You will be shocked by the facts connecting our habit on social media sites and our hygiene.

Think social media is just a fun way to keep in touch with old friends and make new connections? Think again!

The infographic below, by Arjan de Raaf for Inforgraphics Lists, shows us a hard number comparison of social media sites vs. our hygiene.

Over the last decade, with the spike in global access to computers and mobile phones, coupled with the desire to create connections around the world, it’s hard to deny social networking is taking a top priority in many lives.

Okay, so we can observe and conclude this relatively easily, but the shocking infographic below shines a new spotlight on the social media craze: We are spending a lot more time hunched over social media sites than we are on keeping our bodies clean.

For example, in a single lifetime, the average person will spend thirty-eight and a half days brushing their teeth but two hundred and sixty six days on Facebook. Or, the fact that more America’s have at least one social media account rather than floss on a daily basis!

Sure, it’s fun to like, search, share, follow, tweet and comment — but let’s remind ourselves there is a lot more around us than the virtual reality. The concrete physical reality is irreplaceable, like a real smile or eye contact, there is no substitute.

Want more Infographics? Related on Ecosalon

10 Fashion Infographics To Give Us A New Style Sense

10 Infographics on Alcohol

10 Infographics on Energy

image: Infographic List

The post Turn Off Social Media Sites and Go Take a Shower [Infographic] appeared first on EcoSalon.

Tired of buying your energy from the man? Here are some cool gadgets that make it possible to generate your own electricity and shrink your utility bills.

When someone says “power plant” what do you envision? Most of us might think of the traditional coal fired power plant, with its smoke stacks and transmission wires. Others might see a massive array of solar panels or a vast wind farm full of slowly rotating turbines. One think you probably don’t think of is your own body–but you should!

Our bodies are their own energy-generating factories. We turn food (calories) into energy that powers every system in our body. What many people don’t realize is that the by-products of that energy (heat and movement) can be captured and recycled into energy for the cool gadgets we just can’t seem to live without.

Electricity is a relatively new innovation, and before it was readily available, humans used their natural energy to power many low-tech technologies, like the bicycle or the hand-crank drill. It’s only been recently that we’ve come up with cool gadgets that allow us to turn our store up calories into electricity for more sophisticated stuff, like the human-powered gym or pedal-powered HVAC systems.

I know what you’re thinking. Those human powered solutions are big, pretty expensive, and probably not going to land in your living room any time soon. Well, if you’re looking for more manageable ideas for saving energy and creating your own electricity, just scroll through the infographic below. It lists five cool gadgets that are just waiting to help you become a super efficient power plant, even when on the go!

Related on Ecosalon:

Review: Waka Waka Solar Charger & LED Lamp

Wind ‘Em Up: 10 Coolest Hand-Crank Gadgets

Image: Imanasteroid

Infographic: Save On Energy

The post 5 Cool Gadgets To Help You Save Energy & Create Your Own Electricity appeared first on EcoSalon.

Feeling bored by the Internet? Want to see something fun & useful that will truly rock your socks off and might just make your day?

Let us begin.

Sustainable Energy – Without The Hot Air – David JC MacKay

Described by Boing Boing editor Cory Doctorow as “the Freakonomics of conservation, climate and energy”, this is a book you shouldn’t miss, not least because it’s available entirely for free. You can buy the book on Amazon (note the thirty-nine 5-star reviews) – but you can also read the entire contents online or download them in PDF form, free of charge.

Author MacKay is an English Physics professor, so he really knows his stuff. What is remarkable is how elegantly and breezily he conveys it. (This is no ponderous high school textbook). Want to know what it would really take to balance the energy budget? Want to know the real numbers behind renewable energy? This is the book for you.

The Brain Pickings of Maria Popova

Since 2005, Wired and The Atlantic writer Maria Popova has been reading more books than most people get through in a lifetime. If that wasn’t enough, she only reads good books – the most fascinating, quirky, inspiring and thought-filled reading material lining our shelves today. And if that wasn’t enough, she blogs about them too. Her website, Brain Pickings, now gets more traffic than the New York Review of Books, and no wonder – it’s a treasure-trove of suggested reads that may very well make you a better human being.

(Check out an interview with Maria here).

Read The Best Journalism On The Internet

Love good writing? Love reading? Love knowing what’s really going on in the world? Check out our reading list or our recent post on 10 sources of quality journalism – but if you don’t want to have to trawl for the good stuff yourself, there are websites that curate and archive the most fearless, insightful and beautifully-written journalism out there.

Try Longform (above)…

…and Longreads, and Byliner.

For a one-stop bookmarking of the good stuff, check out Conor Friedersdorf’s list of nearly 100 pieces of superb journalism. And if you have a Kindle – why not use Klip.me to send these articles to it, and do your reading offline?

Browse the Open Culture Language List

Being bilingual gives your brain a good workout – we all know this, but there’s increasing amounts of scientific evidence to back it up. So why not take 10 minutes out of your day and start a new language? Problem: those courses can be pricey. Solution: this colossal archive of  free resources (ebooks, audio, video) for learning 40 languages from Arabic to Yiddish. (Thank you kindly, Open Culture).

Sloth Yourself Silly 

To keep your smile topped up, watch this trailer for Animal Planet’s Meet The Sloths every day. And if that doesn’t work, scroll through these 111 adorable pictures of them at Buzzfeed. Sloths – they bring the happy. (More cuteness at Slothville).

See The World Up Close

Earlier this year the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite orbited our planet six times and took a series of staggeringly detailed images that NASA stitched together and released on Flickr. The above image is one; this is the other. Incredibly beautiful, yes – but we’re not done yet. Under the “View All Sizes” buttons on each page you’ll find the original high-resolution image…and they will blow your mind: (Hi-Res Image 1)  (Hi-Res Image 2)

Know At A Glance When Your Edible Garden Is In Season

As you may have guessed by now, we love infographics – but we were particularly taken with this set from the good folk at Chasing Delicious. Work out when your fruit, vegetables and herbs are in season, and plan your meals accordingly.

Listen To Neil Gaiman Talk About Doing What You Love

A few months ago author Neil Gaiman was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and was asked to give the Keynote Address to the 2012 graduating class. The speech he gave has become an internet phenomenon, and is a must-watch for anyone doing anything creative (read: everyone).

For those on a tight schedule, the transcript is here.

Explore An Idea a Day With The Change This Manifestos

Running since 2004 and born of an idea by Seth Godin, the Change This manifestos are short, succinct and above all fun downloadable books built around ideas. Their authors are some of the internet’s smartest people (the aformentioned Seth Godin is a contributor). There are hundreds of titles to choose from, they’re all easy on the eyes and stretchy on the brain – and they’re all completely free. Get started here.

Let Jodi Ettenberg, Legal Nomad, Show You A World Of Food

Jodi Ettenberg is a globe-trotting food nut with a thing for spices and gluten-free cooking. An ex-lawyer, she’s been traveling the world since 2008 and garnering mentions in the New York Times and on Jason Kottke’s super-popular blog. Her site is a wealth of tips on traveling the world, but for sheer eye-candy you’d be wise to go to her food page and start clicking for some really incredible nom-shots.

Images: MSVG, orangeacid, NASA Goddard Photo & Video and David JC MacKay.

The post Bored? Here Are 10 Awesome Free Things On The Internet appeared first on EcoSalon.

Study up.

Last week, the education world was abuzz when changes to the federal student loan program went into effect, many with lasting implications for students and graduates grappling with college debt. Learn more about the issue with this series of education-related infographics, which tackle topics from debt, to digital media, to the disastrous effects of playing hooky. Don’t worry, you won’t be graded.

The Final Countdown: The federal student loan debate, demystified with an infographic by NerdWallet.

Education’s Effect on Income: Surprise, surprise – the more education you have, the more you’ll likely earn.

The Gamification of Education: A look at how games can make education more engaging… and hopefully lift graduation rates.

Components of a 21st Century Classroom: How technology has and will change the way that schools function.

The United States of Student Debt: A breakdown of who’s in debt and by how much, from Mint.com.

The State of Digital Education: The transformative power of technology and the Internet.

Applied Finance 101: A crash course in entering real life.

The True Cost of Skipping Class: Well now we just feel guilty.

Educating the Workforce of the Future: Looking forward, more jobs will require some form of higher education, states this infographic from GOOD, Hyperakt, and the University of Phoenix.

U.S. Education Vs. The World: The U.S. spends more than any other country on education. Do the results stack up?

ALSO CHECK OUT:

10 Political Infographics on Election 2012

10 Infographics on Energy

10 Infographics on Farming and Agriculture

Check out more infographics here.

Image: naosuke ii

The post 10 Infographics on Education in America appeared first on EcoSalon.

In celebration of the passing of the new Farm Bill.

Now that healthcare’s out of the way, Washington’s on to the next hot-button issue: farming. On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stressed the importance of passing the new five-year farm bill, which will support farmers and agricultural producers in America. Get up to speed on this important piece of legislation, as well as the state of farming and agriculture around the world, with this series of informative infographics.

The Hidden Costs of the Farm Bill: A breakdown of one of the year’s most controversial pieces of legislation, from TakePart.com.

The Global State of Agriculture: A big picture look at farming around the world, from the knowledgeable folks at USAID.

Factory Farm Map: A sobering interactive infographic that visualizes the effect of factory farms on communities, consumers, food safety, health, and animal welfare. [click for interaction]

Farmville vs. Real Farms: In case you were wondering, there is a difference.

Interesting Facts About Farm Water Conservation: An infographic on the inseparable relationship between water and agriculture.

The Female Face of Farming: While agriculture is usually seen as a masculine industry, it’s often women who bear the weight of the work. This interactive infographic shows more. [click for interaction]

How Big a Backyard Would You Need to Live Off the Land?: Urban gardeners, take note.

Agriculture in the Green Economy: In this interactive infographic and video series, Farming First explains how agriculture plays into the economy and the environment. [click for interaction]

Urban Agriculture in DC: Take a tip from residents of the nation’s capital and cultivate food in your own backyard (or rooftop).

Teach a (Wo)man to Farm: This interactive infographic from GOOD and One/Living Proof shows why investment in agriculture, particularly woman farmers, is a powerful tool for economic development. [click for interaction]

ALSO CHECK OUT:

10 Earth Day Infographics

10 Food Infographics That Have Us Consciously Consuming

10 Infographics on Energy

Check out more infographics here.

Image: Kevin Dooley

The post 10 Infographics on Farming and Agriculture appeared first on EcoSalon.

T-minus 32 days.

With little more than a month until opening ceremonies, it’s clear that Olympics mania has swept Great Britain, if not the entire world. That’s why it wasn’t a surprise to find dozens upon dozens of infographics exploring every single aspect of London 2012, from the games’ economic impact to the rise in ticket prices to random facts and figures (did you know that Londontown is now home to the biggest McDonald’s ever?). If you just can’t take the anticipation for this year’s games to kick off, here are ten fun infographics to whet your appetite.

Olympic Evolution: A look at how the Olympic Games have grown from 14 participating nations to more than 200.

Triple Host City: London is the first city to host the Olympic Games three times, in 1908, 1948, and this year. See how the city has changed in that time.

By The Numbers: A round-up of facts and figures.

Time Out’s London 2012 Infographic: More numbers, care of Time Out London.

The Optimization of the Olympic Games: Find out why London 2012 has been dubbed the “Techlympics” and see how we got there.

Team GB: Our Greatest Team: Team Great Britain’s infographical version of a smackdown.

London 2012 Olympics: A creatively designed graphic depicting the opinions of UK citizens toward the games.

The Economic Impact of the 2012 London Olympics: These games mean business (literally).

2012 London Olympic Games Ticket Prices: A graphical guide to finding the best bargains.

Avoiding the Olympics: And if you just can’t take all of the Olympic mania, here’s how you can avoid it all together.

ALSO CHECK OUT:

10 Earth Day Infographics

10 Food Infographics That Have Us Consciously Consuming

10 Travel Infographics To Spark Your Wanderlust

Check out more infographics here.

Image: Matthew Kenwrick

The post 10 Infographics on the London 2012 Olympics appeared first on EcoSalon.

The trials and tribulations of being in a relationship.

It’s been a week of relationship inspiration at EcoSalon, from these famous quotes to these enticing-looking wedding suggestions, and naturally our thoughts have turned to our complicated life’s work of finding a mate. From the influence of Facebook to the growing popularity of mail-order brides, here are 7 aspects of modern human relationships that continue to fascinate (and baffle) us…

How Facebook Affects You and Your Relationships: We’re probably all familiar with Facebook’s meddling effect on relationships, but this infographic breaks down exactly how.

10 Infographics Exploring Love, Sex & Relationships

You should never find yourself believing that you’re not good enough due to your partner’s words or actions. Even if it’s said in a joking way, a jibe about your looks, your job, your intelligence or any matter that relates to self-esteem can really hurt. Don’t just sit back and take it when the “jokes” keep adding up, or your partner doesn’t even bother to cloak his or her constant criticism. There’s a difference between constructive feedback or advice and comments that are meant to tear you down.

10 Signs It’s Time To Leave Your Relationship

We humans aren’t all that special, sharing between 95-99% functional DNA with our close cousin the Bonobo. If you think people can be merciless when it comes to harnessing sex as a tool for manipulation, why don’t you go visit your evolutionary kin for the day? For Bonobos, sexual contact is used for everything from same-sex conflict-resolution to calming infants. They have sex to release tension, sex to leaven antagonism, and sex to have fun and socialize. A promiscuous bunch, Bonobos have multiple partners, and because the women are sleeping around, the males aren’t sure which children belong to them. Obscure paternity goes a long way toward the prevention of infanticide. Doesn’t it all smack of a Shakespearean tragedy?

Sex By Numbers: Modern Day Romance And Breeding

Clinging to the old picture is what typically keeps us in a dysfunctional dying marriage. The romantic courtship, the impressive wedding pageantry, the happy family holiday greeting mailed out on December 20th each year. While validating, they keep you living in the past. Visualize a new picture, one in which you are loving your body and treating it right with good, fresh organic food, exercise and massage, thriving at work and in your relationships and giving unselfishly of yourself to your community. You’ve learned the hard way you can’t control your partners or your outcomes, but you can work on being the best you.

The Green Divorce: 10 Tips For An Eco-Friendlier Finale

Is there a darker, anti-feminist side to mail order bride operations? As FOX News reports, “Men who seek wives abroad often explicitly state those women here are not worth marrying because they are too independent, ruined by feminism or fill in the pejorative blank.” Feminism is the alleged boogeyman behind these marriages. American women are too empowered, so men must go to countries where women are willing to trade a bit of their power for their own idea of a better life.

Of course, some would argue that men and women who enter into these arrangements are equal opportunity seekers. And as long as no one is harmed, then what’s the problem? If a lonely man who wants a young, pretty wife from another country, and a young, pretty wife wants an American husband, then who are we to judge? They would have a valid point…

Mail-Order Brides Are More Popular Than Ever – But Are They Anti-Feminist?

The study reports that if you’re shacked up and sharing a bed, you experience 50% more sleep troubles than singletons. Sleeping together is downright unhealthy. So weird – I’m not married for this exact reason! Strategic brilliance from Ost, yet again.

My properly chilled Scandinavian grandparents may have been onto something with their separate sleeping arrangements. As a child, I remember thinking it was sort of weird that Grandpa and Grandma had a bedroom like Lucy and Ricky’s since we weren’t living in black and white anymore, but then being glad for it because it made jumping on the bed(s) twice as fun!

Just ponder the upside of hitting the hay in different stables. You’re fast asleep when a handsome stranger steals into your bed and has his way with you (so it’s actually your hubs and he has a spare tire, but work with me here). Absence makes the heart grow hornier, as it were. Sleeping apart makes sleeping together an extra special thing. Also, you get the eternal thrill of doing it in someone else’s room. Aside from making sex just like college all over again, there’s the benefit of never again having to argue over how many pillows ought to be embellishing the duvet. Oh, and the health thing.

From The Marriage Sucks File: Scientists Say Sleeping Together Ruins Your Health

A surname is about identity, and what’s more personal than that? While some might see the act of keeping a maiden name as an indication of a woman’s independence or a play for personal power, the choice is an issue that can cause unwanted criticism for wanting to retain a lifelong identity whether from family, co-workers or the society at large. Plenty of contemporary influential women have changed their name without anyone questioning their feminism. Lady Margaret Thatcher (nee Roberts) is a name changer, as is First Lady Michelle Obama. Hillary Rodham reversed her decision after her husband’s gubernatorial loss in 1980, becoming Hillary Rodham Clinton.

While this decision is personalized on many different levels, there can be some common ground. In the end, what are some of the reasons married women keep their maiden name?

7 Reasons Married Women Keep Their Last Names

Images: illusive photography, bobosh_t,  rbowen, j9, Peacemaker Voices and Meredith_Farmer.

The post From The Vault: We’re In This Together appeared first on EcoSalon.

Get your popcorn out.

In this week’s infographic installment, we tackle the big business of film. Whether it’s breaking down famous quotes into pie charts, tracking the appearance of Apple products as extras, or highlighting how studios are greening their operations, these infographics feature different various facets of the movie industry with facts, humor, and lots of color-coding. Cue applause.

The Most Popular Movies of All Time: See if you can match the movie with the quote in this colorful round-up of the industry’s highest-grossing films.

Hollywood Goes Green: A look at how different film studios are adopting more environmentally-friendly practices.

Apple Products Throughout Film History: Check out how the Macintosh has played a supporting role in films from “Back to the Future” to “Sex and the City.”

The Best Movies of All Time Map: Take the top 250 films of all time, break them down by genre, and see where they intersect in this subway map-style infographic.

Film Industry by the Numbers: The dollars and cents of the multi-billion dollar movie business.

Famous Movie Quotes: A graphic interpretation of film’s most famous sayings.

Famous Movie Quotes, Part 2: The first was so good, they had to make a sequel.

The 12 Movies With the Dirtiest Mouths: As measured by use of the f-bomb.

The Future According to Films: Looks pretty bleak.

How To Make A Movie: A humorous flow-chart on the real business of movie making, as only the French can do.

ALSO CHECK OUT:

10 Food Infographics That Have Us Consciously Consuming

10 Fashion Infographics to Give Us a New Style Sense

10 Political Infographics on Election 2012

10 Infographics Exploring Sex, Love, and Relationships

See more infographic round-ups here.

Image: o5com

The post 10 Oscar-Worthy Infographics on the Film Industry appeared first on EcoSalon.

10 bike-friendly infographics.

More and more, conscious women are embracing bikes as an energizing, empowering, and environmentally-friendly mode of transport. These ten infographics make even more of a case for the two-wheeler, providing statistics, routes, tools, and tips for life on the open road. Just don’t forget your helmet.

How Bikes Can Save Us: According to this infographic, cars are killing us, so we should all move to Portland and ride bikes.

Benefits of a Bicycle: In case you needed a visualization of how awesome bikes are, this cute graphic from C.I.C.L.E. provides one.

Biking + Walking in the Twin Cities: Minneapolis-St. Paul is doing an awesome job at encouraging biking and walking, even in the winter.

Which City Is Best for Biking?: A look at which cities have the highest percentage of bike commuters… and hey, there’s Portland again.

Biking By The Numbers: A quick round-up of biking statistics from the folks at Nau Clothing.

Mountain Biking in America: An overview of America’s best off-road trails.

Biking Safety & Courtesy Tips: A road map for cyclists, drivers, and walkers on ways to safely co-exist, from Bike Arlington.

Biking in San Francisco: A case for cycling in San Francisco, in animated graphics.

Bike Commuter Map: This infographic maps out the state of biking in the U.S., incorporating statistics on bike safety, bike spending, and urban commuters in major cities.

America Bikes: More than 80 percent of Americans want to either maintain or increase funding for sidewalks and bike lanes, says this survey.

ALSO CHECK OUT:

10 Earth Day Infographics

10 Food Infographics That Have Us Consciously Consuming

10 Travel Infographics To Spark Your Wanderlust

Check out more infographics here.

Image: Steve McDonald

The post 10 Infographics on Biking appeared first on EcoSalon.

The global energy crisis for dummies.

It’s clear we have a global energy crisis on our hands, but few people know much beyond that. This series of infographics breaks it down, with important information about world energy supplies, global petroleum prices, and the cost savings of switching to alternative energy sources. Do your part and get informed.

Renewable Energy: A newbie’s guide filled with fun statistics.

An Illustrated History of Energy: How far we’ve come.

The Home That Makes You Money: See how switching to alternative energy can actually make you a profit.

The True Cost of Lighting: You’ll definitely switch to a more energy-efficient bulb after checking out this infographic.

World Energy Supply: A look at shifting energy supplies from 1971 to 2030.

Top Ten Cheapest World Petrol Prices: If this depresses you, just be thankful you’re not in Norway.

Renewable Energy Sources: Compare different renewable energy sources with this nifty interactive infographic from GOOD. [click for interaction]

9 Surprising Things About People Who Go Solar: Most are religious dudes who love cars and air conditioning.

Global Investment in Clean Energy: How the rest of the world is addressing this issue.

Energy Consumption Over a Lifetime: We generate about 215 elephants worth of carbon dioxide in our lifetime, and other fun facts.

ALSO CHECK OUT:

10 Earth Day Infographics

10 Food Infographics That Have Us Consciously Consuming

10 Travel Infographics To Spark Your Wanderlust

Check out more infographics here.

Image: Daniel X. O’Neil

The post 10 Infographics On Energy appeared first on EcoSalon.