Archive for May, 2008

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Blogger

I had planned to write a post about plastic on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) tonight, but I’m tired. And a little depressed. Because I just got wind of the fact that one of my favorite bloggers, Crunchy Chicken, is going to retire from blogging for a while, take a mental health break because of [...]

Read the full post.

16-year old discovers plastic-eating microbe: Is this the answer to our plastic problem?

Last week, Daniel Burd, a 16-year old Canadian student, won the top prize at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Ottawa for his discovery of microbes that will break down polyethylene bags. This article in The Record explains his procedure and how he was able to isolate the specific microbes that will break down the plastic. [...]

Read the full post.

Junk floating in the ocean

By now, most readers of this blog have read about the swirling plastic soup in the North Pacific Gyre and learned about the harm to marine life as well as the bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals that are attracted to these tiny plastic pieces. This coming Sunday, June 1, a couple of intrepid adventurers will sail [...]

Read the full post.

Support for No Impact Man, Colin Beavan

This Friday, May 30, No Impact Man Colin Beavan, who has been a great friend to Fake Plastic Fish and has supported the Take Back The Filter campaign, will meet with Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York’s Eight Congressional District to ask him to support real climate change mitigation policy. NIM is asking his readers, [...]

Read the full post.

Week 49 Results: 1.75 oz of plastic waste

First, last week’s tally, and then a follow-up report on a letter I sent couple of weeks ago. Items used this week but purchased before the plastic project began: Plastic wrapper from a package of Memorex DVD+Rs. I’ve had these sitting around for over a year and finally broke them open this week to save [...]

Read the full post.

When giving literally hurts

A few weeks ago, I decided to give a pint. Of blood, that is. What were you thinking? Guinness? I’m almost embarassed to admit that it was my very first time ever donating blood, and the only reason I even thought of it was because someone from the Red Cross cold called me and said, [...]

Read the full post.

Check out my fancy new "business" card holder (and cards!)

Isn’t this just the coolest idea ever? I wish I could take credit for this recycled business card holder, but the kudos go to the geniuses at Acorn Studios, where they have full instructions for making your own! (2011 Update: The Acorn Studios link has been removed. Here are instructions on another site: http://rockvillecentre.patch.com/articles/diy-business-card-holder) So [...]

Read the full post.

"Take Back The Filter" takes on "Bay to Breakers"!

(Click photo to see larger view.) Well, I put out the call, and Tanya and Christa volunteered to help me, dressed as a BRITA filter, get across San Francisco. They came over Saturday night, along with my friend Mark who pretty much majored in costumes and makeup in college, to work on costumes and signs [...]

Read the full post.

Week 48 Results: 5.9 oz of plastic waste

Sunny is the winner of last week’s contest to answer the question of why organic bananas come with a little piece of plastic around the stems but non-organic bananas do not. She wrote: Beth, from this website (http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Plasticizers/Out-Of-Diet-PG5nov03.htm) I think it’s to prevent mold. “Organic bananas now come from wholesalers with a sticky plastic wrapping [...]

Read the full post.

Dare me to dress like a BRITA filter and walk across SF?

This could be me at this Sunday’s SF Bay to Breakers because, you know, I have a Barbie Doll body and a giant BRITA filter cartridge in my living room. It could be me if I can get at least one volunteer to walk the 12K (7.65 miles) with me, hold my water bottle, and [...]

Read the full post.

Earlier Posts »