GladRags Gab

The other day I was listening to an interview with Naomi Klein, author of No Logo and, more recently, The Shock Doctrine.  I like her creative and clear perspective on the waves of capitalistic thought that have struck the US.  She goes up against Milton Friedman, a die hard free market enthusiast whom I think took the concept a bit too far in its unmitigated simplicity, and whom Klein echoes as she states her case that the current free market ideology uses the tactic of shock to further its agenda.

So, I'm not much of an economic thinker, but it can be argued that economics effects everything we do in this society, all with which we interact.  Read the Democracy Now! interview for Klein's crash course on Friedman's economic thought and her interpretation of how it has shaped our country here.

Klein also created a video clip that introduces the viewer to her theory.

Trying to keep my wits about me,

Diana 

Information is shock resistance.  Arm yourself.

So, my friend Miguel called me up Sunday whilst I was mid-move (new home is NoEPo with a deliciously quick walk to work).  He was letting me know that his vegan momma - of greater Dallas, Texas no less - had just picked up one of my most favorite books, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World!  Oh, how I envy her fresh vegan cupcake eyes.  When I bought this gem of a baking guide, I literally baked up 5 separate recipes within 7 days.  I feared a life of unsatisfying sweets as I embarked upon my vegan foray, but Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero showed me the way of cholestorol-free delight.  The smores cupcake is the most decadent one I have yet to bake, with a pho-buttercream frosting that puts every cow to shame.

Veganism is a fun challenge.  It requires creativity to find tasty culinary creations in a non-vegan culture.  This was one of my motivators for trying out the plant-based diet.  Luckily, Isa Chandra Moskowitz exists because she sure makes it fun!  Vegan with a Vengeance taught me not only how to spell 'vengeance' but also that Isa is probably the cutest, funniest cooking writer (and so clear - really good for the non-cooks, i.e. me, out there).  Her Post Punk Kitchen show is perfect for those requiring a visual and Isa just came out with a new one-stop vegan cookbook, Veganomicon. 

Mmm… cupcakes.

Paz,

Diana

Here's a sushi tutorial - vegan style:

Endless hours can be stolen from our days as we search wikipedia for answers to any lingering query that we can possibly recall (or concoct) - what IS baby corn anyway?  Is it really just the younger version of grow-up corn or is it a different breed all together?  Does it grow in the midwest or Southeast Asia?  Can you make fuel from it, just like its bigger cousin?  Does it have to be husked?

Now, wikipedia has its place (wonder no longer, the answer is here) but maybe there are questions out there that you didn't even know you wanted the answers to.  Maybe there is a greater Internet guide that offers true browsing fulfillment.  A guide that doesn't just provide answers to the questions that we have, but to the questions that we should have.

Maybe that guide is StumbleUpon.  StumbleUpon is a browser supported and sculpted by users just like you and me.  If you come across the coolest site ever (like this blog) then you will just want to give it the StumbleUpon thumbs up so other users check it out.  That way, when they want to kill some time at the office, they can click that 'Stumble!' button and perchance happen upon GladRags Gab.  I already found this site and now pretty much want to stay in a tree house in Cave Junction, Oregon.

Pardon me, did I stumble?

Paz,

Diana 

I'm sorry to all who don't live in this city (for reasons beyond the following, but we can discuss that at another time - I heart Portland) but this tip is for all locals.

A warm, sunny Friday afternoon is a perfect setting for walk to Mississippi Ave armed with the singular mission of sipping at a revitalizing concoction from Moxie RX. Ah, stepping off the sidewalk and up to the counter of this old Airstream trailer is bliss - an escape from a rapidly bustling street (they did film Feast of Love with Morgan Freeman at the coffee shop, The Fresh Pot, next door - this avenue is famous!).  Moxie's smoothies and elixers are dizzingly delectable.  My favorite is the RX - almond butter, banana and dates.  Decadent.

Alls I gotta say is, make your way to Moxie.  It'll rejuvinate you for those painfully slow final hours of your Friday workday (just kidding, Brenda!).

What is YOUR favorite smoothie combo?

Peace out!

Diana 

P.S. Jodi was an extra in Feast of Love.  If you want to see her - something about being on Shaver when a girl looks through the coffee shop window and Greg Kinnear passes.  Whatever, she's famous ok?!

Increasingly, the aerial view of city outskirts is a predictable pattern of lined houses filling standard sized lots with cul-de-sacs and swimming pools circularly accenting the rigid geometry.  I can zoom down and picture the added attractions as everyone tries to keep up with the Joneses – the basketball hoop, the play set (with a canvassed play house if you’re lucky), the pool floats for lazing about, the ATVs for weekend trips to the open country; there always seems to be too little paycheck for too much “Can you buy me that, pleeeease??!!!”  It’s like running a race on a treadmill – it’ll wear you out, but it’ll never get you to where you need to go.

As we plug away, trying to make a career, a family and a community, and to arrive ultimately at financial independence, how do we keep perspective?  How do we remain healthily critical of our lives so that we can avoid choices that waste resources and segregate communities, and remind ourselves of the things that are truly important in life?  How do we gently nudge our neighbors and loved ones when it seems they have lost this perspective and, worse yet, when that misguided sort of life is interfering with our own potential happiness and freedom?
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Two of my favorite people, Ellen and Miguel, were wed in the most beautiful and intentional ceremony I have ever attended.  Last weekend I visited them in Olympia, WA and we clicked through their wedding photos, sighing with the flood of memories that rained upon us.  We happened upon the pictures of the happy couple washing one another’s feet in an act of humility and service (I know, your hand just went to your heart and you said, “aw, how sweet!”).  Ellen leaned over to me.  Conspiratorially she let me know that the cloth they used to dry their feet was none other than GladRags Organic Cotton Hankies!

Working at GladRags has its perks – I get free menstrual supplies for all my friends and loved ones.  Ellen received a gift of a Keeper Cup.  Not to leave out Miguel, I enclosed in the package the only thing in our stock that a non-menstruating person could also use, our hankies (I gave him a 3-pack cuz he’s just that special!).  That Ellen and Miguel put these booger bound cloths to such a special use makes me wonder… what else are GladRags users doing with their pads and hankies?

And, did they use sea sponge tampons for the foot washing?!

Peace,

Diana 

The GladRags Crew is ready to really start bloggin' (I mean we've been posting here and there, but now we're gettin' serious!).  Here's the lowdown on who is writing on what days.  Get to know us.  We can't wait to hear what you are all about!

Monday –  I (Diana) have been a GladRags worker bee for almost two years now.  You’ve probably emailed me or spoken with me on the phone (I hope I answered your question).  A woman last Wednesday said to me that it must be nice to work for such a great company and, let me tell you, it sure is.  Exciting women, sustainable products, healthy living and morning stretch sessions by our computers – perfect!  I’ll be contributing on Mondays in all manner of subject matter from environmental living tips to my new favorite band or book.  I hope you’ll let me know what you think by leaving a comment

Wednesday – Brenda, our fearless leader, will be taking the reins on Wednesdays.  She’s the reason we are lucky enough to have GladRags to turn to every month, having started the company back in 1993.  A woman of many talents and interests, Brenda might touch on a current social conflict, an art installation she caught that weekend or maybe we’ll all be lucky enough to hear one of her great stories (this woman’s got a whole stockpile of ‘em! – I particularly like the ones about her daughter’s antics as a child.  Sorry Emma!).  Give her feedback – she’s very receptive!

Friday – I can’t tell you how entertaining it is to have a true Jersey girl on staff.  Oh, the boldness and the bluntness – it’s irreplaceable.  Jodi’s our new General Manager and she’ll be sharing a piece of her mind on Fridays.  Another multi-dimensional gal, Jodi might be writing about anything from boxing to drag king shows to how much her head hurts.  Share your own opinions with Jodi every Friday.

  Tuesday and Thursday – We’re leaving Tuesdays and Thursdays open for guest bloggers.  We have some great contributors in mind, but we’d love YOU to speak your mind also.  If you are interested in writing a Tuesday or Thursday blog entry, drop a line to bimallory@gladrags.com

Whole Foods Market, national purveyors of organic and natural grocery goods, is in the process of acquiring Wild Oats, another national and natural grocer.  The over half a billion dollar deal was moving along as planned until the Federal Trade Commission threw a wrench in the works.  Citing antitrust law infringement, the FTC has filed a complaint against the proposed merger on the grounds that such a union would eliminate substantial competition in the premium natural and organic marketplace.

I never thought that I would so emphatically object to the FTC taking issue with the further consolidation of big business; large corporations often have the majority market share over the smaller players and I like to see these businesses have a chance too - this is America after all.  However, this complaint is incredibly unjust.  The FTC is limiting the natural and organic marketplace by failing to acknowledge the substantial competition that Whole Foods and Wild Oats face from the mainstream grocery market, which continues to add organic lines to their offerings.  The complaint not only ignores and skews this real competition, but it also comes before many more pressing antitrust infringement priorities that exist in this country.  Have they ever heard of Wal-Mart?  Economists and business analysts are left dumbfounded: why is the FTC wasting its time with this?

I am not prone to conspiracy theorizing.  With the attention that this government agency is giving to hindering these thriving businesses and the people's tax dollars that it is taking to do so, I am outraged with the obvious bias that is underway here.  There are associations for every industry in the country and I am sure that there is one for the mainstream grocers out there that has a fulltime staff of lobbyists  political pushers working to ensure that this progressive and successful competitor, Whole Foods, is thrown every barrier possible to entry in the larger grocer marketplace.

My ire stems less from my love of big business (I work at GladRags after all) and more from a desire to see people play fair.  The FTC has set the rules and they should follow them.  They are being preferential and discriminatory and their boldness is shameless.

For some wonderfully elucidating articles, check out the links below.

- Diana

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/06/06/is-whole-foods-building-an-evil-empire.aspx
http://retail.seekingalpha.com/article/37547?source=feed
http://www.smartmoney.com/bn/ON/index.cfm?story=ON-20070605-000643-1522
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/06/wholefoods.shtm