PM; Saturday, November 28, 9 AM – 5 PM; Sunday, November 29, 9 AM – 3 PM.   

Creative Cottage also opens Thanksgiving weekend in the Edison Caretaker’s House with spectacular work for purchase by regional artists, authors and chefs.  Featured artisan, Norman Love, internationally known award winning chocolatier has created a special “Edison” hand-crafted chocolate in honor of Thomas Edison.  Other artists include:  Leoma Lovegrove, Marie Dyer, Manfred Behr, Karen Flanders, Ellen Sheppard, Virginia Harper, Anita Singh, James DiGiorgio, Lynn Russell, and members of the Southwest Florida Quilter’s Guild.  Creative Cottage will be open 1 PM – 5 PM until December 11.  During the Estates Holiday event, Edison & Ford Holiday Nights, hours will be extended to 9 PM.  Estates members are always admitted free and will receive a 10% discount.  For non members a “shoppers pass” will be issued at the main ticket area.

Bamboo forest at the Huntington Library. Used a Nikon D3 with an 85mm f/1.4 lens.

Photo © Craig Brewer

Due to its luxurious softness, smooth hand, flowing drape and easy price – bamboo has gained entry into the apparel and fashion industry.  It’s being touted as the latest and hottest sustainable eco fabric but some are starting to question this.

There’s no denying that bamboo is wonderfully beneficial for the planet.  It does not require the use of chemical pesticides,  requires very little water to grown and it does not require replanting after harvesting because its vast root network continually sprouts new shoots.  It’s not until we begin to look at the manufacturing processes that the “eco friendly” luster is tarnished due to the use of heavy chemicals, many of which are toxic.

Bamboo is pulped using traditional kraft pulping technology which is notoriously toxic.  The bamboo fibre is ground up and treated with chemicals that turn it into a liquid pulp.  The liquid is then pressed through a spinneret. The extruded streams of liquid harden into fibers that are then woven together to make bamboo fabric.  Rendering bamboo from a plant to a yarn involves a chemical process – the same process that is being used for conventional rayon and viscose which are a ‘regenerated cellulose fiber’s made by man.  This process is highly polluting and involves carbon disulfide emissions.  Breathing low levels of carbon disulfide can cause tiredness, headache and nerve damage and it has been linked to neural disorders in workers at rayon manufacturing facilities.

The Federal Trade Commission recently sued four small bamboo-clothing manufacturers earlier this year, citing them for false labeling.  The companies had used language such as “natural,” “biodegradable,” and “antimicrobial.”  The FTC said, “Bamboo fabric isn’t natural since it’s a textile developed by chemists.”  The agency also stated that the biodegradable and antimicrobial qualities of the plant don’t survive the manufacturing process.  The FTC released the following article based on their findings – “Have You Been Bamboozled by Bamboo Fabrics?”.

CRAILAR Advanced Materials provides an alternative to the pollution caused by traditional cellulose pulping for the textile market.   The CRAILAR pulping process is a much gentler process when compared to Kraft pulping and produces a pure cellulose with properties that exceed those of the best pulps on the market.  The processing chemicals used, while not certified organic, are almost completely recycled.  In fact, over 95% of the chemicals we use are recycled and reused while the balance is consumed during the process.  Unlike many of the so-called eco fibers (bamboo and soy for example) which rely on dirty technology to process them, our patented CRAILAR Advanced Materials process is not only gentle on the fibre itself, but is also a much cleaner and sustainable approach to regenerated cellulose yarn.

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Competition to be and look green in the personal computing industry is reaching a fever pitch. Debates rage over which companies are raising the bar and which are baiting and switching. Packaging, to be sure, is a big piece of the puzzle. This week, Dell announced that it will ship two of its hot netbooks in packaging made from processed bamboo, raising some tough questions.

Inside a 25% post-consumer recycled box, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 and Mini 10v netbooks will be cradled by trays made from bamboo, sourced from Chinese farms that follow the “principals and criteria” of the Forestry Stewardship Council. Dell says it is working with its supplier, Unisource Global Solutions, to keep tabs on the full chain of custody, helping ensure that the entire process is as green and non-destructive as possible.

Bringing bamboo into its packaging is part of an approach that Dell dubs the “3 Cs of smarter packaging”: Cube (reducing the size of the overall package), Content (the stuff from which it is made), and Curb (can it be readily recycled by end users?). In keeping with the third C, Dell and its partners are working to get its bamboo packaging certified for recycling, so consumers and recycling plants alike know what to do with the stuff.

Bringing more Earth-friendly tactics to packaging is a complicated conundrum, and the bamboo approach raises some concerns. For starters, is it truly better to ship bamboo from China (Dell’s comes from Jiangxi Provence) than to use domestically recycled paper–or even virgin fiber? Similar debates have arisen around bamboo flooring, which has lost more than a little of the eco-sheen it once enjoyed. Further, the recyclability of Dell’s new packaging appears to be dependent on a standard that hasn’t yet been established; if bamboo fiber doesn’t find a home in the American recycling system, it will make a lovely landfill stuffer.

Though we’ve given Dell flak for being fuzzy on the details of some of its green programs, the company has clearly worked some degree of sustainability into its long term agenda, especially in the renewable energy department, running facilities on renewable energy, installing solar, and working towards carbon neutrality. Among IT buyers, Dell is seen as the greenest hardware maker. The fuzzyness we speak of came from a “Going Green with Dell” campaign that did a less-than-satisfying job of explaining itself. This less-than-elegant video, however, does fill in some of the blanks.

bamboo

Okay so many of my pictures are of nature now… Guess my major is taking over my life haha that’s okay with me (:

I have been shamed into posting again by Poppy, whose blog can be reached through the link below.

http://alifelesssimple.wordpress.com/

She quoted this blog as one of her favourites. I love the title of her blog, because the majority of people who look at what I do here think that I’m leading a simple life, whereas the opposite is true. The more that I learn about the way that things interact with each other, the more complicated life is revealed to be. As I make decisions now, I have to really think them through thoroughly, in order to assess the impact that different options will have. In reality, the daily routine of the majority of the people in the developed world is the simple life.

I have been planting trees this week, but have been ‘rained off’ this morning. I think that it’s deliberate. I’ve been working hard recently, and could do with a break, and I need to catch up on the blog too, so when I saw how windy it was outside, I was tempted to get on with this. In the end I decided to do some more digging, but as soon as my morning chores were over, and I went up into the field, it started to pour down. I have articles planned on my SWALES, new bamboo nursery, tree planting routine, Permaculture Design, and a DVD review. The Swale article is almost ready, and I’ll put it out tonight, but I’ve just noticed that the rain has stopped, so I’m going to give it one more try.

Take Care

Deano

Honestly, I am not a fan of t-shirts as most t-shirts are cut too big or are ill shaped for a woman’s figure. The worst offenders are those who wear these heavy, 100% cotton shirts thrown over jeans, or shorts and emerge with no waistline, a choke collar, and bulky, bunchy sleeves. I mean, let’s throw sexy out the window, please. We can do better than that because there are some t-shirts that have style (great, artistic designs), silky skin fabric and cut, and luxurious comfort without throwing sexy out. Who doesn’t strive for simple, chic, and comfortable?

1. Organic Bamboo T-shirts from Blend Apparel (Jason Mraz is a partner in the company.)

“I LOVE LOVE” TSHIRT

“HARMONY” TSHIRT

Tshirts found at the Blend Apparel website.

2. Hemp Organic Cotton T-shirts from Herban Development

Men’s T-shirt

Woman’s tank

T-shirts from Herban Development’s website.

3. Martin + Osa Silk/Cotton blend T-shirts

Martin +Osa (a store not in Hawaii yet, but its products can be found online), had some great silk/cotton t-shirts that were casual dressy, thin (ditch the bulky shirts!), and oh so comfortable. Great for layering too for those colder climates if traveling.

-Stephanie

Nessa semana que passou a guitarra foi apresentada a muita gente. Clique aqui para ver o vídeo do músico/designer Pierre Dechery tocando riffs do Led Zeppelin na Guitarra Digital de Bambu JAM.

E veja as fotos abaixo:

Fernando Aranha: fera nos pedais

Pierre Dechery: mandando ver no Led!

Nando Duarte aprova a Guitarra JAM

Rafael Lobo: sambista metaleiro.

O Dr. Khosrow Ghavami (PUC-Rio) também aprova a Guitarra JAM

nu mergi cu masina/taxi in loc de orice alt mijloc de transport in comun
- porti combinatia blugi+tricou(si nici unul dintre aceste articole de imbracaminte nu prezinta o eticheta mare a unei firme celebre)
- nu bei whisky+redbull in club
- mergi cu bicicleta
- mergi cu rolele
- faci sport
- esti fata si nu iti intra mai intai botu’ in incapere
- esti baiat si nu porti pantofi sport argintii si tricou inscriptionat
- nu te lauzi cu sumele pe care le cheltuiesti in oras/pe haine/in vacanta
- te duci in vacanta la vama veche sau printr-un sat la munte
- nu ai vizitat cel putin 5 tari
- nu mananci la restaurant in fiecare zi
- nu ai cel putin un obiect in valoare de peste 1500 RON
- nu mergi in week-end la munte
- nu le povestesti prietenilor cat de misto a fost la munte si cat de mult ai skiat
- ai un telefon care valoreaza mai putin de 500 euro
- nu lucrezi in advertising sau pr
- mergi regulamentar
- porti centura
- nu dai spaga ca sa obtii lucrurile/serviciile pe care le meriti de drept
- astepti ca altii sa coboare din metrou inainte sa intri
- mergi cu metroul

- iti iubesti prietenul/prietena si nu iesi cu el/ea doar ca sa ai pe cine tine de mana
- nu te lauzi cu marile tale cuceriri
- esti baiat si cineva te vede tinand un buchet de flori in mana
- esti fata si nu umbli cu tipi bogati

- citesti

- nu te dai mare cu prietii tai cu bani

- nu ai prieteni cu bani

- iti pasa de ceilalti
- spui ca nu iesi in oras pentru ca nu prea mai ai bani
-nu ai facebook si cate un status prin care anunti unde ti-ai petrecut weekendul trecut

- nu te duci cel putin saptamanal in mall
- respecti legea
- nu ai fost in bamboo

November 16, 2009 – Slinky, soft bamboo fabric has made its way into my wardrobe in the form of a number of buttery shirts and dresses. When I came across the eco-label Viridis Luxe, it wasn’t Uma Thurman and Laura Dern’s patronage of the brand that attracted me. It was the clothes’ luxurious feel and comfortable styling.

Indeed, bamboo has had the most success among all the new “eco-textiles” on store shelves—fabric billed as environmentally friendly and made from materials such as soybeans, corn, milk, seaweed and recycled plastic. Bamboo shows up in clothes sold in Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as sheets sold at Target, and it bears such deluxe labels as Ermenegildo Zegna, Rag & Bone and Ralph Lauren, as well as more eco-focused brands. Because it is so exotically soft, bamboo is often marketed alongside luxury fibers like silk and cashmere.

Bamboo’s story sounds clear and appealing: like hemp, the plant grows quickly without the irrigation, pesticides or fertilizer often used to grow cotton. It’s often sold as “biodegradable,” and the plant’s antimicrobial properties have been used to market athletic clothes made from the fiber. “People are switching from cotton to bamboo,” says Aarti Doshi, regional manager for bamboo-fabric distributor Doshi Group, based in Mumbai, India.

When I looked below the surface, though, I found that bamboo fabric is less “eco” and “sustainable” than it seems. The bamboo used in textiles has to be heavily manipulated to go from stem to store. To create fabric, it’s chopped up and dissolved in toxic solvents—the same process that recycles wood scraps into viscose or rayon. Indeed, bamboo fabric technically is rayon.

The Federal Trade Commission sued four small bamboo-clothing manufacturers in August, citing them for false labeling, among other concerns, under the 1958 Textile Fiber Products Identification Act. The companies had used language such as “natural,” “biodegradable,” and “antimicrobial.” But bamboo fabric isn’t natural, the FTC said, since it’s a textile developed by chemists. The agency also said the biodegradable and antimicrobial qualities of the plant don’t survive the manufacturing process.

In a bulletin titled “Have You Been Bamboozled by Bamboo Fabrics?” the FTC said that bamboo fabrics “are made using toxic chemicals in a process that releases pollutants into the air.”

The FTC’s four cases are close to being settled without penalties, but with the requirement that fabric be labeled as viscose or rayon, and without the claims about biodegradability and antimicrobial properties, says FTC staff attorney Korin Ewing.

Of course, rayon doesn’t have the same all-natural ring as bamboo. Salvatore Giardina, a designer and adjunct professor in textile development and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, says he works with hemp and linen but stopped using bamboo several years ago after a manufacturer told him it should be labeled as viscose. “I manufacture a very high-end product—there’s no way I can put on my label 100% viscose,” he says.

Bonnie Siefers, founder and designer of Jonäno, one of the apparel makers sued by the FTC, says she has stopped marketing her bamboo line as biodegradable or antimicrobial. She is also working with newer fabrics made from corn sugars—which technically make something like polyester, but without the petroleum base.

But a quick search on the Web shows hundreds of apparel makers still market bamboo fabrics as eco-friendly. Ms. Ewing notes they probably have good intentions. “We have to be sure that sellers do their homework,” she says. Most bamboo is grown in China, where it’s harder for U.S designers to monitor suppliers.

Of course, bamboo doesn’t have to be processed heavily—witness the many home items, from furniture to flooring, on the market—to be used in products.

But some wearers have other gripes about bamboo. Mr. Giardina, the FIT professor, says he found that bamboo fabric is unstable and likely to stretch out of shape in damp weather. Uniform Knitters Ltd., a Hong Kong apparel manufacturer, abandoned bamboo fabrics because they tend to shrink and have odd variances in color, according to a company spokeswoman.

My bamboo clothes also proved somewhat unstable. After a few washes, tiny holes began to appear randomly in my new bamboo wardrobe. Hala Bahmet, the designer of Viridis Luxe, says the holes were the fault of too-thin yarn.

“Brands—us included—cranked out these delectable, lightweight, creamy garments that don’t have the durability,” she says. She now adds organic cotton to her clothes to improve durability, and she labels them “viscose from bamboo.” She has had better success mixing hemp and cashmere in her sweaters, which are gorgeous.

Ms. Bahmet says she hopes the FTC concerns lead to research on better bamboo production, because it doesn’t involve diverting an important food source such as corn to fabric production. She is optimistic that the FTC action will encourage scientists to research truly eco-friendly production methods for bamboo.

“Bamboo is just in its infancy as a fiber,” she says. “It’s not even a teenager yet.” Source.

For this group we use crushed bamboo to laminated top table or front of doors or bed. The colour of this group we use one colour and two colour combination with wood or iron. Our all bamboo treatment always use anti insect to avoid damaged caused insect.

I am really blessed and honoured to be at the first Qi-Global event held on the 8th of October at the National Museum of Singapore. They have put together 6 great leaders to educate the attendees on how to help fight climate change by supporting sustainable products, sharing with us their efforts on saving the rainforest and conserving wildlife.

My favourite speaker for the evening would be luxury brand  jewelry designer, Mr John Hardy. He has built an independent school called Green School, using bamboo as an alternative building material to timber. The school is located in Bali near Ubud, providing holistic education for children.

 I wish I could be a 6 year old again, it will be a great excuse to attend Green School for the right reasons

The next Qi Global event will be open to public, feel free to pop by and have a look

Venue: The Old City Hall Building, Singapore

Dates: Thursday, 26th November to Sunday, 29th November

Time: 10am-7pm

Entrance: Free

Sunday…the first day of which the Sun first rose, and seperated the day from the night, the light from the dark.
According to some calenders, Sunday is the first day of the week; I like to think so too, because that means you get one day off in the beginning of the week, and one at the end; which is nice

Today I bought a BIG can of Fructis Bamboo Flexihold hairspray!
-Extreme!
It is superstrong, flexible and smells very nice

Argh I played MGS 2 for about 6 hours last night, started at 22:00 and finished around 4-5 in the morning!
I cant believe how great the game is, it’s soo addictive…I love being a ninja.
-I also love finding all of these pictures of hot girls

Tomorrow I gotta try to go and get a new ID card … urgh, fuck.
Atleast I can have a picture with my new hairstyle

Ironically, there was no sun today at all…