Eco Tuesday: Wind Energy
Wind Energy:
Wind energy systems generate electrical energy by capturing the power using wind turbines or windmills.
From eia.doe.gov:
Since ancient times, people have harnessed the winds energy. Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians used wind to sail ships on the Nile River. Later, people built windmills to grind wheat and other grains. The earliest known windmills were in Persia (Iran). These early windmills looked like large paddle wheels. Centuries later, the people of Holland improved the basic design of the windmill. They gave it propeller-type blades, still made with sails. Holland is famous for its windmills.
Yet in today’s age we can’t seem to get more people on board to realize that wind is a source of energy that we need to use more. How sad.
Here’s an article previously posted about 2 years ago about the myth that wind turbines kill birds.
Small wind electric systems can deliver serious energy. This is just one lesson people are learning all around the world. From remote homes and cabins to rural communications towers and monitoring stations, people are using small wind system to generate inexpensive energy, right where it’s needed.
Today, Air Breeze, the new generation of the world’s best-selling small wind generator, powers countless lights, radios, computers, tools and appliances. It is also used widely to complement solar PV systems. Air Breeze is a perfect choice for hybrid wind/solar systems that provide you with the most reliable year-round energy supply.
Wind energy is clean energy:
This isn’t just any energy. Air Breeze produces non-polluting electricity. No fossil fuels are mined or burned to make this electricity. No carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. With Air Breeze and the power of the wind, you can forget about carbon footprints.
Air Breeze Land Wind Turbine - $ 604.00
From: GoGreenSolar.com
Topics: Eco Tuesday's | No Comments »
Networks, Friends, Numbers
I was having an interesting discussion yesterday with a group of people regarding “friends” and “followers” on Facebook and Twitter to mention the two big ones.
We were talking about how some people have 500 friends on Facebook but yet probably don’t even “know” the majority of them nor ever will. They’re all about the “numbers”. They can have 500 “friends” on Facebook but not even 5 in “real life”. Others on Twitter thrive to reach the 2000 followers level and yet I have to wonder how can they have quality relationships with that many people. There are some I can think of off top of my head who’ve been on Facebook and Twitter for just a few months and have collected as many friends, followers as possible and yet don’t build relationships with them and especially don’t build relationships with those that are live, up close in their real time local positions.
There are some who are in a position to which they should be up close and personal with people locally, yet if one wants to know what’s going on they can only find it out via Facebook and Twitter. I’m all for networking, social, business and otherwise. I’m all for technology, ease in updating multiple sites/networks in one swoop but when it comes to local organizations I believe some things are better said in person and other things better not said at all. Some people tell waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much on networks, post nonsense that can negatively affect them…some are in the public eye and are held to a higher level of accountability and yet post dribble drabble (anyone still use that term?)…they post cliquey posts that would make others in the same organization possibly feel like they should not be part of that group and question the posters motives. People should really think how the general population will perceive them after reading their posts and/or updates.
Now, me…I tell everyone up front that I’m a straight shooter, tell it like I see it, say what I have to say & mean what I say…so this way nobody can say that I said something about someone because I’ll say it to that person myself. I don’t talk nonsense behind someone’s back, if I have an issue with something or someone…they’ll know it.
Yet others on networks attempt to build themselves or their organizations up by collecting as many friends/followers and yet have no clue that in all reality, they’re being destructive and making a fool of themselves, having people question what that person is doing. If a person is in a position of authority and higher accountability, that person probably should want to watch what he/she posts on Twitter or Facebook so it’s not viewed as trivial nonsense, waste, favoritism, lack of communication to others who don’t participate on networks, lack of compassion, lack of thought…you get the idea…
I have 165 friends on Facebook, out of those 165 I personally know probably 150 of them from past high school, business relations, connected on Twitter and actual real time friendships. I can tell you something about nearly every one of them. Isn’t that what “friends” are supposed to be. My connections for business, are the same…I can tell you about their biz and vice versa, they can tell you about mine.
Likewise on Twitter, I have more followers than what I follow. I do not simply follow someone because they are following me. I’m not about “numbers” and the game to see who can “collect” the most followers or friends. I prefer quality over quantity. I’d rather know the people I’m friends with and following and build a relationship with select people rather than have 2000 people connected to me and build no relationship at all.
Sorry for the ramble, but it had to be said after seeing a lot of nonsense lately that has had me shaking my head wondering what gives with some people.
Sadly, though the people that this blog post is about will either:
a)not read it because they’re too into their own lives and building their numbers
b)read it and yet not get that it pertains to what they’re doing
c)figure out that does pertain to them and unfollow me on Twitter (lol)
To those who network the right way…here’s to you!
Topics: Business | 6 Comments »
Don’t lean on your elbows
We all do it, we lean on our elbows at the dinner table (though I remember being told hundreds of times not to do that, you’d think perhaps I’d have learned that lesson…apparently not though, perhaps I didn’t think it applied to leaning on my desk?).
We lean on our elbows while at work at our desks.
It’s just something we do without any thought or regard to any effect it may have on us.
While the woman in this picture is smiling, she’s probably not aware of any damage she may be doing to her elbow. If she was, she’d not be smiling so happily.
I’m talking about Olecranon (elbow) bursitis which can cause major pain and swelling.
It can occur because of any of the reasons (below information from http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00028
Prolonged Pressure: Leaning on the tip of the elbow for long periods of time on hard surfaces, such as a tabletop, may cause the bursa to swell. Typically, this type of bursitis would develop over several months.
Infection: If the tip of the elbow has an injury that breaks the skin, such as an insect bite or a scrape, bacteria may get inside the bursa and cause an infection. The infected bursa produces fluid, redness, and swelling. If the infection goes untreated, the fluid may turn to pus.
Trauma: A hard blow to the tip of the elbow could cause the bursa to produce excess fluid and swell.
Medical Conditions: Certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout are associated with development of elbow bursitis
And, combine the above like a break in the skin and pressure on it and you’ll really feel the effects (like major pain, swelling, tenderness, redness).
So, word to the wise…don’t lean on your elbows and if you have cracked broken skin on your elbow, clean with peroxide and not just assume it’s dry and merely apply cocoa and shea butter…just saying. And, now off of here to go find natural methods of healing…just saying…
Topics: Health & Wellness | 1 Comment »
Green Giveaway Wednesday: Biodegradable Twist Sponge Cloths
This week’s winner will receive Twist Sponge Cloth 3-Pack compliments of GoGreenHomeMakeover.com
What if a sponge and a paper towel had a love affair?
The result would be these biodegradable and compostable Sponge Cloths.
They easily wipe kitchen and bath surfaces like a paper towel and absorb like a sponge.
Replaces 17 full Rolls of Paper Towels!
Use your Sponge Cloth for everything from spills to regular kitchen cleanup, and help us realize our vision of a clean world. Sponges are safe for all types of cookware (including non-stick) and 100% biodegradable. To clean and disinfect sponges, you can put in the dishwasher, place in the microwave for one minute, or boil.
I am an independent distributor and Green Irene Eco Consultant
To Enter the contest to win:
To enter, do the following and comment here which one or both items you did. The more things you do the more entries you have. For each item you do, post a new comment:
1) Read these recycling tips and come back here and post about one of them.
2) Subscribe to our feedburner then comment here that you did so.
3) Tweet on Twitter.com about the contest
4) Blog about the contest
Topics: Green Giveaway Wednesday | 73 Comments »
Eco Tuesday: Green Travel Tips
Tips For Green Travel
When traveling by car:
Reduce your speed to 55 mph from 65 mph to increase your fuel efficiency by as much as 15%.
For a 23% improvement, instead of driving 70 mph try 55 mph.
Increase your fuel efficiency on the road by making sure to inflate your tires to the proper level.
If possible, travel close to home…the less you drive, the less damaging the trip is on the environment.
Rent a hybrid or purchase carbon offsets.
If you’re traveling far from home, take an alternative form of transportation, like a train or a bus.
Topics: Eco Friendly, Recycling, Green, Eco Tuesday's | 2 Comments »
Green Giveaway Wednesday: Stainless Steel Drinking Bottle
This week’s contest is brought to you by:
GoGreenHomeMakeover.com
The winner will receive a Red Stainless Steel 20 oz. Reusable Water Bottles
They are made of non-toxic stainless steel, making them both durable and easy to clean. They also come in great colors, and can be easily attached to a backpack or bag with a carabiner. (The carabiner can be removed easily if not wanted). These 20 oz bottles have no potentially toxic plastic liners, making them completely eco-friendly and safe.
I am an independent distributor and
Green Irene Eco Consultant
To Enter the contest to win:
To enter, do the following and comment here which one or both items you did. The more things you do the more entries you have. For each item you do, post a new comment:
1) Visit GoGreenHomeMakeover.com and come back here and post about one of the topics discussed during an Eco Consultation.
2) Subscribe to our feedburner then comment here that you did so.
3) Tweet on Twitter.com about the contest
4) Blog about the contest
Topics: Green Giveaway Wednesday | 20 Comments »
Eco Tuesday: Carbon Monoxide Detector
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas. Carbon Monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of the fossil fuels (gas, oil, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires). It is also formed in many chemical reactions and in the thermal or incomplete decomposition of many organic materials. Dangerous amounts can accumulate when, because of poor installation, poor maintenance or damage to an appliance in service, the fuel isn’t burned properly, or when rooms are poorly ventilated and the Carbon Monoxide isn’t able to escape.
Since it has no smell, taste or color, it’s hard to detect. Carbon Monoxide poisons your body by entering the lungs displacing oxygen from the bloodstream. That puts the functions of your heart, brain and other vital functions of the body at risk. Children, babies, expectant moms and pets can be affected faster than grown adults.
To be safe, purchase a Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector and Alarm. For $50 the Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector and Alarm provides you and your family with a warning signal to protect you from dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.
This AC powered, plug-in carbon monoxide alarm utilizes sophisticated electronic components and unmatched sensor technology to protect you and your family from the dangers of CO. The 900-0076 includes a 9V battery backup that provides continuous monitoring of CO levels, even during power outages, when AC-only units are not providing protection. It will detect and store measured data of concentrated CO levels as low as 11 and up to 999 PPM with its peak level memory display. This alarm gives you several mounting options, including: direct-plug, a 6’ power cord or table top.
# Home Safety Experts recommend having a CO detector in each bedroom, as well as near all combustion sources such as furnaces and water heaters
# Easily installed in any of your AC wall outlets with backup protection provided during power outages from a 9-volt battery
# Digital display feature allows for easy viewing of carbon monoxide levels from 30–999 parts per million(PPM)
# Peak level memory lets you track levels over time with readings updated every 15 seconds
# Compact design is UL listed
Get yours now
Topics: Eco Tuesday's | 1 Comment »
Want vs Need
Definition of want: a desire, wish, crave, to feel a need for.
Definition of need: a requirement
Now the battle begins…want vs need.
I figured since it was Christmas and most people are out buying things their kids want and not necessarily need, I’d go ahead and talk about wants vs needs (including my own little battle within).
Most adults know the difference in a want vs a need. You may want that new car, but you don’t need it since the one that’s already paid in full is still running just fine. You may want that new diamond necklace, but you don’t need it. I’m sure you can survive without a diamond necklace along with many other wants this holiday season.
Now, most kids don’t grasp or don’t want to grasp the concept of necessity (need) vs luxury (want). They see something they want, and they want it now or well…suffer the consequences. I mean, how could any parent simply say no and just not get every toy the child wants? (read with sarcasism).
Recently in the news they talked about a letter writing initiative started by a Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. Their site had this stated on it:
As families struggle to cope with the growing economic crisis, they won’t be getting any relief from the toy companies that bombard children with ads during the holiday season. Even though experts predict parents will spend less on toys and gifts this year, marketers are still planning their usual holiday ad blitz to kids.
It’s never fair for corporations to bypass parents and market directly to children. But with parents everywhere worried about making ends meet, it’s especially cruel to bombard children with ads for expensive toys and electronics.
Now, perhaps I’m older than my 40 years, but what happened to saying “No”. I mean, I’m sure as a child I didn’t get everything I wanted but now, years later I couldn’t tell you what I wanted so it couldn’t have been that big of a deal and I got over it apparently. I’m doing ok, don’t have any handicaps or issues because I may not have gotten everything I ever wanted in life as a child. Sorry, but that’s part of life. Everyone will be told “No” at some point in their life…be it to a piece of candy, a toy, a date, a promotion, a raise, credit approval, etc. eventually we all here those two letters N-O. If a child has been handed everything and doesn’t know how to relate to the fact they may not get every single thing they want or every thing that is advertised, then how will they handle life’s bigger “No’s” later on? Isn’t it the parent’s responsibility to determine what they can or can’t afford for the holidays or any other time of the year for that matter.
Even as an adult, I want the new Tmobile G1 Phone. Oh, the things I could do with that. See, I love techie things. Do not give me perfume, chocolate, clothes, jewelry as a gift. Give me tools, techie stuff any day of the year to make me happy! Ahhhh back to the G1…the touch screen, the QWERTY keyboard, the one click google search, high speed 3G network connection…shall I go on? Now I want that phone…and want it badly. But, do I need it? Nope, my little Nokia 5300somethingortheother music player phone will suffice. Granted, I can’t go online, I don’t have a keyboard, I don’t have any “bells and whistles” except it plays music. Whopeee LOL. But it works, it rings when people call and it works when I want to make a call or text. So, really isn’t that what a phone is supposed to do? I mean do I really have to be able to type on full keyboard while texting, I mean is it so bad that I have to hit the number 2 key 3 times to get to letter C? So, see because I probably didn’t get every single thing they advertised on TV, well actually back then I think it was the Sears Holiday Catalog we used to get and my brother and I would go through it and make our wish list…well, back to the issue…I’m sure I didn’t get every item I ever wrote on a wish list and I’m good with that. If I had gotten every item back then I’d probably be sitting here at 40 years old whining, crying, stamping my feet and holding my breath because I want the G1 phone but am pretty confident that Santa’s not bringing it which would mean I’d have to buy it and that’s not an option since I don’t need it!
So, really is it all that bad to explain to your kids that you can’t buy something just because they may want it? I don’t think so. Everyone would probably be in better financial state if they only bought what they needed and not what they wanted…just saying, lots of foreclosures probably wouldn’t have happened if that were the way people thought.
Topics: Ranting & Rambling | 2 Comments »
Wordless Monday: Flower at Biltmore
This was taken in the gardens at The Biltmore in Asheville, NC
Topics: Wordless Monday | No Comments »
Post office workers
I know it’s the holidays, I know people wait until the last minute to ship things. I know people can be rude.
I see it every year, though I keep hoping that there would come a time when people would:
1) Get their things shipped out early.
2) Be decent to the people that work at the post office.
3) Quit blaming others and being so nasty, foul and rude.
Today I was in line at the post office. Normally I don’t have to stand in line since I use stamps.com and can just drop off my packages. That’s an awesome thing in itself, but when I have orders that are being shipped out of the country I do have to stand in line because of the customs paperwork. Today there were probably about a dozen people in front of me in line and about another 6 or 7 behind me at some point. I stood there, minding my own business, texting on my phone, not really paying attention to anything when this woman started yelling and complaining about the line and how there were only 2 cashiers working. Okay, so screaming is going to somehow help the situation and bring someone else to the front line? Nope…didn’t happen. All it did was get others in line to join in her rampage. Not cool, and it certainly didn’t speed things up…all it did was get her an earful from me about how rude she was.
I know almost everyone who works at this particular post office (front line and in the back). I know that one gentleman just lost his job and others have been transferred. I know that they’ve made major cut backs (like everywhere else too). I know all this, I know that the 2 front line workers can’t change the situation, they can’t bring out another person when another doesn’t exist! I know that the same jerks in line who are complaining about the long line are the same jerks who complain when once a year the post office raises their rates (hellooooo people…everything goes up in a years time). I know the same loud mouthed rude people are the same ones that probably every year wait until the last minute to ship things and then stand there and yell about the cost of priority or express mail. Well, to those inconsiderate people yelling at my friends…perhaps next time you’ll shop early, ship early and you’ll avoid the line and the complaining.
Perhaps next time when you’re standing in line at the post office, do these things instead of complain and yell:
1) Be patient and if you can’t be patient then learn how to use the automated machine in the lobby so you won’t have to stand in line (unless you’re shipping out of the US).
2) Be grateful you’re in a country where postal service is readily available and offered.
3) Be considerate of the people around you (because I really do not want to have to verbally battle you in line to show how ignorant and self centered you are but I will if you complain, yell about the line, etc.)
4) Be considerate of the people who are working there and waiting on you because they have to suffer and endure 8-12 hours of work dealing with nasty foul people like you.
5) Get off your cell phone when you are being waited on because I can guarantee you if the worker turns to say something to another co-worker, you get all bent out of shape about how they should be waiting on you…well same goes for you…the worker really doesn’t want to hear your gossip on the phone and you’re also delaying the line so that others like you can scream, holler about how long it’s taking.
6) Don’t wait until the Monday before Christmas to ship your last minute gifts and get upset that you have to pay more or upset that there’s a long line because you’ll just be surrounded by all the others who think (or don’t think) like you by waiting til the last minute then blaming the postal workers.
7) Try to imagine that whatever it is you have to do after leaving the post office isn’t as important as you may believe it to be thus justifying your nastiness towards others.
ahhhhh I feel better now…and for those who go to the post office on the border of Pembroke Pines & Hollywood, FL you can see who I am from the pic on the blog…if you’re going to complain, be rude, nasty and argue…you’ll want to make sure that I’m not inline near you.
Topics: Ranting & Rambling | 2 Comments »