For the second year in a row, New Yorkers and tourists alike will have the chance to literally help power the 2010 numerals by pedaling a Power Rover in the Duracell Smart Power Lab in Times Square. The rovers use rotary technology to capture human energy created from every push of the pedal. The energy is then converted into usable power and routed and stored at Duracell Battery Center, so it can be used light up the 2010 numerals as the New Year’s Eve Ball drops when the clock strikes midnight.
“When the world watches the New Year’s Ball drop and the numerals light up at midnight on January 1, our guests will be able to say they truly powered the start of a new decade,” said Rick June, Duracell vice president and general manager, North America. “The Smart Power Lab is just one example of how Duracell delivers innovative, efficient and reliable ways to power important moments today and for decades to come.” (more…)
Well, it took a little bit of sleuthing, but a friend helped me track down the back story on the Holiday Light Show video we posted a couple weeks ago.
This Christmas light display is produced each year by Richard Holdman, a professional lighting contractor who creates unique animated and static lighting setups year-round for a variety of commercial and consumer purposes.
Not only is the display quite beautiful, but Goldman uses it to collect funds for the Utah Make-a-Wish foundation to enrich the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions. The 2009 holiday light show has already raised more than $5000 in donations to grant this year’s wish; his display raised more than $10,000 in 2007, and nearly $4500 in 2008.
This holiday light show is Goldman’s labor of love, and he dedicated more than 250 hours into the initial development, programming, and construction. Each year it takes about 100 hours to set up the display. Goldman’s holiday light display includes around 150,000 lights, transferred from 21 dedicated grounded circuits by nearly 7000 feet of extension cords. The red, green, and white sequencing is programmed using software and hardware from Light-O-Rama. The display for 2006 used 80 different channels, 2007 was 176 channels, and for 2008 it used 215 channels. The music to which the lights are synchronized is broadcast on a short-range FM signal, so viewers can listen from within their cars. They also have speakers outside so pedestrians can enjoy the music as well.
While many might consider such a display to be a waste of energy, according to Goldman, the display is actually 100% wind-powered! Goldman uses electricity provided by his local power company, and then replaces the power back onto the grid with Wind Turbines using a service provided by www.renewablechoice.com – Goldman says his display consumes about 1800kwh; he covers that use by sending 3000kwh back to the power grid. (more…)
The soldiers of the 101st Airborne, 159th Aviation Brigade found a newborn puppy on an Afghanistan battlefield — so they rescued the puppy, and made her a part of their brigade.
“It obviously had been abandoned. There was no mother around… It was very, very young, so if they would have left it there, it would have never made it,” said Teri Lemmons, mother of Army Cpl. Michael Lemmons.
Unfortunately, when the time came for the soldiers to return home, military law prevented the soldiers from bringing their beloved pet back with them on military planes. The cost of shipping the dog was more than $2500. Faced with the possibility of leaving her behind, the soldiers got creative.
The touching story was broadcast on the ABC News with Charles Gibson last week. Watch the video below to see how this shaggy dog story ends.
According to Earth911.com, Americans throw away an average of 1.3 pounds of food scraps daily per person. Most of this can be added to home compost systems, keeping trash out of landfills and turned into nutrient-rich garden soil and mulch within just a few months. Beyond just the kitchen, home composting systems can reduce yard waste that needs to be hauled to the dump by anywhere from 50 to 75%! Composting while you cook is a great and easy way to reduce your impact on the environment.
Home composting systems can range from small counter crocks to keep your scraps until you can take them outside to a larger unit, hidden cabinet units, midsize apartment gardening setups, or full-on backyard bins. Passive composting systems can be as simple as a pile of leaves and other organic matter left to rot in the distant corner of your yard; active systems require more participation by the user, turning and aerating the material as it decays to ensure even decomposition. Some systems even add worms to the compost like this system from VermiPro, while other pet-friendly setups will even incorporate pet waste.
The important essentials include maintaining proper moisture and using a variety of compostable materials ranging from plants and garden clippings, kitchen scraps, and even newspaper and hair. The composting process is fueled by millions of microscopic organisms (microbes, bacteria, and fungi) that assist with decomposition, eventually creating a rich, organic fertilizer.
Composting guides generally sort compostable materials into two categories, according to what they contribute to the process: green (nitrogen) and brown (carbon). Regardless of what you eat, it’s probably okay to add it to the compost mix: Apple cores, banana peels, citrus rinds, coffee grounds, corncobs, egg shells, pasta, popcorn, potato peels, pumpkin seeds, rice, salad, sandwich crusts, spoiled canned fruit or veggies. Non-food items like tea bags, newspaper and brown bags, shredded cardboard and cereal boxes, and paper towels can also be added to the compost. Be sure to leave out such items as meat, bones, fat, grease, dairy products, salad dressings, cheese, or cooking oil. And obviously, do not include such items as plastic wrappers, bags, or containers. (more…)
To paraphrase some familiar song lyrics, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go! With that in mind, we wanted to share this awesome light display.
Looks like somebody must have had too much time on their hands and access to some pretty high-tech equipment to pull this one off! And I don’t even want to think about the cost of the electricity!
California is setting the pace for a green schools revolution that reflects the state’s commitment to preserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Being held this week at the Pasadena Convention Center, The 2009 Green California Schools Summit will bring together leaders in this movement to share green strategies, eco-friendly practices, and results from green school programs.
Keynote speakers include Alec Loorz, the Founder of Kids vs. Global Warming and Bharat Patel, a LEED(R) accredited professional and the Director of Sustainability for URS. Alec, the featured speaker on Thursday, December 10 at 9 am, is a high school sophomore at El Camino High School in Ventura, California; perhaps you remember Alec’s video titled “iMatter” posted here a few months ago. Alec created Kids vs Global Warming to educate youth about the science of global warming, and empower them to take action. A powerful and inspirational speaker, Alec has led workshops, given presentations, been keynote speaker and served on panels with PhDs, experts and professionals. He has addressed diverse audiences from school children to college students, green builders, and environmental activists to politicians and UN delegates, urging adult leaders to integrate the voices of youth into their climate change discussions and the youth, themselves, to raise their voices. Alec has also been trained by Al Gore to give the official Inconvenient Truth slide shows, and is currently the youngest trained presenter.
The 2009 Green California Schools Summit will also include hundreds of exhibitors displaying innovative eco-friendly products and services that can help schools or businesses attain their green goals, and attain long-term savings. While some of the Summit seminars and workshops do cost money to attend, the general public can attend exhibits and keynotes for free. The educational seminars will offer in-depth training on a variety of essential green topics intended to help schools create energy efficient and sustainable educational facilities. (more…)
Hypnotist Ricky Kalmon hypnotizes a volunteer on stage to believe he is the greatest puppeteer in the world. The volunteer’s left and right hands are his puppets, and he uses them to perform a very special version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” By the end of the performance, the entire assembly of volunteers is acting as his puppet chorus, and one even gets up to help with backup vocals.
Doesn’t it make you want to play with a hypnotist?
Find this unbelievable? According to his website, Ricky Kalmon is an extremely sought after stage hypnotist, corporate entertainer, and motivational speaker all over the world. He is also the star of his own television show, “Seeing Stars,” that airs on the TV Guide Channel. His show combines hypnotic suggestions with direct audience participation to create an interactive experience unmatched by any other performer.
For the second year in a row, New Yorkers and tourists alike will have the chance to literally help power the 2010 numerals by pedaling a Power Rover in the Duracell Smart Power Lab in Times Square. The rovers use rotary technology to capture human energy created from every push of the pedal. The energy is then converted into usable power and routed and stored at Duracell Battery Center, so it can be used light up the 2010 numerals as the New Year’s Eve Ball drops when the clock strikes midnight.
The soldiers of the 101st Airborne, 159th Aviation Brigade found a newborn puppy on an Afghanistan battlefield — so they rescued the puppy, and made her a part of their brigade.
According to 
The important essentials include maintaining proper moisture and using a variety of compostable materials ranging from plants and garden clippings, kitchen scraps, and even newspaper and hair. The composting process is fueled by millions of microscopic organisms (microbes, bacteria, and fungi) that assist with decomposition, eventually creating a rich, organic fertilizer.
California is setting the pace for a green schools revolution that reflects the state’s commitment to preserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Being held this week at the Pasadena Convention Center, The 
Hypnotist