Tawei Liao

Chickenpox Foreclosure Map

Google Maps has a real estate search feature.  It can show you houses that are in foreclosure or will be in foreclosure because the owner has missed at least one payment.  I could not find a direct link that activates the feature. Use the following procedure:

1. Go to maps.google.com.
2. Click on “show search options” on the right hand side of the search box.
3. A pull down menu will appear next to the search box.  Click on it and select “Real Estate”.
4. Now enter any city name or zip code like 90210.
5. The left hand side will have search options.  Click on “For sale” for remove the option and click on “Foreclosure” to select that option.  Then click on go.

A chickenpox map of foreclosures. Click on the image for larger view.

Los Angeles Chickenpox Foreclosure Map

As you can see foreclosures are never evenly distributed.  There are pockets of outbreaks.  We can zoom in around Redondo Beach and Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

Redondo Beach Chickenpox Foreclosure Map

Santa Monica Chickenpox Foreclosure Map

Look at the measles outbreak that is Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.  Never before has so many people become so poor trying to look rich.

Gray Water Recycling

Colander Bowl

We recycle gray water. We do not have an expensive gray water recycling system. Our system consists of a big bucket and myself putting in the labor. What we do is simple and takes just a little effort.  Gray water recycling can become part of every family’s daily routine.  We do just two things:

1. Use a two piece colander with a bowl. They are available at most Asian supermarkets. When washing fruits and vegetables, the bowl catches the water that would otherwise go down the drain.  The colander on top is lifted so that the fruits and vegetables can dry. And we pour the bowl of water into our big bucket.
2. Save the water that you run when you take a shower or bath. The cold water going down the drain while you wait for the hot water is not gray water it is clean water.  Do not waste clean water. We run the water into our bucket.

We can save about 5-10 gallons of water per day doing just these two simple things.  It is enough to water nearly all our plants in the front and backyard.  We even use it to water our tomatoes and our fruit trees.  The water is fairly clean.  We do not try to save any water that comes into contact with dishwashing liquid or cooking oil.

We are so used to this routine that my wife once complained about wasting water when we travel and stay at a hotel.  Running clean water down the drain while waiting for the hot water?  What a horrible waste!

If you want to save even more water, you will need more than a strong back to carry a bucket of water.  You will need a gray water recycling system.  These systems can recycle water from the washing machines or bathtubs.  I do not have any experience with these systems so I cannot make recommendations.

Water is life.  Use as little as possible and save as much as you can.