Save some energy, while you're at it!

It's no secret that I took Captain Planet to heart when I learned about the three R's: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse. To focus on a current buzzword, energy, saving money and reducing emissions is all about that middle one - cut down on your use! There are so many easy ways to do this. A few of the best I'm personally invested in are...

- Energy Efficient Computing!
This one is especially important. I wish more companies would get on the bandwagon with this; think of all the money wasted and gases created by leaving computer-centered offices on all night (not to mention clusters in Universities.. cough CMU cough). However, just as a public service announcement:

do *NOT* leave your laptop plugged in and charging overnight.

Also easy to do but worth noting is turning off and unplugging lights and appliances when you're done using them. I can't describe how many times a day I walk around and turn off things people have forgotten about. Also crucial are unplugging adapters that draw power when appliances are turned off. The point: the era of electronic thoughtlessness is coming to a close.

- Hybrid cars (much borrowed from hybridreview)
Some calculations indicate that, along with the well-known superiority in terms of miles per gallon of gas, costs for operating hybrid cars are now competitive with those of traditional cars, with only 3-7 years ownership (that's nothing -- I drove a 1992 car until recently). This means savings for the environment and for your wallet. That's a powerful combination!

Tax incentives currently abound for buying hybrid cars - one bill Bush managed to do right. Though some are diminishing as years go by due to sales, many still apply. See if the car you're thinking about using qualifies, then go for it! Sooner might be better.

- Alternative Energy and Fuel Technology
This one's a biggie; I'm considering of applying for jobs in this area. My biggest concern is the emissions of the new fuels; I have yet to hear of a new fuel that lives up to be a) non-oil derived and b) doesn't deplete our crops and c) emits less CO2 per mile driven.
I love the idea of using ethanol fuel, especially using cellulose as a source and genetically-engineered E. Coli to get the job done; it's cool, it's high-tech, and the government has already looked into it - but the infrastructure isn't there, not to mention what the actual environmental impact would be.. I have no idea. I will definitely be alert to news in this area.

Memorial Day BBQ!

As is normal with most holidays, my family had a little get together with a lot of food. However, in addition to the usual group of six, my friend Emily and her mom joined us! I'm so glad they came to hang out and celebrate, as their family is going through a lot of change right now.

Emily's mom Alyce and her dad Andy are moving to Germany for a position they've been hoping for over the past few years. Andy left yesterday and is busily finding a house there. It's awesome - and I'm so happy we gave them a place and a group of people to celebrate with. My parents and extended relatives (small group though we are, relative to *some* families) welcomed them and made it a nice afternoon. Here's what was on the menu (all from June's issue of Gourmet, save drinks and dessert):

Memorial Day BBQ Linnerdunch
- Blueberry limoncellos
- Grilled chicken breasts with North African spice paste
- Orzo with cinnamon brown butter and parsley
- Grilled summer squash and zucchini
- Arugula and radicchio salad with feta and dates
- Coconut brownie ice cream trifle


For those who have never tried limoncello, it's a great, creamy lemon liquor from Italia that goes great in mixed drinks. Check out lemon drops as well.. so easy, so delicious! I am definitely a big fan of tart drinks, though that one pairs well with the sweetness.

To see the world, in only a month

My friend Alberto and I are starting the summer off right with a (parental graduation-present) trip to Europe. Unfortunately for me, I don't have a private jet-owning Aunt to buy me tickets for a world tour like he does, but I can't say I mind being sent off to Europe for 5/6 weeks. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

We found a neat travel planning website, RealTravel, and have been using it to plan Our Trip. It's still under construction as far as the route, but this is the second or third iteration. It's just about time to buy plane tickets, so odds are the trip will firm up right quick.

Once we're over there, we'll probably try to use RealTravel to blog our trip, too. I'm getting pumped! Now that we're narrowing down the list, it looks like we'll have plenty of time to soak in the local flavor at many an awesome destination (and dare I say attempt to speak the language..?)


For example, we might see castles in Granada...

Or hike in Oslo...


Or check out some popular Saints' festivals in Lisbon...








And there are plenty of people to visit too. May this trip whet my appetite for much, much more!

Wind in my hair

.. Sun on my face! I just barely started biking in Pittsburgh before graduating from Carnegie Mellon (BS in Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering), so now I'm picking it up in and around Ellicott City. The fabled Seven Hills ride should prove challenging once I get to them.. but for now, I'm content to ride to the library.

I chose the central branch of the Howard County Library as my first destination for the following reasons: it's far enough away that I'm saving gas on going and having a good trip out of it, and they have things that my local library doesn't; namely, more novels in spanish.

There are reportedly 80-90 miles of trails in Columbia -- but the maps aren't available online, as far as I can tell. The Columbia Association says they sell them (for a small fee), but I didn't find them over at the Rouse Center. I might just explore trails on my own to find out where they go instead.

Edit: Trails in Ellicott City are much more fun, not to mention beautiful! It takes a while to get away from the traffic that suburbs bring, though -- major drawback.

Check out my bike route on Bikely:

Central Branch Library Ride

Bikely.com