Monday, December 21, 2009

Recycling for Raptors

I've been sending used ink cartridges in support of the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center for a number of years now. The Raptor Center "specializes in the medical care, rehabilitation, and conservation of eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons." The Center treats approximately 800 birds a year...You can visit the Center to see their magic and get up close a personal with a raptor!



Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Poor neglected blog

Wow has it been this loooong since I last visited my blog? With Twitter, FaceBook and Goodreads, it seems that my blog has been neglected since late April of this year. Hopefully, I'll do a better job in 2010.


:-)

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Old electronics devices...

I have a number of broken electronic gagdets and devices hidden in the garage, basement or laundry room...What to do with these electronics? Recently I learned that Best Buy is offering to recycle electronics from cell phones to TVs to computers for free (mostly). In the past I've either waited for our local Earth Day recycyling event to have these items properly disposed. Having Best Buy as an option is really nice as you can bring them to any local store. The only rule is that you can bring 2 items per day. Best Buy does however charge $10 per item that has a screen such as a TV or computer monitor. In return, Best Buy give you a $10 gift card to spend at...Best Buy! I've taken 2 broken TVs, a broken CD player and a antiquated computer without any problems.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Pine Siskin

This past week I identified a Pine Siskin, a small brown finch that was singing loudly while perched on our Ash tree. Speaking of Ash tree...our neighborhood is full of ash trees and now I've recently learned that the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer is located in Wisconsin, Yikes! Just across the Mississippi. According to the StarTribune.com article, Minnesota has close to 900 million ash trees, second in the US.

Pine Siskin

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Nerd calendar of events...

A few upcoming events that I look forward to in April and May...

MicroCon Comic Book Convention
Sunday April 26:10a.m. to 4p.m.
Minnesota State Fairgrounds
Progress Center
Cost:
$7.00 for adults. Children 9 & Under are free! Get $1.00 off with a canned food donation!

Free Comic Book Day
Saturday, May 2nd at your local comic book store. Did I mentioned that it's free and you can get a bag full of comics for free!



Living Green Expo 2009
Saturday, May 2: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, May 3: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Minnesota State Fair Grounds


Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Bye, Bye Seattle Post-Intelligencer and others...

Just read that Seattle Post-Intelligencer will be a Web-only newspaper. They may be the first of many to follow in the newspaper industry. Just a few weeks ago the Rocky Mountain News closed it's door a mere 2 months before it's 150th anniversary. Even their Web site is generally frozen in time as most dates are time stamp with Feb 26th...

I for one still enjoy reading the newspaper the old fashion way but can see why that model is outdated and must change. The idea of printing something everyday and than coordinating the delivery is getting silly...not to mention the energy related to printing the newspaper.

Even though I like to have a paper to read on hand, I tend to get my news fix via the Web, sms and services like Twitter.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Common Redpoll

This afternoon I identified a pair of Common Redpoll at our bird feeder. The bird feeder is a nyger seed sack that has seen a large number of birds today.

Common Redpoll


Goldfinches on the nyger seed sack



A list of bird seeds/food to attract common winter birds...

  • American goldfinch -- Nyger seed, black-oil sunflower seeds, sunflower pieces.
  • Northern cardinal -- Black-oil sunflower seeds, cracked corn, white millet, suet.
  • House finch -- Black-oil sunflower seeds, white millet, nutmeats, suet.
  • Dark-eyed junco -- White millet, cracked corn, hulled sunflower seed (on ground).
  • Mourning dove -- Cracked corn, white and red millet, safflower seed (on ground).
  • Red-bellied woodpecker -- Suet and suet mixes, peanuts, sunflower seeds.
  • Downy and hairy woodpeckers -- Suet and suet mixes, peanuts, hulled sunflower seeds.
  • Blue jay -- Peanuts, corn kernels, sunflower, suet, acorns.
  • Black-capped chickadee -- Black-oil sunflower seeds, safflower, suet, peanut pieces.
  • White-breasted nuthatch --Black-oil sunflower seeds, saffower, suet, peanuts.
  • Golden-crowned kinglet -- Suet and suet mixes, nut pieces.
  • Cedar waxwings -- Berries, raisins.
  • House sparrow -- Sunflower pieces, cracked corn, white and red millet (on ground).
  • Common redpoll -- Sunflower pieces, nyger seed, suet.
  • Pine siskin -- Nyger seed, sunflower pieces, white millet.
  • Ring-necked pheasant -- Corn kernels, sunflower seeds, oats, barley.
  • Ducks and geese -- Corn kernels, wheat, acorns.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Dishwashers vs. Hand Washing

An interesting article from TreeHugger.com about whether cleaning dishes is more efficient using a dishwasher or hand washing. The article explores water and energy usage as well as the carbon footprint created by washing the dishes. Conclusion? It is very hard, although possible, for hand washing to be more efficient than a dishwasher...be sure to run the dishwasher when it is full and not half empty! I for one am always happy to load up the dishwasher, especially with a family of five. Although, I still hand wash pots and pans...



Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Awesome megapixel photo of inaugural address...

If you pan and zoom to the choir area (above and to the right of President Obama), you can see Yo-Yo Ma taking a photo with his iPhone.


Sunday, January 18, 2009

More ethanol problems

"VeraSun Energy Corp., the nation's second largest ethanol producer, is putting seven of its biorefineries — including one in Minnesota — up for auction as part of a bankruptcy court financing agreement."

http://tinyurl.com/create.php

A great post about the recent closing of a local school district due to low temperature and biodiesel fuel turning into a gel-like substance which resulted in buses going no where in a hurry...