Morgan Spurlock, Supersize Me, 30 Days
Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Last night my wife cuddled up on our couch and tuned in to our first episode of 30 Days, a documentary style show (NOT A REALITY SHOW) that follows somebody as they live a life drastically different from their own for 30 days. On last night's episode, the producer/creator of the show, Morgan Spurlock of Supersize Me fame, moved in with a family near where he grew up in West Virginia, and worked as a coal miner. Throughout the course of the episode, he shed light on the lives, struggles and rewards for the individuals who work in a mine everyday for their entire adult lives. What I really enjoyed was how he went more in depth on the subject of coal mining, discussing the environmental implications of both mining and coal use, the energy crisis in America, global warming, black lung disease and the hopes that these miners have for their children (ie: going to college, growing up to do something other than mining coal, etc). Needless to say, I was a fan and proceeded to schedule the entire series to record to my DVR.

This morning, I visited Morgan Spurlock's imdb.com page and was kind of surprised by the comments that many people made about Spurlock, his work style and most of all his documentary, Supersize Me. It seems that the "hook" for the documentary (Morgan Spurlock eats only McDonalds for month) has overshadowed the actual subject of the documentary for many American viewers. Honestly, if his documentary were marketed as an exposee on obesity in America, nobody would have watched it. Regardless, however, it is obesity in America that Mr. Spurlock addresses - talking about diabetes, the average American reliance on convenience foods, lack of exercise, nutrition in school lunchrooms, etc. McDonalds and the Fast Food industry served as a foundation for discussion of the bigger issue.

Some compared Spurlock to Michael Moore, creator of Farenheit 9/11 and Bowling for Columbine. Although I appreciate Mr. Moore's perspective it is a little extreme for my taste, and I don't think that Morgan Spurlock belongs in the same category. I have found that Michael Moore makes large leaps in logic to prove his point, whereas Spurlock will make more supported conclusions. Regardless, both individuals are presenting information from their point of view - until the public realizes that complete objectivity is impossible, they will continue complaining about subjectivity in media, art and just about every other aspect of life.

If you can catch 30 Days, it runs on FX, Tuesdays at 9 PM (CST)10 PM (EST) and is well worth the watch, as I believe Mr. Spurlock is bringing both perspective and information into the homes of many viewers.
I will leave you with this quote from last night's episode that I found quite drole. As Morgan is shoveling coal onto a conveyor belt, he said something along the lines of, "I am telling myself that this coal is going to help power a children's hospital somewhere, but I know in reality that it is helping some guy watching porn in front of his computer. I guess either way, it is helping someone."

Posted by La Famille Braun-Eckhardt 8:38 AM 1 comments  

Image of the Week
Friday, April 18, 2008

I chose this image this week because it is one of my favorites. We were on a catamaran in the Caribbean, sitting on the net looking at the turquoise blue water below us. I decided that I wanted to play with the apperature on my camera, and turned to take this picture of my wife. The ethereal lighting makes her look like the angel she is, and the honey color of her eyes accentuate their depth. It is in these eyes that I discover my limitless possibilities. That might sound corny, but I assure you it is true. More true, in fact, than most things I know in this world.

Posted by La Famille Braun-Eckhardt 3:23 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Image of the Week, Limitless Possibilities

State Initiatives Help North Texas Cities Lower Emissions... If They Want To.

Last night, my wife and I were lying in bed watching TV before drifting off to sleep (kind of angry because we couldn’t watch Survivor and The Office due to of the coverage of the crazy hail storm that left snow-like accumulations across the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex) when we almost by chance stumbled across a local news segment about the state of Texas giving away free money to lower emissions from industrial and city-owned equipment in the form of grants. Established in 2001, the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP), which is run by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, gives millions of dollars each year to cities in over 40 counties statewide that battle the bureaucratic obstacles and red tape for the sake of the environment. I was really happy to see the state taking some initiative to improve the air in Texas’ biggest cities, citing lower than acceptable levels of air quality (as set by the Environmental Protection Agency) in most metropolitan areas around the state. Such unsatisfactory air quality comes from Nitrogen Oxide emissions and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released into the air by… us.

I was then shocked to learn that only one North Texas city has applied for the grant. Godley, Texas, a small town about 30 minutes south of Fort Worth, applied for the funds necessary to update one of the school’s tractors used to mow the football fields and school owned lawns. Why did more cities not apply? Well, according to WFAA (the station airing the segment) many cities claim that they didn’t know the initiative was in place, and if they did, the application process was too extensive and difficult. That bothered me. In addition, only three North Texas communities applied for money to update their school busses with either lower emissions vehicles, or filters that are designed to lower the amount of diesel fumes released into the air.

TERP also has many other programs available, and are fighting to put energy efficient building standards in place throughout the state (like the new Green Building Standards adopted by the Dallas City Council). Such initiatives by big cities make me happy and give me hope that the necessary steps to become environmentally friendly and reduce our carbon footprint on the planet are becoming reality regardless of how slowly it is happening. Dallas is becoming the Emerald City... Green that is.

Next step: Educate our towns and cities about such possibilities, and help bring green initiatives into each and every city and home in North Texas. It isn’t too late to begin stopping global climate change… I just wish I jumped on the band wagon earlier. I have a lot to do to green up my home and my life (starting with my car).

Posted by La Famille Braun-Eckhardt 1:16 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Dallas-Ft. Worth Texas, Going Green

I'm Hungry... I Better Go Pick Something
Monday, March 31, 2008

Yesterday, after a morning of working out, getting some chores done around the house and a quick trip to Barnes and Noble, my wife and I found ourselves sitting on our couch flipping through the TV channels in an attempt to find something interesting to watch. We happened to stumble upon an episode of “Get Fresh with Sara Snow.” We found out about Sara Snow by watching one of our favorite shows about sextuplets, “John and Kate Plus 8” where Ms. Snow made a guest appearance and showed the Gosselin clan how to live a little bit greener. Those of you who don’t know who Sara Snow is, make sure you check out her website for complete biographical information as well as some amazing tips on how to live a more sustainable existence. In a nutshell, she is a TV personality who dedicates her time to helping families live an environmentally friendly and healthy life.

On the particular episode of “Get Fresh…” that we caught part of, Ms. Snow was preparing what looked like an awesome mushroom and mixed greens polenta that was made with all products that were grown/produced within 100 miles of her home. She called the meal part of her “100 Mile Diet” and encouraged viewers to try to use local products for at least one meal each week. In doing so, we not only help the environment by limiting product treatment (preservatives and packaging) and environmental cost of transport, but preserve the natural nutrients and flavors of the food we are eating. This quick segment by the enchanting Ms. Snow led me to jump on the internet in an attempt to find local farms and farmers markets at which I could acquire such foodstuffs.

In my search for all that is natural, I came across two very helpful websites designed for such a purpose. PickYourOwn.org is a website that features Pick Your Own farms in your area, where you literally go and pick your own produce. Most of these farms are orchards or fruit farms specializing in Strawberries, Blackberries and Blueberries, Peaches, Apples and Nectarines. Right near where I work is a strawberry farm that I plan to visit in the coming weeks.

One of the other sites that I found is called LocalHarvest.org, and features all of the local working organic farms that are open to the public (both produce and organically raised meat). This site is also great resource for finding farmers markets and the like. In my area (the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex) the only well known Farmers Market is in downtown Dallas, about 45 minutes from where I live. In looking through Local Harvest’s website, I found out that there are both a Farmers Market and a Community Garden just 20 minutes from my house. The Coppell Farmers Market runs starting at 8 AM each Saturday from April until November. Needless to say, I am excited to visit!

For all of you living in North Texas, you can also find some information on Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association website which not only contains a lot of good reading on the benefits of local food and organic lifestyle, but a list of events sponsored by the organization and local farms in North Texas.

In the past few months, I have become increasingly aware of all the things that I am doing in my life that are contributing to the poor health of the planet (including driving an SUV, which I plan on selling in the coming months so that I can get something more environmentally friendly). If all goes as planned, I hope my household will be green in the near future. I will keep you posted.

Posted by La Famille Braun-Eckhardt 2:41 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Going Green, Pick Your Own, Sara Snow

Image of the Week
Friday, March 28, 2008

I decided that I need to include some of my relevent photography on this blog...

This is a picture that I took last year while on vacation in Mexico. We were at Tulum, the ruins of a Mayan city situated on the Yucatan Peninsula. While we were making our way through the once great city, we passed this family several times and each time the little boy pictured caught my attention. There was something about the kid that captivated me. His face bore the markings of an old soul and his eyes were deeper and darker but had a certain Caribbean light that shined from beneath. He was literally the epitome of Limitless Possibilities.

We stopped on top of a cliff to eat our lunch. I glanced around to capture more of my surroundings through my lens and noticed the same family and little boy soaking in the view. It was like the boy was connected with a past he didn't even know, and looking ahead to a future that he was ready to create... but he held this innocence at the same time. Part of him was working on a different level, but most of him was simply a child looking at the sea and probably wanting to drink some juice.

Posted by La Famille Braun-Eckhardt 7:42 AM 3 comments  

Labels: Image of the Week, Limitless Possibilities

The Five Tibetans -- but not the ones in the news recently.
Thursday, March 27, 2008

At yoga last night, as the instructor weaved in and out of the lines of practicing yogis who were pushing through the assanas as usual and dripping with sweat, she said something that caught my attention. Sunstone Yoga’s Fire Class as discussed in my previous post, is composed of 34 postures over 90 minutes in 98.6 degrees. Interspersed throughout the 34 postures are a few that are prefixed with “Tibetan” (ie: Tibetan Leg Lifts, Tibetan Table, Tibetan Camel, etc.) As we were about to move into Tibetan Table, the instructor casually mentioned that this is one of the “Five Tibetans” (Also known as the 5 Tibetan Rites, 5 Tibetan Energy Rejuvenation Rites and Energy Rejuvenation Exercises), a series of 5 stretches/exercises that are designed to boost the energy centers of your body and stimulate energy flow. I made a mental note and googled the 5 Tibetans when I got home. What I found was definitely interesting.

The original 5 Tibetan Rites were published as part of a book called "The Eye of Revelation" written by Peter Kelder in 1939. In the book, Kelder claimed to have met a retired British army colonel in California during the early 1930s. This colonel told stories of his travels and life experiences including his discovery of the 5 Rites, which transformed him from an old man hunched over supported by a cane, to a newly youthful and healthy individual. A Fountain of Youth of sorts. The actual origins of the rites are unknown, as the method in which the information was supposedly passed does not fit with Tibetan tradition, nor are some of the movements characteristic of Tibetan Yoga.

It has been postulated that the 5 Rites actually originate from Northern India, as Kelder’s book discusses the 7 energy points in the body – or Chakras, an inherently Indian concept. In Tibetan culture, health comes from balancing five different elements in the body, and added energy is a byproduct of that natural health.

Regardless of origins, it is clear that these movements are beneficial (as is any movement that allows one to increase their heart rate, get their blood pumping and work their muscles). The benefits, however, are claimed to go beyond what normal exercise accomplishes… some publications have testimonials from people who have practiced the 5 rites and report new hair growth, improved eyesight, memory and potency in addition to restoring hair color and reversing the side affects of aging. Do I think that is possible? I think anything is possible and it can’t hurt to give it a shot!

For details on how to perform the rights you can check out either of these websites: Life Events or a Printable Workout.

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

Posted by La Famille Braun-Eckhardt 11:44 AM 1 comments  

Labels: Exercise, Sunstone Yoga, Wellness

The Power of Hugs
Thursday, March 20, 2008

A few weeks ago my mother-in-law told me about a news segment she saw on TV5 (The French channel available in the US). The segment told the story of French, American and British people who left their homes to travel to remote Southern India for a hug. Not just any hug, however, a hug that many claim reveals the light and love of God.

Mahatma Amma (born Mata Amritanandamayi Devi) was special from the time she was born - apparently able to walk and talk at 6 months and constantly singing by 3 years. She grew up in a poor fishing village amongst the widespread poverty of India - witness to the suffering of people, young and old, all around her. When she was forced to leave school to help run the family home, she began to ponder the nature of suffering and discontent, coming to the conclusion that it was her personal duty to share the love and presence of God she felt inside her with others in her community. She began giving away portions of her family's food to the hungry and bathing and clothing the poor. She soon gave up all she had to help others. Ultimately her mission grew and evolved into what it is today and the "Hugging Guru" came to spread her love, one hug at a time, throughout the world.

It seems extreme at best. How can a simple hug reveal God? Is it a cult? How much do you have to pay for a hug? All valid questions for the average American. Mahatma Amma has built an Ashram in Southern India and spends about half of the year there, hugging pilgrims and teaching lessons on selflessness, love and karma. The remaining 6 months are spent traveling around the world, sharing her love with those who cannot make it to her Ashram. Through private offerings (no payment for hugs or lectures at her Ashram) as well as book and CD sales, it is speculated that Amma earned $80 Million last year. CNN reports that much of this money, however, was given away helping victims of natural disasters, donating millions of dollars to help Hurricane Katrina victims as well as those devastated by the Southeast Asian Tsunami. Amma also funds homeless shelters in 38 American cities and other humanitarian projects around the world. Even though her lessons are rooted in the Hindu religion, Amma believes that people of all religions can benefit from her message of love as love is a constant in everyone's life.

I would love a hug from Amma (I like hugs in general), and I believe that she can truly share her positive energy and love with those around her through a simple embrace.

Take a look at her website, read about her life and her mission. Look around you and think about those you know who could benefit from the purest kind of love in their life, and how you can help them achieve that. Amma has found her way -- perhaps we can all find ours.

Posted by La Famille Braun-Eckhardt 2:04 PM 0 comments  

Labels: India, Mahatma Amma, Wellness