Happy Earth Day!

April 22 is Earth Day!

Since 1970, today has been a day to raise awareness about protecting the Earth we call home.

There are many easy ways you can help every day by going green:

REDUCE

1. Use less water
• while you're brushing your teeth and shaving.
• This will lower your water bill.
• You really don't need the water running the whole time.
• Take showers instead of baths.
• Plus you won't be sitting in your own filth.



Save water: shower together! ;)
2. Turn off the lights when you will no longer be in the room.
• Less energy used means lower emissions from power plants.
• This will also lower your electric bill.
3. Ride your bike to work, especially during the summer if you live close.



"Other means" = magic spells?

REUSE

1. Many stores sell durable reusable shopping bags for a nominal fee.
• Most have cool pictures or slogans on them, meaning you can express your individuality and help the environment at the same time!



Reusable shopping bags

2. Starbucks sells reusable travel mugs so you can help the environment while you drink your coffee in style!



Awesome Starbucks travel mug with dragon design

3. The Lions Club has a program where you can donate your old eyeglasses to the needy.

RECYCLE

1. Save trees and landfills by using recycling bins for paper and plastic products.
2. Office Max has a discount program based on how many ink cartridges you bring in to be recycled.

REPLENISH

1. Using a composter adds essential nutrients to the soil.
• We put expired leftovers and grass clippings in ours.
• This saves money on fertilizers and by growing some of our own food.
• We get to enjoy home-grown garlic, chives, tomatoes, blackberries, and grapes whenever we want, for free!

RESTORE

1. Volunteer for a local river or pond cleanup group.
• You'll get to keep the environment clean, have fun, and meet new friends!

For more great tips, visit this EPA website.
For more information about Earth Day in general, see the Wikipedia Earth Day page.

Sober up!

The big 21. Traditionally, youths turning 21 in our nation enjoy having a little fun once they reach the legal age. Unfortunately, sometimes we go a little too far and need to sober up.

That didn’t happen for me. In fact, nothing happened at all; I completely missed my 21st. I was so busy studying for two exams, writing a paper, and finishing a lab report that I worked right through mine. I didn’t catch on until two days later when I checked my mail and found the birthday card from my mom:

“Why did my mom send me a…oh.”

Intent on rectifying this on my 22nd, I realized I would need a way to sober up quick to be ready to help run the sign-in at a high school math competition at 8AM the next morning.
I was wracking my brains, and then five minutes ago, I remembered the Sober Up Techniques episode of Mythbusters.



We’ve all had an occasion where we need to sober up. But what is the best way?  Is this it?  Have I found the magic bullet?

Unfortunately, if I’m remembering correctly, this wasn’t the best method. I guess I’m stuck with black coffee.

My favorite drug just got better

In the back of my mind I was trying to come up with an awesome first post for our Senior Seminar blog. (The front of my mind was being used to surf Facebook.) So there I was, using Facebook to creep on people instead of actually talking to them in person, when I finished my third cup of coffee that day and it hit me. My first blog post would be about my favorite drug. (That would, of course, be coffee.) I did some searching and found some interesting information. Not only does coffee give you a boost of energy, but it also has added health benefits!
Most of these effects increase as you drink more coffee:

• Less likely to develop Parkinson's,
• Reduces risk of colon and skin cancer,
• Reduces risk of liver cirrhosis,
• Halves the risk of gallstones,
• Counteracts the effects of smoking and heavy drinking on the heart and liver damage,
• Manages asthma and controls attacks,
• Helps manage diabetes (improves insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism),
• Stops headaches (in my book, this translates to "cures hangovers"),
• Prevents cavities (bitter antibacterial properties),
• Boosts athleticism (greater endurance and performance).

All those great benefits are thanks to the caffeine and antioxidants packed into a single 8-ounce cup of Joe.

Of course, drinking too much coffee can be a bad thing.

You may be drinking too much coffee if:

• You have increased nervousness,
• Your hand or leg keeps trembling,
• You have a very rapid heartbeat.

I had thought it was impossible to drink "too much" coffee, but about a year ago I found out I was wrong. After a few weeks of waving away my friends' concerns that six cups of coffee was overdoing it, I started to notice that I had the last two symptoms plus a lovely ominous, recurring pain in my chest.

Taking the hint, I quit coffee cold turkey for a whole two weeks. After the first week, my body got used to making its own energy again instead of relying on a constant stream of caffeine, so I no longer thought I was dying. After the second week, all of the symptoms were gone. When I decided to pick up drinking coffee again, I decided it was best to limit myself to three cups a day.

And coffee isn't for everyone. Some people should be very careful about drinking coffee.

People who should avoid or limit coffee:

1. Pregant women,
2. People with heart conditions  

Well, there you go. Now I can get back to killing this last cup of Joe.

Check out this website for the original article.