A Harsh Reality About Rivers

Well, being born by the ocean, and living within 20 minutes of the ocean my whole life, I must say that rivers and lakes freak me out. And you, say, " whoa whoa whoa buddy, you'd rather swim around with sharks than trout?" and I'd say, " Well no, but at least I can see the bottom when I'm surfing or swimming. And have you ever seen a Sturgeon? HUGE!!! " And I guess that's what freaks me out. I CANT TELL WHATS AT THE BOTTOM! Or, scratch that, anything that's below the surface for that matter. I also enjoy the whole wave aspect, and to me, lake's seem too quiet and too undisturbed for me. It just seems to me that some freaky fish has a way better chance of surviving at the bottom of a huge lake, not bothered, top-of-the-food-chain, etc. And, you'll never get to swim next to dolphins in a lake. ( always amazing to see them swim next to you while you surf, but its totally different to be within 5 feet of one, really amazing creatures.) But, this all has little to do with the article of the day, coming to you from CNN science. (CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE)


Just as it is with most natural resources...they are dying. But, as I have stated before, hope is never lost. The list of 10 worst polluted/contaminated rivers is really an eye-opener. I mean, its something that is, quite frankly, easy to take care. I don't really have much of an opinion (besides my irrational fear of Lakes, not really a fear, more of a strong dislike) on this issue, but it's good knowledge and please leave a comment if you live by one of these lakes and have an insight to whats going on a local level. I'll update again before the day is over. Add me on twitter @GreenLifeUSA

Ciao!

An Easy Way to Make a Rug

Making a braided wool rug is a great summer project to undertake. Not only will you have a lot of fun, you will also make a unique and very personal braided rug for any of your rooms. Choose between round, oval, rectangular or square braided rugs and add new warmth and vibrancy to the rooms in your house. They can also be used a rug runner in your hallway to add some cushion to a wood floored hallwayMaking braided wool rugs is not at all difficult. All you need are the materials and instructions listed below:


Materials:

Colored wool
Scissors
Darning needle
Sewing needle
Thread
Sturdy string


Instructions:

Take three strings of wool at a time. Choose the length of the string according to what’s most convenient for you.

Tie the ends of the three strings together in a loop. Once the loop is ready, slip it around the leg of a table or chair to anchor it in place. Choose a comfortable place to sit in front of the table or chair.

Hold the strings tautly so that the string is straight and taut. Start braiding. Hold the three strips apart. Then starting with the right strip, pass that strip over the center strip. Then pass the left strip over the new center strip (what started out on the right). Continue alternating from right to left side as you braid one strip over the other in a three-piece braid.

Keep braiding until you have a long, consistent braid. You can keep sewing up more strings to the ends of the braid as and when you run out of string. Some people prefer to use short strings and keep sewing new pieces regularly. On the other hand, some people prefer using long lengths of string at a time. Choose what’s most convenient for you.

Now that you have a very long braid you will coil it into your rug. Use a flat surface, ideally your floor, and start coiling one end of the braid. Wrap a flat circle around the end. Curl two or three circles to start.

Use darning needle and heavy string lace back and forth across the circles positioning your needle over one braid then under the next. After lacing the first three circles together, start making the rug larger.

Keep adding more and more circles to the center. Also keep securing each circle with lacing as you proceed. This will ensure a uniformly flat braided rug.

Keep circling around and holding the rug tight until it reaches the size you want.
When your braided rug has reached the desired size, cut remaining braid, if any.

Then, trim the edges of the end and sew it into the previous circle.

Viola! Your very own braided wool rug is ready!

Leave some comments if you had any difficulties or success! Hope all is well! Be sure to follow us on Twitter!

A Little Something for Smiles

This really has nothing to do with the environment, but it does point out a very real fact: the Bush Administration had serious objections to global warming and its impact...and it makes for comedy gold. Adam and Eve drove an excursion...

A Lesson on Famous People

HAHAHAHAHAHAH. HAHAHAHAHAHA. It's amazing. Watch this video


Now, is it weird that Republicans...instead of actually TRYING TO HELP THE PLANET...are worried that Al Gore invested in a company promoting initiatives that would help our planet, that he makes NO PERSONAL PROFIT FROM? No, thats called smart business. And secondly, so what if he makes a profit? He was a smart! and invested wiesely! Since when is that a bad quality of an American? Oh, he does have to make a living somehow by the way...Why cant Republicans try to help? JUST HELP. Don't try to turn this around. Don't say that Al Gore has ulterior motives. Because if he did, don't you think he would just retire with the MILLIONS HE MADE FROM THE BOOK AND THE MOVIE? I do. its crazy man, just crazy. His new book is coming out in November, called Our Choice, and it's going to be well-thought out, well researched and well written. Because his is well thought out, well researched and he writes well. Its frustrating sometimes.

A Few Words Regarding Small Animals

Well, I must say, I really didn't see this coming. The new Jack In The Box commercial with all those "cows the size of schnauzers but they're cattle "...is really coming true. Check out this link (CLICK RIGHT HERE FOR THE MINI-COW ORIGINAL STORY) But, unlike the pure comedy genius of the JITB marketing and advertising team, the idea of bringing back more smaller cattle is not fool-hardy at all. The best thing is, the mini-cows are real. They are not genetic copies, they are just smaller cousins of their larger bovine relatives who came from Europe. The article also mentions that during the middle of the 20th century, farm land was easy to procure, and farmers cared little about how much efficiency they were getting out of their cows...they just like 'em big. (Weird...in America...we think bigger means better...weird...) The farmers believed the bigger cows would result in more product, which is occasionally true, but the larger cows need MUCH, MUCH more food and land to graze, whereas our mini friends, need only a fraction of that land and food. A really good article to read.


Anyway, why did I post this? Well, its a way that people are trying to change the way we normally do things. And raising gigantic cattle has become synonymous with American Farmers, and the result is the depreciation of vital farmland and resources, that we never took into consideration while these big cows roamed the countryside. Now, in the midst of a HUMAN-CREATED dilemma (mainly world food supplies and shrinking grazing lands, but I suppose I could name a few more...) and the point of this blog, well, one of the points, is to show how some people take their future and ours into their own hands. The farmers who are switching to at least some of the smaller cows, are reaping in the benefits and will continue to do so. And its not like these cows are small mammals, they weight around 600 pounds. But the amount of food they eat and need to survive is drastically reduced when compared to their larger brethren. It's just nice to see how people are looking right in their own backyard for the solutions to the problems facing us all. Go Mini-Cows, Go!

A Path Less Traveled

So, I don't usually write about health issues, but I came across a few blog's yesterday that were giving some really chilling accounts of people who are VERY anti-vaccine. I am one who is all for the freedom of expression and the ability we have as Americans to choose what we think is right for kids. And for me, personally, vaccinations are a part of life. They are for the good of SOCIETY. The one YOU and I live in. They are used to combat diseases that WE HAVE ANSWERS FOR. Now, if a thyroid cancer drug came out, you'd be pretty excited about that right? Cause as far as I know, there is no "herbal remedy" or "natural product" that can cure cancer. But, if some big Pharma-Giant did the research with SCIENCE ( You remember Science right? He told us that gravity is real and we exist in the world, ya know, small things) and found a drug that could do that, you would probably try your best to procure that, right? (Assuming of course that you had thyroid cancer
) Well, that's the issue. People who fear vaccines are claiming that they aren't 100% safe for children. Ok, well, what IS 100% safe? As far as I can tell, from my time on Earth, is that nothing is 100% harmless or 100% safe. NOTHING. The Pennsylvania Children's Hospital has a really good resource explaining this. ( you can find it here ) People die and get sick all the time, from all sorts of things, controlled and uncontrolled. That's just a natural downside from all the upsides we have from being Human Beings. We are vulnerable. But we CAN PREVENT THINGS. So, lets do that. Lets make sure simple diseases stay at low levels, and this, by golly, happens through science.

Some diseases still occur in the United States at very low levels, so if immunization rates dropped even a little bit, outbreaks of disease would sweep across the country rapidly. Examples of these diseases include measles, mumps and Hib.

People want to say they are against the Pharma companies and against big business controlling how doctors treat you. We live in a society that is made up by a myriad of beliefs and theories, all combining to form the most cohesive policy we can for our citizens. And if you want Doctors at all, you need to listen to them. If your child was in a car accident, you wouldn't take them to some quack doctor, proclaiming that some Cedar branches will fight off the infections. No, you would rush to the hospital and give your child into the hands of a CAPABLE AND TRAINED medical professional. You wouldn't think twice. It's not easy being a doctor. The years of sacrifice and long hours are merely the beginning. But, there ARE doctors who are influenced by Pharma companies. Thats where personal responsibility comes into effect. YOU must do the research. YOU must ask the questions. YOU can always go get a second opinion. These are only a few of the benefits we have. And while our health care system is light years behind the effeciency and overall fairness of the European system, we do have a wealth of very specialized surgeons and doctors. So use the tools you have. Go ask a doctor, go ask his friend-doctors. Look up things online. The research avenues we have now as compared to 20 years ago are just astounding. YOUR FUTURE IS JUST THAT, YOURS. You have the ability to make decisions and enforce those.


Now, on the topic of desicions: I came across a lady who responded to a blog post about the possibility ( and its ONLY A POSSIBILITY ) that some vaccines have been noted to be POSSIBLY linked to autism in children. She said "there is no evidence that the vaccines cause Autsim, but there is not evidence that IT DOESNT". So, by that logic, this candle next to my desk probably doesn't cause cancer, but...IT COULD!!! Yes, obviously it may. And WITH SCIENCE AND DOCTORS, we will all be able to know in the future. Saying things like that to skew your position not only doesn't make sense, it makes you look insincere. She also said she was "educated and did research". Ok.. me to....your point? What research? What study? What journal? I just keep coming back to my whole theory of the lack of personal responsibility in our culture. We always want to blame the things about society that aren't fully understood or may have a few downsides. How many people were vaccinated as kids? I know I was. And THANK GOD. And all my friends were. So we could hang out together. That is one thing I am very much against: people who refuse vaccinations on their children, and yet want to be out in public; the mall, the store, etc. Well, too bad. The rest of us did the smart thing and HELPED OUT SOCIETY by getting our children vaccinated so no other kids would get hurt. Imagine if smallpox came back. Polio. Any disease. We have gained the knowledge to stamp these out, yet some people feel like they are smarter than the people we trust with our health...yeah, doesn't make sense to me either. All of what I'm saying doesn't mean you shouldn't do your own research to make the best choices for YOUR LIFE. You should do all you can to give your children the best shot at a healthy and happy life. Thats your job as a parent. But that doesn't mean you should put OTHERS at risk because your concerned with very very very small possibilities compared to a very very very likely chance of stopping a simple disease in its tracks before it becomes a national issue. Please be aware of the numerous benefits of vaccines. I dont think we should throw our lives over to a company popping out some miracle cure, but we should believe in the system we have created. Yes, We Created This. By voting, by public action, by the way things have failed in the past and we are doing are best now so that wont ever happen again. Progress means moving forward. Staying still only takes up space.

Sorry if this is too much of a rant, just got me fired up. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY WORKS. Trust me. Take care all, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

A Small Update To The Previous Post.

OK, well, literally 5 minutes after I posted the last article, I came across this article, totally by chance. (CLICK HERE FOR THE ARTICLE) So, it appears that some wind turbines have killed goats. Yes, yes, I know, its horrible. We let those turbines run wild and look what happens. All joking aside, the farmer who owns the goats said that after 8 ( yeah, just 8) turbines were placed by his farm, his goats became malnourished. The reason they were malnourished? The farmer claims that the noise from the turbine's interrupted the sleeping patterns of the goats, making them...I don't know exactly, unable to handle waking up? I mean, I understand that some animals have very peculiar patterns as far as habitats and tendencies go, but, let be real here: THEY ARE GOATS. They AREN'T indigenous. They can live pretty much ANYWHERE. Since when have we listened and responded to the sleeping demands of goats? I mean, goats people. And the whole thing is, the company that made the turbines, offered to pay for part of a new farmhouse for the farmer.

OK, yes, I understand there are two sides of this story. Obviously, the farmer makes a living through those goats, and that must be incredibly hard to lose half of your inventory. Imagine if half of Best Buy's gadgets suddenly went missing, they would be pretty upset too. But, what we are concerned about is the negative publicity towards the turbines. Yes, there will have to be sacrifices. But those turbines are leading the way toward a future of 100% renewable energy. And to make this an issue without even finding out WHAT KILLED THE GOATS. All the article said was that the farmer thinks its because they are too loud, so the goats couldn't sleep. I mean, what? They couldn't sleep? Has that ever been brought up in a scientific journal, that goats are really light sleepers? I understand if the goats are falling asleep under the turbines, but, in that case, lets herd them somewhere else.

To me, it just sounds like a way for people to look negatively upon alternative types of energy. I'm sure there will be a compromise worked out. The company obviously doesn't want their name put out on such negative connotations. So, just more of a funny update than anything. Hope all is well. See you tomorrow.

A Thought or Two on Wind Farms

So, I came across this article about the wind farms in southern Scotland that were just approved to add 36 more, making the Whitlee wind farm the largest onshore wind farm in the UK. Now, onshore wind farms have caught the same slack in the past as offshore farms have, namely in the Cape Cod area and off the coast of Los Angeles. And Scotland is not early the size of LA of Massachusetts, but still they have felt the need to change the way they get power. And guess what? WIND IS TOTALLY FREE. No one has to give anyone any cash to generate wind...so why not harness it? It's just like solar power. And now, I'm not saying wind turbines aren't flawed, but they are a step in the right direction to eliminate the carbon from our atmosphere. The change we need to accomplish, as far as the environment goes, is not attainable over night. We simply cannot expect the scientists and engineers of the world to solve this problem, that has taken hundreds of years to come to fruition. We are responsible for it as humans, and now, as humans, we are trying to dig ourselves out of this hole.

Back to the wind... while people have legitimate arguments for not wanting to plot down 36 110m high poles in the middle of the countryside, but lets also think about the numbers:

That will allow the £300m wind farm to power 250,000 homes and could create up to 300 jobs, Mr Salmond said.

Now, 300 jobs isn't a huge amount, but it is 300 jobs that weren't even available before. That means 300 people who couldn't work, can work now. Lets focus on the real number, which is 250,000, as in the wind farm will be able to power all those homes, with only 140 turbines. Now, that is a lot, but this is ONSHORE. Just think if we plopped down 600 of those things offshore somewhere? Because, lets be honest, the ocean is huge, and for people to complain about the "eye-sore" factor of these wind turbines is just childish and sophomoric. By those calculations, 600 turbines would be able to power over 1 million homes. Now, this is assuming our technologies don't improve in the coming 10 years, (which, is HIGHLY and BASICALLY unlikely...scratch that, we are getting better information and knowledge everyday, so 10 years will make a difference) hence, that number can only grow. I understand there are opponents of the farms, people who are involved in a few nature societies, and I understand why they would be upset. But, YOU LIVE ON THE PLANET TOO. You want to drive your car, to turn on your lights, to e-mail your kids, etc. It seems ridiculous to complain and lash out against these sources of alternative energy, because then nothing is getting accomplished. Instead of just saying " oh, that idea is dumb, that won't work"...suggest something. Do your own research. Be your own scientist if you think no one else can do it right. Because lashing out against people who are TRYING to think of new and still profitable ways of changing the way we consume and deliver power to the ever-growing population of the world is just counter-productive, and for lack of a better word, DUMB. So, let's at least applaud the efforts of people trying to make a difference, trying a new pathway, learning something new about themselves and about all of us. We can all envision the end of fossil fuel mass-consumption, but can we do anything about it? Sure, just go look outside. Any thoughts?

A Few Notes from FBRP

I just wanted to add a few things about the green movement. In most circles, it is thought of as a good thing. But there is occasionally a negative connotation brought about sometimes regarding the green movement, mainly by people who do not understand it. Being green is not dismissing reality and business quotas. The way the green movement will work is by being integrated into society, so we need those business to accommodate new and sometimes different ideas. We can all do little simple things to change the way we consume: turn the lights off, buy food from local sources, recycle as much as you can. But there are other ways you can use less and get something back. Buy products from manufacturers that use sustainable products, write your local representatives about recycling and re-using community groups in your area. A lot of people in the green movement talk a big game, but do they really come through? Its the action that makes a difference. So write someone, tell a friend, just get involved any way that you can. Because any help we can give the Earth is good help. Just don't be a by-stander. Get involved, speak out, be honest. Good values create good people and good people create a good world. Live the cycle.

A Little Info About Rugs for Your Home Decor

If you are considering buying a natural fiber rug, you will a wide array of materials to choose from. Rugs made from natural fiber like wool, cotton, jute, bamboo, sisal, seagrass and hemp are of higher quality and longer lasting than synthetic fiber rugs. No doubt, they are also more expensive, but if you want to buy an area rug that you pass on as an heirloom, then natural fiber rug is the right choice to make. Let’s look at some of the most common types of natural fiber area rugs:

Wool:

Wool has always been the most popular material used in making area rugs. This is because it is resilient, durable and of high quality. Wool rugs are also dust resistant, mite resistant, stain resistant, water resistant, fire resistant as well as fade resistant. Wool area rugs are a great choice for any room in your house.

Sisal:

While wool is the most popular animal fiber used in rug making, sisal is the most common plant fiber used. Fibers from the plant Agave Sisalana, native of Central America are also very durable and flexible and a popular choice of rug making material. Sisal area rugs are static resistant as well as fire resistant. They are also easy to clean and maintain. Since, they are also highly sound absorbent, they are very popularly used in apartments.

Jute:

Jute is a plant that grows in India and China. While the fibers of jute make very durable rugs, they also tend to be a bit coarse. They are also not spill resistant and have to be kept away from exposure to liquids. However, they are highly durable and are perfect for places with high foot traffic.

Seagrass:

Seagrass area rugs will give your room a very natural and soothing look. Seagrass area rugs are very popular because they are water resistant, but at the same time, they are highly prone to fading in the sunlight. Keep your seagrass rug away from sunlight to make it last longer.

Bamboo:

Bamboo rugs are very popular as they are amongst the least expensive rugs. Bamboo is both strong and durable and is very commonly used in items of home décor. It is also easy to maintain and is light weight.

Cotton:

Cotton is also a great material for rug making as it is sturdy and takes very well to dyes, helping make them even more attractive. But, an all-cotton area rug is likely to get wear out very quickly. It is highly recommended that you chose a cotton and wool blend area rug.

Hemp:

Hemp is also an extremely strong and versatile material for rugs. It has traditionally been used in a number of items that are usually made from fabric. It will wear color very well and look highly attractive.

A list of 10 Green Tweets You Should Follow

Here is a link to an article on Mother Nature Network, with a really cool list of 10 green twitter accounts that are interesting and pretty cool to follow on Twitter.


Click Here For The Article


Hope all is well!

Explaining Cape and Trade

I came across this video on Digg and I think it would be very useful for the average joe to check out. Things are always better explained slowly.

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO ON CAP AND TRADE


Hope all is well, and keep staying green!

Hello!

Hello one and all,

This site is maintained by the Green Life Resource Center and will be updated everyday with news, information, lists, and other ways for people to become involved in sustainable resources. There are many national and international organization to become involved with, but change also happens on the local scale. Plant a tree, give away old clothes, take in your re-cycling…there are many, many ways we do do our part, right in our own back yard. So please be inquisitive, don’t be afraid to ask questions, and do your part so we can all enjoy this wonderful planet of ours.

In the spirit of this, here is a list of 10 easy things you can do to be a little more green, which should be a great jumping off point. Don’t forget to tell your friends about us and please bookmark us so you can be notified when we update the site. Thanks again and have a green day!