Old CDs = Disco Ball?

Okay. Originally, my post for today was going to be about how to properly recycle old used light bulbs. But while researching that, I came across something that was just too cool not to share!

There is a way to turn your old scratched or unwanted CDs into your very own disco ball!
No way, you say?
Yes way!

I found all the instructions you'll need right over at http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Disco-Ball-with-CDs

WikiHow is almost (read exactly) as cool as Wikipedia. It's got lots of cool How-To articles on Reducing Reusing and Recycling, so you should check it out!

But if you want to make your own disco ball, all you need is a pile of unwanted CDs, and really, who doesn't have a pile of those sitting around some where? I think I've got a few old Brittany Spears and Spice Girls CDs that I wouldn't be too upset to part with... Yikes!

Anyway, the process is fairly simple. It mostly involves cutting the CDs into little squares, and then hot-gluing them onto a Styrofoam ball... I'm normally not a fan of Styrofoam (see my post about Biodegradation), but if it's for a disco ball I'll let it slide...

So, I'm going to get started on this project as soon as I finish with my Plastic Bag Bag (yes, I'm still working on that).
If any of you guys make one, I'd love to hear about it! Send me pictures and I'll post them here!

So for now, happy crafting, happy recycling, and I'll see you next time!

Long live Disco! (or at least, Disco Balls!)


P.S. Congratulations to President Obama! May your impact on our country be huge, and your ecological footprint small. :)

10 Reasons to love Reusable Bags!

Hello out there! I’m still here!
Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, I’ve been swamped with work. Which is too bad, because I’ve been wanting to do this post for some time now.
I know that a lot of you readers out there probably already use reusable bags in places like grocery stores and drug stores. But in case you don’t, I thought I’d post some of the reasons that I love reusable bags!

10. They look a lot nicer than those dinky plastic ones, or even the paper ones for that matter. They come in lots of different colors and styles.
9. If you have a heavy load (I’m thinking milk or 2L bottles of soda) the straps don’t cut into your hands the way the plastic ones do.
8. This goes along with the last one, if you have a heavy load, the bag is a lot less likely to split open and send your groceries flying (happened to a friend of mine on the bus ride home).
7. Certain types of reusable bags are machine washable, so they don’t need to be thrown out if something spills all over them (I swear, the milk leaks every time I buy it!).
6. Not only are they resistant to heavy loads, but they can take wear and tear well over time, so they should last you a lot longer than the plastic or paper ones.
5. It’s easy to remember which bags are yours, especially if you use public transit a lot (and if you do, way to go!).
4. Some of the reusable bags are nice enough to take anywhere. My mom’s got a pink one with paisleys, and she uses it as a purse!
3. Unlike reusing plastic bags, stores don’t tend to get upset (or want to check your bags) if you use bags from competing stores. (Like brining a Hiller’s plastic bag to Krogers) They don’t care as much if they’re the cloth kind.
2. Some stores will actually give you savings on your total purchase for using the cloth bags! (I know Krogers and Hiller’s will give you 5 cents off for each bag you bring in!).
1. And the number one reason I love reusable bags: They’re environmentally responsible! They’re good for more than just groceries and can be used over and over again, what more could you want?

Okay, I hope this has got you thinking about reusable bags, and maybe even seeing them in a new light?

Anyway, if you’re not sure where to get reusable bags, your local grocery store is a good place to start. Most of the plain basic ones sell for about 99 cents, but you can certainly get nicer and bigger ones if you want!
And, a picture "borrowed" from: http://eco-friendly-bags.blogspot.com/2008/05/new-reusable-grocery-tote-bag-5-pack.html

New Year's Resolutions

Hello everyone!

It's that time of year again.

Time to sit back and take a good long look at all the things we've accomplished during 2008, and decide what things we'd like to accomplish in 2009!

I've got a few resolutions myself. I'd like to lose a few pounds, maybe get into an actual exercise routine... There are places I'd like to go and things I'd like to see... But top of my list right now, is Going Green in 2009!

I like to think of myself as an 'environmental conscious' person. But I think there are definitely more things I could be doing to actually make some sort of impact...

If Going Green in 2009 is on your list as well, then I'd like to share a few simple things that we can all do to help!

I found this really handy list at: http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green

It's worth a read if you have a chance, but I thought I'd give you some of the highlights:

1. Save Energy --- Lower your thermostat, install CFL bulbs, turn off appliances when you aren't using them.

2. Save Gas --- Walk, bike or carpool when you can!

3. Use less Bottled Water --- Get a water filter for your tap and use reusable bottles.

4. Buy Smart --- borrow when you can (books, movies etc.), buy used and buy in bulk.

I recommend checking out the link, and reading the rest of this really cool article. It's got tons of really easy ways to start going green, and helpful links with more information. For example, did you know you can make a lot of your own cleaning products? The website will tell you how!

So that it for now. I just wanted to get in a quick post before the new year.

I hope you all have a happy, safe and GREEN New Year!

I'll see you all in '09!

Biodegrada-Who?

Hello out there! Me again.

I just thought I'd post a quick note because of something I overheard the other day.

Two people were talking about trash in landfills, and the one guy said "Something something, blah blah, that's not biodegradable!" (I didn't quite hear all of it...) and the other guy said "Bio-what now?"

That made me pause, and think.

We use the term biodegradable so often when talking about environmentalism... Do we really know what it mean? (You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.) I thought again, and realized I didn't really know what it meant... I knew it had something to do with the way garbage was naturally broken down in landfills, but that was about it...

So, like what any true member of Generation X would do when faced with a question.... I googled it!

And this, is what I came up with:

Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are broken down by the enzymes produced by living organisms.

Hmm...

I guess that means, biodegradation is what we call it when garbage in landfills gets broken down into it's chemical parts by the living organisms surrounding it.

What we most use the term in connection with (in my opinion anyway) is when we're talking about how long something will take to biodegrade...

This is important, because while most garbage will degrade eventually, some materials will take a lot longer than others.

I'm gonna post a link to this really nifty table I found on the Wikipedia article on the subject. It gives the time it takes for different materials to biodegrade. Like did you know that your old leather shoes could be sitting in a landfill for 25 to 40 years? Or that diapers (I'm assuming used) could be there for up to 500 years!

Knowing how long it takes different materials to degrade in landfills can tell us what types of materials we should be using, and which ones we should probably cut back on.

For example, special biodegradable paper cups will be gone in about 75 days, while a typical Styrofoam cup (like for coffee) will be there forever... They aren't biodegradable.

Well, so much for a short post. This turned out a lot longer than I thought. But I felt it was an important topic. Certainly worth the time it took to post about it. I hope you can take a minute or so to read about it, and hopefully learn something that can help us all.

Okay.... Link to the Wikipedia article about Biodegradation (where I stole the blue text from), it also has that table I mentioned :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodegradable#Methods_of_measuring_biodegradation

And a picture, for your consideration :

Plastic Bag Bags

Okay... After a couple of false starts, it looks like I might actually be able to make myself a plastic bag bag!

What is a plastic bag bag you ask?

Why, it's a bag, made out of used plastic grocery bags.

Sounds interesting? Keep reading.

I stumbled across this idea the other day, messing around on Facebook's GreenBook application. Someone had posted pictures, and even better, a link to a site explaining how to make one for yourself!

The process involves cutting apart used plastic grocery bags (it won't work with the paper kind) into strips. You then join these strips together to form one very long piece of 'yarn'. Once you have your 'yarn' you can grab yourself a pattern, and begin crocheting your very own plastic bag bag!

For now I'm going to go ahead and give you guys the links I have, and post some pictures of other peoples completed projects. Since the memory card on my camera doesn't feel like working today.

So take a look at this cool project, and go ahead and make your own Plastic Bag Bag!

First, the link to the site explaining how to get your 'yarn' : http://plasticbagbag.com/how.html

And here's a link to the pattern I'm currently attempting : http://www.straw.com/cpy/montbag.htm

And of course, some pictures (from http://www.plasticbagbag.com/)

I'm here!

Hey all you people out there!

Hi!

I'm brand new to BlogSpot, and new to the world of blogging as well.

This is my first blog, that I'm essentially moving over from www.synthasite.com

The point of my blog (if there is one) is to share my thoughts on the world, and more specifically, how we can help it.

I'm interested in environmentalism and 'Green' living. I mainly want to share things that I'm doing to try to help. Saving energy, reducing my emissions, and generally doing my part.

I would love feedback on this blog, and really, on anything in general.

Please feel free to contact me. My e-mail address is bethechange@rock.com, and I'm also on FaceBook under the same name.

You know, I think I'm gonna like it here...