Staff picks

A beautiful and deeply moving book about love and survival in the shadow of Auschwitz. I finished reading it with tears in my eyes.
–Dale M. Brown, writer/editor, Time-Life Books.

I continually hold out hope that the next book I read will be one that stays with me forever -- a book that I must own because I'll find myself going back to the bookshelf time and again to find certain passages; a book that is so beautifully written that recalling certain scenes or passages involve all senses. From what I've read so far, Eyes are Watching, Ears are Listening is one of those books. (Read excerpts of the book here.) I've had the privilage to meet Eycke Strickland several times: she is an amazing person with an important and fascinating story to tell. For more information on Eyes are Watching, Ears are Listening, visit Eycke Strickland's Web site, or read the six five-star reviews of the book on Amazon.com.

Autographed copies of Eyes are Watching, Ears are Listening may be purchased directly from the author.

Also available at Amazon.com.

Sure my mom taught me a million things when I was a kid, among them how to appreciate Dr. Seuss and how to sew. As an adult, she reminds me how important it is to keep up the good work by volunteering. She's worked at Hospice in Santa Cruz, California since 1984, making a positive impact on people's lives. I'm very proud of you, Mom! -- Tom Bihn

Bobbie Bihn was featured in a recent hospice publication. Click the above picture to be taken to a full-size image of the article describing Bobbie's volunteer work for hospice. For more information on the Santa Cruz Hospice Caring Project, click here.

If you're in the Seattle area, be sure to check out the STAND Artist Carpet Show at Gallery IMA. The opening reception is on Thursday, November 1st (6-8 pm) and the show runs until December 2nd. The show is an Artist-designed rug show produced by Dorje Contemporary (Dorje designs stunning and unique carpets, always using the highest quality natural materials) and features the work of 18 different artists whose rugs will be displayed on and off the walls.

Tom says: Check out this video by my friends The Ecclestons, a Canadian original acoustic group.

Tom Bihn (Design/Product Development/CEO): Adopt-A-Minefield. Tom says, "These folks are helping war-torn areas around the world move forward. This is some of the most important work being done for the future, in my opinion. Give what you can."

Read on for the favorite charities of Tom Bihn crew members.

Riley recommends a few tips courtesy of the Humane Society for keeping your dog and cat safe on Halloween.

Keep your pet in a quiet place, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. You may know that the miniature monsters and goblins who come knocking on Halloween aren't real, but pets don't. Dogs and cats are creatures of habit and could become frightened or agitated by the unaccustomed sights and sounds of costumed visitors. In addition, frequently opened doors provide a perfect opportunity for escape, which can go unnoticed during all the commotion. Be sure all pets are wearing collars and ID tags in case of an accidental getaway.

Keep candy away from pets. All those sweets may taste great to critters, but candy, especially chocolate, can be toxic to pets. Candy wrappers can also be harmful if swallowed. Instead, tempt your pet with a few of his favorite treats

darcy | 23 October 2006 12:47 pm | Staff picks |  

Where in Flickr is Tom?

Post your guesses in our forum.

Tom writes: "I've been using a Ruby Red Jimi iPod nano Case now for a couple of months, and all I have to say is this: cool. It adds lot o' protection (I've dropped the thing twice now with no injury to my iPod nano) and color too, with very little added bulk or weight. The Ruby color is a ringer for my Duncan Imperial® yo-yo, a fact that makes me smile whenever I see it. Have an iPod nano? Buy a Jimi case for it. Don't have an iPod nano? Buy that first."

Sometimes it seems like the more good intentions I have for this planet and the people and animals on it, the more complicated my shopping becomes. In some ways, that's good. I think more about the purchases I make and when I buy things that are organic, "Made in the U.S.A.", sustainably harvested, animal-friendly, or recycled, they tend to be of a higher quality. In some ways, it's harder and it takes more time, especially when you have to consider things like whether the organic fruit grown in Chile a better or worse buy than the non-organic fruit grown in the state where you live.

In the end, we can only do our best, and "Make it count: What "organic" labels really mean", an article by the Editors of Consumer Reports, makes it easier for us to make the right choices when it comes to buying organic. It's a simple guide with tips on buying organic; if the label says "Made with Organic Ingredients," that means that 70% of the ingredients are organic; buying organic cherries and strawberries makes sense because those fruits tend to have higher concentrations of pesticides; and other excellent guidelines to help you make smart organic purchases.

The gate less traveled: Tips and tools you can use to find faster airport security lines, an article by Conor Dougherty, originally published in the The Wall Street Journal, has some great tips and tools for the traveler who wants to avoid those long security lines. Registration may be required.

We recommend taking an Aeronaut maximum carry-on bag with you to improve any travel experience. The Aeronaut is available for pre-order now and will ship within the next two weeks. As you may recall, we decided to make five Aeronauts in the color Hunter Green to see how they looked -- a couple of those are still available. If you'd like to order the Aeronaut in Hunter Green, email us.