ECO Geek Tips for Blog Action Day

Every October 15th is Blog Action Day for Climate Change.

Concerned bloggers are asked to post about climate change (and what we can be doing) and give a shout out to October 24th and 350.

This year I'm going to focus on going eco for geeks with 5 quick tips:

1. Turn off your computer- this could have a huge impact.

(turn the computer off when you go to bed at night)

2. Use eco-friendly light bulbs

(they make them for everything now)

3. Use Blackle

(Based on the theory that a black Google could save 750 Megawatt-hours a year, Blackle is just that)

4. Pay your bills online

5. Ditch your screensaver

(Screensavers were initially created to add life to the monitor by keeping phosphors from burning images into your idle monitor. Modern computers don't have these problems and screensavers still use power and can even keep your computer from going into a fully saving power mode)

and if you share a cubicle with someone who has those tacky tropical fish swimming across their screen or endless family pictures of their little angel's last birthday party - this may be a good tip to bring up at your next office meeting

(you will then owe me one .... and I prefer chocolate .... or cash)

Who Ya' Gonna Call?

OK- so maybe some of us

(not me)

have been watching a few too many episodes of GHOST HUNTERS

(the scifi show with the RotoRooter nerds who hunt ghosts),

so when we decided to hit Phillie for Columbus Day

(sans hubby who was working, of course - personally I am on the same schedule as the U.S. Postal Service and take my postal holidays very seriously)

we (ie they) wanted to check out the Eastern State Penitentiary-

(the photo above is NOT the Eastern State Penitentiary but is from that day and the best choice for my photoshopped TAPS insignias which believe me certain members of my little ghost hunting posse really, really wish were real ... sigh)

The penitentiary was the location of the TAPS Halloween special last year where they set up live and found.... well, they found nothing actually (but, they had recorded alot of activity there in a previous episode and by alot of activity I mean alot of unexplained creaking noises and heat sources)

(I must admit I was a bit oblivious to our investigation while the actual investigating was happening- ie photographing empty, closed off corridors for suspicious ghostly activity- my ears covered with the plastic headset for the audio tour, my fingers going numb from the cold and my mind on lunch)

This penitentiary was founded by Benjamin Franklin and the Quakers who believed that people were basically good and given enough time alone (and I mean totally alone- they spent 23 hours a day in their cell and were hooded anytime they left their cells to maintain their privacy) would find God and see the error of their ways.

Later it became a regular prison and even housed Al Capone.

(maybe I was paying more attention than I thought to that audio tour)

So, anyhoo- here is the best photographic evidence from our little adventure and you guys can let me know what you all think (this is a closed off corridor- far from the camera person).



I am convinced we have definitive proof of a haunting.

(or a lens smudge)



1. Home Haunted Home print by RusticGoth
2. Tragic Locket by HeartworksbyLori
3. Spooky Chic Ghost Hairclip by PunchDrunkPrincess (my new favorite shop name!)
4. Treats for the Neighborhood Monsters by GooseGrease
5. Something Terrible Pin by BeanForest
6. Blue Ghost by FetishGhost

Giveaway TUSH TUSH Life Tiny Canvas Print CLOSED

And the winner is ... ShellieArtist! Shellie has an amazing Etsy shop- so check it out!
Chosen by random. org Min: 1 Max: 282 Result: 71

Tush Tush is the amazingly talented Tali; a design student at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jeruselum.

There is a kind of innocent joy and hopefulness hiding behind the amazing little faces in her little portraitures and prints!

I love Tali's work and find something very sweet, effortless and quirky in each piece that always makes me smile!

We are so lucky to have one of her beautiful mini canvases here!


WHAT YOU GET:

One lucky winner will receive Tush Tush's amazing little canvas titled Life!




HOW TO WIN:

Visit TushTush and leave a comment letting Tali know which piece is your favorite!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Sunday, October 18th! Good luck! CLOSED

Some Saturday Morning Sass

Heading out for a morning of flea markets and lawn mowing (if the weather holds out here), but first wanted to post a few amazing finds to give our weekend a little inspiration.

Like these amazing paper installations of Charles Clary, a truly versatile room divider- how cool is this by Loris and Livia , I LOVE this urban jewelry by Liesbet Bussche- isn't everything (almost) more interesting either huge or teeny tiny, Hilary Cosgrove's beautiful alphabet pillows made from recycled suits, much more fun than peeling beer bottle stickers are these cool drink and stick wine labels by Some Young Punks (I think I know these guys)

Rebecca's amazing vintage shop finds at The Vintage Closet- those moccasins are just too awesome, the recycled hanger hangers of Jade Barnes-Richardson and the gorgeous photography of Tali Shiffer (and she's got a locket!).