Where to next? Hmmm...

Going to the Land of...

Fjords, Lapland, Vikings, Sami Peoples

Midnight Sun, Northern Lights

Flor og Fjare (Tropical island? Yes!)

Where they say things like...

Ja/Nei, Takk, Vaer sa god

Mor'n, God dag, God kveld, God natt

Morn'a or Ha det


Where I can shop for...

Gnomes, Trolls

Reindeer toys

Sami Jewellery (Silver--my Fav!)

Aquavit

(Akevitt or Dram)




Where I can eat...

Multekrem (cloudberries & whipped cream)

Polse i lompe (hot dog in a tortilla of flour & potatoes)

Geitost/brunost (brown goats' cheese sharp with caramel note)

Reker (shrimps - peel, pile on white bread, squeeze on lemon & mayo, sprinkle with dill)

Laks og eggerore (smoked salmon & scrambled eggs)

787878787878787878787878787878787878787

Have ya'll guessed it yet?! :o)

Check out this webpage: http://www.visitnorway.com/

Note: Keep an eye out for "Rain In Stavanger" - the next Blog!!! (#3)

Wait for it...maybe in the Fall - Oct or Nov ???

CFL / Mercury Light Bulbs - Break? Recycle?

CFL = Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs contain Mercury...

If they Break?
Handle as Hazardous Waste...
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Whatever you do, don't vacuum a broken bulb,
advises Pamela Schnepper, a toxicologist in the environmental health program at the Department of Environmental Services.

"That will spread it through the house, it will put it in the air, and then the vacuum cleaner will be contaminated.

"Instead, environmental experts advise, ventilate the room and leave it for 15 minutes.

The safest approach is to wear gloves, and use cardboard and duct tape to pick up small pieces and powder, seal everything in a screw-top jar, and store the jar in a safe place until you can dispose of it at a hazardous waste collection.

Where to Recycle?
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1 - Home Depot
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2 - IKEA
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3 - Search on-line: www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling
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4 - Search on-line: http://www.earth911.com/
"Making Every Day Earth Day"
(Find a Recycling or Re-Use Location on their webpage)
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5 - Search on-line: Local Hazardous Household Waste Programs
(TCEQ = Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for Contacts
ie: Harris County
Webpage Link: www.tceq.state.tx.us/assistance/hhw/contacts.html#harris)
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Article (READ MORE) - "All Things Considered" on NPR Radio
Excerpts from February 15, 2007 ·

The Environmental Protection Agency and some large business, including Wal-Mart, are aggressively promoting the sale of compact fluorescent light bulbs as a way to save energy and fight global warming. They want Americans to buy many millions of them over the coming years.
But the bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, a neurotoxin, and the companies and federal government haven't come up with effective ways to get Americans to recycle them...

Experts agree that it's not easy for most people to recycle these bulbs. Even cities that have curbside recycling won't take the bulbs. So people have to take them to a hazardous-waste collection day or a special facility...

"The only retailer that I know of that is recycling is IKEA," she says, referring to the Swedish-owned furniture chain store.

Webpage Link to this Article: www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7431198

Splaff Flopps, belts, handbags, mirrors...

Splaff Flopps
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started in a garage with a tire, a bike tube, and a shoe knife.

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The vision was to make a comfortable, long lasting, fairly priced sandal from all recycled materials.

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Today Splaff products include sandals, handbags, belts, mirrors, and a coffee table.

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They are all made with recycled race car tires and bicycle Inner tubes, regupol (a cushioning material made from used tires which have been chipped and pressed into mats), and hemp.

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They are hand-crafted and are produced in a 100% waste free, earth friendly process in which all left over materials are either re-used or recycled.

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Webpage: http://www.splaff.com/

Trash to Treasure - FreeCycle Network

"Trash to Treasure

FreeCycle Network

Makes sharing fun...5 million Americans have joined more than 4,000 community groups around the globe to give & get good stuff for free from neighbors all around town.

Reuse keeps it out of landfills & everybody's happy.

It's called FreeCycling or FreeSharing & easy to do at:

http://www.freecycle.org/

"It's a place to give or recieve what you have & don't need, or what you need & don't have," note members.

"It makes it possible to clean out the garage without filling up a dumpster."

Members simply register their stuff on the Web, & neighbors they didn't know they had, take it off their hands.

Membership is free.

The only rules are that everything must be offered for free, & no illegal or adult-themed materials are allowed.

The most popular items that folks browse listings for tend to be appliances, furniture & clothing."

Note: article (words) above borrowed from Houston Arts Magazine - May 2008, under their "Global Briefs" section: "News & resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that works for all."

Link: http://www.freecycle.org/

Some say...One man's trash is another man's treasure. -
or some also say...One man's garbage is another man's gold.

44444444444444444444444444

And also quoted - from Yahoo Groups for Houston, TX...

"Description:

Welcome to the Houston Freecycle(TM) Network in Texas,

where one person's trash is another's treasure!

Freecycle is a grassroots environmental movement whose goal is to recycle and reduce waste and landfill space by connecting people who are throwing away unwanted items with others who are seeking the same items (and have a little fun in the process).

No item is too big or too small; but since this is a FREEcycle list and we emphasize gifting, ALL items must be 100% (that's right, you got it) free.

No bartering, trading, buying or selling is allowed.

Please note: NO Live animals, NO weapons, NO offers/requests for money in any form, NO items available only to those over 18 or 21, NO personal ads, NO spam or advertising.

These are ALL strictly prohibited on HoustonFreecycle. Member profiles, member ids, and email addresses must be appropriate for all ages.

The Houston Freecycle Network serves the greater metro Houston, Texas area.The Houston Freecycle Network is on a restricted membership and generates up to 100+ posts a day.

When you sign up, a short application will be sent to you via email. This is done to keep membership local, spammers out, and to verify new members understand what Freecycle is about. Please fill it out and return per instructions.

Freecycle...one simple, brilliant idea that's changing the world one gift at a time.

Copyright © 2003-2008, The Freecycle Network™ (http://www.freecycle.org/).
All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries."

Link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HoustonFreecycle/

Write, Get Published & Promote...New e-book!

My Writerly Gal Pal has another new e-book!

I'm borrowing her words (only the "I's" have been changed, hope you don't mind Joyce?!)

Go--Check it out...

She is pleased to announce her latest published effort,"Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers," available at www.lulu.com/content/2805803
(Please see reviews posted on the marketplace page).

It's available as download-only, contains useful information that takes writers from the first word written to promotion,includes a coaching aspect to move you forward as a writer, and has lots of active links to connect you to useful resources.

If you're not a writer but know a new or aspiring writer, she invites you to share this email with that person or persons.

As always, a portion of monthly royalties is given to the I AM Foundation to promote literacy for children and adults across the globe.

To see her other two published books, go to http://www.lulu.com/.

The reviews of the "Guru" book, in particular, are quite amazing.

And she says too, just so you know something delightful, her first two books have been included in the Brooklyn Public Library--on the shelves and in the system.

www.freewebs.com/editmybookandmore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For "Write, Get Published, and Promote."

It provides more information than the Lulu retail page.

If you know anyone you can forward it to, please do so and make her very, very happy.

The link: www.freewebs.com/writegetpubishedandpromote
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E-Book Description (on LuLu.com):

This e-guide came about from critique and writing clients asking me the same questions . . . and the questions they didn’t ask, but should have. New and aspiring writers can enjoy the process and success more, if they understand what’s involved. Not only is writing the first word to promoting yourself covered, but this e-guide has lots of active links to help you expand your experience and success potential. Though the focus is for new writers, anyone who intends to self-publish or wonders which publishing path to take will benefit from the information. You'll find the content is single-spaced and missing lots of white space usually found in e-books. Otherwise, it would be over 100 pages long. Who wants to use that much paper if they can use less? This e-book is packed with valuable information. Comments are that it's user-friendly, concise, and highly informative. Please see Reviews and check out the Preview.

One for One - TOMS shoes

Spread the Word, Share the TOMS Story...

For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need - One for One

2008 South Africa Shoe Drop
50,000 pairs
2006 Argentina Shoe Drop
10,000 pairs

TOMS - Shoes for Tomorrow

Since its beginning in May 2006, TOMS has given over 10,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina & 50,000 pairs in South Africa through the purchases of our caring customers. In 2008 TOMS plans to given 200,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world.

Our ongoing community events & Shoe Drops allow Toms supporters & enthusiasts to be a part of this One for One movement.

Get involved: Changing a life begins with a single step...

For every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of shoes to a child in need.

One for One.

Webpage: www.tomsshoes.com/
Shoes & More TOMS Stuff (like T-shirts) - Buy Online, Find Stores, Read Articles, Get Involved, Gift TOMS, Contact & More...

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Under Articles you can read: Oprah Good Guy of the Month - March 2007

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Also, they have a New webpage in the works, leave your e-mail address & get more info.

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More at: www.styleyoursole.tomsshoes.com/info.html
Note: Here is where you can--Order your white TOMS, Get ideas to paint/decorate/create your own shoes, See events, Upload your photos with TOMS & more...
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New Location: Whole Foods Market - Houston, TX
Webpage: www.WholeFoodsMarket.com
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My Personal Note:
As of today I went to Whole Foods Market & saw the local volunteers & many of TOMS shoes, found them to be the funnest/comfest/earth friendly shoes yet?! And they help kids? What better way then to buy & help out at the same time!



You can buy plain ones too for decorating yourselves - if my kids were little & it were summer time & we needed a creative project I'm telling you this would be it for this summer vacation! I also know what all my friends & family are getting for Christmas too! TOMS shoes & stuff?!


Now I'm off to go find the other Whole Foods Market in town with more fun shoes, am in search of ones that fit me (I need a 1/2 size they didn't have today, maybe I was in the store too late...but I will find them - or I can order them too?!)



It's all good & they're doing good works right?!


Let's help where we can help & have fun while we're at it!! I'm all for that :o)

Red Products

What RED Is

(RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of DATA to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world's most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED branded products. A percentage of each (PRODUCT)RED product sold is given to

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The Global Fund. The money helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.
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What's the meaning of the parentheses or brackets? Well, we call them "the embrace." Each company that becomes (RED) places its logo in this embrace and is then elevated to the power of red. Thus the name -- (PRODUCT)RED.
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You, the consumer, can take your purchase to the power of (RED) simply by upgrading your choice. Thus the proposition: (YOU)RED. Be embraced, take your own fine self to the power of (RED). What better way to become a good-looking samaritan?!
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The Lazarus Effect

Thanks to the Global Fund and (RED) money that you've helped generate with your (RED) purchase, an extremely effective medicine to treat HIV is becoming widely available to people in Africa. And it's as simple as two pills a day. It's so effective, in fact, it can return a person to vibrant health in about 60 days. Choose (RED) to make an impact.

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The (Red) Manifesto

All things being equal, they are not...

Note: read more on the webpage, it's copyrighted...

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The Global Fund

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was established in 2002 with the support of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the world's leaders, to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world's most devastating diseases. Since its creation, the Global Fund has become the dominant financer of programs to fight AIDS, TB and malaria, with $10 billion invested in 136 countries...

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MEASU(RED) RESULTS

The Global Fund has selected established grants with sound performance to receive money raised through (RED). To date, (RED) partners have generated more than $60 million for the Global Fund. No overhead is taken out of these funds – 100% of this money flows to Global Fund financed AIDS grants in Ghana, Rwanda, Swaziland and Lesotho. In these countries this money is helping to finance comprehensive national HIV/AIDS programs led by the ministries of health, to provide antiretroviral treatment for children and adults, to assist in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, as well as essential counseling and testing activities to reduce the overall risk of HIV transmission.

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Webpage for Red Products: www.joinred.com/products/gap/ or shop here:

www.gap.com/browse/division.do?cid=16591&tid=gpvan011

Note: not all the tee-shirts are red, actually only one of them is - for Women & Men