The Odd Blog (I warned you about)

Photo courtesy: CrunchGear

I used to own a microwave that I used about 1x a week to reheat something or the other; however, I never really trusted those round holes to hold all those microwaves inside the oven where they belonged.

Eventually, I decided I was too paranoid to be a microwave owner and threw it away. I have never missed it because I never used it enough for it to become part of my kitchen repertoire; however, I know people who use their microwaves for nearly all their cooking chores.

Then comes the annoying question of what to do while waiting for your food to reheat? I mean, there you are at the microwave facing a possible 90 seconds of having to entertain yourself without the aid of an external stimulus. Somehow chores like wiping down the counter, rinsing out the sink or just spending 90 seconds in quiet contemplation seems totally inadequate somehow.

But wait! Those geniuses at Keio University in Japan have managed to save us from ourselves. They have integrated a monitor into the window of the microwave and connected it to a computer so that it picks random YouTube videos that are the same length as the cooking time. They are calling it the CastOven. Brilliant!

Here's a video on how it works that I could not be bothered to watch.



Gizmag points out a few problems:

Because they are chosen based purely on their running time, there's no way to control which clips are displayed. That could cause problems for families when little Billy goes to heat up a tasty snack, only to be exposed to content not suitable for young, impressionable eyes.
Eschewing the transparent glass in favor of an LCD display also means that it's not possible to keep an eye on things as they cook. Still that could add a touch of suspense to your cooking with the tension mounting as you open the door at the completion of a clip unsure whether it will reveal a perfectly cooked meal, or an unrecognizable, charred, smoking lump.

Photo courtesy: CrunchGear

However, these shortcomings haven’t stopped the CastOven taking the Outstanding Performance Award and the Jury’s Special Award in Japan’s Mashup Awards 5. Personally, with this last winner I think the name "Mashup Awards" is quite apropos. They received it for "turning waiting time into fun".

To me the frightening part of all this is that there will be a market for it.

Via TreeHugger, Gizmag and CrunchGear

Finally...An Almost Environmentally-Friendly Take-Out Cup

Photo courtesy: TreeHugger

The best option, of course, if you are going to have take-out coffee is to have your own thermos or travel mug at the ready. Coffee cup litter is a huge recycling problem for several reasons. Just one of them being the fact that while coffee cup lids can pop open easily and spill hot coffee on you when you are holding them; in the recycling process, those same lids cling on like grim death to the cup making the process cumbersome and expensive; not to mention, contaminating the paper with plastic.

There was a large confrontation last year in Toronto when the city asked Tim Horton’s to redesign their coffee cup to come up with a completely recyclable coffee cup – one that would be easy and cheap to recycle. Tim Horton’s refused.

So…while I still think paper take-out cups should be banned, if they must remain in use this one from Shamrock Cups should replace all of them. It is an amazing piece of creativity and design work incorporating the age-old Japanese custom of origami.

There is no separate, removable lid, the lid is part of the cup and folds down in an origami-like fashion to close and stiffen the cup. The cup is lighter and far stronger than the ordinary take-out cup. There is also the added bonus that since the lid is part of the cup, there is no chance the lid will pop off spilling hot coffee all over you.

shamrock cup from Lloyd Alter on Vimeo.

Lloyd Alter of TreeHugger was sent a few Shamrock cups to try by the inventor of the cup, Phil Abbott. While this video shows only his second try at using the cup, he finds it quick and easy to fold. Lloyd declares the cup to be of solid design and the hole provided in the cup is more comfortable to use than the fold-back tab provided in separate lids. (I always dribble when I use the fold-back tab. I should have to wear a lobster bib when using them; otherwise, my clothing pays the price.)

Once folded down, the cup stays closed. There is no chance of the lid popping off or coming undone – coffee-stained spills on many blouses or suit fronts will become a thing of the past.

squeeze test on shamrock cup from Lloyd Alter on Vimeo.

Lloyd deliberately tried to squeeze the coffee cup open; but, the lid remained stubbornly closed – thank goodness!

Photo courtesy: TreeHugger

The only disadvantage he could find is that is not very rigid until the lid is closed because there is no rim to support the shape. People who like to add cream and/or sugar to their coffee will have to exercise some caution when carrying this cup to the cream/sugar/napkin/stir stick counter.

This cup is completely biodegradable with a waxed (not plastic) lining; and, is an improvement on what is currently on the market.



Via TreeHugger and Shamrock Cups

Thousands of Dead Octopods Washed Up on Portugese Beach

Screenshot via BBC video

In what scientists and environmentalists are calling an environmental disaster, thousands of dead octopods have washed up on the shore on northern Portugal. The bodies litter a 5-mile stretch of the Vila Nova de Gaia beach.

There is not much information about this disaster at this time. Scientists have no idea what has caused the octopods to die; but, Portuguese authorities are issuing a warning to the public not to eat the animals.

This short video shows the beach where the dead octopods were found.



Via TreeHugger and BBC News

"No Plastic Bag" Day

Going green: Customers at Carrefour will need to pay 10 sen ($0.03 CDN) for a plastic bag if they insist on having one.

For those stores that haven’t completely banned plastic bags, one city in Malaysia is setting the example for the rest of the world. The paper vs. plastic vs. reusable bag debate has been discussed heatedly for years everywhere from government boardrooms to back yard fences.

Many grocery chains, cities and countries are encouraging shoppers to bring their own reusable bags in an attempt to reduce the number of plastic bags used. However, apathy from consumers; forgetful shoppers; tepid advertising; and, other factors have prevented the change from achieving much success.

In order to try to reduce the demand for and usage of plastic bags, the Selangor (one of the Malaysian states) government had declared its plan to make every Saturday a plastic-bag free day. This plan had been announced on Dec. 20/09; and, came into effect on Jan. 1/10. However, since the first Saturday of this year was Jan. 2/10, the first plastic-bag free day caught many shoppers unprepared. While many were delighted when informed of what had happened; a few were more than a little miffed at being caught without any reusable bags.

Carrefour, one of the world’s largest retailers and operator of hypermarkets (supermarket combined with a department store), supermarkets, hard discount and convenience stores has over 15,000 stores - either company-owned or franchise - globally. Company spokesmen say that the few complaints they received about “no plastic bags” day came from consumers who were unaware the campaign had gotten underway.

Carrefour public relations manager, Salmieah Mohd Zin, explained that "most Carrefour stores in the Klang Valley have been plastic bag-free since last year and their target was to have no plastic bags in Carrefour Malaysia by 2012."

From now on, the price of being caught without a reusable bag will be 10 sen ($0.03 CDN) – a possible incentive to carry a reusable bag at all times.

This recently-invented insult to the environment was introduced a mere 25 years ago; and, society has become so enamoured of them that we go through 500,000,000,000 (500 billion) plastic bags annually. That is almost 1 million bags a minute.

Introduced just over 25 years ago, society's consumption rate of plastic bags is now estimated at well over 500,000,000,000 (that's 500 billion) plastic bags annually, or almost 1 million per minute.

Most people are unaware that plastic bags photodegrade. They know they will last forever in a landfill; but, what of other arenas. Since they photodegrade – breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic particles – they are capable of contaminating soil, contaminating and/or clogging waterways; and, enter the food chain through accidental animal ingestion. For more information on the environmental crisis caused by plastic bags, go to ReusableBags.com.

Some major locations such as San Francisco, the Republic of Ireland, China and South Africa have all implemented various taxes or outright banning of plastic bags. Despite the actions of these forward thinkers, plastic bags still account for monumental amounts of waste and toxic emissions globally.

Meanwhile, checking back in to the State of Selangor, the chain store Giant will start its “no plastic bag” days from Jan. 9/10 says their marketing manager Ho Mun Hao. He adds that their stores in Penang have gotten behind the campaign enthusiastically, promoted the campaign well and used managers to explain the concept to customers.

“We will prepare carton boxes for customers to pack their things. Plastic bags will still be available at 20 sen ($0.06 CDN); but, we will be selling reusable bags at RM1.99 ($0.62 CDN),” Ho added.

Cold Storage will also observe the “no plastic bag day” on Saturdays. Currently, the stores do not give out plastic bags on Thursdays; however, it is not clear whether Cold Storage will add Saturday as an additional “no plastic bag” day or just switch their “no plastic day” to Saturday.

Convenience store chain 7-11 will also be starting its “no plastic bag” campaign this Saturday, its website said.

Via Star Online and Care2

Decorations by Mother Nature

Roosting: Hundreds of wagtails line the branches, giving the impression of Christmas lights.

Over the holidays, strings of lights and glowing decorations adorn most streets especially in the centre of town. On the surface, this tree looks like it has been decorated with lights; but, someone forgot to turn it on. However, look very closely – all is not what it seems.

Close-up of wagtails.

Hundreds of pied wagtails have come to this tree to roost for the night. They cover every twig and branch as they all struggle for room.

Wagtails got their name because of a common trait of standing on the ground frantically wagging its tail up and down. The long-tailed, black and white bird is usually seen singly as they search endlessly for insects; but, at night they all gather together in large numbers.

This flock was spotted by photographer David Tipling among the decorations in Tunbridge Wells.

He said: “At first I thought they were lights that weren't working. People were walking underneath oblivious. It has been so cold recently that perhaps they find it warmer roosting in the middle of town rather than out in the countryside. 'They did look a little spooky, all of them gathered there together.”

Dr Nigel Collar, from conservation group BirdLife International, said: “There are two theories as to why so many wagtails roost together. The first is information exchange – they're all sizing each other up to see who's put on weight, lost weight and where the best food is to be found. The second is that it helps protect them from nocturnal predators as the larger numbers mean there's always one bird with his eyes open.”

Wagtails are found across most of Great Britain and can be found in the highlands and northern areas of Scotland in winter.

They are a sub-species of the White wagtail, which breeds in much of Europe, Asia and North Africa.

Via MailOnline

New Year's Trivia

There are New Year's traditions from around the world that herald in the New Year for our global neighbours. Here are some of them. Reprinted from newyearfestival.

Baby New Year Tradition
Tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year was started by ancient Greeks around 600 B.C. They would carry a baby around in a basket to honor Dionysus, the God of Fertility and symbolize his annual rebirth.

Burning "Mr. Old Year"
In Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico families stuff a life-size male doll with things that have bad memories or sadness associated with them, and then they dress it up in old clothes from each family member. At the stroke of midnight, this 'Mr. Old Year' is set on fire.

Eating 12 Grapes
In Spain people eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight (one each time the clock chimes) on New Year's Eve. This peculiar ritual originated in the twentieth century when freak weather conditions resulted in an unseasonable bumper harvest of grapes. Not able to decide what to do about so many grapes at Christmas time, the King of Spain and the grape growers came up with the idea of the New Year ritual.

Eating Noodles
Late on the evening of December 3 1, people of Japan would eat a bowl of buckwheat noodles called "toshikoshisoba" ("year-crossing noodles") and listen for the sound of the Buddhist temple bells, which were rung 108 times at midnight. The sound of these bells is said to purify the listeners of the 108 sins or evil passions that plague every human being.

White Clothes
In Brazil most people wear white clothes on New Year's Eve to bring good luck and peace for the year that will follow.

Gifts in Shoes
In Greece children leave their shoes by the fireside on New Year's Day (also the Festival of Saint Basil in Greece) with the hope that Saint Basil, who was famous for his kindness, will come and fill their shoes with gifts.

Carry a Suitcase
In Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, and Mexico, those with hopes of traveling in the New Year carry a suitcase around the house at midnight. Some even carry it around the block to ensure traveling at greater distances.

Burn Crackers
The people in China believe that there are evil spirits that roam the earth. So on New Year they burn crackers to scare the evil spirits. The doors and windows of every home in china can be seen sealed with paper. This is to keep the evil demons out.

Want Some Luck? Smoke Vulture Brains!

Rolled into a cigarette or inhaled as vapors, vulture brains can help at the horse races or lure more clients to a business according to vendors of traditional medicines in South Africa. Photograph: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images

Using animal parts to relieve pain, enhance sexual performance, and confer mystical powers upon the part of the consumer has driven some species to the edge of extinction. Now, vultures in Africa can be added to that list.

On the surface, it would appear that there is nothing a vulture possesses that anyone in their right mind would want; but, that’s where we go wrong. Vulture brains are in great demand in Africa; specifically dried and rolled into cigarettes.

There is a traditional belief that the vultures’ adeptness in finding prey with their keen vision is actually due to a mystical ability by the bird to see into the future. Believers feel that by smoking their brains or inhaling the smoke from a burning vulture brain will give them the same ability. This ability to determine future events and outcomes will be used for gambling purposes.

Gambling is a popular pastime in Africa and this is only increasing with the upcoming 2010 World Cup being held in South Africa. Environmentalists fear that this old superstition may be the demise of some vulture species in Africa. Already, seven of the nine African species of vulture are classed as endangered. While the vultures are usually shot, trapped or poisoned; the poisoning has escalated to the point of poisoning other animals, so that when the vulture feeds on them they die also. This is easy money for the vulture hunters as there can be as many as 300 – 400 birds feeding on any one carcass.

Photo courtesy: TreeHugger

Steve McKean, of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife:

Traditional use as it is currently happening is likely to render vultures extinct in southern Africa on its own within 20 to 30 years.

Andre Botha, from the Endangered Wildlife Trust in South Africa:

People believe it's foresight and this finds fertile ground in people's imagination. If it worked for the lottery, everyone would use it and we'd have a lot of millionaires walking around today. There is a lot of betting in South Africa. So we may see an increase connected to gambling around the 2010 World Cup.

A 2007 study found that 160 vultures a year are sold for muti in eastern South Africa but the total across the region is much, much higher. About 1,000 are killed every year in Tanzania alone.

Brains and other body parts are then sold at street markets or shops in Johannesburg and other cities.

There is a demand for the bearded vulture in Eastern Cape province. Traditional healers prefer that the bird be captured alive as the head needs to be removed while it is still living so that "the brain does not flow down into the spinal cord" and the muti loses its potency.

Via TreeHugger and guardian.

Talk About "Grow Your Own"

Photo courtesy: The Fire Wire

Lizards, spiders, sea cucumbers, worms, and sponges are a few of the living creatures that can do it. Pretty soon, humans may be able to do it, too.

What is “it”? It is the ability to regenerate portions of one’s own body. People may soon be joining the ranks of creatures such as sharks – species with the ability to regenerate their own teeth.

Some scientists are confident that in the very near future, people will be able to replace lost teeth, not with dentures; but, with brand new ones grown by the owner.

A small ball of cells capable of growing into a new tooth will be implanted where the missing tooth used to be. No more will bedside tables hold a glass of water with dentures grinning eerily inside. If you lose a tooth, a quick trip to the dentist and a local anaesthetic later, starts you growing your own replacement. A few months later, no one would ever know that you hadn’t had that tooth all your life.

Dental procedures today require a metal post to be driven into the jaw before being capped with a porcelain or plastic tooth.

"The surgery today can be extensive and you need to have good solid bone in the jaw and that is a major problem for some people," Professor Sharpe, a specialist in the field of regenerative dentistry at the Dental Institute of King's College, London, says.

He also points out that this method could be used on far more patients because the ball of cells that grows into a tooth also produces bone that anchors to the jaw.

The choice of growing a new tooth is likely to appeal to patients.

"Anyone who has lost teeth will tell you that, given the chance, they would rather have their own teeth than false ones," said Prof. Sharpe.

Photo courtesy: eHow

The procedure is fairly simple to perform. Doctors take stem cells, which are unique in their ability to form any tissue which makes up the body, from the patient; and, carefully nurture them in a laboratory. By selective nudging, a scientist can coax the cells into becoming teeth. After a couple of weeks of careful direction, the ball of cells (called a bud) is ready to be implanted. Tests are run to determine which type of tooth (molar, incisor, etc.) the bud will mature into.

A local anaethetic is used while the bud is inserted through a small incision into the gum. As the tooth grows, it releases chemicals that encourage nerves and blood vessels to link up with it. Within a few months, a fully-formed, full-functional tooth is present fused to the jawbone.

Tests have shown the technique to work in mice, where new teeth took weeks to grow. "There's no reason why it shouldn't work in humans, the principles are the same," said Prof. Sharpe.

His team has set up a company, Odontis, to exploit the technique; and, it is already garnering interest from the private sector. He has won £400,000 ($639,509 USD) from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts and the Wellcome Trust.

Via Guardian

10 Reason To Hug a Tree

Digital Vision/Getty Images

Why be a friend to the trees? If nothing else, there's a little something I like to call survival. As you'll soon see, trees are essential to our species and many, many others. Sure, trees are fun to climb, to swing on, to picnic under, or to hug...but we've reached a critical point on Planet Earth and without proper appreciation and love for our barked co-inhabitants, well...we're screwed. So, read the list below, share it, get organized, and get busy with the transition to a culture that celebrates simplicity, diversity, and solidarity. It's time to put out the call.

10 Reasons to Hug the Nearest Tree ASAP

1. Trees Provide Oxygen (and Reduce Climate Change)
The equation is rather fundamental: During photosynthesis, a tree "inhales" CO2 from the air and then separates the carbon from the oxygen molecules. The carbon is absorbed by the tree, which then "exhales" pure oxygen back into the air for us to breathe. In the process just described, trees also serve as carbon sinks, e.g. as Wise Geek tells us, trees "naturally absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, sequestering the carbon and converting it into mass while releasing the oxygen back into the atmosphere." Such carbon sinks offset carbon dioxide emissions and reduce climate change.

2. Trees Provide Food
Almost as basic as #1, trees offer food like nuts and fruits for humans and other creatures. The folks at SavaTree add: "Many animals, including elephants, koalas, and giraffes eat leaves for nourishment. Flowers are eaten by monkeys, and nectar is a favorite of birds, bats, and many insects. Animals also eat much of the same fruit that we enjoy. This process helps disperse seeds over great distances."

3. Trees Provide Homes
From nearly microscopic insects to camouflaged reptiles to feathered friends to wily primates and beyond, each tree is a vast, thriving eco-system in and of itself. The destruction of even a single small tree not only disrupts natural cycles, it also sentences countless creatures to death.

4. Trees Provide Medicine
For 5.1 billion people--85% of the world's population--herbs are the primary source for medicines. Even in a modern (sic) society like the U.S, plants are the original source materials for as many as 40% of the pharmaceuticals in use.

5. Trees Provide Shade and Protection
Due to ozone depletion, we earthlings now have to endure increased amounts of potentially dangerous ultraviolet radiation. Thanks to our tree friends, we get some shade and protection and thus (we hope) less skin cancer.

Digital Vision/Getty Images

6. Trees Provide Energy Savings
"As you whiz down the interstate on your way to more interesting places, you'll see that all the farmhouses are surrounded by trees," writes Josh Peterson. "You see, the farmers know that planting trees in the right places is good for their houses and it's good for the land. The trees act as windbreaks and keep the snow from drifting up against the house. It also keeps that valuable topsoil in place. And in the summer time, there is no better place to beat that ridiculous Midwestern heat than in the shade of a tree. You can use the same principals to make your house more energy efficient with proper tree placement."

7. Trees Provide Pollution Reduction
Trees absorb pollutants like sulfur dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen oxides through the stomates in the surface of their leaves. Up to a 60% reduction in street level particulates has been found on tree-lined streets and roadways. Trees also muffle urban noise pollution.

8. Trees Provide Erosion and Flood Prevention
Deforestation negatively impacts the amount of water in the soil and groundwater and the moisture in the atmosphere. Without tree roots to hold soil in place and fight erosion, we are seeing more runoff and less sediment deposit after storms. This result in higher levels of chemicals in our water and far more flooding. On a related note, mangrove trees protect coastal areas from ocean waves and work in smooth symbiosis with coral reefs.

9. Trees Provide Soil Enrichment
Fallen leaves make excellent compost that enriches soil. Here's how the USDA Forest Service explains it: "Needles and leaves that fall are not wasted. They decompose and restock the soil with nutrients and make up part of the spongy humus layer of the forest floor that absorbs and holds rainfall. Fallen leaves also become food for numerous soil organisms vital to the forest ecosystem."

10. Trees Provide Beauty and Natural Wealth
Some people look at trees and see only lumber and profits as the sound of chainsaws echo in their clouded heads. Sane people look at trees and see kindred spirits, fellow travelers, and eons of wisdom from which we have so much more to learn.

Via TreeHugger

Did You Know That...

The Iroquois used to plant three vegetables together and call them "the three sisters". They were corn, beans and squash. The corn stalks were support for the beans and the squash prevented weeds.