House built into the side of a hill: cool. House built into the side of a hill with sustainable systems and a low environmental footprint: cooler. House built into the side of a hill by two guys for £3000 ($6,019.99 USD): Cool as crap.

Simon Dale and his father-in-law just built one of the greatest houses I’ve ever seen, and wish I could see in person. It’s insulated by straw bales encased in lime plaster. The entire frame is made of spare lumber, and the roof is made of dirt. I can just imagine Frodo Baggins on the porch barefoot.

On the flip side, I’ll also be interested in hearing about the maintenance involved, termite issues, drainage, and the lifespan of a house made so organically. I have misgivings about the fortitude, not to mention fire hazards or mold issues with so much unprotected wood & straw. We’ll see.

A Low Impact Woodland Home

Technorati Tags: construction, architecture, sustainable systems, straw, mud

Over at Hypeful.com, they’ve compiled a pretty decent list, complete with free mp3s, of music by gay, lesbian, confused, and gay-friendly artists. Along with the typical Elton John & Queen stuff, they’ve also got some pretty great new progressive artists to look at, including Antony & The Johnsons, Bloc Party, Mika, Morissey, and of course Rufus..

It’s great to see musicians who are out, proud, and doing what they love, instead of just a bunch of straight musicians who capitalize on the LGBT crowds, like Madonna. I don’t judge. After all, I like money too!

Hypeful About Gay Musicians

Technorati Tags: gay, music, mika, musicians, antony & the johnsons, bloc party, morissey, rufus, madonna.