Author: Matthew Baya

Story of Stuff

sos_button.jpgI received a mass e-mail from Anne Feeney, an activist & musician I admire, the other day and she mentioned the following in here summary of 2007

“As most Americans are wallowing in stuff right now, I’m looking for ways to simplify my life. If you haven’t visited http://storyofstuff.com this would be a great time to do it. I’m planning a more sustainable 2008.”

So I went to the site and downloaded the movie (link provided below) and watched it last night. Yes it’s a bit depressing but it’s well done and in only 20 minutes they really drive the point home. It’s style reminds me alot of another site I’ve been watching videos on, http://www.commoncraft.com/ and their plain english videos (I recommend ‘Social Networking in Plain English‘ for a good example of a complex idea made simple).

Not sure exactly what I can change to be more sustainable but I’m starting to think about it more. First step is to admit you have a problem, right? Certainly having just unloaded our car after returning from our holiday travels and looking at our overflowing house Emily & I are both very aware of our ‘stuff’ right now. I also keep thinking of the classic George Carlin ‘A Place For My Stuff‘ routine.

So if you’ve got 20 minutes check it out. You can view the introduction on youtube here.

You can download this movie in its entirity from their site. Simply save the link below to your computer (50 MB).

downloadmovie.gif

What You Do With What You’ve Got

Lyrics to a song by Si Kahn that I really really like:

You must know someone like him
He’s strong and tall and lean
His body like a greyhound
And his mind so sharp and keen
But his heart just like a laurel
Grew twisted on itself
‘Til almost everything he did
Brought pain to someone else

Chorus:
‘Cause it’s not just what you’re born with
It’s what you choose to bear
It’s not how much your share is
But it’s how much you can share
And it’s not the fights you’ve dreamed of
But those you really fought
It’s not just what you’re given
It’s what you do with what you’ve got

Now between those who use their neighbor
And those who use a cane
Between those in constant power
And those in constant pain
Between those who run to evil
And those who cannot run
Tell me which ones are the cripples
And which ones touch the sun

Chorus
For what’s the use of two strong legs
If you only run away
And what good is the finest voice
With nothing good to say
And what good is strength and muscle
If you only push and shove
What’s the use in two good ears
If you can’t hear those you love
Chorus