Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility.

"I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work."

• Humboldt State University (California) initiated the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility. Students define for themselves what it means to be socially and environmentally responsible. Students at over a hundred colleges and universities have used the pledge at some level. The schools involved include small liberal arts colleges (Colgate and Macalester); large state universities (Oregon and Utah), and large private research universities (University of Pennsylvania and Duke). The Pledge is also now found at graduate and professional schools, high schools , and schools overseas (Taiwan and Australia).

Living home made of trees

Jan. 20, 2006— Growing a home from living trees instead of building a home from felled timber is the goal of an architect from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060116/treehouse_tec.html

Gizmo of the Week: the US$44.40 wheelchair

Gizmo of the Week: the US$44.40 wheelchair: "The central seat is a plastic garden chair – the use of existing parts enables the wheelchair to be manufactured in China, shipped in knockdown form via container, assembled and delivered to needy people all over the world for a total factory-to-field price of US$44.40. "

Hearing Aid manufacturer targets iPod owners

Hearing Aid manufacturer targets iPod owners
from The Unoffical Apple Weblog

No, it's not because they think you're going deaf. Hearing aid manufacturer Starkey Laboratories has gotten into the business of creating custom-molded iPod earbud headphones out of either hard plastic or a special, long lasting foam. The company's aim is to not only create highly customized, durable and noise-reducing headphones for the iPod (they make them for bluetooth phones as well), but to also reduce the stigma that often accompanies in-ear hearing aids.

I think it's an interesting idea. Starkey is still considering the marketing strategy, so keep your eyes peeled if you're interested in the ultimate in custom earbuds.

[Via Your Tech Weblog]

Velo-City: Cycle Tracks Will Abound in Utopia

from treehugger, about http://www.velo-city.ca/

Those of us who try to ride bikes in the winter often wonder why cars get their own big right-of-way, transit riders get expensive underground subways, pedestrians get an elaborate network of underground walkways, and we, if lucky, get a white line on pavement marking a so-called bike lane filled with snow or cars.

Toronto Architect Chris Hardwicke wants to do something about it. He proposes "a high speed, all season, pollution free, ultra-quite transit system that makes people healthier. Using an infrastructure of elevated cycle tracks, velo-city creates a network across the City. "

"The elevated bikeways are enclosed in tubes to provide protection for all season cycling. The bikeway tubes are separated by direction of travel to create a dynamic air circulation loop the crates a natural tail-wind for cyclists. The reduction in air resistance increased the efficiency of cycling by about 90% allowing for speeds up to 40 Km/hr. Velo-City promotes exercise as an urban lifestyle."

k3d surf

I hope I find a use for this, 'cause it sure looks pretty!

Robo-roaches give robot armies new reproductive prowess

Robo-roaches give robot armies new reproductive prowess:
Here, but for the grace of god, go we

Persistence of Vision kit

Spoke POV is an easy-to-make electronic kit toy that turns your bicycle wheel into a customized display!