Tuesday, February 23, 2016

How to Recycle If You Don't Have Curbside Pickup (Or Even If You Do)



There's really no excuse for not recycling if you have curbside pickup. My city has a great program that lets us throw cans, glass, paper, plastic, magazines, newspapers and cardboard all in one container, which we just put out beside our regular trashcan, and away it goes. But what if you don't have it that easy? After all, a program like that isn't cheap-what if your town is too small, or just unenlightened? What if there is a city program, but you live outside the city limits?

Some people might throw up their hands and say, "What can ya do," as they chuck bottles and cans in with the rest of the refuse. Well, those people are planet-killin' ignoramuses, and you don't want to be them. So what can you do? Tons, actually: read on.

If You Have a Private Service
If you are not living within the city limits, you probably have a private garbage service. Check with your company to see if they have a recycling pickup-maybe they do, and you just didn't know about it. Maybe they don't, but they were waiting to see whether people would ask. If they don't, ask why not. The answer is likely to be "It's too expensive." Point out that they should be able to defray some of the costs by selling some of the collected material, like aluminum and steel cans. Your average homeowner generally won't amass enough of this to view it as a potential revenue stream, but certainly a garbage service could!

Also, use the strength-in-numbers approach: if you can get a bunch of other folks in your neighborhood to call or to sign a group letter requesting the service and perhaps stating that you would be willing to pay a little extra for it (depending on the number of customers, just a few dollars a month should do it), then it's hard to imagine your provider not 'going for it'.

If You Have City Pickup, but They Don't Do Recycling
See above, but remember, you are dealing with bureaucracy. Unlike the private service, who operates under a simple profit motive and who wants to provide for their customers as long as they can make a reasonable living at it, government tends to be hidebound. You may have to make several polite inquiries and write letters to a few different folks to get any response at all, let alone see any movement. Elected folks are the best ones to tap for this, though: If the people at the municipal services department don't seem motivated by your requests, the men and women who want your vote might lend you an ear. Once again, the strength-in-numbers thing works particularly well, here, so mobilize your friends, neighbors, church group, book club, sewing circle, or whatever ya got. You can get it done!

And What if You...Have tried all that stuff, but it didn't work? Or you live in a really small town, or a rural area? Or there is a recycling service, but they only take a few kinds of things? I feel ya. Here's the thing: you can still recycle practically everything, service or no service! Here are some suggestions:

1. Aluminum: This is the easiest one, because it's worth some money. Many churches, businesses, and schools have aluminum recycling bins; just save up your cans and make a deposit when you're in the neighborhood. Or maybe you know someone like the Can Man--he was an underemployed fellow who made the rounds at an old workplace of mine, collecting the cans we would save from our lunches and breaks. He provided friendly pickup service, and we saved his having to scrounge through the trash, so it was a win-win!

2. Steel: This is also saleable, although it's harder to find places that take it. You might be able to find a local business-try restaurants and hotels, which go through lots of canned food-that has a bin. You can also try scrap metal dealers; steel is a staple for them.

3. Plastic shopping bags: The best way to deal with these suckers is not to need them in the first place-take a pretty, reusable tote bag shopping with you and use that, instead. If you find yourself awash in bags anyway, save 'em up and take 'em back; most grocery stores these days have recycling bins for the bags (don't be shy about stuffing all your bags in there, not just the ones from that store). If they don't, feel free to pester them into it; they want your business.

4. Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs: Ah, ubiquitous plastic. So convenient, yet so bad for the environment. Although many municipalities recycle plastic, it's usually just #1 (PETE, like soda bottles) and #2 (HDPE, like milk jugs), and since there are actually 7 different coded kinds, this one presents a challenge. For this, I will refer to the saying "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". Make this your mantra with plastic (well, with everything)! Recycle what you can. For what you can't, try to reduce by cutting down on packaging: Buy products in minimal packaging, or in packaging you know you can recycle. Flip stuff over and check out the recycling code on the bottom-if it's non-recyclable, don't buy that product. Furthermore, call the company and voice your concerns; maybe they will change their packaging, making you Green Warrior Supreme! If you can't avoid non-recyclables completely, try to reuse what you can. Plastic margarine tubs are as reusable as Tupperware and cost you nothing extra (sorry, Tupperware).

5. Magazines: This is a fun one. Recycle magazines and make people happy at the same time by instituting a "swap box" at your workplace, school, church or wherever you can make it happen. My local library, for example, has a row of milk crates in the lobby where people can drop off their own finished magazines and pick up someone else's-all for free! Not only do you get to save the Earth, you get to save money. After you've read the ones you picked out, simply bring them back to be recycled again and again! Look for places to start swap boxes. Can you imagine how much easier it would be to wait in line if there were one at the DMV?

6. Office Paper: First of all, print two-sided whenever possible. For things that are already printed one side, you might be able to run them back through the printer to utilize the back (make sure it won't be confusing which is the relevant side, of course). Or you can do what I do: Cut or rip pages in half, then in half again, and you have a stack of scrap sheets the perfect size for jotting random notes. You'll never have to buy memo pads or even sticky notes, since you can easily attach your notepaper with (reusable!) paper clips. Documents that have to be shredded for security purposes can be used as packing material, fake snow, even mulch or compost!

7. Yard clippings, leaves, food scraps: Speaking of compost, here you go-it's amazing how much stuff can go into the compost bin or pile; if you do this, you will end up putting out a very light garbage can, indeed. Build a bin or buy one at the hardware store. Don't put meat, dairy, fish, fat, grease, oils (including peanut butter) or any diseased plants in, but feel free to chuck in egg shells, banana peels, orange rinds, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags, and any other vegetable matter. Turn the pile as directed, and it will produce a lovely, rich compost that will enrich your soil beautifully.

8. Egg cartons: Cardboard or styrofoam, these can be reused to organize small items in a drawer. Line one with a pretty piece of scrap fabric and use as a jewelry organizer!

9. Glass: Glass is commonly taken by recycling programs, but if yours doesn't, check to see if local businesses-again, restaurants and hotels are a good bet-would be willing to let you use their bins. If you strike out here, the good news is that glass is extremely reusable. Glass jars are dishwasher-safe and can be reused to store food or any small items (my dad used to re-purpose our baby food jars to hold assorted nuts, screws, tacks and washers at his workbench. A chipped or cracked mug isn't safe to drink from any longer, but it might make a charming pencil-holder. Use empty wine bottles as candleholders, a row of decorative suncatchers or containers for homemade oils.

10. Cardboard boxes and packing material: Okay, maybe you aren't the eBay goddess, but you probably know one, so donate these materials to her. Even boxes that seem too small or flimsy for shipping can be used as spacers to pad items in larger containers. Turn boxes with printing inside out so you won't have to wrap everything in brown paper!

11. Used clothing, toys, books, furniture, tools, etc.: Start a "swap group" with like-minded friends, or find a local one on Facebook. Or have a yard sale, and then donate the leftovers to charity. You shouldn't have to throw anything out.

So, just use your imagination, and you will be amazed by all the ingenious ways you can avoid sending stuff to the landfill, and you may end up saving some money, too, which is a nice reward for being environmentally friendly, isn't it?

Image from Pixabay  https://pixabay.com/en/recycle-green-earth-environment-29227/

Saturday, February 13, 2016

A Guide to Purchasing Amateur Boxing Gloves for the First-Time Buyer: What to Look for and Where to Look

Considering a purchase of amateur boxing gloves, but not sure what to look for or where to look? First things first: get to know the product. Amateur boxing gloves differ from those used by professional prizefighters. The amateur-style gloves are normally blue or red in color, with a white section covering the "scoring area" of the knuckles, to help ensure that the judges can clearly see the contact and accurately score the punch.

Typical weights for the amateur gloves are eight, twelve and sixteen ounces, and many amateur fighters will use the heavier gloves for training and wear the lighter gloves for actual bouts. Amateur gloves are available in hook-and-loop closure, or for those who prefer a more snug and customized fit, lace-up styles are also available. Look for gloves that have enough area in the knuckle region to accommodate hand wraps.


This is a specialized product that may not be available in your local sporting goods store, so the web is going to be your best help in purchasing amateur boxing gloves. Websites at which you are used to shopping, such as Amazon and eBay, carry the gloves, but you may also wish to consult specialty retailers like Ringside.com or Titleboxing.com, which may have more in-depth information and a larger selection. Amazon is good for product reviews, as well, so check those out before you buy.


Major brands for amateur boxing gloves are Rival, Title and Adidas. The Title website carries its own brand, but also several others. After you have decided on a brand, it can be handy to use a comparison-shopping site like Shopbot, Bizrate or Roboshopper to find the best deal. Don't forget to purchase associated equipment that you will need, such as mouth guards and hand wraps. Happy shopping!

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Facts About Lead and Lead Poisoning



We've been hearing a lot lately about the lead levels in Flint, Michigan, so I thought it might be interesting to learn more about this very common metal and how it can be toxic to the human body.

The Basics about Lead


The chemical element commonly referred to as lead occupies position 82 on the Period Table of the Elements. With an atomic weight of 207.2, it is considered to be a "heavy metal", along with copper, zinc, iron and manganese, but unlike these minerals, which in small amounts are beneficial and actually required by the human body for good health, lead has no known benefits to the body and in fact can cause serious health complications and even fatality, thus it is classified a toxic metal, like mercury and plutonium.


Although lead exists in its native form, it is more commonly found in ore called galena, from which lead is produced via a roasting process. It commonly appears with silver, and is itself a shiny, bluish-white metal, although it tarnishes quickly to the familiar dull grey color upon exposure to air. Lead is a soft metal, extremely malleable and ductile, and its relatively low melting point of 600.65 degrees Kelvin makes it easy to smelt. It is a poor electrical conductor and strongly resistant to corrosion.


History of Lead Use


Lead is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, metals known to mankind. Its history of use goes back at least 7000 years, and it was mentioned in the book of Exodus It is thought to have been discovered and first mined in Anatolia around 6500 BC. It was used in ancient times to make statues, coins, utensils and writing tablets, and the ancient Romans used it in addition for plumbing pipes.

The Romans made much use of lead. Indeed, lead's symbol on the Periodic Table, Pb, stands for plumbum, the Latin name for lead. The Romans called lead plumbum nigirum ("black lead") to distinguish it from plumbum album ("white lead"), which we now call tin.


As can be surmised, the word "plumbing" is derived from the Latin plumbum, as the Romans widely employed lead for use in aqueducts and in indoor plumbing. Romans also made cookware, utensils, and eating and drinking vessels from lead. If there were not already enough opportunity for lead to be ingested on a regular basis, lead was also used to sweeten wine, so it was consumed directly, as well as indirectly from contact with leaden vessels.


Throughout the years this versatile metal has found its way into many different substances and products: lead salts were commonly used in paint, and indeed the Renaissance painter Caravaggio is believed to have died from lead poisoning. Lead has been a very popular component in paint; not just in fine art paints but also in everyday house paint. Lead in house paints was not banned as a toxic substance in the United States until the 1970s, and it is still used in paint in China, accounting for the flurry of recalled children's toys produced in China in recent years.


Lead is used to make items as far-ranging as sinker weights for fishing, typeset fonts for printing, radiation shielding, cable covering (due to its propensity to resist corrosion), ammunition, solder, and as a component of storage batteries, an ingredient in pottery glazes, and an anti-knock additive in gasoline.


But even though lead has been present in many everyday household items over the years, it has proven to be even more dangerous in the workplace. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states, "Lead overexposure is one of the most common overexposures found in industry and is a leading cause of workplace illness." Such diverse industries as construction, pottery, the shipyard industry and general manufacturing have all been affected by issues of occupational lead poisoning.

 

The Dangers of Lead 


As counterintuitive as it may seem, given the way the ancients used the material willy-nilly and indeed that its use continues commonly to this day, there was some awareness even in ancient times that lead was a health hazard: the Greek botanist Nicander noted in the 2 nd century BC the colic and paralysis that affect people suffering from lead poisoning and in the 1 st century CE, Greek physician Dioscorides wrote that lead makes the mind "give way" . Vitruvius, the engineer of Julius Caesar, noted that water from earthenware pipes was more wholesome than that from lead. Disease from toxic metals even had a specific name in Latin, morbi mettalici ("disease from metal") . And this, from the people who invented "plumbing"! There were even early forms of regulation of this toxic substance-after it was determined by 17th-century German physician Eberhard Gockel that lead-contaminated wine had lead to an epidemic of colic, the Duke of Württemberg banned its use as an additive .


Despite all this early warning, lead use boomed during the Industrial Revolution and continued to be a problem not only in the workplace but also in the home, and even the air was dangerous, as leaded gas spewed particulate into the air. It was not until regulations were instituted on a very widespread level that acute lead poisoning became rare, although low-level exposure is still quite common.



Lead Poisoning 


Exposure to lead occurs when lead dust or fumes get into the human body. This can happen by inhalation or by ingestion through eating or drinking products that are contaminated by lead or even wild game from which the lead shot has not been thoroughly removed. Lead enters the body and is released to the blood and then distributed throughout the body. Almost the entire body burden of lead is accumulated in the bones. When lead enters the body it is mostly stored in bones, which is why it can be released into the blood long after the initial exposure. The toxicity of lead is well known and documented; lead effects all organs and body functions to different degrees, depending upon exposure level. There are many lead-induced health effects; the following are some of the major ones:


Peripheral neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves that connect the spinal cord and the body become damaged. This damage can prevent proper communication between the brain and the muscles, causing loss of sensation and pain. People suffering from this may also experience weakness, especially in the affected parts of the body.


Encephalopathy is disorder or disease of the brain that can be caused by toxins such as lead. The symptoms of this disorder are altered mental state, loss of cognitive functions (including the inability to concentrate), depression, and seizures.


Some of the gastrointestinal effects of lead poisoning are nausea and impaired digestion, which causes pain in the abdomen and feeling full earlier then expected. Along these lines, there is actually some evidence that lead was appreciated as a diet aid for young ladies in centuries past, as consumption left them pale, slender and langorous, as was the fashion. Early death was not a sought-after result but was not unexpected in those days.


Lead exposure can also cause miscarriages in women and reduced sperm count in males along with abnormal sperm, which can cause reproductive problems. Another disease caused by lead is anemia, which is a decrease in the number of red blood cells, leading to lack of oxygen in organs. This can cause shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, chest pain, and even heart attack.


The most significant source of lead is contaminated dust, which is created during flood clean up. It poses a great risk to children and pregnant woman. Hazardous lead dust is created when renovations are done by demolitions and cutting which disturbs lead based paint which is harmful to everybody especially children and expecting mothers. Lead based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was finally banned for residential use in 1978. Small children are most vulnerable to having leaning disabilities and reduced IQ because of lead exposure.

Lead Regulation and Exposure Prevention


Lead regulation falls under the aegis of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which maintains regional offices to implement federal environmental programs around the country, each with a Regional Administrator who has designated Regional Lead Coordinators to oversee the development of lead-poisoning prevention efforts within the Region.

Because regulations have been in place for some decades now, people rarely die of lead poisoning, but it is still common to see some level of exposure to the element, so it pays to take care to avoid exposure as much as possible. Stay alert for product recalls, be aware that older homes may contain lead paint and even plumbing (your regional office of the EPA may be able to advise you about the best way to abate these conditions), and try to ensure that you are not consuming food or drink from vessels containing lead paint or lead crystal. Lead may be a useful substance, but it doesn't pay to come in too close contact with it!

Sources:
"Heavy Metal (chemistry)" Wikipedia.org 17 October 2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_(chemistry)


Helemenstine, Anne Marie, PhD. "Lead Facts: Chemical and Physical Properties" About.com, 2001

http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/lead.htm


" Lead Poisoning". Wikipedia.org 26 October 2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning


" Lead." Chemicool Periodic Table. Chemicool.com. 24 Feb 2011. Web 10/28/2011

http://www.chemicool.com/elements/lead.html


" Lead". OSHA.gov. 30 May 2008

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/lead/index.html

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov

Images:
https://pixabay.com/en/font-lead-set-book-printing-705667/
https://pixabay.com/en/lead-pitcher-lead-goblet-719391/
https://pixabay.com/en/weight-kg-lead-weight-horizontal-340636/
https://pixabay.com/en/chelation-injection-medication-1107522/



Tuesday, February 2, 2016

What's the Difference Between Freezing Rain and Sleet?


It had been sleeting for several hours, but I still got together with a friend to hang out for a bit, because otherwise we wouldn't see each other for a while. Besides, it was just sleet, I said, not freezing rain, so the roads were no problem. He said, "They're the same thing, aren't they?"

 

Actually no, but that's a common misconception. Except for their both being precipitation that occurs during cold weather, they're actually almost completely opposite. Sleet is little teeny ice pellets that fall. You can both see and hear them bouncing off stuff, so sleet can be a bit noisy. If it's cold on the ground, the little pellets can accumulate and look a bit like snow, but usually they melt off, which is what had happened that day. Even though the air was cold enough for freezing precipitation, the ground was warm enough to melt it, so driving wasn't any more challenging than it normally would be during a cold rain.

Freezing rain, on the other hand, occurs under the reverse conditions. In this case, the air is warmer than the ground, so the precipitation falls as rain but freezes when it hits the cold surfaces. Ice can accumulate quickly, and it's slick, clear ice, which can cause big problems. If I had to choose, I'd much rather have sleet! 

 

Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/sleet-thunderstorm-hail-ice-153216/




Monday, February 1, 2016

Your February Birthday: February Holidays, Traditions and More



The shortest month of the year certainly isn't short on stuff to celebrate. Groundhog Day (Feb 2) evokes the promise of spring, but lingering cold weather makes a perfect excuse to cuddle on Valentine's Day (Feb 14). Add to this the crazy fun of Carnivale and Mardi Gras, the reverence of Ash Wednesday and the killer sales of President's Day, and you have a pretty cool month. But wait; there's more!

Monthly Observances
February is widely known for being National Black History Month, but it is also the National Month for bird feeding, caring about your indoor air, cherry pie, condoms, children's dental health (a natural consequence of Cherry Pie Month), laugh-friendliness, mending a broken heart, parent leadership, pet dental health, senior independence, time management, and weddings. It's the International Month for boosting self-esteem, so make sure everyone compliments your cherry pies enormously.

In addition, February is also American Heart Month, as well as the month for adopting a rescued rabbit, AMD / low vision awareness, baking for family fun, festival of camellias, from Africa to Virginia, library lovers, Marfan Syndrome awareness, marijuana awareness, planting the seeds of greatness, relationship wellness, returning shopping carts to the supermarket (I don't make this stuff up; I just report it), sweet potatoes, wise health care consumers, worldwide renaissance of the heart, youth leadership (same month as parent leadership??), and spunky old broads, so watch some Golden Girls reruns, then have some fun baking with your family!

Weirdest Holiday: Inconvenience Yourself Day, the 25th. We need a holiday for this? Honorable Mention for Bad Timing: Dump Your Significant Jerk Day, on the 7th, is not likely to get too many adherents, placed as it is one week before Valentine's Day. At least see what the jerk got you, first! :)

February Traditions 

Flower: violet - fidelity, humility

Birthstone: amethyst - humility, sincerity Aquarius's gem: sapphire - chastity, hope

Zodiac sign: Aquarius (1-18) and Pisces (19-29; see March for details). Despite being represented as the Water Bearer, Aquarius is actually an air sign, indicating spontaneity and changeability. Aquarians are known geniuses and almost pathologically honest, but they sure can be weird about stuff, like relationships. Try to be less cerebral and more trusting, Water Bearers! Best friends: Libra and Gemini. Best love matches: Sagittarius, Leo and Aries.

Famous Birthdays: Clark Gable (1st), Ayn Rand (2nd), Nathan Lane (3rd), Betty Friedan (4th),  Hank Aaron (5th), Babe Ruth (6th), Charles Dickens (7th), James Dean (8th), Tom Hiddleston (9th), Roberta Flack (10th), Burt Reynolds (11th), Abraham Lincoln (12th), Grant Wood (13th), Frederick Douglass (14th), Galileo (15th), Ice T (16th), Michael Jordan (17th), John Travolta (18th), Copernicus (19th), Sydney Poitier (20th), Erma Bombeck (21st), George Washington (22nd), Dakota Fanning (23rd), Winslow Homer (24th), George Harrison (25th), Johnny Cash (26th), Ralph Nader (27th), Jason Aldean (28th), Dinah Shore (29th).

Catholic Feast Days
1- Feast of Ste Brigid, St Severus of Avranches
2 - Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, Candlemas, St Adalbald of Ostrevant, St Cornelius the Centurion, Ste Joande Lestronac
3- Feast of St Anskar, St Blaise, Our Lady of Supya
4 - Feast of St Andrew Corsini, St John de Brito, Ste Joan of France
5 - Feast of Ste Agatha, St Bertulf, St Jacob
6 - Feast of St Amand, Ste Dorothy, Sts Paul Miki and Peter Baptist, St Mel
7 - Feast of St Moses, St James Sales, St Luke the Wonder Worker, St Romuald, St Thomas Sherwood
8 - Feast of St Cuthman, St Jerome Emiliani, St Meingold
9- Feast of Ste Apollonia, St Sisebutus
10- Feast of Ste Scholastica, St Clare of Rimini
11-Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, St Caedmon, Ste Theodora
12-Feast of St Julian the Hospitaler, Ste Marina
13-Feast of St Agabus, Ste Eustocium of Padua, St Modomnoc, Ste Catherine dei Ricci, St Martinian
14-Feast of Sts Cyril & Methodius, St Valentine
15-Feast of St Euseus, St Sigfrid, Ste Georgette, St Severus of Valeria
16-Feast of St Gilbert of Sempringham, Ste Juliana, Ste Viridiana
17-Feast of St Forkernus of Trim, St Evermond, St Fintan of Cloneenagh, Ste Marianne, St Silvinus
18-Feast of St Theotonius, Ste Agatha Lin & St Andrew Nam-Thung, Ste Constance
19-Feast of St Conrad of Piacenza, St Boniface of Lausanne, St Mesrop the Teacher
20-Feast of St Amata of Assisi, St Colgan, St Eleutherius of Catania, St Shadhost, St Wulfric of Haselbury
21-Feast of St Peter Damian, St Noel Pinot
22-Feast of Ste Margaret of Cortona, St Elvis
23-Feast of Ste Mildburga, St Polycarp, St Willigis
24-Feast of St Prix, Ste Adela
25-Feast of Ste Walburga, St Avertanus, St Romeo
26-Feast of Ste Photina, St Porphyry
27-Feast of St Gabriel Possenti, St Galmier, Ste Anne Line
28-Feast of Ste Honorina, St Romanus
29-Feast of St Oswald of Worcester

Birthday not in February? Check out these other months!
January - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/01/your-january-birthday-january-holidays.html
March - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-march-birthday-march-holidays.html
April -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/03/your-april-birthday-april-holidays.html
May - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/05/your-may-birthday-may-holidays.html 
June - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/05/your-june-birthday-holidays-traditions.html
July - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/07/your-july-birthday-july-holidays.html
August -  http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/07/your-august-birthday-august-holidays.html
September - https://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2019/08/your-september-birthday-september.html
October - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/09/your-october-birthday-october-holidays.html
November - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2017/10/your-november-birthday-november.html
December - http://bucketofuseful.blogspot.com/2016/12/your-december-birthday-december.html

Image credit  -  https://pixabay.com/en/snow-snow-heart-heart-winter-love-1159461/

What's in the Bucket? Tutorials, Reviews, Advice and More!



Welcome to my new blog! As a teacher, I have a passion for sharing knowledge and enriching people's lives. As a writer, I have a love for research and learning. I wonder about a lot of things, and I love to get answers and share the important stuff, and the interesting stuff, or, heck, maybe the goofy stuff, even. And yeah, I also like to hand out my opinion on various subjects. I mean, it's hard to experience things and not have an opinion, right? The problem is, there are so many different types of things to write about, and so many different things to learn, teach, and share--I couldn't make up my mind!

So instead of covering the more focused subject of my local city, as I do in What's Good in Greensboro?, or art, as I do in All Sorts of Art by Ali, I wanted to throw all the helpful stuff--news, reviews, tutorials, advice, and just general info--into one Big Ol' Bucket of Useful. Enjoy!

Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/bucket-water-for-time-metal-999973/