People | Offbeat Home

This is Offbeat Home's archive of People posts.

"Homeowner", "renter" or "squatter" – whatever the label, these occupants take the Offbeat wherever they go.

Most Recent Posts About People

Assembly Line Dance © by jurvetson, used under Creative Commons license.

What with recent events in the news about Foxconn, the Chinese company that produces gadgets for Apple, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and others, I've started to sit down and wonder if I really want to be purchasing products that were made by people living and working in poor conditions.

Going without technology isn't an option for me, as I'm a full-time college student whose teachers submit all their homework online…But how can I make a protest of these crimes against humanity when it seems like everywhere I turn, another product I use is/was made in a similar situation? -Lolly

Golly, I wish I had an answer for you. For us. It seems like the options are:

Turn our heads and ignore the implications of our tech addiction.
Be conscientious objectors. Buy no tech (because…aside from a company making TVs in Arizona, I can't find a manufacturer working in technology and working in the US.)
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My name is Ange and I have a serious addiction. It's time I joined a group of like minded addicts because I could use some help — should I get the turquoise toaster or the red one that matches my kettle?…

I have an addiction to kitchen gadets.

I called my husband and told him, "Oh shit, we bought a house." He said, "Okay, we need to sit down tonight and make a list…" A list of what? He owned a house well before I met him so he's gone through this before; but we've been together seven years now, which means that house was long long ago and what to prepare for was a distant memory.

What I need is a checklist — and I don't mean things like get an inspection and such because that's been done. We've got a house that we need to prepare to move in to, so what do we need to do? I mean, I get the change of address to the USPS and the utilities, pack, get a rental truck for the small stuff and price movers for the furniture but what else is there?

My dog is for the most part, a very good dog. She loves people, she’s well-behaved, she doesn’t jump or chew on things. She’s known to sneak off and pee on the bath mat if she doesn’t get a walk when she wants one, and she’s pooped on a friend’s carpet twice — but other than that, she’s a really REALLY good girl.

Well, except when she meets other dogs.

Stephanie is a boomerang generation Homie, and one of the first people to contribute to the site. She's lived with her parents since 2008, and does her best to WORK it!

NO! Not another pretty party! With perfectly-planned coordinating courses, a playlist, and cleverly-crafted decorations! NOT TODAY! Today, we celebrate the ugly party.

This winter I have been learning the value of the ugly party. The unplanned party. The no-decorations, unfancy food, just-get-together-and-love-it party. These impromptu parties have been some of the most enjoyable socials I've been to all year — and I think hosting an ugly party fosters skills you need to ensure you'll never attend a boring party again.

My boyfriend and I are looking to buy a new mattress in a couple of months and we wondered if there were any environmentally-friendly options.

I suppose a follow-up question is if there is anything we should know about disposing the old one! Since your website has inspired us to make more conscious decisions about our lifestyles I was hoping you would be able to offer some input.