"Fiori" means "flower" and "velo" means "Bike" in Italian

A Zen teacher once asked his students why they rode bicycles. One said he rode to carry potatoes. Another cycled to observe the world. A third said it cleared the mind, and a fourth said cycling put him in harmony with all sentient beings. *see also (Who Are The Sentient Beings). The Zen master was pleased, but when the fifth replied, “I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle,” the teacher sat at the student’s feet and said, “I am your student.”

Albert Einstein discovered the theory of relativity while bicycling. And Ernest Hemingway said that, “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.” Watch how one woman moved her entire home, by bike. Be well!

Bike Move NYC from Nicholas Whitaker on Vimeo.

The Superfood Series: Quinoa

Its not enough to know that all white flours, sugars, rice, pastas, breads, etc. provide the body w/ absolutely no nutrients.  I mean, don't get me wrong, it's definitely a start to heightening your awareness to a certain degree.  I am always interested to hear how people feel once they have made the transition to eating whole foods.  It definitely has an influence on how you think, look, and feel.  In this instance, the term "whole" refers to a food that can be connected to its place of origin, it's mother, the root.  Whether that be a tree, a seed, the ground, or a vine nothing added, nothing taken away.  In a quest to heal our "whole" selves we have to nourish our bodies with foods that are complementary to the "whole" being that is coming forth.  So, each week please look forward to a mini introduction to some of earth's edible treasures.  This week its all about: QUINOA.  I really have a special place in my heart for this grain.  It has about 16 grams of protein per serving (the highest content of any grain),  is extremely digestible, and cooks up in about 20 minutes.  You can add it to any dish as you would rice. For one cup of quinoa, i'ts 2 cups of liquid, when cooking.  So if you are lacking protein in your diet and are tired of brown rice and couscous, we truly suggest giving this" mother grain" a try.

It was one of the ancient staple foods of the Incas and has grown in the South American Andes for thousands of years.  Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) has a warming and strengthening effect on the whole body. It has more calcium than milk and is higher in fat content than any grain. (don't panic, it about 3 grams per serving, and its the good kind )  A very good source of iron, phosphorous, B vitamins, and vitamin E.  Check the bulk section in your local health food store or the Ancient Harvest Brand.  Be well.

How to Wake Up Early: Do Not Eat Before Going to Bed

Eating too much before bedtime is not healthy. Have a light snack 2 hours before sleep time at the latest. This advice has a simple explanation. Your organism stays awake digesting the food, so even if you fall asleep part of your body is not sleeping and overall you still have less effective sleep which is not restful. You will need more sleep which in turn will not let you wake up easily.

Same applies to drinking lots of water or any other beverages - you will feel discomfort and will have to get up to urinate during the night. If you feel thirsty put a glass of water near the bed and take a little sip from it from time to time before you fall asleep or when you wake up during the night.

Please note that going to bed hungry or thirsty is not good either and can be just as disruptive to sleep as going to bed too full. Having a very light snack or smoothie or green juice will do.

The common belief is that when the body sleeps and is less active, all of its processes slow down. So if you have food in you, the calories will not be burned off...they will instead be stored as fat. However, this all depends on what you eat and when. If you eat three hours before, you will have digested most of it by the time you go to bed, so it wouldn't be much of a bother by that time. Keep in mind that no matter what time of day it is, no matter how active you are, almost anything that is not burned off is stored as fat.

Keep in mind that different people will have different answers for this...and many different theories are correct. Just remember that it all depends on what you eat, how much you eat during the day, and what kind of health you are currently in. Honoring your body and watching what you eat always comes first. Be well!

More Light::No Showoffs

Light reflect light.

The glass is the light.

Don't let the gorgeous design distract you – the light emitting glass known as Planilum created by French design firm Saazs and Saint-Gobain Innovations differs from any lighting you've seen before.

For one, the light seems to be both drawn on the glass and living within it.

For another, it's expected to last for about 20 years since the electric cathode is not in contact with the light's gasses as with a normal bulb.

Instead, electricity applied to the base of the glass runs through transparent conductive layers which excite the plasma gas trapped in layers of glass. Then phosphorus painted on the glass reacts to the plasma and creates a glowing and diffuse light.

While warm, the light is not hot to the touch. Check the video for a closer look. Walk light!

PERPETUAL SUNSHINE

The brainchild of meteorologists, interior designers, and club kids, the exhibit is composed of 334 infrared bulbs that are wired to a computer.
perpetual sunshine from videos11 on Vimeo.

Get Armed for Cold Season (She's a Beast)

It always takes for you to get sick, to be reminded of all of the things that you should have been eating, not eating, or taking to prevent premature colds, flu, bugs, etc.  I'm just getting over a crazy 24 hour bug and she bit so hard. I was fine one second and the next, I felt like my head weighed 2 tons and I couldn't breathe through anything.  The cold just kind of crept up on me, it was just 80 something degrees the other day and today you need a jacket and scarf.  It is Autumn, after all.  I just remember being little, and thinking, even though it was Fall, we still had a few warm days,  it was a smoother transition.  You had time to go from the sun dress, to the sweater, and then to the coat.  I guess those days are no more, after all the atmospheric projects and everything.  This prompted me to thinking about how necessary it is to check your medicine cabinets seasonally, I was not prepared.  I had some things but, none of them were for what I had going on.  Do a little inventory, check expiration dates and make sure that what you have in stock, you actually use.  Most of us can't afford to be sick, especially with the whole political media money circus thing going on.  We always suggest a preventative approach, if you begin to incorporate certain things into your daily, you can pretty much skate through the cold without getting one.  Maybe the sniffles but, nothing too serious. These are a couple of  general suggestions to keep your healing cabinet well stocked. Its also nice to have a couple of extras for when guests come by too.  Be Good to Yourselves....Peace

Healing Cabinet Suggestions:(All of these items should be available at your local health food store, Apothecary, or check The Vitamin Shoppe)

-GoldenSeal  (you can buy it in powder, pill or tincture form) If you purchase a tincture, it will usually be paired with Echinachea or Astralagus. (both excellent builders for the immune system) Try Quantum or Nature's Answer brands for your tinctures.

-Vitamin C (minimum 1000 mg, double or triple as you need) *Vitamin C assist the body in absorbing other vitamins.*

-Quantum Brand Cold and Flu Formula: this one is definitely intense, but works well.

-Indian wild cherry bark cough syrup, I think the brand is planetary organics, it is excellent

-Quantum Brand Elderberry/Olive Cough Syrup

-Oregano oil (pill or tincture form)

-Olive leaf extract (pill or tincture form)

-Colloidal Silver (which is a powerhouse like goldenseal, it kills pretty much any infection that you have going on.) Don't overdo it though.

-World Organic Liquid Chlorophyll (Its an internal deodorant in a sense, sends oxygen to muscles thus,  aiding in circulation, gives you more green and helps keep everything running smoothly. ) This can be added to at least one glass of water daily, about a tablespoon.

-Floradix brand liquid iron w/ herbs

-Flax oil:( Add to smoothies, food once its cooked, please refrigerate.)

-Lastly, Dr. Singh's Mustard Bath.  If you have a cold or flu this is the best addition to a hot bath.  The ingredients are: Powdered Mustard Seed, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, Wintergreen, and Thyme.  Its lovely before going to bed.  Enjoy......

How Safe is your Cool!

How safe are your sunglasses? What if the tint or the shade of the lens made it difficult to distinguish between a red traffic light and a green one? What if bubbles and cracks in the lens made it harder to see than if you weren't wearing sunglasses at all? What if the materials used in the construction of the glasses themselves were flammable and began to burn while you were wearing them?

According to experts at the Optical Laboratories Association (OLA), a trade association for the eyewear industry, the two main questions people ask when shopping for sunglasses deal with fashion (e.g., "how do they look?) and function (e.g., "are they dark enough?). In fact, most people purchase non prescription, or "fashion," eyewear without any advice from eye care professionals.

So the question remains, how safe are your sunglasses?

Tis The Season: Healing through Autumn

So, as much of a child of the Sun as I am, I'm kind of ready for Fall to make her way in. Its cool, we get a couple of weeks of beach weather before the equinox on Sept. 23rd (Blessed Earthday, John Coltrane). As Summer makes its transition to Fall, we do as well. Our clothing gets a little heavier, we honor the "homebody " in us a bit more, and all of a sudden, we want a bowl of our favorite soup or cup of tea. Through these gentle signals we are being included in nature's change, as we always are. In the warm, the sun is the ruler, so our foods are a reflection of that harvest. Our diets are comprised of more live foods, keeping the body cool and charged from all of its raw enzymes. In the Fall, our movements change, we become more grounded but, tend to be outdoors even more. Fall is like," the great middle". Cool enough for a sweater but, not yet cold enough for a coat. If you are wondering what to eat, now that the weather is beginning to change, let the seasons guide you. Please go out and support your local Farmer's Market's, become inspired by what each harvest offers . If you think about Autumn, what visuals comes to mind? For me, Orange, yellow, red, brown, leaves, rain and my favorite rain boots, earth, all things Green , and apple picking. And the mornings are laced with the coolest and crispest air. So I look at that and think: Pumpkin, acorn and butternut squash, apples, pears, figs, potatoes, all dark leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, lentils, peas, nuts & seeds, beans, brown and wild rices, quinoa, oats, corn, miso, ginger, garlic, cayenne, and plenty of good water etc. Its simple, your foods during this time should represent the balance of hot and cold. If we give a little, nature will do the rest. She is one of our most ancient teachers. Here is a quick little recipe for one of my favorite teas. I don't measure anything so you can just eyeball it to your taste...Be well luvs....

Ginger Lemon Tea ( Its good cold, as well)

To boiled water, please add:

-Fresh Ginger (I run it through the juicer, it should yield about 1/2 cup of juice), if not just chop as finely as you can. Ginger is very spicy, so the amount you use, depends on how much heat you are cool with. I love a lot.

-Fresh squeezed lemon juice from 1 whole lemon and the zest (that's just the peel w/ as little white as possible).

-Sweeten to taste w/ a nice honey or agave nectar

-Take off the fire and steep for about 20 minutes. Enjoy

*For those of you that may not know. Agave nectar is a sweetener derived from the cactus plant. It has a low glycemic index and is safe for Diabetics. Keep in mind that although it is a natural sweetener, it is still a sugar and should not be used like crazy. I know we get excited when we see the word " natural" but, be easy on your body. Nothing is mastered without balance. Be well...Peace

Story of the Day

A few of you may have stumbled across this story before but i thought i would post it up for those that haven’t. The reason why the Cycling Weapons Of Mass Destruction guy has these amazing bicycles below…. read the story here.

Replenish>>By way of DJ Cucumber Slice a.k.a Cool Bob Love

Giant Step always delivers. You've got 120 Seconds to speak your mind! Just look into the camera and let it flow..."

This is the last bit of direction given to the artists interviewed on the video series, Friends We Love. The result is the segment called "120 Seconds," an open platform to tell the world their thoughts on a topic they feel passionately about. Produced and directed by Mike Vargas and Moni Pineda, Friends We Love explores the motivations, inspirations and creative processes of some of today's most forward thinking artists and creators.



More about Friends We Love
Friends We Love Press Release

Betty Davis Matters @ Beat Grinder/ Sept. 24th

Once again it's on. The Tru Skool "Beat Grinder Championship" is the only beat competition that matters for the DC area. Ten producers battle it out for the Beat Grinder crown. One producer goes home as king. Tru Skool is know for hosting great events, and "Liv" at Bohemian Cavern has provided the arena. Its a Tribute to Betty Davis for those that are unfamiliar...Here is what you will need to know Hosted by: Grap Luva Dj's: Damu the Fudgemonk and Underdog the DJ Performing: Emoni Fela DJ Roddy Rod (w/ Lo Budget Crew) Rape Whistle Sign Up to Battle at MAJOR (1426 Wisconsin Avenue....admission is $5.00 before September 19th and $10.00 between the 19th & 22nd) Givaways all night long! Supported by: Major Sneaker Boutique, Frolab, EA Sports,Fusicology and Vitamin Water

Event Information:

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM 18+ cover: TBD | 18 to chill / 21 to spill

Venue Information:

Liv 2001 11th Street NW above Bohemian Caverns Washington, DC 20001 http://livdc.com view Mapquest view Yahoo Maps

On the hunt!!!

My wife and I share many similarities but this one is the link that made the chain that much stronger...If you see these, Please help. Size 11UK please.

Enkuntatash (Ethiopian New Year) Sept 11, 2008..

For those that slept, here is your lesson.

Now, the Ethiopian calendar (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ዘመን አቆጣጠር ye'Ītyōṗṗyā zemen āḳoṭaṭer), also called the Ge'ez calendar, is the principal calendar used in Ethiopia and is also the liturgical year of Christians in Eritrea belonging to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, Eastern Catholic Church of Eritrea and Lutheran (Evangelical Church of Eritrea). It is based on the older Alexandrian or Coptic calendar, which is based on the even older Egyptian calendar, but like the Julian calendar, it adds a leap day every four years without exception, and begins the year on August 29 or August 30 in the Julian calendar. The seven to eight year gap between the Ethiopian and Gregorian calendars results from alternate calculations in determining the date of the Annunciation of Jesus.

Like the Coptic calendar, the Ethiopian/Ge'ez calendar has twelve months of 30 days each plus five or six epagomenal days (usually called a thirteenth month). Furthermore, its months begin on the same days as those of the Coptic calendar, but they have different names, that are in Ge'ez. The sixth epagomenal day is added every four years without exception on August 29 in the Julian calendar, six months before the Julian leap day. Thus the first day of the Ethiopian year, 1 Mäskäräm, for years between 1901 and 2099 (inclusive), is usually September 11 (Gregorian), but falls on September 12 (Gregorian), in years before the Gregorian leap year.

B well!!!

Finally!!!!

Eat. Live. Be. Create. GREEN....

Give thanks for coming through.

Be Well...