Thursday, January 31, 2008

From the web ...:

"What would Jesus Sell?"

What Would Jesus Buy is the suitably ironic title of the documentary produced by Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame), which follows the antics of “Reverend Billy.” As the head of the Church of Stop Shopping Reverend Billy, a character developed by the New York City actor Bill Talen, preaches an anti-corporate theology with an authenticity of feeling and full gospel choir. In the film, Reverend Billy is up to his old antics–exorcising demons at Walmart Headquarters, taking over the Mall of America, and finally crashing Disney Land. His objective? “To save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt!”

I wonder what Reverend Billy would have thought about the handmade pledge sponsored by Etsy, Craftster, Craft Magazine and others this past holiday season: “I pledge to buy handmade…and request that others do the same for me.”

For the whole article:

http://www.murketing.com/journal/?p=997

(Thanks Dougald)

Monday, January 28, 2008

"Academic Travel Causes Global Warming" is the headline of Mark Pedelty's article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (Jan. 25, 2008).

He writes: "Oil is a tough drug to quit. It takes us on the most amazing trips. Sometimes we really do need to go, but in other cases it is an unnecessary anodyne. How many times have you found yourself thinking, "Did I really need to fly to New York to hear that?" Let's face it, academic research is usually better read than recited."

He suggests more involvement in regional conferences and videoconferencing as a way to reduce long-range academic travel.

Found this link on aldaily.com. See also climatedebatedaily.com