Lulu Blog

In honor of Earth Day, I would like to share three simple and easy suggestions on ways you can help the planet all year long.

Light bulbs!
Did you know if every U.S. household replaced just one light bulb with a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb (CLF), that it would prevent the same amount of pollution equal to removing a million cars from the road? Not only that, but CFLs last longer than your typical incandescent bulbs (approximately 5-6 years), use less energy, and save you more money on your energy bill.

Go Organic!
Organic foods are produced naturally, without man-made pesticides, fertilizers, or irradiation. Animals raised organically are free of antibiotics, they eat organic feed and have access to the outdoors. While organic farming decreases toxins in our environment, it also reduces the levels of pesticides in our bodies. Not only that, but studies have shown that organic foods tend to be higher in antioxidants. In my opinion, organic food just simply tastes better.

Publish and shop with Lulu.com!
Yes, it’s true! Print on demand (POD) is a far better way to reduce waste than that of the traditional publishing process. Instead of printing a large quantity of books that are hoped to sell, print on demand makes it easy to only print books as they are ordered! POD also reduces the energy usage associated with storing books in large warehouses and shipping them from the printer to the warehouse to the bookstore to the customer. This is just another reason why people who use Lulu are some of the brightest CFL bulbs in the bunch!

Due to the success of self-publishing, the Library of Congress has found it necessary to dedicate a new wing to Lulu.com. This “Lulu wing” is to house all self-published works. Ground was broken yesterday with CEO Bob Young and COO Bryce Boothby on hand with their shovels.

As he shoveled a pile of dirt, Bob Young said, “Self-publishing has hit the big time now. I wish this new wing could be named after each of our one million members. Their innovative ideas and creativity deserve this recognition from the Library of Congress.”

So be sure to send in your name so we can submit it for the official naming ceremony of the Lulu wing.

As February is Black History Month, we would like to highlight some of our Lulu users and encourage others to create and share cultural content to celebrate the holiday.

Many African Americans use Lulu to celebrate their culture through a variety of forms such as art, personal accounts, cookbooks, poetry, music and more. Here are just a few examples of popular Lulu creations made by African American authors:

• LeSean Thomas created a compilation of his animated artwork highlighting hip-hop-inspired characters that has been featured on “The Boondocks” on Cartoon Network (http://books.lulu.com/content/189605). Daytime Award Winning Producer Jeff Matsuda recognizes Thomas’ work as some of the most dynamic, unique and prolific hip-hop driven visions of today.

• The Soumas Heritage Creole Cookbook (http://www.lulu.com/content/60871) by Panderina Soumas offers a how-to for a number of tantalizing treats that have been passed down through generations of Creole cooks. With recipes like “African Rhythm Drumettes” and “Who-Do-You-Wanna-Voodoo-Dip,” the Soumas Heritage Creole Cookbook celebrates culture through the sharing of delicious family dishes.

• Another publication, The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook (http://www.lulu.com/content/656880) by Marcella Runell and Martha Diaz provides advice on how to harness the enthusiasm and energy found in hip-hop music and introduce it to the classroom. Calling for innovation in schools and engaging teaching styles to ensure the success of all American students, this guidebook has been used in numerous schools throughout New York.

There are many more cultural creations that can be found by simply browsing the Lulu marketplace (http://www.lulu.com/en/browse/).

One final way that I would like to encourage you to commemorate Black History Month is to write your own chapter of history. Lulu has all the tools you need to share your story with others and add to your already-rich traditions. Use this month to create a living history of your own experiences while paying tribute to great African American leaders of the past and present.

Shannon Connell