September 24, 2012

Constitution Day Celebration 2012

Posted by Brenna Malmberg

For Constitution Day, guests enjoy live music and hot air balloon rides on the lawn.

In honor of Constitution Day, Cole and I drove up to Orange, Va., to a celebration at James Madison home, Montpelier. Outside of town, down some twisty, unmarked roads, we found the estate surrounded by acres (more than 2,700) of lush open space.

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September 20, 2012

Overblessified Thursday: Hot Cheetos and Takis

Posted by Brenna Malmberg

First, watch and smile.

This week, I found some new beats, brought to the world thanks to an after-school program in Minneapolis. The Y.N.RichKids rap about childhood subjects and have recorded eight albums since the group started in 2006. . . .


September 19, 2012

Trivia Tuesday: Name That Gymnast Answers

Posted by Brenna Malmberg

How did you do? Most of these faces should be pretty familiar with all the media attention they received during and after the Olympics, but I threw in a few that were a little tougher.

1. Nastia Liukin: Not at this Olympics, but all-around winner and five-time Olympic medalist in 2008.

Source: brennamedia.com . . .


September 18, 2012

Trivia Tuesday: Name That Gymnast

Posted by Brenna Malmberg

At 1 p.m. this Saturday (Sept. 22), you need to be upside down. Yes. Turn your body in some way that you see the world from a completely different angle. Why? Because it's National Gymnastics Day!

To participate, you can handstand, cartwheel, flip, forward roll or really anything! When you do, take a picture and post it on the USA Gymnastics or brennamedia Facebook page. With USA Gymnastics, you can even win prizes. . . .


September 17, 2012

Green Speak Monday: The First Bird-friendly Wind Turbine

Posted by Brenna Malmberg

For $550, Raymond Green, an 89-year-old California resident, built a bird-friendly wind turbine.

Even though capturing wind energy doesn't kill as many birds as wind haters want you to think, a California military veteran decided to give wind turbines a different design for the birds. This new blade-less design is called the Catching Wind Power (CWP) Compressed Air Enclosed Wind Turbine. (It probably needs a shorter name.) The wind sock and compression cone allow for a quiet design that doesn't have to reach as high into the air. Even though this sounds great, Raymond Green has to perfect the model before people are going to have little wind catchers in their backyard. He is working with a New Jersey-based company to refine the creation. . . .