Comments tharrison has made

  • Explains why I need to ride my bike on the road

    I ride to work (on a two-wheeled non-transportation device, apparently).  There are bike paths along parts of my route, but they are far, far more dangerous than riding along the shoulder of the road.  They are narrow, have potholes, bumps, and are poorly drained.  I live in the town outside of Boston and commute to Cambridge, MA, a total of 7 miles.

    The bike is my only feasible alternative to a car, since a bus trip from my home would involve a drive/walk or ride almost halfway there to a place with no parking, and then a 40 minute bus trip with one change (buses leave every 20 minutes during rush hour), dropping me only five minutes away from my office.  Our trains and light rail go in and out of the city, and that trip, or others involving trains and buses would be longer.

    My bike ride takes me about 25 minutes each way, which is between 10 and 15 minutes less than when I drive.  But despite an array of lights, reflectors, flashers, helmets, gloves, and cold weather gear, nothing is quite as terrifying as riding along the shoulder of a dark road on a rainy night with thousands of angry Boston drivers trying to get home.  So far I haven't been killed (I'll report back if I do end up dead).

    Could we possibly make it any more difficult, dangerous or unpleasant to get to work?  Maybe some thumbtacks spilled on the road?  Rotating knives?  Another 4 years of Bush?

    Oh, and this is after Boston's famous "big dig" transportation (you know, cars) project that cost billions of dollars and does not appear to have reduced traffic at all.  Hmm.  I wonder why?

    I'll stop now.  

    Tom Harrison
    Five Percent - Conserve a Little EnergyOn U.S. Transportation Secretary blames bikes for decay of roads and bridges posted 2 years, 2 months ago 7 Responses

  • Don't blow off the hanky idea so quickly

    Handkerchiefs work well.  They are far more resilient, absorbent and soft than any ground up tree ever will be.  When I occasionally have a cold, or alergy, I use one.  With proper folding, you can get a handful of sneezes on one before it's time for a good rinse under some hot water.  Or a new one, if you are a snooty snotter.

    I think this is a case of people overcoming pre-conceived notions of what is "sanitary", which I think may have largely been created by an industry looking for ways to sell paper.

    Yes, it would seem to make sense that something you sneeze upon should be immediately jettisoned, perhaps in a yellow bag with a nuclear waste symbol printed on it.

    But if you have a cold, the most compelling scientific evidence available (which is frankly not very compelling) indicates that having a place to sneeze into at the ready, thus avoiding transmission of aerosol sneezage into the air.  When done, fold the hanky so a new un-snotted section is available, and put it in your pocket.  Wash your hands, and rinse the hanky if you feel so inclined.  As long as you don't wipe the company coffee cup with it afterwards (sorry, is that too gross?), it's not like the hanky immediately becomes a blob-like swarm of germs that will soon be able to walk out of your pocket and self-locomote itself up someone else's unsuspecting nostril.  

    And if you have an allergy, forget the whole infection thing.  A simple fold will do.

    All we're talking about here is what to do with occasional sticky, gooey substances spewed forth from our bodies from time to time.  It's not the end of the world, it's just not as nice as the scent of spring flowers on a misty Irish Spring morning.  It's not a big deal (sorry, had to get the 5th grade "it's not/it's snot" pun in here somewhere).

    There is no medical evidence I am aware of to support the idea that paper tissues have any benefit.  Or anti-bacterial soaps.  Or that alcohol stff people rub on their hands.  There's plenty of evidence to suggest they are harmful to our environment, as well as mounting evidence to suggest that our bacteria-phobia has actually made us more susceptible to them.  

    No one really know how colds are transferred anyway, and our obsessive/compulsive society still has been conditioned to think we need a high-tech solution and complete purity and cleanliness at all times.  Even if it is useless and wasteful.

    Rethink those assumptions, folks -- "facial tissues" are a great example of a little thing many of us take for granted.  I do every day, and still find myself doing things that upon reflection are just plain pointless.On Umbra on mini-dilemmas posted 2 years, 2 months ago 14 Responses

  • Confirmed: Spokes-model is not just a dumb word

    Well, I did take the time to watch all that the Lancome utube video had to offer.  I am a man, not just an environmentalist, after all.  However, I was more happy with the sound level down (and not just because my wife would have seen) -- these models may need a tad bit more education about the subject.

    One made an interesting tie to deforestation and carbon offsets.  I had not considered this linkage, to date.  Either she is really, really complex in her deep understanding of the inter-relationships most environmental problems have, or she is just very, very good looking and thinks "inter-relationship" is another word for a naughty three-way.

    This having been said, as a representative of a bit less than half the world population (guys, that is), I have to think the fact that a cosmetics company is jumping on the green bandwagon is a sign of something good.  Hard to put my finger on what it is that I like about it.  But then again, when I see beautiful models talking, I get pretty dumb.  But I still listen.

    TomOn From Big Macs to Beauties posted 2 years, 2 months ago 1 Response

  • Great list! What about Green Bloggers?

    I doubt I would make the top 15, so this is a totally selfless suggestion :-)

    Yet.On Grist presents lists of eco-notable people, places, and things posted 2 years, 3 months ago 3 Responses

  • Right on: stop seeking the silver bullet

    A friend believes that he need not give up his SUV because it wouldn't make any difference, really.  He's right, of course, but this seems a hugely important aspect of our society, that we all act on our own.  Where is our sense of community, responsibility and even shared benefit?  Gone.  For any of us to act, we must be able to calculate direct, and usually immediate, benefit.  Oh, and by "benefit" I mean money.

    Or fame.  So the guy that comes up with the "co2 nuclear bomb" will save the world in one simple shot.

    So, there's no need for anyone to do anything potentially uncomfortable ... I mean unless it costs more.

    Fortunately, emitting carbon is free, so let's get on with it.

    Tom H http://www.fivepercent.us/

    On We have what we need to beat global warming posted 2 years, 3 months ago 12 Responses