Ylem Ylem Everywhere

Remember when bottled water was a status symbol?

Some bottled water can cost more than gasoline, although the difference has narrowed with the more recent surge in the price of gasoline.

Hot stock tip:

Invest in water. The coming water shortage -- it already is here in some places -- will prove to be a great investment for some.

Think the nation needs to invest in something of an interstate water system much like our interstate highway system. It could bring water from places that have too much to places that have too little. How to pay for the system? Water sales.

i drink bottled water now and then but mostly I drink tap water. Been doing that all of my life and today I am older than dirt. Must be something in the water.

George Carlin also said " I know why Santa is so jolly, he knows where all the bad girls live,"

You also can drink some bottled wine cheaper than you can drink some bottled water.

For instance, consider Two Buck Chuck.

Water, and other non-viscous Liquids put into Plastic Bottles ... are polluted with dangerously recognizable/identifiable amounts of a Carcinogen known as, Bisphenol-A ... when the Bottles are exposed to relatively short periods of Extreme Heat ... in a Warehouse, on the Car Seat, in the Glove Compartment/Console ... or Extreme  Cold ... in an Ice Box, Picnic Cooler, Outdoor Cold Weather etc. etc. etc. ....... Causes all sorts of nasty things to occur in Human Bodies, besides Cancer, and in particular evil things passed on to unborn children ... (of course, God will get the blame ... just like when Sherri Finkbein was taking Thalidomide, and had so much horror arise with her unborn children ... the Drug didn't get the blame, God did ... People are loathe to accept responsibility for their own mistakes ... Sherri was warned too, but decided to believe the National Enquirer and clueless Doctors who know less than nothing about Pharmacognosy ...)  "I've been drinking Bottled Water for years, and nothing ever happened to me !!!"  CRAP !!!   It is NOT the 99 times nothing happens that counts, it is the One time something does ...) I laughed so hard, when I spelled EVIAN backwards .......

This makes me think of the snake oil salesman that often showed up in the cowboy movie...... Selling to the good hearted townsfolk.

Too much yard work means no sleep for this bad boy. I could use some of that snake oil now....or at least more willing to try it.

Catch ya on the flip side.....

But will the schools stop selling all plastic containers?

I should have added "plastic containing drinkable liquids"

  My one daughter has cases of  bottled water in her car. She has bought the filter pitcher  thingy because her citywater tastes terrible.  My other daughter has those giant bottles of  water  that fit atop a dispenser and has to pay a water bill for the running water from the spiqot  in her house.  I  don't remember ever buying a bottle of water.  I have a well.  The water is the best ever and if the electricity goes off I'll just go buy a hand pump and still have great water. Everywhere I go I taste   the water and none is as good as mine.

I had the unfortunate duty of being President of the Rotary Club in the county my Bank was located in...unfortunate in that it was a "Chief of the Chiefs " job and just short of a political position in the rural but fastest growing county, population wise, in the USA. My tenor as El-presidante was an adventure in babysitting dealing with al the strong personalities and the sons of now wealthy former farmers who's grandparents had sold the farmland to developers upon which to build homes. It was the most clannish county I have ever worked in, and it was painfully obvious " I wuttin' frum thar".

We raised money all year for a pet project chosen by the Annual President, yours truely. The project was usually one the power hungry local Rotary members TOLD YOU it was going to be and that was that. I dcided to think outside the boundaries of the county, pulled a fast one and called the local press to our weekly meeting to announce that our Rotary Club was going to raise money that year to dig a fresh water well in a remote African village, which we did.

Before it was done and the well produced its first cup of water, I was called everything in the book and had some of the same farmers sons withdraw all their money from our bank because of my decision. Turns out.that all these years later, its the one project they get recognized for and other Rotary clubs copied.

I was invited back to see the video from the organization we contracted with to dig that well. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when the pictures of the villagers getting clean water from that well was shown. I received more quiet apologies from the members than I ever expected. Now they dig a well every year.

Go figure..

The blessing of clean tap water and its low cost are so crucial to civilized living. I am a Libertarian at heart but the practical role of government is to facilitate clean affordable water, vaccinations, and electricity to name a few. Interstates aren't bad either Mr. Eisnehower. These elemental things are basic to the pursuit of happiness. Our children and some gullible adults (sometimes me) are often victims of advertising and fearmongers. People can spend their money any way they choose but carrying a bottle of water around is yet another thing to carry that I don't need. A tall glass of iced water that has slight nuances but generally is consistent nationwide is fine by me, Sometimes I add a citrus slice for a little refreshing zest. And when I take a hot shower or flush the toliet, I often say a prayer of thanks. Conversely, I have been known to curse the plastic bottles that wash ashore on the beach or my local lake and I am perplexed about the number of people who will toss them from their cars. Egads!

"Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink."  Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.  How precious it is and how lucky so many of us are that our water is drinkable. 
 
Only problem with interstate water, Lotlot, is that in some states people are using up the water to keep plants and grass alive that are not susposed to go there.  Though I'm far away from that part of the country I am still concerned about what is happening to the Colorada River and other water sourses. I'd rather, in those states, restrict the use and have hydrated people instead of lawns.  I also see the elimination of bottled water as a good idea; the bottles themselves are a pollutant.  People did fine without it before, and, again, if we stop using water for preening our yards that are growing with non-native plants more would be available for drinking , cooking, etc.

Have you noticed how much commercial advertising is spent creating problems that the advertiseris comes " just in the nick of time"to save you from? Recent one I've seen...words to the effect "Are you killing your baby when you hold it in your arms?" We have a solution you've been waiting for  for only $19.95+S & H, but wait!...

...continuing George Hall's words, "Call right away and you'll receive a bonus gift...."
 
After trying several water containers (made of various materials) that leaked in my handbag, I found a metal one at the Met and ordered it posthaste; there are times you have to take water with you -- if a physical condition requires you to drink 80 ounces daily.
Its contents come from my kitchen sink, sans even filter. Our water tastes good.

Lucky us, here in N. GA in our development with great water from a spring fed lake. We have our own water treatment and sewer system in Lake Arrowhead, Waleska, GA; however, our water bill is $66 mo. per home for the first 3,000 gal. which I seldom exceed. There is a stiff penalty for every 100 gal. over that amt. We get water test results periodically, and the water shows wonderful purity. Even though that is impressive, I have a Pur filter on my refrigerator water, but often drink right from the tap or hose. My few plants that I water are in pots on the deck to keep them from the deer lips. The ones in the yard depend on Nature, period.

Most of us here do not have lawns, but natural ground covers, such as the green vinca I have all over mine, and the pine straw on the rest of it. No mowing or fertilizing for me! Our homeowner mag asks folks NOT to fertilize grass, but let the ground be natural, due to the harm in the run-off into the lake. We are on hills that all slope down to the 350 acre lake

. Unfortunately, a new developer has come in to build a "new section" with lawns and the look of any typical cookie cutter subdivision!

Those of us in the older part of the 2,000 family development resent the new developer who clear cut all the trees and put in streets, street lights, grass seed, and plans for 1,000 more homes!

First, we like not having street lights so we can see the stars at night! Second, we despise the loss of those thousands of trees. And third, we dislike the necessity for the new section to sod or plant grass when a natural ground cover or pine straw cover would be better. As you can imagine, the homeowners have complained, but to no avail, as we have no power....the developer has the money and the bottom line is always money. Their take on it is that young or present families who are buying, want the picture pretty lawns and landscaping.

We have way too many councils and agencies and groups and people who want to tell me how to live.  Not exactly a news, that we're over-regulated, but every time I hear some other know it all tell me that they're better at taking care of me and mine than I am - leave me alone, will you?  Or get a job that's meaningful useful and doesn't involve you telling me how to live my life. Or how to drink my water.  It's the last thing I do drink in quantity so let it be.  

Ylem -"The stuff from which everything in the universe is made; the fundamental material of all life."

I had never heard of that word. I learn something new here every day!

Thanks, Mr. P, or your researcher who puts our topic up daily!

Hazel L. and Ummgawa, your comments were very interesting and thought-provoking. In my experience, well water always wins and tap water does not. I went as far up the chain as I could to complain about the chlorine in our local tap water and was told it was put there to keep the pipes clean. Not sure what it does to my personal pipes other than headaches, but now we get the best water ever from a spring overflow along the highway in Paradise, MT. We collect it in plastic milk bottles...

Very eloquent and informative posts from all...HAZEL, IVAN and UMGAWWA...especially.

I was lucky enough to grow up with delicious tap water. We also had a drought in the 60s which drew attention to the preciousness of it and to this day most NYC restaurants take the leftover drinking water from their customers to water plants, etc. Many restaurants still do not bring water to the table unless asked.

However where I live now the tap water is foul tasting, over fluorided and filled with rumors about Pfizer and other area commerical users and polluters of water.
I had a filter in my house that worked quite well for drinking water. Having downsized to the cottage I do buy bottled water. Big jugs for tea and coffee but I also buy the individual bottles. Let me explain. I do not drink soda pop in any form, I don't really like iced tea. My idea of a really delicious beverage is icy cold water (i keep some bottles in the freezer). It is also necessary for me to have a beverage with a cap because I am a CLUTZ and I would have dead phones, computers, kindles etc if I did not re-cap between sips.

I apologize to the rest of you but thats the cold troot about me.

I've got filters in my showers and faucets and it makes a big difference.  Definitely worth the cost which is not that bad at all.  Removes the chlorine - which is a big deal to those of us who like me since I was an infant has had problems with eczema and chlorine is one of the worst aggravators I can think of.   I don't know what it does to my inside faucets and spiggots and shower heads either, but I can't bathe in it.  ....  I was no fun at all in public swimming pools where the chlorine is so strong you can smell it a mile away.  ..............  ChefDeb, I'm with you.  We do the same.  I like iced tea, drink gallons of it in the summer, and tap water makes odd tasting tea.  Same with other foods and drink.     And I carry small bottles of Deja Blu and throw them out the car window with abandon.......................................................................              (kidding.  just checking to see if you're paying attention.)

Frozen bottled water is the best CD.  Don't apologize.

I applaud the comments above, Hazel, Umgawwa--kudos to both of you. Turning on a tap and getting clean water is a minor miracle to me.  Imagine, like what Hazel describes, that your daily duty was solely to collect water so that you can survive. And the water you get probably isn't very good. No school, no nothing, just get water. CD, if I lived in a place where the water wasn't good, I would probably resort to a bottle system.  Fortunately my Milwaukee water is delicious. They say the tap water in NYC is some of the best-quality water in the country--aquifers from the Adirondacks or something.  I remember one time about 20 years ago I drove through Ontario Canada with my Dad and my  niece. The water there was delicious. I couldn't get enough of it, right out of the tap on ice. It was so clear and fresh--maybe they use less chlorine up there. I know when Europeans come visit us, they do complain about our tap water--they say it is the chlorine.  I can't taste it.  I did notice that the water I had in Florida last week wasn't as good as what I get here, but I drank it anyway.  I think bottled water is pretty dumb. But I buy it when I'm traveling and dont' have a container with me.

CD and Park--I don't think you're dumb for using bottles and hope I didn't infer that message. I am not sensitive to chlorine, but if I were, I would so something different. There are just too many bottles of water used by people who have access to excellent water.  BTW, my favorite beverage is San Pellegrino, in the bottle! I read now that some of the problems with young people and tooth decay is bottled water. They miss the flouride in tap water.

I really don't like the way Vittel water tastes. (and not because it is French).

There's a spring head on my departed grandma's land and the water is by all estimations 100% pure. I do know this much, She has a boxwood at her house you can park a truck inside of, a weeping willow tree that was cut down more times than I can count and the stump keeps growing a tree out of it's remainders. I have played in the creek and drank out of it by sticking my face in and inhaling. I think a soul will live longer when it drinks water and lots of it.

My point is this, when a generation is raised on the Bottled variation and the marketers convince them that any water form the ground is bad, like the water at my grandma's house, something has gone very wrong.

That scenario is playing out right now.

The plants described above all have been nurtured by the creek water I played in.

The water I have is wonderful - soft, so no lime scale, and amazingly economical on soap/detergent products. Years ago, when I first came to live here, I had a twin tub washing machine and spin dryer. Anybody remember them? First time I used it in Wales, I threw in the usual mug-full of washing powder and went off upstairs to get the first load of 'whites' to wash in my nice clean hot soapy water. Returned to a kitchen floor ankle deep in soap bubbles and an indignant cat marooned on the worktop. I should set up a market stall to sell doggy shampoo in the car park by the river - everybody says the water does wonders for dog coat condition.  Come to think of it, I have a cold nose and a glossy coat ....

Nobody said, so I will do it. Today is World Water Day - have a look at WaterDay.Org

"I never drink water- - Do you know what fish DO in it?"  W.C.Fields

Umm............I can relate.  When I was in our Rotary (I was first step up on the ascendancy ladder to be president in a few years) we, too, were trying to determine the project.  I have friends in Africa and knew about the lack of clean drinking water, so fervently appealed to have that become our "good deed."  Alas, I lost.  But!  Our town has an arboretum.  Somehow........

Seriously, I have the begiinigs of a reuse system in my RV, where the water from the lav sink and shower is used to flush the commode.  I just find it very hard to understand how we could use fresh,virgin water for flushing. That to me is profligate waste, and may have been allowable when only 1 or 2 million flush toilets existed.  In some places, the bathroom sink water directly drains to the fresh tank on the back of the toilet,a one piece affair. Smart,hunh?

That's funny: I have a warm coat and a glossy nose.

When a pool is filled with our city water, it looks okay for the toilet and not much else until it is chlorinated and filtered… cloudy and gray.
I refill a water bottle from the filtered pitcher in the fridge about four times a day.

CD ~
I just knew you had some kind of scandal in your background. Now we know… bottled water.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R63zYZZuRvQ,     ; .     This is the young man that married my Neice.I may have written about him previously,as the inventor of a low pressure,low maintnance reverse osmosis system, it works much as our innerds, salt/calcium ion transfer, but if that makes your EyEs gloss, just know it is a worthy process to desalinization, making it affordable,and scallable for remote areas with sea water access.  I am involved with another water purification system as well, that is self-contained to treat water and produce ice,for food and medical storage after a calamity; air dropped,self powering, add dung to make fuel-gas,and brackish water,give it a couple hours,scoop pure water ice from the bin....

P4- Your tossing the bottles out the window joke made me think of when I was a kid one Halloween and I tossed a water balloon out the car window and hit this "Suit" and he yelled as we drove away. I thought nothing more of it until I was walking to my mailbox after returning from a business trip on Halloween 20 years later and I heard a yelp from a car and a water ballon caught me on the side of the head and knocked me to the ground. I jumped up wet and smarting and yelling. Then I stood there laughing at the universal long term payback. BTW I rented Out of Africa in your honor on my recent cruise one night and sipped wine as I watched my favorite scene when Redford comes to dinner and insists on a story from the lady. I love after dinner stories and that is one of my favorite cinematic scenes.  

RY~ Excellent! 'Grey' water is plenty good enough to flush the loo.

I put in all 3 bathrooms those low water flush toilets last year, plus a low use dishwasher and an energy saver hot water tank, as well as an energy saver AC and refrigerator. My elec. bill went down. I think the entire country should get incentive discounts from the toilet/other manufacturers to replace old appliances with low use ones. It should not be the govt., but the sellers.

Road Yacht~ Thanks for a phenomonel story and encouraging info. I've long thought future wars will be fought over access to fresh water. I take t you are working on the problem with a diierent approach? This is good stuff.

I used to think that the turkeys had the best system to insure that their water was pristeen. Wait until it rains, open your mouth, and tilt your head upwards. Unfortunately the birds never acquired the common sense to know when to reverse the protocol, so the birds would drown. Somewhere there's a lesson buried here, if only I could figure it out.....

GH~ just a different end use to it all; refrigeration removes heat,does't"put in "cold, and the resultant exhaust is heat, an essential componant of Rob's system, so they have a sybaritic affinity....But the system I'm putting my effort into presently recycles the gray water in the RV, as when you go into a place where you must carry all your supplies,water included,you can use some water twice....The systems that use metane from human/animal/plant waste to power an engine for refrigeration, even the ammonia systems that do not require compression,are  more problematical. But we did go to the Moon- -  -

RY~And I understands the space station recycles its water continuously...probably not very efficiently but ya gotta start somewhere.

RY` Once upon a time in days of old when knights were bold and rubber hadn't been invented, I visited a large commercial BBQ plant north of Atlanta.  The plant was owned and operated by just folk, but as we toured they bragged about a young Ga.Tech engineer they had hired who developed a process to  capture the 'cooking' heat and use the energy to raise the temperature of the massive amount of water and steam used to operate and clean the plant by 15 degrees. Resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in savings each month...impressed me.

A mind is a good thing to have, isn't it?

Cd &Park - I too feel the need to apologize, but there it is: my bottle of Dasani right here next to my coffee. I also keep a Brita pitcher on the counter so I can make coffee and tea with it. We have well water and it just seems be not quite as good and so over the years I've gotten in the habit of cooking and drinking filtered water. And he's. CD, there's a bottle in the freezer....especially nice when I catch it just before it all freezes and there are those crunchy pieces of ice

Someone earlier mentioned San Pellegrino...that is my favorite, as well.  And I remembered that in one of my cookbooks (La Tavola Italiana) the authors said that in a resaturant in Italy the waiter will first ask "rosso o bianco?" (red or white wine) quickly followed by, "gasata o non gasata?"  Meaning, do you want your mineral water sparkling or still?  The conumption of mineral water is that important there.   I have lost the habit of San Pellegriino....guess I'll have start up again.  Cheers!

When you hopped into a swimming pool after crashing your bike and skinning your knee between the chlorine and the summer sun, a boy could be healed in a day. I loved the smell of Swimming Pool and Coppertone and it was not uncommon when you were crossing through people's yards to turn on their garden hose (or as we say in the Mid South their Hosepipe) and get yourself a drink o' water and wet your flattopped head to cool down. From the first time I stomped through mud puddles during a thundershower or went off the diving board, got up on water skis, or rode a surfboard, water has been a part of my life in and out day in day out. I don't care how people enjoy their water or in what kind of container or how much they pay or don't pay. It's their business I just say think before you drink and there ain't no lower class than that litterbug, Tennessee Trash. 

When I first started traveling to Europe, I would order my bottle of water with the meal.  And yes, they always ask with or without gas. It wasn't until recently that I realized that I could order tap water. Yea! In Paris they bring it to you in a wine bottle. L'eau de Paris s'il vous plait.

Water enables and sustains life and should never be taken for granted. Like TT, my favorite drinks came from the backyard spicket of our neighborhood, especially on the hot, dog days of summer when us kids would all be beet red from plying so hard.

RY ~
Do you recall that it was not that long ago that owners of bluff-top properties on Lake Michigan were worried about shore erosion due to high water?
Obviously not among the needy, they got little sympathy or support.
Now, water levels have dropped to a point where a lot of municipal docks and harbors have facilities too high to allow easy access to and from boats and actions are being taken.
It must take a lot of water to raise the Great Lakes system an inch.

Thanks for that vid. It was a very informative look into the future.

We have the original turn-of-the-century (and I don't mean the last one) toilet in our old house.
It has never needed to be flushed more than once.

We are pretty much surrounded by easily treated water: a lake ten miles wide and thirty-five miles long. We'll watch the coming battles with interest.

Out of Africa - oh TT, I too love that scene: "Tell us a story."  What was the word?  Foot?  It was foot wasn't it?  Oh dinnertime stories like that, or just after dinner stories, are special and wonderful.  To rest after dinner at table and lean back and have a storyteller weave some magic to after dinner coffee and liquers, it's such a civilized and satisfying way to end an evening.  And if your storyteller is Karin Blixen, there's that bit of erotica and romance added to the mix.   That movie:  the colors struck me first off.  Then, her Limoges because I collect it too, and I call it "my Limoges" which Denys would scoff at, since traveling light was his forte.  But the colors - and in the book, she writes "does the driveway quiver with the colors I had on." ....so beautiful.

Park--you make me want to watch that movie again. Should I read the book?

I, too, fell in love with Out of Africa...and have never recovered.  Sigh....
 
Regarding carrying bottles of water being "an affectation," it's not always the case.  Instrumentalists who sit through 5-hour rehearsals, and singers who do the same, are foolish not to go prepared: You never know when a maestro will decide to take a 5-minute break during which everyone runs to the ONE water fountain.  Most drink from their bottles throughout, wiser on every level.
 
PETERLAKE, you bring childhood memories of playing so hard and fast during dog days, you couldn't spare time to go inside for water.  
 
STONEY, we, too watch with interest: Clark Hill Lake, created in the 1950s when the dam was built (to stop flooding in the cities downriver, including ours), has leveled at ever-lower numbers. With 2,000 miles of shoreline affecting two states, lots of folks are nervous. Curiouser and curiouser. 
 
Aside, but not really, Clark Hill WAS a town even after the dam (much else is under water now), named for a Revolutionary War hero. Until, during a Christmas break when few legislators were in Washington, with no announcement Clark Hill became, in a twinkling, Lake Thurmond -- yes, Strom.  Millions of dollars were spent (your and my taxes), then, on new signs, stationery, buildings, bridges, well, you can imagine, to reflect the change.  Many people were upset, especially owners of businesses that bore the name Clark Hill. Not to mention the town itself.  As if Strom didn't have enough things in South Carolina named for him already.  Some persist in calling it Clark Hill; it comes natural, as they say.  Senator Thurmond was still living then {we think}, riding in a convertible in every parade....
 

Oh, MOOSELOOP, how sad!  I know your part of our state, and can just imagine how you feel.  (I just got around to reading everyone's words; duty kept me away.)
 
If you have a neighborhood association, put pressure on the new developer.  With good friends we almost bought a house (for vacations) near where you are. Its yard dropped down to a stream so clear I'm sure we could have drunk from it. 
 
I spent several residencies at an artists' colony in that area, and we DID drink from that stream. Also pulled cress for salads (meals are vegetarian, grown in the yard).
Several hundred acres of never-to-be-spoiled land with its own forest ranger (the donor's will allows no paved roads, even). 
 
Our friends and we tried to buy that house, and if the owners hadn't been in a muddle of the middle of a divorce, we'd have it.  How lucky you are.

Carol- The Rotary Club I belonged to had erected more swing sets and park benches with "Rotary Did This and That" signs attached than Carter has Liver Pills. At the time, It was not a popular move on my part, and I didn't care.

It was the one and only time I told a group "I have the authority to do it and I'm doing it" and actually felt good about it. Truth told, It was the first time I had ever been so ostracised. Usually when you have the power to lend millions, you are quite popular.

It was a long, productive, year. If every year is that long I'll live to be a million years old.

So sorry your area lost the developement fight, Mooseloop.  I hurt my spirit to read abouot what will be happening.
 
I was in rehersal for both vocal and instramental concerts long before any one thought about bottling water.    We used to bring large thermuses--the kind with glass inside, a screw in plug like thing and a plastic lid from which you drank--to rehersal.  Most of us had two.  That usually lasted us the 3 1/2 to 4 hours with two short breaks.  If you weren't playing or singing you took a quick swig.  If you tried to drink from the thermus you usually got water down your front because the opening was small and not made to sip from.  i can see how the bottled stuff would help now.  hadn't thought of that for a long time, Georgia.  Sure brouoght back memories.
 

Crashed out on the sofa because whatever was on tele was boring. Off to bed with a glassfull of water clinking with ice cubes and a dollop of cider vinegar. Nos da, dear people. x

Water on Mars is in short supply and can only be purchased in plastic thimbles. Waterhole #3 was a first class Western and I find James Coburn still one of the coolest screen personas.

Georgia -There's a wonderful artists' colony and school for crafts just over the state line north of Young Harri, GA at the John C. Campbell Folk Art School...They teach every craft you can imagine, including dance, weaving, wood carving, dulcimer, blacksmithing, kaleidescope making, and stained/leaded glass. Their catalog is very large and you can go for a week, a few days, or a weekend. Their gift shop is open to anyone and has wonderful handmade craft items for sale. I have given jewelry, carved animals, and woven shawls from them as gifts. It is worth a trip to that area. There is also a good vineyard on the way up there at Crane Creek.

Our homeowners assoc. like many others is more of a social orgzn. than one with any voice in the running of the place. When you buy here, you sign up to abide by the covenants, pay fees, and follow their rules. The land holding company Diamondhead, has sub leased out much of the previously undeveloped land to the new builders....as always, I feel sure that profit was the motive, not preservation of trees or resources. It would be good if developers had kindness in mind, as well as a fair profit, but that is usually not the case.

As kids, like TT and Peter, we'd play til dark in the yard and drink right out of the hose or spigot, so never a thought about the water being anything but clean. Then, because it was usually hot in Florida where I grew up, you'd put your thumb or fingers over the outlet and try to squirt your friends with the water, and then run!

George Hall,re 2:38, If you are handy, and want to make use of the same technology as that plant, take a length of copper(soft is OK)and reroute the fresh water to your hot waater heater around and around the drain from your shower(if you have a basement where the piping is exposed). The hot water going down the drain will pass off heat to the fresh water going into the hot water heater,and even if it only warms it that15°, over a year, you have saved some trees. The more coils around that 3-4" pipe, the more heat you scavenge. And, if anyone is contemplating a new comfort heating/cooling system, ask me for some very helpful hints- - I will show you how to save scads of money. And I can help with allergies and mold issues, but that is a story for another day.   

lotlot, your 12:20 post is something I've been spouting for years to anyone who would listen. When I think of all the states that have floods compared with states like Calif. that have ongoing draughts. We live with water restrictions here...on outdoor watering, car washing etc....and are subject to fines. Yes, a system of pipelines carrying water....

MOOSELOOP, I know of the colony you describe.  The Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts is a different animal -- each fine in its way.  Residencies are minimum2 weeks, and on up -- to how long you can stay and how long they have a cabin for you.  People stay in their cabins, working feverishly, all day, then gather for supper. The mix of writers, painters, sculptors, musicians, who knows what-all makes for fascinating conversation. I never learned so much --'til Mr. P thought up the Eye.

The plastic bottles are floating in our oceans, are ground up fine into the sand on beaches, are ingested in sealife, we are destroying our home—Mother Earth.
He who tramples on the earth, tramples on himself!