Flower Power

I have long since debated doing a post on this topic, because I know for a fact many many many of my readers will no doubt take offense. But that is not my intent. I just want to make fun of you. Just kidding!!But really, this is something I feel strongly about, and when I see instances out in public or online, it just makes me cringe.The topic I speak of is flowered headbands on babies.I'm not sure just where this trend originated, although I'm guessing it's somewhere in the Salt Lake Valley. But now poor innocent children have had to be the brunt of a cruel fashion joke. Now, you all know I am a lover of all things handmade and crafty, but a simple 2 minute search on Etsy will reveal hundreds of images of babies forced to wear an entire artificial floral department on their heads.Now, I'm fortunate enough to have a daughter with plenty of hair. And I do use bows in her hair. Small bows. Bows proportional to the size of her head. Perhaps these users of gigantic flowers and bows feel the need to use them to make sure people know their bald babies are indeed girls. I don't know.When the size of the flower is bigger than your baby's head, there is definitely a problem. Am I the only one who sees it this way?? I think that I may be, actually. And I'm okay with that. If you are guilty of using bows big enough for an elephant, it's okay. I still like you. I'll still be your friend. But just know I think your adorable daughter looks a mite ridiculous.Oh, how could I forget the ostrich feathers???It's a wonder a swarm of bees don't come and attack the poor child.These Gals with Girls are some of the worst offenders.These parents really should be turned into the authorities...making her wear this thing while she eats?? I mean, she has no clothes on, but she has her flower on!Are we channeling Princess Leia here??She looks like a satellite dish, honing in on some good reception.This poor girl's head is being crushed by the weight of this thing.And look, soon her vision will be impaired due to her accessory.I tried to find reasonable examples of flowers and bows. They are hard to come by, let me tell you. I could only find 2.I guess I'm just conservative when it comes to my kid's hair accessories. Call me crazy, but I just don't want my daughter looking like Carmen Miranda! Now, some of these bows would look darling on an older girl, say 8 or 9 years old. But on a wee baby, I don't see her cute face, I see the silk plant staring back at me.Ok, that's all. Let me have it.

Chaos besets 9/11 court hearing

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is accused of masterminding the attacks on the World Trade Center and other US targets
Scenes of chaos have gripped a US military court in Guantanamo Bay where five alleged 9/11 plotters were due to appear together before a judge.

Solving the CD Storage Challenge

Do you have a serious CD collection - one you cherish and intend to keep? Do you want to keep the CDs in the jewel cases? Here are some of the nicest storage options I've seen. Note: Many of these companies also make DVD storage, but I'm going to focus on the CD options.Let's start with the shelves. This wall unit from Wood Technologies stores 1200 CDs; there's a smaller version for 600 CDs. Over in the U.K., Chris Sharp Cabinets makes this shelf which holds 296 CDs; a smaller version holds 148.Jeremy Barnes makes wall-mounted CD shelves that hold 330 CDs.And Wilkins & Kent in Australia makes CD cabinets in various sizes, storing 300 to over 1,000 CDs.Coming back to the U.S., and moving away from wood, Topdeq sells these Cubos CD racks that hold 40 CDs per shelf. They come in 6-shelf and 11-shelf versions.Prefer an enclosed cabinet? Lombok has CD cabinets in two styles, and two sizes; this one stores 480 CDs.Stan Pike is a furniture maker; one of his specialties seems to be apothecary cabinets, including CD apothecary chests.Charles Matts makes a different type of CD cabinet.If you like the look of steel rather than wood, you might consider the Can-Am cabinets, with two to four drawers, each of which holds 270 CDs. They come in a range of colors, too. And you can stack them, so you can start out with a smaller size and add on as needed.Finally, Bisley also makes cabinets designed for CDs; each drawer holds 120 of them, arranged in three rows.Related Posts:Saving Space: Storing CDs Without the Jewel Cases3 Unusual CD HoldersStoring the Vinyl Record Collection: What to Do with the LPsRecord Album Storage: A Stunning Cabinet and Other Options

Honey Bee Installation Day

Here's the hive in place with everything painted. We took a few days to observe and see what kind of sun it would get in this spot and it seemed the right amount from all we'd read... best sun/shade mix with appropriate wind breaks, via our trees.Of course as soon as you get anything built these days some pesky job site inspector shows up, in this case, Newt. She scented some plants in the area with a few face rubs, then pawthorized the new structure and moved on. Whew! While the hive has been ready for a bit, today was actually Honey Bee installation day! Carniolan honey bees to be specific. Carniolan's are the second most popular honey bee after the Italian. We went with Carniolan because they are more cold hearty, are good at defending themselves against insect pests, are resistant to some bee diseases, and are very gentle with bee keepers. Latter being very important to us newbies! The first thing we did was prep the hive zone, above. We brought the box of bees with their queen home in the back of the subaru, and left them there to stay warm, but out of the direct sun while we got setup. Here Doug is close to the fence checking out what we are doing. I am pretty sure he wanted to know, "What is all that buzzing???" Next we sprayed the bees well with sugar water, so they'd be full and happy when we set them free. One last thing before we released them was to change the cork holding the queen in her excluder to a mini-marshmallow. The queen and bees are shipped together, but with the queen in the excluder, so the bees will be exposed to her pheromones and accept her prior to release. If they don't have some time to get to know her first, then they might kill her. The bees actually eat through the candy plug to release her, taking a day... even two, or so we'd been told. The delay also gives the bees some time to draw out comb, so the queen can get right to laying when she does get eaten free.This is 3 pounds of honey bees in a shipping box. This is 3 pounds of honey bees, in the hive, on the hive, in the air, on the ground, in and on the shipping box, and on the photographer. The lighter color stick like object is an entrance reducer, which we had opened further so the bees could better find their way in the hive. After dark when the bees settled we put it in the opening to make it smaller for a time. This helps keep the new bee colony safer from pests and warmer, until they get established.Here's a video of the bees getting poured into the hive. The queen is in her excluder already hung in between frames as we pour them in. Please note that within a couple hours of installing the bees, we discovered the marshmallow [that should have taken the bees at least a few days to eat through] intact, discarded about 18 inches in front of the hives opening. Apparently the queen was released TODAY, and with author-i-ty! We have to wait almost a week, until we get to peak again to see if our queen made it out alive. Stay tuned! Last, but not least, some pictures of our baby Magnus, after his own tail. This is best done hanging upside down while on the cat tree. See that pesky tail... I'm getting you! Getting a bit plump these days, he soon lands with a thump on the shelf below. Usually not head first. Usually. That tail was probably sour anyway...

Climate change could sting allergy, asthma sufferers

Climate change isn't only bad for the Earth, it may be bad for your health especially if you have allergies or asthma.Global warming is making pollen seasons last longer, creating more ozone in the air, and even expanding the areas where insects flourish, putting more people with bee allergies at greater risk, experts say."Climate change will cause impacts in every area. Wet areas will get wetter, and drier climates are getting drier," said Dr. Jeffrey Demain, director of the Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Center of Alaska, and a clinical associate professor at the University of Washington.Those changes will mean more people with allergies and asthma will suffer. In wet areas, mold allergies will spike, while in drier areas pollens and other airborne irritants will become more of a problem, he said.Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it believes carbon dioxide and five additional greenhouse gases are dangerous to human health. This finding may eventually lead to environmentally friendly changes, such as regulations for cleaner energy and more fuel-efficient cars.But, right now, problems caused by climate change are already evident, especially in Alaska, Demain said."There's been a significant shift in the ecosystem because of the rises in winter temperatures," he said. "On average, Alaska's temp has risen 6.4 degrees in winter and 3.4 degrees overall. And, the earlier the snow melts, the earlier the pollen cycle begins."In addition to longer pollen seasons, the plant and tree life is changing along with the warmer temperatures. Demain said it's estimated that 90% of the Alaskan tundra will be forested by 2100, and that the types of trees that are most common are changing, too.The warmer temperatures are also attracting insects. In the past, Alaska hasn't had too many stinging insects. But, said Demain, northern Alaska has recently seen a 620% increase in the number of people seeking care for bee stings.Although Alaska's experience may be more dramatic than the rest of the United States, it's definitely not the only region that's experiencing change."We're having warmer, wetter winters, which lead to long springs and an increase in seasonal allergens," said Dr. David Peden, director of the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.Peden also said that ozone levels are higher, which causes more asthma symptoms.So, what can you do to protect yourself? Both Peden and Demain said that just being aware of the problem is the first step. Next, is to be sure you know specifically what you're allergic to, and then be aware of pollen and mold cycles so you can properly adjust your behavior when those levels are high."Pollens are usually highest in the mornings, but grass is elevated in the morning and evening. If you're tree- or weed-allergic, plan outdoor activities for the afternoon or evening. If you're grass-allergic, you might want to plan to be outside midday. Warm, sunny, dry days are usually the ones with the greatest pollen," Demain said.Of course, it's not always possible to stay indoors, and treatments are available that can help you live with allergies and asthma."As mundane as this sounds, if you have allergic disease or asthma, consult with an allergist so that you have maximal therapy and information on seasonal concerns. If you're in an area with lengthy pollen seasons, allergy shots might be useful," Peden said."The climate is changing, and it's changing at an unprecedented rate. Whether it's a natural cycle, or whether humans are the cause, we have to recognize that this is happening," said Demain, who added, "Every small step [such as using compact fluorescent bulbs or driving less] is important. If we all take that step, we can have a big impact."

Commuter Challenge!

TRU is partnering with the local transit agencies, carpool groups, bike advocates and others to promote alternatives to driving solo with the Commuter Challenge. We’ll kick it off with a Transportation Information Fair and a week of mode-specific promotional activities.
Check out all these great events!!
Friday, May 8 – Transportation Choices Fair
Come to Cadillac Square in downtown Detroit between 11am and 2pm to learn about the wide variety of transportation choices available to southeast Michigan commuters. Check out SMART and DDOT buses. Learn about carpool and vanpool matching services. Talk with local bicycle commuters. Learn the latest from the People Mover. Find out about new transit options coming soon. Sign up for the Commuter Challenge to win prizes when you try out new ways to travel.
Saturday, May 9 - National Train Day
At the Detroit Amtrak Station, as at hundreds of stations around the country, rail supporters will celebrate the 140th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Come by the station (at 11 W. Baltimore, just west of Woodward at New Center) between 9am and 12noon to witness the presentation of a proclamation presented to Amtrak's Wolverine train from the Mayor of Detroit, followed by train exhibits, trip planning, and much more. Hosted by the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP).
May 11 – 22 – The Commuter Challenge
The Commuter Challenge invites southeast Michigan commuters to Go Green and $ave Green with a contest and prize drawing for people who try new transportation options those two weeks. Participants can try riding the bus or People Mover, sharing a carpool or vanpool, biking, walking, or telecommuting. Each day of using a new commuting mode can enter participants in a drawing to win an Ipod, restaurant gift certificates, and much more. Learn more and sign up at www.SEMCOG.org/MIrideshare.aspx.
Monday, May 11 – Carpool / Vanpool / Flextime day
Explore your options about saving money with carpooling and vanpooling from 11am – 1pm in front of Compuware. Try your luck to win a gas card and other prizes with a kiddie “car”pool and by guessing the number of balloons in a MichiVan.
Tuesday, May 12 – People Mover day
The Detroit People Mover will hold its first ever "People Mover Midway - Lunchtime Carnival." Arcade games will be located at four People Mover stations from 11am - 2pm with a chance to win exciting prizes. The stations are: Renaissance Center, Cobo Center, Michigan Avenue and Financial District.
Wednesday, May 13 – Ride the Bus day
Ride the Bus day will provide commuters everything they need to try riding the bus for the first time, including guided morning bus rides, Bus 101 information sessions, and even some free bus passes.
Thursday, May 14 – Walking day - Dequindre Cut and non-motorized presentation
Join the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy and its partners in celebrating the official opening of the Dequindre Cut Greenway. A grand opening ceremony will take place at 10am at the Woodbridge St. entrance of the Cut followed by food, activities and entertainment taking place at all three entrances of the Cut (Woodbridge St., Lafayette St., Gratiot Ave.) until 2pm. Enjoy cooking demonstrations from Eastern Market, guided walking tours of the Dequindre Cut from Inside Detroit and much more.
Model D is talking Detroit Bikes and Trails at its speaker series that evening, with Todd Scott of the Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance and Bil Lusa of the Tour De Troit. The free event is at 5pm at the Green Garage in Midtown. Also check out the afterglow with Great Lakes Urban Exchange, Bureau of Urban Living, Inside Detroit and Motor City Brewing Works.
Friday, May 15 – Bicycle day - Annual Bike-to-Work ride
Join dozens of other cyclists and ride your bicycle to work downtown along Woodward (from Royal Oak or Ferndale) or Jefferson (from Grosse Pointe or Indian Village). A great way to get exercise and see the city in a new way, while commuting to work. Voted by the MetroTimes as "the best reason to ditch your car 2006"! All the details are at the Detroit Bikes! website.
These great events are jointly sponsored by SEMCOG, SMART, DDOT, MDOT, Compware's Commuter Assistance Program, the People Mover, the League of Michigan Bicyclists, MichiVan Commuter Vanpools, and Transportation Riders United.

Movylo: Create Your Own Mobile Site

Movylo is a cool online mobile cms platform that allows you to create your own mobile site and manage it online. The application is multifunctional and provides a variety of tools using which you can create mobile-friendly web pages with content (text, images, videos and tones), aggregate and publish feeds, write blog posts, create service promotions and video brochures, create and make surveys, create and manage e-mail and sms newsletters and much more.
Created mobile sites will automatically adapt the content style to the screen size of the users phone, be it a Smartphone, iPhone, Blackberry or some regular mobile phone.
Check out the demo videos below to see Movylo in action:
Features:
Create your mobile site, personal or business and publish it online.
Created site automatically adapts to any mobile.
Load and manage multimedia content i.e. video, wallpapers, games etc.
Build and maintain your own blog.
Send your newsletters both via email and SMS.
Make questionnaires and polls to gather votes and research market in real time.
Run competitions in real time.
Create your own mobile shop.
Analyze the stats in real time and see how your users navigate your site.
Free account is limited to 10MB of storage and shows Movylo logo.
Similar websites: Ubik, Mowser, Mofuse and Google Mobilizer.
Check out Movylo @ www.movylo.com
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Movylo: Create Your Own Mobile Site
Categorized under: Mobile Browsing, website mobilizer
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