Small change adds up to big savings when "going green"

Brilliant.

This morning, the Associated Press reported that the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has found a simple way to cut costs and "go green". By simply changing the school's default e-mail font from Arial to Century Gothic, printing e-mails will now use 30 percent less ink. The article also states that with the price of printer ink estimated at $10,000 per gallon (yes, that's ten thousand dollars... no typos here), 30 percent savings will really start to add up.

We live in a world where "going green" is getting trendy, which makes many people ignore the problem, labeling recycling and eco-friendly policies as the work of "tree-huggers". Skeptics of global warming and other ecological problems scoff at the idea that doing little things can make a difference, and many people believe that doing their part doesn't make a real impact.

I argue quite the contrary. I believe that it is in the little things that we have the opportunity to make the greatest impact. Not everyone can afford to buy all eco-friendly products all the time, but we can all afford to recycle the packaging of whatever products we do buy. Not everyone can carpool to work or take public transportation, but we can all walk or bike more on the weekends, using our cars less. Not everyone can afford energy-efficient appliances, but we can all turn off lights and faucets and unplug electronics and appliances when they aren't in use. Small change adds up to big change, when everyone is contributing in some way.

Computers and printing are one of the biggest sources of waste in my daily life. My work computer remains on (albeit frequently "asleep") 24 hours a day, seven days a week because my employer requires it. Colleagues print multiple copies of e-mails for filing that never happens, wasting reams of paper and gallons of ink. So while I understand that there are people who will laugh and shake their heads at the idea that changing e-mail's default font is good for the earth, I'm not one of them. If changing the font saves the University of Wisconsin 30 percent more ink, it's also saving them from buying (and throwing away) more packaging and it's saving them money. If the footer of my e-mails (reading please consider the environment before printing this e-mail) prevents even one person from needlessly printing a few pages, I will have made a small difference.

This is not to say that big change isn't needed to combat our environmental problems, but in the absence of a worldwide rallying cry in favor of eco-friendly measures, the little things will have to count. As a frequently cited quotation states, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." —Margaret Mead

So change your e-mail fonts. Don't print out unnecessary e-mails. Turn off your computer when you're done for the day. Buy products with less packaging and recycle the leftovers. Ride a bike. Buy local. Do the things you can that will make an impact without convincing yourself that doing so little will never add up to much. The world (and your wallet) will thank you.

The five best websites you've never heard of

What's not to love about the Internet? Okay, okay, maybe pop-up ads, spam e-mail, and viruses, but otherwise, the World Wide Web is full of fascinating stuff guaranteed to give you something to do. If you're in the market for some new distractions, check out these five best websites you've never heard of.

1. Listography
   According to the website's "About" page, "Listography provides users (listographers) of all ages an easy-to-use tool for creative list writing and sharing." Not only can you make your own lists (Bands I've seen in concert, Items to get at the grocery store, Places I'd like to visit), but you can peruse other people's lists. Go ahead; give it a try!
   
   
2. Sporcle
   If we're RLF's, maybe you've heard of the wonderful distraction that is Sporcle, but otherwise, chances are that you haven't. If you're the kind of person that would be amused trying to recall all the lyrics to Don McLean's American Pie (in 14 minutes or less) or if you know George Carlin's Seven Dirty Words, or if you think you'd have fun identifying companies by their logos, Sporcle is for you. Some games take just a minute, others give you upwards of 15 minutes, so there's a distraction for any period of time you've got.
   
   
3. Slashfood
   Slashfood is the best blog for foodies. The site covers everything from dessert wines to newfangled ketchup packets to wacky products made with bacon, and I love reading all of it. You're also likely to stumble across restaurant news, polls, and debates about tipping and service.
   
   
4. I have seen the whole of the Internet
   Seriously, that's the name of the blog. And if you don't have time to read all those hilarious e-mails that people forward you and poke around YouTube for funny dog videos, just head over to Joanne Casey's ("Internet Caretaker") blog, and you'll be brought up to speed in no time.
   
   
5. Wordle
   Wordle creates a "word cloud" based on text entered by the user. According to the site, "the clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text," and you can change the color and font of your creation. A Wordle graphic appeared in this IT&O article; they're fun to make and handy when you need a unique picture!

If you've got five minutes to waste, now's the time to get poking around the Internet. Enjoy!

Some people just have a laundry list of issues...

Add this one to the list of things people argue about when they have too much time on their hands.

Perkasie, a small town in Pennsylvania, is home to less than 10,000 residents including Carin Froehlich. Yahoo! News reported today that Froehlich has had to fight for her right to hang laundry outdoors.

Neighbors have complained that they don't want to see Froehlich's laundry outside because makes the neighborhood “look like trailer trash.” A town official has even gone so far to call Froehlich to ask her to stop drying her clothes outdoors.


Froehlich argues that it's an American right to dry clothes outdoors, wryly noting that if her husband has a right to bear arms, she has a right to hang laundry. Besides, Froehlich, like many others who hang laundry outdoors, talks about the savings, since line-drying clothes lowers the family's electric bill.

Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that there is a non-profit organization dedicated to making air-drying laundry an “acceptable and desirable” practice. Project Laundry List doesn't merely believe that that Americans have a right to line-dry their laundry, but also touts the environmental benefits of line-drying and cold-water washing.

According to Project Laundry List's sample letters to elected officials, “clothes dryers use an estimated 6 to 10 % of residential electricity use. The average family can save over $85/year by using a clothesline instead of a dryer.”

The take of this Inner Thoughts & Outbursts writer? Hanging clothes outdoors makes sense. There's no reason people shouldn't be allowed to hang their clothes (even their undies!) to line-dry instead of using a dryer. While I personally prefer my dryer (I have allergies that make line-drying more of a hassle than a help), I certainly appreciate the environmental benefits of line-drying. Of course, the bottom line isn't that line-drying saves people money or that it's good for the environment; the bottom line is that people should butt out of their neighbors' business! Clean laundry blowing in the breeze is a nod to a bygone era, not a malicious eyesore. This writer says, “get over it!”

Six-year-old suspended for eating with camping utensil at school

I used to teach at a high school with high rates of teenage pregnancy, drop-outs, and general misbehavior. The administration tried a variety of tactics to keep kids on the straight-and-narrow, including the introduction of ID badges, police officers in the hallways, and a number of other interventions. The school also had a very strict policy regarding threats to students or the school. A frustrated student muttering, Gosh, this is so boring I could kill myself, led to an automatic removal from class accompanied by a psych evaluation.

If a psych evaluation seems harsh, consider the "zero-tolerance" policies adopted at many schools across the nation. On Sunday, the New York Times reported that six-year-old Zachary Christie was suspended for bringing a Cub Scout camping utensil to school because the tool contained a fork, spoon, and a knife; the knife violated the school's zero-tolerance policy on weapons. In addition to the suspension, Zachary (who takes school so seriously that he often wears a suit and tie to his first grade classroom) faces 45 days in a reform school.

Watch the video here.

The New York Times reports that school officials argue that it is difficult for schools "to distinguish innocent pranks and mistakes from more serious threats, and that the policies must be strict to protect students." I disagree.

While basic policies must remain in place to keep children safe, basic common sense must take precedence when dealing with young children. Has anyone considered the harm being done to poor Zachary, who is without the benefit of formal education or social interactions with his peers for 45 days? Has it occurred to anyone that the children in his classroom might benefit from a lesson and an explanation, rather than seeing a well-behaved classmate suddenly removed from school? Did anyone think that young Zachary might be so excited about Cub Scouts that he just wanted to share his enthusiasm with friends? Be sensible! The poor child is six years old and hasn't shown any disciplinary problems. Treat him with respect and make sure that the punishment fits the crime (if indeed bringing a Cub Scout tool to school can be called a "crime").

There's no denying that some children bring weapons to school with the intention of causing trouble. There's also no denying that we all want to protect our children from violence and that we must be vigilant to ensure that no one slips through the cracks. Zachary, however, slipped through the cracks of common sense when school officials thought it appropriate to suspend a six-year-old for bringing his camping utensil to school. Perhaps next time the school will follow the Cub Scout Law of the Pack, and "give goodwill" to children who obviously meant no harm.

Felix the Cat

Reuters ran a story yesterday about a 12-year-old Berlin cat named Felix. Felix was found alive and beneath the rubble of a six-story building that collapsed on March 3. Rescue workers were clearing the rubble from the collapse that killed two people when they saw Felix’s tiny paws behind some cinder blocks. Report has it that Felix is in good health and will make a full recovery.

It’s nice to see some good news peeking out of the bad. Since bad news is so often prevalent in the media, I enjoy reading something good for a change, no matter how silly. I must admit that some of the most fun news I read comes from Reuter's Oddly Enough News and the Living section on CNN.com. It brightens my day to read that Clowning around pays off for circus hopefuls or that a Woman finds $357,959 cashier's check and returns it.

So go ahead and peruse some odd news or a favorite blog to get your mind off of the media's spotlighted tragedies. You'll be glad you did.