GMO OMG is a must watch movie, especially if you have kids

Cover for GMO OMG

If you haven't seen "GMO OMG", please, please, watch it. It's on netflix. I know you, or your buddy, or your parents have a subscription that you can mooch off of. Watch it now. I promise you won't consider it a waste of time.

As you can see from the title, it's all about GMO's, AKA, genetically modified organisms. You've probably heard some sort of hooplah about this new thing you may or may not have to worry about in one form of another, but what does it actually mean? "GMO OMG" follows a concerned father down a path to find out what GMO's really are, where they are, and if you really need to be worried about them.

And even if you think you already know what GMO's are all about, and have decided if you care or don't care about them, you should still watch this video. I work in a cooperative health foods grocery store, which means I'm bombarded by hippies all day with questions like the ones asked in this video. I'm practically required to know about every hot new food thing, and I didn't know half the stuff they uncovered in this film. And not only is this film important, but it's incredibly well done and entertaining. You will not be disappointed.

The most amazing thing I learned from this movie is that we produce 4,600 kilo calories per person, per day. Which equals out to be enough food to feed 14 billion people. We only have 7 billion people on the planet. If that math is too hard for you, we produce DOUBLE the amount of food we actually need, right now, this very second. Yet biotech giants like Monsanto would have you believe that they're solving world hunger. That we can't feed the planet on organic. That we need patented, roundup ready seeds in order to survive.

The're full of shit. The biggest argument I have heard from those who say GMO's aren't that bad and pesticide's are a necessary evil is that we need it. Absolutely, without a doubt, we can't survive as a species and produce the level of food we need without these advances. And now you know, it just isn't true.

Please, watch this movie. And then buy it as a gift for your parents. Or even better, anybody you know who has children. I can't imagine exactly how I would feel if I had kids in this world we live in today, but after watching this video, I am so angered at how little we know, and how much corporations have forced upon us, and I know my anger would be 10 times worse if I let my kids eat all this crap. Or, even worse, let them think that it's OK for conglomerates like Monsanto to get away with what they're doing.

California bans plastic bags!

Starting sometime in 2015 for grocery stores and 2016 for liquor stores and pharmacies, plastic bags will be outlawed in the state of California.

What the hell kind of place do we live in that we have to do things like make plastic bags illegal? You know they're terrible, I know they're terrible, just get rid of them!

I'm not saying this isn't great, just so strange that things take so long to take effect after it's become apparent we never should have had them to begin with.

In my opinion the greatest thing about this bill is that it includes funding for retraining workers that are in the, uh, plastic bag making line of work, and/or funding for manufacturing plants to switch gears from making single-use plastic bags. Thus proving that it's entirely possible to fundamentally change outdated infrastructures, without uprooting our economic stability on certain industries. This is something that mega corporations would have you believe isn't possible.



>>>Click here to read the full story

MFA Investigation: Tyson workers torture and mutilate pigs before turning into bacon

This video is appalling. If you have any sense of morals or feelings at all, you will feel sick after watching it. Like so sick you could puke up that bacon you ate this morning. But it's important to watch and learn.

If I were to put my cat through half the pain that these Tyson workers put all of these pigs through, I'd be arrested faster than you can say ham sandwich. Why the hell should one of the biggest corporations on the planet be allowed to do it on a massive scale?





Not that I want to put my cat through any pain, or have anyone be allowed to. These men should be arrested, and all the upper management should receive even higher punishments. But honestly, if I had to choose between some twisted homeowners beating up their dog, and massive corporations being allowed to do these sick and horrifying things to thousands of animals everyday, I'd choose the option that saves the most animals. Not even from life, but so much pain at the very least.

But they manage to get away with it, every day. But it's OK, because following this investigation, Tyson has done a "turnaround."

Ecobags: Buy produce without plastic (and guilt)

Here's a great way reduce plastic in your life: produce bags from Ecobags. They're lightweight but durable, fairly inexpensive, and save you the guilt of yanking out yet another disposable plastic bag in the produce section.

These Ecobags are 100% cotton, which means one less petroleum by-product. I've seen some great reusable produce bags from other companies, yet they're made out of plastic. Kind of defeats the purpose. I've been using and washing them for quite some time with no signs of wear and tear.

They also come with their tare weight written on a tag, but they're so light it almost doesn't matter if you or your cashier forgets to take it off. This also makes them great for buying in bulk, and it's one more reason to keep them in your car for any trip to the grocery store.

If all that doesn't convince you to make these a household staple, consider this: In 2011, according to the EPA, the United States generated 32 million tons of plastic waste, with only 8 percent of the total amount of plastic being recovered for recycling. With cheap options like this, there's no good reason to stupidly generate this much waste, or we'll be paying for it later on.

You can pick up a set of 3 medium bags for about 7 bucks, or a set of three large bags for just over 13 dollars. And remember, you can find tons of uses for these bags other than just produce. For everything else, Ecobags has a huge variety of other reusable products to help reduce waste (and guilt) in your life.

>>>Click here for a set of 3 medium bags
>>>Click here for a set of 3 large bags
>>>Check out Ecobags.com

How To: Turn a beer can into the only camping stove you'll ever need

Out in the wilderness, settling into camp, you unpack your gear ready to make a hot meal..... Only to discover that you forgot the damn stove! Fear not, I KNOW you didn't forget the beer, and as long as you've got your pocketknife (which should be in your pocket at all times) you've got everything you need to make the only stove you'll need.

Now the only thing you'll have to remember is fuel, which is cheap as it comes: rubbing alcohol. You should already have some in your first aid kit, which means you've got a nice emergency/backup supply.

After watching the video and learning an invaluable survival skill, be sure to check out Tom's Bike Trip for other cool stuff like this.



How To Turn A Beer Can Into The Only Camping Stove You'll Ever Need from Tom Allen on Vimeo.

Wastecog.com : Turning trash into treasure

Wastecog is neat little blog created by Tyler Howorth. It's a showcase for a variety of crafty modern living solutions, like furniture and clothing, with an environmental focus in mind. While you won't find plans for every DIY project here, his works are incredibly inspiring for turning trash and junk into something useful and creative. I highly recommend you check it out!


>>>Wastecog.com

Smartphone charger powered by fire

Smartphone Charger Powered by Fire

Here's a cool instructable from Joohansson on how to build a smartphone charger that's powered by fire. That's right. Embrace your inner caveman and combine it with your love of technology. And your addiction to your cellphone.

 Now when you're lost in the wilderness and stranded from civilization, the fire you build will keep away predators, cook your food, and keep you updated on Facebook......

Hopefully you're using your smartphone for more than just endlessly checking updates on social networks, and figuring out how the f*** you're gonna get out of the forest. But either way, this instructable is guaranteed to keep your phone powered, with fire, for whatever you need it for.


>>Smartphone charger powered by fire