It must be fun to possess the ability to look at an old discarded View-Master, a can of baking powder, or some roller skates and see the makings of a little piece of art imbued with its own character.
Florida-based Reclaim2frame makes these funky little sculptures out of recycled and vintage materials and sells them via their Etsy shop. Each piece is given a name and personality traits (that’s the Magistrate pictured above) in a whimsical – not creepy – fashion.
Our cluttered, muddled world of tangled wires and wasted batteries is starting to get cleaned up and here’s another new product to help the process. Technology innovator, Logitech, recently introduced its Wireless Solar Keyboard K750. The keyboard powers itself from solar or ambient light gathered by its integrated solar panels — no power bricks or charging cables needed. For cave dwellers, the keyboard can operate for up to three months in total darkness (finding the right keys could prove a challenge).
Logitech has included a solar power app (available for download beginning Nov. 15, 2010) that features a lux meter to help you measure ambient light, gives at-a-glance information about battery levels, and even alerts you when you need more power.
The keyboard is slim, 1/3-inch thick, and also features 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity with Logitech’s tiny Unifying receiver. The Unifying receiver can connect up to six compatible devices, eliminating clutter and freeing up USB ports.
The keyboard will be in retailers’ hands later this month.
When it comes to buying milk, which one is better? “Regular,” non-organic milk is cheaper, yet expires sooner, while certified organic milk can cost up to a few dollars more per gallon, but has a longer shelf life. When it comes to nutrition, both certified organic and regular milk appear equal. They have the same amount of fat (depending on which milk you buy), and same nutritional value.
However, a major difference is how the cows are treated, which in turn affects what we’re ingesting. Certified organic milk comes from organic cows who access cleaner pastures and aren’t exposed to toxic fertilizers, antibiotics, or synthetic hormones. (Note: a couple of years ago author Michael Pollan referred to Horizon as “the Microsoft of organic milk;” we hope their standards have improved.) According to WebMD, non-organic cows are given the rBGH hormone, which increases the amount of milk a cow produces. rGBH has also been linked to cancer.
Organic milk also has a longer shelf life because it is treated twice with ultrahigh temperature, according to Scientific American. This kills any bacteria present in the milk.
If you’re concerned about how the cows are treated on dairy farms, and the hormones they’re given, the choice for you is certified organic milk. Also, if you tend not to finish your regular milk before the expiration date, organic milk will give you some extra time and you might actually save money (as well as produce less waste).
In my opinion, certified organic milk tastes better and is well worth the extra dollar or so – who wants to be drinking “nutrition filled with synthetic hormones, toxic fertilizers and antibiotics”! Do I really want to make my body “process” all that junk? Sometimes there’s more to “cost” than just the financial price. There’s your health and the environment’s as well.
Related: previously on altCon
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