Posts tagged ‘washington dc’

September 17th, 2010

A Shocking Reminder of the Life Lost in Living

The Question: If one of the finest classical musicians in the world, played some of the most elegant music ever written on one of the most valuable violins ever made, during rush hour at the Metro, what would 1,000 passersby do?

The Answer: A fascinating look at what we might be missing while we go about our busy lives.

Joshua Bell plays the Metro

In an article called “Pearls Before Breakfast”, the Washington Post sets up a dumbfounding experiment of modern humanity.

The pearl reference hearkens back to the famous words of Jesus who said, ‘Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.’

I shiver to think what I might have done walking through the Metro that day. Would I have stopped to marvel at the beauty or would I have trampled it with my busy feet.

Among the many amazing revelations that came out of this experiment was the fact that every single child noticed Joshua Bell and tried to stay and listen as every parent pulled the child along and whisked them out the door.

As we head into the weekend, let’s all make an effort to open our ears and eyes and take in the pearls that surround us every day!

Read the full article here.

CategoryFamily, Health | Comment2 Comments »

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March 31st, 2010

DC and Westport Lead Battle Against Plastic Bags

I knew I loved DC! What great news to hear that our nation’s capitol has started charging a 5 cent tax on disposable plastic bags. The new law which went into effect on January 1st, not only dramatically reduced the amount of plastic bags being used, it generated $150,000 in one month to help clean up the Anacostia River. This is great news!

The Hobo Bag, from "The Wrapping Scarf Revolution"

Back in 2002, Ireland placed a 15 cent tax on their plastic bags and dropped their usage by 90%. When I was living in Korea in the late 90s, we purchased pricey mandatory garbage bags, forcing us to be careful what we threw away. These garbage bags were also translucent and if you happened to throw out some recyclables in your regular garbage, forget about it.  People in your apartment building would give you nasty looks for weeks. Seinfeld style.

It’s taking the US a long time to get the message, but this taxing thing works! Especially when so many people are already on the verge of giving up plastic bags. Now the whole nation just needs to follow suit. At a  time when most cities and states are experiencing budget crisis, THIS is the time!

Very important to remember is how resistant people can be to change. Many District residents were furiously up in arms when they first faced the tax in January. This Washington Informer article from January makes it very clear how angry many people were at the time.

I so admire our neighboring town of Westport, CT, for banning plastic bags in March of last year, becoming the first town in Connecticut to do so. In the year that has passed, not a single additional town in CT has followed suit although Westport reports no problems with the ban and a reduction of about a million bags so far. Wilton is said to be considering a similar law.

Wendy Carlson for The New York Times

The New York Times reported that the ordinance had passed 26 to 5 despite opposition by representatives from the chemical industry and the supermarket chains. “Westport is well known for being progressive, and in the forefront of social issues,” said Gordon Joseloff, a first selectman, noting that it was one of the first communities to pass a resolution opposing the Vietnam War. (NYT)

In Korea, groceries were carried in wrapping scarves for centuries. Check out how to make big hobo bags (first pic) in the The Wrapping Scarf Revolution. Bravo DC and Westport! What a great display of leadership.

CategoryBusiness, Green, Korea | Comment2 Comments »

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March 30th, 2010

BOBO Live in DC

We were a few days too early to see any real cherry blossom action but what a night we had in DC last week. So many wonderful people came out to the Korus House of the Korean Embassy to hear my little Bojagi to BOBO presentation. Even the overflow room was full to capacity and it ended up being standing room only.

It was one of those lucky nights when things just seemed to click. DC/MD/VA traffic can be murderous but it was smooth sailing all the way from the highways to the triangular mazes that lead to Embassy Row. The audience was also amazing and we were so on the same green colored wavelength. Heavenly!

Main Presentation room at the Korus House of the Korean Embassy in Washington DC

Speaking to a room full of DC intellectuals was daunting but the guests were very warm and engaged in the topic of the night. A 25 minute presentation with slides was followed by a demonstration time.

Then we had a very lively Q & A with many great questions and comments by the audience. Wish we had more time to hear from everyone. Here’s a sampling of what was asked:

Q: What is the Korean etiquette with using a bojagi (wrapping scarf)? Is it rude to take the wrap back when giving a gift?

A: There are many correct ways to use a bojagi. Many people choose to give the bojagi to someone as part of a gift. Others use the wrap as a personal accessory much like a bag and use it to transport a gift of wine or food. They unwrap the gift, hand it to the recipient and put their wrapping scarf away.

Q: What are the best fabrics to use as a wrapping scarf? I have  a lot of cotton fabrics at home and would like to try the techniques.

A: The beauty of wrapping scarves is that you can use so many different fabrics and materials depending on what you may have available. My book, The Wrapping Scarf Revolution, goes into more detail as to what fabrics and sizes to use for specific projects but one easy test to see if your fabric will work is to hold a corner of the fabric and tie a knot. If you can’t tie a knot easily, the material is probably too thick.

Some of our lucky raffle winners.

We gave 7 lucky winners a BOBO wrapped and signed copy of The Wrapping Scarf Revolution.

I loved seeing my friend and eco-warrior Reena Kazmann. Thanks for coming Reena!

Reena Kazmann of ecoartware.com

A mini exhibit of BOBO lovelies.

Before and after the presentation, everyone had a chance to check out the small exhibition of BOBO wrapped goodies. Here’s some of the great feedback we got from the guests:

“Intelligent, poignant, impressive!” -Soojung K.

“Excellent: very informative and comprehensive also greatly appreciated the historical research.” -Peggie D.

“Excellent presentation. Clear and concise, your vision is ecologically appropriate.” -Beth C.

“Absolutely wonderful! I know what I’ll be playing with next week!” -Peg H.

“Well presented, well organized. Enjoyed every moment and learned a lot.” -Regina C.

Many thanks to the Korean Embassy and to all the people who came out for a fun and memorable evening. Cheers!

CategoryBOBO Wrap, Green, Korea, Luck | Comment1 Comment »

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March 24th, 2010

Cherry Hunting in DC

I’m getting ready to head down to DC for my Bojagi to BOBO event at the Korean Embassy and all I can think about are the cherry trees and how for the very first time, I may get a glimpse of the famous blossoms that majestically adorn our nation’s capital once a year.

I am a few days early but I hear that there are some sunny spots where the trees will get an early start.  In 1912, 3000 cherry trees were given to the city of Washington by the Japanese mayor of Tokyo and the trees have flourished ever since. Most Americans assume that the cherry tree is originated in Japan but it is now know that they actually probably originated in Korea. From wikipedia:

“In 1933, the Japanese botanist Koizumi Genichi reported that the Japanese Sakura (Somei Yoshino) is of Jeju-do island origin.[14] In 1992, Takaki Kiyoko[who?], another botanist specializing in sakura, also claimed that the Yoshino sakura hails from Jeju Island. According to Invest Korea journal, more evidence supporting this claim is that while this species of cherry tree is indigenous to Korea and can be found as part of the natural flora of Mount Halla, it cannot be found anywhere in Japan”.

Koreans gather for the annual cherry blossom watching. Zyrtec anyone?

Interesting! Well kudos to the Japanese for recognizing the amazing beauty of these trees and sharing it with the West. The cherry blossoms appear in Korea about the same time they do here and Koreans flock en masse to see these natural beauties in action. Wish me luck and if you’re in the area, come on out to Embassy Row tomorrow night and join me for a fun evening of discussion, sharing, and perhaps most importantly, some great Korean refreshments!

If you can come to the event please click the image above as rsvp is required. Hope to see you there!

CategoryBOBO Wrap, Business, Korea | Comment1 Comment »

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