Though currently in Beta, Abogo shows you the impact that transportation has on affordability where you live or are thinking about moving to a new area. Abogo even estimates the impact on sustainability by generating an estimate of your carbon footprint from transportation. I’m currently looking at graduate schools throughout the country and I found it interesting that despite an increase in the cost of gas out west (I live in Knoxville, Tn) the actual cost of transportation was lower in areas that I’m looking at schools.
Russ Finley has taken a cheap mountain bike and converted it into a commuting machine powered by quick to recharge cordless drill batteries and at a fraction of the cost of complete bikes only better. This makes me want to take my beater bike and convert it.
Ran across this lil gem on HauteNature. David Hertz Architecture has dismantled a decommissioned 747 and reconstructing it into a interesting home. I would live there at least.
I find this so funny. Pick one up for just $0.99 (shipping included) or buy the Stimulus Package and hand them out like candy to everybody you know that has an iPhone.
I ran across this post over at Haute*Nature and thought it was worth mentioning being the closet pyro that I am.
For a simple fragrant fire starters: place pinecones, sage, rosemary, cinnamon sticks, in the center of a peice of newspaper and twist like a spiral mint wrapper. done and done
or:
Fill the compartments of a egg carton (never use Styrofoam cartons) half way with dried herbs (rosemary, lavender, mint, & dried fruits work too). Make sure that all of your ingredients are dry. Once filled with herbs, place a pine cone into in each compartment.
Next, melt paraffin wax using a double boiler (parental supervision might be required). Pour melted wax over your pine cones, try to keep the wax inside of the egg carton compartments (saves for cleanup later), this adheres the cone and herbs together.
After the wax is cool cut the egg carton into individual pods. You are now in business and ready to go. Now you have some fancy, nice smelling fire-starters for that fall/winter bonfire. When people ask where you got them, just say “My secret recipe”, mystery ensues.
In an attempt to encourage myself to post more often I’ve decided to have a mandatory weekly post of things that I run across that interest me. Having no real rhyme or reason to my thought process most of the time these post will probably be rather random themselves. I’ll do my best to keep you on your toes and bring you stuff you might not have seen otherwise. First out the door is….
