October is breast cancer awareness month and there are tons of things going on in communities all over the World like fundraising walk a thons and thing-a-ma-boobs! The Canadian Cancer Society has launched a keychain that they call the thing-a-ma-boob. On it there are varying sizes of beads which represent sizes of lumps women commonly find during their breast exams. Take a look and learn more!
Goodness Radio!
I’ll be on the radio Friday from 1:30 to 3 pm talking about ThingsAreGood.com!
Feel free to call in to the show (we’ll give the # out over the airwaves).
You can tune in over the internet (direct link) or turn your radio dial to CHRY 105.5 if your in Toronto.
David Suzuki: Steal my Research
David Suzuki is awesome and ti add to his awesomeness he has openly proclaimed that anyone can use his research to fight for positive environmental change!
“Allow me to clear something up right now. To all politicians looking for ways to reduce our footprint on nature – or, to use politician-speak, create an “environmental platformâ€: Knock yourselves out. Feel free to steal, pilfer, borrow, rent, filch or otherwise take any research my foundation does and put it to good use.
This may seem obvious to some, but the whole point of conducting and publishing this research is to get people to actually use it.”
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
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.”