Redefining Progress

I was gonna go to Karate today, but I couldn't get hold of the organizer. Rode my bike down to the public beach. I still can't get over the fact that I'm riding my bike in a shirt and shorts in February. Gloves would be nice though. Met some old lady whose goal each day was to walk from her car (about 20m away) to the bench I was sitting on. She seemed lively and happy though. Read my new Adbusters magazine for a while. On the ride back, I happened to take a slight detour through a parking so I could ride in sunlight. I smelled pot and noticed an older guy and young girl on the beach. Then I realized it was my dad and sis. HA!

Here's some important links I'd like you to check out. I think it's a step in the right direction. The left-wing movement has for far too long relied upon attacking the right-wing for its agenda instead of trying to advance its own agenda. So these are some of the new progressive ideas being tossed around.

Ecological Footprint Quiz - If everyone lived like me (about half as consuming as the average first-worlder), we'd still need 2.3 earths to live sustainably.

Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) - The prevailing measurement of economic progress is inherently flawed and obsolete. This site explains in laymen's terms why this is and what the proposed solution is. Seems technical, but it isn't a tough read.

True Cost Economics - Why should gas cost less than water and organic food cost more than its genetically-modified counterpart? Here's a short but informative article that gets the point across.

Media Carta - This site basically sums it all up nicely. It's not too extensive, so check out the 4-5 main pages on it and you'll have it all figured out.

Antipreneur - I was gonna buy some Blackspots (the shoe idea that started the whole thing), but my order got messed up and I was forced to buy some $20 pair from Wal-Mart in the meantime (I still hate myself for it). Anyways, Blackspot is well on it's way to becoming THE anti-brand, with all sorts of proposed branches like radio-stations, cafes, etc.

Corporate Crackdown - This is still in its early stages, but you get to vote on the worst corporation ever, which will lead to a massive campaign against it. For more info, try to watch The Corporation. Excellent movie, but I doubt it has very wide availability, but that's usually how it is.