The one thing that has been really getting my knickers in a knot lately are plastic straws. (yes, I did just say knickers in a knot). And, when I say one thing, I really mean the estimated 500 million straws we toss in la poubelle per day in America. Since everything sounds better in French, you should know that la poubelle in English means the Trash and if we are speaking in reality, well, the Trash is somehow becoming to mean our Ocean. Do you follow?
So, this whole ‘throwing things away’ concept has been exposed a number of times on this blog and a gazillion of other places on the Internet. However, it never hurts to be reminded that, in fact, there is no real ‘away’ so when we throw things away we are really just throwing them in our backyard, our backyard just happens to be big enough that some of us can’t see the mess that we are making – YET.
When I sit down at a restaurant I always get real uncomfortable when the waiter or waitress delivers my beverage with one of those nasty unrecyclable plastic tubes that I didn’t ask for (if I lost you I am talking about a plastic straw). But it isn’t long before I become totally wrapped up in my thoughts and instead am fascinated by the fact that this almost 98% unnecessary object has become an unconscious part of our pop culture. Apparently, we can hardly even drink water without a straw in the west. When you think about it… how pompous!
I try to use straws as little as possible, but sometimes there is not enough a big enough window for me to say, “I don’t need a straw with that,’ before it shows up in my face. I didn’t ask for the straw the waiter just delivered it, because the manager trained him to do that , because the owner thought it was a good idea, because, other restaurants do it, because people won’t enjoy their drinks without a straw, because deep down they are nostalgic for their childhood and those colorful bendy straws that mommy and daddy used to have at their birthday parties.
Ok, ok, it’s a bit of a dark train of thought I was just on, but I am trying to point out that 1) there is really no logic to the straw thing and 2) unconscious habits are formed in childhood so, mom and dad, pay attention to what you are teaching your kids.
I want to wrap this post up by saying, cutting back on straw usage is a great way to consume less. If I had my way I would delete plastic straws from existence. Even though this video is a little distorted I love this 9 year old’s message: Plastic Straws can Suck it!
Here are some links to articles, other people and organizations who are intereseted in getting rid of plastic straws:
Be Straw Free: Started by a kid!
Did you ever think that every straw you have ever used is still out there
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New favorite cover.
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Summer project with Lauren? :)
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“Y’know what I love about cooking? I love that after a day where nothing is sure, and when I say nothing, I mean nothing, you can come home and absolutely know that if you add egg yolks to chocolate and sugar and milk, it will get thick. It’s such a comfort.”
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"Just look at the rainbow and SHUT UP!"…Jim Gardner (via deconstructingpianos)
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I’m so grateful for all the happiness in my life today.
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"When you love someone, there’s a pattern to the way you come together. You might not even realize it, but your bodies are choreographed: a touch on the hip, a stroke of the hair. A staccato kiss, break away, a longer one. It’s a routine, but not in the boring sense of the word. It’s just the way you’ve learned to fit."19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult (via jlols)
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» J.K Rowling: Billionaire to millionaire
“One of the world’s wealthiest women, J.K Rowling, has given so much money to charity she can no longer claim billionaire status.
The Harry Potter author has fallen down the Forbes rich list because of her charitable giving, the business magazine said.”
Just one more reason why JK Rowling will forever be one of my heroes.
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On the Road trailer
“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”
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"A week after putting her to sleep, I received Neil’s ashes in a forest green can. She’d never expressed any great interest in the outdoors, so I scattered her remains on the carpet and then vacuumed her back up."David Sedaris, Me Talk Pretty One Day
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![snapsforsantoro:
thedailywhat:
This Is Important, You Should Know About It of the Day: Over the weekend, troubling allegations have emerged of many Iraqi teenagers being stoned to death for dressing in “emo fashion.”
Scores of teens wearing skinny pants and graphic tees, and sporting a signature “emo style” haircut have allegedly been clobbered with cinder blocks [warning: graphic images] by members of Iraq’s “moral police.”
Though the number might be lower — Reuters put the death toll at 14 — the terrifying trend appears to have at least a measure of consent from Iraq’s Interior Ministry, which suggests it could get much worse.
“[The Moral Police] have official approval to eliminate them as soon as possible, because the dimensions of the community began to take another course, and is now threatening danger,” read a statement from the ministry, which also compared “the Emo phenomenon” to “devil worshipping.”
When confronted with claims that it approved the slaying, an Interior Ministry spokesman said the statement was being “misinterpreted.”
The anti-emo movement, meanwhile, isn’t waiting for clarification. Fliers being circulated in Shiite neighborhoods include lists of residents identified as emo who are warned to change their style and stop listening to metal, emo, and rap music or risk “God’s punishment” at the hands of the mujahedeen.
Moktada al-Sadr, infamous leader of the Shiite militia known as the Mahdi Army denied being behind the threats, but nevertheless agreed with the sentiment that emo teens were “unnatural.”
The spate of violence against teenagers joins a longer bullying campaign against members of Iraq’s LGBT community. Hundreds have reportedly been killed in the last six years, and many are currently being targeted by death squads who abduct suspected gay men and women from their homes and slay them.
Ali Hili, a London-based Iraqi gay rights activist, claims to have obtained a document from the Iraqi Interior Ministry which, much like the statement on emo teens, orders the “elimination of the so-called homosexuals.” According to Hili, the Mahdi Army and the influential Badr Organisation are responsible for the violence, and they have the open support of the government in their actions.
[photo: nyt.]
This is happening. In parts of the world that are not just Africa, not just some name, not just a marketing scheme. This is real and is happening and isn’t stopping. It isn’t some sort of advertisement gimmick or internet meme.
I just want to point that out first, and then say what I really want to say: this is horrible.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0qw8glBJ21qzpwi0o1_500.jpg "snapsforsantoro:
thedailywhat:
This Is Important, You Should Know About It of the Day: Over the weekend, troubling allegations have emerged of many Iraqi teenagers being stoned to death for dressing in “emo fashion.”
Scores of teens wearing skinny pants and graphic tees, and sporting a signature “emo style” haircut have allegedly been clobbered with cinder blocks [warning: graphic images] by members of Iraq’s “moral police.”
Though the number might be lower — Reuters put the death toll at 14 — the terrifying trend appears to have at least a measure of consent from Iraq’s Interior Ministry, which suggests it could get much worse.
“[The Moral Police] have official approval to eliminate them as soon as possible, because the dimensions of the community began to take another course, and is now threatening danger,” read a statement from the ministry, which also compared “the Emo phenomenon” to “devil worshipping.”
When confronted with claims that it approved the slaying, an Interior Ministry spokesman said the statement was being “misinterpreted.”
The anti-emo movement, meanwhile, isn’t waiting for clarification. Fliers being circulated in Shiite neighborhoods include lists of residents identified as emo who are warned to change their style and stop listening to metal, emo, and rap music or risk “God’s punishment” at the hands of the mujahedeen.
Moktada al-Sadr, infamous leader of the Shiite militia known as the Mahdi Army denied being behind the threats, but nevertheless agreed with the sentiment that emo teens were “unnatural.”
The spate of violence against teenagers joins a longer bullying campaign against members of Iraq’s LGBT community. Hundreds have reportedly been killed in the last six years, and many are currently being targeted by death squads who abduct suspected gay men and women from their homes and slay them.
Ali Hili, a London-based Iraqi gay rights activist, claims to have obtained a document from the Iraqi Interior Ministry which, much like the statement on emo teens, orders the “elimination of the so-called homosexuals.” According to Hili, the Mahdi Army and the influential Badr Organisation are responsible for the violence, and they have the open support of the government in their actions.
[photo: nyt.]
This is happening. In parts of the world that are not just Africa, not just some name, not just a marketing scheme. This is real and is happening and isn’t stopping. It isn’t some sort of advertisement gimmick or internet meme.
I just want to point that out first, and then say what I really want to say: this is horrible.")
This Is Important, You Should Know About It of the Day: Over the weekend, troubling allegations have emerged of many Iraqi teenagers being stoned to death for dressing in “emo fashion.”
Scores of teens wearing skinny pants and graphic tees, and sporting a signature “emo style” haircut have allegedly been clobbered with cinder blocks [warning: graphic images] by members of Iraq’s “moral police.”
Though the number might be lower — Reuters put the death toll at 14 — the terrifying trend appears to have at least a measure of consent from Iraq’s Interior Ministry, which suggests it could get much worse.
“[The Moral Police] have official approval to eliminate them as soon as possible, because the dimensions of the community began to take another course, and is now threatening danger,” read a statement from the ministry, which also compared “the Emo phenomenon” to “devil worshipping.”
When confronted with claims that it approved the slaying, an Interior Ministry spokesman said the statement was being “misinterpreted.”
The anti-emo movement, meanwhile, isn’t waiting for clarification. Fliers being circulated in Shiite neighborhoods include lists of residents identified as emo who are warned to change their style and stop listening to metal, emo, and rap music or risk “God’s punishment” at the hands of the mujahedeen.
Moktada al-Sadr, infamous leader of the Shiite militia known as the Mahdi Army denied being behind the threats, but nevertheless agreed with the sentiment that emo teens were “unnatural.”
The spate of violence against teenagers joins a longer bullying campaign against members of Iraq’s LGBT community. Hundreds have reportedly been killed in the last six years, and many are currently being targeted by death squads who abduct suspected gay men and women from their homes and slay them.
Ali Hili, a London-based Iraqi gay rights activist, claims to have obtained a document from the Iraqi Interior Ministry which, much like the statement on emo teens, orders the “elimination of the so-called homosexuals.” According to Hili, the Mahdi Army and the influential Badr Organisation are responsible for the violence, and they have the open support of the government in their actions.
[photo: nyt.]
This is happening. In parts of the world that are not just Africa, not just some name, not just a marketing scheme. This is real and is happening and isn’t stopping. It isn’t some sort of advertisement gimmick or internet meme.
I just want to point that out first, and then say what I really want to say: this is horrible.
-
![snapsforsantoro:
thedailywhat:
This Is Important, You Should Know About It of the Day: Over the weekend, troubling allegations have emerged of many Iraqi teenagers being stoned to death for dressing in “emo fashion.”
Scores of teens wearing skinny pants and graphic tees, and sporting a signature “emo style” haircut have allegedly been clobbered with cinder blocks [warning: graphic images] by members of Iraq’s “moral police.”
Though the number might be lower — Reuters put the death toll at 14 — the terrifying trend appears to have at least a measure of consent from Iraq’s Interior Ministry, which suggests it could get much worse.
“[The Moral Police] have official approval to eliminate them as soon as possible, because the dimensions of the community began to take another course, and is now threatening danger,” read a statement from the ministry, which also compared “the Emo phenomenon” to “devil worshipping.”
When confronted with claims that it approved the slaying, an Interior Ministry spokesman said the statement was being “misinterpreted.”
The anti-emo movement, meanwhile, isn’t waiting for clarification. Fliers being circulated in Shiite neighborhoods include lists of residents identified as emo who are warned to change their style and stop listening to metal, emo, and rap music or risk “God’s punishment” at the hands of the mujahedeen.
Moktada al-Sadr, infamous leader of the Shiite militia known as the Mahdi Army denied being behind the threats, but nevertheless agreed with the sentiment that emo teens were “unnatural.”
The spate of violence against teenagers joins a longer bullying campaign against members of Iraq’s LGBT community. Hundreds have reportedly been killed in the last six years, and many are currently being targeted by death squads who abduct suspected gay men and women from their homes and slay them.
Ali Hili, a London-based Iraqi gay rights activist, claims to have obtained a document from the Iraqi Interior Ministry which, much like the statement on emo teens, orders the “elimination of the so-called homosexuals.” According to Hili, the Mahdi Army and the influential Badr Organisation are responsible for the violence, and they have the open support of the government in their actions.
[photo: nyt.]
This is happening. In parts of the world that are not just Africa, not just some name, not just a marketing scheme. This is real and is happening and isn’t stopping. It isn’t some sort of advertisement gimmick or internet meme.
I just want to point that out first, and then say what I really want to say: this is horrible.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0qw8glBJ21qzpwi0o1_1280.jpg "snapsforsantoro:
thedailywhat:
This Is Important, You Should Know About It of the Day: Over the weekend, troubling allegations have emerged of many Iraqi teenagers being stoned to death for dressing in “emo fashion.”
Scores of teens wearing skinny pants and graphic tees, and sporting a signature “emo style” haircut have allegedly been clobbered with cinder blocks [warning: graphic images] by members of Iraq’s “moral police.”
Though the number might be lower — Reuters put the death toll at 14 — the terrifying trend appears to have at least a measure of consent from Iraq’s Interior Ministry, which suggests it could get much worse.
“[The Moral Police] have official approval to eliminate them as soon as possible, because the dimensions of the community began to take another course, and is now threatening danger,” read a statement from the ministry, which also compared “the Emo phenomenon” to “devil worshipping.”
When confronted with claims that it approved the slaying, an Interior Ministry spokesman said the statement was being “misinterpreted.”
The anti-emo movement, meanwhile, isn’t waiting for clarification. Fliers being circulated in Shiite neighborhoods include lists of residents identified as emo who are warned to change their style and stop listening to metal, emo, and rap music or risk “God’s punishment” at the hands of the mujahedeen.
Moktada al-Sadr, infamous leader of the Shiite militia known as the Mahdi Army denied being behind the threats, but nevertheless agreed with the sentiment that emo teens were “unnatural.”
The spate of violence against teenagers joins a longer bullying campaign against members of Iraq’s LGBT community. Hundreds have reportedly been killed in the last six years, and many are currently being targeted by death squads who abduct suspected gay men and women from their homes and slay them.
Ali Hili, a London-based Iraqi gay rights activist, claims to have obtained a document from the Iraqi Interior Ministry which, much like the statement on emo teens, orders the “elimination of the so-called homosexuals.” According to Hili, the Mahdi Army and the influential Badr Organisation are responsible for the violence, and they have the open support of the government in their actions.
[photo: nyt.]
This is happening. In parts of the world that are not just Africa, not just some name, not just a marketing scheme. This is real and is happening and isn’t stopping. It isn’t some sort of advertisement gimmick or internet meme.
I just want to point that out first, and then say what I really want to say: this is horrible.")
