*faircompanies latest videos

A crystal deodorant: trippy-looking, but it works

2010-06-07T00:00:00Z

Years ago I got a bit freaked out when I heard that the aluminum in my anti-perspirant might be linked to cancer, and then to Alzheimers. That research has since been disputed by other researchers. Some call it urban myth, others say the verdict is still out. At least one is waiting for the results of the Sister Study in 2014 to settle the cancer question.

Apart from issues with aluminum (particularly aluminum chlorohydrate and aluminum zirconium), there are other reasons to avoid anti-perspirants and deodorants. Many contain potentially harmful chemicals like parabens, phthalates, triclosan and propylene glycol, and these can even be found in some organic brands.

Since I haven't really found a deodorant- organic or not- that I've found to be consistently effective, a few years ago, I decided to experiment with a third option: a crystal. It's made from alum salts, which are commonly used as natural odor fighters in Europe, Mexico and Asia.

Crystal deodorants are rated by the EWG's Skin Deep study as being completely free of potentially harmful ingredients (they give it a 0 hazard rating, on a scale of 0 to 10).

In this video, I demo my new crystal deodorant. As trippy as it sounds, and looks, I have found it effective (according to my husband anyway).

Cosmetics from your kitchen: olive oil moisturizer

2010-06-03T16:11:42Z

Most moisturizers contain preservatives to give it some shelf life. Some of the most common types are problematic: parabens have been linked to cancer and phthalates are suspected endocrine disrupters.

While there are paraben- and phthalate-free creams on the market, it can take work to read through even the ingredient lists of organic or "natural" products. One of the easiest ways to assure your products are free from any extra chemicals (even fragrances often hide messy ones) is to shop your kitchen.

I changed my skincare routine a couple years ago, when a dermatologist friend explained to me that most skin creams are just marketing and that she advises her clients: "the better a product smells and the more expensive it is, the less effective it is for the skin." She also told me to avoid water-based lotions (what I'd been using) since these usually contain alcohol to ward off bacterial growth which simply dries your skin further.

When I asked her what I should use for cream, she said, "what your grandmother would have". Since my grandma tended to use a heavily-perfumed cosmetic, I decided to look to someone else's grandma.

In this video, I try Sophia Loren's secret: extra virgin olive oil as facial moisturizer.

A freegan shopping trip: a scavenged bicycle

2010-06-01T00:00:00Z

My favorite shopping trip of the year happened last weekend unexpectedly. My husband and I were on our weekly Sunday walk near my in-law's home (outside of Barcelona, Spain) and we noticed a small pink bicycle sitting next to a dumpster.

We're not experienced dumpster divers, but this seemed just too easy. Though maybe it's just a question of keeping your eyes open. I'd recently read how the city of Barcelona is trying to cut back on trashed bikes by offering classes on how to repair old bikes ("Rebiciclem").

In this video, you can see a bit of our open air shopping trip and why our daughter now thinks that new bikes can come dusty.

Kéfir: cómo hacer gratis el yogur probiótico más saludable

2010-05-28T05:51:22Z

No hace falta contar con grandes conocimientos para hacer nuestro propio yogur, ni siquiera disponer de mucho tiempo libre. El kéfir de leche, que puede ser edulcorado con azúcar, fruta o miel, es un alimento cremoso parecido al yogur líquido que, gracias a su componente de bacterias probióticas y levaduras, ayuda a regenerar la flora intestinal.

El consultor residente en Barcelona José Antonio Hernández, consumidor junto con su familia de kéfir de leche durante los últimos años, explica lo poco necesario para elaborar kéfir propio en casa.

Basta con adquirir un puñado de nódulos de kéfir (a través de un amigo, tiendas especializadas, sitios web con listas locales de consumidores del producto) y mezclarlo con leche para poder regenerarlo indefinidamente, sin necesidad de mayor inversión que la leche que añadamos periódicamente.

Las bifidobacterias presentes en el kéfir de leche promueven la proliferación de componentes químicos esenciales y regeneran la flora intestinal, así como reducir los niveles de colesterol "malo", o LDL.

Por sus propiedades, el kéfir ayuda en el trabajo digestivo y, como el yogur, contiene lactasa http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactasa, la encima que descompone la lactosa, azúcar dominante en la leche. Se ha comprobado, asimismo, que el kéfir de leche reduce en un 70% los problemas digestivos derivados de ingerir lactosa entre aquellas personas que presentan intolerancia a este azúcar.

El kéfir también puede ingerirse como yogur líquido, acompañarse con todo tipo de cereales o preparados como la granola o, incluso, puede usarse para elaborar un alimento lácteo con una textura más sólida, el quesillo (similar al requesón, el queso de Burgos o el mascarpone).

Es fácil de elaborar, gratuito, se confecciona sin esfuerzo, se regenera como cualquier otra levadura y tiene innegables propiedades culinarias, así como beneficios directos sobre la salud.

Gandhi, Malcolm X, DIY, open source & happiness

2010-05-25T00:00:00Z

Happiness, for Mahatma Gandhi, was "when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony". For Malcolm X, the "secret to happiness" was "freedom".

While focused on different countries and communities, both were men who argued that people needed to take more control of their lives (e.g. Gandhi argued that Indians needed to learn how to make their own cloth with small spinning wheels).

After a late 20th Century confused by communism and neo-cons, now- thanks to an era of DIY, the Internet and open-source hardware- it's become much easier for any individual to make more for their own lives, to become producers.

In this video, faircompanies' Nicolás Boullosa argues this is the time for a new version of happiness and self-sufficiency.

A frugal wardrobe: think, then shop

2010-05-21T04:40:45Z

Our closet says a lot about us. Having a lot of clothing doesn't help us to dress better. On the contrary, it can make things more confusing and make us more prone to fashion mistakes.

A simpler wardrobe can be a lot easier to maneouver and a lot less stressful. Unfortunately, this past decade has been about Fast Fashion: buying more clothes at lower prices and lower quality.

In this video, Nicolás Boullosa shows us his closet and his anti-Fast-Fashion philosophy: buy few things of good quality and think before you buy (First, know thyself: learn what you like and what looks good on you).

A frugal wardrobe doesn't just save money and resources, but it can help you develop a coherent personal style that endures.

See below the latest updates on frugal clothing from Twitter

barbarellle: RT @modellenbureau: Vitrine 2010 zet Slow Fashion in de kijker: “In onze huidige samenleving gaat alles zo snel,” zegt Edith Vervliet,... http://bit.ly/c8mZ44(3 days, 22 hours ago)
tashakazuki: Here are ways on how to look stunning even on a simple wardrobe http://3875f1e6.zxxo.net #fashion(4 days, 15 hours ago)
ottaross: @kaitli go 80's leg warmers & neon and claim you are a slow fashion adopter.(5 days, 14 hours ago)
tashakazuki: Here are ways on how to look stunning even on a simple wardrobe http://3875f1e6.zxxo.net #fashion(5 days, 15 hours ago)
MsMeticulicious: Just walked in/out of v*exclusive openingparty Slow Fashion@Dedon nxtdr. Nothing happening, nothing 2b seen+a lot of v*unfashionable people.(6 days, 14 hours ago)
tashakazuki: Here are ways on how to look stunning even on a simple wardrobe http://3875f1e6.zxxo.net #fashion(6 days, 15 hours ago)
fashionticker: #fashion #style: Slow <b>fashion</b> changes gear http://fashion-ticker.de/2010/06/slow-fa shion-changes-gear.html(1 week ago)
Bderechfan: @MordcheBenDavid Wow it's amazing how with ur simple wardrobe w/o all the stupid stuff that....!! Wore u had the whole hall of there seat's(1 week ago)
tashakazuki: Here are ways on how to look stunning even on a simple wardrobe http://3875f1e6.zxxo.net #fashion(1 week ago)
tokoamazon: “Slow fashion”, a trend beyond apparel: FASHION: “Slow fashion” is not about fashion, but about a deep-rooted pass... http://bit.ly/cLISOd(1 week ago)

Homemade pasta: rotini, orecchiette and machine-cut noodles

2010-05-19T16:08:35Z

Making your own pasta is the best way to know exactly what goes into it: to avoid preservatives or additives and use only fresh ingredients. While it's not something that you need to do every time you want a bowl of the stuff, it's also a great way to learn a bit more about the world of noodles.

The basic recipe for fresh pasta is simple: flour and eggs (1 cup flour to 1 egg). You can add a bit of salt or a bit of olive oil (to make the dough a bit more pliable), but those are optional. If you'd like to get colorful (and flavorful), you can add herbs, tomato paste or spinach.

Mixing, and rolling, your own pasta means you can choose the texture; you can pick your flour- like unbleached white, whole wheat or spelt- and also, the different shapes. It's a chance to move beyond spaghetti or macaroni and explore pappardelle and penne, manicoti and maltagliati.

Octagenarian Ann Gillis uses only organic materials for making her home-made pastas (see video How to make Slow gnocchi for one example). In this video she shows us how to make orecchiette, noodles (with a hand-cranked machine) and some twisty types (our version of fusilli, rotini or gemelli).

See below the last comments about homemade pasta from Twitter

cookingvideoorg: watch cooking videos : How to Make Homemade Pasta : Ingredients for Making a Homemade Pasta http://bit.ly/dlZF8D(3 days, 22 hours ago)
kenzie_raee: @TheRealYungBerg Fiamma Trattoria and Bar.. MGM Grand.. best homemade pasta(4 days, 5 hours ago)
ChaseWolfe: Do they have homemade pasta to compete with Giacono's ... (@ Alejo's Presto Italian Restaurant w/ @martingawecki) http://4sq.com/aCMEri(4 days, 7 hours ago)
mopetz: Got my car back... yipee! But no where to go on this rainy afternoon, so making homemade pasta sauce... yum yum yummy(4 days, 8 hours ago)
phepheinathens: RT @MirkoPasta Free Pasta Monday tomorrow!!! Come enjoy some delicious homemade pasta!!!//That's 4 Baxter, Gaines School & Watkinsville!!(4 days, 9 hours ago)
KeManiSmith: RT @Toni8t: @KeManiSmith is making homemade pasta sauce....yum :-) oh yes just about done!(4 days, 9 hours ago)
jonathan_design: my apartment now smells like homemade pasta sauce. If i was in the business of makin aroma candles I would start witha marinara sauce lol(4 days, 9 hours ago)
crownprincesa: Just made homemade pasta!! I effing rule! http://twitpic.com/1umijs(4 days, 9 hours ago)
Toni8t: @KeManiSmith is making homemade pasta sauce....yum :-)(4 days, 10 hours ago)
minarets: Six-mile run, late lunch at @CypressStreet, baseball on television, homemade pasta and pesto for dinner. Good Sunday.(4 days, 10 hours ago)

Consejos para un sacar partido a armario frugal

2010-05-16T00:00:00Z

Nuestro armario dice mucho de nosotros mismos. Tener mucha ropa, o un fondo de armario desproporcionado a nuestras necesidades, no aumenta nuestra elegancia, ni nos hace más irresistibles ante los demás, ni mucho menos tiene por qué contribuir a nuestra felicidad.

Por el contrario, saber qué prendas necesitamos y qué queremos comprar de antemano reduce la posibilidad de equivocarnos; si aceptamos en la compra de una prenda y ésta es de buena calidad, quizá nos acompañe a lo largo de los próximos años.

La pasada década consolidó una cultura relacionada textil con la fast fashion: comprar muchas prendas de baja calidad y sin pensarlo demasiado, que apenas durarán una temporada. Nicolás Boullosa muestra su ropero, con una filosofía antagónica a la moda rápida.

Comprar poco, elige mucho las prendas antes de comprarlas y éstas duran varias temporadas. Comprar poca ropa, de calidad y bien elegida, puede aportar ahorro a medio plazo. También serenidad y mayor atención en aquellos aspectos que requieren mayor atención en nuestra cotidianeidad.

La frugalidad también puede favorecer la composición de un estilo personal coherente a lo largo de los años, que será apreciado no sólo por nuestras relaciones, sino por nosotros mismos.

Existen, además, personalidades públicas de primer nivel que han optado por la frugalidad en su estilo y ropero a lo largo de los años. El último exponente de esta tendencia es Barack Obama, que ha declarado en el pasado comprar raramente ropa y enmendar algunas de sus mejores prendas si es necesario, para poder conservarlas en buen estado y alargar su vida útil. Esta actitud responsable no le ha impedido ser considerado una de las personalidades con mejor percha, según Esquire.

Incluso algunos de los guardianes del estilo europeo más selecto, como el desaparecido patrón de Fiat Gianni Agnelli, rompedor de códigos clásicos, mantenía especial esmero en el mantenimiento de su fondo ropero, que le ha sobrevivido, ya que su nieto Lapo lleva ahora muchos de sus trajes.

Gokaldas, Foxconn & who really makes all your stuff

2010-05-13T06:38:08Z

Apple spent $486 million on advertising in 2008 to hype things like it's iPhone 3G and iPod Touch. Nike spent $255 million to $260 million the same year on just sponsorships of its celebrity athletes like Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods.

The companies that make most of the products in our home put so much money into advertising, argues faircompanies' Nicolás Boullosa, because they don't actually make the stuff they're selling. Since most of the major companies use the same producers to make their products instead of competing on quality, they compete on marketing.

The majority of our clothing is made by a few major textile producers, like India's Gokaldas whose clients include Gap, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, H&M, Diesel, Banana Republic, Marks & Spencer and Zara.

The marjority of our electronics goods are made by one of a few companies like Taiwan's Foxconn known for brands like the iPhone, iPod, iPad, iMac, Sony Playstation, Sony Vaio notebooks, Amazon Kindle, Nokia phones and Nintendo Wii.

It's not incidental that companies like Foxconn have dubious labor practices (Foxconn has been accused of sweat shop working conditions, an alleged iPhone-related suicides and for roughing up a Reuters journalist).

In this video Nicolás talks about these producers of all our "cool" stuff and one example of a company who has chosen to do things differently (Patagonia).

See below the last comments on Foxconn from Twitter

frenchiemimie: RT @fiberguy: The simple fact that a company can decide to raise everyone by 70% tells you a lot about worker exploitation in the first place... #foxconn(3 days, 22 hours ago)
CorpFreeSpeech: APPLE INC- FOXCONN, MAKER OF IPADS, TO RAISE WORKER PAY AGAIN AT CHINA PLANTS, STRIKEN BY RECENT SUICIDES. F... http://tinyurl.com/2fe423s(3 days, 22 hours ago)
MacBerry: Foxconn 2 Double China Factory-Worker pay After Suicides http://ht.ly/1UYti salaries rise to $73/wk -$$3800/yr) WWDC #slavery from $37/wk(3 days, 22 hours ago)
Jeff_Power: RT @fiberguy: The simple fact that a company can decide to raise everyone by 70% tells you a lot about worker exploitation in the first place... #foxconn(3 days, 22 hours ago)
SBSnews: Foxconn raises worker's pay by 70 per cent http://bit.ly/droQ3a(3 days, 22 hours ago)
conevrob: RT @alexica73: Foxconn raises worker's pay again http://bit.ly/b8t3ik(3 days, 22 hours ago)
SamEnrico: Foxconn raises worker's pay again http://bit.ly/cpITc6(3 days, 23 hours ago)
SteveNico: Foxconn raises worker's pay again http://bit.ly/cpITc6(3 days, 23 hours ago)
Tramp_magazine: Foxconn raises worker's pay again http://bit.ly/cpITc6(3 days, 23 hours ago)
GadgetGuy1010: Foxconn, maker of iPads, to raise worker pay again at China plants ...: ... swimming pool and a hot line center fo... http://bit.ly/ccJsac(3 days, 23 hours ago)

Microcars, motorbikes, Smarts & the myth of micro EVs

2010-05-12T00:00:00Z

Micro-cars are cute, but is a Smart always smarter. faircompanies' Nicolás Boullosa argues that in cities like Barcelona if you just need a 2-seater why not just get a motorcycle (just one opinion of course).

This led to talk about safety of small: should we be thinking more about crash avoidance and the nimbleness of our vehicles, rather than simply crashworthiness (for more see the article Does size really matter in cars? Not for safety).

On the topic of car choice, do most of us really need the bigger car or more than two? What if you started a driving journal. You might be surprised.

In this video, we talk about size, safety, motorcycles, micro-EVs and the myth that electric has to come in a tiny package.

Follow below the last comments on microcars from Twitter

Petite_Annonce_: Petite annonce Voiture sans permis a 1500 euros en bon: Bonjour, je vend ma voiture sans permis de marque microcar... http://bit.ly/dkPm1t(4 days, 14 hours ago)
kpl90: Arola (microcar) : Congrats to the grads - Park Rapids Enterprise http://url4.eu/47NJS(4 days, 16 hours ago)
oqq_yak: Microcar M.GO Mica 0km - 12 850 € #oqqw q5 n4 45B98A4B05 xLoire,-France M5 M3 M7cEiJl |cEiJn(5 days, 4 hours ago)
carslatestnews: performance toyota IQ | Oto For Car: he Toyota iQ is a microcar introduced at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, with Japa... http://bit.ly/cl7YjX(5 days, 11 hours ago)
rssfrancenet: Microcar Virgo 2 Mopedauto Leichtmobil Leichtauto: je fais offre de ma voiture Microcar Virgo 2 Mopedauto Leichtmo... http://bit.ly/dw0sOJ(5 days, 20 hours ago)
auto_italia: #automobili Microcar...e perche no!: E se una volta tanto parlassimo di microcar… perche lo.. http://su.diggita.it/dlY4mQ @diggita(6 days, 15 hours ago)
newsrating: Microcar...e perche no! http://ping.fm/UhbHi(1 week ago)
newsautos: Microcar Lyra 1999 http://goo.gl/fb/gcxr3(1 week, 1 day ago)
partecipativo: Microcar...e perche no! http://su.diggita.it/dlY4mQ(1 week, 1 day ago)
TrefleAnnonces: A VENDRE AUTOS : PARE BRISE AIXAM LIGIER MICROCAR PIECES VOITURE SANS PERMIS 13: VOTRE PARE BRISE EN VOITURE http://url4.eu/3ynjs(1 week, 1 day ago)