Keeping an open/alert mind

People are like sheep. I think anyone asked would probably agree. They would also probably think that they're different and that statement wouldn't apply to them. I feel like there are so many simple little things that can be done to save energy and the enviroment and the only reason it's not being done is because it's not status quo. Sheeplike. Here's one of my sheeplike moments:


I've recently moved in to a new house with my fiance, our first, and we've been going through the usual accumulation of things necessary to run a household. After getting about 3 doz. CFLs and numerous other second hand items (yeah freecycle) we also were the beneficiaries of an old but very well maintained motorized push motor. I really didn't think anything of it, in fact I was quite grateful. Then I was over at a like-minded friends house talking about the newness of homeownership and he brought up the old school push reel mowers. About 3 days later it's all over the internet about how great these are and how much gas we, as a society, would save if everyone had one. So feeling peer pressure and a need to not be hypocritical, I made the jump. Hopefully I'll feel justified as I push around my motorless/gasless/pure human powered lawn mower.

I guess the point of the post is this:
1. go out and buy a push reel mower
2. Don't be sheep. Or better yet recognize your sheeplikeness



P.S. I want to try to at some point list all the little things I mentioned.

Energy Perspective Part 3

One of the major campaigns to save energy has been the "Bike to Work" program. I think it's a perfectly valid campaign and if enough people did it we might see the effect in terms of gasoline consumption, monetary retention and physical fitness (maybe even roadway safety). The one big thing about biking to work is that it really puts it all into perspective (at least for me). You see I have one hell of a ride to work. The trip is maybe 3 miles; however, there are three significant hills (Cattaraugus St, Beech Tree Rd, and Watson Rd) that make this ride excruciating. As I struggled my way up one of these hills I tried justifying my agony in my head. ("If I ride to work and back and it's six miles and my car gets ~24 mpg then every four days I save a gallon. Great I saved $0.75 today, this sucks") The thing that gets me is that I'm just pedaling ~200lbs up the hill. When the car does it, it's pushing roughly 10 times that amount. That's a whole lot of energy being used to get my late and lazy ass to work.

I also feel justified in drinking a cold one when I get home. Hello hydration.