Money

Cree Prophecy (Remix)

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Laura


only after the last industrial factory is closed
and the last call centre relocates to the Third World
only after the last research study rationalizes further austerity
and the last government support program is cancelled
only after the last soup kitchen is shuttered
and the last food bank empties its shelves
only after the last public housing project is sold off
and the last health benefit is eliminated
only after the last day care centre is decertified
and the last homegrown corporation swallowed by a multinational
only after the last government function is privatized
and the last private company is downsized then liquidated
only then will you find
that your precious tax cuts cannot be eaten.

This post is courtesy of Canadian spoken word artist, Greg “Ritallin” Frankson who you can find more about at http://www.cytopoetics.ca/

© A. Gregory Frankson, 2012. All rights reserved.

 

Categories: Art, Materialism, Money, Sustainable living, Writing | Leave a comment

UNWELCOMED ADVERTISING!

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Laura

When I set up this blog which is about stepping off the consumption line I very specifically chose to not have any advertising on this site.

Further, anyone who reads my posts knows that I do not use ANY commercial products for cleaning myself or my home beyond baking soda, organic apple cider vinegar for myself and white vinegar for my home.  I also use only olive oil to moisturize my skin and my hair.  I would never endorse anything that I do not use or that I am not 100% happy with.  Simple as that!

Still, this stuff which I personally consider to be total crap, and which I am more than likely allergic to, is on my blog.  This is here without my permission!  I do not make any advertising revenue on this Vaseline ad, nor any other ad which is being put without my permission here.  I do not endorse this, nor any other product. While I understand that with the number of readers Tiny House Ontario has, that advertisers might want to get in here, certainly I would not allow any products that I personally would never use, be a part of what I would allow here.  I am not opposed to advertising, for example, I would be happy to allow for example Bison Pumps or certain other off grid suppliers for things that people actually NEED, on my site, but Vaseline blah, blah, blah!  Seriously?  This sort of advertising is NOT in keeping with the ideology here at all!  I promise that if I ever do allow advertising that it will be only for products that I have used, like and or aspire to have at THO.

I want to extend an apology to my readers who have been subjected to this consumer nonsense and I also want to know if any bloggers out there know what to do about this?  For example, can I find a paid and applicable sponsor which will wipe out all this, or can I just make adjustments to my WordPress blog which will allow this to stop.  For example, if I pay for the blog space will the ads stop?

Thanks!  Image by Colleen who both captured this on her screen as well as brought it to my attention.

________________

So a half hour after this post and this is what Colleen sees when she looks at this post!  Please let me know if you also see this.

Categories: Materialism, Money, Open your eyes, Readers, Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario | 8 Comments

On Jobs

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Laura

Thought for today.

 

Categories: Money, Open your eyes, Sustainable living | Leave a comment

People in Need

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Laura

I have just heard that The Dutch charity organization Mensen in Nood (People in Need) has started a very provocative campaign.  The Swedish fashion photographer Carl Stolz has taken photos of people in need.  They are posing with the typical stuff that the consumer culture we live in, has taught us to believe we need.

I think that it is smart and appropriate and hopefully effective.  It is certainly in line with my own beliefs about greed.  Hats off to this charity for pointing out disparity.  Hopefully it shows us that we can really do without and that we do have a little something to share with those who quite literally have nothing.

Categories: Food, Materialism, Money, Simple living, Sustainable living, World | 1 Comment

You Got The Power!

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Laura

I went to the battery store in Kingston.  Turns out that the 12 volt (PW-PL-17C 12v 50 AH batteries are on sale for $40 each and they also have marine battery boxes so I got one of them too.  Total cost today was $62.09.

Also… turns out that the solar panel I bought is not at all sufficient to keep the tiny fridge going.  Apparently cooling (and heating) is very expensive to do.  But they did tell me that this is lots and lots of solar to run LED Lights and recharge my phone and computer  (too much in fact) so this is some good news to sooth the bad.  Since I have lots of extra power, maybe I can run a 6 volt fan when it is hot next year?  Turns out that I would need about 6 solar arrays of the size I have as well as 6 large batteries to keep the little fridge running.  Brutal!  Maybe the Lottery God will answer my call?

The people at the store where I went, Impact, were amazingly nice to me.  Super helpful and when I told the guy what I just heard was wawawawawa he roared laughing.  I liked that.  He also explained things in a way that I could understand which was awesome!

Anyway, now I just have to talk nice to someone with a car so that I can get the darned battery home.  It will not fit on Baby no matter how much I wiggle and whine.

I also learned something very interesting.  Did you know that you cannot get any LED lights that are CAA approved and designed for off grid use?

They told me about a website superbrightleds.com where you can order LED lights.  It is out of Prescott, Ontario and they say that they have had good luck with them.

Categories: Money, Off Grid, Tiny House Ontario | 1 Comment