"Welcome to Walden Pond, Fifth Avenue style," wrote Penelope Green in the March 22 New York Times.
Green's 2,247-word profile of a family striving to have no environmental impact for one year took up roughly two-thirds of the home section front and another two-thirds of a page inside.
The story was a glowing account of Colin Beavan, Michelle Conlin and their 2-year-old daughter's life of eco-extremism: forgoing toilet paper, only buying organic food grown within 250 miles of Manhattan, and not using the TV, incandescent light, dishwasher, coffee maker, the elevator or any emitting form of transportation.
Green made the family's experiment sound idyllic and pleasant, though surely Conlin's trip to work on her unpowered scooter in the recent snowstorm was anything but. The Times writer also missed the very serious irony of the story. Mr. Beavan and his wife and child are living a "No Impact" life for one year, so he can write a book about it. Last time I checked books are still printed on paper ... just not toilet paper.
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Maybe they have found a funct
March 22, 2007 - 14:31 ET by hs29fanMaybe they have found a functional use for the NY Times. One that we all have known for years but haven't had the need to go to that extreme. Toilet Paper.
Poor Liberal, he's educated beyond his intelligence
Never mind the TP, you mean t
March 22, 2007 - 14:39 ET by dscottNever mind the TP, you mean they didn't flush the toilet? I don't want to imagine the stench of their apartment, let alone themselves. So in their book does Al Gore's excessive energy consumption get a pass?
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
Bird Cage.New Puppy.Homemad
March 22, 2007 - 14:40 ET by MightyMouthBird Cage.
New Puppy.
Homemade Kite.
Fireplace Starter.
Dunce Hats for Al Gore and his Gordetts.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Stranded, stranded without a
March 23, 2007 - 09:32 ET by Dan The Man 2Stranded, stranded without a roll.
Stranded on a toilet bowel.
What do you do when your stranded
Stranded without a roll
You act like a man
And wipe with you hand
When your stranded,
Stranded without a roll
Sung to the tune of Branded (Branded TV show)
Sorry couldnt resist
How ridiculous! Why should
March 22, 2007 - 14:49 ET by QueenMumHow ridiculous! Why should civilization move backward? We've gotten this far without destroying the planet. I'm sure we can continue to move forward without having to wipe our butts with corn cobs or the Sears catalog. Maybe Mr. Beavan's book should be printed on toilet paper. A suitable medium for such crap.
THEY didn't add any impact, b
March 22, 2007 - 14:51 ET by FastEdTHEY didn't add any impact, but what about the delivery of food and other services. Did they harvest their own food? What of the transport? What kind of job did she have, that didn't depend on non-environ impacts? I would have like to see what would have happed with a teen in the family? Let us not forget, this was only an experiment! Would they do this ALL the time? Better yet, let's see algore, and edwards do this for a month! THAT would be a story worth printing on a renewable resource, by anti-environ printing presses, by the anti-people nyt's!
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
“. . .no environmental impa
March 22, 2007 - 17:01 ET by TheTruth“. . .no environmental impact for one year. . .”
The only way to do that is stop breathing. Humans are major emitters C02 and methane; we are walking environmental disasters! Even after death we continue to contribute to the “global warming planetary emergency” by emitting gases from the decay process.
One word for these people. . . ~ MOONBATS ~
Oh no! He's ruined. Imagine t
March 22, 2007 - 14:51 ET by Tim GrahamOh no! He's ruined. Imagine the environmental impact of having your name printed in a newspaper printed in the hundreds of thousands! What a waste of good forest wood!
Writing a book???? Oh my Go
March 22, 2007 - 14:54 ET by CaringwhiteguyWriting a book???? Oh my God!!!! Whatever happened to altruistic virtue???? Nothing like being ID'd as the frauds they are.
Well I for one applaud the
March 22, 2007 - 15:03 ET by Dave in TexasWell I for one applaud the efforts of Colin and Michelle. Particularly:
such as going without toilet paper or any other paper products
I hope that every person who currently subscribes to or purchases the New York Times is inspired by the example of these two individuals and either immediately cancels their subscription or never purchases that publication again. Think of the benefit to the planet!
Well isn't this little family
March 22, 2007 - 15:03 ET by bigtimerWell isn't this little family trio just precious!
You can believe when they publish this book on paper they are going to enjoy that green paper they receive after the NYT's and critters like Imus gush about their book and of course make it #1 in their papers!
What hypocrites!
Who knows, maybe it will be w
March 22, 2007 - 15:19 ET by CaringwhiteguyWho knows, maybe it will be written on papyrus with ink made from wild berries. But wait 'til Oprah recommends it. Little Colin's fingers will get mighty tired, perhaps even a little carpal tunnel will set in.
Sounds like a typical day out
March 22, 2007 - 15:05 ET by Airforce_5_OSounds like a typical day out in the country in late 60's and early 70's NC when I was growing up (Corn Cobs are ruff). Nope; it’s loony bin Liberal USA in 2007.
Come into the 22nd Century people. It's called progress for a reason.
No toilet paper?! I'd hate to
March 22, 2007 - 15:09 ET by HypocriteHaterNo toilet paper?! I'd hate to have to do this family's laundry.
We're talking Manhattan here.
March 22, 2007 - 15:17 ET by NL207We're talking Manhattan here. 5 will get you 10 these clowns have a bidet. Either that, or they have smelly fingers.
Methinks a bidet would use wa
March 22, 2007 - 15:21 ET by CaringwhiteguyMethinks a bidet would use way too much water for these folks.
And John Edwards' mansion is
March 22, 2007 - 16:08 ET by NL207And John Edwards' mansion is carbon neutral!
What? You mean pumping and heating WATER causes pollution? I always thought water was FREE!
And to think this a$$hole mus
March 22, 2007 - 15:38 ET by Mr. KafirAnd to think this a$$hole must be shaking hands with unsuspecting innocents spreading all kinds of viruses. Hope he drops dead of some disease.
Why go to all this trouble ju
March 22, 2007 - 15:38 ET by MidAmericaWhy go to all this trouble just to write a book.
Go interview some homeless people living out of shopping carts. There's some low-impact living for you.
Excellent observation, Mid.
March 22, 2007 - 18:08 ET by QueenMumExcellent observation, Mid.
I guess they didn't use HEAT
March 22, 2007 - 15:53 ET by NoMoreClintonsI guess they didn't use HEAT either during the winter? Oh, the skid marks must have kept their worthless butts warm. What liberal fools (is that redundant?) . . . they win the John Edwards Award for excellence in hypocrisy!
No..When I was in my 20's ,I
March 22, 2007 - 16:29 ET by upcountrywaterNo..
When I was in my 20's ,I had a broke (cheap) friend that set the temperature as low as it could be set, so heat from the other apartmants would soak through the walls, and warm his place. It was like 50 or so. Being extreme on some one elses $$, TYPICAL.
Kinda gives a new meaning to
March 22, 2007 - 15:56 ET by FastEdKinda gives a new meaning to the old saying - "Going Without".
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
FastEd
March 22, 2007 - 19:00 ET by Gary HallWell, that's what the book is for - proving how stupid an idea it was.
And, I'm going to "go without" the book - that will be my contribution. HA!
Crikey! All I can say about t
March 22, 2007 - 16:24 ET by Del DolemonteCrikey! All I can say about this story is....sh*t.
I wouldn't be surprised if this Colin Beavan fellow is the son of the intrepid hiker I read about in a book written in the late 1950s about "thru-hiking" the Appalachian Trail.
The author chronicled the story about a "beatnik" he encountered on the trail (this was before the word "hippy" came into favor) who was hiking from Georgia to Maine with not much more than a sleeping bag, canteen, and a bag of rice strapped to his back. He had supposedly figured out exactly how much rice to eat each day without having to poop.
Crikey! All I can say about t
March 22, 2007 - 16:27 ET by Del Dolemonteduplicate post deleted
What did they use?
March 22, 2007 - 16:28 ET byWhat did they use?
Hi Debra,They probably used
March 22, 2007 - 16:46 ET by MightyMouthHi Debra,
They probably used what people used before toilet paper was invented. I'm just glad I'm not old enough to fully answer your question! :-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
lol... Yes, I just wonder wha
March 22, 2007 - 17:10 ET byHi MightyMouth,
lol... Yes, I just wonder what that was. hehe.. :o)
As I recall, the Koran mentio
March 22, 2007 - 19:48 ET by Del DolemonteAs I recall, the Koran mentions using stones?
Could you use the Koran?Oops.
March 22, 2007 - 19:58 ET by saw the lightCould you use the Koran?
Oops. Forget that. That statement would get me a death threat from the religion on the democrats' "peaceful" list.
"People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news." - A.J. Liebling
the answer...
March 22, 2007 - 17:09 ET by Julia A. SeymourHi Debra,
Here's the quote from the Times about what they used instead of TP.
"Nothing is a substitute for toilet paper, by the way; think of bowls of water and lots of air drying."
Also, Beavan's blog mentions that they compost the stuff. gag me.
Hi Julia,I bet they were pape
March 22, 2007 - 17:15 ET byHi Julia,
I bet they were paper bowls. hehe...
Oh compost their umm...! --oh gosh, that is just ewww!!!!
Human feces is filled with al
March 22, 2007 - 18:04 ET by QueenMumHuman feces is filled with all sorts of nasty things. It's not environmentally sound to "dump" it into the earth. If it were, we wouldn't need all those fancy sewage treatment plants. In times past, an outhouse uphill from a water source was a serious health hazard. Stupid city folk.
Actually, if properly done, i
March 22, 2007 - 19:40 ET by Del DolemonteActually, if properly done, it can be "dumped into the earth", just as long as you don't dump too much of it in one place.
I live in an area with a lot of National Forest hiking trails, and the hikers who camp out are told exactly how to "do it" without harming the environment. First of all, one has to be at least 75 feet away from a stream or pond or lake, then you dig a trench, then cover it when you're "done".
In addition, there are new high-tech composting toilets, which are widely used. The Appalachian Mountain Club, which runs a chain of high huts in New Hampshire's White Mountains (two of which are over 5,000 feet above sea level, in a protected alpine environment) has used composting toilets in their huts for years without any problems. One of the alpine-zone huts accomodates 96 guests per night (plus a crew of 4) for 3 months every summer, and the other holds 46 or so people (again with a crew of 4).
Thank you for the wilderness
March 23, 2007 - 11:19 ET by QueenMumThank you for the wilderness edumacation, Del.
I guess I'd want to know exactly where these folks live. "Dumping" in the wilderness is one thing. But "dumping" in your city or suburban backyard is another.
Composting toilets are kind o
March 23, 2007 - 12:07 ET by dscottComposting toilets are kind of interesting. Definitely is a water saving device and something I could get behind...
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
night soil???
March 23, 2007 - 11:24 ET by misterbillNight soil anyone? I don't know if they still use it in Japan, but they were in the 50's when I was there.
One could look at it as a never ending cycle!! (Sorry about that image!)
An ugly American is one who does not support his country.
Don't you know? They used t
March 23, 2007 - 07:51 ET by fosstenDon't you know? They used the seashells.
(Obscure Demolition Man reference)
Boy the tide sure has turne
March 22, 2007 - 17:38 ET by Dan The Man 2Boy the tide sure has turned. I rememnber when I was young the hot thing among the thinkers was disposable paper clothes. In fact almost all things were being made to be thrown away.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark. -- save my gun, shoot a liberal.
It shows they do not understa
March 22, 2007 - 17:53 ET by Conservative VoiceIt shows they do not understand basic economics. Land is a limited resource. As such, if we were able to somehow remove the need for paper, they would scoop the trees out and use the land that will turn a bigger profit. Hence, toilet paper, paper products helps maintain MORE trees. Like cattle, the more demand there is, the more resources are devoted to make sure the supply is there to satisfy the demand.
These people who worship trees are just wacked. I am all for conservation where we can, waste not want not. But a tree, especially a tree used for paper ( a trash tree that grows fast, but you can't use the lumber for anything but paper ) is a vegetable, like an onion (not to be confused with ogres), hence is renewable.
--- Drill more oil, after all its organic!
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
March 22, 2007 - 17:56 ET by allanfThe story brings up a laudable goal for the pristine, pure, devoted and committed New York Times. Reduce your carbon footprint. Save trees. Forego the print edition of the New York Times.
Thats right. Save oxygen giving trees. Drop the print edition of the New York Times. Practice what you glorify.
Hm. Wonder how they propose t
March 22, 2007 - 18:09 ET by QueenMumHm. Wonder how they propose to potty train the 2-year old. Think about it.
Typical liberals, I wonder if
March 22, 2007 - 19:24 ET by JABTypical liberals, I wonder if they put a sand bucket next to their toilet and hugged each other with their left hand like the Muslims do in their Asian block in the 3rd world.
So what have these two proved? They can live like cavemen/ women in the 21st century? Let me be the first to congratulate the...DumbAS_'s for a job well done. I can live off the land when I have to but not to cut down on political BS.
BTY, FYI... for you dummies, a neutral "Carbon Footprint" means your dead, as in – No breathing either.
"To bad Ignorance isn't painful..."
I think this thread ranks (
March 22, 2007 - 20:34 ET by radiofitz34I think this thread ranks (yes, I know) as one the most crap filled. I laughed I cried I gagged. Keep us the good work Julia and fellow bloggers. BTW wiping one's butt with NYT is good idea except for maybe the black ink! Kinda like black face (vaudeville) on the south end.
But like a liberal---
March 23, 2007 - 00:47 ET by misterbill"except for maybe the black ink!"
But like a liberal---they wouldn't care because they can't see it! Among many things in this world that they cannot see.
An ugly American is one who does not support his country.
2,247-word profile?Well, a fo
March 23, 2007 - 00:37 ET by stanleygoodspeed2,247-word profile?
Well, a fool's voice IS known by the multitude of words.
Ecclesiastes 5:3
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
NYT toliet paper
March 23, 2007 - 00:40 ET by m1xramWish I seen this topic earlier.
I would concur with all those whom have 'gone' before, that the NYT would, and should, be the preferred method of wiping your *ss. At last the paper would have a beneficial use.
As far as the kooks go, trading off a possible staff infection and general health hazard for toilet paper seems like a bargain. Sign me up. Oh wait, no paper to sign up on, d*mn!
m1xram
This stinks
March 23, 2007 - 07:21 ET by blackrain4xmasGoing without tp for a year. Brilliant. Just brilliant. And I wonder who keeps pulling down the grading curve for American mental strength.