Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Happy Earth Day, Friends!


Here are 50 simple ways-- in a pretty table from Wire and Twine-- to show your love for our planet. One tip I never considered is using cotton swabs with a "paperboard swindle" instead of plastic. That's a good one!

How do you score? (via apartmenttherapy)

Friday, April 18, 2008

Take that, MacBook Air!


The Magic Manila envelope...

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Stars who look better in analog



Ouch! Switched just posted a list of the top 10 stars who who look worse in HD.

Among those blacklisted: Cameron Diaz, Britney, and, god forbid, Brad Pitt!!

Maybe they could have benefitted by using HD makeup?

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

HD Forever



Here's some makeup from Make up Forever that will supposedly beat the unforgiving clarity and magnification of high-definition video. Yawn.

The LA Times reviewed some HD cosmetic products from Cargo, Christian Dior, and Smashbox. According to them, Smashbox ruled. I guess it's because they've been in the film and TV costume makeup industry forever.

The LA Times review is good. Too bad this topic is now played out with so many damn cosmetic manufacturers jumping on the high-definition bandwagon.

Grappling with Green



Now that my sister and I have this canine, we've been running through all the old plastic grocery bags like it ain't no thing. Although I'm feeling good that Piggie the Pug is finally learning to take care of her biznizz outside, I'm feel incredibly BAD about all the non-biodegradable, plastic waste I'm injecting into our beloved earth.

So, I did some research and found some biodegradeable bags (from multiple manufacturers). One particular one, BioBag Dog Waste Bag, is made of corn (just like the corn utensils I bought not too long ago), and it seemed like exactly what I needed.

Anyway, I was just about to click the "buy" button to snag some, when I read on a different site that you have to dispose of the BioBags in a compost bin. Aiya! I don't have a compost bin; I live in an apartment! It ain't so easy to just have a compost bin, ya know. And, the City of Long Beach only provides us with a blue recycling trash can and a black waste bin; there's no green bin!

Here, I was thinking I was doing the earth and my grandkids a great favor by shelling out some scrilla (instead of stealing plastic bags from the grocery store-- something my mother would do) for biodegradeable Piggie waste bags, but instead I'm reading that it won't make difference unless you properly dispose of them in a compost bin.

BioBags, as well as all biodegradable materials placed in [airlocked or anaerobic] landfills, don't decompose very well. This is because they are not exposed to the oxygen and microorganisms that help break down biodegradable substances including newspapers, yard waste and kitchen waste.

In "open" or "turned" landfills, BioBags will break down at about the same rate as other similarly biodegradable materials that are found in these solid waste disposal areas.


I suppose I can call up the City to see if they'll supply me with a green bin, or I can search on the Internet for a local composting site. But seriously...I am not storing a collection of dog turd in my apartment until I can get to a composting site.

Does anybody have any recommendations?

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Mariah understands the benefits of 802.11n



Even Mariah knows the benefits of 802.11n, the most current home wireless networking standard.

Watch this video-- or, at least watch the beginning, then fast forward to the end, after the music ends.

In her next music video, I expect Mariah to get another Geek Squader in to upgrade to MoCA, Powerline, or WiMax.