I remember when they came out with the pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was like, " Who is too lazy to make a a pb&j?" Apparently, a lot of people because it has been very successful. (And no, I never have bought one!)
I don't see much of a problem with the show you described, though I didn't see it myself. Logging is a necessity in modern society and will continue to be even if we all switch to using cloth towels and reusing paper. I hate to see old wood forests cut down for no good reason, but that doesn't mean that all logging is like that. I grew up in an area where there were a lot of pine forests grown for the purpose of paper production. Because of the local paper industry, we actually had more land kept forested -- which is a good thing on many levels.
I don't know what there is to glorify about logging, but why not I guess. I'd rather see that than glorifying using disposable plates for convenience or using disposable cleaning wipes in the name of sanitation.
Why should a network have a unified policy position? And if you think that is so, what is so wrong with putting those who work blue collar jobs in a positive light. Even if you agree with global warming, some logging and fishing are pretty inevitable. I doubt many people will do more of either because of shows about interesting and risky jobs.
I see KU is doing its part, too! Wescoe Beach is a location on the KU (University of Kansas) campus, basically their quad. It's awesome to see a student group and local businesses step up like that. Lawrence, which is home to the KU campus, is well known for its liberal views and has been referred to as the home of "hippies" for a long time now. Reusable bags are more accepted in that town than in any other I've used mine in.
I can't tell you how many times I have a cashier look at my reusable bags, try to fill them maybe half full like they do with plastic bags, and then get confused when I tell them they hold more than that. No wonder our country is choked with bags - they are abused by cashiers everywhere!
I love freaking out the cashiers with my reusable bags!
Most of them recover very quickly and just put my stuff in.
But, I don't care if they huff and puff about using them. Its their job!!
are the healthy eating shows "You are What You Eat", etc... that have that commercial for Redi Whip in them. It shows a kid putting Redi Whip on everything, and the mom smiling because it's low in fat and made from real milk. Why can't kids just eat pancakes normally?
I thought those reality shows were a bit out of place. What I find more odd or annoying are the tv commercials enticing people to eat tons of junk food constantly sandwiched between weight loss commercials.
Looks like an excellent book-thanks for your candid review. Judging from gas prices, the economy, stock markets and the the recession word this year, many of us should be looking at alternatives and considering different strategies in retirement.
Nancy www.retirementthink.com
This is like on food network when they have a show that promotes healthy eating... and then the next show is about the history of McDonald's. Anything that brings in money, I guess.
I love the reusable bags most of the stores have. I did have to pay for mine but they were $1.99 or less and I get a nickel back per bag when I buy groceries. I keep a laundry basket in the trunk of my car to toss them in so I don't forget to bring them. I also bought bags for each of the stores I buy at frequently. I found that using the reusable bag that store sells gets better compliance from the checkers. I had someone bag my canvas tote bag in a plastic shopping bag before.
There is one checker at the local Target store who is just a flat out jerk about the reusable bags. I put them before my purchases on the conveyer belt. She looked at them, muttered something that sounded rather nasty and tossed them on the other end of the register stand. Then she proceeded to slam all of the things I bought on top of the bags. I just don't use her check out lane any longer. Most of the other stores have people fairly trained by now.
I just wish some of the other retailers would start doing something like this or be more tote bag friendly like stores at the mall maybe?
Even better than getting a new free reusable bag like those mentioned. Reuse one that already exists, check out your local salvation army, goodwill, (any thrift store) and you'll find all kind of canvas book bags, beach bags, etc that can be used for shopping, are cheap and they're already out there, looking for a home!
if the retailers- especially the larger ones like Walmart- would train their cashiers better with the reusable shopping bags.
I went to the expense of purchasing some of the reusable bags that they had for sale, and try to remember to take them with me when I shop (keeping them stored in the trunk of my car helps :))! But some of the cashiers act like I have really inconvenienced them when I ask to have my purchases bagged in the reusables- one even went so far as to put them in a plastic shopping bag for me, then acted like I was an idiot for insisting that she take them out and actually use them!
I love the concept, and I will continue to make the effort, but they can be rather awkward when the system is so geared toward the status quo!
One thing you left out: Advertising. Does the station really about the messages presented or is the bottom line the bottom line? My opinion is that both programs were there strictly to gain as much viewer-ship as possible.
I so wish I was near some of these other things. I have two or three, but we are like you, Linsey. While our family is smaller, we shop less frequently and in mass. So it's usually harder to have as many. I think I know what I'm going to ask my Mom to make me the next time she asks what I want for a gift!
Plastic bottles shouldn't be reused for heating items that will be consumed. Biphesonal A is only in polycarbonates, it's still unknown if toxic chemicals are leeching from single use containers. If you have to have a plastic bottle ewg says use a bottle labelled #2 recyclable. http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/03/bpa-questions-answered.htm
Suck it up -- kind of. You have to suck up the price of gas (that can't be changed.) But I do think that most people are making adjustments, and for that they should commend themselves. If you owned a lemonade stand and the price of lemons suddenly rose to an astronomical price, you couldn't just stop selling lemonade. But you could try to save in other ways, (change your recipe, lock in pre-prices on lemons, raise your prices slightly, lower your portions a little...) We all adjust to rising gas. I'm not blaming gas companies or complaining about it, just pointing out that it HAS been affecting our purchasing decisions and day-to-day operations for YEARS now, and the media has failed to recognize that.
I never bother with looking at the gas price, I go to the gas station, plug the nozzle in and fill it to the rim. Like the very first poster pointed it out, gas is a utility and I need to get about 90 gallons of it every month. I adjust my budget allowance for gas but the way I'm running my budget I have enough surplus to be able to cover $5/gal if I had to. I'm also making over 20% in my stock portfolio YTD thanks to increased fuel prices and both me and my wife got nice 8% raises and nice bonuses this year thanks to these fuel prices. We both work in the energy sector and I'm not that concerned about the future. I have been living within our means while paying off our mortgage and student loans at an accelerated pace.
I ride my motorcycle to work that gets 47 mpg every now and then not because I have to but because I enjoy to do so.
Whining and worrying about gas price is like complaining and worrying about the weather. There is not a darn thing you can do about it, other than sucking it up.
Ha Ha! I am so waiting to do my Christmas shopping!
Thanks all for the comments - a very interesting discussion.
And as many of you point out - the 2012 theme is meant to be a conduit for striking that balance in life, rather than a means for debating the actual end of the world.
You made my point. It seems that as long as there are people with careless disregard for the state of everything (economy, housing market, gas price, etc.) the majority of the "real" people i know will continue to sacrifice with little recognition to our situation. I'm not complaining, mind you. But I am tired of being a "national statistic" with skewed numbers lumping me in with a billion people too rich or too ingnorant to care.
Many people may be making some efforts to use less gas, but the results are barely noticable in the statistics. In the latest month that we have data for, gasoline sales were down by less than one percent from the year before. (Data from the US Energy Information Administration.)
The people who use the most gas--people who drive long commutes in big cars--are often those who feel price pressures the least. (After all, they can afford the big car.) They're also the ones who are least able to change their gasoline consumption--they'd have to move, or change jobs, or buy a more-efficient car.
At the other end of the spectrum are people like me. I've cut my gasoline consumption a good bit over the past 15 years or so, but I never used much. If I go from using 7 gallons a month to using 6 gallons a month, that's a pretty big percentage change, but even a lot of people like me don't add up to much of a drop in total consumption.
...Full of chuckleheads who have nothing between their ears except the blown dry hairdo on top of their heads.
I swear I just don't get it sometimes. I am with you- who isn't affected at this point? Not to get on a political soap box- but these are probably the same doofuses who think we haven't moved on over the issues that got so much attention in the last televised Democratic "debate"- where 45 minutes of time got wasted on picayune, trivial items like who the candidates neighbors were, relationships, etc--- rather than asking pertinent, timely questions of people who could possibly the leader of our country.
Yeah- sure- I'm *just now* thinking about gas conservation-- despite the fact that I've bussed to work for 11 years. Despite the fact that we moved to a neighborhood where the kids could walk to school. And that we often walk to the store, drugstore, or out for an ice cream. Despite the fact that we're planning our summer around *not* going anywhere on big trips.
I swear that the level of disconnect in this country is driving me crazy.
I remember when they came out with the pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was like, " Who is too lazy to make a a pb&j?" Apparently, a lot of people because it has been very successful. (And no, I never have bought one!)
I don't see much of a problem with the show you described, though I didn't see it myself. Logging is a necessity in modern society and will continue to be even if we all switch to using cloth towels and reusing paper. I hate to see old wood forests cut down for no good reason, but that doesn't mean that all logging is like that. I grew up in an area where there were a lot of pine forests grown for the purpose of paper production. Because of the local paper industry, we actually had more land kept forested -- which is a good thing on many levels.
I don't know what there is to glorify about logging, but why not I guess. I'd rather see that than glorifying using disposable plates for convenience or using disposable cleaning wipes in the name of sanitation.
Why should a network have a unified policy position? And if you think that is so, what is so wrong with putting those who work blue collar jobs in a positive light. Even if you agree with global warming, some logging and fishing are pretty inevitable. I doubt many people will do more of either because of shows about interesting and risky jobs.
I see KU is doing its part, too! Wescoe Beach is a location on the KU (University of Kansas) campus, basically their quad. It's awesome to see a student group and local businesses step up like that. Lawrence, which is home to the KU campus, is well known for its liberal views and has been referred to as the home of "hippies" for a long time now. Reusable bags are more accepted in that town than in any other I've used mine in.
I can't tell you how many times I have a cashier look at my reusable bags, try to fill them maybe half full like they do with plastic bags, and then get confused when I tell them they hold more than that. No wonder our country is choked with bags - they are abused by cashiers everywhere!
I love freaking out the cashiers with my reusable bags!
Most of them recover very quickly and just put my stuff in.
But, I don't care if they huff and puff about using them. Its their job!!
are the healthy eating shows "You are What You Eat", etc... that have that commercial for Redi Whip in them. It shows a kid putting Redi Whip on everything, and the mom smiling because it's low in fat and made from real milk. Why can't kids just eat pancakes normally?
I thought those reality shows were a bit out of place. What I find more odd or annoying are the tv commercials enticing people to eat tons of junk food constantly sandwiched between weight loss commercials.
Looks like an excellent book-thanks for your candid review. Judging from gas prices, the economy, stock markets and the the recession word this year, many of us should be looking at alternatives and considering different strategies in retirement.
Nancy
www.retirementthink.com
This is like on food network when they have a show that promotes healthy eating... and then the next show is about the history of McDonald's. Anything that brings in money, I guess.
I love the reusable bags most of the stores have. I did have to pay for mine but they were $1.99 or less and I get a nickel back per bag when I buy groceries. I keep a laundry basket in the trunk of my car to toss them in so I don't forget to bring them. I also bought bags for each of the stores I buy at frequently. I found that using the reusable bag that store sells gets better compliance from the checkers. I had someone bag my canvas tote bag in a plastic shopping bag before.
There is one checker at the local Target store who is just a flat out jerk about the reusable bags. I put them before my purchases on the conveyer belt. She looked at them, muttered something that sounded rather nasty and tossed them on the other end of the register stand. Then she proceeded to slam all of the things I bought on top of the bags. I just don't use her check out lane any longer. Most of the other stores have people fairly trained by now.
I just wish some of the other retailers would start doing something like this or be more tote bag friendly like stores at the mall maybe?
Even better than getting a new free reusable bag like those mentioned. Reuse one that already exists, check out your local salvation army, goodwill, (any thrift store) and you'll find all kind of canvas book bags, beach bags, etc that can be used for shopping, are cheap and they're already out there, looking for a home!
if the retailers- especially the larger ones like Walmart- would train their cashiers better with the reusable shopping bags.
I went to the expense of purchasing some of the reusable bags that they had for sale, and try to remember to take them with me when I shop (keeping them stored in the trunk of my car helps :))! But some of the cashiers act like I have really inconvenienced them when I ask to have my purchases bagged in the reusables- one even went so far as to put them in a plastic shopping bag for me, then acted like I was an idiot for insisting that she take them out and actually use them!
I love the concept, and I will continue to make the effort, but they can be rather awkward when the system is so geared toward the status quo!
Hi, Nora.
One thing you left out: Advertising. Does the station really about the messages presented or is the bottom line the bottom line? My opinion is that both programs were there strictly to gain as much viewer-ship as possible.
Love your posts!
Especially the T-shirt link. That's pretty cool.
I so wish I was near some of these other things. I have two or three, but we are like you, Linsey. While our family is smaller, we shop less frequently and in mass. So it's usually harder to have as many. I think I know what I'm going to ask my Mom to make me the next time she asks what I want for a gift!
Thanks for a fabulous article.
Me too!
Plastic bottles shouldn't be reused for heating items that will be consumed. Biphesonal A is only in polycarbonates, it's still unknown if toxic chemicals are leeching from single use containers. If you have to have a plastic bottle ewg says use a bottle labelled #2 recyclable.
http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/03/bpa-questions-answered.htm
I got a perfect score on the Earthbound Farm quiz - and my free tote is on the way!
Wheeeee!
Suck it up -- kind of. You have to suck up the price of gas (that can't be changed.) But I do think that most people are making adjustments, and for that they should commend themselves. If you owned a lemonade stand and the price of lemons suddenly rose to an astronomical price, you couldn't just stop selling lemonade. But you could try to save in other ways, (change your recipe, lock in pre-prices on lemons, raise your prices slightly, lower your portions a little...) We all adjust to rising gas. I'm not blaming gas companies or complaining about it, just pointing out that it HAS been affecting our purchasing decisions and day-to-day operations for YEARS now, and the media has failed to recognize that.
Thanks for your comments!
Do not use plastic, this is the message I got from comments. Unfortunately Amazing Still is all plastic.
I never bother with looking at the gas price, I go to the gas station, plug the nozzle in and fill it to the rim. Like the very first poster pointed it out, gas is a utility and I need to get about 90 gallons of it every month. I adjust my budget allowance for gas but the way I'm running my budget I have enough surplus to be able to cover $5/gal if I had to. I'm also making over 20% in my stock portfolio YTD thanks to increased fuel prices and both me and my wife got nice 8% raises and nice bonuses this year thanks to these fuel prices. We both work in the energy sector and I'm not that concerned about the future. I have been living within our means while paying off our mortgage and student loans at an accelerated pace.
I ride my motorcycle to work that gets 47 mpg every now and then not because I have to but because I enjoy to do so.
Whining and worrying about gas price is like complaining and worrying about the weather. There is not a darn thing you can do about it, other than sucking it up.
Ha Ha! I am so waiting to do my Christmas shopping!
Thanks all for the comments - a very interesting discussion.
And as many of you point out - the 2012 theme is meant to be a conduit for striking that balance in life, rather than a means for debating the actual end of the world.
You made my point. It seems that as long as there are people with careless disregard for the state of everything (economy, housing market, gas price, etc.) the majority of the "real" people i know will continue to sacrifice with little recognition to our situation. I'm not complaining, mind you. But I am tired of being a "national statistic" with skewed numbers lumping me in with a billion people too rich or too ingnorant to care.
Many people may be making some efforts to use less gas, but the results are barely noticable in the statistics. In the latest month that we have data for, gasoline sales were down by less than one percent from the year before. (Data from the US Energy Information Administration.)
The people who use the most gas--people who drive long commutes in big cars--are often those who feel price pressures the least. (After all, they can afford the big car.) They're also the ones who are least able to change their gasoline consumption--they'd have to move, or change jobs, or buy a more-efficient car.
At the other end of the spectrum are people like me. I've cut my gasoline consumption a good bit over the past 15 years or so, but I never used much. If I go from using 7 gallons a month to using 6 gallons a month, that's a pretty big percentage change, but even a lot of people like me don't add up to much of a drop in total consumption.
Thank you for providing an excellent review. I am currently reading The 4-Hour Workweek and this sounds like a great follow up.
...Full of chuckleheads who have nothing between their ears except the blown dry hairdo on top of their heads.
I swear I just don't get it sometimes. I am with you- who isn't affected at this point? Not to get on a political soap box- but these are probably the same doofuses who think we haven't moved on over the issues that got so much attention in the last televised Democratic "debate"- where 45 minutes of time got wasted on picayune, trivial items like who the candidates neighbors were, relationships, etc--- rather than asking pertinent, timely questions of people who could possibly the leader of our country.
Yeah- sure- I'm *just now* thinking about gas conservation-- despite the fact that I've bussed to work for 11 years. Despite the fact that we moved to a neighborhood where the kids could walk to school. And that we often walk to the store, drugstore, or out for an ice cream. Despite the fact that we're planning our summer around *not* going anywhere on big trips.
I swear that the level of disconnect in this country is driving me crazy.