The Vintage Indie Market is a fabulous online place to shop vintage, handmade and independent businesses. Created by the folks at http://vintageindie.typepad.com, The Holiday Edition of the Vintage Indie Market will run from November 1st to December 31st. Categories of shoppes range from clothing, house and home, children, and even eco-friendly vintage finds. The Vintage Indie Market and Vintage Indie showcases and celebrates all things vintage, vintage inspired and antique related. Vintage Indie is about vintage with a modern twist.

The Vintage Indie Market hopes to support the small business owner through their site. takepart and support small biz by getting your loved ones with fine gifts at various Vintage Indie shoppes at http://vintageindie.typepad.com/vintageindiemarket/. Also check out http://vintageindie.typepad.com. Happy shopping!

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!

TakePart Gang:

Everything I Know About Climate Change, I Learned in the Fifth Grade by Martin Musatov

When Torture Is Condoned, Is FISA That Shocking? by Wendy Cohen

* * *

Nicole Hughes:

Baltimore Woman Turns Tragedy Into Art

Why Don’t We Do More to Stop Global Warming?

* * *

Andy Kondrat:

Foods You Should and Shouldn’t Buy Organic

Paper or Plastic? The Environmental Impact

* * *

Jon Popham:

The Energy Independence Bill: A Filibuster Odyssey

“Bruno” Fools Mossad Agent

* * *

Gina Telaroli:

While Iran Tests Missiles, Test These 5 Iranian Films

Mao’s Out, Time to Capitalize On the Olympics

Every time you go to the grocery store, and the guy at checkout asks, “Paper or plastic,” do you freeze in a moment of panic trying to figure out what the right answer is? Now, if you freeze in panic because you really want to get the answer right because you need approval, then I’m not sure we can help you. However, if you freeze because you’re trying to figure out which answer is better for the environment, then you’ve come to the right place.

Today, treehugger.com posted an in-depth comparison of paper bags versus plastic bags, including where each type comes from, how each type is produced, and how each type is recycled. For example, for a plastic bag,

plastic bags are typically made from oil, a non-renewable resource. Plastics are a by-product of the oil-refining process, accounting for about four percent of oil production around the globe. The biggest energy input is from the plastic bag creation process is electricity, which, in this country, comes from coal-burning power plants at least half of the time.

But, for example, simply to recycle a paper bag

Read the rest of this entry »

Social Action + Cinema Videos of the Day:

1) Quincy Jones PSA for China

For the Cinema YouTube Video of the Day, Click here >>>

Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t know about the rest of the country, but summer sit NYC like a ton of bricks this past weekend. With temperatures in the mid 90’s many of us were thrown off guard. But that’s OK, it just means time for new activities - like going to the beach and riding bikes. Here’s a video I made about a year ago in Mentor OH in and around Lake Erie (to one of my favorite songs, Antony and the Johnsons Bird Gerhl) that deals with both and is I think, a good welcome mat for summer:

On a serious note though, bikes are a great travel alternative that help the environment and also yourself (get in shape!)

Read the rest of this entry »

Social Action + Cinema Videos of the Day:

1) Media that Matters presents The Countdown

For the Cinema YouTube Video of the Day, Click here >>>

Read the rest of this entry »

Bo Diddley, Rock and Roll visionary has passed on…it’s a sad day for music fans.   From CNN:

Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Bo Diddley influenced generations of guitarists. Diddley died Monday, surrounded by family and loved ones at his home in Archer, Florida, a family spokeswoman said. The cause was heart failure, his family said.

The world-renowned guitarist’s signature beat — usually played on an equally distinctive rectangular-bodied guitar — laid the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll, and became so identified with him that it became known as the “Bo Diddley” beat. It was unlike anything else heard in pop music. [CNN]

Watching the video below seems like a great way to celebrate Diddley’s life and all that he contributed to music and all those who he has inspired:

Find out how you can share your Diddley thought by clicking here>>>>

Read the rest of this entry »

Target, where I bought Wayne’s World 1 AND 2 for $7.50, has gone one step further towards awesomeness by offering to exchange their plastic bags for reusable totes. Though I can’t find any information on Target’s website, from the “What Do You Stand For” website:

Send them your used plastic Target bags, and they will send you a coupon for a free reusable tote. They’ll even pay the postage by turning the cover of Newsweek, which features a pre-paid business reply label, into an envelope…

Target, which already prints 10 ways to reuse on the side of each plastic bag, partnered with TerraCycle, an eco-capitalism company, and Newsweek to turn plastic bags into reusable “Retotes.”

Read the rest of this entry »

The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Don’t miss these excellent posts on some very engaging and thoughtful topics - from going green at the office to Julian Beever to dystopian film telling us to take action now. Check out our most popular articles of the week on a variety of subjects, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.

Katie:

Katoucha’s Body Found: Model Helped African Women Escape Mutiliation

Julian Beever Brings Art to New Orleans Sidewalks

* * *
Nicole:

Heath Ledger Nick Drake Video for “Black Eyed Dog” Hits Web

Top 10 Ways to Go Green in the Office

* * *
Giulia:

Crate & Barrel Goes Green

The Black Comedy Project

* * *
Gina:

Top 10 Dystopian Future Films Telling Us to Take Action Now

Going to “The Edge of Heaven” with Fatih Akin

* * *
Kerry:

Sustainable Songstrees Sue West’s Rural Revival

No Impact Home A Hit At Ecobuild Exhibition

Crate and Barrel recently introduced more initiatives to help make homes more eco-friendly.

Among their earth friendly changes C & B has:

• Introduced more eco-friendly upholstery
• Without more expense, offered two wood Outdoor collections that are certified as sustainable by nonprofit organizations that oversee the conservation and responsible management of millions of acres of the world’s natural forests
• Offered several teak and mahogany collections available that are now Tropical Forrest Trust supported
• Phased out the use of white bleached board for shipping boxes in favor of a more eco-friendly renewable fiber that contains post-consumer recyclable material
• Discontinued using petroleum-based packing peanuts

Hopefully these changes will inspire other stores to follow suit. For more on Crate & Barrel’s earth friendly initiative and to purchase some green goodies for your home visit http://www.crateandbarrel.com/