It's Friday, which means beer day, and after spotting a post on the Guardian about how enviromentally friendly whisky is, it seemed only apt to consider how ethical another beverage is, namely Perry.
Now I must admit, coming from Hereford, I have a vested interest in all things cidery, but what many people don't know about proper perry is that it's created solely by the pressing of pears. At this time of year, the roads around Hereford are jammed with lorries filled with fruit and, unlike beer, no yeast or sugar, or in fact anything else is added to the mix. Squish perry pears, let them ferment and you have perry - period. Now if you consider that, the opportunities for a truly environmentally friendly and ethically sustainable product are in place.
In my search for organic perry, however, only the one producer crops up. Dunkertons is a Herefordshire company, and a wonderful antidote to the massive Bulmers factory just down the road (which, as well as making Bulmers Original cider and Strongbow, also, peculiarly owns arch enemy Magners).
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If you want something saucy to spice up your browsing time, but aren't keen on looking at the flesh of flesh-eaters, then VegPorn.com should be your first port of call! An adult site made by veggies and vegans, and with a strict policy of only using veggie and vegan models, the site strives for the arguably oxymoronic title of a morally sound porn site. The site's creators also insist on a policy of using all shapes and sizes of model, so you can rest assured that no human cruelty - in the unpleasant form of body facism - is involved in the making of the site, either. In an amusing, Nigella-esque sexing-up of the culinary arts, there's even a section where you can see models cooking delicious vegan meals!
When you've got yourself adequately hot under the collar - or even if you're just more interested in the veggie/vegan flesh of your beloved than of strangers on a website - then it's probably time to follow the 'Store' link and visit The Sensual Vegan where you can choose from a range of vegan lubes, condoms, massage oils and sex toys.
Related: Vegan condoms
We've been chuckling away all week over super-geeky web comic XKCD here at Shiny Towers, and today's offering is all about things environmental. So why not fire up the old Tefal Quick-cup, enjoy a cup of fairtrade coffee, and have a browse through the other cartoons?
Nothing is real until it's been immortalised in Sim City (or the Simpsons) and climate change has now had a namecheck in both. I think we can call that progress!
More specifically, Sim City Societies, the latest edition of the world-domination game that's been a hit since 1989, has made energy saving and carbon reduction an important goal for players, allowing them to build their own windfarms and make other renewable energy choices to reduce Sim City's carbon footprint.
The game does not force players to power their cities any specific way, but allows them to make choices, each of which come with advantages and disadvantages.
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Here's another impressive, shining example of how trash can be turned into trinket with the appliance of a creative mind. I'm not sure I've quite got what it takes to put together a banana box chandelier this weekend, but it's certainly making me think a lot more inventively about what I might do with all those old juice cartons piling up in the recycle bin!
The 'Chiquita Chandelier' is the work of Dutch designer Anneke Jakobs, whose site is well worth a browse. [Via Craftzine]
Talk about cutting edge! this exciting little 'hybrid' is just one of many bicycle/lawnmower combos that the guys over at Treehugger managed to dig up; every one of them powered solely by the groover peddling away on the saddle.
There's a serious side to this, as petrol-motored lawnmowers are actually some of the most polluting vehicles of their size.
Somehow, I don't think it's the sort of mean-machine that will really help the green movement's image, but I'm sure there are plenty of gardeners who'd appreciate it, and it looks like great exercise too! [Via Treehugger]
One of the criticism leveled at those who choose to spend their time knitting, crocheting or sewing pretty little 'motifs' on to fabric is that it's a bit, well, pointless. I happen to find it very therapeutic and calming, but if that's too self indulgent for you, you can't argue with these projects, which are all in a very good cause. Crafting for Charity is taking off in a big way at the moment, and Crafty Crafty recently posted a roundup of some of the most inventive creative projects that are currently helping charities. I've reproduced it here, just in time for the weekend...
1. Innocent's The Big Knit
The Big Knit is a great idea for keeping older people warm in winter, devised and run each year by Innocent Smoothies. Hundreds of volunteers send in miniature bobble-hats (in all kinds of inventive styles!) to fit on the tops of smoothie bottles. Then each time one of the hat-wearing smoothies is sold during the run-up to the festive season, Innocent donate a very generous 50p to Age Concern.
Innocent are currently seeking more knitters to take part in the project, and reach their ambitious 400,000 hat target (last year, they received £230,000 hats). So if you can knit, this really is a worthwhile and fun project to get involved with. If you want design inspiration, there's a flickr group here showing some of the designs already submitted.
Follow the jump for more projects
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