Earthquake Face by Bethany King

Over the last month, New Jersey has experienced an earthquake, and got blasted by Hurricane Irene.  I feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz with all the freaky weather and hoping my house doesn’t fall on the Wicked Witch of the West. We all know how that story played out.

But I wanted to address the earthquake that hit the east coast first in this article and in a subsequent article, about the hurricane.  All I have to say this summer has been better than a blockbuster movie. Heat, earthquake, and then hurricane.  What’s next?  The blizzard of 2011?  (Anna, don’t even go there.)

The Earthquake that Shook the Mall. Run to Bloomingdale’s for Cover

Just because I am poking fun at the earthquake doesn’t diminish that it scared people and was quite frightening especially for those that had to evacuate their buildings.  So, what is a little rumbling among friends?

The funny thing is that this  quake wasn’t a once in a decade quake to hit New Jersey.  In facet, in 2009, a neighboring town experienced an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.0.  It sounded like a sonic boom.  Funny thing is, my tile in my bathroom mysteriously cracked sometime thereafter.  Could it had been that quake?  Who knows?

Oddly, the last quake in the New York area was in South Plainfield, New Jersey on June, 2011.  Registering at 1.6 magnitude.  Didn’t feel anything.

Then came the big one this month.  Yes, the one that freaked us high strung easterners out.  The “big one” that was downgraded from a 5.9 to a 5.8 magnitude stemming from an epicenter northwest of Richmond, Virginia.  Heck, it was downright exciting.  Why should California have all the fun?

Now, you can’t blame east coasters for being drama queens and kings. We have Broadway, you know. Don Blakeman, a geophysicist at the USGS stated,

“[i]t’s actually about 6 kilometers deep, which is pretty typical for quakes in the East,” he said. “They’re very shallow.”

He further stated,

“[t]he crust in the Eastern part of the U.S. carries the quake much more energetically,” Blakeman said. “This will have been felt all the way up into New England, West, and down into the Carolinas.”

It all comes down to the bedrock, people. (No, not the Flintstones.)  The East coast is one big slab so a quake is felt throughout.  Whereas, the west coast’s bedrock is more scattered so quakes are felt more locally.

Where was I? Typing a post on Green Talk, when all the sudden it felt like 10 kids were jumping on my bed for about 30 seconds.  Then all of the sudden, the whole house swayed.  I felt like I was dizzy.  That had to be the most surreal thing to happen.

Check out live video from the Star Ledger office showing the lamp shaking.  Look at the reactions of the staffers as the building shook.

Tells You How Much We Rely on Social Network Sites

Luckily, hubby was home and he confirmed what I felt.  Instead of calling the police I looked online to see what the heck happened.  Since the news hadn’t posted on the web, I turned to Twitter and Facebook and of course, updated my status.  In fact, I wasn’t the only one.  Facebook spokesperson, Andrew Noyes, reported that 3 million mentions of “earthquake” in their users’ status updates.

Twitter, on the other hand, reported that within a minute of the earthquake, there were more than 40,000 quake tweets.

Jodi Olson, a spokeswoman for Twitter stated  at one point Twitter recorded “about 5,500 tweets per second, more than Osama bin Laden’s death and on par with the Japanese quake.”

Just goes to show you  how much people and businesses rely on social media.  Even I got Facebook comments immediately after I posted my question about what the heck happened.  Lisa Sharp ( my in the know girl) of Retro Housewife Goes Green, and fellow green mom carnival member, shot me a link which explained about the earthquake.  Others mentioned they had felt it too.  Wow, do I love Facebook.  Dorothy could have really used Facebook when she landed on the Wicked Witch of the West.

Comments About the Earthquake

Throughout the web, there were different reactions.  Some started with “OMG, I felt it.”  Others quipped about how lame it was.   I even saw a tweet about how fracking might have caused the earthquake.  Interesting thought.  Some of my favorites were:

From Grist:  ”Oh, the humanity! I understand there was a tsunami SIX inches high, too!”

From NJ.com “My jello did the shimmy while my desk chair changed into a vibrator.”  With a reply, “Was it good for you?”  (Why do people have sex on the brain all the time?)

Even the Star Ledger’s NJ.com ran a piece on earthquake envy for those who felt nothing.

Maybe an Explanation?

5 musician Adam Levine who was in DC stated,

 ”Ok. Even GOD is pissed off at Washington now.” And, “Looks like we brought our California earthquake mojo to DC. Oops.”

Or via NJ.com

“VA QUAKE BREAKING NEWS!!! The USGS has determined that the epicenter of the Va earthquake was in a graveyard just outside of DC. The cause appears to be all of our Founding Fathers rolling over in their graves.”

Why Should We Care?

Even though, I am poking fun at the earthquake, the serious side is that two nuclear plants had to be taken off line in Virginia.  An article in Mother Jones, states,

“One reason is that nearby nuclear power plants are only designed to withstand a magnitude 5.9-to-6.1 quake, leading the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to shut down at least two Virginia plants even though an NRC spokesman said that “as far as we know, everything is safe.” One plant lost power just after the quake and turned to diesel generators for backup. Still, the event raises questions about the safety of nuclear power plants and what the impact of a really big quake could be.”

In addition, the National Cathedral and possibly the Washington Monument were both damaged.  Thirdly, although scientist haven’t conclusively tied earthquakes and volcanoes to climate change, some feel that climate change is not limited to the atmosphere.

“As Grist‘s Christopher Mims reported after the Fukushima earthquake, “At a 2009 conference on the subject, experts outlined a range of mechanisms by which climate change could already be causing more earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity, albeit of a scale and nature quite different from Friday’s tragedy.” [Source.]

Join the Conversation

• Where were you when the “big one” hit?  Did the Earth move for you? You don’t want to be one of those “guys” who felt nothing.
• Did you update your status once the earthquake hit?  (Hell, yeah?)
• Did anything break or move in your house or office?
• Do you have a favorite comment you saw on the internet about the quake?
• Do you believe earthquakes and volcanoes are being caused by climate change?

Tomorrow, my commentary about the hurricane.  I have some choice words for Irene.

 Photo by Bethany King

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Bees. So harmless Until You Are Stung!

Yesterday, I tackled the unimaginable.  Garden #1.  My garden looks like a madwoman lives there.  Oregano had gone wild invading every nook and cranny.  (One my invasive thug plants even Tony Soprano hates.)  Grass, clover, and a bunch of  no name weeds are everywhere.  At this point, I can’t even find my vegetables.  And I am not being a drama queen.  (Hard to believe.  I know.)

In the process of bringing in some freshly pulled oregano, I got stung by a wasp or bee.  It was too dark to tell whether it was a wasp or a bee.

I Felt Like a Vampire with a Stake through the Heart

Apparently, the bee or wasp must have been sucking the nectar of the oregano flowers.  In trying to bring in too much stuff from the garden, I pressed the oregano against my chest to balance everything I had in my hands. Then,  I was stung right near my heart.  You can’t imagine how that felt.  It hurt like a son of a b*tch.

Now I know how Vampires feel when stabbed in the chest.

I couldn’t understand at first what happened until I saw the wasp or bee float away.  I gather it was a wasp because it seemed to be alive. Correct me  if I am wrong, bees die when they sting you?  I started gasping and whining even though I have been stung before in the legs and arm from stupid stuff I did.  (Sitting on a bee is not the coolest thing to do.)

But this time, it was in my chest where there isn’t a lot of fat.  My survival skills set in because I thought I was going to die.  (And the envelope goes to Anna for her Oscar performing role as a bee femme fatale.)  Grabbing for the ice, I whimpered for hubby to help me.  You have to feel for someone who got stung in the chest.

The funny thing is I normally would have winced at putting cold ice on my chest. Yep, no towel.  Just plain ice.  I am telling you.  Survival mode cures fear.

In the past, I have broken out from bee bites.  But this time, pain seared through my arm.  (In retrospect, most likely from dragging a 101 things into the house, not the bite. )  Son #3 jumped on to the computer to talk to Dr. Google.  (Well, he didn’t really jump, but it sounds more dramatic.  In reality, he kind of walked in that slow motion that teenagers adopt to piss off their parents.)

Hubby also went to look up some remedies as I milked my best Sarah Bernhardt impression clutching the ice to my chest.   (Son #4 continued watching TV since I hadn’t died yet.)

Precaution:  Watch for Certain Symptoms

According to the Mayo Clinic, seek emergency treatment if you have the following symptoms from a bee sting:

• “Skin reactions in parts of the body other than the sting area, including hives and itching and flushed or pale skin (almost always present with anaphylaxis)
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the throat and tongue
• A weak and rapid pulse
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Dizziness or fainting Loss of consciousness”

In addition, if you have been stung multiple times and have any of these symptoms, seek emergency help.

Home Remedies

Dr. Google suggested the following remedies after you remove the bee stinger.  I didn’t have one so I assume that it was a wasp.

• Tea bag
• Ice
• Vinegar  (Most said to use in conjunction with baking soda and meat tenderizer.) Vinegar neutralizes the venom.
• Meat Tenderizer or Vinegar/Baking Soda/Meat Tenderizer combo.  Baking soda soothes and meat tenderizer lessens the effect of the venom since it contains an enzyme found in Papaya
•  Toothpaste (thanks to @Tanya Meyers from the GT fan page.)  The glycerin apparently dries out the venom.
• Baking Soda (thanks to @ Deborah Mustard from the GT fan page.)

Plantain Leaves

(Photo by Rebecca-Lee)

• Chew a plantain leaf (a common weed) then apply the macerated leaf onto the bite. (from Amy Jeanroy of About.com’s Herb Gardens)
• Apply basil to the sting
• Cover bite with mustard

Honey was listed too.  However, human bee sting  remedy guinea pig  William Brantley, stated in his article, “Sting Operation” that honey soothed the symptoms for only thirty minutes.  Um, I can milk it for more than 30 minutes.

Homeopathic Remedy

Hubby bought SSStings Stop for Son #3  for mosquito bites.  He said it really helps.  See sustainable blogger, Kerry’s favorable review too of this product.

What Did I Use?

As I mentioned above, I used the ice immediately. When the ice cube melted, I tried vinegar and then a tea bag.  And finally the SSSSting Stop.   I can’t really tell you if the tea bag , the vinegar, or the gel helped because after the ice, I didn’t feel much pain.

Hubby bought me Benadryl pills since I broke out last time I was stung.  This morning, I feel fine.  There is just a raised bump where I was stung.

Join the Conversation:

• Have you used any of the above remedies?  If so, which ones worked for you?
• Have another remedy for bee or wasp stings?
• Is there an over the counter remedy that you use?

Bee Photo by Kshitij Garg

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Say Yes to Becoming a Vegan

When I was four years old, my mother decided that she didn’t want to cook meat anymore because she loved animals too much. She didn’t understand why it was accepted to eat cows, pigs, and chickens but not other animals—after all, weren’t they just as worthy of their lives? After some deliberation, she stopped purchasing and preparing meat. My father, my brother, and I followed suit since she was the cook of the family, and we never looked back.

It wasn’t easy being a vegetarian in Northern Illinois in the 1980s, that’s for sure! Easily-accessible substitute brands like Morningstar Farms or Tofurky weren’t mainstream yet, so we frequented co-ops, health food stores, and specialty supermarkets to get the items we needed. It was tough, but we stuck to our beliefs and moved forward.

However, after nearly twenty-four years of devoted vegetarianism, I recently chose to take the vegan plunge once and for all (I tried veganism once before and failed after a year). Veganism was always in the back of my mind but I was never motivated enough to cut out all dairy and animal products from my diet. It wasn’t that I didn’t care about the pain and suffering of animals; it was nothing more than laziness. I kept thinking: “Gosh, I really want to go vegan, but it’s just so hard!” or “I don’t know if I could ever stop eating cheese.” Looking back on it, I was sort of selfish.

I didn’t decide to go vegan because I wanted to cleanse myself, lose weight, or reduce my carbon footprint (although, those are all extremely valid reasons). I decided to go vegan because of my love for animals. I’ve always felt unsettled that my money still supported the inhumane and horrifying practices of the meat and dairy industries, and I got to the point where I couldn’t handle it anymore. So, one night at my favorite coffee shop, I told myself to stop whining about the reasons not to do it and start acting on the reasons to do it. I promptly set a start date, made an announcement to my family, and jumped…and I’ve been exceedingly happy with the results!

Surprisingly, I have faced little opposition about my dietary restrictions so far. Other than the occasional “What do you eat, then?” or “You eat fish, right?” questions, people have been rather accepting. It’s unfortunate, but many people believe that all vegans are on a mission to convert omnivores at every turn. As much as I’d like for everyone in the world to be vegan, I realize that’s an impossible task and so I don’t waste my time arguing with people who are already set in their ways. I’m always happy to explain my reasoning if people ask, but I get defensive if people accuse me of having a holier-than-thou attitude. That couldn’t be further from the truth. People are free to live their lives just as I’m free to live mine…all I can do is state my case and move on! As they say, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

There are plenty of heart-wrenching videos I could suggest in favor of a vegan lifestyle, but many of them are so graphic that I don’t feel comfortable listing them here. However, if you’re interested in doing some research on veganism—whether because of animals, your health, or your desire to go green—I’d recommend starting with Vegan Outreach.

Do you have any questions about veganism or about my story? Fire away!

Jill Tooley

Jill Tooley is the Content Marketing Manager and Social Media Manager for a top-notch online promotional products distributor, Quality Logo Products. She also manages and writes for QLP’s marketing blog.

Editor’s note:  If you are thinking of taking the first steps, consider reading why I went vegetarian.  I am leaning towards veganism since I eat very little dairy or eggs.

Photo by Drmama

Join the Conversation

• Have you thought of becoming a vegetarian or vegan?  If so, why?
• Are  you a vegan or vegetarian and how did it change your life?
• What are your favorite vegan cooking dishes?   (Okay, sweets always counts!)

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Watch Technologies inspired by Whales (See Video Below.)

I usually do not post on Saturday, but Gunther Pauli narrates this short video.  It is only a one and one-half minute video that brings home the theme that if we could just learn what Mother Nature has perfected, we could get out of our mess.

Ever since I heard Janine Benyus, a biologist and author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature talk about Biomimicry, I have become a true believer of this science.

“The core idea is that nature, imaginative by necessity, has already solved many of the problems we are grappling with. Animals, plants, and microbes are the consummate engineers. They have found what works, what is appropriate, and most important, what lasts here on Earth. This is the real news of biomimicry: After 3.8 billion years of research and development, failures are fossils, and what surrounds us is the secret to survival,” as explained on the website of the Biomimicry Institute.

I urge you to watch Janine’s TED presentation.  She is extraordinary.  Every university and college should have a course study in Biomimicry.  In my opinion, courses in this science should be required in the engineer, environmental science, building science, and architectural schools.

What are your thought of the whale video?

What are your thoughts about learning from Nature?

Better yet, are you enjoying this beautiful Saturday? (Or “were you” if you read this after Saturday?)

Thanks to Han Lak of One Person Can Make a Difference for this tip via one of my Linked-in Discussions.

Off to whack the Amaranth.  No, it is not Amaranth abuse.  I am simply removing the seeds from the flowers.  The seeds are an amazing protein filled grain!

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There is nothing like a great video that tells it like it is on a Monday morning. UnF–kTheGulf.com says it all. Kind of like a cup of Joe to get the blood running through your body.  In this case, F’in mad blood since our gulf is running black not blue because BP can’t shut the F’in hole.

Watch the video below which features a cross section of people mad as hell using the F-bomb to take BP to task.

Oil Spill Charity “F-Bomb-A-Thon” from UnF–kTheGulf.com on Vimeo.

According to the press release from one of the co-producers, Luke Montgomery,

“The no-holds-barred clip shows people wearing a black T-shirt that reads “UNF–K THE GULF” and cutting loose on BP in a way that millions of Americans only wish that leaders, from the president to news anchors, had the guts to do. The T-shirts are sold on the group’s website for $13 each, with $5 going directly to four Gulf wildlife rescue and environmental charities. The site allows the public to vote on how the funds are spent.”

Montgomery and  Nate Guidas, producers of the video, hope to raise $25,000 for the sale of the shirts.

But why the F word, Montgomery?

“While some may find their approach offensive, Montgomery responds saying “What’s truly offensive is not a four-letter word but the lack of response from the federal government, dolphins blowing oil out of their f–king blowholes and BP blocking reporters from the beaches they f–ked up.” Guidas adds, “Our video shows people calling it like they see it and the T-shirt let’s people do good and look good doing it. Who knew that by putting on a T-shirt you could be helping take oil off of birds and sea turtles?”

So, what can you do?

Buy a T-shirt. They are $13, in which $5 is donated to the clean-up cause.

Share this article or UnF–kTheGulf.com site with all of your social media buddies.  (You can either share through my little “Share this” tab below or go to the UnF–kTheGulf.com website, and it is easy as pie to click on the social media buttons of your choice.) Let’s get this video go viral. We are social media mavens, hear us roar!

Vote on how you think the money should be spent. The following groups are listed:

“Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation:

Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, lawraonline.com

Coordinating the rescue of wildlife & matching experts with animals.

Oil Spill Volunteer Mobilization:

LA Gulf Response, lagulfresponse.org

Organizing a volunteer army on the ground to assist Gulf recovery.

Lawsuit To Stop BP’s New Drilling:

Earthjustice, earthjustice.org

Suing in federal court to stop BP’s dangerous exploratory oil drilling.

Stopping Offshore Drilling:

Greenpeace, greenpeace.org/usa

Working to prevent eco disasters by promoting clean energy policy.

NOTE: We’re supporting the great work of these organizations but our F-word-filled website was not created or endorsed by any of these groups.”

Tell five friends. We all have them right?  If not, you always have family.

Follow @unF’The Gulf (not the correct spelling but altered to keep the site clean. The link is correct.)

Just get mad as hell, and do something F’in about it.

Readers, let me know if you shared the video, emailed to your friends, bought a t-shirt, and/or are following unF’TheGulf?  What has been the response from your friends?  Comment below…

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Photo by Fernando de Sousa.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Green News via my email box.  Loads of great green articles this week.  In the first article that I posted, Readers, please vote for Lisa of Condo Blues as the First Salada Green Tea Spokeperson. She is a fellow Green Mom Carnival participant, friend, and a wonderful do it yourself blogger. So, take a moment and please click on the first article.

The round up this week includes everything on how PACE financing may be stalled to AO Smith’s new hybrid Tankless water heater.

Please Make Lisa Nelsen-Woods the First Salada Green Tea Spokesperson!

GE Lighting and Rambus Sign License Agreement to Create LED Lighting Solutions for Global Markets

NEW REPORT ON TOXINS AND METALS IN WHALES RAISES CONCERNS

Congress Passes Formaldehyde Limits for Composite Wood Products

June 30, 2010 – First Results from the LCLS: Unpeeling Atoms and Molecules from the Inside Out

Loan Giants Opt to Block Energy Programs

A.O.Smith’s Innovative Hybrid Tankless-Storage Water Heater

9 Things You Shouldn’t Share

Readers, which one of the above articles was your favorite?  Have any green news? Share away.  Self-promotion is encouraged here.

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Until I moved into my house on the hill, I never saw a turkey vulture before. Or at least I did not pay attention. They love to perch on top of my chimneys. Well, lately they have come to love my house. Since I am on a mountain like hill, my roof is a great vantage point to see where the food is.  The dead food.

Turkey vultures are scavengers. They look for dead animals. They are nature’s incinerators.   I got to witness turkey vultures in action when we had a dead deer which we had to drag to the curb. (Yes, it was the grossest experience with the deer’s you know what hanging out of its side.)

My oldest son and husband picked it up and put it in a cart.  Animal control in my area required you to bring it to the curb if you want to remove it from your property.  How did the deer die?  It looks like she broke her leg.  But how, we have no idea.  The deer was laying in the middle of my front yard. Kind of odd.

I should have filmed my husband and son trying  to pick the dead deer up.   They dropped the deer a couple of times and each time, their expressions were priceless.  They grimaced.  They muttered words like “gross,” “yuck,” and “disgusting.” Each time they dropped the deer, they both walked away from the area to get their bearing again.    I was afraid that my oldest was going to throw up.  They both were so grossed out.

I was surprised how my husband reacted since he  watched me give birth to four kids while filming the births.  In fact, in some instances, he was filming X-rated footage.  The doctor had to tell him to film some place else, if you get my drift.

So, there was this little deer laying on the side of the road.  As the song, “Circle of Life” from the Lion King was playing in the background, the crows  began nibbling at the deer. Then the vultures came.   And basically told the crows to buzz off.   Not just one but five with male teenager appetites. In less than a few minutes it seems, those vultures picked the deer clean down to its bones. No mess. No scraps. (Well taught by their mama vultures.)

Was this the end of my turkey vulture ordeal?

Just the other day my neighbor’s golden retriever, Charlie, was barking near his fence. Usually he barks to get one of us to come out and pet him. This time he just kept barking and barking. I went outside wondering why he did not get discouraged and return  home. As I turned to pet him through the fence, I looked toward the back of the house to see at least 20 cultures lined up on my roof ridge in perfectly spaced formation.   Of course I did not have my handy dandy camera.  But I will tell you, they looked like they were made of plastic since they were so perfectly aligned on my roof.

I stared at them in amazement. At one point they all lifted their wings as if they were choreographed in some type of dance. Of course, the perfect blue sky as a back drop made the display seem more jaw dropping.

I did catch some of them on top of my chimney. (See picture above.)  One graciously lifted his wings for me as I snapped away.

That day with its beautiful sky just reminded me of how perfect Nature is and how much we have disturbed the perfect circle.  We have so much to learn from Nature.

So, readers have you had a nature inspiring moment?

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Photo by permission of Keven Law. Check out the great giveaway for one lucky reader!

G.L. Freedman of Wildlife-Houses sent me this email recently, and I could not resist reprinting it in full because I am an avid gardener and an animal lover.  With only a few weeks until Spring,  read on how to attract those beautiful blue jays, robins, and hummingbirds to your garden.

As many may know, many North American birds nest in “cavities”, or holes in trees and fence posts. Some birds, such as the wood pecker, are able to actually chisel their own holes with their sharp and heavy bills, yet other cavity nesters must find suitable holes for their nesting needs.

Unfortunately, suitable nest cavities can be a hard match and difficult to find in much of North America. One way to solve the depopulation and nesting problems of all natural insect controllers, which can really harm vegetation, plant life and tree life – thus destroying the environment, is to provide artificial cavities, also known as bird houses or nest boxes.

More than 50 species of birds – including Bluebirds, Kestrels, Owls, Titmice, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Wrens, Tree Swallows and Woodpeckers – will use nesting boxes. Not to mention, bats and Purple Martins, which also help to naturally control pests and insects, thus eliminating the usage of man made insecticides and pesticides, harming the environment.

Nest Boxes have also helped to boost populations of many cavity-nesting bird species whose numbers where on the incline. For instance, both Eastern Bluebirds and Wood Ducks have recently made a dramatic comeback in population.

A Nest Box on ones property will provide an inexpensive, valuable home for birds and bats as well as fun and enjoyment for the whole family. What better way to teach our youngsters about environmental preservation as well as natural pesticides and the aiding of the longevity of our natural, cavity nesting friends.

To find out more how you can help and be part go to www.wildlife-houses.com.

To echo G.L.’s sentiments about birds’ nesting habits, I have nests all over my house.  Last year, I had nests on my ledges, inside my fake ivy topiary plants, and even a small bird house my son built.  The problem is whenever I go outside my front door, the birds fly away since I guess, they are scared of humans.

One time, a baby bird was so scared it flew out of its nest and was not really ready to fly. I picked it up to put it back in its nest and realized I probably hurt the bird more than helped.  My human hands touched it, and I was worried that its mother would reject it.  The birds love my house and perhaps, it would be better for me to install more bird house around the property so they nest inside their homes rather than near my doors. In any event, the birds have been my main pesticide, eatting those unwanted garden pests!

In addition, bat house are wonderful.  Stop thinking vampires are going to show up at your door!  Bats eat mosquitoes among other insects.  In my area, mosquitoes have been associated with spreading the  West Nile virus , which can affect humans and mammals.   Crows have been affected by this virus.  What is West Nile virus?

“The most severe type of disease due to a person being infected with West Nile virus is sometimes called “neuroinvasive disease” because it affects a person’s nervous system. Specific types of neuroinvasive disease include: West Nile encephalitis, West Nile meningitis or West Nile meningoencephalitis. Encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain, meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and the spinal cord, and meningoencephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain and the membrane surrounding it. West Nile Fever is another type of illness that can occur in people who become infected with the virus. It is characterized by fever, headache, tiredness, aches and sometimes rash. Although the illness can be as short as a few days, even healthy people have been sick for several weeks.” (CDC, West Nile Virus)

For more information about who is most susceptible and  more information about this virus, see here.  If you want to learn more about bats, consider following the Company’s bat blog.  Attracting bats to your yard helps to control these unwanted pests.

Wildlife-Houses sells many different types of bird houses as well as ones coated with edible products (edible birdhouses)  and wildlife  structures for owls, bats, and butterflies.   Pictured below are some of the different types of wildlife houses you could purchase:

This is the edible bird house, which after the seeds are gone, there is still a bird house.  Priced at $47 but on sale for $38.54.

This wildlife house is a bat condo!  It holds up to 100 bats and there is no  condo approval requirement to move in.  Priced at $54 but on sale at $44.28.

For the ultimate bird watcher, the above house is for you.  It contains a color camera with infrared night vision so that you can watch the birds’ nesting habits or record them on your computer if you wish.  Priced at $192, but on sale for $157.44.

Which one is my favorite?  It is the seeded one.  I love the multi-purpose idea of the house.  Note, this is a great time to pick up any one of the Company’s products since many of the items on the website are on sale and reduced 18% below their originally marked price. Consider purchasing one of these birds structures and enjoy watching the magic that birds create.

The Company has been so kind to giveaway the above seeded bird houseto one lucky Green Talk reader.

In order to enter the contest, you must live in the US, and be 18 or older and follow the rules below:

• Leave me a comment here telling me what is your  favorite bird and why (if you can). If you don’t have one, just say so.

• To double your chances of winning the shirt, consider joining Green Talk’s Ning Forum. Come back and leave a separate additional comment that you joined my forum.

• To triple your chances consider joining my Feedburner email list or subscribe to my RSS feed. Both subscriptions are listed on the upper left hand column. Be sure to come back and leave a separate additional comment to tell me which one you joined.

• To quadruple your chances of winning, twitter about this contest and come back and leave a separate additional comment of the url (weblink) of your twitter comment.

• You must enter by March 25, 2009, 6 PM EST time to win. A winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, March 26, 2009.  Good Luck everyone!

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