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Showing posts with label Consumption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Consumption. Show all posts
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
When rechargeable becomes disposable.
Nirvana was in sight.
Until he realized to his dismay, that the batteries were solidly held in place with glue from a hot glue gun. Foiled. While many would have stopped there, he soldiered on and tried to pull the batts out anyway. The call i got came shortly after he had accidentally cut into the batteries themselves and realized that he might end up doing more harm than good. Sonic Toothbrush - 1. John and the rest of us - 0.
Now it's obvious that the company who makes this doohicky doesn't want you opening it up, but the fact that they put it together in a way that should you break the outer shell you still can't get it apart, cheeses me even more. I'm guessing it all comes down to cost, but it seems as if they don't want you fixing anything yourself even if you know how.
Moral of the story, stick with your toothbrush and leave the rechargeables to someone else. Are rechargeables better than "disposables"? Of course, but as this goes to show, not all rechargeables are created equal. Thanks for sharing John and keep fighting the good fight. I'm gonna turn the fridge up one setting as a way to honor your quest for wasting less and a stick and dirt are in the mail as we speak to help keep those choppers strong.
Dave
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
How Meat Impacts The Environment
A great little graph (and more here) from Scientific American about the problems with eating meat. OF course they are talking about industrialized meat production but it's pretty alarming. Click on the pic to enlarge it.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Can a "normal" American family achieve zero waste? Practically.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Blind Spot
Check out this preview from the web site that sells this film about the perils of peak oil. It's a bit of a depressing film but an important one nonetheless, and, most importantly, very accessible.
Dave
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
MIT Tracking Seattle Trash
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Lorax
The Lorax
By Dr. Seuss
Yes, that Dr. Suess. The Lorax is probably one of the best books ever written on the problems of conspicuous consumption and how it affects our planet. Kids love it, parents love it, and most importantly, it’s a simple way to begin a dialogue about the environment with children. From the Grickle-grass to the Brown Bar-ba-loots to the problems with Thneeds (which everyone needs), the Lorax is a book for all humanity.
Available at your local library and Amazon.com.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
A word about recycling and the Dave's Bag Contest
I've gotten quite a few emails lately about two specific pieces that I have up on the blog, the National Recycling Day that happened yesterday, and the Dave's Bag Contest. So I thought Id take a moment and throw something up about them here rather than email back to everyone.
On the recycling front, I mentioned way early in the process that I am not pushing recycling as a solution, and in fact, find it to be somewhat of a crutch. Now before everybody gets their knickers all in a bunch, give me a chance to explain.
I am pro recycling and I think recycling is a great thing. Compared to throwing things "away" recycling is a far better way to go. Having said that, there are two problems with recycling. First and foremost is that most people don't do it. From the numbers that I have seen, roughly 10% of everything that is recyclable is recycled. That means that 90% of that stuff ends up in a landfill anyway, so buying recycleable stuff clearly does not make the difference it should and we as a society, need to step up to the plate a bit.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, I think that a lot of people use recycling as a crutch, meaning that they feel that by buying something that they will recycle, they aren't putting any stress on the environment and are doing the right thing. But they aren't. They are still using resources, using energy, and may not even be recycling what they can in the long run. Beyond that, many things, like plastic water bottles, aren't actually recycled but downcycled (water bottles get turned into park benches and the like) so new water bottles need new plastic.
Basically, recycling is better than throwing it "away" and never buying that packaging in the first place is better than recycling. keep yourself out of the process to begin with and you've really achieved something. Having said all of that, there are many who are not as far along in the process towards waste minimization as some of us, and for them, its important to let them know where they can recycle and what so that 10% becomes 100%, thus that post.
On the Dave's Bag front, a number of people have complained that this is consumption oriented which i not the message behind what I'm after. While on a level that is correct, my hope is that whoever wins the bag(s) will use their contents, thereby limiting their waste, and thus, become ambassadors of waste minimization in their own communities. So while the bags do speak to consumption, imho, they are the lesser of two evils, by a long shot.
Anyhoo, hope that answers some questions. Off to feed the worms and perhaps sing to them off key
Dave
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Kimberley Clark Uses Wall*E to Sell Kleenex
From the Greenpeace site a little bit of irony. Kimberley Clarke is using Wall*E a character from the Pixar movie about conservation to sell Kleenex, a product that uses virgin trees and nothing recycled. Of course, the irony is somewhat short lived when you realize that Pixar/Disney must have given their permission to KC to use the Wall*E image in the first place. Ahhh the mighty dollar.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Harvard Towers
I was working on a tv show the other day with my friend Karen (looking inquisitively you at the left there) who I hadn't seen in a while. As the day progressed, Karen and I got to talking about what I had been up to with my life, the blog, the trash hoarding, the gyre, and a whole host of other things (lots of down times on sets sometimes). I guess I made an impression on her because the next day she posted this on her blog.
She basically went home, started thinking about what i had been talking about and decided that she was going to cancel her cable tv. Now we hadn't been talking about that, so you'll have to read for yourself why she did it (it's a really funny post), but the thing that i love about this is how each of us, in our own way, can do better, be better, consume less, whatever you want to call it. It just takes recognizing what we are doing, and if you're like Karen, taking a stand once you've come to the realization that you're not happy with things as they are.
Thanks for the post Karen and keep spreading the word!
Dave
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Trash Talking
This is an interesting articles about the Seven (New) Garbage Wonders of the World. As you may recall, a bit back they voted to decide on the new seven wonders of the world, a sort of best of the best if you will. This article lists the 7 worst of the worst, from The North Pacific Gyre to the Electronic Waste Dumps in Guyiu China, they are testament to the problems of a disposable society and are somehitng that each of us needs to confront.
Dave
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Plumbing Woes and How Cheap Stuff Is
So I had a plumber come in the other day as we had more than a few plumbing problems going on and I figured it was worth it timewise. He's a cool guy and gladly saved the trash for me. The thing that bums me out is that he had to replace flush mechanisms on both toilets, one of which I had replaced in January. The flapper wasn't even a problem in the second toilet, but the chain on it was wearing and it's made in such a way that it's easier/cheaper to replace the whole thing than just the chain.
I think this highlights one of the big problems with over consumption and waste in our society. It seems like things are not made as well to begin with and as a result, we have all become complacent with the idea that products will not last that long and we will need to replace them. Think about warranties. Most things have a 90 day or 1 year limited warranty. When you consider it, we have become ok with buying a product that the manufacturer states may not work past 3 months.
How insane is that? And when something does break down, it's not designed to be fixed generally, but to be replaced.
No wonder we're drowning in this stuff.
Dave
Friday, February 29, 2008
Poop Freeze
I was flying up north yesterday and started to read SkyMall, that shopping magazine they have on planes that takes advantage of the fact that you are trapped with nothing to do. I was perusing the pages laughing at products that I'm certain no one actually needs, and most likely most don't even want, when i cam across this little gem. Here's the blurb from the mag.
"Poop Freeze is an easy, earth-friendly way to do your "dooty" and clean up after your dog. It chills animal waste to -62°F, creating an outer "crust" that enables you to quickly place in a bag and dispose. Makes picking up loose stool and diarrhea easier. Effective for all kinds of pets, including dogs, cats, birds, etc. Indoor or outdoor use. Safe for humans and pets when used as directed. "
I'm sorry did that say earth friendly? Truly? Earth friendly? Now i'm assuming they are talking about CFC use, but can you really look at this product that no one on earth actually needs and say that it is friendly in any way towards the earth? Unreal.
I ordered a case.
I guess the thing that gets me is this so highlights the whole greenwashing thing that is going on all around us. So few people actually take time to critically think about their decisions that they can go ahead and buy and use Poop Freeze and feel likem they are doing the right thing. They can look past the manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of Poop Freeze and smile as they ice their dog's waste stream simply because they were told it was ok. Advertisers wouldn't lie would they?
Same thing gets me about disposable. Who decides that it's disposable? An environmental engineer who looks at the cradle to grave cycle of the project, or a number cruncher named Bob (my apologies to all the Bobs out there) who has determined that people will buy something at a certain price point, throw it away and buy another one, if they are led to believe that that's ok.
Allright, I'm done. Rant over. Gotta check my mail and see if the Poop Freeze has arrived.
Dave
I'm sorry did that say earth friendly? Truly? Earth friendly? Now i'm assuming they are talking about CFC use, but can you really look at this product that no one on earth actually needs and say that it is friendly in any way towards the earth? Unreal.
I ordered a case.
I guess the thing that gets me is this so highlights the whole greenwashing thing that is going on all around us. So few people actually take time to critically think about their decisions that they can go ahead and buy and use Poop Freeze and feel likem they are doing the right thing. They can look past the manufacturing, transportation, and disposal of Poop Freeze and smile as they ice their dog's waste stream simply because they were told it was ok. Advertisers wouldn't lie would they?
Same thing gets me about disposable. Who decides that it's disposable? An environmental engineer who looks at the cradle to grave cycle of the project, or a number cruncher named Bob (my apologies to all the Bobs out there) who has determined that people will buy something at a certain price point, throw it away and buy another one, if they are led to believe that that's ok.
Allright, I'm done. Rant over. Gotta check my mail and see if the Poop Freeze has arrived.
Dave
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Oscar Fever and the Need To Be Cool
No doubt as I type this post, people all over the US and perhaps all over the world as well, are sitting down to watch the Oscars, the night when Hollywood comes out to salute itself and let everyone else in on how the stars act, what they wear, and who they think will and should win. Don't get me wrong, I love the Oscars, and while I don't generally watch them, it's fun to see which actors/technicians and films walk away with awards and why.
This year however, as irony would have it, I got a little different look at the awards that fit in quite nicely with my little project here. A friend of mine has been nominated for an award and as a result I was allowed a little inside look at the goings on beforehand, namely, the hospitality suites.
For those of you who aren't in "the industry" as So Calers call it, hospitality suites are set up all over town the week before the Oscars and their sole purpose is to put expensive stuff in the hands of Nominees in the hopes that they will where/use them, and we, the unsuspecting public, will want to wear/use them so that we can be like them.
I only went to one suite as it was more than i could handle, but here's how it went. We showed up at the Lux hotel on Rodeo Drive and headed up to the Penthouse where about 12 tables were set up, each with a different designer. I don't really know much about these things, but there was a designer jean company, Cartier watches, designer hand bags, a spa in the back where you could get "oxidized" and a manicure, coffee bars, champagne bars, three seperate designer jewelry tables, and a ton of other stuff.
The nominee (and his friends mind you) walk around and express interest in something and if they like something, the folks behind the table work out getting it to them for the Oscars (sometimes to use, sometimes to keep). It's really quite amazing. Here are a few of the tables.
Truly amazing stuff. Of course for most of us, this stuff was off limits except for looking, as they all want these things to be going to the Academy Awards, not Uncle Bens Bean Cookoff. Fear not though, for everyone else (I declined but had to argue out of it) recieved bags with the goodies below. I'd guestimate that they were worth about $700-$800 at least. Here's what they had:
This is everything in the bag. Some closeups of favorites below.
This was one of the odder things they had. I forget what it's called but we were very specifically shown it and told that this is a mens cologne that was made specifically for one of the passengers on the Titanic and is quite expensive. Apparently smelling like a drowning victim is quite in vogue these days.
A really impressive amount of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (whihc I have to admit I ate a few handfuls of while we were there cuz they had them out in bowls).
Fiji water, facial cream and a Porsche gift certificate with a map of LA inside. The map folded out pretty cool and much to many nominees surprise I'm sure, illustrated that there is indeed a subway system here.
T-shirts, gift certificates for designer jeans, facial cream, candles, spa gift certificates, Porsche driving gloves, nail polish, and a weird gold thing that i couldn't figure out what it was.
G String underwear (of course), coffee, cocoa, hand cream, a weird pink alcoholic drink, and candy.
And everybody's favorite in the orange box, a wristwatch that is basically a small computer. Video, mp3, phone, appointments, web, you name it. I asked the guy at that table what they retial for and he told me they were about $400. Amazing.
Now if i sound off on all of this, let me explain a bit. The companies are merely doing business because what they really want is for Tom Hanks to use their wristwatch in one picture and it's been worth it. The hotel is merely renting out the space and doing business. The nominees are merely accepting gifts that others want to give them (and I should note that after hitting this suite, his first, my friend declined to go to any others as it disgusted him quite a bit). They do have a choice, and many don't do this at all, but we all like free stuff right.
I guess what bugs me is the overall transparency of how all of this, the Oscars, TV, Movies, you name it, is designed to make all of us (the little people) feel less good about ourselves unless we have the same stuff that these nominees have. It's the propagation of STUFF that get's to me. Keep in mind, this was only one of about ten or fifteen that were going on, and doesn't even take into account all of the gift bags that everyone will get tonight.
Amazing. Makes you wonder why things are the way they are huh, or maybe, it better explains it.
Enjoy The Oscars
Dave
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