Let it all Hang Out

This is a new one - National Hanging Out Day - just in time for Earth Day. Instead of running even your energy efficient drier, the folks at Project Laundry List are encouraging people to hang their laundry out to dry on Saturday as a statement to slow global warming. The solar powered drier, aka the clothes line, has been in use for centuries, and still seems to work.

Here are some statistics from their website:
In this country, six to ten percent of residential energy use goes toward running clothes dryers. The average American uses more energy running a clothes dryer than the average African uses in a year for all her energy needs.

And if you can believe it, there are some communities that have rules against having clothes lines for aesthetic reasons. The Project Laundry List people are introducing "Right to Dry" legislation to help these people so that we can all enjoy that "outdoor fresh scent" straight from the backyard/fire escape/balcony/etc.

Hang it up!

Building the Bigger Mousetrap

Who said bigger is better? Were they talking about mousetraps? Well, if you subscribe to this theory, you should check out the Life Size Moustrap at the Haunted Barn this weekend. I remember loving that game when I was a kid, even though it took forever to set up, and was a little cloogy when you put the marbles through. But hey, I'd love to see it life size!

Head down towards Hunter's Point to check it out. They'll set it off 3 times during the operating hours on Friday (party night 9pm-12am), and 5 times Saturday (family day 2pm-12am). There will be other rowdy entertainment to keep you busy - from can can dancing mice to chicken sh** bingo. Don't ask me. I think you'll have to see for yourself.

Busy Bay

Unfortunately I work from home in a little room under the stairs. Not quite as little as Harry Potter's room, and there is a window, but it only looks out to an air shaft and a sliver of the window of the house next door where I hear all sorts of strange noises... So, it can get a little claustrophobic in here, especially when I realize I have no idea what it's like outside other than either it's raining or not.

Today I came across this HD webcam with a beautiful view of the bay. I've bookmarked it so I can pretend my office is really on the waterfront in Sausalito. It has the bonus feature of telling you the names of all the ships coming and going through the bay. Ever wonder where that tanker was headed as you saw it sliding under the Golden Gate? Well, this site will tell you!

And here's a timelapse shot of bay fog clearing over the course of the day, all the boat traffic zooming through, and the sunset fading into black, that just epitomizes what it's like to live here.

Austrian Wine Tasting

We've done South African, New Zealand, Napa, Sonoma, and I'm sure a few other wine regions on here, but not Austrian yet, until now. No, not Australian, Austrian. That little country in the middle of Europe known for its Grüner Veltliner. What's that, you ask? I have no idea! I have yet to taste many Austrian wines, so now's the time!

Next Monday, the 21st there will be an Austrian wine tasting event at the ferry building. It's put on by the Masters of Wine, a British organization "to promote the highest level of educational achievement for the wine industry." So you might just learn a thing or two while you're there. And if you don't want to show up knowing NOTHING about Austrian wine, I found this site to shed some light.

Earth Day Free Concert in the Park

It's that time of year again - Earth Day hits SF next sunday, with another rendition of the Green Apple Music Festival. This year, the lineup includes Mickey Hart and, my fave, Brett Dennen. I wish I knew what time he was on, since I'd love to go check him out. There are a couple other bands I don't know, Yonder Mountain String Band and Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks, but I'm sure they're good hippie-dippy music. And hopefully next weekend is as beautiful as this one!