Comments for Twhelan's Weblog http://twhelan.wordpress.com Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:04:53 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on My First Ride on the Bus by twhelan http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/my-first-ride-on-the-bus/#comment-84 twhelan Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:04:53 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-84 In order to transfer from one bus to another in the system, the rider has to have a transfer so he/she does not have to pay a second time. I should have explained that. I have also decided to put in that I have saved in gas in the rewrite. Thanks for your comments. In order to transfer from one bus to another in the system, the rider has to have a transfer so he/she does not have to pay a second time. I should have explained that. I have also decided to put in that I have saved in gas in the rewrite. Thanks for your comments.

]]> Comment on The Good, The Bad, The Ugly by Disposing of CFL’s « Twhelan’s Weblog http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/#comment-83 Disposing of CFL’s « Twhelan’s Weblog Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:25:59 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-83 [...] of CFL’s 18Mar08 Last week I wrote about the mercury contained in Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL’s) and received a surprisingly heated [...] [...] of CFL’s 18Mar08 Last week I wrote about the mercury contained in Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL’s) and received a surprisingly heated [...]

]]> Comment on The Good, The Bad, The Ugly by macoffeegrounds http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/#comment-81 macoffeegrounds Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:31:27 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-81 IKEA takes these bulbs. Too bad we don't have a close one. Though I did ask my brother at Lowe's, and he's asking around. As for the comment from Mike above: Dude, mercury is a growing problem; have you eaten any fish lately? Could the fish problem be from the run-off problem? Could that lead to a people problem? IKEA takes these bulbs. Too bad we don’t have a close one. Though I did ask my brother at Lowe’s, and he’s asking around.

As for the comment from Mike above: Dude, mercury is a growing problem; have you eaten any fish lately? Could the fish problem be from the run-off problem? Could that lead to a people problem?

]]> Comment on My First Ride on the Bus by James http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/my-first-ride-on-the-bus/#comment-80 James Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:54:37 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-80 I like the re-write. It reads very easy. Just a quick question: in the 3rd paragraph the bus driver says "Transfer?" to you. Was he asking you if you needed to transfer to another bus at some point? Just wondered what that meant. And, I agree with Kathleen about including the part on having to fill the gas tank only once per month. That's a HUGE sell for the bus system. :-) I like the re-write. It reads very easy. Just a quick question: in the 3rd paragraph the bus driver says “Transfer?” to you. Was he asking you if you needed to transfer to another bus at some point? Just wondered what that meant. And, I agree with Kathleen about including the part on having to fill the gas tank only once per month. That’s a HUGE sell for the bus system. :-)

]]> Comment on My First Ride on the Bus by kathleen61 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/my-first-ride-on-the-bus/#comment-79 kathleen61 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:23:43 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/?p=54#comment-79 Nice re-write. I wondered why you didn't include the bit about having to now only fill your gas tank once a month? That, to me, was significant. Nice re-write. I wondered why you didn’t include the bit about having to now only fill your gas tank once a month? That, to me, was significant.

]]> Comment on City Sues Man by Jeanette http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/52/#comment-77 Jeanette Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:42:14 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/52/#comment-77 I'll admit I'm one of those people with a lot of garbage. I think if something like what Kathleen is suggesting would happen, I certainly would take a look at my waste management. It's easy to just dump your trash in the dumpster when you live in an apartment--you don't even have to wait for "trash day." There's not recycling service offered in Irish Hills. My parents have recycling in their neighborhood, so when I moved here and didn't have it, I felt the twinge of not doing my part. It's sad how quickly I got over that because of the convenience of the dumpster. I don't think I could ever be like this House guy, but I can do better. I’ll admit I’m one of those people with a lot of garbage. I think if something like what Kathleen is suggesting would happen, I certainly would take a look at my waste management. It’s easy to just dump your trash in the dumpster when you live in an apartment–you don’t even have to wait for “trash day.” There’s not recycling service offered in Irish Hills. My parents have recycling in their neighborhood, so when I moved here and didn’t have it, I felt the twinge of not doing my part. It’s sad how quickly I got over that because of the convenience of the dumpster.

I don’t think I could ever be like this House guy, but I can do better.

]]> Comment on My Ride on the Bus (audio) by kathleen61 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/my-ride-on-the-bus-audio/#comment-76 kathleen61 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:45:31 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/?p=46#comment-76 You inspired me. Twice a week, when the weather's nice and the mornings are light, I had begun riding my bike the two miles to work. But when it got cold, I parked my bike in the garage and resumed driving my vehicle. I mean, what could I do? It's dangerous to ride a bike when it's icy and dark and I hate to be cold. After reading your audio post, I went to: http://www.sbtranspo.com/routes.htm I knew there was a city bus that went past our house on Lincolnway every morning, but it wasn't until I checked the schedule and routes that I realized the #9 could drop me off just 2 blocks from my workplace. It was chilly this morning (but not February 1st cold like it was for your first bus ride!). The driver was friendly and the bus was on time, warm, bright and CLEAN. It took me less than 5 minutes to walk the two blocks and I was at work with a great attitude (must have been the fresh air and knowing that I was one less carbon-emitting vehicle on the road). The ride home was just as pleasant. Because it's getting warmer, I can soon bring my bike on the bus in the a.m. (all the buses have bike racks on the front) and can ride my bike home in the afternoon. When it gets lighter in the morning I can resume riding my bike to and from work for the exercise. Of course, if the weather's bad, I'm opting for the bus! Thanks for the inspiration. I'm hooked. You inspired me. Twice a week, when the weather’s nice and the mornings are light, I had begun riding my bike the two miles to work. But when it got cold, I parked my bike in the garage and resumed driving my vehicle. I mean, what could I do? It’s dangerous to ride a bike when it’s icy and dark and I hate to be cold.

After reading your audio post, I went to:

http://www.sbtranspo.com/routes.htm

I knew there was a city bus that went past our house on Lincolnway every morning, but it wasn’t until I checked the schedule and routes that I realized the #9 could drop me off just 2 blocks from my workplace.

It was chilly this morning (but not February 1st cold like it was for your first bus ride!). The driver was friendly and the bus was on time, warm, bright and CLEAN. It took me less than 5 minutes to walk the two blocks and I was at work with a great attitude (must have been the fresh air and knowing that I was one less carbon-emitting vehicle on the road).

The ride home was just as pleasant. Because it’s getting warmer, I can soon bring my bike on the bus in the a.m. (all the buses have bike racks on the front) and can ride my bike home in the afternoon. When it gets lighter in the morning I can resume riding my bike to and from work for the exercise. Of course, if the weather’s bad, I’m opting for the bus!

Thanks for the inspiration. I’m hooked.

]]> Comment on Biodiesel Fuel by kathleen61 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/biodiesel-fuel/#comment-75 kathleen61 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:26:09 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/?p=48#comment-75 My Dad recently pointed out that the ethanol plant south of town has a big pile of coal next to it (on the north side of the plant) which you can clearly see from the bypass. My question is, if biodiesel made from corn is so great, how come coal is apparently being burned to produce it? What can you find out about this? My Dad recently pointed out that the ethanol plant south of town has a big pile of coal next to it (on the north side of the plant) which you can clearly see from the bypass.

My question is, if biodiesel made from corn is so great, how come coal is apparently being burned to produce it? What can you find out about this?

]]> Comment on City Sues Man by kathleen61 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/52/#comment-74 kathleen61 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:21:03 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/52/#comment-74 Wouldn't it be great if city garbage trucks were somehow fitted with a sensor so that when it picked up your trash can it would scan a bar code identifying it as yours and then weigh it as it was dumped into the garbage truck? Then you would be billed according to the weight of your trash. I once had neighbors who were totally locked into the "golden arrow" of consumption: http://www.storyofstuff.com/ Every trash day, I'd put out my can with whatever few things weren't being accepted by the recycling center or the Goodwill while my neighbors, two adults in a similarly-sized house, put out a mountain of trash piled high above the container so the lid couldn't shut. Much of it was clearly materials that could be recycled such as boxes for the latest gadgets, etc. It bothered me that they paid the same pick-up fee that the rest of us did when they couldn't be bothered to redirect materials from our landfills. I don't think it's feasible to eliminate a base fee for everyone since we all enjoy a clean, picked-up city. Allowing some to opt out could lead to people sneaking around putting their trash into other peoples' containers or discourage people from picking up a stray cup on the sidewalk and putting it into their own trash can. There might still need to be a sense of shared responsibility until everything we buy can be eaten, composted or reycled effieciently and everyone, including my "golden arrow" neighbors, agrees. Wouldn’t it be great if city garbage trucks were somehow fitted with a sensor so that when it picked up your trash can it would scan a bar code identifying it as yours and then weigh it as it was dumped into the garbage truck? Then you would be billed according to the weight of your trash. I once had neighbors who were totally locked into the “golden arrow” of consumption:

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Every trash day, I’d put out my can with whatever few things weren’t being accepted by the recycling center or the Goodwill while my neighbors, two adults in a similarly-sized house, put out a mountain of trash piled high above the container so the lid couldn’t shut. Much of it was clearly materials that could be recycled such as boxes for the latest gadgets, etc. It bothered me that they paid the same pick-up fee that the rest of us did when they couldn’t be bothered to redirect materials from our landfills.

I don’t think it’s feasible to eliminate a base fee for everyone since we all enjoy a clean, picked-up city. Allowing some to opt out could lead to people sneaking around putting their trash into other peoples’ containers or discourage people from picking up a stray cup on the sidewalk and putting it into their own trash can. There might still need to be a sense of shared responsibility until everything we buy can be eaten, composted or reycled effieciently and everyone, including my “golden arrow” neighbors, agrees.

]]> Comment on City Sues Man by Gail http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/52/#comment-71 Gail Sun, 23 Mar 2008 22:47:13 +0000 http://twhelan.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/52/#comment-71 oh, I definitely think we are a society that "sues first and talks later" or talks only through our attorneys. With all of our cell phones and modern technology we have basically forgotten how to talk to one another face to face! And if we have no garbage to throw out, why should we pay for garbage service??? crazy. I have a neighbor who does not take care of their lawn - mows only twice a summer and has never picked up their dog's poop in 4 years! It really smells! No, I"m not going to sue him, but I am determined to find a way to respectfully ask that he cleans up the yard. Thanks for the reminder/ oh, I definitely think we are a society that “sues first and talks later” or talks only through our attorneys. With all of our cell phones and modern technology we have basically forgotten how to talk to one another face to face! And if we have no garbage to throw out, why should we pay for garbage service??? crazy.

I have a neighbor who does not take care of their lawn – mows only twice a summer and has never picked up their dog’s poop in 4 years! It really smells! No, I”m not going to sue him, but I am determined to find a way to respectfully ask that he cleans up the yard.
Thanks for the reminder/

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