Simple Living Works!

Simple Living Works! Weekly Digest

Posted by: on: May 22, 2017

Simple Living Works! Weekly Digest

May 22, 2017

In This Issue:

What’s NOW with SLW!

  • SLW! Blog Index | SLW! Podcast Index
  • SUBSCRIBE to SLW! Podcast for free through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to SLW! Blog. Click “+Follow” at lower right of blog post, enter a name and email address. Welcome!
  • Simpler Living Daily Calendar – MAY
  • Check out a few of SLW! thought-provoking, timely resources that might meet your personal, family or congregational/group needs. They’re all FREE. Visit Seasonal/Thematic Resource Index

What Others Are Doing – So Much Help! – Latest Posts

I gladly pass along links from simple living bloggers, podcasters, coaches and others. Some faith-based, some not. You needn’t read them all. Choose FIVE links — including SLW! — to investigate. COMPLETE LIST — Monthly Digest

What’s Happened

  • SLW! Podcasts #91, part 1; #92, part 2 — Hazel Henderson, founder of Ethical Markets, and Series Creator and Co-Executive Producer of its TV series
  • SLW! Podcast #90 —Author, blogger, speaker, coach Susan Vogt‘s timely Lenten discipline “Love your enemy” in the highly charged political scene.
  • Review of Lee Van Ham’s new “From Egos to Eden: Our Heroic Journey to Keep Earth Livable,” vol. 2 of the “Eden for the 21st Century” Trilogy. Colleague Lee’s new book is now available on Amazon in print and ebook and other locations where you can get the ebook (Nook, iBooks, Kobo).
  • Post-Election Emergency/Disaster Preparedness and Survival Guide
  • New Simpler Formats for 2017 — The monthly SLW! eNews and Weekly Digest will feature only the latest posts from colleague organizations. The complete Monthly Digest only on the SLW! site will be updated at least once a week. The Weekly Nudge will feature only offering from SLW! Both the Weekly Digest and Weekly Nudge come as part of your free subscription to SLW! Blog. The Daily Nudge comes by email (send NUDGE to SimpleLivingworks@yahoo.com) or by Twitter @GeraldIversen. Choose the options that work for you.
  • Previews of Simple Living Blogs, Podcasts and Sites // Collaborators & Champions
  • Recent Responses to all SLW! media

    Podcast Reminder

    You can access all SLW! podcast audio and the show notes either at SimpleLiving.startlogic.com/SLW-PODCAST or at SimpleLivingWorks.org (then click window #3). Complete Episode Index. Listen through your computer, iPod, iPad, iPhone (or equivalent).

    SUBSCRIBE through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. To SUBSCRIBE to email notices, click Comments at the bottom of Show Notes, then check ‘Notify me of new posts by email.’ Please rate us in iTunes and leave a review.

    Send us your email address to receive the free monthly SLW! eNews. Remember to like us on Facebook. Urge your friends to do the same. Do your friends a favor. Share our blog and podcast.

    Like SLW! on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Follow us on Pinterest. Share your thoughts on our podcast and blogs. Email SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com, leave a message on our Facebook page or on the SLW! blog.

    Peace, Gerald “Jerry” Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist

    • Image: Spirit of Simplicity #5-A2330

    Copyright: Creative Commons non-commercial attribution share-alike license.

    Through social media, we extend the mission and resources of the non-profit organization Alternatives, 1973-2011.

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Simpler Living Weekly Nudge

Posted by: on: May 19, 2017

Simpler Living Weekly Nudge

May 19, 2017

In This Issue:

What’s NOW with SLW!

What Others Are Doing – So Much Help! – Latest Posts

I gladly pass along links from simple living bloggers, podcasters, coaches and others. Some faith-based, some not. You needn’t read them all. Choose just FIVE links to investigate. COMPLETE LIST (Monthly Digest)

What’s Happened

  • Simple Living SANITY Suggestion #16. Invite friends, serve snacks, write postcards to representatives. Have addresses, specifics ready. And/or ask them to bring their laptops and sign online petitions together. In Calif. these meetings are called Huddles, originating from the Women’s March.  More on ‘I Buy Blue’ and a list of states by color. // READ MORE
  • May 1-7– Screen-Free Week (formerly TV Turnoff Week and Digital DeTox Week, the last week in April) from the Center for Screen-Time Awareness. Escape the Fantasy – Get Real! No more radiation, laugh tracks or gratuitous violence. And once you try real life, you may never want to go back to the simulated variety again. Visit ScreenFree.org
  • SLW! Podcasts #91-92 — Hazel Henderson, founder of Ethical Markets Media, and Series Creator and Co-Executive Producer of its TV series
  • SLW! Podcast #90 —Author, blogger, speaker, coach Susan Vogt‘s timely Lenten discipline “Love your enemy” in the highly charged political scene.
  • New Simpler Formats for 2017 — The monthly SLW! eNews and Weekly Digest will feature only the latest posts from colleague organizations. The complete Monthly Digest only on the SLW! site will be updated at least once a week. The Weekly Nudge will feature only offering from SLW! Both the Weekly Digest and Weekly Nudge come as part of your free subscription to SLW! Blog. The Daily Nudge comes by email (send NUDGE to SimpleLivingworks@yahoo.com) or by Twitter @GeraldIversen. Choose the options that work for you.
  • Previews of Simple Living Blogs, Podcasts and Sites // Collaborators & Champions
  • Recent Responses to all SLW! media

Podcast Reminder

You can access all SLW! podcast audio and the show notes either at SimpleLiving.startlogic.com/SLW-PODCAST or at SimpleLivingWorks.org (then click window #3). Complete Episode Index. Listen through your computer, iPod, iPad, iPhone (or equivalent).

SUBSCRIBE through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. To SUBSCRIBE to email notices, click Comments at the bottom of Show Notes, then check ‘Notify me of new posts by email.’ Please rate us in iTunes and leave a review.

Send us your email address to receive the free monthly SLW! eNews. Remember to like us on Facebook. Urge your friends to do the same. Do your friends a favor. Share our blog and podcast.

Like SLW! on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Follow us on Pinterest. Share your thoughts on our podcast and blogs. Email SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com, leave a message on our Facebook page or on the SLW! blog.

Peace, Gerald “Jerry” Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist

*IMAGE: OneBiteWellness.com

Copyright: Creative Commons non-commercial attribution share-alike license.

Through social media, we extend the mission and resources of the non-profit organization Alternatives, 1973-2011.

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Simple Living Works! Weekly Digest

Posted by: on: May 15, 2017

 Simple Living Works! Weekly Digest

May 15, 2017

In This Issue:

What’s NOW with SLW!

  • SLW! Blog Index | SLW! Podcast Index
  • SUBSCRIBE to SLW! Podcast for free through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to SLW! Blog. Click “+Follow” at lower right of blog post, enter a name and email address. Welcome!
  • Simpler Living Daily Calendar – MAY
  • Check out a few of SLW! thought-provoking, timely resources that might meet your personal, family or congregational/group needs. They’re all FREE. Visit Seasonal/Thematic Resource Index

What Others Are Doing – So Much Help! – Latest Posts

I gladly pass along links from simple living bloggers, podcasters, coaches and others. Some faith-based, some not. You needn’t read them all. Choose FIVE links — including SLW! — to investigate. COMPLETE LIST — Monthly Digest

What’s Happened

  • SLW! Podcasts #91, part 1; #92, part 2 — Hazel Henderson, founder of Ethical Markets, and Series Creator and Co-Executive Producer of its TV series
  • SLW! Podcast #90 —Author, blogger, speaker, coach Susan Vogt‘s timely Lenten discipline “Love your enemy” in the highly charged political scene.
  • SLW! Podcast #89 — A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World — latest from Northwest Earth Institute
  • Review of Lee Van Ham’s new “From Egos to Eden: Our Heroic Journey to Keep Earth Livable,” vol. 2 of the “Eden for the 21st Century” Trilogy. Colleague Lee’s new book is now available on Amazon in print and ebook and other locations where you can get the ebook (Nook, iBooks, Kobo). He says, “Hope the book stirs you to write a review, to converse with others, and to help me tell better than I currently do a story for OneEarth living. Wanting to show Earth more love!”
  • Post-Election Emergency/Disaster Preparedness and Survival Guide
  • New Simpler Formats for 2017 — The monthly SLW! eNews and Weekly Digest will feature only the latest posts from colleague organizations. The complete Monthly Digest only on the SLW! site will be updated at least once a week. The Weekly Nudge will feature only offering from SLW! Both the Weekly Digest and Weekly Nudge come as part of your free subscription to SLW! Blog. The Daily Nudge comes by email (send NUDGE to SimpleLivingworks@yahoo.com) or by Twitter @GeraldIversen. Choose the options that work for you.
  • Previews of Simple Living Blogs, Podcasts and Sites // Collaborators & Champions
  • Recent Responses to all SLW! media

    Podcast Reminder

    You can access all SLW! podcast audio and the show notes either at SimpleLiving.startlogic.com/SLW-PODCAST or at SimpleLivingWorks.org (then click window #3). Complete Episode Index. Listen through your computer, iPod, iPad, iPhone (or equivalent).

    SUBSCRIBE through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. To SUBSCRIBE to email notices, click Comments at the bottom of Show Notes, then check ‘Notify me of new posts by email.’ Please rate us in iTunes and leave a review.

    Send us your email address to receive the free monthly SLW! eNews. Remember to like us on Facebook. Urge your friends to do the same. Do your friends a favor. Share our blog and podcast.

    Like SLW! on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Follow us on Pinterest. Share your thoughts on our podcast and blogs. Email SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com, leave a message on our Facebook page or on the SLW! blog.

    Peace, Gerald “Jerry” Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist

    • Image: Adrienna Raimo, courtesy OneBiteWellness.com

    Copyright: Creative Commons non-commercial attribution share-alike license.

    Through social media, we extend the mission and resources of the non-profit organization Alternatives, 1973-2011.

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Simpler Living Weekly Nudge

Posted by: on: May 13, 2017

Simpler Living Weekly Nudge

May 12, 2017

In This Issue:

What’s NOW with SLW!

What’s Coming

SLW! Podcast — Adrienne Raimo, Columbus Minimalists (5/15)

What Others Are Doing – So Much Help! – Latest Posts

I gladly pass along links from simple living bloggers, podcasters, coaches and others. Some faith-based, some not. You needn’t read them all. Choose just FIVE links to investigate. COMPLETE LIST (Monthly Digest)

  • Especially Noteworthy – Eco-Justice: God, Mammon & Methane (5/12)
  • For links to earlier entries, check the previous SLW! Weekly Digest or Monthly Digest.

What’s Happened

  • May 1-7– Screen-Free Week (formerly TV Turnoff Week and Digital DeTox Week, the last week in April) from the Center for Screen-Time Awareness. Escape the Fantasy – Get Real! No more radiation, laugh tracks or gratuitous violence. And once you try real life, you may never want to go back to the simulated variety again. Visit ScreenFree.org
  • SLW! Podcast #90 —Author, blogger, speaker, coach Susan Vogt‘s timely Lenten discipline “Love your enemy” in the highly charged political scene.
  • SLW! Podcast #89 — A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World from Northwest Earth Institute
  • Reader Response to “I Buy Blue. How About You?” and My Reply
  • Banishing Fake News BONUS: The Religious Origins of Fake News and Alternative Facts
  • New Simpler Formats for 2017 — The monthly SLW! eNews and Weekly Digest will feature only the latest posts from colleague organizations. The complete Monthly Digest only on the SLW! site will be updated at least once a week. The Weekly Nudge will feature only offering from SLW! Both the Weekly Digest and Weekly Nudge come as part of your free subscription to SLW! Blog. The Daily Nudge comes by email (send NUDGE to SimpleLivingworks@yahoo.com) or by Twitter @GeraldIversen. Choose the options that work for you.
  • Previews of Simple Living Blogs, Podcasts and Sites // Collaborators & Champions
  • Recent Responses to all SLW! media

Podcast Reminder

You can access all SLW! podcast audio and the show notes either at SimpleLiving.startlogic.com/SLW-PODCAST or at SimpleLivingWorks.org (then click window #3). Complete Episode Index. Listen through your computer, iPod, iPad, iPhone (or equivalent).

SUBSCRIBE through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. To SUBSCRIBE to email notices, click Comments at the bottom of Show Notes, then check ‘Notify me of new posts by email.’ Please rate us in iTunes and leave a review.

Send us your email address to receive the free monthly SLW! eNews. Remember to like us on Facebook. Urge your friends to do the same. Do your friends a favor. Share our blog and podcast.

Like SLW! on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Follow us on Pinterest. Share your thoughts on our podcast and blogs. Email SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com, leave a message on our Facebook page or on the SLW! blog.

Peace, Gerald “Jerry” Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist

*IMAGE: Spirit of Simplicity #5-A3466

Copyright: Creative Commons non-commercial attribution share-alike license.

Through social media, we extend the mission and resources of the non-profit organization Alternatives, 1973-2011.

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Simple Living Works! EXTRA

Posted by: on: May 11, 2017

Simple Living Works! EXTRA

May 10, 2017

In This Issue:

• What Is SLW! EXTRA?

• Garage Sales and the War Machine

• DoubleDown on Extreme Regressive Red States

• BONUS Resources

# # #

SLW! EXTRA is an occasional blog (in addition to the weekly Simpler Living Weekly Nudge and SLW! Digest) that contains slightly longer items than the other two components of the SLW! Blog. It’s similar to SLW! Blog before June, 2015.

# # #

DoubleDown on Extreme Regressive Red States: “Bloodlust Arkansas,” “No Sanctuary Texas” and former democracy North Carolina

The “avoid” status of red states has been doubled for states that have recent egregious acts:

• Arkansas for murdering multiple inmates before the state’s death drugs expired

• Texas for outlawing any sanctuary cities or counties

• North Carolina legislature for stripping its newly elected governor of normal powers

For more on the “I Buy Blue. How About You?” campaign, visit . . .

http://simpleliving.startlogic.com/indexoth.php?place=Sanity.php#blue

# # #

Garage Sales and the War Machine

Part of the ritual of spring cleaning is the garage or yard sale. A couple of motivators include 1) purging excess stuff from our homes, and 2) recouping some of the money we’ve spent on that excess stuff.

What also happens is that such sales are a way to pick up more excess stuff cheaply from our neighbors. They’re called “bargains.” In some cases, hoarders and pre-hoarders are tempted to continue their addiction.

Such thinking is part of American Deceptionalism, a syndrome promoted by corporations and their salespeople, the advertising industry. (Yes, it’s related to American Exceptionalism, which means we can get whatever we want whenever we want, a modern version of the brutal Manifest Destiny myth, which allowed our forebears to steal land and other resources from indigenous peoples and then slaughter them if they resisted.)

American Deceptionalism is the lie that we will be happier with more stuff. Americans are deceived through advertising and peer pressure to buy more and more, even to go into debt, for the sake of convenience, status, “the economy” and other illusions.

A far better way of getting rid of excess stuff is to give it away to 501-c-3 non-profits that then sell it in Thrift Stores at low prices to people in need or people who have lower needs, wants and expectations. These charities are equipped to redistribute useful items in a way that even needy people can afford. Much more efficiently that garage/yard sales.

Besides the ease of giving excess away — much easier than garage/yard sales — is the reason that one can deduct the fair trade values of the items from one’s tax return each year — thereby keeping more tax money away from the American WAR MACHINE. (Especially since the “Defense Dept.” already gets 50% of all federal budget discretionary dollars and is on track to be force-fed even more.)

This technique only works, of course, if one itemizes deductions, which is not difficult but does require some effort. The deduction will likely be as much or more than the cash from the sale, excluding all the effort to tote and price the stuff and then staff the sale.

Itemizing deductions is used most effectively by corporations and the rich! The tax changes proposed by the new administration in DC preserves charitable deductions. Non-profits would be lost without them.

This is one of the few tools that the 99% of tax payers have to keep their dollars from being used at whim to use the military to defend the interests of the wealthy and corporations around the world. Though they are called “job creators,” corporations exist primarily to generate profits for their executives and shareholders, the wealthy.

If one chooses to take only the standard deduct instead, then give excess stuff to a willing friend, neighbor or relative to give to GoodWill. They can take the deduction for their efforts of delivering the items and then the bookkeeping of itemizing deductions.

A more effective and more difficult way is to choose to live more simply — not to collect excess stuff — and to give the cash to non-profits to help the needy, thereby generating a tax deduction too.

Postscript

When choosing a charity for your surplus items, consider your values and theirs. In our area we have numerous choices. The Gospel Mission does excellent work feeding and housing the indigent. It runs a excellent Thrift Show. However, as a conservative Christian group, it refuses to hire gays or lesbians. Unlike most others, they will pick up at one’s home. They will only give a receipt if you have an itemized list , which is not a problem for a couple of book shelves. For 50 boxes of miscellaneous, that’s a problem.

Catholic Charities runs an excellent Thrift Shop, however the Roman Catholic Church is anti-gay, anti-choice and patriarchal. Salvation Army serves the indigent in numerous ways, however their theology is generally conservative. The Junior League, a civic organization not a religious one, runs a fine Thrift Store. The League is quite inclusive in philosophy and practice. GoodWill is a national organization with religious roots that trains many challenged people. Though it has been accused of some corruption in its national organization, it is generally quite worthwhile and honorable.

Give books to Planned Parenthood and to Public Libraries, many of which have huge annual used book sales and give receipts.

# # #

BONUS Resources

Shopping Doesn’t Make Us Happy by Frances Lo, 8 May, 2017

Deep Green Resistance Book Online for Free

COMING on SLW! Podcast — Adrienne Raimo of Columbus Minimalists (5/15)

What’s NOW with SLW!

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Simple Living Works! Weekly Digest

Posted by: on: May 8, 2017

Simple Living Works! Weekly Digest

May 8, 2017

In This Issue:

What’s NOW with SLW!

  • SLW! Blog Index | SLW! Podcast Index
  • SUBSCRIBE to SLW! Podcast for free through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to SLW! Blog. Click “+Follow” at lower right of blog post, enter a name and email address. Welcome!
  • Simpler Living Daily Calendar – MAY
  • Check out a few of SLW! thought-provoking, timely resources that might meet your personal, family or congregational/group needs. They’re all FREE. Visit Seasonal/Thematic Resource Index

What Others Are Doing – So Much Help! – Latest Posts

I gladly pass along links from simple living bloggers, podcasters, coaches and others. Some faith-based, some not. You needn’t read them all. Choose FIVE links — including SLW! — to investigate. COMPLETE LIST — Monthly Digest

What’s Happened

  • SLW! Podcast #90 —Author, blogger, speaker, coach Susan Vogt‘s timely Lenten discipline “Love your enemy” in the highly charged political scene.
  • SLW! Podcast #89 — A Different Way: Living Simply in a Complex World — latest from Northwest Earth Institute
  • Review of Lee Van Ham’s new “From Egos to Eden: Our Heroic Journey to Keep Earth Livable,” vol. 2 of the “Eden for the 21st Century” Trilogy. Colleague Lee’s new book is now available on Amazon in print and ebook and other locations where you can get the ebook (Nook, iBooks, Kobo). He says, “Hope the book stirs you to write a review, to converse with others, and to help me tell better than I currently do a story for OneEarth living. Wanting to show Earth more love!”
  • Post-Election Emergency/Disaster Preparedness and Survival Guide
  • New Simpler Formats for 2017 — The monthly SLW! eNews and Weekly Digest will feature only the latest posts from colleague organizations. The complete Monthly Digest only on the SLW! site will be updated at least once a week. The Weekly Nudge will feature only offering from SLW! Both the Weekly Digest and Weekly Nudge come as part of your free subscription to SLW! Blog. The Daily Nudge comes by email (send NUDGE to SimpleLivingworks@yahoo.com) or by Twitter @GeraldIversen. Choose the options that work for you.
  • Previews of Simple Living Blogs, Podcasts and Sites // Collaborators & Champions
  • Recent Responses to all SLW! media

    Podcast Reminder

    You can access all SLW! podcast audio and the show notes either at SimpleLiving.startlogic.com/SLW-PODCAST or at SimpleLivingWorks.org (then click window #3). Complete Episode Index. Listen through your computer, iPod, iPad, iPhone (or equivalent).

    SUBSCRIBE through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. To SUBSCRIBE to email notices, click Comments at the bottom of Show Notes, then check ‘Notify me of new posts by email.’ Please rate us in iTunes and leave a review.

    Send us your email address to receive the free monthly SLW! eNews. Remember to like us on Facebook. Urge your friends to do the same. Do your friends a favor. Share our blog and podcast.

    Like SLW! on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Follow us on Pinterest. Share your thoughts on our podcast and blogs. Email SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com, leave a message on our Facebook page or on the SLW! blog.

    Peace, Gerald “Jerry” Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist

    • Image: Spirit of Simplicity #2-A325

    Copyright: Creative Commons non-commercial attribution share-alike license.

    Through social media, we extend the mission and resources of the non-profit organization Alternatives, 1973-2011.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Simpler Living Weekly Nudge

Posted by: on: May 7, 2017

Simpler Living Weekly Nudge

May 5, 2017

In This Issue:

What’s NOW with SLW!

What Others Are Doing – So Much Help! – Latest Posts

I gladly pass along links from simple living bloggers, podcasters, coaches and others. Some faith-based, some not. You needn’t read them all. Choose just FIVE links to investigate. COMPLETE LIST (Monthly Digest)

  • Especially Noteworthy — Churches and Political Speech from Eco-Justice Ministries (5/05)
  • For links to earlier entries, check the previous SLW! Weekly Digest or Monthly Digest.

What’s Happened

Podcast Reminder

You can access all SLW! podcast audio and the show notes either at SimpleLiving.startlogic.com/SLW-PODCAST or at SimpleLivingWorks.org (then click window #3). Complete Episode Index. Listen through your computer, iPod, iPad, iPhone (or equivalent).

SUBSCRIBE through iTunes, Stitcher.com or your favorite podcast service. To SUBSCRIBE to email notices, click Comments at the bottom of Show Notes, then check ‘Notify me of new posts by email.’ Please rate us in iTunes and leave a review.

Send us your email address to receive the free monthly SLW! eNews. Remember to like us on Facebook. Urge your friends to do the same. Do your friends a favor. Share our blog and podcast.

Like SLW! on Facebook. | Follow us on Twitter. | Follow us on Pinterest. Share your thoughts on our podcast and blogs. Email SimpleLivingWorks@yahoo.com, leave a message on our Facebook page or on the SLW! blog.

Peace, Gerald “Jerry” Iversen, Chief SLW! Activist

*IMAGE: Spirit of Simplicity #1-A3386

Copyright: Creative Commons non-commercial attribution share-alike license.

Through social media, we extend the mission and resources of the non-profit organization Alternatives, 1973-2011.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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