Extreme!

Normally, I'm not someone who's all that impressed with so-called "extreme sports", as you can tell by the snotty, hyphenated descriptor I placed in front of the term which renders the quotation marks around it redundant.
I appreciate that the people who do these things are athletes of considerable skill and what they do is certainly impressive. But beyond taking a glimpse at YouTube videos now and then, they just don't hold my interest.
But if you mix extreme sports with a goofy internet fad that's probably 15 minutes past its 15 minutes of undeserved fame as I write this, well, now you have my attention! Of course, I'm talking about...

EXTREME PLANKING!
As I'm sure you're aware, ""Planking" (or the "Lying Down Game") is an activity consisting of lying face down in an unusual or incongruous location. Both hands must touch the sides of the body and having a photograph of the participant taken and posted on the Internet is an integral part of the game. Players compete to find the most unusual and original location in which to play. The term planking refers to mimicking a wooden plank. Rigidity of the body must be maintained to constitute good planking.

Since early 2011, many participants in planking have photographed the activity on unusual locations such as atop poles, roofs and vehicles. Planking can include lying flat on a flat surface, or holding the body flat while it's supported in only some regions, with other parts of the body suspended. (Thanks, Wikipedia!)" Well, the daredevils who engage in EXTREME PLANKING! have taken it to the next level! How, you ask? Simple. Regular planking requires lying down horizontally; EXTREME PLANKING! is done vertically! What?!? Check it out!
Awesome!!

Radical!!

Tandem? Cowabunga!

Video game!

Showoff.

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GLAMOUR GAL: Renee Somerfield

Renee Somerfield ♥ Beauty in Kindness & Compassion 

Eco Glamazine Glamour Gal December 2011
Photo: Neil Dixon


For our super festive Holiday issue our featured Glamour Gal is Renee Somerfield, an amazing Aussie model, animal-rights activist and vegan. This beautiful brunette is a positive role model for young woman, inspiring them live with kindness and compassion. Through her love for animals and active involvement in animal-rights campaigns and projects like the "Save Bobby" campaign through AnimalsAustralia.org. Renee's beauty is much more than skin deep. 

Eco Glamazine scored an exclusive interview with Renee to find out how this Sydney starlet lives everyday with kindness and compassion. 

Renee thank you for being our featured Glamour Gal for December 2011. When it comes to beauty and glamour what makes you feel beautiful? 
Renee: "What makes me feel beautiful is being kind to my body, my mind and my spirit. Nourishing my body with the food it needs, living my life with passion, love and happiness. Feeling beautiful on the inside will reflect on the outside."

"Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not find peace."
Photo: Michael J Burg 

Renee Somerfield describes to herself as a peace believer, a health & wellbeing enthusiast and an Aussie beach bum...  She is funny, outgoing, loving, passionate and down-to-earth. Renee is an animal lover and inspires others to be kind to all animals. She explains to Eco Glamazine about her love for her gorgeous bunny rabbits. 

We adore your passion for the planet and kindness towards all creatures great and small. What are your favourite animals? 
Renee: "I love and respect all creatures, I think they are all so beautiful and smart in their own way! At the moment I have rabbits and dogs but my dream would be to own my own a huge farm near the ocean. I would have cows, pigs, horses, lamb, dogs and bunnies - all adopted or rescued from abattoirs, factory farms or fur factories. I think there is nothing more beautiful than seeing an animal in serenity and peace and I would love to give that to them."

  

Renee we enjoy following you on Twitter especially your adorable bunny photos. Can you tell us more about your sweet furry friends? 

Renee: "My bunny rabbits are honestly the cutest, sweetest, most beautiful souls! They really are just wonderful pets! I have five of them and they all mean so much to me. They each have different and unique personalities, but they are all very smart and very loving! They each know their own names and know that certain words mean something. I always look forward to coming home and being showered with lots of kisses and cuddles from them.. People are so shocked and surprised at how sweet they are!"




"The basis of animal rights should be the golden rule: treat them as we would wish them to treat us" Renee Somerfield

Unfortunately many of these gorgeous bunnies spend their lives in laboratories... Eco Glamazine knows how important it is to always choose cruelty-free beauty products. What are some of your favourite "kind" beauty-must-haves? 

Renee: "Animal testing is a very big deal to me! Cosmetic companies test on a variety of species including rabbits, rats, pigs, dogs and primates. These poor innocent souls go through a lifetime of suffering, some lasting for months or even years and are always killed at the end of the procedure. The tests include oral, dermal and inhalation exposure which result in infections, burns, ulcers, wounds and severe pain. Buying cruelty-free and vegan products is something I am extremely conscious about. It is not hard to look at a label and look out for the cute bunny icon and the words "not tested on animals." If the label does not state these words, it is more than likely that the company has, is, or will test on animals! Some of my favourite beauty must haves are Youngblood and Claytime mineral makeup, Kora Organics skincare, Moroccan Oil and Nak Haircare and Sukin deodorants. Like humans, animals feel pleasure and pain, happiness and misery. Please buy cruelty-free and don't let an innocent creature suffer for your vanity, be beautiful without blood on your hands!"


 
Photos: Jessica-Abraham-Photography


Renee's kindness for animals goes beyond just embracing a cruelty-free beauty routine, she also lives a vegan lifestyle. We love reading Renee's daily Tweets about her trips to the organic food markets, her Aussie adventures and informational updates about how we can get involved saving animals. 

Being a Vegan and an active animal-rights activist we know that your Kind Life motto is something very dear to your heart. Renee can you share more about your healthy Vegan lifestyle? 
Renee:  "The "Kind Life" motto is extremely dear to my heart and vegan lifestyle is something I am very passionate about. I do not hold myself superior to any other living creature and believe that it is not my right, nor anyone else's to take an animals life for the sake of your appetite. Although I haven't always been vegetarian or vegan, I grew up being led to believe that eating meat was normal and okay. It wasn't until I was mature enough to realise exactly where my meat came from and I quickly turned vegetarian. When I discovered that their is actually just as much cruelty in a glass of milk or a boiled egg, it was only natural to be vegan. I am very disappointed and guilty of my past.. being naive, ignorant and uneducated, but I do take my experience and try to educate others as much as I can! I am the happiest, healthiest and most alive I have ever been in my life not consuming any animal products! I think the love and respect of all living creatures is the most noble attribute of a person."

Renee, do you have any advice for a readers who may want to start a vegetarian or vegan diet? 
Renee: "I made my decision to be vegan based on my love for animals. I think people need to ask themselves why they are wanting to make this positive change: whether it be for animals, the environment or for their health. I would then suggest they do as much research as they can on the issue - google, google, google! You will open your eyes to a whole other world that you never knew about, exposing the cruelty, health risks and environmental issues that comes from a diet of consuming meat and animal products. Most people would feel angered that they were unaware and make the change to a vegetarian or vegan diet a lot easier!"

Photos: Michael J Burg

Renee's healthy vegan diet includes fresh, natural organic food and she loves visiting her local organic markets on the weekends. This healthy eating helps Renee stay toned, sexy and in shape for her job as a professional model in Sydney. She has been featured in many Australian magazines such as Maxim Australia, Zoo Weekly, Ralph and Autobabes Magazine. Renee is also the face of Glambition Hair Extensions and Abyss Clothing. Renee will soon be a brand ambassador for Leontyne Shoes - a 100% animal cruelty-free company.  She is currently featured in the 2011/2012  Veve Glamour Swimwear campaign as one of their Dream Girls. 

Renee we also know you as one of  Veve Swimwear's Dream Girls - what's the best thing about being a model? 
Renee: "Being a model allows you to express yourself in many different ways, by being creative and playing different characters. It is about being an artist and also an actress. The best things about being a model are having the opportunity to meet and work with so many amazing people, wear beautiful clothes, travel to amazing destinations but also to use your role model status to reach out and influence so many."

Renee wearing Sun Goddess bikini by Veve Swimwear 

Renee we admire how you live your life with passion and compassion for animals. What does living The Kind Life mean to you? 
Renee: "Living The Kind Life means finding peace within yourself and loving, respecting and finding beauty in all life and living creatures."

Renee Somerfield  passionate, loving & down to earth

Eco Glamazine is honoured to feature Renee Somerfield as our Glamour Gal for December 2011. Renee's beautiful outlook on life and kind spirit shines straight through her gorgeous eyes and into our soul. It's only a matter of time before you will fall head over heels in love with this stunning Aussie sweetheart. Her kindness will inspire and encourage you to live your life with the promise to be kinder to others and animals. Renee finds beauty in kindness and compassion. 

 Twitter.com/ReneeSomerfield  |  Facebook.com/ReneeSomerfield

 
Renee Somerfield: Beauty & the Bunny article as featured in eco GLAMAZINE December 2011. 



Renee Somerfield is our December Glamour Gal - view all our featured Glamour Gals here

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This probably happened too

The video of Zach Wahls speaking in the Iowa Senate against a joint resolution that would ban gay marriage and civil unions in the state has become very popular recently ("gone viral", as they say). Watch the video here and then read below it to see what I'm pretty sure came afterward...

"Thank you, Mr. Wahls. Now, who's next?"
"Uhh, that's me, your honor. My name is Larry Dobberman. But that's okay. I'm good."
"You asked for the opportunity to address the state senate. Obviously, there's something of great import on your mind. This is your opportunity, let's hear it."
"It's just that I, uh, really wish I could have gone first. I didn't know that..."
"Mr. Dobberman, this is the state senate. We don't have time to play games."
"Okay, okay. Well, uh, like I said I'm Larry Dobberman. I too, also, am a native Iow-o-nian in that I've lived here in Iowa all my life after my folks moved here from Chicago when I was 17. I'm pretty sure my grandfather was born here but I don't know much before that..."
"Go on."
"Um, my dad is a man. With a penis and my mom is a woman, presumably with a vagina of some sort. They got divorced though...look, I'd really feel better if you let Zach go again. Maybe there's something he forgot that would make him sound stupid."
"Mr. Dobberman, please. We've listened to Mr. Wahls already. Now proceed."
"It's just that he gave a good speech, a really good speech, and giving speeches isn't really my thing...and an Eagle Scout? Geez, really? I mean, come on overachiever!"
"Mr. Dobberman, do you or do you not have something to contribute to these proceedings in regard to the matter at hand?"
"You know what? Before we started, I saw him drinking coffee in the cafeteria and he didn't have a spoon so he used a fork. He stirred his coffee with a damn fork! What about that, huh? Huh? Zach Wahls is a fork-stirrer!"
"Mr. Dobberman..."
"There's a right way and a wrong way to do things. That's all I'm saying. Is...anybody going to applaud? No? Right. Okay, then."
"That's enough, Mr. Dobberman. Have a seat."
"Buncha fork-stirrers."

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An extra point from a guest author

Monica Idziak is a traffic reporter for local Clear Channel radio stations. She submitted this before the end of the month but after I had filled all the guest author slots, so not technically late...but late. The good news it's never too late to include something good. Here's Monica's bio:
Born in Iowa, lived in Buffalo, LOVE my Florida life. I “work” at Clear Channel Radio, although reporting traffic is, I’m convinced, the easiest job known to man in present day time. 2 cats, avid runner (completed multiple 5k’s, a 15k, and a half marathon), sports enthusiast, and all-around smart-ass funny girl. No ‘real’ blog experience, but writing pretty much non-stop since high school. I’m the grammar snob/spelling queen your mama warned you about. :-P
And here's Monica's post (and I have a rebuttal of sorts at the end)

Chicks Portrayed in Sports Commercials: That Ain’t Right.



I realize it’s 2011, and (finally!) I’m not the only girl in America who enjoys watching sports. At long last, I am not the only chick at a sports bar and I don’t hafta choose between a Men’s Small or a Child’s Large in the jersey section. Having said that….when the bleep are sports-themed commercials gonna catch up and get outta the dark ages?!


Now, let me clarify. When I say “sports-themed” commercials, I mean:


1) Anything with a sports logo in the ad.
2) Those fancy car ads aimed to make you feel like you need the vehicle in order to remain sporty/cool/manly/relevant/hip/you get the idea.
3) Snack food commercials that consistently insist you eat whatever salty/sweet/savory food they’re selling at whatever sporting event you’re watching or attending.
4) Beer commercials


They all start out innocent enough: A dude. A Chick. He is watching a game or wants to go to a game or has friends peer pressuring him into watching or going to a game. Enter the Evil Chick. Oh yeah, she can’t be trusted or even liked. SHE has other plans. She wants to cuddle/shop/cook/clean/run errands/ruin his plans however her estrogen can make that happen.


It’s insulting. It’s demeaning. It’s, quite frankly, disgusting.


I know plenty of women who know what Saturdays and Sundays in the fall are for. I know a lot of girls who countdown to Spring Training. I know a crapload of girls who salivate at the thought of watching grown men duke it out on the ice for an entire season, and I didn’t realize exactly how many girls I know that just got their Christmas NBA miracle.


As part of the collective sports-lovin’ buncha females, I cringe when I see the woman portrayed as the obstacle to the man’s happiness…especially his sports happiness. I’ve always encouraged supporting one’s favorite team. I’ve always made plans around important games/meets/matches. I’ve always enjoyed the jumping/screaming/drinking/eating that accompanies a good sporting event.


I recall a specific time about 5 weeks into football season. A man (he shall remain nameless so as to minimize shame) announces to me 10 minutes before kickoff that he had some errands to run and we always watch football all day Sunday so he just wants to be productive and get things done that week. Now, we have a sweet setup. Tiki bar with pool in backyard and surround sound, flat screen with NFL ticket. I ain’t goin’ nowhere. I proceed to tell him, “Um, you get your productivity outta the way during the week so you can watch football and drink all day Sunday. (yelling at this point) Now SIT YOUR ASS DOWN on that bar stool, drink a damn beer, and shut up and watch football with me damnit!” I can tell you, THAT ain’t gonna be made into a commercial. (He did eventually realize his ridiculousness and enjoyed a fun Sunday.)


So, here’s to all the females who aren’t nagging/whiney/boring chicks. We aren’t represented in any national tv commercial, but we’re here. And we ain’t goin’ anywhere. National Advertisers: you’ve been warned.


Well said. And for what it's worth, Monica, I'm a male who finds the portrayal of the "bros" in many of those same ads equally as cringe-inducing. I do not, can not, never have and never will relate to the Ralph Kramden/frat boy hybrid mindset that places such high value in male bonding and 'boys night out'. The thing is, I know that those guys exist outside of the world of sports themed advertising. I know because I've had them tell me my viewpoint is "gay". And when I point out the irony in that statement, they act like I'm validating their opinion. Yeah, that's another thing I haven't been able to figure out either. - Clark

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Door: Busted!!



Look how happy he is!
Sometimes I like to pretend I'm a real human being and participate in activities that real human beings find popular. Similar to the way a chimp in captivity will eventually start to mimic human behavior. Especially around the holidays, it's hard not to want to get caught up in all the fervor and activity like everybody else. So I get involved as much as I can. I drink hot cocoa. I listen to Christmas music. This year, I even attended Thanksgiving dinnerS (plural, as in two of them!) with actual real human beings!  One thing, I've never done is the whole "Black Friday" thing. Oh sure, I'm sure I've shopped on the day after Thanksgiving. If you abandon any false hope whatsoever that you're going to be able to move about freely in any way, shape or form, it can be a tremendously rewarding people watching experience. But I've never arrived early at a store to take advantage of crazy markdowns on merchandise. I don't need anything and I don't have any money anyway. It just seems like one of those real human being activities that I've missed out on.
I have a friend who works for Ikea here in Tampa who told me all about the stuffed toys they're offering this holiday season. They're inexpensive at regular price but would be on sale at 50% off for a holiday special. And for every one they sell (plus children's books and kid's meals) between November 1 and December 24th, Ikea will donate one Euro (which is about $1.35) to UNICEF and Save The Children to support quality education. She showed me some pictures and I was intrigued by the broccoli guy you see pictured here. For one thing, I've never seen such a happy vegetable. For another, he would only be about $4 with Ikea donating more than 25% of that to a good cause. I now had a valid reason to camp out at a store!
"Oh. Um, well, you don't need to do that. We don't really do 'doorbusters' like other stores. The toys are on special but we have plenty of them."
"Yeah, but it will be fun to write about. I'll live blog the whole experience right from the Ikea parking lot!"
"We don't really encourage that. Like I said, there's really no incentive. You'd be the only one there."
"Even better! It'll be hilarious!"
"What's...hilarious about that?"
"I don't know. I'll think of something."
"I really wish you wouldn't..."
"Too late. I'm doing it. This is the kind of gonzo comedy journalism my readers expect! I'm like Hunter S. Thompson or Lester Bangs. You can't stop me. As soon as I finish Thanksgiving dinner, I'm heading over to Ikea with a comfy chair, a blanket and some rain gear. And the next morning, I will be the first one in line, whether or not there is a line, long before the crack of dawn. This is real, and this is happening."

When I woke up in my warm, comfy bed at home on Friday morning, having forgotten my commitment to gonzo comedy journalism in a turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie-induced haze, it was almost 9:30. I barely had enough time to drive to the store for breakfast in their restaurant ($1.99!). After my second refill of coffee, I picked up a broccoli guy from the bin right outside the restaurant, made my purchase and headed home.

Final assessment: Black Friday is vastly overrated.

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Eco Glamazine December 2011

All I Want For Christmas Is You.... This super festive holiday issue features the Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey as our cover angel. Plus we share with you the coolest eco-chic gifts this holiday season! Meet our newest Glamour Gal animal rights activist and vegan Renee Somerfield. 




December 2011
  • ECO ANGEL: Carey Christmas. Mariah Carey makes it happen  read article
  • GLAMOUR GAL: Renee Somerfield. Bunny & The Bunny  read article
  • Our Eco Chic Gift Guide  read article 
  • DIY Beauty with Andrea's Choice  read article
  • VEGAN VIXEN: Sheridyn Fisher Go Veg PETA Campaign  read article
  • Eco Tan: Beauty Inside & Out read article
  • Eco-Friendly New Years Resolutions  read article
  • plus weekly eco-friendly articles about beauty, food & saving the planet! 

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Thanks, guest authors!


And so ends Guest Author Month.
My thanks to all the participants for sharing their work and letting me basically goof off for a month:
I hope you enjoyed their contributions and will visit their sites often....not often enough to keep you from spending time here, but enough to make them...and you...feel good.
Now...


give me back my blog!

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