How To Shop Locally And Save Money – Investopedia.com

Editor’s Note: We stumbled across this article from Investopedia, and thought it was worth the share.

There are many ways to save money on groceries, such as clipping coupons or buying generic brands in lieu of name brands. However, another way to cut costs is to skip the supermarket altogether to purchase locally grown food. Continue reading →

Feel Good Friday

This is a nice little story. Yes, GM has had its issues. But, let’s be honest, no one would cry (tears of joy, at least) if someone drove up in their 40 year old Datsun. And, dare I say, this is the add that should have run during the Superbowl.

Cradle to Grave Commercialization of Childhood

Editor’s Note: The good people at SHTFplan recently posted an article that we feel ties directly into the theme and views of our site. Namely, that we are conditioned from early childhood to be consumer zombies. The less thought we put into what and where we buy, the better for those selling it to us. Using our kids as the link to our pocketbooks is a brilliant tactic, as it puts us in the tough spot of having to say no to our little angels, and sets those angels up to be the best corporate consumers throughout their lives. 

If the following trailer for Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood doesn’t convince parents that our children are being educated to be nothing more than slaves to the consumption paradigm, then nothing will. Continue reading →

Shut the Front Door: Proposed Rules Threaten Cottage Food Operators – Food Blog – The Austin Chronicle

Shut the Front Door: Proposed Rules Threaten Cottage Food Operators – Food Blog – The Austin Chronicle.

While a simple list of ingredients would not be that objectionable, what really curdles bakers’ buttercream is that these labeling rules do not suggest a level playing field between what you might pick up from your local corner bakery and from your local home baker. The logical equivalence would be a fresh cupcake to a fresh cupcake. Last time we checked, a cupcake from Quack’s or Sugar Mama’s doesn’t come with a long label with the kind of exhaustive information required of home bakers.

Thoughts? Comments?

Why Buy Locally?

AIBA GraphicThe following is taken from Austin Independent Business Alliance. The numbers are staggering, and the implications even more so. Further, while these numbers apply only to Austin, TX, they can be applied to Anytown, USA. In fact, AIBA has a documents page that posts studies from around the country about how various communities are impacted by the conscientious spending of its citizens. We have the power, people. We simply need to wake up and use it. Continue reading →

A Good Corporate Giant?

So the wife of Oz and I wanted new dishes when we got married a while back. Turns out neither one of us is into Wedgewood or fine china since our backgrounds tend to be more Hillbilly and White Trash than Blue Blood.  I have had antique Fiestaware for years now but it was starting to look, well, antique.
I really like the solid feel of the dinnerware and being a heavy handed construction type it has proven to be durable over the years.  I mentioned to the wife of Oz that Fiestaware is cool and she agreed!   Continue reading →