FREE Stuff for the Business-Minded Dumpster Diver!

Next time you are checking out a dumpster in an affluent neighborhood ,why not leave one of these extremely cool calling cards? They're FREE for 250 of them:

http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/top_deals.aspx?affid=CD378&GP=4%2F26%2F2008+2%3A48%3A22+PM

A Quick Note on Self-Esteem & Television or, Stop Exposing Yourself to Consumer Culture!

From the Free Press:

http://www.freepress.net/news/4890


A MUST READ:

http://www.tvsmarter.com/documents/intelligence.html

"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace.
- John Lennon"

What is FREEGANISM?

http://www.freegan.info/

Man! This site is one of my favorites!
"Strategies for Sustainable Living Beyond Capitalism"

FREE STUFF.

Even the most rabid consumer amongst us likes free stuff. Ever see an antique furniture piece sitting on the sidewalk in front of someone's home on trash pickup day? I have. It is now a refinished table that my chess set is displayed on!
I've posted some links to free stuff in the LINKS section.

FREE DVD's : Besides checking out DVD's at your public library, the mission of this site is "to establish SwitchPlanet.com as a premier online community that is committed to helping reduce the impact waste is having on the planet by trading the things we no longer use to get the things we want."
Check it out!
http://www.switchplanet.com/

FREE (or cheap) PHONE CALLS from a computer:
http://skype.com/

I'll add more next time.

I Need A New Bike!

No you don't. Of all the stuff Americans buy new, a new bicycle makes absolutely NO sense. They're everywhere! People throw away new bikes! Saw one the other day sticking out of a dumpster! It wasn't brand new, but it was in awesome condition. Needed a seat. Tires were inflated. A scratch here and there. I pulled it out and gave it to someone I know will recycle it!

Check out Randy Jawa's site on breathing new life into an old bicycle! (See Link List)

New Lamp?

No, not really. Well, it looks new, but it was standing by the dumpster so it must not work. *CLICK* Hey wait! It does work! Wow! Wonder why someone would throw a new lamp away?

Stretch Your Paycheck--STOP BUYING SHIT!

Here's a fool-proof way to see more of your next paycheck: Stop buying stuff you don't need! I know. It's fun to buy stuff. We've been told we are supposed to. It's American to buy stuff! Ever see people at ____(insert your favorite department store name) with their baskets overflowing with stuff. They don't even look at what they're about to buy. More bath towels, more socks, another lamp. A clock. A four-slice toaster. They aimlessly wander through the store piling up stuff in such quantities that they sometimes have to send one of the kids back for another basket! It's become a national past time! By the time they've made it to the till to check out, they're tired, hungry and bitchy! Along the way they've decided there are a couple of items they figure they can live without so they stick it wherever it will fit. This is why you sometimes see a package of hot dogs squished in amongst the bath towels. Don't worry, the store crew will put them back in the refrigerator section later.
Here's a late disclaimer: I realize a LOT of what we buy is disposable. It's a major factor in our consumer-driven, throw-away oriented junk culture. Also, I could care less if anyone who can afford it wants to spend,spend, spend their earnings away on the latest junk to fill their houses with. The main point of this blog, (and you will see all the creative, cool ideas I come up with along the way) is to emphasize the notion that "it's all just stuff" and much of what is purchased is done so in a mindless fashion because the commercials on your new 47" LCD TV set tell you you have to have it!

The Art of Dumpster Diving.

Often times, Americans are just too lazy to deal with a gift they have received that they don't fancy or an outdated TV set from last year, so they take it to the pawn shop or give it to a friend, right? WRONG! They toss it in the dumpster! Sometimes, even the most consumer driven amongst us feel a little guilty about throwing something of value away, so they place it on TOP of the dumpster(or beside it). This way, some poor, unfortunate creature might find it and actually use it. Just seeing that new toaster mom and dad bought me to go away to college with missing from where I put it atop the dumpster makes me feel a whole lot less guilty-someone is putting it to good use! ( I tried to tell them I had to have a FOUR slice toaster. I'm in a hurry! Am I supposed to wait for bread to toast? Besides, Burger King is right around the corner-- they make breakfast...what do I need a toaster for?)

T V Sets. (yawwwwnnn)

Americans are encouraged 24/7 to buy stuff. The latest campaign is to get millions of us to go out and buy the biggest TV set your money will buy. We're suddenly a nation of TV snobs! If you haven't already rushed out to the department store with your credit card to buy a bigger, wider, DTV enabled set with all the extras, well, you have simply let yourself, your family and the entire nation down! And what will you do with the"old"set? You know, the one you bought last summer? I recently watched someone at an estate sale buy a perfectly good TV set for $5.00.! Not surprising, since we live in a throw away society. NEXT summer, the TV set you buy now will be outdated. Don't worry. You'll be TOLD when it is time to go buy another one. Just stay tuned in to your new digital TV. Further instructions will follow. And even the commercials will be digitally enhanced!!!