Relaxing and dismantling a linen shift that tore in three different parts of the back during the night. (Again I question what I do in my sleep!)
Into one pile go the nice big rectangles of still good fabric, to become parts of garments. Into one small pile go the little rectangles of still good fabric, to become patches for mending. And into a third little pile go all the cut off seam allowances, becoming cat toys.
“The discovery uses tiny micro batteries to break down the lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese from a battery, before using an amino acid to extract the metals.
“The use of glycine as the amino acid avoids using harsh chemicals for the recycling process, [and avoids] the creation of toxic byproducts.
“The newly developed system is able to recover 99.99 per cent of the lithium, 96.8 per cent of the nickel, 92.35 per cent of the cobalt and 90.59 per cent of the manganese from old batteries in just 15 minutes.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/battery-recycle-lithium-ion-environment-b2713723.html
Ordered replacement parts from the LBS, to arrive at some undetermined future time (for pickup at the store). The cost of parts (of course) is pricey, but again -- I am NOT doing this to acquire a new bicycle, I am doing this for the process of restoring the bicycle (and learning... plus, repairing stuff is therapeutic). i.e. it's the trip... not the destination. #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #bikerepair #bike #schwinn
In today's episode of USED IS BETTER THAN NEW
2014 Specialized Sirrus Comp ($100) vs. Walmart Crappy Bike ($319.99)
(the Specialized had an original MSRP of $1100 back in 2014 -- likely you'll want to invest in new tires/tubes/tuneup).
Old, used, high quality bicycles are so much better quality than new stuff being sold at mass market retailers... I feel sorry for the kids who aren't getting a used top notch bike which has been repaired vs. getting a crap new bike. #BikeTooter #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
The Guardian: First Dog on the Moon
Why not fix it yourself! It behooves us to repair our own busted machines wherever possible
(Update: Follow @firstdogonthemoon !!)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/dec/13/why-not-fix-it-yourself-it-behooves-us-to-repair-our-own-busted-machines-wherever-possible
Yesterday, looking for vague or definitive answers about the width and widening point of Victorian bicycling trousers, I also came across this book from the 1970s. "I'm just gonna leave this until morning", I thought, thus leaving myself a surprise because I forgot about it.
Shall delve into it and see if there's valuable data for us all in there!
Started winding up my Christmas shopping today. As last year, family and friends are only buying second hand and from charity and bric-a-brac shops or online, to reduce landfill and waste. It was a *lot* of fun last year, and seasonal gifts were unusually unusual :0) #SecondHandChristmas #BuyUsed #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
Life hack of the day. Received a padded package (from Portland) which really is just a reused cardboard box!! Why have I been buying padded envelopes for so many years?!?! #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #recycling #envelope
The curse of knowing how to fix a lot of different stuff: everyone's else junk is your treasure. (but, you have to balance that with space/time to fix, and use for said fixed item once you are done fixing it). #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #RightToRepair
NPR: Keurig misled the public over claims its K-Cup pods are 100% recyclable, the SEC says https://www.npr.org/2024/09/12/nx-s1-5109902/keurig-kcup-pods-recycle-sec-fine #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle #coffee #keurig #recycling #sham
First load of laundry almost dry in the rebuilt dryer from the 1980's (better to line dry, mind you, given the weather here... but it's easier to change motors than it is to change human behavior). So, looks like this repair is done (hopefully, LOL). #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
The fix-the-dryer saga continues. I have a brand spanking new motor, HOWEVER, the wiring instructions are incorrect for the (ancient) model Maytag I have. Non-matching color coding. But, it's a motor... can't be that hard to figure out alternate wiring that will make this work..
Green/Yellow = ground (same!)
Yellow = start motor switch (same... I think!)
White/Blue (nope... seems to be neutral/hot on wiring harness)
No gray on harness (connecting white/blue to gray makes the motor hum, unless I open the door -- so white/blue is most certainly hot)
Black - ?
Red - ?
(Fortunately, I am overqualified to figure this out, Electrical Engineering degree LOL)
Appliance part owner here told me today "I'm anti throw-it-away... I'll do anything I can to make sure we can fix this" as he diagnosed my dryer motor (alas, which does have to be replaced). #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
From the article: "The fact that we’re repairing our clothes in a highly capitalist society is radical. It’s radical to fix something versus throwing it away and buying something new"
(hmm... apparently I am a radical, LOL). #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
Ooh! It got even better! Definitely do recommend, if you have the spoons requisite. She also has a lovely accent, so even just listening to it is quite enjoyable. On the subject of consuming and reducing garment and fibre consumption, her reasons for it, history and the environment. And #MakeDoAndMend in general. 18 minutes, fairly chill.
https://youtu.be/FH7CZGpkEfA
An excerpt from a video by Retro Claude, talking about a rationing era challenge and not taking the strictest route even as an experiment:
"That's not what this is about. What I want to do is reset my understanding of what is an acceptable and normal level of consumption. Because we are constantly bombarded by these marketing messages to buy more and to own more and it's gotten absolutely obscene in my opinion. And I don't think I'm the only person that feels like this - to the extent that we have seen a trend for under-consumption core on online. But I wouldn't argue that that is under consumption I would say that is normal consumption. But then our understanding of normal is so warped is it really normal? I don't know.
So for me that's the point of this challenge is to try and find a new baseline of what is an acceptable level of consumption."
Well said. I still need to finish the rest of the video, but well said!
(rant on) I sure hope this goes through this time. It's ridiculous the industry has moved to "thicker bags" so now people just buy thick plastic bags instead of bringing reusable bags to the store. (rant off)
KTLA: California lawmakers vote to ban all plastic grocery bags
https://ktla.com/news/california/california-moves-to-ban-all-plastic-grocery-bags/
Super easy electronics restoration. Snagged a pile of free UPS units off Craiglist. These two worked great after a simple battery swap. Only remaining issue is these beep incessantly during a power outage. #electronics #ReduceRepairReuseRecycle
