Emerald "Earth" Mattress (Tierra) Review +

Well...all of the purchases have arrived and been used long enough to review.  I'm just gonna brag for half a second, since my research really paid off this time (it doesn't always do that, I've found).  The pillows are great, the protectors are fantastic (feel just like sheets, really - no crinkle at all), the organic sheets are luxurious and thick - as is the blanket, and the mattress is "fabulous".  So, you can definitely take my research and suggestions to the bank this time.  Any and all of them are worth their weight in gold.


So, let's get to the mattress. 

When I was researching, I could find little to no information on Emerald mattresses.  I am going to assume that is a good thing, because it appears that, since people tend to review stuff they really hate more often than stuff they like, there isn't a good mattress out there anywhere.

This is the low-down on the Emerald "Earth" Mattress (model: Tierra, size: King).

The mattress is firm, but not rock hard like so many complain that latex mattresses can be.   In fact, I can definitely tell that there is a very heavy, solid support under the soft wool.  It's also a very thick mattress.  We have a platform bed with drawers in the base, so it means I almost need a stool to get in and out of bed.  No need for a box spring (which saves a little cash).  The top of the mattress is quilted, causing 4 inch sections to rise slightly.  It gives a bit of a ridged look under the sheets, but, when the bed is made, that doesn't show.  And since it seems to add to the comfort, I have not complaints.  The fabric cover is bamboo cotton...very silky soft.

Some people in the reviews I read about latex mattresses complained of a smell.  I detect no such offensive odor with this mattress.  Just smelled like new, clean fabric.  No chemical or "plastic-y" smell at all.

The reviews are very accurate on how heavy latex mattresses are.  I could hardly push the thing around on the floor, let alone move it or stand it up on my own.  Luckily, latex mattresses are usually "no-flip".  There is a suggestion that you turn the mattress a few times within the first 6 months.

Overall, this is a well-made mattress, made in the U.S. (Tacoma), out of healthy, biodegradable materials (soy-based foam, natural latex, wool, and bamboo), for a reasonable cost (comparatively speaking - $1599).  I give it 5 stars.  And since I can't, for the life of me, find a picture of it or even any mention of it on the internet...I will simply list the phone number of the company.  That's how my local furniture company found this for me.  They knew the company made a mattress like the one I was looking for, so they called, acquired the specs, ordered...and voila!  I'm not sure why they haven't added this mattress to their website (especially since it's been around for a little while and is being replaced by a newer, similar model).  Seems to me it would behoove them to add it and make it more widely known.  I think a lot of people are in the market for this type of mattress.

Federal Way
(253) 838-1711

3025 Pioneer Way East
Tacoma
(253) 922-1400

Guess all those hours on the internet were worth it after all:  *smile* and *contented sigh*.

You say you want a revolution?

When the Occupy Wall Street protests began, I thought the idea might have some merit. The first few news reports I heard interested me. I listened. I smiled. I even agreed with most of the early statements about corporate greed, joblessness, and class disparity.

I was impressed, as the cause spread. It gained momentum, jumped the Atlantic even, and made headlines. Politicians were responding, at least in words. The president admitted he could not ignore them. That is the power of a "movement".

But, the novelty has worn off for me. I've lost respect for the cause and for the protesters. As one of the 99%, I can assure you that they do not speak for all of us. In fact, they have become, for me, quite a sore subject.

Now before any of you get your feathers ruffled, believing me to be a member of the unyielding right, let me say that I am a securely grounded independent (maybe something of a minority here in the NW). Both sides seem too extreme to me at the moment, at each others' throats like spoiled little kids fighting over the rights to the neighborhood sandbox.

So, what, may you ask, turned my opinion? Well, that's easy...the protesters themselves. After listening to dozens of soundbites and video clips of occupiers who could not intelligently state their reason for being there, I have begun to question their motives. By their own admission, several of the "leaders" of these various encampments have had to explain to "campers" why they are there and what their purpose is. I wish I had the luxury of time that some of these protesters have (although, I'm sure I can think of countless better ways to spend it).

And when it comes right down to it, the cause is not really a cause...it's a mass of complaints aimed at multiple sources. There is no real point other than to gather and gain attention, which, in itself, might not be a bad thing. The problem arises, however, when the "campers" become "squatters" and start to wreak havoc on the environment: noise, human and animal waste, illness, drugs and alcohol, inappropriate behavior, in-fighting, violence and an all-around pervading nose-thumbing at anything that attempts to tell them they can't do what they are doing.

I don't believe anyone has told the occupiers that they don't have the Constitutional right to protest. But they don't have the right to be assholes. And believe me, one or two asshole protesters, just like one or two overly-aggressive cops, can destroy the reputation of the whole "movement". Maybe the organizers should be more choosy about who they let join up (though I guess that would defeat the purpose of an open-protest).

The thing that upsets me the most isn't the protest itself, it's the media that has followed them and the reaction of the people who aren't there. The eruption of out-of-context video footage making the police look like the bad guys, the viral he-said-she-said bickering over who has the right to do what and when. It's all enough to make me tired.

Ultimately, while a protest such as this might not be a bad way to gain initial attention, it has to be backed up with something more substantial, and it has to find a focal point...a real purpose and direction...to make any kind of lasting political impact.

Class warfare is just that: warfare. And violence is an ironic answer here (Guy Fawkes is an inappropriate icon to have chosen since it represents the violent overthrow of a government - maybe these kids should do a little historical research before they rely on a graphic novel or a movie for guidance in changing the world). Rioting in the streets does send a message, but I don't think it is the message the protesters want. When they start attacking each other, lashing out at nearby businesses and residents, and taunting and threatening the police who are simply there doing their jobs...they cease being a voice for the majority and start being a pain in the ass.

It's time for the protesters to go home and take their mess with them. And while they're at it, maybe they could shower, do a little more research on their own cause(s), and make a real, continuing impact by voting, flooding the e-mail and voice-mail boxes of their local and state politicians, and organizing a political party of their own.

But then, that would take more work than camping in the local park and holding a sign.

On a side, but related, note...I find it amusing that they blame Wall Street for the state of the union, rather than the people who govern it. Seems a little misguided. It doesn't do any good to blame the financial mechanism but ignore the political machine that is behind it. However...that is a whole different conversation.