Thursday, May 26, 2011

Eco-Friendly and Fabulous!

The Greenest House in Chicago is a Self-Sufficient Clean Tech Showcase

The Smart Home designed by Michelle Kaufmann was showcased at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The house features numerous environmental design initiatives including energy-efficient heated radiant subfloors, Low-E windows, mechanized shading, recycled flooring and tile, and a green roof.



When I saw the Smart Home in an online article a few years ago, I knew I wanted to eventual live in it. The only drawback is the real estate in Vancouver is exorbitant.

Link via Inhabitat

 

Wasara Japanese Compostable Tableware

Designer Shinichiro Ogata of Wasara has created beautiful, compostable tableware out of tree-free biodegradable composite materials bamboo, reed pulp and bagasse (an agricultural waste byproduct). Starter kits start at $20.



Link via Inhabitat

 

Pantene Launches Sugarcane Packaging

Pantene is launching plant-based packaging in Western Europe. Len Sauers, Vice President of Sustainability, the new packaging is expected to cut the company's fossil-fuel consumption by 70 percent and reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions by 170 percent.

Link via Habitat

 

LEED Platinum Vancouver Convention Centre Takes Home Top Ten AIA COTE Award

The new Vancouver Convention Centre has won an AIA Cote Award for its LEED Platinum sustainable design integrating ecology, habitat restoration, energy efficiency, and integration into the urban environment. Bravo LMN Architects, Musson Cattell Mackey, DA Architects + Planners, the Province of British Columbia, and the City of Vancouver.

Link via Inhabitat

 

Listening to: Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi

 

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Joe the All-Terrain Bunny

Joe the bunny was born paraplegic. His owner built a mobility device to allow him to move more easily.



Link via Neatorama

 

Zombie-Proof House

A house that converts into a fortress just incase of a zombie apocalypse.

Link via Neatorama

 

Laughter Yoga With Clowns

A Calgary teenager, who was born with a rare liver disease and became paralyzed three years ago, received some therapy through laughter. Two therapeutic clowns, Jumpa (Fif Fernandes) and Sparkle (Cheryl Oberg) at the Alberta Children's Hospital
assisted Micaela in yoga laughter classes to help reduce pain and stress and increase oxygen intake through breathing and laughing. These exercises helped exercise slowly speak again and gain some mobility back. Laughter is indeed the best medicine.

Link via Arbroath

 

Dog submerged herself in bathtub to survive raging fire

A Belgian Malinois named Mia survived a house fire for six hours by seeking refuge in a water-filled bathtub in the basement of a burning house. The Southern Carolinian family insists the dog had always been smart. The dog had learned to open doors and would have had to open four doors to get to the bathtub in the basement.

Link via Arbroath

 

Factory workers forced to pledge not to commit suicide

At least 14 works in Apple's factor in China have committed suicide in the past sixteen months. This number does not include failed suicide attempts. Staff members are being forced to sign written promises to not commit suicide.

In addition, the staff members must also promise that if they did end their lives, their families would not seek damages beyond the legal minimum. One executive accused victims of committing suicide to win compensation payouts for relatives.

Link via Arbroath

 

I Want by the Animal Humane Society



 

Monday, May 09, 2011

Unclaimed Baggage Center

Where does one's unclaimed baggage go? Apparently, it goes on a final trip to Alabama.



Link via Neatorama

 

Shelties Rescued From Radiation Area

Several shelties were rescued from a radiation area in Minami Soma, Japan. The group of dogs were waiting for their breeder owner. A group of volunteers managed to rescue about twenty of the dogs and transport them to a veterinarian.



Link via Neatorama

 

Symmetry

Symmetry from Everynone on Vimeo.



 

Ocelet Takes First Steps

Few months old ocelot kitten, Evita, took its first steps close to its mother, Bella. She is slowly taking in her new surroundings. The Woodland Park Zoo has posted some wonderful photos on their blog.



Link via Woodland Park Zoo

 

Defiant



Link via Arbroath

 

Tiger Plays With Dogs



Link via Arbroath

 

Chinese Activists Save Dogs

In China, hundreds of dogs were saved from cooking pots by about 200 animal-rights activists. A truck transporting 430 to 520 dogs was forced to stop by a swerving motorist. Many of the dogs had been stolen from owners. After a 15-hour stand-off, the animal-protection group purchased the dogs for 115,000 yuan ($17,600).



Link via Arbroath