Happy Mother's Day

To all the mothers, step mothers, caretakers, and pet mothers out there, we just want to say,

From: someecards

WTF - Friday

Last weekend I spent the night down at Trump's new hotel.  It was beautiful.  Had a great time.  And I really meant to post that story yesterday and today.  But then Gwen issued a challenge, and I did two posts on that, and then I went to Rock Bottom Brewery for free beer after work tonight, and somehow the thought of editing up those picks is just beyond me at the moment.

Don't lie and tell me you haven't stared at a blog post that you really wanted to craft, and just so didn't have the damn energy and thought, "Well, on the way home, I did see a pair of jeans lying on the sidewalk in front of my building…"
I really do wonder.  Seriously.  How?  Can you be that drunk?  Did you just forget to put your parts on after the sex was done?  Because there's a belt (I so didn't check for a wallet), so it didn't fall out of somebody's laundry basket.

And my street isn't some sleepy little side street.  It's a fairly decent street that has name recognition through out the city.  There's car traffic, and foot traffic all hours of the day and night.

Seriously.  How do you loose your pants?

I going to think it was some superhero who had to do a quick change into costume, and just goofed up.  First day jitters, or something.

So people, I present to you, Spiderman's pants.

Gwen's Show & Tell – Part II – The Scope Coat

I didn't want to do this, yet. But for Gwen, I'm making an exception. She challenged us to a little peek-a-boo into your closet for that special thing that's never getting thrown out in her 600-Post Show and Tell Extravaganza.

I took the bait earlier, and now I'm back to take it hook, line, and sinker.

This is The Scope Coat. I wore this ensemble almost daily for the 4 years of college. My dad's old army trench coat, a bit of flare, my Mac Murray College scarf (the Murray tartan to be exact), and my hat. (The coat did occasionally make it to the dry cleaners.)

This outfit is so famous, it's IN-FAMOUS! The pockets on this coat were deep enough to carry 3 cans of pop in one side, and a fifth of amaretto in the other. Yes, I drank amaretto and Coke in college. Tastes like a cherry Coke. I didn't start on beer until post college when I learned that there was such a thing as "good beer."

Sadly, the coat doesn't exactly FIT anymore. :-( But it will be hanging in my closet forever.

Here is a better glimpse at the flare, because you know you care.

"SHHH… BE VEWY, VEWY QUIET. I'M HUNTING WABBITS."

"total failure"

"Tacky Rude & Vulgar"

"I ♥ MY DOG
I ♣ MY DOG
I ♠ MY DOG
My dog is dead."

One of my dad's Army ribbons.

My Mortar Board pin.

An Honor Student pendant.

My high school class key.

My Mac Murray button.

A Saskatchewan / Canada pin that I got in Weyburn.

A homemade button that say, "You've obviously mistaken me for someone who cares."

An "ISS" button from my Arthur Andersen days. Information System Services.

A Mac Murray College soccer pin

A "U.S." army button.

Gwen's Show & Tell – Part I

Yesterday, Gwen challenged us in her 600-Post Show and Tell Extravaganza to strip off our favorite clothes and do a little "I'll Show Your Mine If You Show Me Yours".

Here's my entry #1.

I got this shirt, I don't know, it seems like 100 years ago, but I would guess it's about 10 or 12 years I bought this shirt at a craft show down state.  At one time it had a matching floppy hat.

Never wore the hat.  No clue where it went.

The craft show was the Spoon River Drive, and my parents had a booth where the sold their stained glass stepping stones.  [I'll get around to telling about the stepping stones soonish] and the woman next to us was selling tie-dye.  Well, she had a lot FOR SALE, but wasn't selling a lot.  So I thought I'd do pity buy.

And the shirt?  It get's worn.  A lot.  Usually just around the house on weekends.  It'll go out in public, but usually just out to the store or something.  Rarely "OUT" out.  Hey, I used to live on Halsted St. in Chicago.  If you don't play for "that team", you want to be careful wearing the "Rainbow Warrior" uniform when walking past a bar called, "The Manhandler."

This shirt is in about every load of colors that washed.  And it has hardly faded.  It's a great night shirt.

Wordless Wednesday – I Saw It On The "L"

Totally Blowing Shit Up Tuesday: A Whale of a Tale

As you all know, the iNDefatigable mjenks (who, for the remainder of this post, will be refered to as 'mjenks') over at A Crown of Thistles is a lover of science and things that go BOOM.  He also loves things that go "B(.)(.)B" but that's a different story.

A long, long time ago, I posted one of my most favorite explosions of all time.  Since it was my 5th post ever, I'm going to guess that most of you haven't read it.  Mjenks did, because he left the best comment, "Thar she blows."

I'm not going to link you to that post, because, face it, we all know that you're lazy and won't click on it.  So I will just rerun the good bits here.

----------------------------------------------------------

STICK IT IN YOUR BLOW HOLE

Upon learning that THIS happened on November 12, 1970, I unilaterally declared that date for all time to be known as  National Stick This In Your Blow Hole Day.  And it turned out, even Dave Barry wrote this up, almost 20 years ago, too.

So, with no further ado, I give you "what happens when idiots with dynamite try to remove a whale carcass from their beach."  (And I so LOVE this reporter.)

Oh, yes they did.

Among the thoughts that crossed my mind upon seeing this were:

1) Sweet DANGIN' Jesus!

2) Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?
3) Sorry that your mom blew up, Ricky.

4) That dude shot his load and a big wad of sperm crashed down and destroyed that car.

5) Blew-kakke - A load of sperm exploding in your face.
6) The engineers did that on porpoise.

WARNING: THIS IS A VERY GRAPHIC POST!

Today, I'm dedicating to my Blogging / Facebook buddy, Lisa, from The Butterfly Farmer.

How to describe Lisa?  Talented?  Strong ? (She may not believe it, but too bad.)  Fun?  Funny?  Cute as all get-out?  And someone truly striving to find happiness be happy regardless of what is going on?  All that is true.  But only scratches the surface.

If you're not familiar with her blog, I think this would be a GREAT time to go over and get acquainted with her.  I have a feeling that she's about to start a real interesting new leg in this journey we call "life."  Her circumstances have been bobbing around recently, but I have a feeling that she's going to start heading down a new road.  And I for one want to be along for the ride.  Lisa, this time, you're in

One really great thing about Lisa is that she's a texting machine.  She has locked herself out of her house because of texting.  Maybe not how she thinks of it, but it's true.  And I have spent more than a few Saturday / Sunday mornings using Facebook chat only for the two of us to realize that 2 hours were gone past, and we really need to get moving.  (Lisa – Send my you snail-mail, and that sticker is yours.)

Another awesome thing about Lisa is that she is an amazing artist.  Look at her blog for a second.  No.  LOOK AT IT NOW!  I'm an artistic hack.  I have a bit of an eye, but I'm very technical about it.  Not putting myself down, but instead stating that I have enough SKILL to recognize when someone has pushed past TALENT and gone straight into ARTISTRY. 

I'm not sure if clicking will make these large enough see in their detail, so I'll be rotating them through as my banners.

So thanks Lisa.  For the friendship, not simple for the rockin' banners.  (I hope you don't mind that I needed to trim some of the blank space to get them to appear in the banner section with the quotes intact.)  And for all the smiles you try to bring to those around you, you definitely have earned the "Making Lemons into Lemonade" award.

(And see, she made "graphics" for me and … Never mind.  If you have to explain a joke, it's not that funny.)

Make Mine Swine

Okay, I was raised just outside of the "Hog Capital Of The World" and have been on a holy rampage recently about the "swine flu."  Call it H1N1, and I'll pronounce it "hinny".  Don't care.

I found a blog with some really good information, broken down nicely.  I encourage you to read it >>>HERE<<<.

But that also got me thinking about my dear porcine friends, and I remembered that I had a picture of a car that I told Cora about. (See how I snuck her name in there?)  I've seen this car around my old neighborhood a few times.

The car actually looks pretty good in real life.  The owner collects pigs, and paid about $3,000 to do that to his car. Here's a story about it. 

And in finding that picture, I ran across this one:



The gal second from the left is my cousin's daughter.  I come from a classy family, no doubt.  And she will not admit to what she's doing to make that hog squeal like that.  But knowing her dad, it's probably nastier than you'd think.

And ever since this whole swine flu thing started, I've been thinking, "Kiss a pig.  Hug a swine.  Some of them are good friends of mine."  A line from this song from Ray Stevens.  (Yes, I have a CD with this on it.)

And if you're talking pig songs, how could you forget this classic by Green Jelly.  This has undergone editing for TV, but it is strange what lyrics they changed and what they left alone.  (Yes, I have a CD with this song on it, too.)

I will be a bit out of pocket this weekend.  Supposed to meet up with some friends downtown tomorrow and check out Trump's new hotel, but before then, T-Bone and Mrs. IVy are going to pass through and see the place for the first time and have lunch, so I've got some cleaning to do.  (He lived with me for 4+ years, so it's not to really fool him into thinking I've changed.  More using his visit as an excuse to start getting things ready for Cora's visit in 3 weeks.)

I Love This Joke

Too bad the card didn't make it.

That's right.  Somebody created this card, and didn't call it "Spock Monkey."  The inside said something LAME like, "Hope you birthday is out of this world."

Really?

No even a "Live long and prosper."?

But guess what comes out in a week?  Star Trek!

Yeah, baby.

To Sass, with all my heart

I'm just sayin'.

No one asks me to watch their kids.  EVER!!!

~E gads! She's Asking Questions

My other buddy from Seattle, ~E from ~E Deconstructed posted The Guy Questionnaire on her blog yester day and said we could run the answers in our own blogs if we want.  I had nothing planned for today, so what the heck.

If you haven't, please head over and see what everyone else said after you are done here.  And just as Cora made it clear her answers are

My answers are in BLUE.  And why do I keep hearing '***WARNING*** DANGER WILL ROBINSON!!'?

1) All three of my ex boyfriends (and yes, I only count the three) loved to watch me put on makeup and get dressed and fix my hair. Some of them would literally perch themselves on the bed or the dresser or toilet depending on where I happen to be, and just watch fascinated while I "transform" myself for a special event. Now I don't want to hear any gay jokes because trust me on this, not a single one of them were... but I do want to hear what the big fascination is? I can understand for women why they like to watch my tutorials for tips but why the guys?

I think it is because it is so strange and so foreign to us.  After toweling drying my hair, it takes me 7 swipes with the comb (9 if I'm feeling fancy) and my hair is done.  Then maybe a dab of sunscreen for the nose.  But for me, honestly, it would depend on my mood.  There are days when I could watch, Mesmerized.  There are days when I would watch and ask a whole lot of process questions, trying to understand.  And there are days when I would be pacing back and forth, staring at my watch, sighing heavily until I was evicted from the room.

And I made it a few minutes through your first tutorial video.  When it became clear that you probably weren't going to talk, I stopped.

2) Be honest! And be anonymous if you want...but how much does a woman's attractiveness/ weight/ personality factor into how you feel towards her AS A FRIEND. And do these quantifiers change when you are considering a woman as a RELATIONSHIP PROSPECT. Do women really need to worry that much about how they look or should they worry more about how they act.

As a friend?  Attractiveness and weight matter very little.  As long as she isn't a total self-made freak, because that would probably indicate that we are going to have incompatible personalities.  When you're talking a relationship, looks matter.  You do need to be attracted to the person.  But it's still not the most important thing.  I couldn't date a person I wasn't attracted to, but I wouldn't date someone I was not compatible with on the personality side, either.  Luckily, Cora is a double shot of both.

3) What is the best way for a girl to breakup with a guy. And what is the best way for a guy to breakup with a girl from the guy's perspective. (trust me, I will correct you on this if you are far off the mark)

For a girl to break up with a guy:  In private.  Just lay out the facts.  And if you weren't friends before, don't necessarily try to stay friends after.  He may get confused signals.  But if you want to give him 'one for the road' before you actually break up with him, that would be really decent of you.

For a guy to break up with a girl:  In private.  Take all the blame for it not working, and unless you were friends before, don't try to stay friends.  And you are not allowed to break up right after sex.  (Yes different rules apply.)  And you are especially not allowed to break up with her the instant YOU finish having sex.

4) When a bunch of guys are at a crowded urinal... is it really the unwritten guy law that if you can help it, you do not take the urinal in between two other guys? If so, then what's the big deal? Are you afraid that the guy next to you will all of a sudden show you their bits and pieces or are you just scared that curiosity will overtake and you just have to take a peek-sy? What if you really really have to pee?

Despite it being oft repeated, this rule is FLUID and very situational.  If you are at the ballpark (snicker), there's probably a trough anyway, but throughput requires all stations be used to their maximum potential.  It's really a matter of respect.  Sometimes people get "stage freight" and having another guy next to you doesn't help.  If possible, give the man a touch (bad choice of words) of privacy to drain the lizard.  But if a queue starts to form, step up to the plate.

Honestly, the odds of seeing something are remote, unless you very deliberately look, or are very deliberately shown.

5) On that same note, why are men so weirded out by the prospect of seeing another dude's things at a urinal or at a locker room (or so I assume) but they're perfectly fine watching some guy's thing and marbles on a porno flick?

I assume there's a woman in the porn scene in question?  We don't want to see the dudes twig & berries flopping about for 5 minutes while he's scratching them and reading the newspaper, but if he's getting down to business with the college co-ed who is going door to door selling magazines subscriptions for her sorority fund raiser, well, that's different.

6) Raise your hand if you believe that women don't dress or put on makeup for men...they do it for other women.

Situational.  But mostly, for other women.

7) If you can ask a woman any one question and trust that you will get the completely honest, unbiased, so true it hurts answer...but just one question...what would you ask her?

What's the deal with all the shoes?  Seriously?

8) Do men really fantasize about a threesome? I mean, really? And is it just fantasy to remain as such or would you guys actually jump at the chance to participate in one? And while we're on the subject, what would you do if your wife or significant other asked you to do one...would you decide differently if you were the one to propose it?

Just a fantasy.  I'd decline, with no small amount of fear that it might lead to the BAD kind of threesome aka another dude. 

9) Raise your hand if you believe in the phrase "once a cheater always a cheater".

Agree.

10) And this question is strictly for the guys: how important is your looks to you? We all know that most women tend to obsess about certain things like hair, weight, this little wrinkle there or that little sag there...but what about guys? What is the one thing about your body that you are most insecure about?

My looks are somewhat important.  And I really wish I could lose some weight.  But gray hair obviously doesn't bug me.

So, there you go.  My answers to ~E's questions.  :-)

Sweet Home Chicago – Part 1

I wasn't born here.  But I've lived here for 21 years, so it may not be my hometown, but it is my home.  I really love this city.  And over the course of the next few weeks (who am I kidding, months), I'm going to try to share my love of this city with you, in hopes that you will consider coming here for a visit sometime in the future.

Chicago is a big city and a city of neighborhoods.  It makes sense like few cities of it's size do.  The roads are a grid and the street numbers actually mean something.  We have two geographic features: The Lake and The River.  And the river is mostly ignored.

Mountains?  Not even in Mt. Prospect.  Hills?  Maybe in Hillside but not really.  Flat as a pancake.  Seriously, what other city would create a "nature park" on a man made peninsula called "Northerly Island" even when there aren't any other islands?  The same city that reversed the course of its river.

Spring is finally here.  We are entering the 6 months that explain why we live here.  It certainly isn't for the winters.

Millennium Park

So today at lunch, I walked over to one of our  newest attractions: Millennium Park.

What used to be some open space over some rail tracks (the train station is still there.  It's the blue floored place Batman road thru in The Dark Knight) and some unimpressive park space was turned into a beautiful new gem.

The Bean

Officially known as 'Cloud Gate', but not by anyone who's not an official, this is a giant stainless steel bean.  I had a view of this new city symbol going together.  It's made out of a whole mess of sheets of steel (freakin' Google it yourself, you know that if I provide the link, you're not going to click it anyway) ground down to a seamless mirrored finish.  How shiny?  I circled myself taking the picture.  Yup, see that red spot just left of dead center?

 
I then went under The Bean, and looked up the omphalos.  It does a really cool fun house effect.

Crown Fountain

Speaking of a fun house, this is one half of the very popular Crown Fountain.  There is an identical obelisk facing this one.  Yes, it's spitting.  In the summer, there will be a pack of kids out getting soaked by the periodic spray (it only fires off ever 15 minutes or so) or getting splashed by the water cascading over the edge.  Those are LCD video screens, so the faces are animated, blink, pucker, and change.

Don't tell Cora, but I saw this other redhead hanging out in the park.  I hear that it is visiting from even further west than her.  Or is it east?

It's part of a contemporary Chinese sculpture exhibit going on at the park all summer.

There's lot's more to see and do at the park, but I didn't have enough time on my lunch break to shoot them all.  The Pritzker Pavilion and the BP Bridge designed by Frank Gehry, and the Lurie Gardens.

If you're interested, and I'm not available, there is a free audio tour podcast that you can down load for HERE if you want to know more.

Monday Madness

I'm having a little trouble concentrating today, so here's a little this and that for ya.

Miles To Go Before I Sleep - While I'm sure none of you remembers number 111 in my 100-4-100 post.  Well, back in early February my car had just over 39,000 miles on it.  That was before a 600 mile round trip to meet Gwen & Sass.  And a 160 mile trip down home for Easter.  And with all that, it STILL took me almost 2.5 months to make it to 40,000 miles.  But on my way back from Easter, at the end of the '6 Mile', the odometer tripped over.  Not shabby for my 2001 PT Cruiser.  But it's going to get some mileage in May.AMY – A few weeks ago I broke the news about my friend Amy (formerly known as 'MFF' = 'My French Friend' = 'Amii') having breast cancer.  They are still running tests, but we are really hoping for some good news soon.  She meets her medical team at the university hospital this week, and they will formulate a plan of attack.  That's all I know, and all I will know for a week or so.  I have the impression though that once they decide to act, thing are going to happen quickly.

Her mom is a 26 year survivor.  And her mom and dad are able to help her out, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and logistically.  She's in the best hands, but I still worry about her.  Have for 18 years.  Not going to stop now.

The Joke's Getting Old – Imagine your name is 'Eric Hu'.  'Eric Who?'  'Call Who?'  'Who knows?'  Yeah, you've heard the jokes all your life.  When the same group of idiots makes the same lame jokes no less than 10 times a day, when does it get old?  Not just for you, but for them?  Seriously, I have been sitting in the next aisle from these dim bulbs for about 3 months now, and every day, the same damn stupid jokes.  I really hope he goes postal and just Ginsu's the whole damn lot of them.  And I'm sorry, if you wear over the ear clip on head phones around the office all day, even in meetings, do you REALLY have that much room to tease someone?

Back To The Future

How did Cora and I meet?  Well, you can read her side of things HERE.

I'd seen here over at Dr. (Love) Zibb's place trying to be his best friend by mentioning showering with nurses.  That got my attention, and I read a little.  And I kept checking in off and on, but it wasn't until a month later, a week before Christmas, when in the POST that asked for Santa to deliver her a stripper pole for exercise purposes that I left the fateful comment:

Dear Santa;
Could you add "Nanny Cam" to my wish list, if you know what I mean?
Dude, you so owe me a solid after last year's "Mr. Microphone" incident.
Thanks,
Scope

And I waited in fear.  First comment.  Had I crossed a line?  Would she delete my comment?  She answered back.  She seemed to like it.  And she commented on my post the next day.

And that was it for the year, more or less.

By mid January, we were emailing each other fairly regularly, and the blog flirting went behind closed door.  But the flirting also laid the foundation for a wonderful friendship to start.

By mid February, I "got digits," and with the blessing of unlimited long distance on my home phone, the calls started.  I love her sultry, sexy, smoky voice.  And the calls felt natural right off the bat.  No awkward silence.  (Isn't the word, 'awkward' messed up looking?)  And it wasn't long (VERY EARLY MARCH) when plans started to be made for our visit.  And in about a week, plane tickets and hotel rooms were booked and reservations for dinner atop the Space Needle were made.

And the waiting game began.  6 weeks of waiting.  6 very long weeks.  Torture.  But worth it.  It gave our relationship time to grow.

And I really want to thank all of you who have shared your stories about how you met your significant others on-line.  It helped me realize that what's happening here isn't weird.  Isn't strange.  Isn't unheard of.  It wasn't the biggest factor.  But it was a factor in last weekend's not feeling weird or strange, but natural.  In a way, almost inevitable.

And it's only been a week since I climbed back on that airplane.

And I miss her terribly.

But I keep telling myself, "It's less than 4 weeks.  4 short weeks."

Earth Day? – Part II

So yesterday, I tossed out what I figured to be a short, throw-away post on Earth Day.  I'd planned it to be bigger, and more insightful and funnier, but I'd kinda spent myself earlier in the week telling ya'll how great Cora is and all, and I just kinda needed a rest.  (And she's still got the energy of a Super Ball hopped up on sugar and caffeine to keep going.)  :-)  Anyhow, I was going to do another snippets / details post today, but I've decided to follow up on yesterday's Earth Day discussion, instead, and will get back to the weekend's details over the weekend.

You all raised some interesting questions, and I thought that instead of replying in the comments section, I'd do it in a second post, where there's more than enough room to spread out.

Don't worry, I respect all of your opinions, and this isn't going to turn into some great "CFL's vs.. Incandescent" debate or fear mongering over mercury poisoning from a broken bulb.

mo.stoneskin said...
I read something a while ago about a new technique in manufacturing LCD which will bring their price right down within a few years. Of course, I can't remember what I read, when I read it, or what the technique was.

Comment by Scope:  I have hear the same / similar things.  That's why I think I'm going to hold off.  I mean, I have well over 20 recessed lights in my ceiling.  I'm not going to buy $120 bulbs for each.  That's nuts.

Cora said...
I'm a big fan of the canvas grocery bags... but as you saw in Seattle, I don't carry them with me EVERYWHERE, I'm not perfect.

I try to recycle as much as possible to cut down on what gets thrown away, and, truth be told, our recycling can is twice as big as our trash can, so that motivates me.

I don't drive much.

I do the laundry in cold water.

I'm breaking the bottled water habit (sniffle) but it isn't easy.

What I REFUSE to do to save the planet though is switch to CFL's. Here's why:

They catch on fire/melt/scorch the ceiling when they burn out. It happened to my sister in her garage. And it happened in my daughter's bedroom.

Mm-hmm. Imagine racing down the hall with a chair and an oven mitt to pull a burning, melting light bulb out of your kid's ceiling and smelling everything scorching, and seeing waves of heat rolling across the ceiling as your kid is screaming.

That blackening, melting bulb burned my hand through the oven mitt and it burned my kid's ceiling.

Never again will I use them. I switched back to regular bulbs that very same day. Those things are scary. And house fires do NOTHING to save the planet. I'll be a good old fashioned light bulb girl until I die.

Comment by Scope:  I'm trying to get into the "REDUCE" segment of "REDUCE.  REUSE.  RECYCLE."  I don't dispose of a useful item just because it's old.  And I have used the Post Office's little plastic bags for recycling small electronics.  And Chicago even has a recycling center where my old PC went.  (The hard drive of said PC is in my closet.)

I've never heard that about CFL's and fire.  But I did read (I've spent most of the evening doing reading on light bulbs) that some of the early CFLs were not designed to be used upside down, especially in an enclosed space, because the heat could melt the plastic on the base.  I suppose that could lead to fire.  Regardless, I will work with you on safe lighting WHEN we get to that point.

Safety first.

And as you are well aware, you can't use a CFL in a purple Lava Lamp.  :-)

Sassy Britches said...
Eeeps! Cora! Maybe ya'll were using a too powerful wattage for the outlet? That's freaky! And dangerous--not just the fire but they're filled with mercury which it really bad if exposed outside the bulb!

Comment by Scope:  I will quibble here.  The things HAVE a small amount of mercury, but I wouldn't say FILLED.  They have less than 1% of the mercury than one of those old thermometers did.  [Source] 

And here's an interesting SNOOPS article on the topic of mercury exposure from the bulbs.  I hope it at least somewhat puts your mind at ease.

Cowguy said...
LOL I post an Earth Day post, look in my blog roll and there's Ol Scope with an Earth day past as well...

Great minds.

Comment by Scope:  Whenever I hear that phrase, I think of this cartoon.  It just slays me every time.

 

 sAm said...
One of the easiest (and cheapest) things you can do is just watch the packaging on "stuff" you buy - and try to reduce the amount of "stuff" you buy.
But that being said...I have to say you're better than I am at laundry...I use warm water and don't really give a shit if the load is full.
Sorry.

 Comment by Scope:  I wish there was more control over the wasteful packaging.  But I do buy pop in 2l bottles vs.. aluminum cans. Less packaging.

Shana said...
Scary about the light bulb thing!!

I try to be very earth friendly. I like the earth!

Comment by Scope:  I like the Earth too.  The thing is, and I'm stealing it I think from Denis Leary, is that the Earth is going to be just fine.  WE may be SCREWED, but the Earth is going to shake us off like a bad cold.

the iNDefatigable mjenks said...
The other grand thing about the CFLs is that they're filled with mercury. Hope they don't break!

Comment by Scope:  I will bet cash money that you are routinely exposed to higher concentrations of harmful substances than you would get from a broken CFL.  It's around half the OSHA limit. [Source]

And that's just after 1 can of Hormel Chili.

SkylersDad said...
I have not been sold on the CFL's yet, I still use standard bulbs. But we do a really good job on the recycling!

Comment by Scope:  And I think that's really the point.  If more people made a little change that they were comfortable with, and not be made to feel like a schmuck for all the things they AREN'T doing, maybe more little things would get done.

Gwen said...
I think the best thing we can do is just be more aware of the things we are manufacturing and consuming that have half-lives of 2,000 years.

Comment by Scope:  True.  And if it's going to be around that long, make it cool stuff that people will want around in 2,000 years, like THIS!  (Showing you some linky love.)

Nikki said...
I recycle, clothes... Only when they don't stink... And only once! Or maybe it was twice but who's counting??

But really I do recycle everything and I won't let my dad buy anything in a plastic container that isn't recyclable because I care.

Comment by Scope:  I hate to sound like your dad, but your generation was indoctrinated  taught that at an early are.  Mine wasn't, so changing some of those synapses is harder for us.

And with a child, you have a vested interest in the future of the environment.  My carbon footprint ends with me.

J.J. in L.A. said...
We used to recycle but the city told us to stop...they'd sort it at the plant. That's one job I hope they don't do manually. lol!

Comment by Scope:  I'll bet you that it IS done mostly by hand.  Let's just hope that it is a well gloved hand.

Chaka said...
I have mixed feelings about how to best protect the environment. I can't stand seeing people litter or being wasteful, but I also hate being preached to by hypocritical celebrities and politicians. The whole carbon footprint thing reminds me of the selling of indulgences. I'm all for taking better care our our environment.

Comment by Scope:  And here's the comment that made me write this as a post, not just a comment.  I have said for YEARS that I wish I'd come up with the whole "carbon credit" scam idea.  You send me some cash, and I'll send you a certificate stating that I'm going to use that money to plant a tree to offset your emissions.

GENIUS!  And they probably print it on "recycled" paper.  Yeah, probably from a "recycled" giant redwood tree!