Algae is considered the next big break through in bio fuels. That slimy, slippery stuff might also be a key to paper thin biodegradable batteries according to researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden. These batteries could soon compete with commercial lithium-ion batteries.
According to Inhabitat.:"Conducting polymers have long been thought to be a solution in developing lightweight, flexible, nonmetal batteries. But up until now, these polymers have had been impractical because regular paper can’t hold enough of them work effectively. Now Uppsala researcher Maria Stromme and her team has found that the smelly algae species that clumps on beaches, known as Cladophora, can also be used to make a type of cellulose that has 100 times the surface area of cellulose found in paper. That means it can hold enough conducting polymers to effectively recharge and hold electricity for long amounts of time."
"The algae-based paper sheet batteries hold up to 200% more charge than regular paper-based cellulose batteries, and they can recharge in as little as 11 seconds. Eventually, they could be used in any application that requires flexible electronics — for example, clothing or packaging that lights up. Perhaps most importantly, the algae batteries could one day cut down on e-waste from conventional metal batteries."
We found this picture at the following link and thought that it was just plain awesome. It is always great to see the creative side of fashionistas, designers and trend setters. So many people are label whores, only wearing what is to expensive and overrated for the average consumer. Hell people even purchase designer bottles water for crying out load. This young chap took upcyclng to the next level by turning an average paper bag into a designer hand bag, wow what a genius!
Vintage Clothes can have a multitude of stains as a result of their journey over the years, this does not mean that the garments are no longer good, it just means that is time to buck down and be smarter than the stains. The following are tried and proven techniques to getting some of those common 8 pesky stains out of that one of kind garment.
Acrylic Paint: Remove acrylic paint from clothes with pine cleaner. Soak, scrub, repeat. Takes some time, but it works. You can also try hairspray. Test a small spot on the item and then spray on hairspray and use your fingernail to remove the paint. Occasionally you have to wash twice.
Berries: Blot the stain and dip it in cold water. Rub the spot with a cut lemon, rinse, and air dry. Use prewash stain remover and then launder with warm water.
Blood: An easy and quick way to remove blood is to spray the area with Windex and rub a little. Then just throw it in the wash. You may also use saline solution for contact lenses to remove blood stains. Put paper towel under the fabric and squirt solution onto it. Blot to remove any left over. It draws the blood into the solution and doesn't harm the fabric like hydrogen peroxide may.
Chocolate: Blot or scrape off the excess chocolate, then flush with club soda. For a tough stain: Sponge with liquid hand soap and ammonia; launder as usual. Or you could try to soak the stained article in milk.
Grease: Mix Dawn Dish Soap and a little Simple Green into the wash, and launder as usual. Or try Cheese Wiz smeared generously on a grease stain, takes it right out in the laundry.
Ink: First, put a paper towel or a rag under the stained area to absorb the excess ink. Spray on a non-oily, alcohol based hair spray. Saturate the ink stain with the hairspray. Blot with a rag and repeat until the stain is gone. Apply prewash stain remover and launder as usual. Or you can try milk! Yes, put the piece of cloth into a cup with milk and you'll see it vanishing... then wash or dry clean as usual.
Lipstick: Get it out by rubbing the stain with a generous amount of petroleum jelly, then wash as usual.Or you could try a non-oily, alcohol based hair spray.
Ring Around the Collar:Wet the collar with warm water, sprinkle liberally with cream of tartar and rub in well. Launder as usual. or you can soak the collar with an oven cleaner, this works good as well.
Ever need an excuse to go surfing? Well on June 2oth you finally have one. International surfing day created by Surfing Magazine, this unofficial, official surfers holiday gives us to promote and celebrate the sport while bringing awareness to the state of our oceans and beaches.
The goal is simple, take the day, or at least part of the day to go down to your favorite surf spot to catch a wave or two, or watch your your favorite agro local grom snake you, whatever it takes. While your at it take some time to clean up your local beach. Surfrider Foundation will be organizing a hand full of official beach cleanups, but that shouldn’t stop you from fixing up your own stretch of sand.
Did you ever wonder what to do with all your old dolls from your childhood. Well a post at INHABITAT migth plant a seed of what comes next. "Combine your collection of Barbies and your love for foosball all in one strange game table! Using Barbies as the players, French designer Chloe Ruchon has created the BarbieFoot, a completely operable Foosball table. It recently debuted at the DMY Youngsters Exhibition in Berlin, with the intention of presenting a traditionally masculine toy in a feminine way. We’re not sure if the Barbies are used or not, but think that the Ruchon’s table and the other Barbie creations are inspiration enough to create your own upcycled toys and fashions." Source & Image provided by INHABIITAT
Seriously, can you please tell me that this is made up and the city of San Diego is not so manically desperate that they would stoop this low to retrieve some much needed funds that their leaders have so carelessly spent over the past 12 years. Fox news reported that a family having a home Bible study was intruded upon by a city worker and then they were set with a fine that required them to get a mix use permit in order to meet again. I don't care if it is a Qur'an Study, Gay Rights Hoedown or a Klan Rally, the city has no right interfering with a group a friends getting together. Think for a second about the implications here, religion aside, the city is trying to say that if you have more than 10 people over to your home you need to get a mixed use permit. Cancel your next Saturday bbq, call off your sisters baby shower, and be sure to phone aunt Suzie and tell her she can't bring her kids to Christmas, you don't want to get slapped with a fine by a desperate city worker. The leaders of San Diego are obviously bent on the fact that the Supreme Court wanted nothing to do with them, and wasn't about to listen them cry over the fact that they didn't want to have to be like the rest of California and acknowledge the fact that Marijuana was going to be legal for those that had a prescription, now they did an about face and are going after groups of friends getting together to study on a Friday night. Seriously... the city leaders ought to be ashamed of themselves...while this countries founders turn over in their graves!
See News Report: http://thekelpbed.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/desert-point.jpg
This following information was found at The RAW STORY, and touches upon a subject that is very true and worth considering. "You have never before seen -- nor will you ever see again -- FBI director Robert Mueller so thoroughly humbled in a discussion about drug policy before the United States Congress."
In this instance, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) gets Mueller to admit that marijuana has never killed anybody, then smashes into tiny bits the decades-old "gateway drug" argument with a unique analogy of milk and bourbon.
Your unique spirit and individual personality are not mistakes; there is a plan and a purpose for your life. Pay Attention, when you are being lied to. Please do not be fooled, each one of us is responsible for the decisions we make and the actions we do or do not take.
Algae is considered the next big break through in bio fuels. That slimy, slippery stuff might also be a key to paper thin biodegradable batteries according to researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden. These batteries could soon compete with commercial lithium-ion batteries.
