Shutdownday.org challenges people to shut their computers down for one day on Saturday 24th of March 2007. Can you go 24 hours without your computer? The site so far has had over 20,000 people registering with an “I can” vote. If it has been a while since you’ve spent a day without your computer maybe this challenge is for you.

Those of us who catch public transport know it’s many benefits. Aside from being environmentally friendly there is the added bonus of catching up with tasks you might otherwise not have time for. Reading, writing, assignments and possibly best of all - sleeping. However if sleeping on a stranger’s shoulder is not your thing then take a look at Mathew Gale’s jacket for sleeping on public transport.

Via Gizmodo (which has some very amusing comments)  and Treehugger

Instructables has a couple of posts on building solar heating for smaller spaces such as a garage. This post here shows the smaller scale model made for a chicken shed followed by a bigger version here for a garage. It’s cheap to build and best of all the heating is free. You can find lots of background information on the solar heater at Mother Earth news.

There is an article on CNN about vinyl lunchboxes. A study has found that one in five lunchboxes contain unacceptable amounts of lead. As you may already know lead exposure in children can lead to learning disabilities, behavioral problems, stunted or slowed growth amongst other things. There are already a fair few sources of lead in our environment but at least luckily this is one source of lead that is easily avoided by using a different type of lunch box (perhaps one made of cloth?)

via Parenthacks

If you buy blank CDs or DVDs you’ll know about the spindles the discs are stored on. Once you’ve used the discs and put them in covers you are left with an empty spindle which is often thrown away. They do however have many other possible uses such as this handy headphone hook seen on instructables. You can also use them in the kids’ rooms as simple hooks or to store rubber bands or their jewellery. Recycle.co.uk also has some handy ideas for their use such as cutting the spindle part off and using them as cake boxes. Or why not use them as toilet roll holders. It’s one less thing to have to buy and you’ll be keeping something out of landfill at the same time.

If you have some unwanted glass or plastic jars and the need to come up with some ideas for presents why not consider: Photo snow globes you can make in 15 minutes. A cute present idea for family, kids’ teachers etc and best of all it doesn’t cost much and is easy to make.

Via Art for housewives

Carrying heavy shopping or other loads on a bicycle is not a particularly easy task. Store bought trailers can be rather expensive not to mention bulky so if you have the tools and some time perhaps creating your own bicycle trailer is the way to go.  You can use an old backpack frame and some BMX bike wheels as seen here or perhaps this bamboo trailer might be more appealing.

If building a bike trailer is not your thing check out the carry anywhere suitcase bike trailer from the same site. It weighs only 5kgs and can carry 45kg. It’s pricetag of $500+ however might just inspire you to take the DIY road.

If you like the idea of growing vegetables or herbs indoors without using much space (or light) then look no further then Aerogarden. This gadget uses about 60W of electricity and you can grow plants even if you don’t have any yard space or much sunlight indoors. It doesn’t use any soil, isntead it uses NASA tested aeroponic technology using nutrient tablets which it claims produces 100% organic plants. It’s currently only available in the US and Canada (runs on 110V 60 hertz AC).
Aerogrow via Inhabitat

Here’s an idea I came across at Groovygreen, paper you can plant. Once your incredibly romantic message on the paper has been read the card can then be planted, a great way to remember the romance. What seeds you incorporate into the paper is your choice and it sounds like a great (if somewhat late) idea for Valentine’s day. Full instructions can be found here including the paper making instructions.

If you use your bike regularly you are aware that being on a bicycle renders you pretty much invisible in the eyes of traffic. Whether you wear a helmet or not any car turning into you or opening it’s door in front of you is going to do some damage. So what are the best ways to avoid getting hurt while riding a bicycle? Staying off the sidewalk, not hugging the curb and the correct way to pass a car are some of the advice Bicycle safe has to offer. The site  has lots of good information which every bike rider should read.