<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>New Venture for TLS</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<FONT FACE="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12.0px'>The Last Straw has some exciting news to share with everyone about a new<BR>
<FONT COLOR="#000098">effort to expand the presence of The Last Straw Journal on the worldwide<BR>
web, and to provide an interactive dialogue about all aspects of strawbale<BR>
and natural building design and construction.<BR>
<BR>
We are proud to announce the existence of The Last Straw Blog located at<BR>
<a href="http://tls.buildearth.org.">http://tls.buildearth.org.</a><BR>
<BR>
The TLS blog features:<BR>
<BR>
• articles from issues already published – you can add your thoughts,<BR>
questions, experiences without logging in.<BR>
<BR>
• featured articles from the most recently published issue – so you'll want<BR>
to order the whole issue and subscribe to the journal,<BR>
<BR>
• occasional posting of an article in draft form for people to comment on<BR>
through their postings to the blog – to encourage people to contribute their<BR>
knowledge, experience, projects, and so on,<BR>
<BR>
• original content not found in the published version of TLS from guest<BR>
contributors. If you are interested in submitting content please visit the<BR>
website and contact the administrator,<BR>
<BR>
• links to all of the strawbale and natural building associations and<BR>
networks that we know about – we'll add more as we find out about them –<BR>
to encourage people to join and support the efforts of these groups and get<BR>
connected locally, <BR>
<BR>
• lots of photographs – visuals always help people better understand the<BR>
concept and want to learn more,<BR>
<BR>
• links to strawbale and natural building web sites that are good, solid<BR>
information sources,<BR>
<BR>
The TLS blog is a work in progress. We'll be tweaking the format over the<BR>
coming weeks and adding content regularly. Please feel free to make any<BR>
comments regarding functionality and features you wold like to see.<BR>
<BR>
We hope you will be as excited about this new venture for TLS as we are.<BR>
Please go to the blog now and have a first look!<BR>
<BR>
Both forums are supported by donations, revenue from ads and affiliate<BR>
networks. If you find the content of these websites valuable, please<BR>
consider using the links provided by the sponsors to buy a book or support<BR>
any of the sponsors by clicking on their links. Or simply make a small<BR>
donation! Anything will help us bring you the newest and most relevant<BR>
content on the planet, as TLS has always done.<BR>
<BR>
If you are an advertiser (architect, builder, material supplier, etc.),<BR>
consider placing an add on these forums. Details can be found on either<BR>
website.<BR>
<BR>
The TLS blog is made possible through the generous contribution of time and<BR>
expertise by Jeff Ruppert. Jeff has set up the TLS blog in conjunction with<BR>
another blog based on general green building news and information. That<BR>
blog is called Buildearth and is located at <a href="http://www.buildearth.org.">http://www.buildearth.org.</a><BR>
Please visit both forums and we hope you return to them often.<BR>
<BR>
It would be wonderful if this blog opens an international conversation and<BR>
encourages all strawbalers and natural builders from around the world to<BR>
contribute their knowledge, expertise, experiences, and support to the TLS<BR>
blog and to the journal's content.<BR>
<BR>
Joyce<BR>
--------------- <BR>
Joyce Coppinger<BR>
Managing Editor/Publisher<BR>
The Last Straw, the international journal<BR>
of strawbale and natural building<BR>
PO Box 22706, Lincoln NE 68542-2706<BR>
402.483.5135, fax 402.483.5161<BR>
<thelaststraw@thelaststraw.org><BR>
web site: www.thelaststraw.org<BR>
and our new blog at <a href="http://tls.buildearth.org">http://tls.buildearth.org</a><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
> <BR>
</FONT><BR>
------ End of Forwarded Message<BR>
</SPAN></FONT>
</BODY>
</HTML>