Got this in an e-mail today and thought it was worth sharing...for all of those people that blame older folks for ruining the world with their wasteful ways....that is not entirely acurate...

In the line at the store, the cashier told an older woman that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.

The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day." The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment."

He was right -- our generation didn't have the green thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.

But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.
But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.

Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right; we didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana.

In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.

When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.

Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water.

We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.
But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service.
We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?

Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a young person.

The Green Thing

Laissez-Faire Blogging

I'm going to start doing something different! Or that's what I tell myself. (I talk to myself a lot)!

You see, in my drafts here at blogger, I have a blog of things I like and dislike. Initially I was going to make it a blog all on it's own. I have some silly pictures of me that are thumbs up or thumbs down (for like/dislike). Then, to the right, my thing that I like or dislike.

Instead of making one long post that no one reads; I'll just add one like and one dislike (unless the occasion calls for change) in addition to my usual laissez-faire blog and word of the day!

Sound like a plan to you? Good then! (Wait, did you just say "no"? Unacceptable!)

So, now . . . onward with the blogging (laissez-faire style)! ... ... ...

Blog-
Short week this week with the holiday Monday and it's a stressful one where I am dodging some proverbial stinging and fiery darts while man handling two deadlines! You might have noticed, or not noticed at all, I did not blog early Thursday. Well to be honest, I had no time. I left work to go to an appointment, and then returned to work with pizzas in hand to feed the crew. Here it is, near 11 PM and I'm blogging while waiting for some prints! But alas, I shall get this published some time today!

Likes/Dislikes-
Disappearing Lakes: The Aral Sea is disappearing because Russia diverts flow that would go to it! Come on people!





Smarmy Email Tags:

Mine-Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

Theirs-Notice: It’s OK to print this e-mail. Paper is a biodegradable, renewable, sustainable product made from trees. Growing and harvesting trees provides jobs for millions of Americans, and working forests are good for the environment, providing clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat and carbon storage.

Word-
fap: The onomatopoeic representation of masturbation. Often used to suggest something is attractive.

Very Cool Visuals

Air Travel . . . .

over a 24 hour period.





Also, check out this website . . . .

http://www.yooouuutuuube.com/

Earth Day

Today is the big day, it's Earth Day. I took the bus (but that has become my normal routine). I will be a vegetarian for the day also, but that doesn't stray far from reality for me. I eat meat on occasion (including some forms of beef). The problem, is that for the most part I am conscientious about my acts, I use reusable grocery and shopping bags, I avoid using my task lighting at work, I close down my computer at the end of my day, I recycle most of my waste, I use reusable cups and dishes. I take short showers, and wear jeans a couple of times before I wash them. Chris and I are now going to start making our own biodiesel! It's not that I am perfect, or that I have all my ducks in a row for conservatism, but you know, when you do everything you really can most days, it's hard to think of a step further that you can take. I should have worn my T-shirt made of recycled plastic bottles today. Oh well, hindsight is as they say, 20/20!