Greenpeace releases a report claiming that the environmental impact from the technology used in texting and data storage  is becoming more of a concern. According to the report, “How Dirty Is Your Data?”, the Clean Cloud Power Report Card ranks Apple dead last amongst it’s peers for having the worst clean energy index and having the highest coal intensity.

The report takes many factors into consideration, including the amount and type of energy consumed by several top tech companies’ data centers, the massive warehouses where banks of servers store information.

“Apple’s 6.7% score was largely based on its 500,000-square-foot facility coming online in Maiden, North Carolina. According to Greenpeace, that facility will consume as much energy as 80,000 homes in the United States, or nearly a quarter-million in Europe.

The North Carolina energy grid it uses is made up of only about 5% clean energy, the report says, with the rest coming from either coal (62%) or nuclear (32%).

Also scoring in single digits was HP, with a 9.9%, based on facilities fueled almost exclusively by coal and nuclear energy.

Topping the list were Yahoo! (55.9%) and Google (36.4%).

Yahoo! locates most of its data centers near sources of renewable energy, Greenpeace says, and Google is investing in wind and solar power as well as making deals to buy power from companies that use sustainable means to create it.

“Their models should be employed and improved upon by other Internet (‘cloud computing’) companies,” Greenpeace said in the report.

Also ranked in the report: Amazon (26.8%), Microsoft (25%), Twitter (21%),Facebook (13.8%) and IBM (10.9%).”

Read the rest of this article on CNN.com here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/04/22/greenpeace.apple.dirtiest/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Check out the latest deals on eco-friendly products. Save big on your Mother’s Day Gifts with the following coupon codes!

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Monthly Coupon Code from Only Natural Pet Store is SAVEPETS – Click and 5% of your order will be donated to pet relief in Japan plus you save 5%!

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How, you ask?

Well this is how it works. I’m participating in something called ALC (AIDS Life Cycle) with my girlfriend this year. ALC is a 545 mile,  7-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. You can learn more abut this crazy event here: http://www.aidslifecycle.org/about/

Every participant must raise a minimum of $3000 for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center.

I’m going to offer my art as part of your donation. Call me if you need further explanation.

Thank you,

Abram Santa Cruz  - 310.612.7926

The following prices/donations acquire the following pieces.

Aquarium #2, 2011
72″x38″, Mixed Media on Glass
Currently hanging at the The Green Room-Organic Hair Lounge
$2000 ($1500 for the charity/$500 for delivery and installment)

Water Lilies #15, 2010
72″x38″, Mixed Media on Glass
Currently hanging at the The Green Room-Organic Hair Lounge
$2000 ($1500 for the charity/$500 for delivery and installment)

Aquarium #2, 2011
20″x34″, Mixed Media on Glass
$800 ($600 for the charity/$200 for delivery)

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Earth Day on the Promenade hosted by Earth Day LA -  4/17/2010

Date: April 17, 2010     City: Santa Monica    Starting Time: 10am    Ending Time: 7 pm

Description: “Earth Day on the Promenade” in Santa Monica on Saturday, April 17th, 2010 will bring Earth Day to a Southern California premier shopping and entertainment destination. A free event for the whole family. Many exhibits for kids and adults will provide practical information about products and lifestyles that conserve energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, thus reducing our “carbon footprint.” Live music, live animals, lots of fun!

Address & Directions: On the Third Street Promenade I-10 West; Exit 4th St., park in any of the Public Parking Structures (1-6) on 4th and 2nd streets.

Vendor/Exhibitor Instructions & Registration: We’re looking for Sponsors, Exhibitors and Volunteers for this event.  Please Register for this great event.

Event Type: Festival for the Earth    Number of Participants: We’re expecting more than 20,000 people this year.

Web Site: www.earthdayla.org Email: abram@livingecho.com Phone: Abram  (310) 612-79126

Exhibitor Information: If you are a green business and want to get some great exposure in front of thousands of people, this is a great time for you to register. Please download our strong>Exhibitor Application “Earth Day” April 17 and email it back to abram@livingecho.com

Sponsor Information: We couldn’t make this happen without the generosity of our sponsors. If you would like to become a sponsor for this great Earth Day Event, you can find more information on our Sponsor Application “Earth Day” April 17 page.

Volunteer Information: If you or someone you know would like to volunteer for this event, please feel free to Joint our Crew.

Support Earth Day LA with a tax-deductible donation (we are a project of International Humanities Center, a 501(c)(3) organization Tax ID 33-0767921):

1. Click here to make a credit card donation. Scroll down to “Donation to Earth Day Los Angeles,” fill in the amount, click “Make Donation,” click “Pay for Order Online” and fill in your credit card info on a secure page.

2. To donate your car or other property, click here – Earth Day L.A. Vehicle & In-Kind Donation Program

3. Or send your check to: Earth Day Los Angeles, 1216 S. Westlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90006

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Hello Everyone,

I would like to first say thank you to all of those who have continued to show their appreciation for the arts by purchasing artwork, especially in this economic climate, and to those that have shown their appreciation by simply going  to the exhibitions.

I have a few pieces that I would like to see go before the end of the year, so I have heavily discounted my work in hopes that someone might want to buy some early Christmas / Hanaka / Holiday presents for others or themselves

The prices include delivery if you are in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, otherwise a shipping charge may be added. You can pay with credit card, cash, paypal or check.

I hope everyone’s Thanksgiving Holiday went well and I look forward to see you at some more art shows.

Thanks,

Abram

Black Friday - Holiday Art Sale

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This picture was taken 30 minutes after a drunk driver hit my car and left the scene of the accident.

At approximately 2pm on a Saurtday, a man in his mid 30′s drove his new Ford Mustang head-on into the driver’s side corner of my old Volkswagen Cabrio. According to the the main witness, the man then backed up and casually drove away down a residential street hoping that none of the 5 witnesses that were near the accident noticed as he plowed into my car causing it to strike another car behind me. It gets better. As he was trying to flee the scene, two of the witnesses got into a SUV and started following him. The man getting away saw this and thought it would be fun to outrun his noble pursuers in his now badly-damaged new Ford Mustang. After running 3 stop signs and getting up to 70 mph the man ended up parking his car  100 yards from where the accident originally took place. His next clever move was to escape by foot. Trying to avoid suspicion, he walked casually down the street….to his house….3 blocks away. By this time, he had about 5 people following him about 1/2 block back giving the police a call. 5 minutes later the man was arrested with a .25 blood alcohol level. He also had a half-empty bottle of vodka in the front seat of his car and by some miracle he actually had full coverage insurance.

Meanwhile, at chez abram, my girlfriend was getting ready to do some laundry and needed the quarters out of my car. Reluctantly, I was volunteered to fetch them. My first thought as I saw the wreckage was, “that’s not my car, I was parked 10 feet ahead.”  Then, I screamed “What the F@*!?” The witnesses were still there and talked me through what happened while the cops were filling out the report where the man parked his car.

This isn’t even the bad part. The car belongs to a friend of mine who is traveling outside of the country for a few months. She left the car in my care because I was selling my Toyota Prius to support my business and to take care of  other debts. Thus, effectively leaving me without transportation and my friend having to deal with the remanence of the situation abroad.

In hind sight, I realized that this was a good ending considering the circumstances. The main witness was 15 feet from the collision raking her front lawn. If the car veered slightly more to the left, she would have been in the path of a high-speed Ford Mustang and so would her house.  Knocking my car 10 feet back onto the hood of the car behind me required a lot of force and velocity. The 5 pedestrians near the accident that followed him to his house walked away uninjured and no one was killed in the accident. The suspect was caught, arrested and insured. A lot worse could have happened and I am thankful for at least having a car the past few months while my friend was out of the country. She will be receiving a check as this car will undoubtedly be considered totaled beyond repair, which will ultimately extend her travels. I personally don’t think she’s coming back as she looks to be having a lot of fun

As for the driver, I feel bad for him. The fact that he was driving with a half-empty bottle of vodka in the car and wasted at 2pm is not a good indication of his mental state. It makes me wonder what sort of pain he was trying to drown out. Hopefully, he realizes the impact that this will have on his future and the community he momentarily ripped apart and in some ways brought together. I was astonished to hear that people were willing to risk their safety to chase him down. Studies have shown that witnesses to crimes more often do not help because they think the other witness might or that it is not their place. I am eternally grateful for their help as they have saved me and my friend from a total mess and for my renewed faith in samaritans.

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Invitation for next week's show

Unique Techniques

Come check out some of my latest pieces at next week’s art show. We are going to have a great DJ spinning that evening and we’ll be pouring some nice wines.  Art, wine and music — what makes for a better evening?

Opening Reception will be from 6:30pm – 10pm on Saturday October 24, 2009

The Whole 9
6101 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA  90232

Also Open: Monday through Friday, from 10am-5pm and by appointment. This show runs until November 21st.

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This week LivingECHO.com received approval to bid on contracts for the local, state and federal governments as the demand for sustainable and energy efficient materials is on the rise. In conjunction with the approval, LivingECHO also received it’s small business status from the SBA in order to receive additional benefits from the state and federal government.

This approval comes at the heels of a bid that was approved for the LACCD two weeks ago that established LivingECHO as a supplier for the city of Los Angeles.

This also represents the first known supplier relationship between the city of Los Angeles and a green online-only retailer. This recent development is proving that LivingECHO’s B-2-B shopping portal will be a powerhouse in the online commerce community.

LivingECHO will release its B-2-B shopping portal to the public in the fall of 2009 making it the first true comparison shopping website that businesses and governments can use to source their sustainable products to support their projects, events and resale needs.

Last week LivingECHO.com closed on its first distribution deal with the city of Los Angeles. The LA Community College District contracted LivingECHO to fulfill an order for Eco-Friendly Stainless Steel Water Bottles using its B-2-B shopping portal. The LACCD has already put in a request for a second order paving the road for a long-term business relationship between the local government and the green online retailer.

This recent development is proving that LivingECHO’s B-2-B shopping portal will be a powerhouse in the online commerce community. This also represents the first known supplier relationship between the city of Los Angeles and a green online-only retailer.

LivingECHO.com will release its B-2-B shopping portal to the public in the fall of 2009 making it the first true comparison shopping website that businesses and governments can use to source their sustainable products to support their projects, events and resale needs.

Come see my latest pieces of art while enjoying good music, a donation bar, and hors-d’oeuvres. I will have my three latest pieces hanging so please try to make it as my next show will not be until September.

Opening Reception will be from 6pm – 10pm on Friday July 31st.

Lanaca Gallery
1827 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA  90015
Just South of Staples Center and near LA Mart, at Washington

Also Open: Thursday thru Saturday, from 10am-9pm and by appointment. This show runs until August 11th.

Lanaca Gallery is a brand new gallery in Downtown LA.  Located on the ground floor of a beautifully restored 1930s Art Deco building that is just South of the Staples Center and next to the LA Mart.  There is lots of room to fill in this 1800 square foot gallery.  Shows will rotate every two weeks, with two receptions per show (one week on a Friday night, and one on the following week on a Saturday).  Receptions will have a donation bar, music, hors-d’oeuvres (snacks), and good times.  The next show will be on July 31st!

Water Lilies #14

A Desert Night Above Picture Rocks Mountain

A Fire In The Sky Above San Francisco

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