Move over Prius

Honestly, cars are not my thing—and yet within the last 24 hours, oddly two auto-related items caught my attention:

First— this cute, albeit kinda bizarre looking electric car from Peugeot:

Probably don't need to explain the theoretical advantages of electric cars over the current gas-guzzling machines of today, but briefly will anyway; no gas consumption means less dependence on the Middle East, less pollution, and less household money spent.

To this effect, Peugeot recently updated the look and mechanisms of their vintage 1940’s electric car design. The newly unveiled space-age looking model is getting lots of attention in the automotive industry, and based on appearances alone it’s understandable due to its awkwardly appealing aesthetics. (Anyone else think the front seems like it should be the back?)



This innovative electric car is tiny, and yet fits four. (The catch is that to save space, the person in the back seat has to spread their legs around the front seat, old school sledding style.) Reverse opening doors, and handle-bars instead of a steering wheel (in order to conserve space), this unique vehicle still features all the amenities we have become spoiled by; Bluetooth phone capabilities, navigation, Internet access, MP3, and a USB connector.

A super attention getting car with the reverse stigma of a Hummer… I like it.

Obviously this next car bit appeals to the ever-present 1st grader in me; how could I resist reading an article titled “the car that uses urine to save the planet”? Exactly—I couldn’t.

In all good faith, I tried to really read the article, but... it was filled with all kinds of boy goobledy-gook. What I was able to glean on the subject though is that Mazda’s new CX-7 model uses a man-made urine-like liquid to somehow reduce nitrous oxide emissions. This is already being done in the trucking industries in Europe and Australia, but this is the first time the science is being introduced to the masses.

Although an intriguing idea, the article is kind of a tease because it doesn’t talk about pee that much. (And the car they show isn't even yellow!) I am left wondering if real human waste could be used for this purpose, I mean— how much more man-made-urine-liquid-like could you get?? It will be interesting (for first graders and adults) to see how this idea progresses— will toilets someday be upgraded into holding tanks for such a purpose? If going #1 was no longer cause for flushing, water consumption would be cut down drastically, so that'd be a pretty big *YAY* for the environment in addition to the benefit of reducing NO2 emissions.

Maybe someday (as I stare off wistfully at the horizon) they could even come up with a way to make cars run off poop…. water consumption would be cut even more drastically, and (bonus!!) the expression “skid marks” could be reborn, reused, and recycled.

Thirsting for more?

Reusable water bottles have become quite the trendy accessory.

Although I have thus far been quite satisfied using my huge Wawa plastic bottles over and over again until they all but disintegrate in my mouth, it has recently been brought to my attention that this might not be the best route to go. Be damned all of you conspiracy seekers, (I’m not partial, and am including all those that think chemicals are leeching into my water from the plastic, and those that try relaying scare tactics about mold growing in my H20, etc.) my new open-mindedness to drinking-bottle alternatives comes from several unlikely sources and not from anyones nay-saying. Instead, the credit for breaking through my Wawa stubborness belongs to OK! magazine, coupled with copious amounts of online shopping.

It seems that the overall awesomeness of Siggs aluminum bottles can be neither denied, nor ignored. I have read about these bottles time, and time again. It seems we were meant to be together… and who am I to deny destiny?

I have seen them on the most random internet sites ever, and can’t help but notice their plentiful mentions in magazine genres of all kinds. (Wowza, Siggs PR team deserves a raise!) Apparently their absolute market infiltration is working, because— lo and behold—none other than Siggs aluminum bottles popped into my brain today after I noticed the sad state of my trusty old Wawa bottle...

Originally purchased in late December 2008, it has certainly fulfilled its thirst quenching duties. Over the past six months, we have experienced a lot together; and hitting the bottle has gotten me through a lot of tough times, and I've come to rely on its constant “half full” mentality. However, I can’t help but notice that its once proud and crisp blue label is now starting to peel off, and like skin on bones, the label is all wrinkled up against the plastic ridges of the bottle beneath. The sides of the bottle bend inward at my slightest touch, and the mouth-opening has layer upon layer of sparkley Chapstick build-up. Always standing tall and resolute, day after day, on my desk, it has never left me high and dry—and yet, deep down I know it’s time to give this poor bottle a break, and send it to be reincarnated at the big recycling factory in the sky.

I was sadly dwelling upon my Wawa bottle (I feel like the “sad” can be applied in numerous ways?), that I started to consider perhaps investing in a more permanent, hardy type of water bottle — because, even if I only buy 2 plastic water bottles a year, that is 2 empty water bottles that could have been prevented. Then, like the good girl that I am, I started to wonder, WWJD? Literally. Except, I’m Jewish, so my “wwjd” was “what would Jake Gyllenhaal do” in a situation like this? Super weird, I know, and yet for some reason his face is linked in my brain to Siggs bottles?

So, bored at work per usual, I decided to do a little Siggs research and was intrigued by my findings. Which is obviously why you’re reading about it now.

Once upon a time, in the year 1908, a Swedish entrepreneur named Ferdinand Sigg decided that aluminum was the "material of the future". Completely committed to the success of his favored metal, he started making all sorts of household materials with it; pots, pans, bottles, you name it-- he tried it in aluminum. His fellow Swedes dug the aluminum, and his aluminum company grew by leaps and bounds. To this day, the name "Siggs" is still famous in Europe.

A few years ago, some investors bought the company and changed the direction of it, now focusing solely on the bottle design, and trying to infiltrate the brand into the United States.

The benefits of aluminum drinking bottles hopefully made this an easier venture than naught, as apparently using aluminum for drinking bottles has every advantage you’d want. The material is extremely resistant to mold and bacteria, and is non-porous so that nothing you ever have in the bottle will affect the flavor the next thing you have in there. Siggs bottles exceed the FDA’s regulations on chemical leaching with 0.0% leaching occurring, and the insides of the bottle are baked in a way so that they will never chip or break into your drink. For added street creds on top of everything else, Siggs bottles are also considered the “world’s toughest water bottle” by Backpacker magazine. They hold 1 Liter of water, and cost approximately $25, which is not bad on either count. As mentioned, they are very durable, and in order to keep them clean you can wash them out with soap and hot water, or if you’re the OCD type that needs to disinfect every nook and cranny-- there are cleaning brushes available. All is well that ends well, and a happy ending is ensured with Siggs too, as they are 100% recyclable should ever decide you don’t want an awesome water bottle on hand.

And, I saved the best part for last. The reason that so many trendy LA and New York celebs and hipsters tote these bottles around is not only because they want the world to see how “green” and trendy they are, but also because they are superly cute! Aside from solid colors and geometric patterns, they have famous brands, like Airwalk, Hello Kitty, Sponge Bob, etc., come in and do their thang all over a bunch of bottles. There are bottles decorated in yoga inspired designs, Anthropologie looking vintage designs, hippie tye-dyes, and really, something for every aesthetic taste.

The designs of these bottles are not just geared towards chicks either, dudes dig them too—and both GQ and Stuff magazine have given them shout-outs before. (I’m sure it doesn’t hurt their popularity amongst the gents that they offer a selection of flasks as well.)

Now my problem is, which design do I like the best?? And, do you want to come to the memorial service I will be having for my ever faithful Wawa Bottle? (Please circle yes or no, and rsvp asap, recyclables go out Friday morning.)

Yes No Maybe

Kelly loves green roofies

When I was a little girl, in a pre-Stephenie Meyers and J.K. Rowling literary environment, I loved, loved, loved Laura Ingalls Wilder and all of the books in her “Little House on the Prairie” series. It’s strange in contrast to today’s popular children series, but somehow the old-fashioned, hands-on adventures that the Ingalls girls had were every bit as magical and imagination capturing as the exploits of Harry Potter, Bella, and Edward.

I devoured those “Little House” books a long time ago, and although details from each book are a bit hazy and blurred together in my mind now, (note to self—rereading these books could make excellent beach fare?) I can still vividly recall the mental images I concocted during the time when the entire family dug out the insides of a hill, and made it their home. (Frustratingly, I can’t even remember which book this occurred in??) My faulty memory fondly recalls that on one side of the hill they installed a glass window, and on the side of the hill, they installed one of those doors where the top and bottom can open independently of each other, so they could air it out when it was nice outside. This little hole in the hill home was described (or at least, this is how I remember it) as being so discreet, that unless you knew the home was in there, it was quite possible to pass by that hill and have no idea an entire family lived inside. (Additional non-sequitur to self—house in hill would be great in case of zombie outbreak.)

At age 9, the idea of making a livable habitat in the dirt was so cool that I would have traded (in a heartbeat) my air-conditioned, indoor-plumbing, electricity powered, 5-bedroom home to have instead lived in that hillside domicile with the Ingalls.

Now that I’m a bit more grown-up, and more jaded/ spoiled/realistic, I can fully appreciate the modern luxuries of home—and rustic hillside dwelling does not seem like the sparkling, shiny idea that it once was. However, thanks to very creative and practical green thinking, it is now possible to enjoy all of the modern-day conveniences while allowing nature to be part and parcel of your house-- with a “living roof”.

Basically, a “living roof” is when there is purposely plant life thriving on top of a building. There is a wide spectrum of “living roofs”, ranging from little garden roofs, to things like this:

Besides an immense love for all things “Little House on the Prairie,” there are a ton of benefits to going “green” roof side.

The soil and vegetation provide great insulation; and can save a lot of heating and cooling energy. In the winter, these roofs absorb the heat from the sun and help keep the buildings they are on top of warmer. In the summer the living roof again provides better insulation and keeps the cool air inside, while the roof itself remains cooler than a regular roof, all the while creating shade.

By creating extra landscape, a living roof provides more living space for all sorts of creatures. Especially beneficial in congested urban areas, these roofs provide easy places for people to enjoy time outdoors. Local wildlife benefits also; as birds, squirrels, etc., will have new places to explore and thrive in.

From a more practical (i.e. boy) standpoint, you get more bang for your buck with a living roof too, as they last longer than regular roofs. A living roof blocks UV rays, and prevents extreme surface temperature fluctuations, which are main causes for regular roofing materials to deteriorate.

Living roofs also improve the local air quality, as the increase in plant life purifies the air better by absorbing more pollutants from cars, pollen, and dust. Also, because the soil can retain 65-100% of rainwater, some floodings can be prevented by the decrease of local water saturation.


Last, but least, they look so cool-- imagine having a permanent vase of flowers decorating the top of your house? It would give you a visual kick-start every time you looked at it. Since this is kind of a newish practice, green roofing companies are still playing around with which plant varieties work the best for roof purposes, but some people have successfully grown huge Christmas trees on their houses, and some people have successfully had prosperous vegetable gardens growing on their roofs. (Love that idea—so, so green!) Also, since the idea of making use of a roof is now open for interpretation, people are thinking of all sorts of ways to make the most of the space. Some innovators are incorporating solar panels into their living roofs, and people are really thinking outside the box (house?) in order to maximize that once wasted space's green potential. To that I say, kudos!

Happily, this trend is catching on, and respected, well-funded universities such as Penn State, North Carolina State, and Michigan State are all doing substantial research on green roofing, and are in the midst of incorporating large scale green roofs throughout their campuses. Penn State already has multiple buildings with green roofs, and has many more planned for the future in order to coincide with their goal to “green” the campus-- such as the building pictured, which is fittingly to be their new Center for Green Roof Research.

With all of this green, living roof activity going on, it could be open for interpretation when someone says they can't wait to hear the pitter patter of little feet heard from above…

For Your Info(mercial)

Infomercials are right up there with football games when it comes to my choice of most dreaded television programming.

Blah blah blah blah blah with bright lights and endings that never seem to arrive.


Both are punctuated by annoying, overly opinionated commentators, and I find both so irritatingly boring that I am physically unable to watch either without flipping my bitch switch-- which subsequently results in the channel being switched too.

But, there’s always that one exception to the rule, right?

The exception to my TV viewing standards was not made for football. (Nor does football even have the remotest chance of ever being able to capture my fickle attention. Sorry football. Well… (just because sometimes I like being argumentative, even when it’s with myself,) the ONLY exception I can think of for this scenario would be if I was married to Tom Brady. If it was MY hot husband out there, I could probably be interested in what he was doing out there, and maybe even interested enough to learn what the dumb game is even about? But, seeing as he recently got hitched to Gisele, whom seems as cool as she is gorgeous— I don’t foresee that scenario playing out anytime soon.) Instead, the TV bain-of-my-existence that finally melted through my cold, cold heart was the infomercial featuring the smart-alec charm of the guy showcasing the mystifying and possibly magical absorbency of the ShamWow! (I mean, it was made in Germany, so you pretty much know it HAS to be good, right? Because- like, all things from Germany have a certain level of intrinsic clout; ah-bviously you’ve heard of, um, Pretzels, before? How ‘bout Hitler? Indeed, both serve as excellent examples of Germany’s contributions to society, and these days the ShamWow gets to haughtily join their ranks.)


Anyway, maybe because it has damn near mystical powers, or maybe because it’s only about 30 seconds long—by the time I’d seen that commercial for the 100th time I was ready to order, and let’s just say that ShamWows make great stocking stuffers… especially for people you hope will be doing some cleaning for you in the near future.



Even though I was convinced that I wanted to buy a bunch of ShamWows, I still felt like a big loser as I punched my credit card information into the computer. I realized I was experiencing another milestone of adulthood—I was now a person who bought things from infomercials.


(So, this is totally NOT where I had intended this post to go when I started writing, but works out nicely— because now— I have fodder for another related post, where hopefully I’ll be brave enough to relay the story of the time I was caught in a web of QVC trickery and spent almost two hours mesmerized by the “before and after” images created by beauty products only witchdoctors deep in the rainforest could concoct, or something. Guess you’ll just have to wait and see about that one…)



In light of cutting down everyday household waste, a ShamWow is a freaking amazing invention. And, sorry —I'm assuming everyone knows what a ShamWow is, but in case you don't, here;s the ShamWow 411: It's like a mutant freak of a paper towel. It's small, soft and pliable, soaks up liquids like a wet dream, and is sturdy enough to go through the washing machine. In fact, it is purported to be strong enough to last for 10 years, and comes with a warranty to prove it. Truly, with a gaurentee like that, the capabilities of a ShamWow would be a terrible thing to waste.


I'm a person that reuses my ziploc bags until they fall apart, just to cut down on the trash I generate. Being able to reuse one thing over and over for the span of 10 years, and significantly reduce the paper used for cleaning and drying purposes, is amazing! No more big, bulky packages of paper towels, I've got my ShamWow. It will have me saying "WOW!" everytime. I'm sure my family members will really appreciate my noisy enthusiasm, especially if it involves cleaning.



Now, ShamWow guy, can you please put in a suggestion to the German powers that be? Help the world cut out even more paper consumption — please get to work developing reusable toilet paper? A possible product name, just off the top of my head to help with the endeavor (your welcome, Germany): ShamPoo!

It's what on the inside that crunches

We were recently privileged enough to be invited to this baby's Super Sweet "First" Birthday Bash. When we arrived, (after we were carded and checked off on the guest list, obvs) we were greeted by the birthday girl, who was all decked out in a "special", yet preppy, pink plaid Burberry jumper, with patent leather black Tod's driving moccs. Her ruffled bloomers completed the outfit, with her initials sewn onto the bottom, surrounded by lacy ruffles and flounces.

After having cake and a few temper tantrums, the present opening began. As each gift was unwrapped and revealed, each audience member/guest “oohed” and “ahhed” appropriately.

· Some sort of baby-grand (get it?) electric piano that could make every noise imagineable: "Ooooooooh!!!!" we all murmured, a combination of admiration and perhaps jealousy?

· A new Juicy dress with matching leggings. The chorus all went “Ahhhhhhh!” while her mother chirped something like, “Mommy has this outfit in black!”

· A huge stuffed animal that was three times the size of the birthday girl, with each extremity doubling as a toy; a rattle for a hand, a foot that was a mirror and squeaked…. “Oooooohhh!”

And so on and so on it went for the afternoon.

Once every package and parcel had been opened, the baby had a pile of brand-new fancy toys. Every gift had been hand-picked from upscale boutiques, as to what would best be suited for an one year old with discerning tastes, and equally discerning parents. Despite having half the large room taken up by her bounty of things that sparkled and shined, squeaked and squalled, the thing that had enraptured her mind and heart the most was the also sizable pile of discarded wrapping paper in the corner. Who needs Tiffany’s baubles and Baby Einstein when you can rip noisy things up with wanton abandon?*

It’s easy to forget that if you have simple tastes, you are satisfied with simple things.

Kids are as happy with wrapping paper and big empty boxes as they are with the things that came inside those entrapments. Remember how fun a big empty box was when you were a kid? Who needed fancy toys when you had a big box, an imagination, and siblings that would go along with whatever?

"Welcome to my penthouse. Would you care to nibble some bits with me, you sweet, sweet Webkin...?"
My sister has a chinchilla, and it’s like crack for her- she can’t help but to spend every penny she has on toys and luxurious accommodations for the fat rodent’s cage. (And also, she sniffs it, a lot.)

Seriously though, this thing has it’s own bathroom, tropical inspired hammocks, custom made lofts, a thatch-roofed bungalow, island scenery (to remind it of home?), and gourmet treats hand-fed to it daily… Basically, it’s 6 ft. tall cage is nicer than the Playboy Suite in Vegas. (And yes, just like Vegas, the chinchilla’s cage comes complete with its very own legalized sex trade. While it’s not the use my sister had originally intended for the little stuffed animals that she populated the cage with, she unintentionally became the john of the chinchilla cage. With her weekly rotation of characters, neither the toys nor the chinchilla, nor my sister [who can sleep better when the rodent’s quiet after tiring himself out,] seem to be complaining about the wanton acts of abandon happening in that faux-tropical hideaway…)

And yet, despite all of it’s rodenty accommodations, it’s favorite plaything is the cardboard roll that makes up the center of a paper towel or toilet paper roll. Indeed, he seems to get more pleasure playing with these, than from all of his Furries action combined.

This is why when I went over to my friend’s house the other night; I got really excited and inspired by something I saw in her bed that I thought was ingeniously green. (Ingreenious?)

Scared? (If you knew this friend-- and what could have been in her bed, you probably would be...)

I innocently picked up the little felt cow that lay there, and remarked on how cute it was. Her lab puppy bouncing at my feet trying to grab for it, seemed to obviously agree with me. I felt that there was something hard inside of it, and before I could start to get weirded about what exactly I was holding, my friend gave me the inside scoop. Literally.

You know how you can buy your dog everything in the pet store, and yet when you’re at home, he’s happier drinking water from the toilet bowl, playing with the stuff he can get out of the trashcan, eating poop instead of treats, and falling asleep anywhere? Another case of simple things for simple tastes....

K.I.S.S!
A bunch of genius (possibly dog whispering?) companies have taken note of what of their dogs are telling them, and have accommodated their trashy habits to make them safer, healthier, cleaner and greener.

The cow in my hand was basically a fancy cover for an empty plastic water bottle. I have known many a dog that loved chewing on empty, plastic water bottles (as they are apparently oh-so-fun to crunch on and destroy) and now--they can do just that, while leaving the plastic pieces all confined inside the animal cover, so the dogs cannot make a mess, or hurt themselves --and once the bottle has been sufficiently killed, it is replaceable! And recyclable! Woo hoo!

These bottle covers are available under a few different monikers, some are called "Bottle Crunchers", some are called "Bottle Buddies." They can be found in any pet store, and are available in a ton of places online. They are inexpensive, and can keep a dog satisfied, over and over. (Sort of like stuffed animals for a Chinchilla, in an equally "ew, I don't want to touch that" when they're done with it, kind of way.)

The moral of the stories is that happiness can easily be found in the most mundane of objects, and we shouldn't try so hard, or spend so much, on unnecessary acquirements.

On the plus side--now I know what to get my mother for Mother's Day. (Note to self: start saving those empty toilet paper rolls, now.)

*This was a very important day all around, as we all were reminded of something very important. Her 3-year old brother solemnly informed us that his baby sister DID NOT like it when you smacked her really hard, on the top of her head. Why? Duh! a.) It was not nice, and b.) Her head was still soft.

Reincarmachination: A New Life for a Sad iPod

You know that heart wrenching episode of Sex and the City where Carrie “sad Macs” her lap-top? She was just wearing some over-alls, minding her own business, working on some sassy Sex article, when all of a sudden- the computer screen went blank, and a kind of scary face with the eyes X’ed out and a tongue hanging out of it’s mouth (am I making up the tongue part?) popped up.

When I first saw that episode, I wasn’t even sure if this phenomenon was real, or made up for Hollywood’s sake. Until, it happened to me.

There I was, at the gym, trying to get pumped up for a nice 4 mile run. After a quick stretch, I went to turn on my i-Pod and get it to the perfect play-list for the occasion. Waiting to hear the cacophony of adrenaline boosting rhythms from Missy, Beyonce, or new Britney, I was instead greeted by silence. Looking down to see what the problem was, I saw that ugly, sad face with the creepy X’ed out eyes (and possibly a lolling tongue) staring back up at me. I had sad podded my i-Pod! There would be no running that day.

Now happily ensconced in a new hot and heavy relationship with my i-Pod Shuffle, I sometimes still reminisce about my first i-Pod, and the love that once was. They say you never forget your "first", and for good reason. So many memories together; those long walks on the beach, steamy baths, road trips, soothing me to sleep… and now, literally a shell of what once was, is tucked away in my secret girls-stuff drawer because I don’t know what else to do with it.

Hopefully you never had to look into those evil-for-sure XX eyes yourself, but chances are that even if you have never had the unfortunate experience of an MP3 player dying in your arms- you still have upgraded to a newer version at some point over the past few years. Realistically, with the ever increasing menu of features appealing options available; colors, LCD screens, smaller sizes, it would be really, really hard not to have traded up. (Damn those amazing marketing and inventing geniuses at Apple!)

But, with this being the case, you are now kind of like me. As much as you might love that new trophy MP3 player, you’re still stuck with the remains from the ex.

Enter Reincarmachination: DIY ways to get a second-life out of your gadgets, in this case-iPods.

If you Google the topic of dead iPOd uses, you’ll get the some seriously nerdy suggestions like “How to Measure the Height of a Tall Building Using Only a Dead iPod and a Stopwatch.” (Seriously. Read below if you don’t believe me.) I however, am more interested in beautifying the world, both at large, and in my home. So instead of throwing these things out and contributing to the 1.9 million tons of yearly discarded electronics coagulating in the landfills, I wanted to come up with some suggestions that get some extra, albeit unintended, use out of past-their-prime MP3 players.

When I put the question “Hey, do you have any ideas for what you could do with a dead iPod?” to my usually outside-of-the-box thinking boyfriend, he thought for a second before replying.

“Why don’t you give it to Jack to take apart?”

Although the idea to give it to my 12 year old nerd brother for his amusement would provide an unintended use for the thing, my initial response was exasperation. Giving an old MP3 player to your favorite nerd to geek-out with was the best solution he could come up with?!

Curious as to what a bonafide nerd would suggest, I asked Jack the same question. His response?

“Umm, Popular Science’s website has a link to things people can do with old iPod circuitry and parts?” Thanks Jack, but again- don’t know that’s advice I want to spread amongst a bunch of girls?

Determined to come up with some outstanding ideas on my own, I set about dismantling the thing to see exactly components I was dealing with.

Unfortunately, the immediate discovery that the shell of the iPod was comprised of one piece dashed some of my initial ideas. (I.E. Fashioning an iPod into a compact. Wouldn’t it be cool to reach in your handbag, pull out an iPod, flip it open and use the mirror inside to ideally just powder your nose, but more realistically probably checking for Spinach between your teeth?)

Having to face the literally cold, hard facts of my endeavor, I wracked my brains to come up with other ideas.

The first idea to take sprout: an iPot. After having removed the innards of the iPod, you could put some soil inside the remaining shell, and through the hole where the control pad once was, plant some herb or flower seeds. The contrast of technology and nature would be very interesting, and the little plant growing out of an iPod would brighten up your office desk, kitchen sink, or random window sill. Bonus nature points for being able to see the growing roots through the screen.

Or, you could create an iPod Coated Candy Shell by using the empty iPod shell as a container for the candy of your choice. You should probably avoid sticky confections in this scenario, as they might be messy. However, gum, nerds (the candy kind, not the brother kind), tic-tacs, or candy hearts would look cool showing out from behind the iPod screen, and would be kept whole and fresh behind the protective casing.

Alternatively, you could keep it intact, and place standing up on a bookcase or desk somewhere as a decoration/knick-knack. In 20 years, it will be neat to have the thing to be able to show your kids what you used to listen to music with. (Lord only knows what music technology will be employed by that point!)

Whether you take the iPod apart or not, there is an awesome guy in Denver who will buy whatever iPod surplus materials you find yourself with. On average, depending on the model and it’s condition, he pays around $20 to $50 dollars for your iLeftovers. This guy buys people’s unwanted and busted devices, and then either fixes and resells them, or salvages the parts and resells those; all the while reusing his packaging materials and walking to the post office to pick up his packages. It’s a great concept, because he is getting re-use out of parts and pieces most people would have no idea what to do with, and making it worthwhile for people to contribute the needed goods for his business.

I know I will be seeing green all over if after creating my Flower iPot, I can be paid for the remaining guts, while preventing the addition of my stuff to the trash graveyard!
http://www.buymytronics.com/

If all, all, else fails, Apple has a recycling program that collects their dead minions.
http://www.apple.com/environment/

If all, all, all fails, feel free to get in touch with me- I have a little brother you could make very happy.

How to Measure the Height of a Tall Building Using Only a Dead iPod and a Stopwatch

1. Go to the top of the building.

2. Drop the dead iPod off the top of the building.

3. Using the stopwatch, measure the length of time, t, that it takes for the dead iPod to fall from the top of the bldg to the ground and smash to smithereens.

4. Using your above time measurement, and knowing the acceleration due to gravity, g, you can compute the height of the building:g = 32 feet per second per second = 9.8 meters per second per secondBuilding height = 1/2 g * t * t

Best! Invention! Ever!

"We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to
survive." Albert Einstein

My grandfather was a patent attorney, and ever since I was a little girl I have strived to come up with awesome inventions to impress him. Fortunately, for all parties involved, my ideas at age 27 are a bit better than my fork/hair-tie hybrid inventions from days of yore...

In all honesty, I really cannot believe that what I’m about to reveal to you does not already exist. It seems akin to a Post-It like invention, in that it seems like such an obvious idea that I can’t believe no one has thought of it already? Despite my mother’s insistence that she saw a whole special about MY idea on the Discovery Channel the other night, I indignantly keep reminding myself that she is innately a major Debbie Downer, and since I can’t find any proof of the existence of this alleged Discovery Channel special, I am optimistically, systematically, and categorically ignoring her. (Just this one time, love you Mom!)

So, sorry for the long preamble, I’ll get to the invention unveiling now:

(Drum-roll, please)

Imagine… it’s the middle of August. One of those days when your steering wheel gets so hot it hurts to the touch, and just stepping outside into the heat sucks out every ounce of energy you may have had. Imagine, that despite this, you decided to go running.

And, you’re not just going for a “fun run” or a slow jog- you’re running fast.

And so are the other twenty people surrounding you.

And, because of this- you’re keeping cool the whole time.

What if, as you’re running on a treadmill, working that elliptical, or pedaling away on a stationary bike, the energy you were creating was being stored away to a battery connected to the exercise equipment? Technically, I don't know how exactly how it would work- but I know that it could. The same way that wind energy can be stored, or car companies store the energy created by the friction of braking tires, the energy created from spinning bike spokes and rotating treadmill belt has to be able to be bottled up. And these days, when it seems every alternate source of energy conceivable is being researched and developed, how have we looked past the most prevalent and renewable energy source right in front of our faces? How have we overlooked harnessing and storing human energy?

(I’m making these upcoming numbers up to explain my point, so please take all of these figures into consideration with a grain of salt- I am by no means a scientist.) For the sake of the discussion, let’s say that the energy a human could create by doing 3 miles at 6mph could power a house for a day, and take off $20 off that month’s electric bill. What if that person did 3 miles every day? What if there were 3 people in the house, and they each did 4 miles per day? If people could create their own energy, there would be so many obvious benefits. We could stop relying on expensive energy providers, start being more proactive about our lives, save money, and become physically healthier. The financial benefits of this, on top of the environmental benefits, on top of the physical benefits, make this such the win-win-win situation for everyone.

Wouldn’t it be great motivation to be at home watching Oprah, pedaling away on your stationary bike, and you know that if you could just push yourself to do one more mile, you’d be taking an extra $10 off your monthly power bill from the energy you were creating and storing?

And good lord- think about the potential of public gyms where people are exercising en masse 24/7!?

The Ballys gym that I go to has about 60 machines, and I’d guesstimate that at least 50% of them are being used at any given point over the course of their 14 hour business day, with the range of exercisers greatly varying. Like the tortoise and the hare, there are the marathoners who can go and pound out 9 miles in an hour, and on the other end of the spectrum there are the walkers and bikers who go slow and steady just to get in their recommended 30 minutes of physical activity. If all of that energy created by the running, and walking and biking (oh my) could be stored, the potential energy that a gym would be able to produce and store is unimaginable. (Imagine the environmental PR Britney could get: http://popsugar.com/1574532)

These gyms could have the AC pumping full power all day every day, and they still would never have to pay an electricity bill. In fact, the more energy they used to keep the place cool- the more the energy they would be able to create and regain by keeping the people as optimally comfortable as possible. Is the correct term “return and gain”?

Also- with the inherent value of energy, would gyms be able to create/store enough energy where they could turn around and sell it to other people? Could gyms become a new major power provider? Would the gym memberships of today become obliterated as gyms realized the benefit of paying people to work out at the gym instead of reaping the benefits for themselves at their own homes?

Seriously, does the idea to store the human energy created from exercise equipment really not already exist?

Whether it currently does or doesn’t - I feel like the technology to harness energy created from humans has to be right around the corner. So, despite the list of things that I am pointedly not (patent attorney, scientist, financier) I will still try and leave you with one sound investment tip: buy stock in battery companies. Lots of it.

[This guy agrees with me too, although his views are definitely a bit darker than mine- I hadn't even really considered the possibility of this technology being used for punishments and community service: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/BOW3741/gs950802.html )