"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."

Albert Einstein

Recycled plastic eyeglasses frames

September 23, 2011

Misc, Nerdy Things, Technology

4 comments

A year ago this month, I purchased new eyeglasses frames from the Earth Conscious Optics line by MODO. They are made completely of recycled plastic. I could also chosen frames that were made from recycled metals. They have been awesome so far, although they don’t sit quite evenly on my nose, but that just might be because my nose is a little uneven!

Here’s what they look like:

They are also doing an interesting promotion where they plant a tree for every pair of frames purchased. Check out their website: ECO Optics

Hopefully I’ll be able to used these frames for several more years to get as much mileage out of them as I can.

This makes me wonder, what other cool upcycled things are out there? Know of any?

when will we learn, when will we change

May 4, 2009

Society, Some Comments

6 comments

There are few things to cover today that I have been meaning to talk about!

I recently read this blog on the New York Times website about President Obama’s recent speech to the National Academy of Sciences.

The author of the blog entry makes an interesting point that Obama is encouraging creativity, over consumerism. I think that is an especially important perspective to take on a lot of our problems. People are deathly afraid of changing their lifestyle, but if framed in the light that they can creatively contribute to society, consuming less can make sense while not damaging our very high standard of living.

Which brings me to the Bigger Better Bottle Bill in New York State. (It is almost a reality! It recently passed in Albany.) This bill has been bouncing around for years, and has never had the right amount of momentum to get passed, which is a shame because the Returnable Container Act that is in place is over 25 years old. The update to the Act would allow more types of beverage containers to be redeemed for 5 cents, or more like in Michigan where it is 10 cents.

The redemption rate hovers above 70% in New York state, whereas in Michigan it is 95% or higher. Note that this is not the same as recycling rate, just the redemption of beverage containers that have a deposit on them. (For more info on how deposits work, check out http://www.bottlebill.org/. Also check out a piece I posted earlier on recycling.)

In 1982 when the Returnable Container Act was passed, the majority of beverages were sodas and beer (both being carbonated). Since then, the types of beverages sold have grown exponentially to include juices, sports drinks, and water.

Going back to what President Obama said, we could creatively pass policy that will promote consuming less. We could be actively reforming old and outdated policy that no longer is adequate or effective for today’s society.

While I agree that young people should be encouraged “to be makers of things, no just consumers of things,” I think this motto can be applied much more widely than just in the sciences. Fresh, creative thinking and innovation should be driving forces in every field!
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new energy generation

May 1, 2009

Musings, Society, Technology

7 comments

Ever thought that maybe the energy expended to shake your booty at a dance club could be converted to useful electricity?

I haven’t been clubbing in a long time, but when I do it is usually a good workout, mostly from the bouncing around. Piezoelectric energy allows mechanical stress to generate electric potential. The panels put in a dance floor, or any flooring actually, generate electricity whenever the weight of a person pushed the floor down.

Here is a video that explains this concept:

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Recycle more, and more diversely

April 19, 2009

Features, Science, Society

1 comment

I recall the time I spent in China as the hottest and stuffiest days of my life. I was there for a summer study abroad experience, as well as the chance to visit with relatives that I had not seen since I was five years old. At every step of my travels, in the dusty background were the old and the poor. My companions and I would give our leftovers to the man squatting outside of the restaurant. When at the markets, a “good deal” was often difficult to come by because, although my face looks Chinese, everyone could tell I was American and gave me the “foreigner’s price,” resulting in a double emotional stab of sympathy and feeling cheated. Often, on the street corners a tired unkempt old woman would approach me. But unlike all my previous experiences, she wasn’t looking for money; she wanted the water bottle in my hand.

In China, you can buy a bottle of water on nearly every street corner, and sometimes there are just as many people there selling them as collecting them. Many of the less fortunate in the United States parallel those in China by learning to adapt and take advantage of redeemable container policies that allow them to make some daily cash. The biggest difference in container redemption policy between the two countries is that the United States does not have a national law regarding beverage containers that may be redeemed for their deposit. The deposit is a small fraction of the price that was paid on the product bought by the consumer. It may be refunded when containers are returned at a collection center, such as a local supermarket. More specifically, only 11 states, which is about one fifth of the country, have such policies.
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