CasaSugar

Living Large in a Small Space: Marlies's Vibrant Studio in the Netherlands

CasaSugar — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:30:06 -0800

Marlies lives in the western part of the Netherlands, where, she writes, "It can be quite hard to find a nice affordable home in the city. This small (366ft) studio apartment was offered to me just six months ago, by a organization that provides affordable houses for working young people. I was very happy, because before this I lived in very expensive and even smaller(!) apartments." Marlies notes that although she works with a very small design budget, she loves to create a pretty, cozy home. Using thrifted and antique elements, Ikea finds, and Etsy artwork, she has created a lovely small home for herself. Take the tour to get ideas for creating your own small refuge in the city, and then check out her Flickr page for more inspiration.

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Could Lab-Grown Meat Be in Our Future?

YumSugar — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:00:18 -0800

You've heard of lab-grown gemstones. But how would you feel about lab-grown meat? A group of scientists from Eindhoven University in the Netherlands have succeeded in culturing pork in a petri dish. Researchers extracted cells from the muscle of a live pig, then incubated them in a nutrient-rich solution, creating a sticky tissue that's being described as a "soggy form of pork."

There are still challenges to overcome - like how to achieve a firm consistency - but scientists believe an in-vitro meat breakthrough will happen and processed meat products could be manufactured from lab meat in as little as five years.

Cultured meat has the potential to reduce billions of tons of greenhouse gases emitted every year by farm animals. PETA even acknowledged, "If meat is no longer a piece of a dead animal, there's no ethical objection." But I disagree. In addition to blurring the lines between natural and artificial, something like cultured pork would complicate the ethics of eating meat, complicate vegetarianism, and create even more meat labeling problems. Would you buy a beaker-bred burger?

Hello There Hungry, Hungry Newborn Hippo!

PetSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:00:01 -0700

I spy lettuce, carrots, and cucumber chunks for this baby hippo and proud mama. Did you know that hippos eat just about 1 percent of their total body weight as adults? Don't call them greedy, though - if necessary, the huge mammals can store two days' worth of grass in their tummies and go up to three weeks without eating.

There's a whole buffet laid out here and no need to gorge, so check out one more picture of the grazing babe when you read more.

Tampons Descend on Unsuspecting Sunbathers

TresSugar — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:30:00 -0700

Did you know one in seven women avoid the beach during their period? PR firm Labresse does! That's why it dropped tampons in pink parachutes down on Dutch beaches. Too bad its audience stayed home because of the high tides that day.

Don't worry if you can't watch the video. Unless you speak Dutch, you won't understand a word. You really don't need to! Parachuted tampons descending on a beach like medicine to a remote village is universally weird.

Guilt Trips: President Obama Finds Time to Read - Do You?

TresSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:00:00 -0700

That's it. If the president has time to read a novel, there is no viable excuse left not to. Maybe he's starting his own viral campaign for literacy?

In an interview for an upcoming New York Times Magazine, the president said he's reading the acclaimed novel Netherland at night because he's tired of reading briefing books all day. Fair enough. What did we expect the president to do at night - watch The Real Housewives of NYC?

The book's been compared to The Great Gatsby, but what's it about?

Hans, a Dutch financial analyst living in lower Manhattan, grows increasingly alienated from his wife following the Sept. 11 attacks. During their separation, the main character spends a Summer alone in New York and strikes up a friendship with a wily Trinidadian businessman named Chuck, who helps Hans rediscover his childhood love of cricket.

Cricket? I'm in. I expect to see sales of Netherland skyrocket. Maybe Obama is the new Oprah?

Cool Idea: Real Size Roomscape Curtain

CasaSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:15:07 -0700

When you're living in a studio, or otherwise short on space, sometimes you must resort to trompe-l'œil effects to fool people into thinking your pad is bigger than it is. But, mirrored sliding doors on your closet are simply too '80s to even consider. Dutch artist Bauke Knottnerus knows what I mean. Knottnerus's Real Size Roomscape Curtain gives the illusion of more space, as it's printed with a photograph of a living room. Can't afford a sofa? Not enough space for a bulky TV? You've got one instantly with this curtain! And, like any old drape, it does a fantastic job of concealing your junk. I think this product is just a prototype for now, but I could totally see it in Urban Outfitters, couldn't you? What do you think?

Casa Verde: An Energy-Generating Revolving Door

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:59 -0800

When it comes to sustainable technologies, Royal Boon Edam is truly opening doors. The company has introduced the world's first energy-generating revolving door, which not only saves energy but also generates it with each person who passes through. The door was installed in the Driebergen-Zeist railway station in the Netherlands, which was recently refurbished by RAU, an architect firm specializing in ecological buildings. The energy that commuters apply to the door by pushing it is harnessed by a special generator, which safely controls the rotating speed of the door. Meanwhile, low-energy LED lights in the ceiling slurp up the stored energy to keep the door space constantly illuminated. To hear more about this inventive technology, read more.

What's more, red-to-green LED scales inside the door show how much energy is generated and "Human Powered Energy" stickers are adhered to the door, so that people are aware of their contribution as they pass through the door itself. With a daily capacity of 8,500 commuters, the average day-to-day schlep to work adds up to about 4600 kWh in energy savings per year, much more than a standard door that doesn't save any energy! In addition to that, your plain ol' revolving door makes heating and air conditioning more efficient as it prevents air flow in and out of a building. Though Royal Boon Edam's energy-generating revolving door is currently used in a commercial capacity, I think this is only the beginning, and I hope one day our doors will harness our own energy for homes as well - without making me sweat.
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Weeding Out Crime: Amsterdam Closing Many Pot Cafes!

LibertySugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:30:00 -0800

Amsterdam wants to be known for its tolerant spirit, not as a haven for organized criminals. Thus, the city has plans to close troublesome brothels, sex shops, and marijuana cafes, while also spending millions to build cultural attractions like art galleries and restaurants.

One city council member explains that:

"[Amsterdam] will be a place with 200 windows (for prostitutes) and 30 coffee shops, which you can't find anywhere else in the world - very exciting, but also with cultural attractions. And you won't have to be embarrassed to say you came."

Perhaps the new plan to shut down some pot cafes shows the wisdom of decriminalization, not the folly of it. Officials can step in and shut down the shops that cause problems, without pushing everyone that uses marijuana into a criminal network.

Do you think criminalization or legalization is the best way to deal with drug related crime?

Source

Baby Red Panda Dies, Mama Cat's Kittens Survive

PetSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:00:34 -0700

Sadly the Red Panda we saw in that adorable video passed away yesterday. If you don't recall, the abandoned baby was taking up with surrogate mommy – a tabby – after being rejected but her own mother.

It was the first time that a red panda was suckled by a cat within the European breeding program for endangered species, and the lil one was raised along with four kittens born around the same time. Turns out the cub suffocated when her windpipe was filled with milk, but was otherwise in good health. So sad, but kudos to the feline for helping out while she could.

Source

Super Cute Video: See Red Panda Play With Kitten Siblings!

PetSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:15:22 -0700

As if the pictures weren't enough cuteness, there's now a video of four frolicking kittens – and one red panda! – for our viewing pleasure. Looks like the closed-eye cub has no problem climbing up on the cats to find his way to the food. They're all about the same size now and, when fully grown, the panda will just be slightly larger than the domestic cat.

Since the mama kitty will nurse the cub for about three months, I've got my fingers crossed that we'll see more when this babe grows up, too!