Archive for February, 2009
« Previous Entries Next Entries »Papier-mâché is Awesome
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
Papier-mâché is one of a handful of useful materials that have been almost completely usurped by plastic. I was surprised to find out that the panels for observatory domes used to be made from papier-mâché. This material is very strong and rigid when made correctly. My elementary school projects tended to be [...]
Learn Japanese: Pink Chirashi
Submitted by everydaytrash
Indecent Fliers Box
That mischievous Little Shiva just posted this link to my facebook page, in which Tokyobling’s blog describes a special trash can (shown here) for “pink chirashi” or adult fliers.
If you are morally offended by the hand outs for adult shops and strip clubs, but too polite to say no to the [...]
Botas Dacca
Submitted by everydaytrash
fused plastic boots
In two-plus years of garblogging, I’ve seen my share of fused plastic craft projects. I have to say, though, that these rockin little boots by Chilean designer Camila Labra are some of the cutest. Her label is called Dacca and boasts a range of styles from fun polkadots to the obligatory [...]
Make Art, Not Trash
Submitted by everydaytrash
I’m not quite sure how to describe Make Art Not Trash links. It’s an online collage, a blog in one page and a time-sucking portal for any trashie. Here are some things I’ve discovered via this…installation.
Made in the Philippines
A chair made of shoes.
Untitled
Blob-like sculptures made of plastic bottles.
Keybag Red
A keyboard turned handbag.
maison martin [...]
Yes, Regulate Groundwater in California
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
The battle is getting started:
The California Legislative Analyst’s Office recommends that the Legislature turn groundwater over to the state, which would remove local control
[snip]
[farmers] say they fear that the state would require water meters, find out how much water everyone’s using and charge for it.
Valente, vineyard and orchard manager for John Kautz [...]
Graywater Information
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Amanda of Oasis Design sent me this information on gr[e/a]ywater:
Detailed suggestions and resources for making the most of the SB 1258 opportunity to improve graywater standards in California
A history of graywater regulation in the US, with a focus on the current mess and future opportunities in California
Graywater policy center
Removing Institutional Barriers to [...]
Insuring against Incompetance…
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
When I proposed that insurance companies be given the task of overseeing water managers (to make sure they do their jobs), someone asked if insurance companies already monitor another industry to make sure that they do not pollute (i.e., fail at their task). It turns out that they do:
…nine insurance companies are [...]
San Diego Catfight
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Alex Ruiz disputes the accuracy of the interview I cited in this post:
Reporter Rob Davis’ article is dead wrong in one respect and highly misleading in another. The thrust of the article is Mr. Davis’s contention that no San Diegans will avoid an across-the-board reduction in their water allocation.
This is dead wrong.
The [...]
If You Can Only Change One Thing
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
It is going to take a lot of changes from a lot of people to create long term sustainability for life on this planet. If you feel like you can only do one thing right now, consider bringing your own bag to the store. Here is a convincing list of statistics taken [...]
Is it Safe to Heat Water Bottles?
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
I try my best to avoid insulting people, but the person who filmed this How To video is stupid.
I might be stupid too. I have been operating under the assumption that heating liquids in PET plastic bottles was a proven health hazard. When I took the time to try and confirm my [...]
Stockholm 2010!
Submitted by everydaytrash
And yay! Stockholm is the European Green Capital 2010! Read all about it, and inspire yourself on how your city too can reduce emissions per capita by 25% in just under 20 years.
Rating 3.00 out of 5
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European Green Capital
Submitted by everydaytrash
Tonight, at an award ceremony in Brussels, the European Commission* will announce which European cities will recieve the awards European Green Capital, for the years 2010 and 2011. The nominees are Oslo, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Bristol, Frieburg, Copenhagen, Münster and Hamburg.
The award has been established to reward local authorities’ efforts for a more sustainable [...]
Environmental Justice Symposium at Berkeley (FRIDAY!)
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
The Berkeley Law Environmental Law Society cordially invites you to attend our Fifth Annual Environmental Justice Symposium [website]: Just Water? Solving an Environmental Justice Crisis
Friday, Feb 27, 2009, from 8:30 am - 6 pm at the UC Berkeley School of Law
Register here! (Students and Faculty Free with RSVP to saraclark@berkeley.edu)
Keynote Speaker: Dr. [...]
Transparently Dumb
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
I’m thinking that the water managers and politicians in San Diego must be drinking something other than simple, tasty water. It seems that they are bound and determined to implement the most-stupid possible water rationing scheme, i.e.,
Even San Diegans who have torn out their lawns, planted drought-tolerant landscaping and scrimped on irrigation [...]
Good Questions, Bad Answers
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Rob Davis asks excellent and pointed questions of Alix Ruiz, assistant director of the City of San Diego’s Water Department.
Ruiz, by and large, fails to provide good answers to the questions. (He claims that per capita allocations are too hard to calculate, that they did not have enough time to plan for [...]
Clearing the Backlog, Part VI
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
The smallest number of Pacific Ocean salmon ever recorded swam back to the Sacramento River via San Francisco Bay last fall…only 66,286 adult salmon returned to the Sacramento River to spawn. Six years ago, the peak return was 13 times higher… The ultimate cause of the decline is `sort of death by [...]
Investing in Ethanol: A Case Study of Terrible Investment Advice
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
Comically Terrible Timing
In June 2006 I read an article at Financial Sense that promoted ethanol as a great place to put your money:
Investing in Ethanol: A “New” Stock Play on Soaring Energy Prices and Why Now is the Time to Invest in this “Fuel of the Future”
Among the gems in the [...]
Plastic on the Beach Part Three
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
I didn’t take many pictures on my last trip to the beach. I found a newish garbage bag and used it to pick up about 50 PET water bottles in about 1 minute. Around here, old guys with push carts or carts pulled with mopeds go look through the dumpsters and along [...]
Mobile Phone Companies Do Something Smart
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
Good news from ZNet, The major manufacturers have agreed to standardize their chargers. This will hopefully reduce plastic waste as phones can be shipped without including a charger.
The adoption of Micro-USB as a common standard has several advantages for users and the industry, the GSM Association (GSMA) said. In particular, it allows [...]
I’m Not Quite a Luddite
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
I connect with a lot of technophiles through social media like twitter. I am not a technophile. I was reminded of this when I impulsively entered a contest to win a Flip Mino HD Camera. Digital cameras are an important tool for blogging but I have never actually purchased one for myself. [...]
“Trash infarct” and kids trash interaction
Submitted by everydaytrash
A news item in todays Svenska Dagbladet (2nd largest morning paper) talks about how Sweden is on it’s way to a “trash infarct” situation. As of now, we produce 1133 pounds (or 514 kilogrammes) of trash per person, per year. Even though we are top of the world in recycling, our garbage heaps [...]
Celebrity Trash
Submitted by everydaytrash
Jake, composting
Have I mentioned lately how much I enjoy ecorazzi, the green gossip blog?
Rating 3.00 out of 5
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Weekend Discussion: Moving Water
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
NOTE: This post will stay here until Sunday night. Posts for Saturday and Sunday morning go below this post.
Dear Aguanauts,
Discussion posts allow you to discuss your beliefs on a topic — to share your understanding, experience and opinions — without worrying about what’s right or what others think. (Check out last week’s [...]
Rain Delay
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
This story illustrates a familiar theme:
State water managers last week asked regulators for an emergency relaxation of February water quality standards that are beneficial to Delta smelt so they could better maintain cold water flows for spawning salmon this summer and fall.
But hours into a hearing on the emergency request, Department of [...]
Expensive Water Increases Conservation
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
This story press release illustrates some basic economics:
The California Farm Water… coalition’s analysis shows that while agricultural water use is almost unchanged during the past 40 years, crop production figures have increased dramatically.
In 1967, the state’s farmers applied 31.2 million acre-feet of water on their irrigated cropland. In 2000, that figure was [...]
