Support from Rocketboom

If you haven't seen the Rocketboom episode for yesterday, April 20 2007, check it out. It definitely supports my Earth (Every)Day post.
I couldn't figure out how to embed the video in my post, so use the link.

Earth (Every)Day

In celebration of Earth Day, I wanted to share a list of ways to make your life a little greener. Although there is no doubt that Earth Day is a wonderful holiday to spread awareness, one day of not driving your car or not buying fast food is not going to solve anything. It needs to become a lifestyle. And guess what? It's actually pretty easy! These little changes to your everyday life can eventually make a huge impact.

I found this list on the Worldwatch Institute's website and picked out the 5 easiest, most practical ways to live a greener life (but you might as well check out the list and just do all of them, right?).

1. Buy used.
• Whether you’ve just moved to a new area or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items, rather than buying them new. Check out garage sales and thrift stores for clothing and other everyday items.
• Use your creativity in gift giving, including making homemade gifts, donating to a good cause, or even regifting. (And gift green, in general.)
• Your purchasing habits have a real impact, for better or worse. When making new purchases, make sure you know what’s “Good Stuff” and what isn’t.
2. Buy local.
• Shop at your local farmers’ market. Though the offerings can be more expensive, you can generally count on a higher quality product—and the entire purchase price goes directly to the farmer. Buying any goods produced locally saves energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport food and other items across the country and around the globe.
3. Add one meatless meal per week. (or more!)
   
• While strict vegetarianism isn’t for everyone, even the most devout carnivores can cut back on meat consumption without cramping their style—and save money in the process. Industrial meat production requires huge energy inputs and creates noxious waste problems. The proliferation of factory farms is damaging the environment, and the global nature of the industry creates conditions that promote the spread of diseases such as avian flu, potentially costing society billions.
4. Think twice about new electronics.
• E-waste from discarded cell phones and computers is a growing environmental problem. Mounds of electronic refuse are being shipped abroad illegally for ‘disassembly’ by workers with little protection against the mercury and other toxic substances they contain.
• Keep your electronics as long as possible and dispose of them responsibly when the time comes.
• Buy higher-quality items and don’t give in to ‘psychological obsolescence’ marketing campaigns.
• Recycle your cell phone and support good causes at the same time!
5. Use your local library and other public amenities.
• Borrowing from libraries, instead of buying personal books and movies, saves money and printing resources. Consider donating the money saved to your local library.

Kitty Drug Fest

If you know any German, some clarification would be great.
As far as I can tell, it's a bunch of alley cats freaking out on catnip. I guess there's not much else to know. Made me lol.

Digg This: Reddit Rocks

My effort into researching why Reddit is superior to Digg ended in frustration. I couldn't find many clear arguments that I completely understood. So I abandoned my search and chose who I wanted to win in the first place: Reddit. I have my reasoning.
To clarify, in case you don't know, Digg and Reddit are community-based popularity websites. Users submit interesting stories or pretty much anything else they wish to share and other users rate these stories.
So, back to why I think Reddit rules.

1. Direct links: On Reddit, when you click on the story you're interested in, it takes you directly to that page. Which makes sense. Why would you design it any other way? Well, Digg thinks you need to first be taken to a cover page for the story. Waste of a few valuable putzing-around seconds, if you ask me. Just take to what I want to see already! It seems so simple.
2. No clutter: Reddit is clean... uncomplicated... easy. What you see is what you get. No annoying ads or flare. Just the story titles in a nice, easy to read blue font.
3. Everybody runs it: I did discover that Digg is controlled by a handful of people, while Reddit's content is run by every single user.
4. More interesting: The majority of stories on Digg are just plain boring. Lots of techy, computer program stories. Stuff I wouldn't mind in moderation but definitely no more than that. Reddit provides a wide variety of stories, whether they're news stories, interesting wisdom, funny pictures, stupid videos or just juicy info. They're all clumped in there together.
   

That's my list for now. I can't really think of any other reasons. However, I feel these are vital characteristics in order to enjoy a website. Check out this ongoing meter monitoring the debate.
Also, check out Reddit and Digg if you haven't. Let me know what you think. If you find something really awesome about Digg, tell me about it. I guess there's a chance I could have a change of heart.

Spelunking and Spookiness

It's quite a boast to say you've been in an authentic haunted house on Friday the 13th, but it is a statement I can now claim.
Anybody who knows anything about the student ghetto in Albuquerque, knows about the haunted house on Cornell and Silver. Interesting historical fact: Also known as the Werner-Gilchrist House, it was built circa 1908 and was apparently on Albuquerque's eastern most border at the time.
Until recently, the house had been concealed behind a forest of trees, weeds and chain link fences. But now, after truckloads of crap were cleared away by the city, we all could finally see the face of the haunted house.

Definitely a fixer upper. But with the house so exposed, I realized it didn't seem creepy anymore. Just sad. Unquestionably, this house needs some love.
Luckily, someone did decide to be just that person to give the house what it needs. And to my personal benefit, that person was a friend of a friend of a... whatever. In other words, I got to go inside! And on Friday the 13th! Check out the pictures here.

That was the spookiness, now for the spelunking.
It's amazing what bored weekend afternoons can turn into. In our case, it turned into a short day trip to Sandia Man Cave. Discovered in 1936, it is believed a man - the "Sandia Man" - lived periodically in the cave 10,000-12,000 years ago. Cool fact to know, but it was unfortunate to notice how vandalized the cave is now.
Besides that, the cave was really quite thrilling. It goes 300 feet in, with most of it requiring visitors to crawl and get really dirty, which I think just added to the fun.

Lots more pictures here. I would definitely recommend it. If nothing else, it's a fun way to take up a free afternoon. Plus you'll be able to say you've been spelunking.

Ambitions for My Next Life

After viewing Nova's program on cuttlefish, Kings of Camouflage, (thanks Ian!) I became conscious of a significant personal aspiration, something that could possibly alter my future well being: I want to be reincarnated into a cuttlefish (but not a Flamboyant one. Nothing against flamboyancy, I would just rather have a cuttle bone and perhaps be a bit bigger.)
I'm not sure if reincarnation is something you're allowed to have a direct say in, but if there is a possibility in any way, shape or form, I'm making it official today, here on G&C. Even though they are related to slugs, cuttlefish are without a doubt the coolest animal on Earth, or at least one of the coolest (I have a soft spot for anything that flies, minus insects). Who wouldn't want to have the ability to change color and texture on command? And in the blink of an eye? So many possibilities, it's mind boggling! They also have amazing eyesight.
Plus, it is comforting to know that I wouldn't be trapped inside a creature that is... how shall we say... stupid. Apparently, cuttlefish can learn. Quickly. And, I don't mean to boast, but as a cuttlefish I feel I could prove to be a rational, perspicacious little cuttlefish. I could help to influence the establishment of the first cuttlefish colony. I would revolutionize cuttlefish life as a whole!!
Although... they can only live for like, 2 years or something. I'm not sure if I can learn all that is needed in order to colonize an entire species in that amount of time. Maybe I'm being unrealistic.
But hey! At least I could hypnotize my food.

Spring into It

It is always an exciting time, nearing the end of the Spring semester. With approaching Summer weather, longer days and the realization of the dearly needed 3-month break from school (unless that is, you're doing the whole Summer school thing...) life starts to feel a bit more productive. Like today!
We finally got our little garden all planted today and ready to grow, even though Albuquerque's current weather is not what I would consider Spring weather as I listen to the thunder. Anyway, we went for a new mix of vegetables this year: eggplant, okra, tomatoes (including yellow and purple - I know, purple! Weird right?) and lots of green chili (two types: Santa Fe and Española, represent). It should prove to be an interesting crop.


We also got our herb garden going, with basil, chives and tons of spearmint. Sadly we had to sacrifice our beloved cactus which occupied this bed previously... however! We were able to replant most of it.

Another interesting thing I did today: I transformed my face! Go here to do it yourself. I first heard about it on Rocketboom and then saw my friend Katie's transformed faces on Facebook. I had to do it.
Check it out! Starting top left: Old HBop, Asian HBop, chimp HBop, Artsy HBop, East Indian HBop, Man HBop (this one kinda creeps me out) and finally normal HBop!

You can do other transformations too, but these came out best for me.
What else... Oh! I recently discovered a new artist I really like, Audrey Kawasaki. She's amazing. I think I love every single one of her paintings. All of her paintings are done on wood, which gives them a really rich, mystical feel.


My banana bread just came out of the oven and it smells so good, I'm going to have a fresh slice.
And that's great... it's pouring outside. I hope my little plants survive the night...