KickStart

http://www.kickstart.org/tech/index.html
"KickStart's mission is to help millions of people out of poverty. We promote sustainable economic growth and employment creation in Kenya and other countries. We develop and promote technologies that can be used by dynamic entrepreneurs to establish and run profitable small scale enterprises." What makes them great? Their products are designed for the targeted environment and economy. Check them out!

Ike damage in Texas

I know Ike came through and damaged many states, not just Texas coast. I'd like to acknowledge that fact, and that so many resources were sent to Texas that it left the other states short. My heart goes out to all ... Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri ... all you guys. So the following is not meant to ignore others: Here is a link to some photos of SOME of the damage left behind by Hurricane Ike on the Texas coast.

goodsearch

Use GoodSearch to donate to your charity. Select the charity, then use GoodSearch for your internet searches.

Houston Dominican Sisters is a great choice to donate to. ;)

update: Anonymous commenter also suggested http://www.click4carbon.com/ as another good search engine that benefits charity. However, you know I'm biased for the Dominicans. But it's all good.

Thanks commenter! Apparently once in a while someone does skim through this blog.

back online

Just got electricity back after a week of no power. We seem to have only minor damage from hurricane Ike. Still, we'll have months of cleaning up to do.

Our poor tree seem to have lost almost all of its leaves.

We have some of the decorative solar-powered yard lights. Gumby had said to bring them in so that they don't get blown away by the hurricane. So while we were without power, we used them in the house at night as night lights; during the day I put them out and they would get re-charged.

Some of the neighbors had portable generators. They were quite loud and the constant hum bugged the heck out of Gumby. I heard that the oil in them should be changed every 25 hours of operation - that's every day! I would prefer solar panels, but they'd have to be able to survive hurricanes.

Anyhow, I can probably go on and on about the ordeal, but I'm tired and you probably don't want all the gory details. Feel free to ask any questions you might have.

boarded up

Ike is making a lot of news. Coverage seems to be around the clock. We're not in an evacuation area, but my job is. So we left work early. Fortunately, we have plywood already cut for the windows--done back when I was unemployed. Today I got some Thompson's water seal and applied it to the wood before putting the wood up on the windows. I was able to treat all but one board. I wish I had purchased a sprayer for applying the water seal; the stuff is thin and would have covered more if I had had a sprayer. Else, having had two previous hurricane threats, we're pretty prepared.

Sisters of Charity retreat

in Houston, TX

Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
pdf here

Dominican Retreat

Dominican retreat in Houston, TX:

A Retreat for Discerners
Women ages 20 – 40)
September 5 & 6, 2008

pdf at this link

random picture

This is a Cherry Limeade. It was accidentally left to freeze in the freezer. When it was taken out to thaw, the cup was clean. But as it thawed, the red stuff oozed out of the cup.

Wind turbines bad for bats

Wind turbines are bursting bats' lungs. The motion attracts bats. Then when they get into the low pressure area of the wind turbines, their lungs burst. Clean energy. But still has environmental impacts.

product endorsement

I've tried Stink Free and Nature's Miracle for removing pet urine odor (sick cat = accidents). I prefer Stink Free.