[Friday Link Round-Up] Holiday Crafting, Craigslist Guilty Pleasures, Alexa Chung News

1. Hedgehog Clock and other gifts made of wood from Style-Files.

2. Re-discovered Nerve's Best of Craigslist. Lost 2 hours of life. 

3. Alexa Chung gets her own thrift shopping show. Just in time for me to steal all her clothes.

4. Adorable Christmas garland idea from The Crafting Chicks. 

[Green Thursdays] Racing Through the Winter Months

A Photo from Bay Area Boxing, which offers affordable kickboxing classes

Yesterday, I got into a conversation with co-workers about the difficulties of being a female runner in the winter. First, you've got the whole issue of needing more "coverage" for those early-morning runs. Second, your face gets really hot and your ears get really cold (this is a cross-gender problem). And, third, it's actually dangerous for anyone -- but moreso for women -- to run in the dark. Sure, statistically speaking, abduction while you're out jogging is not common. But it happens, and why would I want to put myself at risk?

That leaves you with two options: lunch-time runs or working out indoors. I often have meetings with management after lunch, so I have to go with the latter. And I hate it from an environmental perspective. 

I just read this article on Slate about the environmental impact of gyms. It's kind of frightening how much energy is consumed in gyms, especially considering that they're still such unpleasant places to hang out.

My suggestion: join a smaller, locally-run gym that specializes in yoga, rock climbing, boxing, or whatever else you might be interested in learning. Those gyms have fewer machines and use less energy because they don't require vast quantities of workout equipment but they still have a few treadmills where you can do distance runs once or twice a week. The spaces are smaller too, so there's less space to cool down with the A/C. Also, sometimes, as in the case with Bay Area Boxing, the instructors are really freakin' cute.

[Inspiration] Belle Fleur De Lis

Belle Fleur de Lis has quickly become my new favorite blog since I discovered it via {Frolic}. A photographer and gardener, Lotte gorgeously documents her green-thumb lifestyle. (Also, I'm green with envy regarding her beautiful red locks.)

I'm now thinking of re-landscaping. And by re-landscaping, I mean cleaning off my windowsill and picking up a plant that I will try not to kill.

[News] Canada's Shocking Honest Anti-Rape Campaign

I discovered a Canadian anti-sexual assault campaign via Ms. Magazine Blog. The campaign is organized by SAVE (Sexual Assault Voices of Edmonton), in Edmonton, Canada, launched a campaign to shift the responsibilty from victim (which happens far too often in ad campaigns) to perpetrator. While many campaigns are directed at women and orientated toward the buddy system and not taking drinks from strangers, SAVE looks at the real cause of the increase in assaults: the people committing them.

Some of the "Don't Be That Guy" advertisements that will or have been posted in bar bathrooms and such read:

“Just because you help her home … doesn’t mean you get to help yourself”

“Just because she isn’t saying no … doesn’t mean she’s saying yes.”

And my favorite: “Just because she’s drunk doesn’t mean she wants to fuck.”

Bottom line: This campaign is amazing and should be integrated by other anti-sexual assault campaigns.

[Green Thursdays] Now You Have No Excuse Not to Eat Local

So I don't know how this works in other parts of the world, but I know that America is finally getting their stuff together and catching up with places like New Zealand with the Buy Fresh, Buy Local initiative.

I actually discovered my area's Buy Fresh, Buy Local Guide by accident. I was at the library a few days ago, doing my thang, stocking up on poetry anthologies and cookbooks, when I passed a stack of catalogs with some delicious looking green vegetables on their covers (I'm pretty sure it was kale, which made me really hungry). It turns out, these catalogs are the Bay Area Buy Fresh, Buy Local Guides. Inside, the guides contain articles on sustainable eating, lists of sustainable restaurants and grocery stores and growers. To a food junkie like me, this was heaven. These guides are put out by the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, and there's a guide for every major area in California and in other states as well. Finally, America is finding ways to make it easier to eat better. The regional websites (you can get to California's if you click that link over there) are particularly helpful for the conscious grocery shopper.

Here's a few to get you started:
www.buylocalpa.org
www.buylocalvirginia.org
www.buyfreshbuylocalcr.org
www.buylocalnebraska.org
www.iowafreshfood.com
www.buylocalny.org
www.bfblsd.org
www.buylocalca.org

And here are my favorite fall fruits from the farmer's market down the street (actually, the persimmon is from a friend at the office).

[News] Female Empowerment Kills Romance?

Mach sent me this article from the New York Times, "Keeping the Romance Alive in the Age of Female Empowerment." It's about the perils of female empowerment and how romance is dying as a result.

Essentially, men say they feel emasculated and some couples feel the need to engage in "behavioral contortions" to keep traditional gender roles alive. So high-earning women pay the mortgage, but their partners will whip out the credit card to pay for the morning lattes. The women in this article come off sound slightly patronizing: they "let" their partners pay for the coffee because it makes them feel better.

(Some criticism about the title/article: It presupposes that romance and female empowerment as it is now are mutually exclusive and women need to adhere to traditional gender norms for romance to remain. In addition, by referencing to "the age of female empowerment," it implies that female empowerment/gender equality/equity is a trend that will inevitably end. Bad news bears on both points.)

World AIDS Day!

Today is World AIDS Day! Support the cause by wearing a red ribbon, buying a Starbucks holiday drink, or donating to any of the amazing HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaigns.

Please read my [Get Involved Tuesdays] blog on HIV/AIDS Awareness in LA here.

Taken from Avert.Org:
“Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. The World AIDS Day theme for 2010 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'. World AIDS Day is important for reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.
According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.3 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2009 some 2.6 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 1.8 million people died from AIDS.1
The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower- and middle-income countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.”

[News Counterpoint] How to Use CouchSurfing Safely

Me and My Auckland CouchSurfing Family

Like Amber, I was shocked to read about the numerous instances of sexual harassment and even rape that had occurred as a result of people using CouchSurfing.org. I do think it is the website’s responsibility to notify people of their rights in these situations. Though it may not be the website’s direct responsibility to punish hosts and surfers for their wrongdoing, they can forward these complaints to police departments and, at the very least, delete a person’s account upon the slightest suspicion of harassment or assault. Even the notion that someone might give off that sort of vibe should preclude them from using the service.

At the same time, it is important to consider how CouchSurfing is run. It is mostly staffed by unpaid volunteers from around the world, who do their part while they work full-time jobs and live their own lives. They can’t be expected to police individual profiles. Because this is the case, it is important to know that you’re on your own when you use the site.

Having heard and lived through my share of cautionary tales with the website, I’ve put together a guideline for using CouchSurfing safely, so you can have the most memorable (in a good way) experience possible. Happy travels!

[News] CouchSurfing Ignores Victims of Sexual Harassment

I was perusing Change.org's blog and saw this article on CouchSurfing and sexual harassment. When I backpacked through Europe this past summer, my friends and I debated doing CouchSurfing but decided against it because there were three of us. In theory, CouchSurfing seems like legit option for travelers on a budget. Travelers can contact hosts via the website and can stay with people all over the world for free, with the expectation when they return home, they will open up their own abodes to fellow CouchSurfers. With the rating and comment system as well as the fun and affordability that CouchSurfing offers, who wouldn't consider this option? (Especially when their tagline is "Participate in Creating A Better World, One Couch At A Time."

However, this post outlines how CouchSurfing has ignored comments on profiles and message boards about sexual harassment and even rape.

Some highlights from the blog post:

Digital video artist Melissa Ulto traveled to Athens and was harassed as her hosts tried to kiss, grope and coerce her into sex: "...Ulto contacted CouchSurfing to report the host's misconduct and left negative feedback on his profile warning other women to stay away. The host retaliated by posting nasty comments to Ulto's profile, including calling her a "psycho." CouchSurfing remained silent. So, she contacted them again. Silence. On the third try, she threatened legal action and got their attention. But even that failed to keep it."

"...the online service ignores complaints from women and LGBTQ travelers who have been attacked, drugged, raped, molested, and harassed by hosts."

"CouchSurfing denies responsibility with the pat response that victims should more vigorously vet potential hosts and report illegal behavior to the proper authorities in the country in which they're traveling."

(This reminds me of the Craigslist controversy and the controversy over the intentions of certain posts and how they promote illegal behavior such as child pornography and prostitution.)

How responsible are these websites for the content posted on them? How much responsibility should CouchSurfing take on? I think they should take complaints more seriously and make more effort to ensure the safety of travelers. That being said, I'm not sure I would ever do CouchSurfing even if there were better policies. However, for travelers choosing CouchSurfing, it should be a safe option, since it is marketed as such. Sure one can offer advice: "use the buddy system" and "check the comments," but those methods are fool-proof against rape and harassment.

If CouchSurfing is asking its users to make the world a better place, they should try to do the same.

Read Carrie's take on CouchSurfing here.

[Food + Drink Wednesdays] Mostly Vegan, Mostly Perfect Birthday Carrot Cake

Never Compromise with Cream Cheese Frosting

I had three cakes at my birthday party this year. Some might call that extravagant. Others might call it just about the proper number. I am of the latter persuasion.

I used to be vegan, and butter freaks me out. It's just so... so... buttery. I think it's a holdover from when I used to cringe buying kilos of butter at a time in New Zealand. And eggs freak me out too, unless they're fresh from my friend's backyard. Then at least I know the chickens and they're cool with me and we've reached an understanding about the exchange we're making: me = eggs, chickens = my undying love and affection + possibly giving them some of my food scraps.

Though all three cakes were delicious (one had vodka and wine in it), the carrot cake was near and dear to my heart. This is because it was a no-egg, no-butter, and no-dairy cake (except for the organic, locally-made cream cheese frosting, because I would never skimp on cream cheese).

I altered my recipe from this one. This way is perfectly most and delicious and doesn't alienate your non-vegan friends (that would be 100% of mine):

2 1/3 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp salt

6 tbsp flax seed meal (I found a lifetime supply at Costco)
3/4 c warm water
1½ c sugar
1 c oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 c shredded carrots
1 c raisins (HAD to add raisins to this recipe. It was SO much better with raisins)

Cream Cheese Frosting
4 oz organic cream cheese
1/8c Smart Balance, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 c powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350º. Spray one deep cake pan with cooking oil and then sprinkle with flour. In a small bowl, sift together dry ingredients (flour through salt). In a large bowl, whisk together flax seed meal and water. Beat in sugar and oil. Add vanilla and carrots and mix until combined. Add dry mix and stir until moistened. Fold in raisins. Pour into pan. Bake for 40 min, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan 10 minutes.

For the frosting, beat together cream cheese and Smart Balance. Add vanilla and powdered sugar; whip until smooth and creamy and looks like clouds of cream cheese joy.

Frost the cake and put it in the fridge. It should be served nice and cold. Stop feeling guilty. Eat.

Happy (belated) birthday to me!