August 16, 2005
And Another One Down!
And Hershey's eats up Joseph Schmidt, too! Go 3400 Phinney, go... or at least get your website up and running, please?
In the Chron article, Michael Recchiuti, one of the remaining Bay Area indie confectioners, does address some of why buyouts like this are scary. I'm glad he's holding out, even if it does mean he's missing out on the millions.
***
On to Meatier Matters: as part of my investigations for work, I went to go check out the original mobile slaughterhouse, in action, on Lopez Island. Do you know where your t-bone/chop/bacon comes from? I have a much better idea now, and I'm 100% positive that what I saw today was a hell of a lot prettier than what most beasties go through (ie, an assembly line).
Tempted as I am to post the photos in all their gory detail, I'll perpetuate the cleanliness myth and leave it at these two (private screenings of the real deal available by request). You'd never guess what happens inside, especially after it's been scrubbed of all evidence.
As farmer Bruce points out, his pigs have a really good life, and then one bad day. The little ones are adorable, and these are still a few months away from their bad day:
After I had asked 12,042 questions, had the mechanics of the "captive bolt" something-or-other tool (instead of a gun) explained to me...
...and 6 once-were-pigs and 5 once-were-sheep hung from hooks in the refrigerated section of the trailer, I helped Bruce weigh his lambs.
Back on San Juan Island, Adam and I grilled up steaks, and almost finished the chocolates.
Posted by Elizabeth at 09:47 PM | Comments (0)
August 12, 2005
Let There Be Chocolate
My Northwest adventure got somewhat hijacked by work, which has turned out to be a good thing (other than the fact that I had to change my whole itinerary) because it got a lot longer, and they're paying for a good chunk of it...
My day in Seattle brings good news! As of October, there will be an amazing and still-indie boutique-y chocolate factory on the same scale as Scharffen Berger, only better, because all their products are either Fair Trade certified, or organic, or both, go team!
I wasn't allowed to take any photos as the new factory is still under construction and they're overly modest, but soon enough 3400 Phinney will be on the radar.
I thought that maybe I was crazy, perhaps their mint truffle couldn't possibly have been as good as I have been remembering all day. But I just fed one to my brother and he agreed that it was the best chocolate he's ever tasted... we're not talking about some too-sweet peppermint patty, the thing is dark chocolate through and through and tastes like there's a fresh mint leaf in it. I don't know how else to explain it.
I have no idea where you can get these except at 3400 Phinney (named after the address of the 100 year-old brick building housing the new factory), though apparently they do ship them... founder Joe tells me I have to eat the box he gave me within a few days, so I can't bring any home to share. Tragic, really.
Posted by Elizabeth at 09:52 PM | Comments (0)
August 09, 2005
Another One Bites the Dust
Long time, no post... there will at some point be a Reggae on the River update, but all I can think of at this exact moment is the fact that Hershey's is going to buy Scharffen Berger.
There are all sorts of reasons why this is great for the folks at Scharffen Berger AND the people trying to buy their chocolate. Hooray for them, and buyouts like this still make me sad.
Posted by Elizabeth at 12:58 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2005
Women on Top
Yesterday the Curmudgeon suggested that people who blog might not get as many "hi, how are you?" phone calls as non-bloggers, because the blog-reading friends have already read about the latest adventures and don't need to call to hear the news. Then there's the "yeah, I read that on your blog" comment that makes me feel like a boring person who tells the same stories over and over again.
Whether or not any of the above is true, the whole idea intrigued me enough that I was going to go on a Blog Fast to see what might happen. Unfortunately I've already botched the experiment, because I seem to be addicted.
***
So. Women on Top. Last week's Economist addressed this, in an article entitled "the Conundrum of the Glass Ceiling." with inane bits like:
Why is it proving so difficult for women to reach the top of corporations? Are they simply less ambitious, less excited by the idea of limitless (albeit first-class) travel, late nights and the onerous responsibilities imposed by mounting regulation? A 2002 survey of top executives in American multinationals around the world did find them to be less ambitious, at least for the very top job: 19% of the men interviewed aspired to be CEO, whereas only 9% of the women did.
In fact, the study shows that only 19% of men interviewed aspired to be CEO, whereas only 9% of women did. There was no "how ambitious are you, and toward what goal?" question cited in the article. Where's the study about aspiring toward a balanced lifestyle? Where's the article asking "how much is enough?" Oh wait, I'm reading the Economist, right.
On the more palatable side, this same issue includes an article on Shakira. While the Glass Ceiling is premium content (oh, the irony), everyone can read about the Crossover Queen.
Posted by Elizabeth at 06:54 PM | Comments (2)
July 22, 2005
Comedy of Errors, and a Bike List
Fun with Phone Lines! My advice when dealing with SBC, or any other organization with rooms and rooms full of customer service agents: keep calling back until you get the answer you want. Quick Quiz: what's the difference between binding posts and a tagged phone line? Answer: lots of money, even though they both serve the same purpose!
I'm hoping that since someone had no trouble cutting the phone lines (twice) the week we moved in, the SBC technician will be able to get into wherever the lines live to tag them on Saturday. I'm tempted to ask why they didn't tag them when they installed them in their unidentifiable-binding-post states on Tuesday, or even when they came to tag the OTHER line yesterday, but I know that would merely expose me as an overly rational, practical person.
***
Today's Bike List tells a story:
- 1 tiny piece of glass embedded in a tire
- 1 block of wondering why the hell the bike was making such odd noises all of a sudden (um, that would be the rim on pavement)
- 2 hands somewhat greasy from removing the rear wheel
- 1 unexpected train ride home with the wheel in hand
- 1 sad (but still gorgeous) bike keeping me company in the office while I wait on hold.
Posted by Elizabeth at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)
July 21, 2005
Google Redemption
Even though he claims that "debaucherous" is not a word (the sentence would be instead, "some parties were more debauched than others," and Yes, you can text message a word to Google from your cell phone to get a definition, or supposed proof that aforementioned word does not exist), Jacob wins points for showing me that Google aime la France after all, assuaging my fears to the contrary. Just not every year.
AND there's a Google solution in the event that it's foggy (as it often is this time of year in SF) and you pine for the moon. Those guys, I tell ya...
Posted by Elizabeth at 05:55 PM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2005
The Gift of Gab
(Warning: in lieu of photos, this post contains Shameless Self Promotion.)
I love my job, as it involves interviews with really inspiring people at companies I love, who are happy to talk because we've helped hook them up with money. Yesterday I was back at the Niman Ranch office. Sadly, unlike last time, there was no meat served...
I'd brought along to the interview someone from the capital finance firm that didn't hire me last year. Since he actually does speak the Language of Money (as opposed to merely pretending to, which is my tactic), I was a little nervous about looking like an idiot in comparison. Apparently, what I lack in actual knowledge of capital finance, I more than make up with my ability to get folks to spill details. The guy was so impressed that he said to me as we were leaving, "Wow, it was amazing to watch you work! I learned more in that interview than I have in the last three combined... are you SURE you can't come on Thursday when I'm talking to Oak Hill Farms?"
Um, flattery gets you far with me, let me check my calendar again? They're in Glen Ellen? Fun boondoggle, anyone? I'm trying to come up with a way to justify it to myself, but I just don't think it's going to happen. I am, however, trying to console myself with a trip to San Luis Obispo to spend some time with the folks at Guayaki.
***
Because I'm such a generous gal, I thought I'd share one of the resources revealed to me yesterday during the interview, which went on for so long I missed my Salsa lesson: the North Carolina Poop Counter. Just in case you need to know, in real time, how much poop people and pigs are producing in that state.
Posted by Elizabeth at 02:22 PM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2005
Google n'aime pas la France?
I can't believe there isn't some cutesy Vive La France-esque Google home page art today, in honor of Bastille Day! I am willing to extend the benefit of the doubt and not just assume the Google folk are Francophobic like some people in this country (Jacob, can you confirm?), but I won't pretend I'm not seriously disappointed.
Maybe this is old news, and since I rarely go to the Google home page it's likely: I just noticed there is now an official Google toolbar for Firefox. As cool as the translation features appear to be (but will it translate French?!), I don't think I'm willing to give up the "Back to Search Results" and "Next Result" buttons on the unofficial, open-source Google toolbar...
To the kids kickin' it in France (thanks Jen for the postcard that told me stop working, stop Googling, and come on over- you know me too well), rest assured that we will be properly observing la Revolution ce soir en San Francisco! Bisous, je vous aime.
Posted by Elizabeth at 09:27 AM | Comments (0)
June 30, 2005
Ü Would Love Organic Valley
I have not mentioned recently how much I love Organic Valley. After their presentation at a dinner for high falutin' food funder types in Davis last night, I am compelled to gush about them. Again.
Here's why they are awesome: they're a cooperative completely owned by family farmers, not some ginormous industrial food company. They continually pay their farmers much more than the national average for their organic milk/eggs/whatever. The average age of their farmers is under 40, which is Totally Inspiring (the young folks get it!), considering the national average is over 55.
And their products are actually worth eating. That's not just my bias; their cheese wins awards, here and abroad.
***
In another presentation, there were some wild statistics thrown out about cooperatives. According to someone who apparently knows a lot about these sorts of things, there are more co-op members in the US than there are people who own shares on the stock market. And more people in the US work for co-ops than for companies traded on the stock market. I don't care how many REI members or Good Vibrations employees there are (yes, they're a worker-owned co-op), I'm a bit shocked. Haven't tried to confirm or disprove the statement; I'm just passing it on for interest's sake.
***
The Food. As it should be at any foodie event, the multi-course meal featured all sorts of goodies from local farms that were listed on the menu. Because I am a lightweight and had already had a glass of the Rominger wine, I was unable to partake of more than a taste of the 2003 Bonny Doon Vin de Glacière before driving back to SF, alas! At least I got home in one piece.
Posted by Elizabeth at 02:40 PM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2005
Another Day at the Office
So I finally arrive at the new office around 3 o'clock to discover that the phone and DSL lines are down. So I turn around and head back home, where a lot of nothing continues to get accomplished. Some days (er, weeks) are like this... I get lots done in the office, really I swear, when it's operating properly.
If you had asked me a few years ago if I'd be chomping at the bit to have an office job with real, live co-workers and a regular schedule, I would have thought you were crazy. Now, I'm sure that in fact, I am crazy. Grad school will do that to a person. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
At least I'm not wrapping my boss's office in tin foil, which is what one "working" person spent the day doing. That is, when this person wasn't checking my blog, an event which the Site Meter informs me occurred three times already today. Not that I've been checking my traffic (and IP addresses) or anything.
Posted by Elizabeth at 05:16 PM | Comments (1)
June 22, 2005
All Wet
Once upon a time, I had to figure out a way to produce how-to books to be displayed for sale in Wal-Mart and Home Depot’s garden sections. Which meant they had to be waterproof. Which meant that instead of paper, they were printed on plastic… and since I was working for a supposedly-sustainable company, said plastic was supposedly recyclable.
After many calls to the manufacturer of the stuff, it was still unclear that a whole book made out of Polyart is technically recyclable at all… and the stuff weighs a lot more than paper, which means we used a lot more energy to ship the books around the country. Oh but we were green in theory, that all that counts, right? Oh, how I despise green washing, especially when I have a hand in it. I don’t work at that company anymore.
Cradle to Cradle is a rather well-known book in the sustainable design world, also printed on plastic. Because I’m not a designer, I gave my copy to The Engineer (just to follow up on this post, his boyfriend is moving to SF in a couple weeks). He happily reports that the book is even heavier after you take it into the bathtub, as it never really dries out. Mold Alert, Fun with Plastic!
Despite what one might assume, Cradle to Cradle might actually be a more interesting bathtub read than this plastic book. A printing company sent this me to prove they had experience with plastic, and I’m not surprised they had extras lying around; most of the Amazon reviewers agree with me that the writing isn’t worth whatever it’s printed on.
Posted by Elizabeth at 02:32 PM | Comments (0)
June 16, 2005
Office Space
I've had enough of working from my bedroom, and so I've begun squatting in the new (shared) office. Which means that even though the paperwork has yet to be signed, I've procured a key, taken over fridge space, and I'm using someone's mug. Ah, entitlement.
Though the janitor service appears to have been cancelled around the time the bubble burst, the place still has a very dot-com feel. Some of my favorite details:
Bubble wrap? No; my desk (from underneath).
Fun translucent walls.
We're right on a bike lane, which makes me happy. Notice, however, the rain on present on the window. Mental note: check weather report before biking to work, and dress appropriately...
I suppose this means that Dolores Park Movie night will once again be cancelled due to inclement weather, fie. Alternative: Third Thursday at the Academy of Sciences. Mmm, chocolate!
Posted by Elizabeth at 12:35 PM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2005
Insert Gratuitous Product Endorsement Here
I’ve been feeling smug for years that I’m not addicted to coffee, so I was somewhat deflated to discover that my yerba maté habit is just as bad (if not worse) caffeine-wise, according to Guayaki’s Caffeine-O-Meter. At least I’m also getting xanthine alkaloids, theophylline, and theobromine. (OK maybe I have no idea what any of those are, but apparently they’re good for me.)
Even though my South-America-going maté-snob friends don’t think their product is as tasty as that from other sources, I’m a big fan of Guayaki, the company whose maté has been helping me write a ridiculously long Operations Plan recently. Here’s what their CEO had to say (on a conference call for work a few weeks ago, love my job!) when asked how Guayaki defines “sustainability:”
We define it as being able to create and produce products without impacting the ability of future generations to do so. We’re also starting to get into restoration; in Argentina, there’s not a lot of forest left, so we’re reforesting with native species. Paraguay, another area where we work, is 95% deforested... Sustainability is one thing, but as we move forward it’s going to be a lot more about restoration.
We need more companies to start thinking like that, and they need to be wildly successful! Go, Drink More Guayaki Maté! Just not after 3pm, if you're as susceptible to insomnia as I am...
Posted by Elizabeth at 04:00 PM | Comments (1)
April 15, 2005
Google Geekdom... Got Juice?
How do I love Google? Let me count the ways… I’m addicted to the Google toolbar (Firefox version here), I installed Google Desktop the day they released the beta version, and thanks to Google News Alerts, I’ve been able to pass as an expert in a variety of professional situations (most ridiculous: I was Fantastic Foods’ low carb guru for a year). Were I not already trying to keep track of 5 email accounts, I’d be using gmail; sure, big brother might be watching, but at least brother Google won’t be evil.
More recently, Google’s satellite map feature has this geographer drooling. (Slightly unrelated as it’s not officially Google, but definitely cool: Nick reported on this guy’s Google maps + Craigslist rental listings hack a few days ago.)
Beyond all these goodies, it’s Google Gulp that has really brightened my day:
You can pick up your own supply of this "limited release" product simply by turning in a used Gulp Cap at your local grocery store. How to get a Gulp Cap? Well, if you know someone who's already been "gulped," they can give you one. And if you don't know anyone who can give you one, don't worry – that just means you aren't cool. But very, very (very!) soon, you will be.
Don't miss the "Google Gulp and Your Privacy" section at the bottom. I don’t think Greg Steltenpohl (one of the original hippies behind Odwalla and my boss when I was working for Interra last summer) should be too worried that this Google project will compete with his new juice venture; Adina World Beat Beverages will actually be hitting the shelves in a week or so. The other day he gave me a sample of the Hibiscus Lemon Bissap Bionutrient Enhanced Juice Cooler (what???), which was yummy, but at ~$2.50 a bottle, a mere 9% juice, and most ingredients not organic, I’m a little skeptical. We’ll see, we’ll see! If success can be measured by the number of Google search results, they've got a long way to go.
Posted by Elizabeth at 02:49 PM | Comments (0)
April 14, 2005
Wait, There's More!
Thanks Dedee for alerting me to another, um, offering from Scandinavia, where at least a few folks are taking Eco-Pornography very seriously. Fuck for Forest is not the eco-porn that Gerry Mander rails against (the kind you find in sleazy corporate greenwashing campaigns), it’s the Real Deal. Hump on a Stump, Save the Trees! Or something like that. They have a hard time getting non-profits to take their money. Oh, come now.
While searching for the article at SFGate.com, I learned that it wasn’t this woman’s finger in the Wendy’s chili (just to follow up on this post).
Posted by Elizabeth at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
April 08, 2005
What's it Worth to Ya?
So Wendy's still hasn't been able to figure out where the infamous finger-in-the-chili came from, and now they're offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to its identification. DNA tests notwithstanding, I think someone should just lop off part of their own finger, show the stump, and claim the cash. Seriously, do you really need that last digit? Jerry Garcia rocked minus one, and Tommy Caldwell cranks as hard as ever since sawing the end off his finger...
The press is certainly painting an odd portrait of the woman who found it, and her house has been searched; maybe she planted it? I spend lots of time amongst the research that shows how convoluted the food chain has become, and speaking of the late Jerry, The Future of Food (a film created by his most recent wife, on earlier this week at the Red Vic) also warns how hard it is to trace food sources. Still, it amazes me that nobody can figure out where the finger came from. You'd think someone would be missing it ???
Posted by Elizabeth at 07:59 PM | Comments (0)
April 01, 2005
It's Official: I Care, Outside Doesn't
The problem with any sort of moral campaign (see original post here) is that the other party needs to care. Though Outside magazine claims to be "dedicated to covering the people, activities, gear, literature, art, and politics of the world outside," my conversations with the communications director suggest they fancy gloss and glitter more than the actual communities featured. "Have you heard of [cover photographer] James White?" she asked me. "He's really famous, has worked with Vogue, Vanity Fair!" As the Curmudgeon pointed out, they could have saved a lot of money by hiring Dean instead. Guess all the corporate ad spots leave them with cash to burn.
After doing her best to answer my questions, it was clear to both of us that she hadn't been able to get me the story I was after. "Don't tell him I said so, but you should just call the photo director." Of course, I already had; we've been playing phone tag for the last few days. Can't wait to hear what he has to say.
Meanwhile, there's some degree satisfaction for me in this thread on SuperTopo, where several of the regulars are in my camp on this whole issue...
***
1:25pm update:
The story has a really boring ending, no surprises there. Outside's photo director was annoyed because he had hired an expensive stylist who still wanted a credit listed, even though the gal's not wearing anything.
He said, "We're a general interest magazine with 2.5 million readers; we're not about the core community. We were trying to shoot a commercial cover. I don't hire climbing photographers for any cover shots, and I never will. I mean come on- people get upset about the things we do all the time." Guess it's just my turn to stew. Next...
Posted by Elizabeth at 09:16 AM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2005
Sexy Sustainability
My fellow MBA students and I often ask ourselves, “how can we make sustainability SEXY?” Comet Skateboards presents this solution.
I met founder Don Shaffer at an event sponsored by Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, so I figured his company must be up to something. Sure enough, their website (which reinforces my bias against Flash) says that Comet Skateboards are manufactured using sustainably-harvested wood, low-VOC coatings, and their computerized router “guarantees perfect symmetrical shapes, straight drill holes every time and workers with all of their fingers.”
Posted by Elizabeth at 10:42 AM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2005
Stone Nudes vs. Outside Magazine?
Because I have so much free time on my hands, I've started a David-and-Goliath-esque shit-stirring campaign. The cover of the latest Outside magazine looks suspiciously like it's part of Dean Fidelman's Stone Nudes project. Coincidence? Unlikely, since there's a mention of the Stone Nudes Calendars in the article.
It gets juicier. Having been more involved in the whole Stone Nudes affair than I perhaps ought to have been, since 1999, I know that Outside magazine interviewed Dean about his calendars for a review back in 2001 or 2002. Unfortunately for calendar sales that year, they decided to drop the piece since there were "no famous climbers" involved. So it's not like they can argue that they had no idea about what Dean was doing.
But the real ethics issue to me is that the photo editor at Outside was emailing Dean a few months ago in an attempt to get the contact info of any "particularly beautiful girls" for this shoot. "It's not like they'll be naked or anything," he insisted (hmm). Dean started ignoring their emails when it became clear that they weren't going to be considering him or any other climbing photographers for the shoot, they weren't going to adequately scratch his back (is it ever enough?) in return for scouting locations or passing Stone Nudes climbers along, and in his words, "they didn't have any intention of giving anything back to the climbing community."
So. I could just ignore all of the above, or I could muster up all my communications skills and try to get some sort of satisfaction for the little creative project that the majority of the outdoor industry has been blowing off for years. Suffice to say I just called Outside's art department: "I just wanted to make sure I am accurately representing your side of the story," I said to the voicemail box. Two minutes later I got a call back from the manager, who claims she has no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the April cover. And she referred me to the Communications Director, "who will investigate the issue for me." I see how it is... I'm not allowed to go straight to the source, fine, they can circle their wagons. I'm just fascinated to see what story they'll come up with.
Posted by Elizabeth at 10:33 AM
March 22, 2005
Drunk Dial Blocker
My friend Laura informs me that Virgin Mobile has a service to help prevent their clients from drunk dialing their friends. You choose the numbers you don’t want to call in a moment of weakness, and the service prevents any calls from going through to that number until 6am. So far it’s only available in Australia, where Virgin did their homework: 95% of their customers Dial Under the Influence, and 35% do it more than once a week.
While interesting in theory, I’m not sold on this service. Do people usually plan ahead when they get that drunk? Let’s imagine you do actually have that kind of foresight… will you be able to predict whom you might be compelled to call after too many mixed drinks? Playing it safe could get expensive; it costs $0.25 ($1 AUD=$0.79 USD) for every number you block yourself from calling, every time you plan to get drunk. Hm.
And I love to state the obvious: you could just avoid getting that drunk in the first place...
Posted by Elizabeth at 11:29 AM
March 21, 2005
Charging Up California's Clean Energy Sector
I was excited to learn about another market-based solution for encouraging sustainable industries (thanks Mikey):
The California Clean Energy Fund was established as part of PG&E's bankruptcy settlement. Nth Power, one of three venture capital firms chosen to divvy up the $30 million amongst companies in the clean energy sector, estimates that $500 million (more than 2% of total VC funding) was invested in domestic clean energy projects in 2004.
Posted by Elizabeth at 08:31 AM
March 18, 2005
Something Fishy in Venture Capital
Just launched Monday, the Sea Change Investment Fund is designed to net a "compelling return" for investors while supporting the market for fish caught or raised in a sustainable manner. Though not accepting new investors at this time, this type of fund expands the range of alternatives to questionably-responsible SRI funds.
Go Team Go! This is exciting to me, as I spend most of my waking hours working with Investors' Circle developing a similar fund. The Slow Money Fund, influenced in part by the Slow Food principles, will capitalize early-stage natural and organic food companies poised to create financial, environmental, and social returns. Stay tuned for more info...
Posted by Elizabeth at 09:31 PM