Miniature Cattle

As feed prices drive up the cost of keeping cows, farmers like Sally and Warren Coad say they've found a cost-efficient way to raise cattle: raise miniature cattle. Plus, they say, smaller breeds lend themselves to smaller cow handlers.

Indeed, standing three feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds, miniature cattle truly are the future of farming--perfect for the farmer under four feet tall.




Via the Wall Street Journal Digital Network.

Tom Thumb Weddings

Reading Robertson Davies' The Manticore on the train this morning, I stumbled upon this gem:

"A Tom Thumb Wedding is a mock nuptial ceremony in which all the participants are children, and the delight of it is its miniature quality."

The two pages that follow describe a Tom Thumb Wedding in detail. I was immediately intrigued and did a bit of research.

According to this excellent article, the tradition began with the "real" Tom Thumb, a little person named Charles Stratton (b. 1838) who at the age of four became an entertainer with the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, and in 1863 married a dwarf named Lavinia Warren (pictured right). It was a highly publicized and lavish wedding.

Ever since, Americans have been staging their own Tom Thumb Weddings, with children standing in for the bride and groom, and the entire wedding party (as pictured above). In many places, Tom Thumb Weddings have evolved into amazingly successful community fund-raising events.

The good news, of course, is that in the future, because the population will be two feet smaller, every wedding will be a Tom Thumb Wedding. In other words, cha-ching! Never again will a father-of-the-bride need to shell out thousands. On the contrary, the first under-four-feet generation will be a true cash cow. Another unforeseen benefit of Project Live Small.

America Finally Following in Japan's Footsteps

Project Live Small supporters will be surprised to learn what came in at number ten on Popular Mechanics' Top 10 Gadgets of 2008: a sink/toilet!

As one sharp reader commented on the Popular Mechanics website, "The Caroma [Profile Smart Dual Flush] toilet is not a new gadget. Similar designs have existed for years, just not in the US." 

Indeed. More than a month ago, we listed the sink/toilet as one of the ten ways the Japanese are already living small, and the sink/toilet existed in Japan long before 2008. It is, however, finally making its way to America thanks to Caroma, an Australian sanitary ware and plumbing firm. And for that we should all be grateful.

Staggering Statistic of the Day

The average American gives away or throws out about 68 pounds of clothing each year. (Global Clothing Industries)

A large part of living small is smartly managing what little space you probably have in your small home, with its small bureaus and closets. A Live-Small savant will only purchase what he knows he has adequate room to store.

Of course, this will not be so great a problem in the future, when all people are less than four feet tall. Smaller people wear smaller clothing, which will mean using less fabric to make clothes. An added bonus: clothing will certainly be far less expensive (think GapKids instead of Gap).

Staggering Statistic of the Day

Over the past century, world water withdrawals have increased almost twice as fast as the world's population. (Tomorrow's Markets, World Resources Institute, p. 37)

We at CSL firmly believe that Project Live Small can effectively combat both the water withdrawals and the overpopulation problem now plaguing our planet.

Water is perhaps out most precious resource, and when no human measures taller than four feet, we will have much more of it. Smaller people will drink less water and also use less water while cleaning smaller dishes and washing loads of smaller laundry. Furthermore, overpopulation problems will decline as smaller people build smaller homes, drive smaller vehicles, and generally take up less space on the planet.

Mini Ship-in-a-Bottle

Ever wish you could reduce your carbon footprint while at the same time satiating both your desire to live small and your love of all things maritime? Now you can!

First, replace your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. Second, peruse the video below to learn how to turn those old bulbs into mini ships-in-bottles. Keep at it, and you'll be well on your way to recreating famous fleets and naval battles throughout history. Whatever your fancy--the Spanish Armada, or perhaps the Battle of Naupactus--the only limit is your imagination. (And, of course, the number of old light bulbs you possess.)

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.

Full Article

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.


Full Article

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.

Full Article

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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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.