Ruleofblue's Journal

01/13/2008 15:25 #42869

Green

So, I've been a bit negligent over the past few years about being Green. Something happened to me in the past few weeks and it is like I woke up. I'm actively thinking about what I'm doing in my home.

Now that I'm "awake", I thought I would share with everyone else.

Shopping and Cleaning

Ecobags
Bringing your own bag when shopping saves plastic bags. Visit www.ecobags.com

Method Home
Method offers some cleaners that are dye- and perfume-free, nontoxic, biodegradable, naturally derived and never tested on animals. For more information, visit www.methodhome.com

Mrs. Meyers cleaning supplies
All of their cleaning supplies are made with natural essential oils, are biodegradable and phosphate-free. For more, visit www.mrsmeyers.com.

Seventh Generation products
Seventh Generation is one of the leading brands of nontoxic household products. For more information, visit www.seventhgeneration.com.

Shaklee
This company has been producing natural cleaning products-everything from dryer sheets to stain removers-for 50 years. Call 800-670-6251 or visit www.shaklee.com to save 33 percent on the Shaklee Healthy Home pack and 15 percent off all other items at Shaklee.

Green Home
This is just the epicenter of green products.
www.greenhome.com/

Water bottles

Nalgene water bottles
These water bottles are durable, inexpensive, can be used repeatedly and are widely recyclable. For more information visit www.nalgene-outdoor.com.

New Wave Enviro Products
Corn-resin bottle with filter ($8.99) provides pure, clean drinking water and can be reused up to 90 times, and the bottle biodegrades in just 80 days. For more information visit www.newwaveenviro.com

or call 800-592-8371.

SIGG water bottles
Using a premium reusable bottle like SIGG greatly helps reduce unnecessary environmental waste caused by plastic PET water bottles. Get more information at mysigg.com.

scott - 01/17/08 20:24
I plan to use the earth until it's gone, like the good little virus I am.

jbeatty - 01/14/08 16:40
I'm not discrediting anything about any of these companies, because I really don't know anything about them. But this whole "green" movement that has appeared in the past five years really has me skeptical. I have to wonder how many of the CEO's of these "green" companies are driving around in Escalades and Hummers. Too often I think its just a ploy to sell over-priced products to people. I guess thats just my cynicism coming out.

dcoffee - 01/14/08 09:21
Sweet Thanks. Those energy efficient bulbs are cheap now too, and they come in warm tones.

ajay - 01/13/08 18:22
Nalgene is getting some bad press these days. A couple of big stores have stopped carrying Nalgene bottles due to this whole Bisphenol-A thing (it leaches into the water, and is claimed to be an estrogen imitator?).

I don't want to get big tits; I've switched to Sigg .

james - 01/13/08 16:58
I am not a fan of nalgene. For one, they are the largest manufacturer of water bottles for animal cages in testing facilities. The plastic they use is composite-polycarbonate plastic which is not recycled domestically. It is either thrown out or shipped over seas to be recycled. The amount of fuel burned to ship all of it negates some of the benefit. Additionally, nalgene bottles use bisphenol A, a chemical which has been linked to increased estrogen and breast cancer risk.

So, I avoid Nalgine. Thank you for posting all this information though.

libertad - 01/13/08 16:35
I am a huge fan of Method products. Great dish soap, all purpose cleaner and Tub and tile cleaner! They also have pretty decent hand soap too (smell before buying). I wrote a lengthy thing a while ago about my experience with green clean. Check it out if you want :::link:::
Also, I found an electromagnetic sponge on one of the websites you posted and I'm going to look and see if I can find it somewhere else so I can try it. There isn't anything else on that site that I want (except maybe a shower curtain I can't afford) and don't want to pay to ship one thing. Anyways, it looks like I might like it a lot. It is great that you can wash it in the washer to cut down on the bacteria that grows on it. I hate when people have nasty ass sponges that smell. That is so gross.

jenks - 01/13/08 16:31
good info, thanks

10/05/2007 13:47 #41508

Hockey

I'm so glad hockey is starting back up. Wahoo!

metalpeter - 10/05/07 17:11
So am I. If the Sabres aren't the only team you follow there have all ready have ben games to watch on. I can't wait to see them raise the banners and see how the entire new scoreboard Jubotron thing looks.

10/01/2007 13:23 #41434

Dog Park Do's and Don'ts

I love my husband. He's totally into OLA (off leash area) park and wrote this out of control rant about the "unwritten" do's and don't at OLA.

scott - 10/10/07 09:53
There's always a risk of other dogs hurting your dog. In my experience, you're more at risk of a loose dog on the street approaching than at the dog park.

There's literally 100's of dog encounters at the dog park every day, and only a handful of real fights a year.

Still, if you have reservations about any dog you see at the dog park, just don't go in. If a dog shows up that seems to play too rough or cause trouble, just leave.

Is there a chance your dog will get attacked at the dog park? Yes, definitely. I just don't think it's any higher than the chance your dog will get attacked by a loose dog on the street. The people who bring their dogs to the dog park tend to be "dog people" who've already socialized their dogs. In my humble opinion, the dog park is possibly the safest environment to socialize your dog, so long as you use common sense and follow your gut instincts.

ruleofblue - 10/02/07 11:08
I agree with you. I worry every time we go. I wish there was something in place that I could be sure that other dogs wouldn't be an issue, but there isn't. Maybe it is different in other cities and Buffalo is just behind the times.

jenks - 10/02/07 11:01
good common-sense guidelines... off-leash parks still make me nervous though- YOUR dog may be great- it's the others I worry about.

ruleofblue - 10/02/07 10:09
OFF Leash Area

jenks - 10/02/07 10:07
OLA?

09/24/2007 16:15 #41293

Other Dogparks Official and Not so...

The "unofficial" Amherst dog park is at the Amherst State Park off of Mill Street in Williamsville. On any given night you will find 20 to 30 dogs "off leash" running through the apple orchard.

.

The "official" Amherst dog park is not yet open.

That is located at Paradise Park at near the intersection of Casey Road and Paradise Road in Amherst. Casey Road intersects with Transit Road in Amherst.

09/24/2007 16:09 #41292

Buffalo's First Dog Park

I've been to the Buffalo Dog Park. It is not what people think. I personally had this impression that any Joe from on the street was showing up with their dog. Boy was I wrong.

It is near the Buffalo Rowing club on the water. (Buffalo's first off-leash area is in LaSalle Park next to the old Colonel F.G. Ward Pumping Station.) It is clean and quiet. The only people at the park are dog people and the occasional high school football game.

There are rules that have to be followed in order to bring your dog into the park.
1) The dog MUST be over 4 months of age.
2) Your dog MUST be spayed or neutered (when age appropriate).
3) Your dog MUST be up to date with all vaccinations (including flea and tick).
4) You, the owner, takes responsibility for your dog's actions. If your dog can not behave appropriately, you and your dog are asked to leave.
5) Pick up after your dog. If you didn't bring a "potty bag" one will be provided for you. The City of Buffalo provides generous trash receptacles.

People who go to this park with their dogs have no problem telling you to leave if you can't control your dog. There are breads of all sizes and ages there. Most of the dogs get along with each other. Those that don't... again, the dog and their owner are asked to leave.

james - 09/24/07 16:12
I am so glad we finally have a dog park! I was always paranoid at Delaware park that a cop was going to sneak up with a ticket.