TRANSPORTATION

 Porsche Unveils Plug-In Hybrid

At the 2012 Paris Motor Show, which is currently underway, Porsche has unveiled a new concept plug-in hybrid which looks more production-ready than many other concept vehicles (photo: Porsche)
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Driverless Cars Coming to Cali

It’s a move that had been in the works for a while, but Governor Jerry Brown’s signing of a bill permitting self-driving cars on public roads feels like an invitation to the future. (photo: GOOGLE)
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ARCHITECHTURE

Your Tiny Dream Home

People are recognizing small-space living as a choice, not a punishment. People want manageable sizes, minimal upkeep, sane energy consumption and affordable rents and mortgages. (photo: City of NY)
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LIVING

How to Buy an Eco-Friendly Mattress

If you’re looking to get a new mattress, but want to minimize your impact on the environment, you may have a tricky task ahead. A few obvious drawbacks can’t be entirely avoided (transport of a large item, for example), but many can be mitigated or reduced through careful shopping. (photo: FlickerAgentMagenta)

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Amazon starts Eco-Friendly Shopping Site

Amazon is starting a new shopping site called vine.com that will sell green products that meet standards for environmental-friendliness…  (photo: vine.com)

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BUSINESS

“Pink Slime” Lawsuit

To no one’s surprise, Beef Products Inc. (BPI)—maker of the ground beef product that took on the moniker of “pink slime”—filed a defamation lawsuit earlier this month against ABC News and several individuals. (photo: Newtowngraffitti)

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TECHNOLOGY

Google Unveils Stunning Underwater Street View

We’ve come a long way in the world of underwater diving technology; gone are the days of diving bells and clunky metal suits — heck, now even scuba gear might seem a bit too cumbersome. Thanks to a remarkable new street-view style map unveiled by the team at Google, a memorable trip into that stunning world beneath the waves can be had in your robe and slippers. (photo: YouTube/screen capture)

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FOOD

No-Bake Avocado Crem Brulee

Yup, another avocado recipe! Enjoy! (photo: Jerry James Stone)

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Many people are still struggling to make ends meet and the economy is still
not in great shape (and even if it was with recent gas and food prices, it
does not feel that way). It is an interesting phenomenon to interact with
people who have recently lost their job, are unemployed or are graduating
from school and entering the workforce. I choose the words “interesting
phenomenon” because a.) I find it engaging & b.) I am observing the
happening unfold in front of my very own eyes.

So you are asking what is it that is happening? Well, I am not sure if I
would call it apathy or lack of gratitude or righteousness or maybe a blend
of all three of these. I look at our modern generations and compare it to
our ancestors and things do not match up. You question me on this? Why
don’t I just lay out some facts and let you make your own choice as to what
it is . . .

My speaking grandparents came here and were excited to get jobs in a
factory sewing buttons and putting hubcaps on a car.

My great uncle came here as an uneducated musician and became one of the
world’s greats accordion players owning his own studio, producing albums
and touching many lives.

Many of my friends families have similar stories of their grandparents
generation and even their parents generation coming to America and taking
the only thing they had – hard work and honor to make something of
themselves from nothing. They owned businesses, restaurants, construction
companies and pizzerias.

Funny part is most of these people did not even have a high school
education. The funniest part is that most of them went on to make more
money that most of these currently unemployed, jobless and educated people
will ever hope to make.

So, what is the differentiating factor?

Is it hard work?

Is it opportunity?

No, it is attitude. The difference between people today and previous
generations is their perception of life and how they approach each day.
Today the people who are out of a job, unemployed or graduating from school
do not want to work, they want everything fresh, quick and easy, just like
their food. These people are not thankful for what they have, they only ask
for more and more and slowly the wells are running out. And lastly, we are
a population of people who take for granted that hot water and electricity
are a gift that most of the world does not enjoy. So when a job appears
telemarketing for a company, we turn our nose at it instead of getting
excited about the chance to be part of a company and grow within an
organization.

So, to each of those people who lost their job, are unemployed or are just
starting their career. Just remember, for the last 2 generations of this
country, opportunity was dressed up as hard work. Hard work that might not
be the “ideal” job or what you have experience in or what your degree is
in.

The next time an opportunity presents itself to you, think twice before
passing it up because you never know where the end of that path may take
you.

As Spring is upon us, so are the Farmers Markets. Your chance to avoid big agriculture and factory farm systems. Do not buy into the arguments that small family farms are “elitist.” Just because the local cutting edge restaurant includes the name of the farm appended to a particular dish, does not make this food model wrong.

The fact of the matter is that local food taste better – there is less time from when it was in the ground or on the vine to on your plate. I is more nutritious – because it is fresher and it is safer – local farmers ten to be ethical operators.

Do not be misled – real foods do make a difference in your health, so take the time to find a local farmers market. Here is a great tool for locating a farmers market near you:

http://www.localharvest.org

When you are at the farmers market, take the time to find out what farmers are organic, which ones use minimal pesticides and chemicals as well as which ones actual grow the produce or import it.

When you head to the farmers market in your area, do not forget your recycled bags to carry all that great produce home with you !