RandomTopics2

Benefits of Recycling Plastic Bottles » Earth 911

2008-06-30T10:06:00.000-04:00

Benefits of Recycling Plastic Bottles » Earth 911:

"the plastic bottle recycling rate was only 24.3 percent in 2005.

Still, there is so much more we all can do. But, why should we?
Oil Conservation

Recycling a ton of plastic bottles saves approximately 3.8 barrels of oil"

One of my many big failures is to not push recycling more at the stores. I feel very bad about it. For instance the deli in Allegany!

Driving Less, Americans Finally React to Sting of Gas Prices, a Study Says - NYTimes.com

2008-06-25T15:36:00.000-04:00

Economics always wins out..

Driving Less, Americans Finally React to Sting of Gas Prices, a Study Says - NYTimes.com:

"Sales of pickup trucks, minivans and sport utility vehicles have fallen below 50 percent of new passenger vehicle sales this year for the first time since 2001, the report says, as consumers turned to smaller vehicles in favor of fuel economy.

“It’s kind of stunning,” said Aaron F. Brady, a co-author of the report. “It was over 50 percent as late as February and by May it fell under 44 percent. It’s like falling off a cliff.”

Drivers, meanwhile, are becoming more prudent in their driving habits, either by using public transportation, carpooling or just cutting down on unnecessary trips, the two authors said in an interview. “Public transit ridership is surging all over the country,” said Samantha Gross, the other author."

The Associated Press: FEMA finishing closure of Louisiana trailer parks

2008-06-01T07:43:00.000-04:00

The Associated Press: FEMA finishing closure of Louisiana trailer parks:

"Stampley was among the last Louisiana residents displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 being moved from the state's remaining six trailer parks managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA planned to close all six by Sunday — the official start of hurricane season — but said it would take a few more days to move everyone into apartments or motels."

Leaky Levee Stirs Doubts in New Orleans - AOL News

2008-05-23T06:10:00.000-04:00

Leaky Levee Stirs Doubts in New Orleans - AOL News:

"The Army Corps of Engineers has spent about $4 billion so far of the $14 billion set aside by Congress to repair and upgrade the metropolitan area's hundreds of miles of levees by 2011. Some outside experts said the leak could mean that billions more will be needed and that some of the work already completed may need to be redone."

The Gratitude Campaign

2008-05-19T12:38:00.000-04:00

The Gratitude Campaign

Astana invited into Giro lineup - Cycling - Yahoo! Sports

2008-05-04T00:40:00.000-04:00

Astana invited into Giro lineup - Cycling - Yahoo! Sports:

"Giro d’Italia organizers have invited the Astana team to compete in the race, reversing an earlier decision to ban it because of doping scandals.

Astana officials confirmed Saturday they are hurrying to get elite American rider Levi Leipheimer from California to Palermo, Sicily, for the start of the three-week race next Saturday.....Alberto Contador, winner of the 2007 Tour de France, will also be at the starting line for Astana."

WCSN.com Live Sports Events Online - Schedule

2008-04-28T01:09:00.000-04:00

WCSN.com Live Sports Events Online - Schedule--Watch it here!

Contador defies toothache to win Basque race - Cycling - Yahoo! Sports

2008-04-16T02:31:00.000-04:00

Contador defies toothache to win Basque race - Cycling - Yahoo! Sports: "

Severe toothache could not prevent Spaniard Alberto Contador from taking an emphatic overall victory in the Tour of the Basque Country on Saturday.

Victorious in the opening stage on Monday, the 2007 Tour de France winner clinched Saturday’s final stage, a hilly time trial in Orio, to confirm his week-long lead.

Second behind the Astana rider on the stage was Cadel Evans"

Reinforcing history | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/13/2008

2008-04-14T02:34:00.000-04:00

Reinforcing history | Philadelphia Inquirer | 04/13/2008:

"The opening of the new $103 million Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center tomorrow is nearly the culmination of a 14-year plan to relocate the hub of tourist activity well away from the battle lines of the defining North-South clash of 160,000 men, and to restore Cemetery Ridge to the way it looked that summer 145 years ago."

One of the more difficult trees I have eve cut

2008-04-14T02:31:00.001-04:00

022
Originally uploaded by Nif

Hanging, downhill, from rootball that got pulled out of ground.

long but worth it

2008-04-12T00:57:00.001-04:00

Major League Baseball National League (Baseball) New York Mets NL East Division - SI Vault

2008-04-11T02:47:00.000-04:00

I remember this the first time around. It is a classic, but well worth a read!

Major League Baseball National League (Baseball) New York Mets NL East Division - SI Vault:

"Nelson Doubleday is especially hopeful about Finch's ultimate decision. 'I think we'll bring him around,' he said a few days ago. 'After all, the guy's not a nut, he's a Harvard man.'

In the meantime, the Mets can only wait. Finch periodically turns up at the enclosure. Reynolds is summoned. There are no drills. Sometimes Finch throws for five minutes, instantly at top speed, often for half an hour. Then he leaves. Security around the enclosure has been tight. Since Finch has not signed with the Mets, he is technically a free agent and a potential find for another club. The curious, even Met players, are politely shooed away from the Payson Field enclosure."

Calls Grow to Skip Olympic Opening in Beijing - The Lede - Breaking News - New York Times Blog

2008-04-02T17:23:00.001-04:00

Calls Grow to Skip Olympic Opening in Beijing - The Lede - Breaking News - New York Times Blog:

"In the past few days, a growing number of lawmakers here in the United States and abroad have called on President Bush and other world leaders to skip the opening ceremony in Beijing, a protest they say would send a bold message to China about its crackdown in Tibet, its overall human rights record, and its relationship with Sudan."

CDC enters fray over tainted FEMA trailers - USATODAY.com

2008-04-02T17:20:00.000-04:00

CDC enters fray over tainted FEMA trailers - USATODAY.com:

"In February, the CDC released preliminary results showing that most of the 519 units tested had elevated levels of formaldehyde. It urged people to move out of the units.

The agency came under fire for a report it issued a year earlier — drafted at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) — that minimized the dangers of formaldehyde. Commissioned by a FEMA attorney, the report concluded that leaving windows open and air conditioning running would keep formaldehyde below 'levels of concern.'

ATSDR Director Howard Frumkin was criticized for ignoring the concerns of a top agency toxicologist, Christopher De Rosa."

Cell phone usage linked to brain tumors. - Tampa Bays Local News

2008-04-01T00:33:00.000-04:00

Cell phone usage linked to brain tumors. - Tampa Bays Local News:

"Three billion people all over the world, using mobile phones every single day.

The numbers are staggering. But, even more shocking is a new study by an Australian neurosurgeon. He says ten years of cell phone use can double your risk of a brain tumor.

How many hours have you spent on your phone? Day after day, year after year.

Not so fast, says one neurologist from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.

“There's no need to change your ways,” says Dr. Sajeel A. Chowdhary.

Dr. Chowdhary sees more than 200 brain tumors a year at the Moffitt Cancer Center. He says, not one has a direct link to cell phone usage."

Pop Up Video

2008-03-14T23:55:00.000-04:00

Pop Up Video My Mom talking about Walsh and its ability to stay

FEMA trailers toxic, tests show - Los Angeles Times

2008-02-15T03:49:00.000-05:00

FEMA trailers toxic, tests show - Los Angeles Times:

"The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday that it would accelerate efforts to get victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita out of government-supplied trailers after tests showed that the temporary residences contain unhealthy levels of toxic formaldehyde."

Straus Newspapers - West Milford Messenger - Volunteers make a difference in New Orleans

2008-02-04T12:43:00.000-05:00

Straus Newspapers - West Milford Messenger - Volunteers make a difference in New Orleans:

"As of Jan. 18, Helping Hands has had 14,797 volunteers put in 418,063 volunteer hours. They have gutted 1,115 homes and 810 elderly apartments. Exterior painting has been done for 49 homes and yard work completed for 202 units. Thirty-four homes are under construction and 19 have been completed."

The Tuxedo Travels - Official Home Page

2008-01-26T17:45:00.000-05:00

The Tuxedo Travels - Official Home Page: "

The Tuxedo Travels was born from the fateful encounter of two odd characters: Heath Buck and Doug Campbell.

The duo decided to plot a trip from Hong Kong to London, raising money for charity and having crazy adventures along the way. And they decided to complete the entire trip in tuxedos."

I saw this on CNN, it is really cool.\

WIVB TV: BonaResponds Adopts a Family Still Struggling After Katrina

2007-12-17T13:43:00.000-05:00

WIVB TV: News, Weather, Sports for Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and all of Western New York | BonaResponds Adopts a Family Still Struggling After Katrina:

"'I could never imagine in my wildest dreams I would be homeless, clothesless and jobless all at the same time,' Ariana said. 'During all of this time, my baby was 8 months old and learning to walk and talk in this little FEMA trailer.'

Before Hurricane Katrina, Ariana was paying the mortgage on her mother's house, as well as renting a house for her and her two sons."

FEMA trailers will undergo testing- NOLA.com

2007-12-14T09:45:00.000-05:00

I hate to beat a dead horse (what a horrible saying!), but FEMA's reaction speed never ceases to amaze me.

In the article it says 46,000 families are still living in FEMA trailers. Which is down substantially but still too high.

FEMA trailers will undergo testing- NOLA.com:

"A federal health agency will begin testing the air quality of FEMA trailers next week in a sampling of the tens of thousands of units provided to victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, officials said Thursday.

The testing, scheduled to start Dec. 21 and to take five weeks, will check the level of formaldehyde, a commonly used chemical that many trailer residents have blamed for health problems."

Bills' Everett walking on his own, in and out of rehab

2007-12-08T01:41:00.000-05:00

Bills' Everett walking on his own, in and out of rehab:

"Kevin Everett is walking on his own at a Houston rehab center, the latest significant progress by the Buffalo Bills tight end in his remarkable recovery from a serious spinal cord injury. 'He doesn't have a full natural stride but, yeah, he's walking,' a person close to the family told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of Everett's status."

Hands On Disaster Response

2007-12-06T02:41:00.000-05:00

HODR again proves why we (BonaResponds) model ourselves them.

Hands On Disaster Response:

"After 60 days in Pisco Playa, Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) continues to thrive! Our projects have grown and changed and volunteers continue to pour in, working urgently to assist this community with its continued recovery. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished in the past thirty days."

Brad Pitt to help New Orleans

2007-12-06T00:53:00.001-05:00

Pitt: Acting becoming 'less a focus' - CNN.com:

"Right now, Pitt's primary goal is to help rebuild New Orleans. On Monday, the actor announced plans to build 150 eco-friendly homes in the Louisiana city's Lower 9th Ward, an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina. In the storm's aftermath, the community's housing stock was largely demolished, leaving many of its residents living in trailers.

Video Watch King tour the 9th Ward »"

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Chimps beat humans in memory test

2007-12-03T13:01:00.000-05:00

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Chimps beat humans in memory test:

"Young chimps outperformed university students in memory tests devised by Japanese scientists. The tasks involved remembering the location of numbers on a screen, and correctly recalling the sequence. The findings, published in Current Biology, suggest we may have under-estimated the intelligence of our closest living relatives."

I have long thought that...indeed, I often wonder whether Bonnie (the family dog) is not smarter than me. She might not know finance as well as I do, but she can differentiate millions of smells better than I can, etc. I guess we (humans) sort of rigged the game when we devised the IQ tests.