Wanna live past 100? In the villages of Ogliastra in Sardinia, one out of every 200 people in has lived to celebrate a 100th birthday. What they eat: Organic food, moderate amounts of alcohol, and very little meat.

But the secret to longetivity’s still unknown — and perhaps undesirable. Would you like to “live forever as a poor, illiterate sheepherder in an isolated mountain village where resources are scarce?”

The whole article’s a fascinating read. Plus, it’s funny:

So if I’m the kind of person who’s keen to increase my longevity — and who isn’t? — it seems I have two options:

a) Struggle to eat 30 percent fewer calories than “normal.”

b) Eat whatever I want, but find the time (and the capacity) to ingest the equivalent of 100 glasses of red wine every day.

(via 3qd)

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>> Drinking while reading: Ryan at blogging.la mixes his downtown library visit with happy hour specials. Turns out the Library Bar’s not so reading-friendly, unless you bring your own flashlight.

>> A funny comparison between Gore and Prince Charles: “For each man, the path was blocked by an older woman with stiff hair. For Charles, it has been, and probably will continue to be, his tenacious mother, who’s not budging from the throne any time soon. For Gore, it was Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who cast a fateful vote in Bush v. Gore.” Not sure why the author dislikes them both, however.

>> No, socialized medicine doesn’t mean worse US cancer treatment. In Slate, Timothy Noah deconstructs recent anti-universal health care arguments.

>> Free YouTube channel for nonprofits: Upload footage of your work, public service announcements, calls to action, etc. (via Have Fun Do Good)

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Coffee flavored condoms anyone? DKT introduced these in Ethiopia, with the statement that “Experience worldwide shows that condom use increases wherever additional varieties are available.” Fascinating. (via Salon. Earlier: Fair trade condoms)

These condoms’re only available in Ethiopia now though. But what you can do in the US: Rejavanate! These crunchy-looking reusable totes are made from Portland coffee company Boyd Roasters’ old coffee burlap sacks, manufactured by workers from The Arc, an org that helps find housing and employment for people with developmental disabilities, and printed with soy inks. (via Fake Plastic Fish)

Lastly, for those who want to stick to just drinking coffee: Virgin Atlantic’s now serving fair trade tea and coffee on flights.

Tags: coffee

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First, the bikes:

>> Critical Mass turns 15!. Originally started by a group that used to call themselves Commuter Clot, Critical Mass is everywhere now — including all over LA.

Now, the buses:

>> Santa Monica schools and nonprofits can get city funding for public transportation to arts and events.. Can we somehow use this to get a late night shuttle between Santa Monica and downtown LA for Music Center and Disney Hall stuff?

>> Eastsiders: Try out the new Silver Lake DASH today, Sept. 29. They’ll be running at 15-minute intervals from 9 am to 6 pm.

And on to the big picture:

>> City transportation chief Gloria Jeff gets fired after 54-members of her staff sign a vote of no confidence petition. Reasons: slow implementation of traffic fixes, failure to put together strategic plan for the department, making “cutbacks in the agency and potentially violating city-union agreements.” Rita Robinson, director of the city’s Bureau of Sanitation, would take over the transportation job. Zach at LAist predicts traffic’ll improve drastically as a result.

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UCLA’s launching a new interdisciplinary graduate emphasis called “Leaders in Sustainability” — and eco-enthusiasts’re invited to the launch reception.

When: Thursday, October 4, 2007. Networking Reception begins at 6 pm; program from 7 - 8 pm.
Where: Executive Dining Room (B209), UCLA Anderson School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles.

According to the UCLA invite, “Leaders in Sustainability” is spearheaded by the UCLA Anderson School of Management and the UCLA Institute of the Environment and will bring together graduate students with a passion for problem-solving that integrates economic, environmental, and social concerns.” The emphasis is , and with broad support from across the university.

So — Go find out about the program and network with other professionals, graduate students, and the Director of the program, Prof. Charles Corbett.

Yes, there’ll be drinks and hors d’oeuvres. RSVP by September 28.

Tags: ucla, sustainable, business, losangeles

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This weekend’s Swerve Festival — a self-dubbed “new annual festival dedicated to celebrating West Coast creative culture” — offers a free bike valet service courtesy of LA County Bicycle Coalition — with priority seating for cyclers who take advantage of it.

So — Get a free music pass or buy film tickets here, then cycle over –

Then on Sunday: Fresh off their summer Farm Tour, bicycling duo and anti-plastic-bag activists The Ditty Bops perform at the Hollywood Bowl this Sunday, Sept. 30. (via blogging.la)

In other bicycling news, REI’s pledged a $100,000 grant to the Bikes Belong Foundation to support the Bicycle Friendly Communities program, which’ll provide a series of grants that’ll go toward projects to make US cities more friendly for cyclists. According to the press release, “The BFC review committee—comprising League and Bikes Belong staff—will invite communities that exhibit ambition and potential to improve their bicycle facilities and programs to apply for the funding.” Maybe LA can become one of these ambitious communities? (via Treehugger)

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>> Brad Pitt’s laying down $5 million for green homes in New Orleans. So’s producer Steve Bing. The two will lead the project to build 150 affordable eco-homes in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward.

Here he is speaking about Katrina (at the v. end of the clip) at the Clinton Global Initiative earlier this week: (via grist)

>> America’s Next Top Model’s doing a green episode. I’m guessing long-legged panic will ensue. (via The Green Life)

Tags: bradpitt, topmodel, katrina

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

The Amoeba tote came first, and now it’s time for a T-shirt from this eco-friendly music store.

Size small unfitted, organic cotton, made in the USA, albeit by American Apparel….

Comment or email by Sunday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen Monday. US addresses only.

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Earlybirds: Join the Bird Year Ride on the Pacific Coast Highway. Bird Year’s a project of 15-year-old Audubon Society member Malkolm Boothroyd, who’s been traveling and documenting the many species of birds he sees on his way during his bicycle-powered, emissions-free trip from Alaska to the Salton Sea.

And this Saturday, Malkolm and his family’ll hit LA County. You can be one of the bike activists joining the LA County Bicycle Coalition to guide the group down the PCH, from the Ventura County Line through Malibu to the Santa Monica Pier, where the Audubon Society host a short press conference.

When: Sat., Sept. 29, 2007, 7:15 am
Where: Meet at Jamba Juice at 11911 San Vicente Blvd @ Montana Ave., Brentwood
Bring: Helmet, tubes/patch kit, hydration, nutrition, healthy curiosity about bird life.

From Jamba Juice, you’ll bike up to meet the Bird Year People at Neptune’s Net, just above the Ventura/LA County Line, at 9:30 am. For those who don’t want to bike that far, you can meet up with the group around 11:30 am at PCH and Cross Creek and bike down to the end destination, Santa Monica Pier, arriving sometime between 12:30 pm - 1 pm.

According to LA County Bicycle Coalition, “Our early morning ride up PCH will be moderately paced, and our ride back should be leisurely, as we guide Malkolm’s 10-12mph group (including at least one trailer) safely on PCH, and hopefully learn a thing or two about avian life.”

For more info, contact LA County Bike Coalition at 213.629.2142.

Tags: birdyear, bike, bicycle

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>> Women used to be happier than men. Now, not so much. Among other things, “Men apparently enjoy being with their parents, while women find time with their mom and dad to be slightly less pleasant than doing laundry.”

>> Recyclable trash: Now good enough to steal. We’re not just talking about dumpster divers with shopping carts. In New York, organized enterprises are using unmarked, out-of-state trucks to stealing tons of curbside recyclables.

>> Our parking meters suck. Now, we’re finally getting some new ones that let you pay by credit, order via phone, and opt for month passes. Replacements begin this November.

>> Eco-travel to Chicago: Now sweaty and lonely. “I continue with the isolation, the sweatiness, and the inconvenience in the hope that my kids will learn they don’t need much to be happy.” Interesting educational strategy … as in I’m glad I don’t have kids.

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