The Right Angle, An Excellent Space Saver

Anyone who owns a refrigerator understands how much space goes to waste with cylindrical and otherwise rounded containers consuming precious shelf space. We at CSL are happy to present two practical solutions to this age-old dilemma.

First: square watermelons. Even in the company of such space wasters as cylindrical bottles and bowl-shaped containers, the oval watermelon stands out as the refrigerator's most vicious offender. Thankfully, the Citrullus lanatus no longer poses a problem: the square watermelon is now a reality. Pioneered by forward-thinking Japanese scientists and grown in glass containers, square watermelons are quickly replacing their inconveniently rotund brethren as the most delicious and refreshing summertime treat. Make sure to check your local produce vendor, or visit this site to learn how to grow your own.

Second: square milk jugs. Though traditional one-gallon milk jugs were never as bad as oval watermelons in regards to refrigerator space, storing milk just became easier with Sam's Club's introduction of the square, case-less milk jug. So pay a visit to your local Sam's Club and pick up a couple jugs today.

Smaller is Smarter

Gas guzzling SUVs might finally be a thing of the past.

Most Americans desire more than they actually need, especially in regards to automobiles. But with the economy failing and gas prices fluctuating wildly, some are finally coming to their senses and fixing their eyes on smaller, more efficient modes of transport, like the smart fortwo (pictured above). Though decreasing our dependency on oil and cutting down on the toxic pollutants our cars emit remains one area to which we must direct more attention, smaller cars are an excellent start.

Additionally, smaller cars save precious garage and parking space. (Just steal a glance at the picture below.) And with a smaller car, you can forget about your friends asking you to help them move.

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Height and Social Influence: Not Mutually Exclusive

Anyone who doubts that small people can still wield great influence should look no further than the video of this little fellow eliciting shouts and cheers from a crowd of hundreds with the mere wave of his tiny hands.

Happy Turkey Game-Hen Day

This Thanksgiving, forget the twenty-pound bird and pick up an under-two-pounder: the Cornish Game Hen, which is small and energy efficient.

Despite its name, the Cornish Game Hen is not a game bird, but a chicken. More specifically, it is a cross of the Cornish and Plymouth Rock breeds, and the USDA requires that each Game Hen weigh no more than two pounds when ready to cook.

Furthermore, producing chicken meat is more efficient than producing any other meat. According to a 1997 Cornell University study, "chicken meat production consumes energy in a 4:1 ratio to protein output.... Other ratios range from 13:1 for turkey meat and 14:1 for milk protein to 17:1 for pork and 26:1 for eggs." While turkey meat is far more efficient than beef and lamb (54:1 and 50:1 respectively), chicken meat stands out as the most efficient by a landslide.

Here are two delicious Game-Hen recipes from Bon Appetit magazine, courtesy of Epicurious:

Cornbread-Stuffed Cornish Game Hens with Corn Maque Choux

Cornish Game Hen with Double-Cranberry and Thyme Sauce

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Sustainable Urban Agriculture

Two communal mini-gardens were completed earlier this month: one in Harlem and one in Queens. Anyone with a share in the garden can visit anytime and grow their own fruits, herbs, and vegetables.

Sustainable living has become more of a hot topic recently. These gardens certainly "demonstrate how sustainable technologies like rainwater collection and solar and wind power can be incorporated into landscapes that are varied enough to fill many needs." Mini-gardens exert a positive impact on both the community and the environment. Even in cities not always so kind to Mother Nature, it's nice to know that some people are doing their own small part to reduce the negative eco-footprint.


Rainwater collectors at the mini-garden in Queens.


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Additional resources on sustainable living:

Earth Easy
EnviroLink
Sustainable Living Project
Urban Sustainable Living

Height Gene Identified

A British scientist has recently identified a gene that controls human height.

Timothy Frayling from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry in Exeter, UK, has found a gene that causes 90% of height differences. The gene, called HMGA2, is found in greater quantities in taller people. In addition, Frayling says he "expects that between tens and hundreds of additional height genes with similar effects will be discovered within the next few years."

Genetic research is extremely important to CSL's cause. We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to Timothy Frayling and others in his field, for their exemplary work.

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NBC's Brian Williams and Chris Jansen on Living Small

10 Ways the Japanese Live Small

The Japanese far surpass the rest of the world in the "smaller is better" movement. Here are the top 10 ways many Japanese are already living small.

10. Tiny houses. In Tokyo, houses like the one to the right are filled with high tech devices and are helping the overpopulation issues that are especially problematic in Japan.

9. The sink/toilet. The small, multifunctional sink-slash-toilet is a sink and toilet in one! This is an excellent space saver that will cut down on water usage and fit in even the tiniest of homes.

8. Smaller appliances. Small homes need small appliances, which also consume less electricity.

7. 1.5 inch LCD TVs. This tiny TV is made for dollhouses, but why should that stop people from enjoying them as well? The toy company that produces them certainly has the right idea.

6. Good things in small packages. Many products are now made in miniature to save space.

5. The comfort of home...in a capsule. Now you can rent out one of these cozy nooks to stay the night. An amazing space saver.

4. Sub-compact cars. A Suzuki is easy on the wallet and the environment.

3. The Antquarium. Move over mutts. This easy ant aquarium is low maintenance and would make a perfect stocking-stuffer for the live-small pet lovers on your list.

2. Smaller food portions. They'll help you save room in the cupboard and in the waist.

1. Big fears. Just as small is good, big is bad. Think Godzilla.

Now it's time for the rest of the world to follow the example of the Japanese.
Small steps can have big results.

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Downsizing: 154 Square Feet of Bliss

At last, the mentality of "bigger is better" is losing its momentum, especially in the struggling real estate market.

Bill and Sharon Kastrinos of Calistoga, California, have readjusted their lifestyle as the economy has headed downhill. After living in an 1,800-square-foot house, the Kastrinos spent $15,000 on a 154-sqaure-foot home. This new, very simple lifestyle has helped them cut living costs and minimize their living. These extreme actions might just be the solution we need during an economic recession. Smaller is indeed better.

The Kastrinos 154-square-foot home.

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Project Live Small's Mission

Most people today are not taking the steps necessary to preserve our world for future generations. By continuing on our current path we are creating a legacy of a declining economy and are carelessly wasting precious resources.

The Coalition for Selfless Living (CSL) envisions a world with abundant resources, a strong economy, and without overpopulation.

The mission of Live Small is to achieve CSL's goal of curtailing the imminent decline of our environment by genetically engineering the world's population to consist solely of little people. With smaller people we can have a smaller environmental impact and a positive influence on the global economy.

Live Small advocates research for isolating growth genes so that we can eventually engineer future generations to reach an average height of four feet.

A small difference can make a huge impact.