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The power of sexy
Mountain View model goes green with 'Hot Chix Dig' pin-up calendar

by Daniel DeBolt

Some local environmentalists are deploying a new weapon in the fight against global warming: the female figure.

Mountain View resident Avida Verde, realizing that few things attract more attention more quickly, has created a pin-up calendar, complete with scantily clad women in gaudy wigs, to get her message across. Verde (not her real name), said the idea came to her one day as she rode her bike past a truck driver with a wandering eye.

"If I had a sign on my bum that said, 'I like truckers who use biodiesel,' that would have impacted his behavior," she said.

Verde, a fitness instructor, said she'd seen other calendars dealing with environmental issues — at least one had pictures of starving people — but "People get pissed off by negative messaging that makes them feel like they can't do anything." Instead of a downer, her calendar would be sexy.

So she rounded up some girlfriends, a few photographers and lots of enthusiasm, and soon the "Hot Chix Dig" 2008 calendar was born, followed by another edition for 2009. In the calendars, models pose with solar panels, hug trees and straddle bicycles. Verde, who is featured in some of the images, says she now has more photos than she knows what to do with.

Each calendar page comes with tips on sustainable living. But the tips, rather than being pedantic, are written to seem more like "sexy thoughts," Verde said. One blurb on the advantages of re-useable wares, for instance, states that "We won't use you and throw you away."

More information is available at www.hotchixdig.com.

E-mail Daniel DeBolt at ddebolt@mv-voice.com

Posted by Ira B, a resident of the Whisman Station neighborhood, on Dec 8, 2008 at 12:42 pm

So where do I order the calendar?

-Ira B.

Posted by J, a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Dec 8, 2008 at 12:47 pm

Go to Web Link and click the Calendar link, or just go straight to:

Web Link

Posted by K-, a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Dec 8, 2008 at 1:33 pm

I got a copy of the calender - it is fun, artistic, and everyone who sees it gets a kick out of it. The tips are simple and fun, and definitely make being eco friendly a do-able thing!

Posted by dhl, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Dec 8, 2008 at 1:57 pm

I gave these calendars as gifts last holiday season -- they are perfect for any male friends that are hard to shop for, or anyone with a great sense of humor and eco-minded attitude. They also make great gifts for college students!

Posted by Thomas S., a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Dec 9, 2008 at 11:38 pm

In the 2009 calendar many of the girl's heads are cut-off in the photos by the photographer and/or developer. For the 2010 calendar perhaps they could use eco-friendly paper bags over the heads of the models. This would negate the decapitated look and still allow the model to keep her anonymity.

Posted by Rhonda H., a resident of the Sylvan Park neighborhood, on Dec 10, 2008 at 9:40 pm

I too like the paper bag idea. Some of the women may have their heads obscured for a reason. These women are sometimes referred to as "two-baggers", where the viewer/participant wears a bag over his head, in case the bag over her head breaks.