Got Pallets? Great Projects!

This is the best project, bcuz the pallet is simply leaning up against a wall, obviously on someones apartment balcony. No project plan here….I’d say a few options, either get previously potted plants and tuck them TIGHTLY into each void, or better….use an old sheet torn in half…tuck inside pallet, pack with dirt from the top. or…secure a piece of plywood/scrap wood to the back. Plants do best in packed soil, with no air pockets to dry out roots, and hold moisture longer.

Flowers are pretty but I’d definitely stuff it full of herbs. Maybe a couple tomato plants at the top. As long as they’re not blocking sun for the rest. Great makeshift garden for apartment dwellers! 1 day project, easy to maintain!

http://www.i-beamdesign.com/projects/refugee/refugee.html

 

Popularity: 100% [?]

STOP SOPA & PIPA. Keep Internet Freedom

HR3261 & S968 are threatening large Internet resources like Craigslist.com, Etsy, Wikipedia, and even Google. Not to mention small, independent informational sites, and shops. Most of the web sites you use strongly oppose these bills. Let Congress know you OPPOSE H.R. 3261 “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA) and S. 968 “Protect IP Act” (PIPA):

Opponents of SOPA: Google, Yahoo, Wikipedia, craigslist, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, eBay, AOL, Mozilla, Reddit, Tumblr, Etsy, Zynga, EFF, ACLU, Human Rights Watch, Darrell Issa (R-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Ron Paul (R-TX)

Supporters of SOPA: RIAA, MPAA, News Corporation, VISA, Mastercard, Pfizer, Comcast, Time Warner, ABC, Nike, Walmart, Dow Chemical, Tiffany, Chanel, Rolex, Monster Cable, Teamsters, Lamar Smith (R-TX), John Conyers (D-MI)

Where does your Member of Congress stand on SOPA? (Project SOPA Opera)

SOPA and PIPA Are Too Dangerous To Revise, They Must Be Killed Entirely 

Congress needs to hear from you, or these dangerous bills will pass - they have tremendous lobbying dollars behind them, from large corporations reportedly hoping to prop up outdated, anti-consumer business models at the expense of the very fabric of the Internet — recklessly unleashing a tsunami of take-down notices and litigation, and a Pandora’s jar of “chilling effects” and other unintended (or perhaps intended?) consequences.

For example, Monster Cable considers craigslist a “rogue site” for takedown under PIPA - they want to prevent YOU from selling YOUR unwanted cables so they can increase sales! Many other “rights holders” want to do the same. Boycott anyone? There is an app for that.

Corporations pushing SOPA/PIPA want the ability to block you from reaching any web site they feel might be hurting their profits — without due process of any kind, or review in any court — by literally interrupting all Internet traffic to those sites via DNS at the ISPs and by censoring search engine results.  Incredibly, many lawmakers want to give them that right.

There is still time to be heard. Congress is starting to backpedal on this job-killing, anti-American nonsense, and the Obama administration has weighed in against these bills as drafted, but SOPA/PIPA cannot be fixed or revised — they must be killed altogether.

Sen Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep Ron Wyden (D-OR) are championing an alternative to SOPA/PIPA called Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade Act (OPEN)that focuses on cutting off payments to foreign sites dedicated to piracy, and refrains from disrupting basic Internet protocols, or threatening mainstream US sites like craigslist.

Tim O’Reilly, a publisher who is himself subject to piracy, asks whether piracy is even a problem, and whether there is even a legitimate need for any of these bills.

Learn more about SOPA, Protect IP (PIPA), and Internet Blacklisting:

Popularity: 92% [?]

What exactly is the FDA “good” for??

They drag out the approval process for drugs, and medicines that are proven effective in other countries. While they speed approve drugs that are insanely dangerous, and later have to be banned. After doing severe damage to a great number of people, that are only ignorant in trusting that the FDA is following through with their claim of keeping people safe.

There extensive process for passing drugs into market, increase the price to a point where the average person can’t afford the medicines need. While at the same time, the FDA makes it illegal for people to purchase medicine from countries where it’s cheaper.

They knowingly allow severely toxic chemicals to be added to our food supply, and to products used on a daily basis. Why? Not for the safety of the general public, but for the bottom line of corporations. A good example of this is McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets, which contain dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foaming agent that’s supposedly safe. It’s a silicone oil usually found in caulk, rubber cement, mold release agents, and Silly Putty. Why on earth is it in nuggets? Not bcuz it’s good for you. Not bcuz it adds any nutritional value to the junk. Nope….it’s purely for manufacturing reasons. It keeps their machines pumping out nuggets at lightening speed, without clogging up the works with nasty, bacterial laden goo. Can it get worse? Yes! McNuggets also contain another petroleum-based chemical called tertiary butylhydroquinone (tBHQ)…this one proven TOXIC, is a form of butane. Used in the food industry as a preservative, to extend shelf-life, and keep foods from quickly going rancid.

The FDA considers tBHQ to be G.R.A.S. (Generally Recognized as Safe) allowing 0.02% of tBHQ overall. What are the side effects of ingesting tBHQ? In amounts as little as one gram … “nausea, vomiting, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse.” There are also suggestions that it may lead to hyperactivity in children as well as asthma, rhinitis and dermatitis. It may also further aggravate ADHD symptoms and cause restlessness. Long term, high doses of TBHQ in laboratory animals have shown a tendency for them to develop cancerous precursors in their stomachs, as well as cause DNA damage to them. It is also suggested that it may be responsible for affecting estrogen levels in women.

Let’s not just bash McDonalds. tBHQ is used extensively in all processed and fast foods. It’s also extremely prevalent in pet foods, as well as in cosmetisc and baby skincare products, varnish, lacquers and resins. It is used in the stabilisation process of explosive compounds. The risks and side-effects of this preservative product far outweigh the benefit of it being used as a highly unsafe preservative ingredient.

Anyway……what’s that all lead to? Who’s job is it to really protect our health, and keep us safe? FIRST AND FOREMOST….YOU!!! I don’t have any problem with companies making shit food, and toxic products, and dumping in all the chemicals and dyes they want, or cutting every corner possible for profits. That’s up to them I suppose. If a federal government body is going to exist…that claims to exist for food and drug SAFETY, then it should be made to do just that!!! Otherwise it shouldn’t exist at all. The entire FDA needs to be restructured…top to bottom, inside out! Every single ingredient needs to be listed on all products. If the list is too long…it needs to be repacked to allow for an additional insert. Along with nutritional content, it should accompany warnings, side-effects, and links to online data. Not a phone number.

A whole other issue is stating directly on labels, whether ingredients are genetically engineered (GE). Some companies are taking it upon themselves to add claims on BPA-Free, MSG-free…………finally! This is all due to consumer action, and online education about the harmful effects of these chemicals. WE CAN DO MORE. MORE! MORE! MORE! This is post hardly touches on the subject….it’s only to kindle interest. As you research more online….be sure to UTILIZE ALL the social media buttons available! Post what you find to Facebook, Twitter, Google Buzz, etc, etc. Search for online petitions, sign them, and share the links with friends and family! That’s the first step.

Second….email companies and share your disappointment in their choices, and business practices. Speak up for yourself and your family! Let them know you’re not STUPID, and you’re not going to spend your hard earned money on toxic garbage!

Third…..use your purchasing dollars to create change! Boycott products that are unsafe! Find affordable alternatives, make more fresh, homemade meals, eat more raw food, and continue to educated yourself! Find online support groups to keep you inspired!!!

Love Mama xoxox

P.S. Look for the “JUST LABEL IT” link in my sidebar….to take you to a simple petition to reform the FDA!!! It’s a good place to start!

 

This is a biased post. I don’t see the point of the FDA to begin with.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Seeds of Discord: BioPiracy. India files lawsuit against gentic-giant Monsanto

There’s 2500 varieties of eggplant in India. If Monsanto had it their way…they’d kill off all but a few varieties….the ones they OWN! And, it won’t just be eggplants…they’ll follow suit with every edible plant that exists. In my opinion Monsanto should be dismantled, and their top dogs imprisoned for crimes against humanity, but…that’s another post for another time.

Indian Governement Files Biopiracy Lawsuit Against Monsanto

Monsanto will own all seed

At one point in America we had hundreds of varieties of corn, rice, beans, tomatoes, and so on. Today…thanks to Monsanto’s covert, and genetic manipulation…we have approximately 2 or 3 varsities of each…and Monsanto OWNS all of them! How does a corporation own a plant that someone else bought the seeds for, planted and grew in their own garden, or on their own property, on their own farm? How can Monsanto own our entire food supply? Actually….working at owning the entire GLOBAL food supply. Basically they own the PATENTS on a genetic level….if that makes any sense? And I should mention…it’s not just plants….they’ve gotten into the business of owning livestock, human genetics, and body parts…..to the tune of 11,000 patents so far. There’s a new rush to own the genetics of everything on earth. Biogentics is new real estate, and the riches to reaped are unlimited. Maybe, hopefully….a new realm of hackers will come into play here, and start leveling the playing field. Who knows. But, it’s sad that it’s been going on so long, unrecognized, unmonitored, and unregulated. Bless India for standing up!!!

Monsanto’s methods are spelled out in a series of confidential commercial licensing agreements obtained by the AP. The contracts, as long as 30 pages, include basic terms for the selling of engineered crops resistant to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide, along with shorter supplementary agreements that address new Monsanto traits or other contract amendments…

For example, one contract provision bans independent companies from breeding plants that contain both Monsanto’s genes and the genes of any of its competitors, unless Monsanto gives prior written permission — giving Monsanto the ability to effectively lock out competitors from inserting their patented traits into the vast share of U.S. crops that already contain Monsanto’s genes…

“We now believe that Monsanto has control over as much as 90 percent of (seed genetics). This level of control is almost unbelievable,” said Neil Harl, agricultural economist at Iowa State University who has studied the seed industry for decades. “The upshot of that is that it’s tightening Monsanto’s control, and makes it possible for them to increase their prices long term. And we’ve seen this happening the last five years, and the end is not in sight.”

What Monsanto Doesn’t Want You To Know…The Genetic Conspiracy (1_3).

What Monsanto Doesn’t Want You To Know…The Genetic Conspiracy (2_3)

What Monsanto Doesn’t Want You To Know…The Genetic Conspiracy (3_3)

Alex Jones – Food: The Ultimate Secret Exposed 1/2

Alex Jones – Food: The Ultimate Secret Exposed 1/2

 

Popularity: 18% [?]

SpareOne mobile phone 15 year charge of single AA battery

SpareOne Phone imagePowered by a single AA battery, its makers say that the SpareOne will be capable of holding its charge for an unbelievable 15 years and what’s more, it’s intended to be super cheap to buy too.

Think of those situations where, for instance your car breaks down, smartphone batteries aren’t exactly known for their longevity versus your typical feature phone and in a tight spot, you want the best chance of being reachable.

What the SpareOne aims to offer is a worry free solution, by keeping costs down, keep the device simple and as we’ve already mentioned, extending battery life beyond that of your average bear phone.

The SpareOne is a dual-band GSM device and takes a not-so-typical microSIM. As well as a call ID, the device also transmits its location, so if you’ve have made it your emergency phone, it helps in more ways than one.

Creators Xpal Power also suggest that the SpareOne could serve as a short-term loan phone for corporate events, as much as its role in emergencies. Interested? Picking one up will set you back one cent shy of $50, but that seems pretty reasonable for a phone with more stamina than Forest Gump.

XPal intend to show off the SpareOne along with some of their other projects once CES officially kicks off tomorrow, but in the meantime, read on for the press release and follow the source link to see the SpareOne’s very own micro site.

SpareOne, equipped with an Energizer® Ultimate Lithium AA battery and a Micro SIM card, will be available nationwide in Q1 2012 for $49.99 on www.Power-Skin.com and the official site – www.SpareOnePhone.com. Different versions – for the Unites States, Europe and Asia – will be available with WCDMA frequency options for selected regions.

http://www.spareonephone.com/

Mama’s Thoughts: I don’t own a cell phone, and I’m not sure I’d buy this one. I have a problem with mobile phones in general….paying for something that I believe should be free. Not the phone…the service. That might sound absurd, but 2012 and I really feel that the basics of communication should come without a charge. And…don’t get me started with the division between America and Canada when it comes to cell phone or internet service.

It’s a great idea, but the “emergency” uses are limited. Good to keep in the glovebox I suppose, but if the shit hits the fan….no cell phone will be of any use. If we get hit massive solar flares, or the grid goes down…well….maybe should be looking at HAM radios instead!  I’m sure a lot of other companies will be following suit.

On a prepper’s note….consider forming a bug-out plan that doesn’t rely on electrical gadgets. Spend some time meditating on a safe retreat, and make sure your loved ones know where it is, and where to meet up in the event of catastrophe! You might have more then one location…some close by, and if that goes under….something higher ground, or more remote.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Popularity: 14% [?]