Martini Musing: TP or Not TP
…that is the question…Whether ’tis nobler…
OR
Just how far are we willing to go with this whole “save the world” thing?
Then there’s No Impact Man in which:
A guilty liberal finally snaps, swears off plastic, goes organic, becomes a bicycle nut, turns off his power, composts his poop, and, while living in New York City, generally turns into a tree-hugging lunatic who tries to save the polar bears and the rest of the planet from environmental catastrophe while dragging his baby daughter and Prada-Wearing Four Seasons-Loving Wife Along for the Ride.
One thing Colin Beavan (aka No Impact Man) and his family is going without is - um - toilet paper. Wow. That’s one way to make a point. Now, I just cannot go there with him (TP is one reason, along with coffee, I never want to be a nuclear holocaust survivor - somehow I think both would be in very short supply. I could deal with my hair and teeth falling out, but not without caffeine! Nuh-uh.) However, his blog is thought-provoking and can give us all ideas.
Me? I’ve at least started buying TP made from recycled paper…
Stopping Global Warming - One Backyard at a Time.
- Bumper sticker seen in my walks around my quirky ‘hood.
…and I’m xeriscaping my yard.
…and, as soon as my youngest cat (it’s Friday, I can mention my cat) quits thinking lamps are big play toys [Crash, smash, tinkle], I’m buying fluorescent bulbs.
What about you? Something to think about over our first TGIF cocktail, hmmmm?
Read More: All my Friday Martini Time posts.
As is my usual request on in my Friday martini posts, if you got anything out of this (or other) of my posts, donate a few dollars at: Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity or The Nature Conservancy.
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Tags: global warming, Mary Schmidt, No Impact Man
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May 4th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Mary - Good to get people thinking about these things on a practical, what can I do basis. I’m with you on not living without TP - which I just don’t get. I do try to be relatively good about recylcing, driving a small car, taking public transport, etc., but I have to admit I can’t live without air conditioning in the summer. (Cities get hot.) But I have sworn that when my 1998 Beetle bites the dust, I’m going with Zipcar, which is a service in Boston and other large cities that is based on a shared model. Small cars are garaged around the city, you sign up for a time when you need one for a few hours to run your errands, and they let you know where to go find one. All done with smart cards (I think). Seems like a good alternative to car ownership, since you only use Zipcar when you really need to drive - if you have to pay out of pocket, I doubt I’ll take many casual I-could-really-take-the-subway-or-walk trips. Anyway, those are my good, green intentions. (I’ll let people know next time I have a thousand dollar repair required on my aging Beetle.)
May 5th, 2007 at 3:28 am
When I lived in DC I loved the idea of Zipcar, and if it had been possible to get to my office via Metro in under 2 hours I’d probably have let my car go & signed up.
As for the TP thing, well, widely-available bidets might change the equation!
May 5th, 2007 at 7:36 am
I love the idea of Zip cars! Unfortunately, out here in the wide open SW and West - such things aren’t practical. However, the state is developing a rail system here in tne North (Lots of commuting in Northern New Mexico up and down I-25.) And, we’re seeing an increasing number of hybrids…and scooters.
My next car is going to be a used (small) hybrid - or at least that’s the plan.
Hmmm…public bidets…or even private ones. That would take a major shift in thinking and habits. (”Hey Bubba, look at this here thang!”) And, here in the desert, we’ve got the water issue.