Notes from an MT-Headed Guy

Live Green: Increase reusables to reduce disposables

2008-02-04T16:07:48Z

I am getting these emails at work every week, so I thought I'd share.

This is the first set of Live Green tips you will receive on how to use fewer resources, reduce waste and save money — both at work and at home.

Reusing common household products reduces waste and helps conserve materials and resources. It’s a simple way to make a positive environmental impact. Here are some quick tips for limiting your use of disposable products at work and at home.

1. Jazz up your java.

Make your daily cup of coffee more earth-friendly by using a reusable coffee mug and limiting your use of Styrofoam and disposable cups. Disposable cups fill up our landfills. Styrofoam is nonrecyclable and made from nonrenewable resources. (saves an average of 40 pounds (20 kg) of carbon dioxide (CO2)/year)

2. Break the bottled water habit.

More than 80 percent of water bottles end up in landfills! You can do your part by drinking tap or filtered water from a reusable cup. This also reduces the environmental impact caused by manufacturing, shipping and recycling water bottles. (saves an average of 140 pounds (60 kg) of CO2/year)

3. Put a (metal) fork in it.

One minute of convenience can have an untold negative impact on our landfills when it comes to disposable plastic utensils and paper goods. Take the time to grab washable plates and utensils in the HP cafeteria or at home. Most disposable utensils and food containers are not recyclable and end up in landfills.

4. Recharge your batteries.

Rechargeable lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries can be charged hundreds of times before they need to be replaced. Although initially they may cost a little more than single-charge batteries, they’ll save you money over their longer lifetime. Always recycle used batteries. They are hazardous waste and should not go to landfill.

5. Clean with cloth.

Use washable cloth towels to wipe up spills and messes at home instead of using disposable paper towels.

6. Bag it.

Keep a reusable cloth bag in a convenient location for grocery trips. Each year, millions of plastic grocery bags are sent to landfills. (saves an average of 70 pounds (30 kg) of CO2/year)

Do your part—it’s a start! Think about other disposables you use and how you can go reusable. Together

we can make a difference.

Spread the word.

Thanks for your help!

CO_{2 reduction numbers are estimates and will vary based on individual use, location and other factors.}

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Ouch!

2008-02-03T15:12:54Z

Okay, this has not been my favorite weekend.

Saturday, I was trying on my winter clothes, to see if I got too fat for any of them and need new things before going to Lake Tahoe next weekend.

Somehow, in the middle of pulling off a pair of long underwear that I guess shrank over the summer (because I did NOT get fatter, dammit), I got my middle finger caught in my clothes and twisted it. No major pain, but it was totally bent out of place and wouldn't straighten out on its own.

I was freaking out. While it didn't hurt, I decided to go to the hospital and get it x-rayed and all. I did not have time to be sitting in an ER waiting room all day, but I'm glad I went.

Well, how lame... I have something called "mallet finger," whereby the tendon on the back of the finger that's responsible for keeping the finger straight was ripped away from the bone at the end of my finger. Fun times.

Help! My finger has fallen and I can't get it up!

I have to keep my finger in a splint so that it is extended for the next 4-6 weeks. And here's the part that sucks: let's say you take the spint off for literally a second, and you allow your finger to bend for literally a second, you start the 4-6 weeks for the treatmeant over again.

I can say already that typing sucks. Not the best thing when you have a job for a technology company. But no pain and I can manage.

I'll learn in the next 3 days (when I meet with my doctor) if I'll be okay to snowboard with my splint. I really hope so, but I just want this to get better as fast as I can.

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The State of the Union

2008-01-30T02:09:00Z

Fairy Tales vs truth.wmv

I really enjoyed this reaction to last night's State of the Union.

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Tell the Governator...

2008-01-17T20:33:14Z

That you support the freedom for everyone to marry the person they love.

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I must have this!

2008-01-14T18:21:09Z

I can't wait for Wii Fit to come to the U.S.

Wii Fit - Extended Japanese Trailer

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Spring Training!

2008-01-14T02:04:35Z

It's official! Jeff and I will be going to Spring Training to see the Giants in Scottsdale. We're just doing a weekend, from March 7-9.

If anyone is going to be there and wants to meet up, let me know.

I'm also looking for dining and nightlife advice in the Phoenix area. I have never been to Phoenix before except to make connections at Sky Harbour.

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Come on, Toshi

2008-01-05T15:52:56Z

My sister sent this to me, and it made me laugh. Thought I'd share.

English Lesson

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The Holidays Are Already Over?

2008-01-02T01:47:45Z

Damn, that went by past. I hope everyone had a great holiday. I'm happy to report that for the most part, my time off was very restful. I still have yet to log into work email since December 21. I wonder how many emails I will come back to tomorrow.

Here are a few highlights of my Christmas and New Year's:

Trip back to Pennsylvania was good. Nice to see my family, and it was a very low-key trip without a lot of drama. Seeing the nephew and nieces is nice, but it doesn't take more than a few minutes to remember how much I love the quiet of my life without children.

Erin and Sarah

It was a Wii Christmas for sure. I got a bunch of games for my friends, and I got DDR and Guitar Hero 3 for Christmas myself. Here's a funny photo of John on DDR.

DDR

We got to visit the mother-in-law. Okay, a 2.5 hour drive to New York state each way, for only a short visit, seemed silly. But it's been four years since Jim and I have been to Binghamton. About every four years is all I can handle.

IMG_1830

I started the new year off right, with a run with John. It's been months since John had run, so we kept it easy. It will be good to see how much we improve as we run more.

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The end of an era...

2007-12-17T01:16:09Z

Today, I did the unthinkable. I joined a new gym.

I love where I currently workout. But I don't go downtown for work anymore. And I just pay too much.

I will admit, I kind of wanted to cry when touring my new gym. It's not as nice as Equinox for sure. I mean, the SF Equinox is the old Pacific Stock Exchange. The locker rooms are in the old vault (with the giant vault door as the entryway). Equinox has a pool (which I never use) and a spa. I think they have double the cardio over Golds', and probably half the crowd. And let's not begin to compare the Castro crowd to my old businesspersons' downtown gym. I worked out at Equinox for three years, and it always felt like all the staff and a big chunk of the regular members recognized me.

So, why did I drop Equinox? One word. Money. Just on membership fees alone, I'm paying more than 80% off of what I paid before (I went from over $115 a month to $23 a month). And the training is nearly 45% off the price. I literally will save thousands per year. And it's in walking distance. When Jim was playing computer games on Saturday night, I kept thinking to myself that if I went to a gym I could walk to, I would probably exercise when he's engrossed in World of Warcraft.

Anyway, wish me luck in my new gym. I start with a trainer at the end of the month. I know he could never be as great as Arlene or Jeff where at Equinox, but I'm looking foward to spending time with Daniel when my back gets better.

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From San Francisco to Boston

2007-12-16T21:33:52Z

I'm leaving tomorrow for a quick trip to Boston. The weather this weekend sounds tough there, but I know it will be fine by the time I get there. What I am not looking foward to, however, is the cold.

I'll try to get some photos while I'm there, but I tought I'd send some photos from right before my trip, here in San Francisco. Last Thursday, I took off a couple of hours early and met up with Sheri. I haven't seen Sheri for well over a year and a half, as she's been traveling all over the world for over the last 15 months.

Check out her blog. She has the most amazing stories to tell, and her photography is just amazing.

Anyway, we went and watched the sun go down at Ocean Beach. Here are some photos I took on my cell phone.

Ocean Beach

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