New Ridealong (now a trail-a-bike)

I'm coming around to the idea of calling them trail-a-bikes. Anyway, I've come to the conclusion that it's time to upgrade our trail-a-bike, since the Instep one we have wobbles so bad. I mean, it wobbles so bad that, in previous posts about this, I've remarked on this fact and my efforts to counter this with training wheels and my annoying interactions with bike mechanics because of said training wheels. All that's water under the bridge, I say! Got a recommendation from my old REL4936 professor (who, happily, will be my new religion professor this fall) who enthused about the Burley Piccolo. It is apparently quite popular with the eco-moms in town and, since I aspire to one day be one of those, I went to Bike Route to procure one. It was pricey but the Bike Route guy said he would deliver it and install it. Getting it installed at my house is way better than schlepping the Gary Fisher to their shop (which, if you are familiar with the comings and goings of bicycle shops in Hogtown, moved from their campus location out to Harmony Gardens on 441).

Bill Nye is a Green Dude

The NYT has a "Green" issue (doesn't everyone, these days?) this Sunday. It was uninspiring for the most part except for the laundry list of greenery written by Bill Nye. He is one of my favorite science guys and have turned DJ onto episodes (when we can find them) of "Bill Nye, The Science Guy," still an excellent show after over ten years from its first appearance.

Bamboo Bicycle!

This is awesome. Got the link from the Etopia Eco-Village in SL.

So Close!

I am so close to being done with school for the summer -- I can almost taste it, and it is yummy.

While I'm preparing for more posts, I wanted to list what's going to be on Science Friday on NPR today. I love this show and I'm especially interested in the bat die-off story -- it is something DG was telling me about recently:

Today's Program: Friday, April 18th, 2008

Bats in the Northeast are under attack by a mysterious illness called White Nose Syndrome. Image by Flora Lichtman.

Hour One- 2pm EDT

New U.S. Climate Change Goals?

This week, President Bush announced a new set of national goals related to climate change and called for a stop to growth in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. We'll talk about the goals proposed by the White House, and why some say they don't go far enough. (more)

Hurricanes and Global Warming

In 2005, climate researchers said that there appeared to be a statistical link between global warming and stronger hurricanes. Now, using new models of the atmosphere, one of those scientists says the link may not be so clear after all. (more)

Water Power Cracks Ice Sheet

Researchers working on the Greenland Ice Sheet describe a flow of water exceeding that of Niagara Falls. (more)

Hour Two-3pm EDT

Jeffrey Sachs: Common Wealth

In this segment, Ira talks with Jeffrey Sachs, author of the new book "Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet." (more)

Bat Die-Off Mystery

Bat experts are struggling to explain what's causing a massive die-off in hibernating bats across parts of the Northeast. (more)

Farm Bill Debate on Bill Moyer's Journal

Lots of information on the Farm Bill debates on the Bill Moyer's Journal website. Also a great piece entitled "Hunger in America." I sure felt the pinch last night when I went shopping for the fam.

Need-a-Bag? project update 03.12.08

Note: The Need-a-Bag? project was created to promote sustainable bagging at the Hwy 441 Alachua County Farmer's Market each Saturday morning. We supply reusable tote bags reclaimed from thrift stores and garage sales. The Need-a-Bag? project also utilizes old tank tops as tote bags by sewing up the bottoms (these are called t-totes). We invite you to read the other posts on the project by clicking the "Need-a-Bag? Project" label at the bottom of this post.

So many things to talk about today. Got to the farmer's market late, so DG did her shoppin' while I set up. Coming late did allow us to meet Cindy of Wasteweardaily and her lovely family, however. She was so nice and it's great to keep meeting all the local enviro-bloggers! We discussed poor Virgo who, once again, has not been chosen to carry produce. DG almost claimed Virgo to carry sweet potatoes but I objected -- I have too much of an emotional investment in little Virgo, you know?

Got some oranges from Erika-of-the-sweet-and-tasty-citrus who will soon become Erika-of-the-(fill in the blank)-peaches and we talked about plans. Oh, we've got plans...She's been urging us to follow through on an idea for quite some time, and has been wanting to write about it in her emails (which you can sign up for at plantsandproduce@gmail.com -- totally worth it!). Always appropriate, she did not want to spill the beans until we actually got the plan underway. Perhaps she will feel more like it's the real deal if I go ahead and announce that...

Totey the Tote Bag will be coming to the Alachua County Farmer's Market on 441 very, very soon! I'm shouting! Yes, we're finally getting it together to build Totey because, what's an organization without its mascot? Erika has volunteered to take photos of Totey's construction so that should be worth a few guffaws on the blog, not to mention the miles and miles of humor value we'll get out of Totey in action! I don't want to get Erika's hopes up, but there are also plans in the works to create Totey's arch nemesis Randy, the evil plastic grocery bag, and "a host of others" as they say on Rocky & Bullwinkle. I won't divulge more than that, tho'!

The picture is from VegWeb's recipe for Angeled Eggs. I didn't have another, more appropriate picture and they look so tasty!