Tuesday, September 30th, 2008
I have a bad memory when it comes to the days the garbage people pick up the recycling. I thought they were coming to get it this morning. In actuality, they are coming next Tuesday.
Of course, this had to happen the one time I decided to put a whole heck of a lot of cardboard out for pickup. I mean, I put out about twelve flattened cardboard boxes…big ones too. When I realized no one was coming to get the cardboard, I decided to make a very special trip to the local transfer station.
A transfer station is basically a station where they transfer things. That was my attempt at humor. Our local station is quite beautiful, so beautiful in fact, I decided to take a few photos.
Transfer Station Cardboard Trailers
Transfer Station Recycling Bins
Sure, it might seem strange to take photos of the transfer station, but if I don’t do it, who is going to?
I must say, our local transfer station is one of the more organized ones I have ever been to. There is a place for used motor oil, old tires, cardboard, metal, recyclables, appliances, furniture…well, you get the picture. All I did was drop off some cardboard and recyclables, but now I see the potential for a whole lot more.
Mad peace to you.
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Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
On the way to Home Depot yesterday, I decided to take a detour and quickly drive through Eastern Connecticut State University. I am checking out the local colleges for interesting classes. I already found a nice “Entrepreneurial” class over at UConn. It teaches you how to set up, operate, successfully harvest and start over a small business. That’s my gig. East Conn has some good photography and writing classes that I am interested in.
Now, I know these are the worst pictures on the planet, but please understand that it is really difficult to get these photos without feeling like I am doing something wrong. This country has got me so damn paranoid, that I can’t even feel comfortable taking pictures of a college from my car. I keep thinking that the “Thought Police” are going to jump out of the bushes and arrest me.
Anyway, this is what I got. I must say, this is a really nice little college. It is very clean and inviting. I have no idea what the quality of the academics is, but as far as looks go, it passes.
Tennis courts at Eastern Connecticut State University
Neat recycling cans at Eastern Connecticut State University
Looking up Eastern Road at Eastern Connecticut State University
Constitution Hall at Eastern Connecticut State University
Tower at Eastern Connecticut State University
J. Eugene Smith Library at Eastern Connecticut State University
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Monday, April 28th, 2008
If there is one thing that should motivate you to move to a new town, it should be Whole Foods.
I remember a few weeks ago when the realtor was showing us houses in this area, she said, “Ooh, and they are building a brand new Whole Foods here. It should be open in a few days. We are all VERY excited.” Laura and I were sitting there like, “Uh huh. What in the heck is Whole Foods?” Of course we nodded because we knew our realtor wouldn’t lead us astray.
So, what is Whole Foods? Here is a clip from their website: “Our motto — Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet — emphasizes that our vision reaches far beyond just being a food retailer. Our success in fulfilling our vision is measured by customer satisfaction, Team Member excellence and happiness, return on capital investment, improvement in the state of the environment, and local and larger community support.” Let me just tell you, they live up to their motto.
A few days ago, Laura informed me that we should make a visit to this new grocery store. We still don’t have natural gas (next Monday), so we have to eat items that can be cooked in the microwave or cold, such as our famous wraps or sandwiches. You really should try them. I was pretty excited because Whole Foods is located in Glastonbury and if you have never visited, Glastonbury is my kind of town…well off.
Well, today was the day. We drove over to the store and started walking to the entrance. One of our all time most favorite stores in the world is Wegmans. We were wondering if this one would be better or worse. When we got inside, I asked a woman from the florist section if they have plastic bag recycling. I have had a pile in my back seat for a few weeks now. She walked me over to the recycling area. I put the bags in the bin and from that point on, we were in heaven. You should see the place. Ok, you know the organic section at regular supermarkets? Well, this whole store is like that. Up and down every single isle is the highest quality food you have ever seen. We were looking for Folgers coffee and they didn’t have it…too regular. We had to buy a different (twice as expensive) brand. I will say that the shopping experience unexpectedly cost much more than anticipated, but it is kind of worth it. I don’t think we will be doing all our food shopping there, but as far as fun and healthy food shopping goes, this is the place. What a niche.
When we were done putting all our items in our cart, we wandered over to the check out register. The first question the girl asked us was how many bags we had, meaning reusable bags. Man, what a trip. Just the way she assumed that we had them told me I was among my kind of folk. Unfortunately, we only had one bag. As it turned out, that was all we needed because we stuffed it to the gills.
Oh, before I forget, Whole Foods has a realy good micro brew area. I was looking through it when I said that we should leave the isle before I buy something. Just as we turned around and started to leave, something sucked me back to the beer like it was a huge magnet and I had an iron plate in my chest. I bought “Fuel Cafe Coffee Flavored Stout” by Lakefront Brewery. I am drinking it right now and it tastes a lot like Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout, but without that bite. It’s much smoother and very good.
After we left the food store, we drove over to Home Depot for a few things. Then, we traveled back to the hometown to drop something off at the post office. What a pleasant day. Over and out.
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Tuesday, March 11th, 2008
Top 10 Hubble Images of All Time
As the title says, this article lists the top ten Hubble space satellite images ever taken. Hubble has been in operation since 1990, and now after serving almost for 20 years it is time to list the very best images taken by Hubble.
3 Extreme Ways To Go Green
Recycle, schmecycle. These days, saving the Earth requires a lot more than just collecting cans.
Warning: The Web Hosting Business is Not For Kids
I admire teenagers (including many of you) who do take the step into the on-line world, but Web Hosting is a business which you should attempt only if you are serious and only if you are not after a quick buck. Why? Because you will fail and drag your customers with you when this happens.
Recycle or go to Hell, warns Vatican
Failing to recycle plastic bags could find you spending eternity in Hell, the Vatican said after drawing up a list of seven deadly sins for our times. The seven, which include polluting the environment, were announced by Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, a close ally of the Pope and the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary…
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Saturday, March 8th, 2008
Tips On How To Choose the Right Recycled Paper
When you go to the store and stand in front of the many reams or packages of paper, it’s hard to know what to buy.
Solar Collecting Roads Heat Buildings in Denmark
Solar is a highly efficient for heating water. Combining it with underground storage, and a year-round system can be created where the system can cover heating requirements in the winter and cooling in the summer.
10 Most Beautiful Bridges in the World
Bridges are stylish: from classical to modern, they are as much a work of art as they are marvels of engineering. To celebrate the wonders of “classic” bridges, here are Neatorama’s picks for the Top 10 Most Beautiful Bridges in the World.
NBC11 First TV Station In U.S. To Be Powered By Wind
As of Friday, March 7, 2008, NBC11 has become the first television in the U.S. to be powered by wind. The station has offset its electricity with 100 percent certified energy certificates, according to station officials.
When To Use An Ultraviolet System To Purify Your Drinking Water
Ultraviolet (UV) light water filtration and purification has been used for well over one hundred years to make drinking water safe. Today it is used by some of the largest cities in the world to purify their municipal drinking water supplies. These cities include New York, Rotterdam, Seattle, and many others in Europe, Asia, and North America.
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Monday, February 4th, 2008
I was in Home Depot over the weekend getting some stuff. I was in the molding aisle when I overheard some dude talking to a nice couple. We were all in the same boat…looking for molding. The dude and the couple were talking about recycled materials used in the molding…I think. Then, somehow they got onto the shopping bag issue. You know, the bags at grocery stores and Wal-Mart stores.
The lady mentioned something about how you can recycle your used bags at the grocery stores. This is something I learned only a few weeks ago. She also mentioned that the store will actually give you a credit if you bring your own bag(s). I thought that was pretty cool, but have never experienced it myself.
Then, the dude starts talking about how so many recycled products are more expensive than their non-recycled counterparts. He said that it boggled his mind why that is. He continued to ask why in the world he would pay more for a recycled product when he could get the non-recycled product for less. He again said that his mind was boggled. It was even confused. I, being the guy who just spent almost double the regular cost for paper towels and toilet paper (100% recycled), was eager to jump in. I wanted to tell the man that by purchasing the recycled products, he was doing something good for the bigger picture. But I didn’t. My urge faded away when I realized my words would be lost on him. He kind of stuck me as the type of guy who was set in his ways. Being the “tough talker” he was, I most likely would’ve come off as some liberal San Fransiscan. From my experience, many of these Home Depot shoppers I come across, don’t seem to have rational views on societal issues. I walked away thinking of how stupid he was.
By the time I got to the end of the aisle, I realize that he did have a point. Most people are heavily influenced by what’s in their wallets. If this recycled product thing is ever going to take off, the producers of these products have to stop punishing people for buying them. Isn’t it weird that so much stuff out there that is good for you and good for the planet costs twice as much as all the junk that isn’t? Things are a little backwards, in my opinion.
Anyway, Laura and I went shopping at the local expensive Hannaford that night. We brought two of our reusable tote bags with us. When I arrived at the checkout area and the nice lady noticed we had two of our own bags, she credited us five cents each. I know that isn’t much, but I thought it was pretty cool. The whole way home I kept on talking about how I was going to write about it.
When we arrived back at the house, I was still thinking. I mentioned how neat it was for stores to reward people for using their own shopping bags. Then, as I was entering the house, I remembered an article that I read the day before. It was about how, in Dublin, after a tax was introduced on plastic bags, their use dropped 94%. I began to think about the fact that I never once saw anyone else in Hannaford with their own reusable shopping bags. I am sure people use them, but I have never seen them. Strange. Perhaps rewarding people for using their own bags is good, but punishing them for not is better. After all, a 94% reduction is plastic bag use is something to write home about.
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Monday, December 31st, 2007
Huge Asteroid Headed for Earth–Too Close for Comfort
It is headed our way, and it’s a big one, but the chances of hitting Earth are 1-in-3030, and it won’t be in the neighborhood until 2048. Naturally, a rock of that size would do significant damage to the planet. The asteroid is 130 meters across–that’s about 142 yards or 1-1/2 football fields, if you’re American.
Continent-sized floating garbage patch threatens food chain
In one of the few places on Earth where people can rarely be found, the human race has well and truly made its mark. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean lies a floating garbage patch twice the size of Britain. A place where the water is filled with six times as much plastic as plankton, a plastic-plankton soup that is entering the food chain.
Planet Earth 2007: Top 10 Science Revelations
From the damning climate report by the IPCC to projections of an impending peak in global oil production, 2007 was full of startling findings and prognostications about the blue marble we call home.
Blue is the new green
Advertising firm JWT predicts that one of the top trends of 2008 will see blue replacing green as the color of environmentalism, social conscience, and all-round niceness.
How to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
If you had a real Christmas tree this year how are you planning to get rid of it? Here is a short guide on how to properly dispose of your Christmas tree.
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Monday, November 19th, 2007
Blogger takes Honda’s $10m hydrogen fuel cell FCX Clarity for a test drive
What would you do if Honda handed you the keys to a $10 million car that emits only water vapor? Everything legal, that’s what. Read AutoblogGreen’s first in-depth review of a car some lucky people will be able to lease next summer. When will the rest of us get to drive a hydrogen car?
Broadband speeds days numbered?
Enjoy your speedy broadband Web access while you can. The Web will start to slow down as early as 2010, as use of interactive and video-intensive services overwhelms local cable, phone and wireless Internet providers
Think Recycling Computers Is A Good Thing? Think Again
Most people think they’re helping the earth when they recycle their old computers, televisions and cell phones. But chances are they’re contributing to a global trade in electronic trash that endangers workers and pollutes the environment overseas
Is AMD Doomed?
Can a $622M dollar cash infusion plus reasonably profitable GPUs give AMD enough breathing room to prove its gamble on true quad core was a good one? The jury is still out, but the portents are not very encouraging. The tech world really needs a scrappy, nimble CPU company like AMD, just like it needs a scrappy, cool computer company like Apple.
Why Car Salesmen Think its Okay to Screw you, And what you can do about it!
This is a good article on common arguments a car salesman may throw at you during the buying process. Very informative, kind of funny, but SO true!
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Tuesday, August 7th, 2007
I just placed a phone call to the local Agway to pre-order my wood pellets for the year.
Every year, (I have been doing this for two years now) I like to get my pellets in August. I always think I am beating the rush. I guess I am, but there are quite a few people ahead of me this year. The lady on the phone told me that there were three truck loads to be delivered before me. I am thinking, “Ok, like three pickup truck loads?” No, three tractor trailer truck loads. There are twenty two tons on each truck. That’s a lot. I am going to get my delivery after those go out to the other people who pre-ordered.
I ordered three tons on discount, because it is before the season. The price goes up after the season starts and the demand is higher. I paid $199.99 per ton with a $30 delivery charge. That’s not bad. I only ordered one ton last year and kept finding myself at various stores buying bags of pellets. I didn’t want to run out this year.
The pellets I am going to get are made out of hardwood saw dust and come from Pennsylvania. It is recycled from the lumber mill. Apparently, this is the good stuff. I was advised that the softwood clogs up the stove, which reminds me that I have to clean my stove out for the season. They say that you should do that after every one ton of pellets burned. Hmmm…maybe I will write a post about how to clean your pellet stove.
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Saturday, August 4th, 2007
If you know me, if you know who I really am at the core, you would know that I love mulch. I think I may have described my love for mulch in a few past posts, but let’s say it again…I love mulch.
Ok, now that the tender intro is out of the way, I will tell you a little story. When we moved in, I noticed a little problem with the back yard. It seems as though there has been a bit of erosion over the years. Every time there is a hard rain, more and more of the dirt, or topsoil, if that’s what you want to call it, finds its way down to the bottom of the hill that makes up the yard. I think the poor schlub who lived here before us tried to spread a bunch of topsoil out over the area and plant grass seed, but before he knew it, that rolled down the hill as well. It’s not really that big of a slope, it’s just that the soil around here doesn’t have much organic content in it. If there isn’t grass growing on it, it turns in to dust and is gone with the wind. What’s left is a nice layer of crappy dirt and rocks. This isn’t much to look at and really causes problems when I try to mow the lawn. If there is grass growing, it tends to be thick and green. Strange, I know. The trick is to get the grass to grow.
Since I didn’t want to end up like the last guy, I decided to travel a tried and true route. I had ten yards of mulch delivered just this morning. Two things – First, I think I got a small ten yards. Either that, or I got a big five yards last time. Second, I thought it would be a real blast to get out there and shovel the mulch in to the wheelbarrow and wheel it to the back of the house for spreading. Well, it is 2:52PM and I am inside feeling a little heat on my neck. Sunburn. Not bad, but enough to make being outside annoying. I think I’ll wait until about 6PM before I pick up where I left off. I am just glad I have a project. I am not fun to be around when I am bored, just ask Laura.
Here are some photos of what I am talking about…
This is the pile of mulch before I tackled it with the shovel.
I put some mulch around the arborvitae and holly that I planted. I didn’t go crazy under the porch, because that will hopefully be covered up by the bushes soon.
You can see how I am spreading the mulch over the bad areas. I would say the layer is a few inches thick. I did this same technique on another area of the lawn last summer and the grass is nice and thick there now. All I ask for is a few nice rains to get the mulch packed down to stay. If we get a torrential downpour, I think I may have ten yards of mulch at the bottom of the hill. After one season, the mulch should be broken down enough to plant some grass seed. It is also good at holding the dirt and rocks bad from eroding even more. An additional bonus is that this mulch was recycled from a bunch of old stumps right down the road from me. I watched the guy do it last year, it’s really cool.
Unfortunately, I though ten yards would be enough, but I think I may need twenty to get where I want to be. Mmmmmm, that’s going to be fun.
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