The Peepoo Bag: A Biodegradable, Single-use Toilet
Anders Wilhelmson, a Swedish architect, professor, and entrepreneur, has developed this thing called the Peepoo bag. It’s a single-use toilet for slums in the developing world where there aren’t permanent facilities. From The New York Times:
Once used, the bag can be knotted and buried, and a layer of urea crystals breaks down the waste into fertilizer, killing off disease-producing pathogens found in feces.
This is a great invention. Not only does this bag give people a more sanitary way of dealing with their waste, it also reduces plastic trash and provides some fertilizer. It may seem a little gross, but in slums the alternatives are often much grosser. Wilhelmson plans to sell these for 2 to 3 cents each. I imagine the challenge will be getting them distributed.
Which Supplements Are Backed by Science
St. John’s Wart? Sounds like something Gandalf would prescribe. Information is Beautiful has a nice infographic showing which “health supplements” are actually backed by scientific evidence. Full interactive version here (though their site may be down).
Biking is way up in New York, but the city only has one bike rack space for every 30 cyclists. The solution? Repurpose old parking meters:
Under the city’s latest green transportation plan, about 225 parking meters across the city will have their heads hacked off and be turned into bike racks.
The transformation starts this spring on the Upper East and West sides; Park Slope, Brooklyn; Riverdale, Bronx; and Ridgewood, Queens. The metal pole that remains of the meter will become circular racks.Drivers will pay for parking at communal “muni meters” at the end of each block, rather than feed individual meters.
It’s no secret that the distribution of wealth is inequitable in the United States across racial, regional, and socio-economic groups. But there is a distinct variance among and within America’s faiths as well. This transparency takes a look at the income levels of America’s major religious groups, as compared to the average U.S. income distribution.
This week, NBC’s Today Show ran a segment on so-called “practical” courses being offered by universities around the country. (Unfortunately, can’t embed here, so you have to click the above link.) These classes, which the show labels as “college courses you can actually use,” run the gambit from a Berkeley class on The Simpsons and philosophy to “The History of Shopping” offered at Yale.
As a devout Yankees-despiser, I tuned out when attention turned to a Rutgers class on Yankee Stadium. Also, I take issue with correspondent Jenna Wolfe’s claim that algebra isn’t useful in real life. I feel like I use it all the time.
Look Great While Saving The World
In New York City in 2008, Tyler Clemens and Abe Burmeister conceived Outlier, a line of “tailored performance” apparel. The pair’s offerings are built from performance fabrics in flexible cuts—the kicker is that they’re styled on a par with traditional office wear.
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THAT’S ALEX!
Well, we can still debate whether it’s fair or balanced, but Fox News is the network America trusts more than any other, according to a new poll by Public Policy Polling.
Almost half of all Americans surveyed in the poll of 1,151 registered voters said they trusted Fox News. That is a notably larger vote of confidence than the 39% who said they trusted Fox’s great rival CNN, and vastly more than the credibility ratings of the traditional news networks ABC News (31%), CBS News (32%) and NBC News (35%).
