Yves Behar, famous for inventing the Bluetooth Jawbone design and other gadgets, has created a water for kids that could potentially change the bottle water for kids market. Y Water gives options of four different kinds of water, including Muscle, Brain, Immune and Bone drinks.

The bottles are visually stimulating as well as 100% organic, being made of material that is biodegradable, as well as reuseable for entertainment purposes. Children are encouraged to build “Y Knots” out of the bottles, to further their own creativity.

More information can be found HERE and pictures after the jump. (more…)

“What’s that?”
“Dude, can I rip it?”
“Where’s the smoke?”
“Um, sir, I am going to have to ask you to leave.”

An unbearable amount of questions from curious passer-bys has driven me to the creation of this post. But why na3s, WHY?!? Over these past 3 months I have been drinking Yerba Maté out of a Gourd with a fancy contraption called a Bombilla. When you put these together, they strongly resemble a Hookah-Pipe or fancy Tobacco Pipe to the untrained eye. After carrying this object around town, It became apparent to me that most people are incredibly perceptive to their immediate environment. When a foreign object is in perspective, people immediately recognize it as ‘unknown’ and are even quicker to label it; many times wrongly label it. Well the time has come for some Edumacation.

So what is a Gourd and Bombilla?

A Gourd is basically a container varying in size, and generally composed of hollowed out organic matter, such as Wood or a Coconut. However, it has more recently been made out of modern materials such as a Steel Thermos, a Plastic Sports Bottle or even a Glass Gourd. A Bombilla is a fancy name for a straw with a filter at the end. It prevents loose tea from entering the straw so you only drink the yummy brew. This is used because many prefer loose tea opposed to tea bags for economic purposes and also because it is nice to mix teas.

How does it work?

1. Well, first you gotta get some Loose Yerba Maté tea available at your local health food store. Then you have to obtain a a Gourd and Bombilla found on ebay or various stores online (Google it). An alternative to a Gourde and Bombilla is empty teabags or a tea-ball Warning: These alternatives aren’t as enjoyable!
2. If using a Gourd, you may want to read information on how to cure a Gourd first, as to ensure the highest quality flavor.
3. Place in between a tablespoon and a lot, depending on how many times you think you are going to refill your container.
4. place a small amount of cold water into the container, just enough to soak all the tea leaf. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes.
5. Boil some water. Then let it cool down for about 5 minutes and then pour into your Gourd (or coffee mug if you are going to be using a tea-ball). Note: Boiling water makes Maté taste bitter.
6. You are now ready to enjoy! Suck on the straw if using a Gourd and Bombilla or simply take a sip if you are using one of the alternative methods.

Why Maté

There are plenty of reasons why I personally chose to start drinking Maté, the most obvious was to eliminate Coffee from my diet. Drinking Maté out of a Gourd with a Bombilla also helped me with my hand-to-mouth habit, which led to me quitting cigarettes. There are more healthy benefits and advantages of drinking Yerba Mate, but honestly, I am too lazy to list them all. If you are interested, just click that link (the one on the last sentence dummy.)

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has launched his own blend of coffee.

The coffee is organically grown by small-scale farmers and was “personally selected” by Mustaine himself. According to Mustaine, “This is the coffee that gets me up in the morning and keeps me shreddin’ all day long.”

An autographed bag of the coffee will set you back $39.99.

NOT METAL.

One World Cafe is a restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah where you can pick your own portions, eat organic food, and pay whatever you want for it. Owner Denise Cerreta is to thank.

“By encouraging people to savor the meal, Ms. Cerreta is attempting to help people see the value of food as more than a mere consumable but rather, as a glue and a catalyst for healthy people, relationships and communities. Customers are able to seat themselves in a relaxed atmosphere that is condusive to conversation; opposite to the usual public dining experience of isolation. Because our customers choose their own prices, their portions tend to be more mindful and reflect that they will actually want to eat, with the result being little or no food waste. We’ve realized that this makes more food available and we expect this will make the concept exportable and adoptable worldwide.

Philosophy meets business through her desire to pay her workers a living wage, as well provide volunteer options for those who would prefer a “hand up” rather than a hand out. For every hour someone gives to our foundation, they can receive a voucher for a full meal, and children under 8 can eat with a parent on the same vouncher. Plus, there is always a complimentary staple dish that everyone can eat regardless of means. Denise and the staff knew the model was successful on the day that there were several people eating, all of whom had volunteered earlier in the week and had redeemed their vouchers. But all were eating anonymously and with dignity.”

She started the One World Everybody Eats Foundation that is committed to putting a community kitchen in every city. There’s a “Spirit in Business - Guide for Starting a Community Kitchen” available for download at her website. It serves as a How-To guide as well as a testimony for other businesses to become more sustainable and redefine what profit means without sacrificing it. Another couple in Denver, Colorado has opened SAME: So All May Eat. Spread the word and love: One World Everybody Eats YouTube.