Get Paid to Recycle Electronics

YouRenew is making recycling electronics easy.

See if your electronic item is listed and get a cash quote.
Or request a specialized quote.
Send it back in pre-paid envelope or box.
It's that easy.

Seems good if you wouldn't have time to get a great price selling it yourself or if it is in bad shape that wouldn't be sellable.

Video

Funny Photo...

Road sign in local outdoor shopping mall




(ARobinson photo)

Go Local - Indy Area

Last Sunday I visited Cuppy's Coffee in the Hamilton Town Center in Noblesville, IN. (13170 Harrell Pkwy, Noblesville, IN 317-770-9386)

I met the owner, Roy, who gave me a tour and some details about the business.

Is this a local business?

Yes, Although Cuppy's started as a franchise, each is owned and operated separately now as the franchise has dissolved.

What makes your store unique?
We not only are a local store but support other local business including Harvest Cafe Roasters and The Classic Cheesecake Company.

We also have featured live music on Thursday nights.

The shop is centrally located - we have indoor and outdoor seating. The shop is next to the main children's play area.

What foods do you serve?
Coffee, Fine Teas, Smoothies, Artisan Gelato (Italian Ice cream), Gourmet Desserts, Breakfast and Lunch (Catering Available)

What are your specialties?

We serve high quality food. Our artisan gelato is lower in sugar than ice cream and is hormone free, and flavors are rotated.

Our espresso is not a Seattle blend but Italian. We do french press and customized coffee blends.

Customer picks:
(Sue) iced coffee, Turkish roast Gelato
(Yolanda) Mango Sorbet, Carmel Mocha
(Me) Strawberry Smoothie


Let me know if you know a small business that you would like featured in an upcoming spotlight (looking for other parts of the nation as well).
(ARobinson photo)

Why support local business?

What's the big deal with the "go local" push? There are many benefits but the top three for me is:

#1) Getting to know the workers and owners
#2) Supporting the "little guy". Someone is trying to live out their dreams and fighting the big marketing dollars of chain stores.
#3) $ Selfishness - let's keep tax payer dollars here instead of out of state, overseas. Keep my taxes down.

Keep and create jobs in your community.

Also there is an abundance of local coupons for these businesses - gotta save $.

#4) Slave trade items, health hazards, environmental concerns are much lower with local businesses who forge alliances with the community and neighbors.

Free Download, Free Meals

For every (free) download of Internet Explorer 8, Microsoft will donate 8 meals to Feeding America.

Offer is good now through August 8, 2009.

(Thanks Aaron L. for the tip!)

Mercy Rain

Indiana has seen more than its normal fare of rain this June. In our community garden we think about the water needed for our plot share. Every bit is precious and necessary to life. The abundance of regular rain means that I don't have to lug gallons from the tank and refill what I have used. The rain is like mercy -something I don't deserve - abundant and free.

Sometimes there are other reminders to be merciful that hit me upside the head - when others withhold that life-giving mercy from me. The last two weeks have been an exhausting struggle - difficult and life-draining - that could have been avoided with a little mercy.

The pain recalls an age-old lesson.

Am I really remembering to show mercy to others?

Do I choose to think that others are doing their best even if they mess up and that mess affects me?

Do I love them because they agree with me and make choices that look just like mine?

Is it easier to work for mercy overseas to someone I don't know, while I overlook chances to be merciful to those around me?


I struggle to find that courage - that says you can be yourself around me - no matter what.


Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy (Matt 5).









(pix-ARobinson photos)

? of the Week...

What do you do in the summer to relieve injustice?

(i.e. vacations with a purpose, buying local, gardening, etc.)

What were some good things that happened? Did you find any roadblocks?

Free Children's Adventure Computer Game

Quest for Compassion is a great new interactive computer game for children in the target age range 6-12 by Compassion International.

Children "travel" to other countries and learn about other cultures while filling up "travel passports" with their adventures on-line.

(pix-stock.xchng)

Movie and Book picks for summer

I recently had the sick feeling from feeding on too much junk. Not food, but media - whatever popped onto my television, radio, or news feed. As I try to feast my mind on better things, here is what I have found recently.



The Princess and the Goblin, George McDonald
A classic author writes an excellent children's book that is good enough for adults to enjoy as well. As the Goblins threaten the kingdom the brave peasant boy miner unravels a sinister plot. Will the princess make the right decisions along the way and does the kindgom stand in the end?


The Business of Heaven, C.S. Lewis
Daily snipets from the best of C.S. Lewis' writings. I can't believe how relevant C.S. Lewis is even today.


Up! (in theaters)
I was really suprised that beyond the excellent animation were two main characters that weren't in love, good looking, or shallow. The depth of the story line and the question about friendship, family, and keeping promises are packed with adventure and comedy.


Faith like Potatoes (DVD)
Although the action was a little slow (needed better editing). This story based on a real life community asks what will you do when you hear God tell you to do something but the rest of the people in your life aren't so sure. Was it God or was it all in your head?

(pix-stock.xchng)

The real sisterhood of your traveling pants

Loved the first traveling pants movie. I loved the story of friendship and the adventures the girls had sharing the jeans.

Did you know your jeans have a story too? People who make the jeans, package the jeans, and suppliers who get them to the store? Unfortunately that story often wouldn't be a light romantic comedy but something in the horror genre.

As our jeans recently saw us through the Memorial Day weekend with fun, laughs,and barbecues, depending on where we bought ours it may have contributed to:

Amelita, a married factory worker who sees her four children one week a year. She and her husband work 12 hour days and send 70% of their pay to support their children.

Beatings, verbal insult, and sexual harassment to women factory workers in Bangladesh, the norm, not the exception.

Mock childcare centers in factories only used when auditors or inspectors are visiting.

Unpaid wages, forced overtime, and unsafe conditions.

(read the full stories at clean clothes campaign website)

As our jeans will travel with us through summer fun times with family or friends, let's purchase jeans and other products from stores that won't cause a nightmare to another family.


(pix-stock.xchng)

Experiment continues (Wake up Walmart pt2)

I hate change. I really hate it. It seems like such a small thing to change where you buy what you buy. But not knowing if the store has what you need, or the price is added stress in my day that I don't need.

I had a piano recital for my students fast approaching. So I needed a large quantity of plates, cups, utensils, and reception food. I was once again pleasantly surprised at the upfront costs being pretty much the same as usual and it was actually fun to get somethings that were different.

Coming home I went to the mailbox and found a huge surprise. We had been through a long appeals process with my health insurance company about them reimbursing me for something that they had approved and then refused to pay. It was a pretty substantial amount that we had given up on ever seeing that money. The check had come and was in my mailbox.

I knew what teeny little effort it cost to live justice for real - in everyday life was worth it. Immediately my mind was drawn to this passage:

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. (Michah 5.8)

Some might say that it was coincidence. To me it was an affirmation. Keep going. Keep working out mercy and justice even if you don't always get it right. God will take care of the details.

(pix- stock.xchng)

Artisan Seal

Want to buy local but it seems like a lot of work to find out where to shop? The state of Indiana recently announced the development of an Indiana artisan seal. Find local wine, cheese, pottery, art and more all at one website.

Not only are these local entrepreneurs but a showcase of exceptional talent and skill at their craft. Support these exceptionally talented businesses in your own backyard.

(pix-stock.xchng)

Experiment Shopping Commences

One of the most disturbing bits of research I found was on a store that I have shopped at for years - Wal-mart. From unethical treatment to workers in the US, to sweatshops overseas, to irresponsible acts against our environment - last week I had seen one fact too many. Can I do it? Could I break my familiarity and calculate total costs to myself and others not just the ticket price?

First week so good - I generally shop at TJoes and Walmart. I replaced my Walmart purchases with Meijer only. I was surprised to see a very similar cost at the end. The Meijer purchases that were on sale balanced out the goods at a slightly higher price! YEAH!

I hope someday that Wal-mart changes it's ways. It can happen. I have seen research that other companies have done it. Can I change my ways.... stay tuned.

Chain Store Reaction

Did you know that there are 15 million child slaves in the world? Some are involved in sex-trafficking but many more are involved in domestic labor, agricultural jobs, restaurant and hotel work, and in factory labor. They live a life few of us can imagine. Some are paying off loans made by their great-grandparents for around the amount of $25-$50.

I really want to change some of my shopping habits to not finance those who are violating human rights to make $. Not when I can by similar products from other companies trying to do the right thing, even at a cost to themselves.

One really cool website - Chain Store Reaction is doing just that. You can easily spot a company logo and see by a color-coded system what that company is doing to end ties to slave labor. You can also email corporations to tell them your stand directly from the site.

(pix-stockxchng.com)

Weddings with Heart

(updated post from 11-3-08)

Do you know anyone planning a spring or summer wedding?
Did you know there are simple things you can do to help charity while celebrating the new marriage, some that don't even cost you a dime?

There is a great site called the "I Do Foundation." The site features these different options.

1. Gift registry
This site will connect you to partner stores - up to 10% of your guests' purchases will be donated to your favorite charity. The partners are big names such as Target and Linens-n-Things.

2. Wedding Favors
Donate to a charity in lieu of wedding favors in honor of your guests.

3. Create a Charity Registry
Let your guests donate to a charity as an option on your registry.

4.Charitable Invitations
Raise 10% for charity with every invitation or wedding accessory purchase from Carlson Craft.

5. Donate your dress



(pix - stock.xchng.com)