Home / treehugger.com rss archive / September-04-2007


Picnick: NYC's New Sustainable Food Stand
Downtown Manhattanites with a case of the lunchtime munchies can mosey down to Battery Park for a bite at Picknick, a new sustainable food kiosk that considers itself a "mini-model of consumer and eco-conscious food service."Serving a medley of sandwiches, salads, and sweets, Picknick sources most of its ingredients from small farms and local businesses, while any global vendors must meet social-responsibility standards. A percentage of the company's profits is piped back into the Battery Conservancy gardens surrounding New York Harbor.Takeout containers, cutlery, and cups are made from

Hack Your Toilet, Conserve Water
Not feeling particularly, well, flush? Take a seat: You can save yourself a couple of hundred bucks by modding your own toilet/sink comboone that redirects the flow of fresh water so you can wash your hands as the cistern refills.Most of the materials used in this Instructable were reused or recycled; screws and friction fittings were used so you can take the sink apart at a later date and recycle all the ...

Palm Cancels the Foleo
I so wanted a Foleo. I have been a Palm fan since they started, and loved the idea of a light notebook that tied into my Treo. Everyone thought I was nuts; one commenter said "If you buy one of these its like carrying a big I'm an idiot sign". I thought low power, linux, what could be wrong? I said "All of the Gizmodo and Engadget geeks trashing this thing don't understand that we are entering an era where low power, long life and no moving parts are going to be huge advantages."Well, clearly they know more about computers than I do; Palm pulled the plug on it today. Palm says that they are working...

You Must Learn to Fold the Recumbent Bicycle, Young GrassHopper
My oh my, how TreeHugger loves folding bikes; when they come in the more comfortable (according to some) recumbent variety, the world's most efficient vehicle gets even better. So, fans of the recumbent folding bicycle, feast your eyes on the GrassHopper, a slick folder that goes from a lean, mean, recumbent machine to a neatly folded package for storage and transport (to a size of about 38" x 28" x 24") in under 60 seconds. If you aren't ...

Number of the Day: 1/3
1/3 -- the number out of all US farms that are actually within metropolitan areas, approximately (more than you thought, wasn't it?), representing 18% of the total farmland in this country, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.In the same vein, only 3.5 cents of every dollar goes to the farmer when food is purchased at the grocery store, according to the Sustain AgriFood Network [pdf] versus the 80 to 90 cents on the dollar that goes to the farmer when food is purchased ...

TreeHugger Picks: Afternoon Movie Matinee with Free Range Studios
The folks at Free Range Studios have been entertaining and educating (entercating? edutaining? hmm...) for years with their clever flash-animation and live action vids about the intricacies of agro-politics and industrial agriculture. Check out Foodfight!, their latest about the Farm Bill, and check out some of our other favorites from the past few years.1) The Meatrix a...

Warmer Summers Mean Changing Cheese
Story after story has shown global warming's effects on everything from flowers to rivers to...kittens. However, this is the last straw - you don't mess with a man's cheese. NPR reports that many regional cheeses are changing in quality and taste as weather patterns have started to shift in cheese-making regions such as Vermont in North America and the French Alps in Europe. For cheesemakers, changing temperatures can cause changing diets for their cows:Th...

Excess Nightime Energy Could Fuel Over 158 Million Plug-in Hybrids
One common critique of an electric car revolution is that the increased energy demand might just lead to the generation of new power plants, negating some of the cars' positive environmental benefits. Well, according to a new study by the U.S. Department of Energy, those critiques are misguided. The study shows 84% of the 198 million cars, light trucks and SUVs on America's roads could be fueled by the existing energy infrastructure if switched to plug-in hybrid vehicles. When you add vans and other vehicles in the "light duty fleet," 73% of the 217 million vehicles could be powered with the power plants we have in place today. In switching from 6.5 million barrels of oil every day...

Fall Fashion 07: Twice Shy
We asked Jen McCormack, co-founder and creative director of Vancouver-based Twice Shy, to share some of her favorite picks from the organic apparel company's fall line.Twice Shy's signature screen prints are at play once more for leaf-raking weather; autumnal tones of chocolate and mellow rose contrast against bold teal and defiant ochre, while classic lines are punched up by subtle details: a handkerchief hem on a dress, puffed sleeves on a blouse, or ruffles on a skirt."The womens criss-cross dress (third photo, below) can be layered over a long sleeve or tee," says McCormack. "and the babydo...

For the Space-Conscious Gourmand: "Liberty Island" Fold-Out Stove
If your kitchen suffers from a lack of prep and counter space, you feel like your stove is hogging too much space, and the Fold Flat BBQ won't do it for you, then we present another space-saving concept: ALNO's "Liberty Island" mobile cooking unit. Use it as a table or island when not cooking, and it just flips up when you're ready to unleash your inner Iron Chef. At 32 inches wide and 16 inches deep, it's fairly compact, but it still provides a four-zone electric induction cooktop and even has a glass backsplash to prevent splattering onto your table. Sadly, this is still but a concept, so, i...

Two For the Price of One: John Pawson's Sofadesk
TreeHugger loves multi-functional, multi-tasking furniture and design, because if it can do two things, that's one less piece of furniture, one less thing, that you need cluttering up your house. Take, for example, John Pawson's Sofadesk, which is exactly what it sounds like: a combination sofa and desk. Unless you're a lazy blogger, you aren't lounging on a sofa while working, or kicking up your heels and relaxing while on the job. Since you only use one at a time, why not just combine the two? We aren't exactly sure of how the mechanics of this particular model work out, but it sure is a good idea. ::John...

UnTreeHugger: Onion Goggles
These goggles, which promise no more tears when chopping onions, made us want to cry. These $18 glorified swim goggles have a seal foam seal to keep tear-inducing onion vapors from irritating your corneas.Some easy, non-dorky-looking alternatives that don't cost anything: Chill onions before peeling, or peel them under running water and then toss them into a food processor. You can also burn a candle next to the cutting board so the onion vapors are drawn to the heat source. Using a good, sharp knife also helps because it allows less of the tear-causing compounds to be released.

More New Jerseyans Digging Compost
Photo credit: rachelandrewAn increasing number of New Jersey residents are catching the compost bug, especially when they realize that cutting the amount of household trash in landfills plays a large role in going green.Bergen County has experienced a surge in sales of composting bins, while at least 12 local schools have received grants to start their own composting programs this fall.You don't even need a high-maintenance setupor even a backyardto get in on the action. "People think you find all the composting in rural areas, but that's not necessarily the case," says Lori Russo, a solid waste education and technical advi...

LED Candles Blow Out Like the Real Thing
We have not covered a lame and useless LED candle for a while, but this one looks interesting. Safely reconstruct the candle scene from Bull Durham with these LED candles that a) are made with real wax, b) "feature a natural-looking, flickering light just like normal candles," c) toggle through blue or yellow, and best of all, d) you turn it on or off by blowing on it. Mash it together with our beloved sun jar so that it doesn't need batteries and it will be perfect- romantic candlelight without fire or crap in the air. Fifteen bucks at

Living with Less: First, Hide the Bed
The New York Times has a wonderful monthly feature called Sketch Pad, which "focuses on an apartment, house, loft or shack now for sale that has unrealized potential. Each month, a different architect or designer is asked to create a vision of what the place might look like" Yen Ha and Michi Yanagishita of New York's Front Studio redesigned a 380 square foot straight-line studio for an imaginary client. It is full of great ideas for small spaces; I loved the idea of the trundle bed sliding under the platform. (in most murphy beds, one has to make the bed, remove the clothes on it, and fasten a strap. Here you have the works in a drawer, just push it all under when t...

Seattle Councilman Wants Goats Recognized as Pets
Photo credit: The_Brit2Does Seattle Councilman Richard Conlin's latest proposal stand a goat of a chance? Conlin wants to give Seattleites the right to keep miniature goats as pets, a move he bills as one step for sustainability. Pygmy goats, says the councilman, can act as environmentally friendly lawnmowers and weed whackers, while supplying a bounty of milk, cheese, and all-natural fertilizer.Under current Seattle land-use codes, farm animals cannot be kept on lots smaller than 20,000 square feet. Conlin's proposal would reclassify pygmy goats as small animals, requiring only that they be licensed (just like dogs and cats)...

Southern California Edison Sets Peak Energy Use Record
For residents of Southern California, Labor Day will have marked the fifth day of the year's longest heat wave to date. The oppressive heat, which brought with it a number of thunderstorms and lightning-sparked fires, has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a series of alerts flash-flood warnings in regions affected by storm runoff and fire warnings in drier areas such as the Inland Empire. Southern California Edison which supplies close to 4.8 million customers was forced to up its peak energy supply to 23,303 MW this past Friday, breaking its previous record of 22,889 set July 25, 2006. The Los Angeles Department o...

Post-Labor Day: What's Up, Congress?
Photo credit: Elliot PesutWith Labor Day behind us, here's a list of some of the legislation in Congress affecting workers and businesses:H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. This act was passed by both the House and the Senate. It incrementally raises the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour, with the final stage taking place in July 2009.S.367, the Dece...

Adam Gopnik on Eating Local in New York
Photograph by Josef Astor, New YorkerAdam Gopnik and his kids are learning to forage in Central Park from "Wildman" Steve Brill. This is lambs-quarter, Steve was saying, clearing a path to what, to the unknowing eye, looked just like the desultory weeds where the softball ends up after the fat kid with glasses youve stowed in right field watches it go by. Lambs-quarter turned out to be a matte-green plant with arrow-shaped leaves.Only a great writer like Gopnik could put that together, (read Through the Children's Gate and weep) so I loved his article abo...

Is Global Warming Changing Fashion Trends?
Photo credit: micaheWearing white after Labor Day may not be the crime against fashion it used to be. In fact, with the exception of "heavy winter coats and flimsy sundresses," says the Wall Street Journal, climate change may have given seasonal dressing the boot all together."There are less extreme differentials between seasons," says Radley Horton, a climatologist at Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research. Spring is sne...

One Week to Go in Current TV's Ecospot Contest
As Current TV's :60 Seconds to Save the Earth contest enters its final week (that's right, the deadline is September 12!), it's time for an intervention to get us off our addiction to oil and get clean. Check out this sample entry to the contest to see more of the ways that drug use and oil relate; if it inspires you to want to show the world how we can solve the climate crisis through moving pictures, we recommend that you upload your vide...

The Beauty of CFLs: Jason Bruges at 100% Light
100% Light is a UK trade show "dedicated to showing the vary latest and best in contemporary, decorative and architectural Lighting." Greenpeace UK has commissioned designer Jason Bruges to design an installation as part of its campaign to "champion efficient lighting and replace incandescent light bulbs. It will showcase a groundbreaking Varilight CFL bulb which can be used with household dimmer switches, busting many of the current negative myths often used as an excuse for not using this efficient technology."...

Car Uses Real Life Horse-Power
A Dubai-based company called Fleethorse has designed several horse-powered vehicles, including the NaturBus above. The range is powered by horses running on a treadmill, supplemented with electric motors, and they claim that it's the greenest transportation possible. I really hope that this is a hoax.The conveyor belt apparently starts to move, which encourages the horses to start walking. That walking movement is then harnessed to power the vehicle. The electric motors would be used when going up hill in order to avoid any undue strain on the animals. The waste product is of course, excrement, which is collected at the back of the belt as it drops off. Have a look after the li...

Strong Chinese Demand Fueling Elimination of Myanmar's Wildlife
One of the few remaining hotbeds for endangered biodiversity in Southeast Asia Myanmar is slowly but surely being decimated by a resurgence in illegal wildlife trading. Once a refuge for wild macaques, cobras, Burmese star tortoises and pangolins, Myanmar's forests have become the new repository for flush Chinese tourists and the country's booming restaurant sector an illicit black market worth billions of dollars. Amidst the displays of exotic fruits and vegetables, one can find a variety of different sized animal parts including leopard skins, bear gall bladders and deer horn. Many of the trafficked animals are listed on the IUCN's (Int...

Mexico City Launches "Green Plan"
In yet another bold gesture demonstrating that he wants to emulate green mayors like Bogota's Enrique Pealosa and London's Ken Livingstone, Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard recently unveiled a "Green Plan" for the metropolis."Today concludes the first stage in a long path that we should take to build the sustainable city that we want," said Ebrard on Friday. The "Plan Verde" is divided into seven thematic actions: land conservation, public space, water, mobility, air, waste and climate change and energy.One of the most controv...

Tough Love: Disintegrating Polystyrene
Shanpu Ya and colleagues at the Polymer Science & Engineering College of Quingdao University of Science & Technology in China have applied for a patent on a biodegradable polystyrene. They embed water-absorbing resin particles which expand when in contact with water, reducing the polystyrene to powder that they say should then biodegrade. They say it is actually cheaper than conventional foamed polystyrene, so it " should therefore be readily adopted by cost-conscious companies that also want to be environmentally responsible." We suppose this is progress. However when we have to throw out this stuff we still have to deal with the volume it takes in our garbage bags, the ...

Quote of the Day: Daniel Imhoff on Obesity and the Farm Bill
As Farm Bill subsidies have lowered prices of commodity crops over the past thirty years, the food industry has invested heavily in an infrastructure that turns cheap materials into highly profitable "value-added" products. High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), not even commercially concocted before the 1970s, has rapidly become one of the Farm Bill's industrial workhorses. A liquid sweetener with six times the pot...

Recycled Life - Documentary on Guatemala City Recyclers
We don't get HBO in Mexico, but through September 12, you can watch the intriguing documentary "Recycled Life" on Cinemax on Demand and find out how a crew of "guajeros," or trash pickers, manage to reduce Guatemala's waste by one million pounds per day. The 38-minute, Oscar-nominated film explores the Guatemala City Garbage Dump through the eyes of the 1,700 workers who sort through the city's refuse, looking for items for resale.Says director Leslie Iwerks: "Though these people are living and working in unspeakable and wretched conditions, their integrity and honor...

Organic Authority Hosts Carnival of the Green
This week is Carnival of the Green # 93 and it's being hosted by Organic Authority! So, head on over to this week's Carnival to check out a round up of last week's green news and events, submitted by other bloggers and green sites. To learn more about Carnival of the Green, where it will be and how to host (hurry, we're now booking into 2008 and less than 10 dates left!), please click here to link to our previous post....

The Colbert Report: Cheap Sweaters, Chinese Goats and Environmental Ruin
Thanks to the growing number of goats in China, your cashmere sweater is now cheap as hell. But thanks to your sweater, the once green frontier of Chinas Inner Mongolia looks increasingly like hell too. Those goats, who have grown in number along with cashmere orders from retailers like Wal-Mart and Costco, are tearing up grass faster than ever, helping to desertify Genghis Kahns gorgeous grasslands. That means ever-deeper drought and more of the ...

Wretched Excess Dept: A 50,000 SF House
Arnold Chase doesn't want any publicity about his new house in West Hartford, Connecticut, would not be interviewed and cited the photographer for trespassing. But he had to file public planning documents so everyone knows that his new house is larger than Bill Gates' and only 4,000 square feet smaller than the White House. It is a modest 17,000 feet above grade, but what lies beneath is a two-level, 33,500-square-foot basement complex, complete with a 103-seat movie theater, ticket booth, concession stand, game room and music annex, that will make it New England's largest occupied single-family home. According to Gopal Ahluwalia of the National Home Builders Association: "It's the...

Multitasking, 1935 Version
In an age where we have electric everything, we forget that things were not always so easy. This Oregon woman thought that pedalling her sewing machine was not an efficient use of her energy, so she "devised a plan whereby her sewing machine pedal could be made to do the work of several things at once.One length of wood was fastened to the machine pedal, for the driving piston. Another length extending over a frame work fulcrum operated the two lengths of wood which served as connecting rods.When all was ready, the babys cradle was attached to one connecting rod, and the churn to the other. Then as she sewed, the baby rocked, and as the baby rocked, the cream was churned. "

Christian Aid Marches to Fight Climate Change
There was a time when international development and environmental organizations were seen as working on two separate, and sometimes even conflicting, issues. After all, what was more important, looking after people, or looking after the planet? Thankfully, it seems that many groups on both sides have moved on from this position, recognizing that a healthy environment is absolutely central to human well-being and, conversely, environmental protection is only likely to gain ground if human well-being is also taken into the equation. There is no doubt that the unfolding disaster that is human-induced climate change has been a core driver in this shift development charities have be...

Drawer Fridge Saves Energy, Protects Food
We keep saying "Small fridges make good cities" and keep looking for the perfect small fridge. When we wrote about the Norcool drawer fridge, we bemoaned the fact that it had open bottoms and all of the cold air would fall out of it. Commenter Fridgegirl informs us that there are other drawer fridge designs that specifically address this issue. The FX series from Randell is designed for commercial installations but hits all of the issues. The drawer itself is insulated, and specifically designed to hold the cold. It is desi...

Big Steps In Building: Change Our Wiring to 12 Volt DC
Edison was right; direct current is better than alternating current. Tesla and Westinghouse won the current wars, because it was easy to transform into different voltages without electronics, and they needed high voltages, which travel longer distances in smaller wires than low voltage. Our current system is based on big, central power plants like Niagara Falls shown above, that pump out high voltage (as much as 400,000 volts), step it down to 22 thousand volts for distribution at street level, then down to 110/220 for distribution to our houses. At every step, there are transmission losses; as much as 10% of the electricity transmitted by the power plant is lost on the way. T...

The End of the Affair
Maybe it's time to take a break, see some other people... London has been having a love affair with the Campana brothers. These wild and crazy furniture designers from Brazil had a big show here which was extensively reported. Then in honour of their 150th anniversary, the Victoria & Albert Museum asked them to do a piece for the courtyard in the middle of the ornate victorian building. It is a large and busy place, with people eating, chatting, and children paddling a...

Prius Envy? Honda to Battle Toyota on Green Performance, and Looks...
The term Prius envy didnt crop up in our guide on How to Green Your Sex Life, but maybe it should have. Actually, it has little to do with sex, but a lot to do with the perceived sexiness of your hybrid. According to a report in Newsweek, many hybrid Honda customers have been leaving the company in droves because their cars just dont look hybrid enough:Peter Kessner, a devout environmentalist, bought a Honda Civic hybrid four years ago to show everyone that he wants to save the planet. The only problem: no one notice...

Cannondale Continues the Jacknife (R)evolution
One of our most linked-to bike posts has been the prototype Cannondale Jacknife, conceived by a couple of design students in Barcelona. What excited people about that bike was not only its cool looks, futuristic drive train, but also that it was envisaged as a full sized folding bicycle designed for urban adventures. Alas their concept bike was only made of foamit couldnt be ridden. However, Cannondale obviously picked up on the vigourous vibe the Jacknife generated and decided to see if they could make it fly. The work of their in-house R&D team suggest the answer might just be in the affirmative The On ...

2007 Organic Expo
After two very successful years in Sydney, the Australia Organic Expo has hit the road and headed for Melbourne. The harbour city shows were jam packed with wall-to-wall organic enthusiasts, many of whom were young families. We trust the expo can be as well received in Melbourne, and have no doubt it will, as that is a city which enjoys a strongly emerging sustainability culture. Besides, this weekend Sydney is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, (or APEC) meeting, where half the city is cordoned off as a precaution against anything untoward befalling the gathered international heads of state, like one ...

Natural Collection Autumn '07
News of another Autumn collection has reached our TreeHugging ears. After being delighted by the simple beauty of the Doie Fall '07 collection, we are now gasping at the breadth of other extreme. The Natural Collection is the UK's leading online eco-retailer and it does everything! Clicking through their recently launched Autumn catalogue makes you yearn for eco things you never knew you wanted! The

SolarCentury Expands its Horizons Once More
SolarCentury, the company behind the recent installation of a huge solar tile array in East London, just keeps on growing. Not long ago it announced that it was opening offices in Spain, and now it looks like the company is set to expand further, having just completed a 13.5m (US$17m) round of financing to fund its product development and international expansion strategy. The new investment was led by Zouk Ventures, a European Cleantech investor, and co-le...

Autumnal Bamboo - Doie Fall '07
New York based designer Sara Kirsner continues to expand her gorgeous Doie fashion line with the launch of her Fall '07 collection. We love the simple, elegant Doie style which combines soft bamboo jersey fabric with oriental silk. This formula is proving to be endlessly versatile, running from nightwear and sportswear to casual day and chic evening pieces. It is a testament to Kirsner's design talent that she can make each collection new and refreshing using only two fabrics types and some wonderful pattern cutting. This Shizen Collection is modelled again by a smoldering Summer Rayne Oakes and shows Kir...

Survey: Do SUVs Deserve to Exist?
When Jasmin quoted Paul Roberts on Gas Guzzlers, "SUVs have since become the car of choice for executives, sports stars, and gangster rappers, as well as house husbands, soccer moms, and tens of millions of others who will never intentionally leave the paved roads" it drew a heated response. One commenter noted how he used for work. "I use the vehicles as designed for; No other options are viable for my needs; Just because yuppies drive them now, They are evil." And it is true, they were designed for work and some people carry loads that won't fit on a car. But another responded...

The TH Interview: Brenda Brock of Farmaesthetics
Farmaesthetics' all-natural skincare line was founded by Brenda Brock, the daughter of a seventh-generation farming family from Texas. Now based in Portsmouth, RI, Brock makes her 100 percent chemical-free potions from organically grown herbs and flowers gathered from small American family farmsno nasty dyes, fillers, parabens, or other synthetic ingredients, thank you.TreeHugger chatted with Brock about how she built her company out of her kitchen, what role the environment plays in her daily business decisions, and just what exactly we should avoid on our bodies' lar...

Norway's "Green" Bastoey Prison
"Bastoey Prison, located on the island of the same name, south of Oslo, has solar panels, heats its buildings with wood-waste rather than oil, operates a strict recycling policy and is almost self-sufficient in terms of food.""If inmates at this prison do porridge, it is organic porridge. For it is not only recreational drugs that are banned, pesticides are too. All the potatoes, beans, grains and berries grown in the prison garden are 100 per cent organic. The prison receives grants from environmental groups, and any food that doesn't get used in its own kitchen is sold to other jails.""To put some protein in their diet, the inmates also look after 200 chickens, 40 sheep and...

Off the Grid Eco Lodge Turns to Biodiesel Powered Electricity
With all the discussions going on about biodiesel and its benefits (knowing that, for example, using corn to produce it is actually more energy consuming than the energy the fuel could generate), and the opposition of some sectors around the use of crops as fuel instead of food; saying that an eco lodge runs on biodiesel electricity does sound odd. But what if you knew the venue is not only a tourism facility, but also a complete conservation project that will use that to replace the diesel it consumed to fulfill the little energy it consumes? In addition, what if you found the biodiesel is being sourced from recycled kitchen grease? The panorama changes, certainly. This i...

Comparing The Cost Of New Nuclear v.s. "Clean Coal" Plant Generated Electricity
The President and CEO of American Electric Power, Mr. Micheal Morris (pictured) recently spoke of his firm's capacity-adding strategy of inveting in coal gasification technology instead of building new nuclear generating stations. For perspective, AEP is a 36,000 Megawatt capacity provider."American Electric Power Co. isn't planning to build any new nuclear power plants because delays will push operational starts to 2020, CEO Michael Morris said Tuesday. The first permit to build and operate a new U.S. re...

Thrift Stores Become Eco-Hip Mecca for College Students
In what may be an unintended consequence of the growing green movement in America, thrift stores have become a fashionable way for college students who are environmentally aware to furnish dorm rooms around the country. Always a source of furniture and the like for a wide array of groups including the college-bound, theyre turning to them in increasingly large numbers as a way to recycle and reduce their eco-footprint while saving a buck at the same time. And lets face it, college furniture goes through an untold litany of unseemly abuses, so if youve got to buy it anyway, why pay full price? Take Trixie Encomienda, 17, and a freshman at the California Design College...

Citroen C-Cactus Concept Car
A new concept from Citroen uses some interesting new design ideas to minimize its environmental impact. There is as much duplication of parts as possible, in order to reduce production costs and waste - for example the front bumper and rear bumper are the same item. Another innovative feature is windows that dont open air conditioning makes in unnecessary, so the design can save further weight and cost by including simpler, lighter windows. Citroen will be unveiling the car at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show. ...

What's the Most Wasteful Thing You've Ever Found?
In case you ever wondered, this is what a dumpster of fortune cookies looks like. Two photographers, who were driving around Downtown LA looking for interesting shots, came across these several dumpsters, entirely filled with the prophetic confectionary. Whether they were surplus to requirements, out of date or perhaps just too bleak in their predictions we don't know, but it seems like a terrible waste. But it's far from the worst that the web has to offer......