Comments demolitionwoman has made

Ah, yes.  Maybe next we can work on bioengineering human beings to only weigh 20 lbs so that our offensive poop will be smaller. 

Good to see the sanctimonious sect has weighed in.

So sorry that my rescue dog (aka BADEVILDRUG!) is ruining the earth.  Y'know, there ARE options that don't involve fascist breed/size/number laws.  Such as using biodegradable bags to pick up poop.  Or creating poop composting stations. 

my eyes can't roll hard enough...

why NOT vote?

i mean, really?  maybe he's right, maybe it doesn't matter...but what if it does?  that's what i'd say to him - what if it does?  does he know 100%, beyond a shadow of a doubt?  i don't think so...

what if it does?  why not take the 20 minutes out of his day to go to his local voting booth, see people from his neighborhood and cast his vote.

less than half of our country votes (on average) and christ, does it show...it's the raindrop effect:  one raindrop might not seem like much, but when you put millions of 'em together - hello downpour!

there's a reason why people have been (and continue to be) excluded from the right to vote (black people, women, non-land owners, felons, poor people, etc.)  why would the people in power work so hard to exclude people from something that "doesn't matter"?  people have fought fiercely and literally died to have this right that your friend so casually dismisses.

and if he still doesn't vote?  anytime he tries to talk politics to you or complains about the state of the environment, etc. - just ask "did you vote?  no?  well then, you do not have the right to bitch about it."  

voting is the minimum we as citizens can do to participate in our communities.  On Umbra on the importance of voting posted 1 year, 2 months ago 9 Responses

pick your battles

I love a long, hot shower.  It's one of my favorite things (I fantasize about walk-in showers with multiple shower heads and a seating bench).  But I also live in a studio apartment that doesn't require much in the way of heating and I do all sorts of other things to reduce my impact on the world (no car, compost/recycle).  I kind of figure that some things are going to slide, and in the grand scheme of things, this one doesn't seem so bad.

Also, what about a compromise?  For example:  she can take her long hot showers on weekends, but during the week, she should keep it to 10 minutes or less.

You could also start charging her $5 for every minute over 10 minutes or something like that - especially if you want to drive home the economics of hot water heating.On Umbra on long, hot showers posted 1 year, 8 months ago 21 Responses

Me three...

Similar flavors (in the mint family, say) would have yielded more trust-worthy results.  I realize this isn't a high-falutin' scientific study, but c'mon.  If these articles are to be useful in anyway (other than providing a giggle here and there), there should be at least a bit more thought put into them.

/negative nancyOn A family-friendly review of six eco-toothpastes posted 1 year, 8 months ago 20 Responses

On the reuse of vinyl records

If you're not going to listen to the music on 'em, there are a few crafty people in Seattle that make bags/purses out of them.

One could also cut them in half or quarters and make  notebook covers out of them.  Or use them as placemats.

From the PVC-is-bad-for-your-health side of things:  really, unless you're physically humping the records, they're not going to do much damage to your health just sitting there and being listened to.  On Umbra on vinyl records posted 1 year, 9 months ago 10 Responses