"Eat More Kale"

Bo Muller-More, the man made famous by his "Eat More Kale" t-shirts and fight vs. Chick-fil-A is making a new documentary film, according to WPTZ.com. Now, WPTZ is testy about copying information from their articles (as they should be), so here's a link to the full article and video posted on their website. Enjoy!

Image via csmonitor.com

How your Phone and Computer are Taking Tolls on your Life

A recent study by Harvard University shows that easy access to the web and search engines have actually taken a toll on how a person's memory functions - and not in a good way. The study shows that when people know they can access certain facts or information online they are less likely to try to remember it. This situation is comparable to a scenario where if your significant other knows your mutual friend's birthday, you rely on them to know it for you and thus store the person who knows the information as  the information itself. The same works with the Internet; if you know you can find something online, you store the Internet in general as the information.

That's the computer part, now for your phone.

Research from the University of Maryland has shown that people who are engaging in their cell phones are less likely to participate in "prosocial" behavior. The study shows that our need to connect with others is filled by connecting to our phone, or even thinking about our phones. People in the study who were merely asked to draw pictures of their phones also had a drop in prosocial behaviors.

As people I think we can relate to the truth in both of these studies. As someone who works in front of a computer, I run a Google search at least 30 times a day to either find out something new or to cross reference a fact. As for the second study, we've all been out with a friend who (instead of communicating with us) is playing on their Smartphone. It's not exactly enjoyable, but apparently they psychologically can't really help it.

To view the full article featuring memory and the Internet, click here.

To view the full article featuring smart phones and prosocial behavior, click here.

Image 1 via leighreyes.com, Image 2 via articles.nydailynews.com, Image 3 via limeworks.com.au

Prius Project: Concept Bike

Toyota Prius Projects and Parlee Cycles joined forces a while back to create a concept bike. A bicycle that will fuse together the cutting-edge Parlee with the innovative forward thinking of the Prius. The whole process is being captured by blogger, photographer and pedal enthusiast (among other things) Prolly is not Probably.

The project is now in week 11. Check out the video below and go to Prolly is not Probably to see the whole piece. Just want an actual Prius? Visit our website to see our brand-new Prius and Prius v inventory. Or check out our 2006 Prius for just $10,995.



Information courtesy of Prolly is not Probably.
Image via Toyota Prius Projects

What is the $10,000 Incentive to Buy an Plug-In Vehicle?

President Obama has a new budget proposal that eliminates federal tax credit for plug-in vehicles. With the tax credit comes an incentive that could cut up to $10,000 off of the purchase price of plug-ins. So far onlookers, including The Wall Street Journal say that this proposal has no way of passing in its current state.

But wouldn't it be nice if the Prius Plug-In were $10,000 cheaper, just for being a plug-in?

On the same note, Montpelier is offering free electric vehicle charging at City Hall for the next year. The parking space is located behind City Hall and there's no need to pay a meter while you're charging. City Manager William Fraser said that he hopes this will increase the market for EVs in Vermont.

Happy charging!


For the full article, click here.
Image via the green car company.

Toyota's CEO Can Certainly Drive

Check out this video of Toyota's CEO Akio Toyoda handling a Toyota GT 86/Scion FR-S. Looks like he's not just a car enthusiast, but a driver as well!

Become a Morning Person in 20 Minutes

Morning people. I think it's common knowledge that just about everyone who isn't a morning person in one way or another wishes they were. There's nothing like waking up all groggy-eyed, stumbling around the house before work. And if you're like me and are comatose until you've had some coffee, well, you don't know what it's like to be a morning person. And neither do I.

Here's a shiny ray of hope. Simply wake up 20 minutes earlier each day until you've established a new circadian rhythm. Meaning, if you typically wake up around 7:45 a.m. and would like to be more of a 6 a.m. riser, set your alarm to 7:25 the first day, 7:05 the second, until you've reached your 6 a.m. destination.

Eventually, you'll start getting sleepier 20 minutes earlier, too. Try to avoid stimulating lights before bed when you're adjusting to your new bed time, and when you wake up in the morning - get right up and go for the light switch. Painful, I know.

I haven't tried this yet but there's no reason for me to believe it wouldn't work. It would be worth it not to struggle through the first 30 minutes of the day just by getting up 20 minutes earlier, so we'll see how to goes!



For the full article, click here.
Images via Hellburns & king hubby

Green Mountain Club 16th Annual Snowshoe Festival Tomorrow!

Head to Waterbury tomorrow to take part in the Snowshoe Festival, where you can hike, nature walk, participate in demos and workshops, get free snowshoe rental and afterwards head to the Winter Party, where there will be live Irish music, refreshments and a raffle!

Tickets are $8 for GMC members, $10 for non members, and kids 12 and under go for free. If you sign up to be a GMC member at the event, you get free admission.




For more info, email mduni@greenmountainclub.org
Or check out the GMC website by clicking here.

Image via the Hartley Nature Center.

How to Become a Regular at Your Favorite Restaurants, or Wherever

We all know what it's like to feel like a regular somewhere. Or at least we've seen someone else reaping the benefits. Here are a few ways Lifehacker says you can become a regular at your favorite establishments:

1. Make your visits part of a routine

2. Always sit in the same place at the same time (this doesn't mean demanding to seat in the same seat, but if the option's there, take it)

3. Take an active interest, but allow yourself to be educated ("share your own thoughts and ask questions")

4. Order and buy the same things (once you get to be a real regular, you won't have to order them at all!)


To check out the full article, click here. via Lifehacker.

How to: Win a 2012 Camry for yourself, and for a friend

In a press release that came out this morning, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. announced a marketing campaign that is integrated with Shazam mobile. It enables viewers to use the Shazam app to enter for a chance to win two new 2012 Camrys - one for themselves, and one for a friend. This contest will be on television broadcast Sunday, Feb. 5.

This campaign is designed to trigger the "Camry Effect", offering app users the option to gift a Camry while receiving one themselves (if chosen for the win). The Camry Effect is an initiative by Toyota to bring over 7 million Camry drivers (and former drivers) together via online, television, mobile and social media channels.

Quoted in the press release, "'The Camry Effect is one of the most ambitious social media campaigns we've ever implemented," said Dave Nordstrom, vice president of digital marketing at Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. "Partnering with Shazam allows us to increase awareness of this effort on the national stage and give one lucky winner the opportunity to positively affect a friend and start writing his or her own Camry story.'"


You can enter one of two ways - view the spot online and use Shazam when prompted by the ad, or fill out an entry form online. The winner will be notified on the night of Feb. 5.

If this plan for a new Camry fails, check out our online inventory of the 2012 Camry. Or visit our used inventory page to pick up a used one.

For more information, click here to read the full press release.