“Mirror Wall” is just one of many proposed solutions to unsightly power lines | Image via www.spiegel.deAesthetic Value With Germany’s new push to be a country reliant upon renewable energy, designers are trying to find ways to make unsightly power lines and other bulky eyesores chic and clever to the eye. (Link) Deforestation Nation In

Image via BCGP Facebook Yesterday morning, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP) hosted its annual Commuter Race, challenging a cyclist, Zipcar driver, and SEPTA rider to go head-to-head to see who could make the three-mile commute from South Philly’s Mifflin Square to City Hall fastest. For the sixth year in a row, the race proved

Iris Marie Bloom (left) stands with others advocating for better natural gas drilling regulations | Liz PachecoYesterday, while former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge was inside the DoubleTree Hotel as a paid spokesman for the Marcellus Shale Coalition, a crowd stood outside in the rain protesting the very actions Ridge was advocating. “Fracking is a

Will Wadebridge be the first completely solar town? | Image via www.wren.uk.com Solar Town The UK is topping our WAKE UP grab bag this week with its sustainability initiatives. Today Treehugger reported plans in Cornwall, England to power the whole town of Wadebridge using solar energy. The Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN) plans on having the

Local artist, architect, and designer Conrad Booker will be opening his installation “Metamorphosis by Conrad Booker” on June 1st at BUS STOP Boutique in Queen Village.  This multi-part installation will feature thousands of butterflies that were created from recycled magazines and soda cans.
You will also be seeing Booker’s work on the streets of Philadelphia, as

image via pasenate.com Celebrate the start of the growing season with Weavers Way Co-op next Saturday, May 21 from Noon- 4 p.m. at their Fresh and Local Fair. The event will close out their Spring Member Appreciation Week and will feature live music, locally grown and prepared foods, and opportunities to meet Weaver’s Way farmers.

Exploding watermelons a result of speeding up the growth process | Image via www.guardian.co.uk Melon Bombs A new reason to go organic? Some agricultural chemicals can make watermelons explode. The growth accelerator, forchlorfenuron, can increase the size of a watermelon by 20 percent. If the chemical is not added in the right way or at

Dinosaur dude Jack Horner | Image via ansp.org5/17 Dinosaur Discussion This evening, prominent paleontologist Dr. Jack Horner will present a free lecture on Dinosaurs, mainly “how to get rid of some old ones and make some new ones.” If you’re not familiar with Horner, he’s a bit of a dino-celeb. He served as the technical

Image via www.westphillytools.orgLast Monday I blogged about the awesome West Philly Tool Library that’s loaning tools to community residents to jumpstart their home and garden projects. The Library just announced some great news: They’ll be moving just down the street, a mere 200-300 feet away to 1314 South 47th Street, and tripling their size! With

The Solar Impulse HB-SIA | Image via solarimpulse.comSolar Impulse After a 12 hour and 59 minute flight that required no fuel, the Solar Impulse HB-SIA, which ran only on solar energy, landed in Brussels last Friday evening. (Link) Pedal Power A pedal-powered helicopter created by engineering students at the University of Maryland achieved liftoff early