Monthly Archives: October 2006

Pets in the USA to be Saved in Emergencies

Greg James writes in to let us know that the US Government has passed a bill to protect pets in emergencies.

Greg lets us know that the ASPCA supports this:

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, it has become overwhelmingly apparent that provisions need to be made for our trusted companions in major disaster and emergency situations. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) would amend a federal law called the Stafford Act. It would require the director of FEMA, in approving standards for state and local disaster preparedness plans, to ensure that the plans take into account the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals. The bill would also allow the director of FEMA to make financial contributions to state and local authorities for animal emergency preparedness purposes, including establishing shelters to accommodate people with pets and service animals.

Many Katrina evacuees and disaster victims were forced to leave their pets behind when they evacuated their homes, because no provisions had been made to evacuate companion animals along with their families. The emotional trauma of those forced to leave their pets behind and the suffering of tens of thousands of animals was compounded by the health and safety risks that resulted from so many abandoned animals in one area. Conversely, many pet owners, knowing their companion animals could not accompany them, chose to stay in their homes with their pets, further complicating human rescue efforts. The PETS bill would help ensure that this situation does not repeat itself if another major disaster strikes!

Solar Fashion

neat! I like when technology and fashion merge because neat-o concepts like this get made. Practicality on the other hand can be worried about later (although practical applications of solar powered clothing exist).

From We make money not art:
“Solar cells are embedded on some of the tiles: they charge the dress during the day, and make it change colors in dimly lit surroundings.

“Each tile is designed in such a way as to accommodate a solar cell, a RGB LED, or a photocell, and jumper connectors (in the form of 0 Ohm resistors). A control board provides power, communicates with the tiles, and links to a computer via RF. The dress is completely modular both in terms of software and hardware.”

Aloha!

pictureThey say, “Everyone who visits Hawaii wants to live there.”  A good reason to move: free access for residents to Hanauma Bay, a blue jewel in the eye of every snorkeler and scuba diver.

Located in Oahu, near Waikiki, Hanauma Bay was declared a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park in 1967. The bay floor is actually the crater of an ancient volcano that flooded when the exterior wall collapsed and the ocean rushed in.  Because of the physical makeup, the water is almost always calm — except for the kids (and adults) who scream excitedly when coming upon sealife.  Visitors are almost never disappointed, being able to swim amongst fish, some the size of their heads!

All first-time visitors watch a video before heading to the beach.  The presentation highlights a few conservation points, such as:

  • don’t feed or touch the sealife, or coral
  • don’t chase the fish
  • don’t walk on the coral reef
  • use the restroom before you swim

The number of daily visitors is limited, in order to preserve this natural sea park.  So, people are encouraged to arrive early (it’s open by 7a.m.).  The educational site for Hanuama bay can be found here.

Off-Grid Trailer House

home? The Mini Home is a portable house that allows the inhabitants to live off the grid. Off-grid basically means not using water and power from public (or in some places private) sources, almost a self-sustianable lifestyle.

The mini home itself looks like a futuristic trailer park home because of the layout and materials used. Power comes from solar panels, I don’t know where the water comes from (or goes to) though.

It’s good to see companies making living spaces that can function without sucking power from non-renewable resources.