Archive for October, 2007
« Previous EntriesAre Hybrids “worth it?”
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007I talk about hybrid cars a lot. (Um. A lot.) Partly it’s because I love gadgets, and I love innovation. Partly it’s because I drive a hybrid car, and I love it. And partly it’s because I find that people don’t really know how incredibly inefficient most automobiles are. When faced with my hybrid, which [...]
Bikesharing in Lyon, France
Tuesday, October 30th, 2007I love reading about how various cities implement customized versions of bikeshare programs- and seeing as how the success or failure of these schemes lies in the details, it’s fun to think about what would make a NYC bikeshare successful. Mayor Bloomberg visited Paris over the summer and, while he seemed enthusiastic overall about the [...]
A Better Vocabulary and Free Rice!
Monday, October 29th, 2007Green as a Thistle posted about the highly addictive word game Free Rice: “FreeRice has two goals: 1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free; 2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.” I do wonder if world hunger can be ended just by giving out rice for free (seems [...]
All-Star Interview: Theo Stewart-Strand
Monday, October 29th, 2007Theo Stewart-Strand is a product designer based in NYC. He designed the Flatterware Collapsible Cups we posted about last week. I asked him a few questions: Can you tell us a little about your design process? We’ve been working on these cups for about three years. The idea came from a scale used to weigh [...]
Tiny Choices Weekly Roundup
Sunday, October 28th, 2007Wherein we summarize all the fun and information from the previous week for your convenience! Last week on Tiny Choices: Monday: Karina ruminates on Laundry Detergent and passes on a recycling volunteer opportunity in NYC. Tuesday: Jenn lists the top 10 reasons to care about the environment… and asks you for the most important one! [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Online Bill Payment!
Saturday, October 27th, 2007Due the modern wonders of the internets, we’re willing to bet that your bank, as multi-national or homespun as it may be, offers online bill payment. And we’re also willing to bet that, if you take the time to enter in the account information for your recurring bills, you will immediately fall in love with [...]
Tiny Choices Survey: MB Mullan
Friday, October 26th, 2007Vital statistics (name, age, location)? MB Mullan, 45 Brooklyn, NY (my real name is Marybeth — MB is what everyone has called me since age 16. How do you reside (apartment or house, roommates)? Are your housing decisions dictated by choice or necessity? Please explain. I live in an apartment with my husband and 2 [...]
The Bible Goes Green!
Thursday, October 25th, 2007Who knew that it’d be especially difficult to produce a recycled paper for bible-printing? Due to the thin, tissue-paper-esque quality of the leaves, it’s taken some time to get the recipe right- but earlier this month, publishers Thomas Nelson Inc released the world’s first bible printed on recycled paper. They worked closely with the Green [...]
Flatterware Collapsable Cups
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007I attended the 7th Annual Cooper Union Art Auction and Casino Night this weekend, and was excited to win the auction for two collapsible cups. I have been thinking about collapsible cups for the Longest Time! so when I say excited, I mean Totally Excited. I’ve been trying to carry around a smaller handbag and [...]
“This isn’t Rocket Science.”
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007Now, THIS is what I’m talking about. Check out this awesome print ad from the Pew Campaign for Automotive Efficiency. It is so spot-on! And it gets right back to what I was saying last week with my post on Toyota and efficiency - but it is much clearer and more concise. And honestly, if [...]
Top Ten Reasons To Care About The Environment:
Tuesday, October 23rd, 200710. Green is the new black. 9. It’s fun to confuse checkout clerks by pulling out your own grocery bag! 8. It’s way more relaxing to sit under a tree than under a clear-cut. 7. Endless family fun when playing the wholesome game: “Is This Recyclable?” 6. Grow strong and fit by carrying your reusable water [...]
Be a NYC Recycling Volunteer!
Monday, October 22nd, 2007Super-great Waste Correspondent Michelle sent along the following information: Office of Recycling Outreach and Education Volunteer Training Recycling in the city has declined and we need YOU to help get NYC recycling again! New Yorkers can recycle more, and the OROE (Office of Recycling Outreach and Education) borough-wide coordinators are working to train residents, building [...]
Ruminitions on Laundry Detergents
Monday, October 22nd, 2007I did what felt like approximately tenhundredthousand loads of laundry yesterday. When you’re cranking them all by hand, it really does seem like a lot of work. In actuality, I spent only a couple of hours and washed probably 3 regular-sized loads of laundry. So, another benefit of cranking your laundry is that you have [...]
Tiny Choices Weekly Roundup
Sunday, October 21st, 2007Wherein we summarize all the fun and information from the previous week for your convenience! Last week on Tiny Choices: Monday: it’s Blog Action Day! We discuss what Tiny Choices has taught us. Tuesday: Jenn tackles the Pest Problem in a Q&A, and lets us in on a timely quote. Wednesday: Karina gets up in [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Optimize your Fridge Efficiency!
Saturday, October 20th, 2007While experts agree that a full fridge is more efficient than an empty one, they also agree that the most efficient refrigerator is a CLOSED refrigerator. Take a few minutes every couple of weeks to go through your fridge to make sure you know what’s in there. Toss old stuff and rearrange what’s currently in [...]
Tiny Choices Survey: Alexis Kienlen
Friday, October 19th, 2007Vital statistics (name, age, location)? Alexis Kienlen, age 31. I’m a writer/ journalist who recently published my first book. I currently live in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. It’s a northern city with a population of 50,000. How do you reside (apartment or house, roommates)? Are your housing decisions dictated by choice or necessity? Please explain. [...]
Dryer Update-Foil for Static Cling?
Thursday, October 18th, 2007As previously discussed, most dryer sheets are evil. While I’ve never personally had a problem with static cling, this is probably the most common reason for using dryer sheets in the first place. That, and the sparkling-clean scent of fresh clothes. So here’s a tip for you static-clingies to try: To prevent static electricity in [...]
Toyota and the elusive mileage standards
Wednesday, October 17th, 2007You all may know by now that I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to alternative fuels. I love alternative fuels! I love all of the options, and I love how no one has decided there is any One Right Way to replace our all-meaning gasoline. This week I got a question from [...]
Quote of the Day
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007“Every good cause is worth some inefficiency.” — Paul Samuelson, economist
Tiny Choices Q&A: Pest Control?
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007Welcome to Tiny Choices Q&A, where we open the floor for discussion on questions which ya’ll have submitted (read the first list of questions here). Stacey asks: Pest control - bugs and, ick, actual critters - many of us are New Yorkers, living in multiunit buildings. If we say no to the exterminator, do bugs [...]
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