our area has a pretty good recycling program from green plant waste to scrap metal, plastic, old household items and furniture. anything that is reusable is placed in an area where anyone can go in and buy secondhand aswell. I try to buy things secondhand where possible too, furniture, household items etc. we built all our paths and patio from secondhand pavers, and our shade pergola from second hand timber. even my compost bins were other people throwaways. we've been on water shortages for 6 years now so planting drought tolerant plants and reusing grey water where I can is par for the course now. Im also looking into other ways I can reuse more of my grey water along similar lines to esther and len. I also never buy takeaways eg. burgers /chicken etc, I think they are a huge culprit when it comes to some environmental issues like the large wastage of resources and throwaway packaging, and cattle feedlots etc. I think there's a whole lot that doesnt get talked about in the open surrounding these industries and I think this also relates in a way to the article terran posted.

What a tragedy! Yesterday, during the day while browsing GW, I turned the TV off. When my dh came home he asked if I heard anything about a bombing in Boston. I turned on the Tv. What I saw reminded me of 911. Another horror! Monsters killing innocents. The image keeps playing over and over in my mind. I feel terrrible for all in Boston, but the little 8-yr-old boy who died troubles me the most. His father said, right before the first bomb went off, his son hugged him. How sad is that? I hope and PRAY the bomber/s are caught. This may sound cruel, but criminals are getting away with slaps on the wrists. Murderers! Whomever did this should be tortured. Sorry, my words are graphic but everyday there are murders. It's time the government changes laws. I called Mike immediately after the news reported cell phones weren't working..All I got was a fast busy signal, which meant he was either receiving several calls at once, or cells were out. Thank God everyone here is safe, at home, with your families. Give your loved ones hugs. Tell them you love them. Laura, your friends and family are in my prayers. Toni

I have been to Brasil many times, life is not easy there for the poor, unlike what this article seems to be stating. I have also been to several socialist countries and the average quality of life is much lower then what the poorest American would accept here. There's no such thing as a free ride, anywhere or anytime. "Peoples Restaurants," hmmm...where have I heard that equaltarian term before? I'll stick with free choice even if it costs me more then 50 cents a meal.

One of the things I really like to use are shutters, inside and out. Of course I have them on windows. And closet doors. And I use bifold doors which are really narrow french doors too. But where I'm headed is the use I made of recycled old fixed louver closet doors to block off a space where I stored the fishing gear and tackle boxes. In my case, it was in a corner and I kept the shutters closed unless my son needed to get out his salt water gear, or his fresh water gear. He too wrapped fiberglas fishing rods and tied fishing flys. That was some years ago. I painted the shutter door panels different colors in the louvered area. Like soft lavender, soft aqua. I had one wall in that room rag rolled with lavender paint too. It took about 2 cups of paint to do a wall which was 8' x 12' so you don't need much. If you want to "cover up" any of your sewing or special interest supplies, like fishing or painting/art work or jewelry making, think about having "screens" to close or open as needed. I was reminded of this by Shades mentioning her "screen door" because those are about 80 inches tall. You could put fabic as a center piece, does not have to be wood or screen, or even louvers, or thin Lexan, put kid's drawings on one or both sides, sandwiching the works. And they make hinges which bend both ways for the ultimate in adjustability. Or, think about the ceiling track they use in hospitals or exam rooms to suspend curtains, or even small chains to make curtains. It could also work to make a bed enclosure if you don't have a ceiling high enough to have a canopied bed frame made of wrought iron or wood. Just hang the canopy with the ceiling tracks. It could also in a pinch give some privacy for a guest area, right? But I am maybe not making sense right now. I am very tired, and just recovering from a lot of work preparing for Isaac storm, now must endure humidity to put things back where they can be used. I don't mind moving furniture, that's fun, but geez storm preparedness is NOT FUN.