Hear of the FDA Globalization act of 2008? Probably not, CNN and FOX news are far too busy covering slaves fighting for their freedom and fake politricks. Just so you know, all is not well in our so-called ‘capitalist’ society. Since earlier this year the FDA has been trying to pass legislation to require any company who manufactures cosmetics, such as soap, shampoo, make-up, etc, to pay a minimum of $12,000 yearly in fees, and to file ridiculous amounts of paperwork for every product and new ingredient added to any existing product. If passed, this could mean the death of small business, especially in the natural and organic cosmetics market.

“But Imperialist, shouldn’t they be required to do this? For our safety”

Sure, but creating laws that would cripple the development of small business in a time of recession is asking for larger, more powerful companies, to impose higher prices and literally monopolize the market. It is taking it a step too far, and it’s intentions are obvious. It will leave us with the choice of covering our bodies in lauryl sulfates and ammonium phosphates, or simply not showering to avoid toxic contamination and smelling like a dirty politician.

Sign the Petition and make noise on myspace/facebook/whatever

Dr Bronners may be safe, they probably make enough to cover the fees and a system to handle the paperwork. But say goodbye to that wide variety of yummy soaps and shampoos available at your local natural foods store.

I’m suree Jeffree won’t care, i hear he/she/whatever uses sulphuric acid for his/her/whatever’s eyebrows. (off subject)

I try not to talk about my vinyl collection much. One, collecting vinyl has taken on an indie-snob edge over the last few years, and I try my best to curb that kind of attitude. Two, my collection pretty much sucks anyway. Dollar bins and thrift stores can only produce so many scratched Genesis concept albums…
I remember when The Make-Up came and played our local community theatre back in 2000 or so, and on a lark I decided to buy their then-current album Save Yourself on vinyl instead of CD, as I had just received a turntable. Their merch person (maybe it was their guitarist?) was stoked that I asked for the vinyl instead of the CD. It made me feel extra cool, for no apparent reason. I still more often buy CDs than vinyl when given the chance for a number of reasons, but the idea of vinyl records is still quite romantic. Perhaps that romance is the main reason why vinyl has undergone a serious resurgence over the last few years, re-entering the market place and targeting folks who will actually sit down and listen to two sides of a record as the sole function of that hour instead of using music just as a background to fold laundry to.

From Boston.com:

Mike Dreese, cofounder and chief executive of the New England music store chain Newbury Comics, says his company’s vinyl sales, which had been increasing at an annual rate of about 20 percent over the past five years, are 80 percent higher than they were at this time last year.

“Right now, we’re selling about $100,000 a month worth of vinyl,” Dreese says.

But why vinyl and why now, especially when even CD sales have plummeted 40 percent since 2005? Dreese blames the sterility of technology. “I think there are a lot of people who are looking for some kind of a throwback to something that’s tangible,” he says. “The CD was a tremendous sonic package, but from a graphic standpoint, it was a disaster. People still want a connection to an artist, and vinyl connects them in a way that an erasable file doesn’t.”

Or maybe it’s just to accumulate on scene points. “Oh, you have the Dukes of Stratosphear comp I see. Yeah, that’s cool I guess. I got Psonic Psunspot on vinyl…”