Monday, November 30, 2009

Beer AltUse to Rid Garden of Snails and Slugs

Enjoy a cold beer? Hate snails and slugs in your garden? Beer AltUse clears garden of them.


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AltUse Hummingbird Food

With time left in the season to enjoy your garden, how about Hummingbirds? AltUse Hummingbird food.


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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Vegetable & Fruit Leftovers AltUse

Vegetable; Fruit leftovers AltUse


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Saturday, November 28, 2009

Cleaning Sheakers AltUse

Braving the Thanksgiving shopping experience? Wear your sneakers and keep them looking smart AltUse.


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Black Friday Shopping Trick (keep your feet warm AltUse)

Did you brave the cold on Black Friday? AltUse keeps you warm on your next shopping trip.


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Friday, November 27, 2009

Matte for Picture Frames Alternative Use

For holiday season, photographs will secure cherished memories. Proudly prepare and display your photographs AltUse.


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Blisters AltUse Cure

Black Friday at the mall? Walking & carrying shopping bags causing blisters on your feet? AltUse blister cure.


Blisters

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Upset Stomach AltUse Remedy

Finished with your delicious Thanksgiving feast? Maybe a little full or an upset stomach? Simple AltUse remedy.


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Happy Thanksgiving and Onion Alternative Uses

From the AltUse family to yours – Happy Thanksgiving. And for the chef’s, Onion Alternative Uses.


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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Snow Scraper Alternative Use

On your Thanksgiving travels, if you get stuck in the snow, an AltUse snow scraper


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Cure Car Sickness - Coffee Alternative Use

Visiting with family on Thanksgiving? Passengers get car sick? Coffee AltUse remedy for car sickness.


Cure Car Sickness

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Low-Tech Blender AltUse

Thanksgiving feast food preparation tips from AltUse. Make a low-tech blender with ice.



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Coaster Alternative Use

Guests coming for Thanksgiving?Serving beverages?Save your furniture by making coasters with compact discs (CD's).


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Monday, November 23, 2009

Apple Alternative Uses

Everyone knows an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But do you know of the many Apple cooking Alternative Uses


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AltUse Thanksgiving Clean-up Suggestions


Getting ready for a large Thanksgiving feast? The food will be great and for an AltUse kitchen cleanup. 




Sunday, November 22, 2009

Avocado Alternative Uses

Thinking of trying something different this Thanksgiving? Maybe serve guacamole. Avocado alternative uses.


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House Training a Dog or Cat AltUse

A new addition to the family planned over the holidays? House training a dog or cat AltUse.


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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Olive Oil Removes fingerprints from stainless steel

Olive Oil alternative uses are many. Visit AltUse.com for details on using it as a stain remover.




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Morning Coffee and Coffee Alternative Uses

Good Morning AltUse. Enjoying a morning coffee? Visit AltUse to see many coffee Alternative Uses.





Friday, November 20, 2009

The Thanksgiving Feast and Alka Seltzer

Getting ready for the Thanksgiving Feast? Did you know Alka Seltzer has many Alternative Uses? 





Yogurt and Honey AltUse Facial Mask

The weekend is almost here! Spa time? Refresh yourself at home with a yogurt and honey AltUse facial mask.




Thursday, November 19, 2009

Remove Berry Stains AltUse

Eating berries for their antioxidant properties? They can stain clothing though, AltUse to remove berry stains.



Remove Berry Stains

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Paper or Plastic?

Paper or plastic? Visit AltUse for plastic bag alternative uses.




Packaging Material AltUse


Getting ready for a slew of holiday gifts? Organize, make room and clean-up AltUse


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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Sneakers Cleaner AltUse

Loving your Chuck Taylor or Converse sneakers? Keep them looking their best AltUse.



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Olive Oil's Many Alternative Uses

Olive Oil, for good health and more. Visit AltUse and learn of the many Olive Oil Alternative Uses.





Monday, November 16, 2009

Berries AltUse

Want a super fruit? Need antioxidants? Eat berries! Barry container AltUse.



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Remove Watermark Stains From Furniture With Toothpaste AltUse

Working late? Coffee cup on a table leave a watermark? Watermark cure with a toothpaste AltUse.



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Sunday, November 15, 2009

What is Recycling? By AltUse™


Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production.[1][2] Recycling is a key component of modern waste management and is the third component of the "ReduceReuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy.
Recyclable materials include many kinds of glasspapermetalplastictextiles, and electronics. Although similar in effect, the composting or other reuse of biodegradable waste – such as food or garden waste – is not typically considered recycling.[2] Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing.
In a strict sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh supply of the same material, for example used office paper to more office paper, or used foamed polystyrene to more polystyrene. However, this is often difficult or too expensive (compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources), so "recycling" of many products or materials involves their reuse in producing different materials (e.g., cardboard) instead. Another form of recycling is the salvage of certain materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic value (e.g., lead from car batteries, or gold from computer components), or due to their hazardous nature (e.g., removal and reuse of mercury from various items).



Critics dispute the net economic and environmental benefits of recycling over its costs, and suggest that proponents of recycling often make matters worse and suffer from confirmation bias. Specifically, critics argue that the costs and energy used in collection and transportation detract from (and outweigh) the costs and energy saved in the production process; also that the jobs produced by the recycling industry can be a poor trade for the jobs lost in logging, mining, and other industries associated with virgin production; and that materials such as paper pulp can only be recycled a few times before material degradation prevents further recycling. Proponents of recycling dispute each of these claims, and the validity of arguments from both sides has led to enduring controversy

History

Early recycling

Recycling has been a common practice for most of human history, with recorded advocates as far back as Plato in 400 BC. During periods when resources were scarce, archaeological studies of ancient waste dumps show less household waste (such as ash, broken tools and pottery)—implying more waste was being recycled in the absence of new material.[3]
In pre-industrial times, there is evidence of scrap bronze and other metals being collected in Europe and melted down for perpetual reuse.[4] In Britain dust and ash from wood and coal fires was collected by 'dustmen' and downcycled as a base material used in brick making. The main driver for these types of recycling was the economic advantage of obtaining recycled feedstock instead of acquiring virgin material, as well as a lack of public waste removal in ever more densely populated areas.[3] In 1813, Benjamin Law developed the process of turning rags into 'shoddy' and 'mungo' wool in Batley, Yorkshire. This material combined recycled fibres with virgin wool. The West Yorkshire shoddy industry in towns such as Batley and Dewsbury, lasted from the early 19c to at least the First World War.

Wikipedia®

Plug-In America Meets the LEAF


Founders of Plug-in America get their first look at Nissan LEAF electric car


Open Access Article Originally Published: November 14, 2009
Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault/Nissan, was on hand to introduce the new Nissan Leaf electric car this morning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. A large crowd of media and EV enthusiasts were on hand to drive the Nissan Versa test vehicle sporting the electric drive train of the Leaf.


The Versa is very close in size and weight of the Leaf, so the driving characteristics are pretty much what you'll see in the Leaf itself when Nissan brings it to market next fall.




Acceleration was quite good even when going uphill with the weight of three adults. Nissan's Larry Dominique says 0-60 is under 10 seconds, quick enough for most folks. Regenerative braking will be automatic with two levels, a very mild deceleration similar to what you feel when you lift your foot from a gas pedal in an internal combustion car, and a slightly stronger regen you can employ by moving a lever. It wasn't clear if the car will be enabled to "freewheel" like my RAV. For hypermilers such as myself, freewheeling is very important. I assume they'll incorporate it eventually if it's not already there.

I found the car to be a bit more attractive in person than in the photos. It's distinctive without being bizarre. The lines are clearly drawn with a low drag coefficient in mind and this accounts for the ability to average about 4 miles per kWh.

The car comes equipped with a lithium manganese battery pack made by Nissan partner, NEC. The capacity is a mere 24 kWh, 3 less than my RAV's NiMH battery holds.

The first model year comes equipped with a 3.3 kW charger that will upgrade to a 6.6 kW charger in the next model year. I confirmed that you will be able to upgrade the 3.3 to a 6.6 charger should you want to (trust me, you will want the faster charger). The Leaf will also be able to charge from a 50 kW DC charger as well. Nissan intends to install 50 of these fast chargers throughout California next year in anticipation of the cars coming to market. Fast charging will allow you to greatly extend your range without having to wait for a long charge.

This picture shows the two charge ports located under the Nissan badge in the front of the car. Level 1&2 charging will happen with the plug on the right, and level 3 fast charging with the plug on the left.

Ghosn confirmed rumors that Nissan would sell the car, but lease the battery. This initially troubled me given the problems we had a few years back when GM, Toyota and others recalled the leased EVs to destroy them, but the logic of leasing the battery works in this case.

Nissan expects to sell the car for about what a comparable gas burner would cost, somewhere in the neighborhood of $30K (this price is before the $7,500 federal tax credit and any applicable state tax credits). The gas burner would, of course, need gas, oil changes, tune ups and smog checks, so you need to add those operational costs to the total lifetime cost of ownership. With the Leaf, you pay about the same for the car, but the battery lease payment, combined with the kWh you buy to charge the battery, will be about the same or slightly less than the gas costs for the internal combustion car. You also get numerous other privileges with the Leaf, such as never spending a single minute at a gas station, no tune ups or oil changes - and the big one - you get to drive without guilt.

AltUse for Plastic Bottles

AltUse supports America Recycles Day and always recycling plastic bottles and Alternative Uses. 


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Saturday, November 14, 2009

Create a Plastic Lamp - Jug AltUse

Obama vows renewed ties with Asia - CNN. To honor Asia, a chopstick AltUse to make a Jug Lamp.


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AltUse for a Indoor Garden Plant Support

Indoor gardening? Alternative use for a wooden pencil to "support" your garden.



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Friday, November 13, 2009

Weekend AltUse Ideas

Need weekend activities for the kids? Visit AltUse for entertaining & educational ideas.


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AltUse to Clean Eye Glasses

Adjusting to the end of Daylight Savings? Grab a book but 1st use this AltUse for your reading glasses.




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Thursday, November 12, 2009

Home Spa AltUse

Not getting away this weekend? Schedule yourself for an at home spa day with this AltUse


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AltUse Travel Tip

Weekend getaway planned? An AltUse travel tip to make it work.

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Salute a Veteran with a Glass of Wine

AltUse asks all to raise a glass of wine and salute our veterans. When the wine is finished an AltUse for the corks.

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Salute Veterans with Flowers

AltUse salutes Veterans, thank you for your service. AltUse today, flowers for a vet.


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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Water and AltUse

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of life.





Hummingbird Food AltUse

Want to add life and enjoyment to your garden? Try a hummingbird feeder. Hummingbird food AltUse.


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Monday, November 9, 2009

Molasses AltUse for Hair Care

Molasses and hair care? Remove gray? Add softness & sheen? Strengthen weak & thinning hair?



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Hairspray AltUse Removes Ink Stains

Men, ever put a pen in your shirt pocket without the cap? Big Ink Stain? Shirt ruined? AltUse to remove ink stains.



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Sunday, November 8, 2009

Keeping things cold AltUse

Brown bag it at the office? Plastic bottle AltUse keeps it cold.
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Ripen Fruit and Vegetables AltUse

Reading the Sunday newspaper? An AltUse for your newspaper to ripen fruit and vegetables.




Saturday, November 7, 2009

Weekend Project with Carpet Samples

Looking for a weekend project? Visit our Carpet Sample AltUse ideas.





Remove Food coloring from hands

Arts & crafts with your children this weekend? Baking? This AltUse removes food coloring from hands.


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Friday, November 6, 2009

Sugar Alternative Uses

One can eat sugar to satisfy a sweet tooth. You may want to limit intake, other AltUses for sugar


Sugar