Paying it Forward at Trader Joe’s
September 3, 2010 by admin · View Comments
It all started with a trip to Trader Joe’s. Jenni Ware had just rung up her groceries, which came to a total of $207. But as she reached into her purse, she discovered that she’d left her wallet at home.
Ware was about to go home grocery-less when she received a kind offer from the stranger in line behind her, a woman named Carolee Hazard. Hazard offered to pay Ware’s entire bill, simply asking her to send her a check to cover the cost.
The next day, Hazard received a check for $300—$93 more than she’d lent to Ware.
“I didn’t know what to do with the money,” Hazard told USA Today. “I’d thought to mail a check back to Jenni, but in the day and age of Facebook, I turned to my friends to decide what to do with the money instead,”
A friend suggested donating the cash to charity. Hazard thought that was a great idea, and selected the Second Harvest Food Bank, matching the $93 with an additional $93 of her own.
Several of Hazard’s friends were so inspired by her actions that they decided to make their own $93 donations. Soon, their friends were following suit. The group of philanthropists created “the 93 Dollar Club,” and a Facebook page to go along with it. A year since that fateful day at Trader Joe’s, the club has raised more than $100,000 to fight hunger in America.
Now that their story is getting so much attention, Hazard has a bold new goal: doubling donations to $200,000. Want to help? Check out the Facebook page for more info.
Source: Gimundo
Beth
For the Birds: 15 Awesome Avian Home Designs
September 3, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Animals & Habitats, Art & Design, Home & Garden. ]
No garden is complete without a house or two for our feathered friends, but why stick to boring boxes when you could have sculptural works of art, modern flat-pack steel worthy of urban design enthusiasts, and even posh bird abodes complete with swimming pools? These 15 clever and creative bird house designs – many of which are recycled or even solar-powered – provide fashionable homes for birds year-round.
Heart for the Birds
(image via: mocoloco)
When the Toronto Botanical Garden called for entries in a birdhouse design competition, they received some incredible works of art – but none quite so unusual and sculptural as this piece by Josh Coulas. Entitled ‘Heart for the Birds’, the gallery-worthy design takes human love for our feathered friends to an almost gruesomely literal level.
Spontaneous Bird City
(image via: london field works)
Bird houses tend to be lonely little structures, located far from their neighbors. Why not build an entire bird metropolis? This ‘spontaneous city’ was created by London Fieldworks, a collaboration between artists Bruce Gilchrist and Jo Joelson.
CCTV Bird House
(image via: gizmodo)
That’s not a camera watching your every move – it’s the beady little eyes of a bird. But from far away, this clever and creative birdhouse design might just fool a criminal scoping out your neighborhood.
Posh Bird House with a Pool
(image via: posh living)
Who’s to say that birds don’t love a little luxury every now and then? The lucky birds that find this home first will get a rooftop swimming pool in addition to their modern, vaguely Scandinavian cabana.
Solar-Powered Illuminated Bird House
(image via: oooms.nl)
Given that the need for an illuminated bird house is questionable at best, a solar-powered bird house may seem less than eco. But aside from how cool it looks when lit up at night, the little perch on this birdhouse attracts bugs, giving birds an easy snack.
Giving Birds the Boot
(image via: great green goods)
Luxurious? Hardly – but green? Definitely. It may seem cruel to ask your friendly backyard birds to roost in somebody’s stanky old work boot, but these tough and dependable castoffs could actually be quite cozy for small species like wrens and chickadees, and they save shoes from the dump.
Folding Modern Bird House
(image via: grass roots modern)
On the other end of the spectrum, for urbanists who won’t accept anything less than chic modern design, there are bird houses like this: ultra-modern, super-simple, flat-pack and made of steel.
Modern Bird House with a Green Roof
(image via: workshopped)
Vertical gardening and green roofs aren’t just for people. Artist Donald Corey incorporated the best green design practices into this commission, keeping the most important needs of his ‘clients’ in mind. “Using a natural green roof to protect the ‘clients’ from heat and rain, they get the extra benefit of having a good place to look for food that is very close. The house’s walls are created from salvaged wood and the front and back are made of recyclable stainless steel.”
Airstream Bird House
(image via: chrome dome studio)
For nomads, vagabonds and people who just like the look, Airstreams are a sleek and lovably retro alternative to sticks and bricks. So doesn’t it follow that migrating birds who love to be on the move might want a portable home, as well? Maybe this awesome Airstream birdhouse can’t migrate with its avian inhabitants, but it certainly captures the spirit of travel.
Bird Turf Hanging Bird House
(image via: design sponge)
Pairs of shoes hanging listlessly from power lines are a common sight in urban areas, but why not use that same concept to take back the space for wildlife? This design, with twin black and white cylindrical wooden houses hanging by a cord, creates a habitat in a place where birds often congregate.
Ephemeral Paper Bird House
(image via: design boom)
The remains of old auction catalogs fold up nicely into a sort of origami-like modern birdhouse, albeit one that won’t last long in the wind and rain. But designer Michael Young admittedly didn’t create this as a functional place for birds to nest; it’s a work of art.
CD Case Bird House
(image via: craftster)
It makes for a somewhat geeky, very cool looking birdhouse – but this DIY recycled creation, made with CD jewel cases, does have its downsides. “Now, as long as the plastic cases don’t focus the sunlight like a magnifying glass and fry any potential occupants, we will be doing OK,” writes the artist on Craftster.
Coffee Can Bird House
(image via: ignacio pilotto)
Industrial designer Ignacio Pilotto came up with an awesome and surprisingly nice-looking way to reuse coffee cans: turning them into avian abodes with a couple hooks and a modified lid, fitted with a little perch and a round entrance.
Cinder Block Bird House
(image via: design related)
Who knew that cinder blocks could be such fashionable modular bird houses? Sure, they’re a bit heavy – strong chains would be a must – but this design by Mathew Zurlinden makes great use of a common waste material and can easily stack into apartment buildings for birds.
Flowerpot Bird House
(image via: digsdigs)
So you’ve got one good branch in your yard from which to hang something pretty, but you can’t decide between a hanging pot of colorful flowers and a birdhouse. This unusual concept called ‘O_Nest_O’ by De Castelli gives you the best of both worlds with a hollow area under the plant’s soil in which birds can make a home.
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Greek Artwork brought to Colorful Life!
August 24, 2010 by admin · View Comments
A recent touring exhibition is turning a long held common belief on its head. The common perception is that the great statues and buildings of ancient Greece and Rome were all pure unpainted stone or green tarnished bronze, but researchers have been arguing that this may not been what these classic monuments really looked like back in the era of their creation.
That, in fact, these statue’s were quite alive and vibrant, full of color.
Researchers believe, particalurly Vinzenz Brinkmann who has been doing this research for the past 25 years, that artists used mineral and organic based colors and after centuries of deterioration any trace of pigment leftover when discovered, would have been taken off during any cleaning processes done before being put on display, washing the historical art clear of its true colors.
Beth
Micro-artist Makes Millions
August 16, 2010 by admin · View Comments
Willard Wigan never meant for his art to become a business.
In fact, he never really set out to be an artist; the vocation found him as he was hiding from the real world at 5 years old.
Now 53, Mr. Wigan is renowned for his “micro-sculptures,” ultra-miniature works in a rare genre he helped create. He makes the minutest of statuettes, fitting them in a needle’s eye or fixing them atop a pin head. He carves figures into matchsticks and puts lipstick and clothes on dead houseflies. In short, he takes life-size ideas and characters and shrinks them to a “molecular level.”
These uniquely small works, a sampling of which is currently on display at the Atlanta Art Gallery in Buckhead, fetch high-profile buyers at big prices. During an interview in February, Mr. Wigan said he was working on a commissioned sculpture that would bring seven-foot-tall basketball star Shaquille O’Neal down to nano size.
England’s Prince Charles, musician Elton John, boxer Mike Tyson and “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell all own pieces of Mr. Wigan’s work, which range in price from $35,000 to upwards of $100,000. David Lloyd, the former British tennis player, owns 72 pieces, almost half of Mr. Wigan’s total output of about 200.
Though his work has made him a millionaire, Mr. Wigan doesn’t do it for the money.
“If I wasn’t going to get paid for it, I’d still do it,” he said. “It’s like telling someone who plays basketball they won’t get paid. They’ll still do it. You do what you love.”
Source: GlobalAtlanta
Beth
A Soldier and his Dogs
August 2, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
While Sgt. Chris Duke, a National Guardsman, was serving in Afghanistan, he and his fellow troops made good friends with a few of the stray dogs, who the soldiers named Sasha, Target, and Rufus. So when the dogs had a chance to defend the soldiers, they didn’t back down.
One February night, an insurgent covered in explosives tried to enter the soldiers’ quarters to kill the 50 men inside. But he didn’t count on the dogs: the three strays began barking and biting the suicide bomber, trying to keep him from harming the people inside. When his explosives detonated, he was killed, but all of the American troops remained safe.
Sadly, one of the dogs, Sasha, was severely injured by the bomb, and had to be euthanized. But both Rufus and Target survived the assault, and were celebrated as heroes by the soldiers they had saved.
When Duke finished his tour of duty and returned home the following month, he wanted to bring his loyal friend Rufus along—but military regulations wouldn’t allow it. So, after returning to Atlanta, Duke wrote to a veterans’ assistance group, Hope for the Warriors, asking for their help to bring the two dogs overseas.
“This was going to mean a lot to him,” the group’s president, Robin Kelleher, told CBS. “So whatever we needed to do to get this wish done we were going to do that.” Another grassroots group, launched on Facebook, raised over $21,000 to pay for the dogs to be flown to the United States.
Now, Target has been transported to Arizona to live with another soldier, and Rufus has just arrived in Atlanta, where he’ll live out the rest of his days with Duke and his family. Duke is thrilled to make the commitment to care for Rascal for the rest of his life—in his eyes, it’s the least he could do for his furry friend.
“I firmly believe I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for him,” he said.
Beth
Sing, it’s Friday!
July 30, 2010 by admin · View Comments
When was the last time you sang? Maybe it was this morning in the shower. Or maybe it was in 9th grade choir, 15 years ago. Singing is therapeutic. It has an emotional purging quality and improves your overall breathing. Not only that, but it makes your speaking voice sound better, more resonant.
So stop reading this blog and go find a song and sing for 5 minutes. It’s an order. I’ll do the same. This is what I’ll be singing:
Voices inside my Head - The Police
Beth
The Electronic Cigarette: One Way to Go Green
July 29, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Marc in Food & Health, Technology & Gadgets. ]
At this point, most people are well aware of how cigarettes and their smoke affect health, but not nearly as many are aware of how they affect the environment. Trillions of cigarettes are created each day, and when they’re smoked, their is nothing to do but toss them away. Now that the addictive affects of cigarettes are well documented, there are a ton of smokeless alternatives coming to the market that promise to lessen the health affects, and the environmental effects, of smoking.
(Images via e-cig-environ, diytrade, 7gadgets)
A lot of people love to puff on their old pipe, but as the smell of pipe tobacco once brought to a mind a library full of books and a fireplace, it now brings up images of tar filled lungs. One solution is an electronic pipe that gives you the chemicals your body has become dependent upon, without sacrificing the pipe that has become such an indelible part of your image.
(Images via trendhunter, soccerphile, safetobacco, ecigaretteblog, electroniccigreviews)
Electronic cigarettes are touted as an environmental asset, as they are reusable, and can help offset the 4.5 trillion non biodegradable cigarette butts piled into landfills each year (source: tobacco control). Some of the earlier solutions and cigarette alternatives look more like torture devices or spy gadgets than the cigarettes we’re used to, but some of the newer ones look sleek and even light up as you inhale, or let out a smoke-like vapor when you exhale.
(Images via best4smoke, coolest-gadgets, shopgomi, amazon, alibaba)
Smokeless ashtrays are not as effective at preventing worldwide pollution from cigarettes, but at least they incentivize people to dispose of their cigarettes properly, and not just toss them to the ground. Most smokeless ashtrays are intimidating and appear straight out of a sci fi movie, but attempts have been made to add a little aesthetic improvment (and gadget aesthetic).
(Images via delhi, realecig, blogcritics, free-press-release)
E cigarettes can now be reloaded on the road. With mini docking stations that look more like a GPS, the excuses for not switching from environment harming cigarettes to electronic versions, are becoming hard to stand behind. People used to rally behind their victimization by money grubbing cigarette companies, but these alternatives allow you to ease off (or fully indulge) one’s addictions, without spreading the burden of the harmful smoke and litter onto the rest of the community.
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AnySoldier.com
July 27, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
There is not one thing on this site, or anywhere, that requires you to send stuff. Letters are THE MOST requested thing by these Soldiers. So, all you need do is send a normal letter in a normal envelope with a normal stamp.
Good ideas: If you want, put your email address in your letter, many Soldiers can and prefer to reply that way. What to write? Too easy: like you are talking to a friend, because that is what that Soldier is going to be real quick. It is also VERY helpful if you leave your full return address as part of your letter, envelopes tend to get trashed quickly.
Beth
Surprise Finds: 10 Strange Yet Exciting New Species
July 18, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Gabrielle Wang, Science Codex, Baanmaha, Bangko Biz News, OMG Log, The Were 42, National Geographic, Natural History Museum, National Geographic, National Geographic)
The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University recently released its top 10 list of newly discovered species, bringing together a fascinating collection of weird (a football-shaped, rat-eating plant), trippy (a psychedelic creature of the deep sea) and sexual innuendo (a modestly endowed, foul-smelling fungus).
We Want An Attenborough’s Pitcher, Not A Belly Itcher
(Images via: Think and Change, Ekawaaz, Retrieverman’s Weblog, Nip the Bud)
With a name that evokes images of the game of baseball, the newly discovered plant named the Attenborough’s pitcher is actually similar to a football in shape and size. Discovered on the island of Palawan in the Philippines, this plant uses fluids in its long pitcher to trap insects and rats, and then eat them.
Bombardier Worms: Mean, Green Bombers
(Images via: KeSimpulan, Scientific Computing)
Discovered in the deep seas off the coast of California, the bombardier worm is also known as the “green bomber.” When having to protect themselves, mature and juvenile bombardier worms will detach modified, illuminating gills (see top images) that scare off potential predators and thus give these swimming worms their cool names.
Don’t Be Such A Bug-Eating Slug All of Your Life
(Image via: BM Factory)
As its name suggests, this slug eats bugs. What’s the big deal, you ask? Well, when considering that all other slugs eat algae, this insect-eating slug discovered on the Gulf of Thailand is certainly unique, as evident by the fact that it was categorized into its own family of slugs.
Straight Out of Transylvania: The Dracula Minnow
(Images via: Cosmos Magazine, Signs of the Times, Pet FRD)
I’m not sure I’ll be using the Dracula minnow any time soon when fishing for bigger keepers. With its unique tooth-like fangs, the Dracula minnow is certainly a bit intimidating upon a up-close view; however, these fangs are not used to suck blood but rather to spar with other males.
Killer Sponges: Soaking ‘Em Softly
(Image via: National Geographic)
Discovered last year in deep sea waters off of New Zealand, the killer sponge was more than sponge worthy when getting named to the top list of new species. Unlike other softer sponge species, the killer sponge stands out with its spiky skeleton-like structure. While looking relatively harmless to the eye, this sponge is carnivorous and more dangerous than it appears.
Omars’ Banded Knifefish: Not What It Appeared to Be
(Images via: National Geographic, Seriously Fish, Wild Tropical Animal)
For more than 30 years, researchers in Uruguay have been using this electric fish (see top image) to understand electrocommunicaton. However, after comparing this fish with other members of the Gymnotidae family (see other images), it turned out that Omars’ banded knifefish was actually its own unique species that had been misidentified the entire time. Oops! Talk about flushing 30 years of research down the drain.
Psychedelic Frogfish: “I’m Freaking Out Man!”
(Images via: NewScientist, Daily Kos, Somethin Ordinary)
Discovered in Indonesia, Histiophryne psychedelica (what’s more commonly known as the psychedelic frogfish) is not only unique for displaying a trippy pattern of concentric rings that cover its entire body, but having a flat face. I don’t know about you, but the psychedelic frogfish certainly would have worked over its fair share of Hippies back in the day.
Coming Soon to IKEA: The Uber Orb-Weaver
(Images via: Scientific Computing, Earth Times, Telegraph)
What the heck is an uber-orb weaver? It’s actually a spider (with the common name of Komac’s golden orb spider) that is part of the Nephilidae family, which is known for spinning some of the largest webs around. Recently discovered in South Africa, the uber orb-weaver (also known as Nephila komaci) is especially interesting in that females have body lengths that are 5 times longer than those of males.
Can You Do Me A Small Favor?
(Images via: Potteric Carr Wildlife News, Microfield Scientific, Countryside Info)
No, I’m not talking about borrowing some money but rather learning about a new stinkhorn fungus recently found in an isolated West African island country. Also known as Phallus drewesil, this two-inch mushroom is characterized by not only its sexually-suggestive shape but a foul odor that attracts flies to spread its spores.
Udderly Weird Yam: A Name That Doesn’t Disappoint
(Image via: Claude Marcel Hladik )
Discovered in Madagascar, the udderly weird yam is in fact edible, thought it’s not likely to be on my Thanksgiving dinner table any time soon due to its gross look and critically endangered status. For more on the udderly weird yam and the other top new species, visit the ASU International Institute for Species Exploration.
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Jimmy’s Place
July 13, 2010 by admin · View Comments
At 79, Jean Lichorat of Kissimmee has outlived her family and friends. But she’s doesn’t feel alone.
“My dog is the best companion,” she says of her cocker spaniel, Joanne. “That’s my baby. I love her so much.”
Because Lichorat doesn’t have anyone to care for her dog and can’t afford a kennel, she puts off any medical test or procedure that requires an overnight stay at the hospital. She would rather risk her health than endanger, or possibly lose, her only companion.
That’s why Jimmy’s Place, the council’s soon-to-open pet hotel, means so much to Lichorat and others like her. Depending on the size of the guests staying there, the facility has room for up to 10 pets for short periods while the elderly owners are at the hospital or getting care.
“This kind of situation is very common among our elderly clients with pets,” said Robert Dent, a spokesman for the Osceola County Council on Aging. “Some will even refuse to go to the hospital after a 911 call.”
Advocates for seniors and animals said they haven’t heard of a program like Jimmy’s Place anywhere else in the state but applauded the idea.
“Kudos to them,” said Jake White, executive vice president of the SPCA of Central Florida. “It is great that an agency that supports seniors steps forward to help animals. They [animals] really make a difference in their lives and help them in many ways.”
Many studies have shown that seniors with pets have better physical health and mental well-being than those who don’t.
“A program that provides good care for a beloved animal is also providing an important support for the human who cares for that animal,” AARP Florida State Director Lori Parham said.
Jimmy’s Place has been in the works for more than a decade. It’s the brainchild of the council’s Meals on Wheels volunteers Jimmy Scarborough and his wife, Pat.
Jimmy Scarborough, a retired deputy sheriff who died in 1998, noticed that some of the program’s elderly clients couldn’t afford pet food and would split their Wheels meals with their cats or dogs. Scarborough began to buy food for the animals out of his own pocket and had the drivers — he was the program’s Kissimmee coordinator — deliver it along with the clients’ meals.
Soon the Council on Aging was on board.
“We began to collect pet food in our food drives and have been delivering it to clients with pets for years now,” Dent said.
After Jimmy Scarborough died at 89, his wife made it a point to keep the program alive and expand it to offer other services.
“We began raising money for it at Jimmy’s funeral,” Pat Scarborough, 75, said. “I told people not to spend money on flowers and give me or the council the money instead. I knew that would make Jimmy very happy.
“I spent $150 on rented plants and raised much more than that for a good cause,” she said.
Over time, the council had been looking for ways to make the pet hotel happen. It came together this year after the organization secured a couple of grants to refurbish a small space in a building it already owned.
Jimmy’s Place will officially open Friday, but it is already in operation.
Lichorat hasn’t had to use it yet, but she’s ecstatic to know it will be available for Joanne if an emergency arises.
“That’s good,” she said laughing. “Oh, wow. That’s good.”
Source: Orlando Sentinel
Cloveice DeMaintenon, 85, lives with Teleka, her Chinese crested, in an assisted-living apartment at Oak Leaf Landing in Kissimmee. If she should need to leave home to receive medical care, she won’t have to worry about Teleka, thanks to Jimmy’s Place, the free pet hotel sponsored by the Osceola Council on Aging
Beth
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