Comments on: The Bad, the Worse and the Seriously Ugly http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/ Sharon Astyk's Ruminations on an Ambiguous Future Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:26:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: US GOVERNMENT WORKING VERY HARD TO GO IN WRONG DIRECTION « DEEP GREEN PERSPECTIVE http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4487 US GOVERNMENT WORKING VERY HARD TO GO IN WRONG DIRECTION « DEEP GREEN PERSPECTIVE Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:24:13 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4487 [...] The Bad, the Worse and the Seriously Ugly ….Matt Savinar’s axiom “We’re spending billions to fix problems we’re spending trillions to create” is right on the money here.  It is easy to get impressed by our new commitment.  It is important we look at the amount of money we’re throwing at creating and continuing the problem - and that we look carefully at how much of that money is coming from us….. …. [...] […] The Bad, the Worse and the Seriously Ugly ….Matt Savinar’s axiom “We’re spending billions to fix problems we’re spending trillions to create” is right on the money here.  It is easy to get impressed by our new commitment.  It is important we look at the amount of money we’re throwing at creating and continuing the problem - and that we look carefully at how much of that money is coming from us….. …. […]

]]> By: MEA http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4424 MEA Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:18:09 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4424 You could try freecycle the 100% white cotton tee-shirts, if any, to someone who refinished furniture. Otherwise, Sharon, the fact that PO won't happen in a way to help CG, busted my silver lining. MEA You could try freecycle the 100% white cotton tee-shirts, if any, to someone who refinished furniture.

Otherwise, Sharon, the fact that PO won’t happen in a way to help CG, busted my silver lining.

MEA

]]> By: Emily http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4422 Emily Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:46:04 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4422 Okay, I'll try the rhubarb soon! I'm pretty lax about things like that, too--I'll clean it up as best I can, and then it'll get baked at high temp anyways. Amelia, I'm headed to Germany, where my husband has citizenship and a job that pays in Euros. There are a lot of things I'm looking forward to there, like ease of public transportation and greater energy efficiency. The "throw-out mentality" seems less prevalent in Germany--well, the consumption mentality is different in many ways. My husband always thinks we should take our old shoes to the cobbler in case he wants to reuse any of the materials. He must've done that while growing up in G, but I've never heard of it being done here. Has anyone else? ...Of course, I'm not looking forward to lots of plane travel between N America and Europe. Hard to find a way around it. My friend, who has even more stuff to get rid of than me, is moving home to South Africa. I'll have to let her know about fleece going to Patagonia, because she'll be needing less warm clothing from now on... Okay, I’ll try the rhubarb soon! I’m pretty lax about things like that, too–I’ll clean it up as best I can, and then it’ll get baked at high temp anyways.

Amelia, I’m headed to Germany, where my husband has citizenship and a job that pays in Euros. There are a lot of things I’m looking forward to there, like ease of public transportation and greater energy efficiency. The “throw-out mentality” seems less prevalent in Germany–well, the consumption mentality is different in many ways. My husband always thinks we should take our old shoes to the cobbler in case he wants to reuse any of the materials. He must’ve done that while growing up in G, but I’ve never heard of it being done here. Has anyone else? …Of course, I’m not looking forward to lots of plane travel between N America and Europe. Hard to find a way around it.

My friend, who has even more stuff to get rid of than me, is moving home to South Africa. I’ll have to let her know about fleece going to Patagonia, because she’ll be needing less warm clothing from now on…

]]> By: Greenpa http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4421 Greenpa Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:19:28 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4421 I think if Salvation Army claims to take old undies- they probably really do. They're worth money! Rags have been worth money forever - remember all the "ragpickers" in the old fairy-tales? "Any Rags? Any Bones Today?" Street calls. Even totally ratty stuff is useful- much of it winds up in top-quality paper. Paper with "20% Cotton" fiber- is most likely to be getting it from- rags, tossed into the paper pulping process. Google "rag paper." Sharon- I agree on the rhubarb- the stuff is SO acid it's unlikely that a lucky fuzzy or two will do any harm. I'd wash it off good- give it a good looking over for obviously bad stuff- and give it a whirl. Of course, if someone dies- hey, it's not my fault! :-) I think if Salvation Army claims to take old undies- they probably really do. They’re worth money! Rags have been worth money forever - remember all the “ragpickers” in the old fairy-tales? “Any Rags? Any Bones Today?” Street calls.

Even totally ratty stuff is useful- much of it winds up in top-quality paper. Paper with “20% Cotton” fiber- is most likely to be getting it from- rags, tossed into the paper pulping process. Google “rag paper.”

Sharon- I agree on the rhubarb- the stuff is SO acid it’s unlikely that a lucky fuzzy or two will do any harm. I’d wash it off good- give it a good looking over for obviously bad stuff- and give it a whirl.

Of course, if someone dies- hey, it’s not my fault! :-)

]]> By: Amelia http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4420 Amelia Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:52:28 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4420 And forgot to ask: if you don't mind saying, where are you headed? Before the new points system went into effect, we were planning to move to England after our son finished university, and he and his partner may strike out for Ireland (she has citizenship through her mother) in the company of two NI friends who are moving back now that housing prices there are starting to drop. And forgot to ask: if you don’t mind saying, where are you headed? Before the new points system went into effect, we were planning to move to England after our son finished university, and he and his partner may strike out for Ireland (she has citizenship through her mother) in the company of two NI friends who are moving back now that housing prices there are starting to drop.

]]> By: Amelia http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4419 Amelia Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:49:30 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4419 Emily, the only company I know of that's doing base layer recycling is Patagonia, and that's only with their own Capilene lines and cotton T-shirts, though they will accept Polartec from any manufacturer: more information <a href="http://www.patagonia.com/usa/patagonia.go?assetid=1956" rel="nofollow">here</a>. Emily, the only company I know of that’s doing base layer recycling is Patagonia, and that’s only with their own Capilene lines and cotton T-shirts, though they will accept Polartec from any manufacturer: more information here.

]]> By: Sharon http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4418 Sharon Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:33:33 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4418 Hi Emily - I'm sorry, I have no idea where to drop off old underwear - that is a good question - anyone else?. As for rhubarb - if you froze it, I find it hard to imagine it could have molded, but I suppose it is technically possible - you might scratch at it with a fingernail and see if it comes off. I think without seeing it, it might be tough. I'm going to guess that nothing on your frozen rhubarb will kill anyone, so if it were me, I'd probably cook it anyway and see how it tastes, but I'm notoriously laid back about that stuff, and your standards might not be as low ;-). Sharon Hi Emily - I’m sorry, I have no idea where to drop off old underwear - that is a good question - anyone else?. As for rhubarb - if you froze it, I find it hard to imagine it could have molded, but I suppose it is technically possible - you might scratch at it with a fingernail and see if it comes off. I think without seeing it, it might be tough. I’m going to guess that nothing on your frozen rhubarb will kill anyone, so if it were me, I’d probably cook it anyway and see how it tastes, but I’m notoriously laid back about that stuff, and your standards might not be as low ;-).

Sharon

]]> By: Emily http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4416 Emily Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:02:56 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4416 Sharon, I have questions that I think maybe you can answer, though neither is related to your post... 1. Where can one send old underwear for recycling? I'm talking about MORE than can be used to wash the floor. My neighbor (and I, too) is (are) moving thousands of miles away, and we are not taking old rags with us when we bring our belongings halfway around the world. We can each keep a few to do the final wash in our rentals. And we can give old t-shirts to a house-painter friend, or the car mechanic. But there ARE places where things like old underpants, which neither of us wants to give to the painter friend, can be recycled. We know this because there are websites with info about where to buy the recycled fiber... but not where to drop it off. The Salvation Army is advertised as accepting the rags, but we're not sure they don't really end up in the dumpster. Any ideas? 2. I just took a look at some rhubarb in the freezer and have a bad feeling about it. I had chopped it up into pie-appropraite pieces, tossed it in an old plastic yoghurt container (with a plastic lid that I think seals well), and left it there for the winter because I completely forgot about it. The pieces on top have little white spots on the surface, and there's also ice in there, but those white spots don't look like ice. I had brussels sprouts go bad in the freezer earlier this year. D'you think the same thing is the case with my awesome farmer's market rhubarb?? :( Hmm, someone needs a food-storage class... Sharon, I have questions that I think maybe you can answer, though neither is related to your post…

1. Where can one send old underwear for recycling? I’m talking about MORE than can be used to wash the floor. My neighbor (and I, too) is (are) moving thousands of miles away, and we are not taking old rags with us when we bring our belongings halfway around the world. We can each keep a few to do the final wash in our rentals. And we can give old t-shirts to a house-painter friend, or the car mechanic. But there ARE places where things like old underpants, which neither of us wants to give to the painter friend, can be recycled. We know this because there are websites with info about where to buy the recycled fiber… but not where to drop it off. The Salvation Army is advertised as accepting the rags, but we’re not sure they don’t really end up in the dumpster. Any ideas?

2. I just took a look at some rhubarb in the freezer and have a bad feeling about it. I had chopped it up into pie-appropraite pieces, tossed it in an old plastic yoghurt container (with a plastic lid that I think seals well), and left it there for the winter because I completely forgot about it. The pieces on top have little white spots on the surface, and there’s also ice in there, but those white spots don’t look like ice. I had brussels sprouts go bad in the freezer earlier this year. D’you think the same thing is the case with my awesome farmer’s market rhubarb?? :( Hmm, someone needs a food-storage class…

]]> By: Pratimoksha http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4411 Pratimoksha Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:09:03 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4411 Just a thought - I read somewhere South Africa has been struggling lately to mine for coal, apparently because of energy shortages. Any chance that fuel disruptions at some point could stop large-scale coal mining? Very good, thorough post! Just a thought - I read somewhere South Africa has been struggling lately to mine for coal, apparently because of energy shortages. Any chance that fuel disruptions at some point could stop large-scale coal mining?

Very good, thorough post!

]]> By: Anon http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4410 Anon Sun, 13 Apr 2008 05:16:18 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/04/11/the-bad-the-worse-and-the-seriously-ugly/#comment-4410 Collapse of Western Civilization is inevitable due to resource depletion, climate change and the tanking of dollar/economy. Let's just hope that the US won't bring down the whole planet with nukes or institute a police state at home. While for most of us in the so-called developed world becoming poor will mean eating more grains and beans and driving fewer miles in those SUVs, for most of Latin America, Africa and Asia, becoming poor will mean starvation and death. "Live simply that others may simply live." ~ MOHANDAS K. GANDHI Paz! ~Vegan Collapse of Western Civilization is inevitable due to resource depletion, climate change and the tanking of dollar/economy. Let’s just hope that the US won’t bring down the whole planet with nukes or institute a police state at home.

While for most of us in the so-called developed world becoming poor will mean eating more grains and beans and driving fewer miles in those SUVs, for most of Latin America, Africa and Asia, becoming poor will mean starvation and death.

“Live simply that others may simply live.” ~ MOHANDAS K. GANDHI

Paz!

~Vegan

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