Easy Composting Because of our Friendly Worms [VIDEO]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The lowly worm is a hard worker when it comes to helping us recycle, reduce our carbon footprint, and lessen overall landfill waste.
Yard and food waste make up a major component of solid waste in most landfills throughout the United States. Vermicomposting, or composting with earthworms, is an excellent technique for recycling food waste in the apartment as well as composting yard waste in the backyard.

The worms take items such as junk mail, food scraps, and coffee grounds…and turn the waste into rich fertilizer to provide nutrients to house plants and more. Worm composting kits can be purchased or made at home, inexpensively.

For more information on sustainability, or composting with worms, visit the vermicomposting website.

Source: KRQE News 13

Luxion KeyShot 7 - Amazing Capabilities & Features

Luxion, the rendering software gurus, has announced the release of KeyShot 7, which includes updates that make the 3D rendering process faster and more awesome than ever before.

Architectural rendering 3D, Animators and engineers utilizing the KeyShot 7 engine can now look forward to a host of new features, including new material types (such as clear coat and metallic materials controls) and new texture mapping methods.

KeyShot 7 also offers new lighting controls, meaning that HDR output, new environments and a new integrated HDRI Editor with interactive Sun & Sky are all added to the 3D artist's pallet and enable the user to create renders that are so photorealistic that you might question the nature of reality itself.

Check out the image below for an example of the awesomeness of the new multimaterial capability. Looks real, right?



In addition to the rendering environment tweaks, there are upgrades to the UI and workflow as well (because everyone is on the usability train nowadays, and if you're not making things easier to use, then your product is old hat!). Consequently, the new user interface has been completely updated with new layout and hotkey customization capabilities.

Boosts to productivity come from new workflow features, including a completely new sampling method, re-tessellation, adaptive performance mode, eight new render passes and more output capabilities that are all aimed at reducing render time and letting the user get on with proper work.

"KeyShot 7 has amazing capabilities, but we were not satisfied with only adding features," said Claus Wann Jensen, Cofounder and CEO of Luxion. "Every one of these features and every improvement must consider the user's workflow from import to final render—simplifying every task, providing absolute flexibility and complete control across interface, camera, materials and lighting. With the input from our users, I'm convinced we have done that with KeyShot 7."

You can find out more about what's new from the unsurprisingly aesthetically pleasing website at this link right here.
Soure: Engineering.com

That Million Dollar Curb Appeal for the DIY-er

This article is originally posted at smoothair.ca. If youwant to read full article, visit http://www.smoothair.ca/home/million-dollar-curb-appeal-diy-er/

April showers bring Mayflowers…or so they once said! Hopefully that English proverb holds true for ushere in the Pacific North West this spring. While it has been dreary outside,long days and warmer weather await!

But what to do with yourfront yard once the weather turns?

Right now it is useless. Itlooks tired. It looks old. The neighbours think the house is abandoned (notactually but you get the point). This spring you are going to make your yardscream modernity – and on a DIY budget no less! Now roll up your sleeves andprepare to transform your tired yard into a magnificently modern masterpiece.

Lawn TLC

The key to a beautiful house isa beautiful lawn. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for lawn repair and abag of turf builder, combined with a regiment of moss killer and weed remover,are quick and cheap options to restore that deep green hue.

Consider borrowing yourneighbour’s push-mower to get that short uniform look and do not forget to edgethe lawn. With proper edging and a close shave, you will have a fantasticlooking lawn all summer – don’t forget to water!

Plant A Tree

A regularly pruned tree ofmoderate height, say…no larger than 7 feet, can be a focal point in yourgarden. It draws eyes from the house itself and provides depth to a wellmanicured lawn that is cut both short and uniform. You can grab a juvenile treefor around $20.

Be Bold: Stain Your Cement

The world of stained cement isa marvelous one. You are only limited by your imagination…and maybe yourbudget. But I know you are a DIY master with a small pocketbook. Fear not! Thepeople over at doityourself have a wonderfulbreakdown of staining that cement, and for as little as 50 cents per squarefoot. Not bad at all!

 Accentuate with Native Shrubs

Small, upright shrubs placed instrategic areas in your front yard provide multiple benefits. Shrubbery helpsto define features by framing or highlighting them and provides privacy whenused as a hedge.

Using native vegetation isbetter because you know it can survive in your yard and requires less maintenanceover time. It can also be cheaper as you can transplant vegetation from a localforest significantly reducing the costs associated with preparing your yard(don’t snag any plants from your neighbourhood park).

Also, using native vegetationwill attract wildlife such as butterflies and birds. Local vegetation can beused to create waterwise gardens too; meaning you can havea garden that looks like a million bucks, and is environmentally friendly!

Modern Lighting for Any Budget

At this point your front yardis most likely the envy of the block. But you can really make this thing pop.Small, stainless steel bollards are a perfect accent to a well manicured yardthat can give that million-dollar curb appeal for under 100 hundred dollars.

There is a HUGE selection ofbollards to choose from, but we are going for an ultra modern aesthetic andshort, stainless steel bollards are all the rage. If you buy solar, you don’thave to pay for electricity or bury any wire! Double Bonus.

I should warn you though.Making these simple, easy changes to your front yard may cause realtors toapproach you with an offer of selling your house. That is the price a successfulDIY-er must pay for their ingenuity.

Credit to Realspace 3D forthis post.