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Are all telephone calls recorded and accessible to the US government?Submitted by freedom1776 on Sat, 05/04/2013 - 10:56
A former FBI counterterrorism agent claims on CNN that this is the case
Glenn Greenwald
Saturday 4 May 2013
The real capabilities and behavior of the US surveillance state are almost entirely unknown to the American public because, like most things of significance done by the US government, it operates behind an impenetrable wall of secrecy. But a seemingly spontaneous admission this week by a former FBI counterterrorism agent provides a rather startling acknowledgment of just how vast and invasive these surveillance activities are.
Over the past couple days, cable news tabloid shows such as CNN's Out Front with Erin Burnett have been excitingly focused on the possible involvement in the Boston Marathon attack of Katherine Russell, the 24-year-old American widow of the deceased suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev. As part of their relentless stream of leaks uncritically disseminated by our Adversarial Press Corps, anonymous government officials are claiming that they are now focused on telephone calls between Russell and Tsarnaev that took place both before and after the attack to determine if she had prior knowledge of the plot or participated in any way.
On Wednesday night, Burnett interviewed Tim Clemente, a former FBI counterterrorism agent, about whether the FBI would be able to discover the contents of past telephone conversations between the two. He quite clearly insisted that they could:
BURNETT: Tim, is there any way, obviously, there is a voice mail they can try to get the phone companies to give that up at this point. It's not a voice mail. It's just a conversation. There's no way they actually can find out what happened, right, unless she tells them?
CLEMENTE: "No, there is a way. We certainly have ways in national security investigations to find out exactly what was said in that conversation. It's not necessarily something that the FBI is going to want to present in court, but it may help lead the investigation and/or lead to questioning of her. We certainly can find that out.
BURNETT: "So they can actually get that? People are saying, look, that is incredible.
CLEMENTE: "No, welcome to America. All of that stuff is being captured as we speak whether we know it or like it or not."
"All of that stuff" - meaning every telephone conversation Americans have with one another on US soil, with or without a search warrant - "is being captured as we speak".
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Not only that, but the
Not only that, but the government has stopped prosecuting companies that do the same. Reading your emails, your cookies, your phone calls, GPS location, etc. Hell, in China it has always been 100% legal; it is happening in the US now to.
Plan for eliminating the national debt in 10-20 years:
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I already knew this...
...was happening, but it's really creepy when you read the reality of it.
No mention of Carnivore?
Nobody in any of the comments I've seen anywhere mention Eschelon or Carnivore or that ASB or ASV 1000 or whatever they changed the name to.
That's really odd, as this is one place I figured Everyone knew about those systems, and I figured Someone in a comment online somewhere would've mentioned them but I'm seeing nothing...
Did those systems get debunked or something and I missed it? I've figured since about 40 years ago they've been recording everything...
I mentioned Echelon briefly in a comment further down.
I'd actually forgotten about Carnivore. Glad you mentioned it here.
Whew I'm blind
Thank you for mentioning it!!! And for sharing the link.
I do believe they have the ability to access all conversations
I do think it is likely that the government does record every phone call, cell phone call, text message, and email, and possibly even have microphones installed in televisions and cable boxes...
And all of this information is being recorded and stored in a giant database.
Is THERE SOMEONE LISTENING TO YOUR CONVERSATIONS? Probably not. Not until you become interesting.
So they store your conversations, and then when the government becomes interested in you, they target you, THEN THEY PULL UP YOUR CONVERSATIONS. At this point they can filter through your conversations and find dirt on you.
This is another reason I don't like drones. They can do the same shit with crazy cameras and record our every movement to be recalled later.
Makes me sick to think of living in such a 1984 world.
Q: how do you spell 'facebook?'
How do you spell RELIEF?
G.I.G.O. (Garbage In, Garbage Out)
GIGO refers to the concept
GIGO refers to the concept that entering bad data gives bad results... "Garbage In, Garbage Out". In other words, Facebook is only as good as the information you feed it.
Take the time and think
who gains from all the info?
who gains from the war's
who gains from war on drugs.
who gains from search and seizure.
Check this out Glen is a guy with a high I.Q. who like Ron Paul agenda seems to be about a fair government!
Most people let there rights go because they think if there aren't doing anything wrong that they don't have to worry.
One of my best friends had a really hot wife who worked as a ER nurse so she had a lot of contact with the police.
They just didn't have a relationship that work out to stay married.
So as best of friends they split up.
Guess what?
My buddy got all kinds of intimidation police coming by his house because they just couldn't believe that he was as nice as her.
and I guess they thought if the scared him, maybe they would have a shot with the playmate!
After two week of police harassment, she had to tell every cop coming into ER that her soon to be ex was a nice guy. ONE MORE TIME NICE GUY.
A good prosecutor get about a 100% conviction ratio!
So your going to trust the government who as a rule will not hire a officer if he has over a 110 IQ!
the office will build a case against you if he has total access to everything you said he could take it out of context and at the least you will be broke trying to defend yourself.
And on top of that watch this video.
Just want what seems to be missing, Truth and Justice for ALL
What is fraud except creating "value" from nothing and passing it off as something?
I think he is full of shit.
And he only wants you all to believe it to stifle dissent. You know, fear the big, bad, know everything, government, after all they listen to everything you say.
It was on CNN, so it must be fact, right?
"A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within" W. Durant
1978, big ears, NSA drama.
Doesn't anyone recall ?
I was a senior in HS when it broke, and I've always just assumed ever since that EVERY word I ever spoke into a phone, every keystroke I every computed online was tracked and recorded and stored away somewhere.
I even, from time to time feed those Aholes some disinformation, just to keep them guessing...and someday I'm going to pull my plug on them by just going silent, maybe soon.
God Bless
Drew, by the very grace of GOD through the blood of Christ Jesus.
"there shall come after us men whom shall garner great wealth using our system, and having done so shall seek to slam the door of prosperity behind them." George Washington
While the NSA was certainly
While the NSA was certainly spying on international communications back in 1978 it was not at that time storing everything said in domestic phone conversations or everything transferred over what was then called the ARPANET. The technical capability didn't exist back then. I remember an IBM ad around that time for a one terabyte storage system they had developed. It filled a large room, and had multiple levels of storage (drums, disks, and magnetic strips). Today you can buy a cheap two terabyte disk drive that fits in your hand. (I'm sure the NSA has more advanced stuff.) So now the NSA can store that flood of data.
My hope is that they accumulate so much data that they
lose the ability to manage it so it becomes worthless to them except well after the fact that the information might be usable.
I accumulate a mailing list composed of the email addresses from all the junk email I receive. To assist in overwhelming those who want to monitor my email activity, I occasionally use PGP to encrypt a copy of the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, or some similar large document, and email it to those addresses on that list. Let them read all they want.
"Bend over and grab your ankles" should be etched in stone at the entrance to every government building and every government office.
I personally believe (without
I personally believe (without actual "smoking gun" proof, of course) that nearly all communications are monitored, but they are not all recorded. I think key written or spoken phrases that pass through electronic gateways or because of interpersonal connections based on location, social networks or affiliations are enough to trigger automated systems to target certain individuals for recording and increased scrutiny.
The amount of information to be stored and identified would be mind-bogglingly vast if everything was actually recorded. This is why I think it might be easier to monitor (using artificial intelligence programs, such as IBM's Watson) without everything being recorded.
They won't even look at the
They won't even look at the information until they target someone. At that time, they will have a voice recognition program pull out every conversation their target has had over the last 20+ years, then they will have a computer filter pick out the key words that they deem important. Computers may become so advanced that they can pull out the one sentence that incriminates someone. Even now they can narrow it down to just a few days of listening while you are in a holding cell. There are so many laws that most everyone could be charged with a felony every week. This will allow them to lock away or kill anyone they want under color of the law. They don't look at the data and find a crime and then go after the targeted person. They find a targeted person, search the data, make up a crime/excuse, then eliminate the target.
Reasonably reliable voice
Reasonably reliable voice recognition software has only come around in the last 5-10 years. There may be more advanced software developed that we don't yet know of, but I find that unlikely. Software advances are fairly porous and travel quickly, so if breakthrough work in one area had occurred, other coders would've known about it.
My point is that they are
My point is that they are recording and holding all information now, and 20 years from now they will have the ability to review and pick out an individual voice, probably much sooner. They realize this and are building the database. It would be like someone in the 80's collecting hair samples in the hopes of DNA testing in the future.
Then where are the massive
Then where are the massive server farms? Wouldn't constant sweeps of all Internet-connected computers and voice traffic require enormous amounts of power that would be detectable or traceable? Don't you think a group like A*n*o*n*y*m*o*u*s or Wikileaks would've discovered such a thing by now?
Like I said before, I happen to think most, if not all publicly accessible data may be scanned but not stored. Archiving all that data would be a near impossibility AFAIK.
You believe the government
You believe the government doesn't have the computing space? Really? That is not a problem for them. It has been discovered, I thought it was generally accepted knowledge by now. Do you read much? They don't have to transfer all of it to government owned servers, most private servers store emails, etc., and they regularly search these. But there's massive computer space at the NSA, Langley Virginia likely holds a lot. Some is stored on databases of other countries and private companies, but they are expanding as these older servers are filling up quick.
And these are just the ones we know about, I am sure there are many that are unknown.
Alright, but the Wired
Alright, but the Wired article said that NSA data center wouldn't even be up and running until Setember. The other sources I won't even waste my time reading.
Additionally, these massive projects are all about expanding budgets and the power if the people overseeing these installations. These things don't happen without the usual human elements mixed into them, such as fear, greed, gamesmanship, etc. More data isn't necessarily "better" data.
Here's another source, this time in India. Note that they will be "monitoring", not "recording"...
"Recording" is impractical. Monitoring is relatively simpler.
They will soon be recording public conversations! We don't have to debate this, just tell a friend of your to play along and start planning a major terrorist attack on the phone, or assassinating someone important and if nobody shows up at your house within 6 weeks of doing this, I will declare you correct!
In this digital age
In this digital age, of course they are collecting, compiling, and storing all the information they can get their hands on.
You are linked to everyone you've ever called, and more than that, all your "searches" have been recorded too. Recall how a criminal is "caught" and "convicted" because of their e-mails, phone calls, etc.
I've been telling my family this for at least the last 15 years, and they mostly seem to think it's alright with them, as long as they're not the "criminal". Look at how freely people give information to FACEBOOK and other social media venues.
What they don't know, WE ARE ALL SUSPECTS since 9-11, and that's the way the Government likes it, and even want more power to do what they want...this is why there's a big assault on the amendments to the constitution. One slice of the pie at a time, until it's all gone and people not even notice how things have changed.
Hey, I thought "WE" were the ones who's suppose to be watching the Government, NOT the other way around...Hey, What's going on here?
When it's alright for people to "BOO" the Golden Rule, I know we are in some serious deep doo-doo, and its just a matter of time before something happens to grab all our LIBERTIES.
FBI can hear you even with
FBI can hear you even with your cell phone off.
thats why the batteries dont come out on many these days!
That and the battery usually goes first and most people will just buy a new phone!
I also thought it was creepy when a lot of laptops started coming out with fingerprint scans in lieu of passwords. You scan one finger and the software prompts you: "come on! Do the other fingers too! All of them in order. What if you lose a hand."
Ultimately I didn't object to the print from one finger because that data is already available to the parties interested in that info.
No surprise here. I have assumed this to be the case for
the last 5-7 years or so (since the admission of the "red rooms" in telecom centers)... or longer? Can't recall. Haven't most of us?
As for the doubters: why would anyone be so naive as to deny this rather obvious situation? (Normalcy bias gets 'em every time!)
I don't mean to be condescending, nor am I Mr. Smarty-pants or anything. But seriously...
How many times has the FBI, etc. denied some practice--and even vehemently--only to turn around some years later and admit that, yes, they had been enacting that practice all along?
Man, until people wake up and recognize our "government" as the enemy which it truly is by and large, we'll get nowhere.
No paranoia here; just recognition of reality.
(BTW, since I shouldn't assume everyone has heard this: if you want to have an earnest "EFF the government" conversation [or one about boom sticks, "herbal remedies", etc.] with someone, it might be wise to do this in person, and take the batteries out of your phones. And this is old news....)
What would the Founders do?
They admitted this on 9-11-01.
My husband, son and I all remember it, we were watching the news that evening and some government spokesman, I think from the FCC, admitted they captured every conversation, saying all they had to do was mine the data. We have tried to find the clip since then, have been unable.
Love or fear? Choose again with every breath.
People should
read about the HUGE spy center the NSA is building in Utah:
I think it's largely to target the biggest, most information rich communication system there is: the Internet.
The good news is that if you know what you're doing you can be anonymous and communicate very privately on the Internet. This is possible using cryptography, which is based on math, (what Bitcoin uses for example) and obfuscation technologies like Tor that make it basically impossible to connect an IP address with an actual person/location, which is how Silk Road is able to operate.
No matter how big a government gets they can't beat math. But I'll be glad once the dollar crashes and we de-fund all this illegal overgrown bureaucracy.


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Absinthe Review: Absinthe Heritage Verte
Absintheur: Visitor 01.02.2014
As a big friend of anise I simply love this. Perhaps it isn\'t the best absinthe in the universe, but compared to the price it is a real bargain. Very sweet, almost like liqueur, so it doesn\'t need any sugar.
Absintheur: Christopher Käck 14.07.2013
Nice colour and smooth taste. Probably the best absinthe I have at home right now and I will definitly buy it again.
Absintheur: Cornel Leahu 02.12.2012
One of the few that is not bad neat since the bitterness is not overwhelming. Only needs one cube of sugar when louched. Complex flavour with an aftertaste that at first is rather chemical but then changes to herbal.. interesting. The best/worst thing about this absinthe is that I found it retail down the street in Chicago less expensive than from Alandia! Imagine that.
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Alandia has another winner here! The aroma is spicey with a hint of fruit, due, I think, to the wine alcohol base. The color is a beautiful golden-green and the louche is very thick and fast forming. The flavor is wonderful. It's bold, robust, full-bodied and intensely herbal. I usually drink my absinthe at a 4:1 ratio, but due to the extremely complex herbal bill I like this one at 5:1. And that makes the bottle go a little further :). I know Alandia has been working on this for quite some time and I've got to say that it's worth the wait!
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100 Steps to a Plastic-Free Life
Do you think it's possible to live life without plastic? Or to at least live with less of it? Check out this list of plastic-free alternatives and see for yourself.
I've been compiling this list of plastic-free and less plastic alternatives since June of 2007. It's not meant to be overwhelming but simply to show what is possible. Choose a few that seem doable and that will make the most impact. No one can do it all at once. But we can all get started!
If you still have questions after looking over this list, search the blog for more plastic-free ideas, or contact me directly. You can also subscribe My Plastic-free Life for regular blog updates. And if you like what you see here, please use the email link above to forward this list on to the people you love. We can all make a difference.
Carry reusable shopping bags.
Carry whatever works for you. Some people like reusable canvas totes (such as those from Eco-Bags Products or Project GreenBag.) Others prefer to put their purchases into a backpack or messenger bag. Do you often forget your reusable bags? ChicoBags are a great emergency alternative. While they are made from synthetic materials, they compress into their own attached stuff sack, which makes them very convenient and likely to be used. I carry several of them in my purse so I am never without a bag. If you have a car, keep your grocery bags in it and remember to bring them into the store with you! And one more thing: reusable bags are not just for groceries! Carry them for all your purchases, from electronics to clothing.
Give up bottled water.
Not only does it come in a plastic bottle, but tremendous resources are used to extract, bottle, and ship it. And many brands of bottled water are simply filtered tap water. Get a reusable stainless steel bottle (Klean Kanteen has just come out with a completely plastic-free water bottle — no plastic on the cap at all!) or stainless steel travel mug, fill it up with tap water before leaving the house, and refill it wherever you happen to be. I don't recommend reusable plastic or aluminum bottles. Plastic may leach chemicals into the water and aluminum bottles are lined with an epoxy resin, some of which has also found to leach into water depending on the brand. Why take a chance? Read my posts about bottled water for more information.
Shop your local farmers market.
Farmers markets are a great way to buy fresh, local produce without plastic, as long as you remember to bring your own bags. Normally, the fruits and vegetables at farmers markets don't even have those little plastic stickers on them. And for small fruits like berries and cherry tomatoes, use your own container or bag and hand the vendor's plastic container back to reuse. Read more about farmers markets going plastic-free.
Say "no" to plastic produce bags.
They are generally unnecessary. What are we worried about? That our apples won't get along with our broccoli during the trip home? Or is it that the produce will get dirty? Hey, it grew in the dirt, and we're going to wash it anyway, right? At the grocery store, I put most produce directly into my cart and then into my reusable bag.
If you do feel you want a separate bag for produce, cloth options are available. Some alternatives are Ambatalia, ECOBAGS, ChicoBag produce bags, Acme produce bags, or handmade bags from Etsy sellers. Check out this video of a woman who can make five reusable bags from one T-shirt!
Wondering how to store your produce without plastic once you get it home? Check out this extensive list of ways to buy and store produce without plastic. (And read why I never use Evert Fresh green bags.)
Buy from bulk bins as often as possible.
We have some great bulk food stores here in the Bay Area (Rainbow, Berkeley Bowl, Whole Foods, for example) and I can get almost all dry foods as well as some personal care products from the bulk bins. These foods include rice and other grains, pasta, beans (learning to cook dried beans is an important part of plastic-free living), seeds, nuts, all kinds of flour, baking soda and other dry baking ingredients, cereal and granola, pretzels and chips, some candy, tofu, oils, nut butters, olives, herbs, tea & coffee, and more things than I can think of right now.
The key is bringing my own reusable bags and containers with me to the store. You can carry the same kind of cotton bags for bulk purchases as for produce (see above.) Glass jars and other containers work great as well. Why shop from bulk bins and take new plastic bags?
A question I am frequently asked is how to avoid paying for the additional weight of the container. Stores have various methods for deducting the container weight. At Whole Foods, for example, I take my containers to the customer service desk to have them weighed before filling. That weight is then deducted from the total weight of the item at the checkout counter. At Berkeley Bowl, empty containers are weighed at the Bulk Counter and then weighed again at the same counter when full before checking out. At Rainbow Grocery, customers weigh their own containers. And all the cotton bags that I use are printed with the tare weight on their tags.
Concerned about cross contamination for people with allergies? Check out my post on avoiding gluten while still living plastic-free.
Even if you live in an area that does not have bulk food stores, you can still buy non-perishable goods in large size packages, which will decrease the amount of plastic used overall.
Cut out sodas, juices, and all other plastic-bottled beverages.
I've made the decision to eat fresh fruit instead of buying juice. This eliminates the need for all disposable bottles — glass as well as plastic. I don't drink sugary sodas, but I do like seltzer water. Especially in the summer. So I got a Soda Stream Penguin soda maker for those times I crave some fizz. The soda maker itself is plastic, but the carafes are glass, and the soda maker replaces hundreds of disposable bottles. What's more, the reusable CO2 cartridges are returned to the manufacturer for refilling.
Buy fresh bread that comes in either paper bags or no bags.
At the farmers market or natural food stores I can buy bread that comes in only paper. At the bakery down the street, I can have my bread placed in my own cloth bag and avoid all packaging. Bread keeps fresh when stored in the cloth bag inside an airtight tin. I reuse a popcorn tin that was sent to me as a gift several years ago. Often, thrift stores have more of these tins than they know what to do with. Fresh bread is a bit more expensive than its plastic-packaged cousins, but to me, it's worth it. And since I buy so few new things, I can afford to spend more for quality, plastic-free food. See my post Fresh Bread: Buy It, Store It, Keep It Fresh Without Plastic.
Return containers for berries, cherry tomatoes, etc. to the farmer's market to be reused.
One reader asked what I do about cherry tomatoes or berries since they can get crushed in reusable bag. I buy them at the farmer's market in the green plastic basket and then return it to the farmer each week for a refill, so I never have to take new ones. Don't have a farmers market nearby? Ask your local grocer to take them back. Or empty your berries into your own container before leaving the store and leave the plastic basket behind. If enough of us do this, perhaps merchants will take note.
Bring your own container for meat and prepared foods
I take my own containers with me to the butcher counter at Whole Foods or local butcher shop. (While the humans in our house don't each much meat, the kitties do.) The butcher can weigh the container and deduct the weight, just as is done with bulk foods. The servers at the deli/prepared foods counter can do the same thing. Just ask.
Choose milk in returnable glass bottles.
Many areas have local dairies that provides milk in returnable glass bottles rather than plastic or plastic-coated cardboard (yes, all cardboard milk containers are coated inside and out with plastic, not wax.) In my area, I buy Straus milk, which is available in natural grocery stores. Unfortunately, the milk bottle does contain an unrecyclable plastic cap. But I would rather buy milk in a glass bottle capped with plastic than milk contained in plastic on all sides.
Buy large wheels of unwrapped cheese.
They can be hard to find, but when I do come across plastic-free cheese, I buy the whole thing. Going in on it with friends can make it more affordable. Check out my instructions for storing cheese without plastic.
Try to choose only wine bottled in glass with natural cork stoppers.
This is kind of a trial and error project since you can't see the stopper until you open the bottle. There's a mobile website called Corkwatch you can use to see what kind of stopper–plastic or natural cork–is in a particular wine bottle before you purchase it. If you haven't already, please read this post about endangered cork forests and why it's important to support them by choosing natural cork over plastic stoppers or metal screw caps (which contain BPA in the lining.)
Let go of frozen convenience foods.
This was a hard one. I agonized for a while over which brands of frozen meals used the best containers, but in the end there was just no sound alternative. They all use plastic. Even frozen food trays that seem to be made of cardboard are lined with plastic. The more we limit our consumption of frozen convenience foods, the less plastic waste we'll generate and the healthier we'll be!
Give up chewing gum.
Did you know almost all chewing gum is made from plastic? That's right. When you're chewing gum, you're chewing on plastic. Read more about plastic in chewing gum here.
Carry your own containers for take out food and leftovers.
- Request take out places use your container instead of their disposable one. If they won't do it, give them a Take Out Without card to help them understand why they should. Some examples of convenient containers are:
- To-Go Ware tiffins and individual sidekick containers
- Life Without Plastic's stainless steel containers in various sizes
- LunchBots lunch containers
- stainless steel containers sold at some camping supply stores
- Think bringing your own containers is too much of a hassle and won't make a difference? Please check out my post "Carrying Our Own Containers: Powerful Action or Pointless Inconvenience?"
Carry a stainless steel travel mug or water bottle at all times for coffee and other drinks while out in the world.
(I use my travel mug for water instead of a water bottle.) Besides the plastic lid and plastic straw, paper cups are lined with a plastic coating. When I first began this project, I got in the habit of requesting "no lid and no straw" when ordering a drink in a disposable paper cup. But nowadays, if I've forgotten my mug, I simply do without until I can find a water fountain or sit-down cafe or restaurant with durable cups and glasses. This process helps me to remember my reusable mug next time.
Carry reusable utensils and glass drinking straws.
I keep a To-Go-Ware bamboo utensil set and a couple of GlassDharma drinking straws in my purse at all times. And actually, I didn't need to go out and buy the bamboo. I could have just as easily used my own stainless steel utensils. Check out blogger Mindful Momma's cute DIY utensil wrap.
When ordering pizza, say no to the little plastic "table" in the middle of the pizza box.
It's called a "package saver." Think about it. A single use plastic device meant to save a single use cardboard box. What about all the marine animals that swallow that type of disposable plastic? It doesn't save them, does it? When ordering, say, "Please don't put that little white plastic thing in the middle of the pizza." They'll know what you mean.
Treat yourself to an ice cream cone.
Instead of keeping containers of ice cream in the freezer, I will enjoy the occasional ice cream cone while I'm out. That keeps my ice cream consumption down, which is better for my health, and it also does away with the plastic-lined containers as well. Ice cream cones require zero container or utensil waste. If I do want to bring some home, I can have my ice cream handpacked in my own container.
Keep your own reusable foodware at the office.
I brought a plate, bowl, glass, and utensils to keep at my desk. This way, I can avoid all the disposable cups, plates, and cutlery in the lunchroom.
Carry lunches in reusable stainless containers or cloth bags.
A few examples of good lunch container options are:
- PlanetBox lunch boxes
- Life Without Plastic lunch sacks and stainless containers
- Life Without Plastic insulated lunch bag
- Eco Lunchbox containers.
- LunchBots stainless snack and sandwich containers
- To-Go Ware tiffins and individual sidekick containers
- Other options can be found at Reuseit.com. However, be aware that this company does sell some plastic lunch kits which I do not recommend.
Choose reusable cloth sandwich/snack bags.
Read about the many reusable cloth lunch baggie options here.
Choose glass/stainless steel food storage containers, and reuse what you have.
We save nearly all glass jars and bottles for purchasing bulk foods and for storing leftovers in the refrigerator or even the freezer. When we run out of jars, we store leftovers in bowls with saucers on top instead of plastic wrap. Bowls with saucers are great for stacking. We also use Anchor glass refrigerator containers to store daily portions of our homemade cat food. More on that below. The key to freezing foods in glass is not to fill the jar too full, since the food will expand inside the container. The other caveat is not to heat the glass too quickly. Let foods thaw at room temperature to avoid glass breakage.
Another option for the refrigerator or freezer are the flat-topped airtight stainless steel containers from Life Without Plastic. Their flat top makes them easy to stack and the fact that they are airtight means food can be stored longer. Read about my favorite container here.
Learn to preserve foods without plastic.
Read how I freeze produce without plastic freezer bags. You can also learn to can foods in glass jars or dehydrate produce to keep through the winter.
Avoid non-stick cookware.
Cookware coated with Teflon or other resins give off toxic perfluorochemicals when heated. We've donated all of our non-stick cookware and replaced it with stainless steel and cast iron. I did question whether it was better to donate these unhealthy items or to trash them. In the end, I figured that if someone was looking for non-stick, they'd buy it anyway whether I donated or not.
Choose a glass blender.
Avoid the high speed blenders that come with a plastic pitcher. Those containers contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. My Waring Pro is all glass and metal and works just fine. While you're at it, please sign my petition to ask Vita-Mix to bring back the stainless steel blender pitcher it had when the machine was first invented.
Spin salad without plastic.
In one of my favorite posts, I compare an old fashioned wire salad spinner to a plain old cotton produce bag. It was a fun experiment.
Choose a stainless steel ice cube tray.
If your old plastic ice trays have worn out, consider replacing them with stainless steel.
Use stainless steel popsicle molds.
If you and your children enjoy popsicles in the summertime, consider investing a stainless steel popsicle mold instead of buying packaged frozen treats or using plastic or silicone popsicle molds.
Make your own yogurt without a yogurt maker!.
It's easier than you might think, using only a Thermos, a pot, a thermometer, some milk, and some yogurt from a previous batch. (Your first batch can be store-bought.) See recipe and instructions here.
Make your own soy milk.
If you regularly drink soy or nut milks, you can learn to make your own, either with a soy milk maker or on the stove. All prepared soy milk cartons contain plastic.
Make your own condiments.
Most are not difficult. I've learned to make my own chocolate syrup, mayonnaise, mustard, and ketchup. I squeeze fresh lemon and lime juice and keep it in glass jars in the refrigerator. And we make our own hummus, either from dried chick peas or from the dry mix in the bulk bin at Whole Foods.
While it's true that some of these condiments can be purchased in glass containers, the homemade versions often taste better and involve less packaging waste overall.
Make your own snacks.
You don't have to give up crackers, energy bars, and other snacks that come packaged in plastic if you learn to make them yourself. Read about my friend Katie's awesome e-book, Healthy Snacks To Go.
Compost food waste.
I bought a 100% recycled plastic Urban Compost Tumbler and started composting. This solves several plastic problems. First, since we no longer put wet stuff in the garbage, we don't need plastic garbage bags of any kind (bio- or petro-based.) And I can mix the compost with soil from the yard to pot my houseplants and avoid buying potting soil in plastic bags.
Lately, though, I have not had the time or energy to maintain my compost bin. But here in Oakland(as well as Berkeley and San Francisco) we have city-wide composting. We can put all of our food scraps (including meat) and food-soiled paper, along with yard waste, into our green bins. It's then picked up with our garbage and taken to a commercial compost facility where our food scraps are converted into rich soil amendments for residents and local farms.
Read more about collecting garbage without plastic trash bags.
Clean with vinegar and water.
I use a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water as an all-purpose spray cleaner (storing it in a reused spray bottle) and produce wash. I buy Spectrum vinegar which comes in a glass bottle. Only the cap is plastic.
Baking soda is a fantastic scouring powder.
Use powdered dishwasher detergent in a cardboard box.
Hand wash dishes without plastic.
Use baking soda or bar soap. Seriously, I've been using baking soda to hand wash dishes for several months now. It scours well and leaves dishes feeling squeaky clean.
For really tough baked-on messes, I use a Chore Boy copper scrubber, which comes in a cardboard box with no plastic.
Use natural cleaning cloths and scrubbers instead of plastic scrubbers and synthetic sponges:
- Compressed natural cellulose sponges are often sold without any plastic packaging because they don't need to be kept moist; they expand when wet.
- Coconut coir brushesare great for cleaning water bottles and scrubbing dirty dishes.
- Skoy cloths are made from cotton and cellulose, work like a cloth, absorb like a sponge, and can take the place of 15 rolls of paper towels.
- And of course, good old rags made from old clothing and towels are free and probably the greenest option of all.
Wash laundry with soap nuts or laundry powders without a plastic scoop.
- Look for soap nuts in plastic-free packaging.
- Borax comes in a carboard box.
- Ecover laundry powder comes with a recycled carboard scoop instead of plastic.
- Read all about plastic-free laundry methods here.
- Treat laundry stains with a borax/water paste or with a handmade laundry stain bar. Try the stain remover sticks from Juniperseed Mercantile or Bunch Farmers.
A reusable Swiffer cloth is great for those of us who already own a Swiffer mop.
If you don't know what a Swiffer is, don't worry about it. It's plastic and you don't need one. But if you already own a Swiffer mop, check out the reusable Swiffer cloths from Juniperseed Mercantile .
Use natural rubber gloves.
When I needed a pair of rubber gloves (for some disgusting task — I can't remember what) I opted for Casabella 100% latex gloves lined with 100% cotton flocking. Yeah, they're girlie pink. But at least I didn't have to buy plastic. An even better option are If You Care brand FSC-certified natural rubber gloves.
Check labels of personal care products!
Did you know some facial scrubs and other personal care products contain tiny plastic beads? Avoid anything with "polyethylene" listed as an ingredient. Read my post Flushing Plastic Down The Drain! for more information.
Use bar soap instead of liquid hand soap.
People sometimes worry that sharing a bar of soap is less sanitary than sharing a bottle of liquid soap. But think about it: the bar soap gets rinsed off every time you use it. The plastic pump? Not so much. Where do you think the most germs are accumulating?
Give up shampoo in plastic bottles.
There are several plastic-free options.
- The "No-Poo method uses a baking soda & water wash and an apple cider vinegar rinse. That's the method I use, and the number of people who swear by it is growing.
- If No-Poo seems too hard-core, there are solid shampoo bars you can use. Brands include:
- Lush shampoo bar
- J.R. Liggett's Old Fashioned shampoo bar)
- Or try a searching for shampoo + bar on Etsy.com and request that the seller send your shampoo bar without any plastic packaging.
Try hair salves and pomades in metal tins or glass jars.
My favorite product used to be one called Product, which only contains a handful of ingredients and came in a glass jar, albeit with a plastic cap. And then I discovered Made-On Second Life Hair Butter, and my life changed completely. This stuff is awesome for taming frizzies if you have curly hair like I do.
Color hair with henna purchased without plastic packaging.
Read about how I purchase henna in bulk or in solid form without plastic and how I mix and apply it to cover those gray hairs that make me look older than I feel.
Baking soda is the best deodorant EVER.
Instead of deodorant in a plastic container, I use baking soda mixed with a few drops of tea tree oil applied to dry underarms with a reusable cotton round. It works better than any commercial deodorant I have ever used. Seriously. If you don't think baking soda deo is your thing, there are other options. Read my Great Big Plastic-Free Non-Toxic Deodorant Review. But honestly? Try the baking soda first. No kidding. I would use it even if I weren't trying to cut down my plastic consumption.
Use soap instead of canned shave cream.
There are shave soaps especially made for that purpose (Simmons, Williams) but I've found that any rich soap bar will do.
Choose lotions and lip balms in plastic-free containers.
Recently, I discovered a new company called Organic Essence, which is packaging its body lotions in compostable cardboard jars and its lip balms in ingenious cardboard tubes that squeeze from the end. There are also lotion bars and lip balms and glosses that come in glass or metal containers. And I've also made my own homemade lotion, but now that Organic Essence is using responsible packaging, I'll leave the lotion-making to them.
Switch from a plastic razor to a second hand safety razor.
I found mine in an antique store. More on the razor and the blades here.
Use less plastic tooth paste/powder, toothbrush, and floss.
- Read about toothpaste/powder/soap choices here.
- Compare less plastic toothbrushes here and here.
- Find dental floss with less plastic packaging.
Coconut oil lube.
It really works, and its natural anti-fungal properties are particularly good for women. But be aware the oil-based lubes don't play well with latex.
Choose toilet paper that's not wrapped in plastic.
Seventh Generation recycled individually wrapped toilet paper can be ordered by the case through Amazon.com. It comes in a cardboard box without any plastic wrapping. Evergreen and Bumboosa are also plastic-free brands.
Use plastic-free feminine hygiene products
Some of the options include washable cloth liners and pads. One great brand is Luna Pads, which are made with organic cotton. Or search for cloth + menstrual + pads on Etsy.com. Remember to ask the seller to ship with no plastic packaging.
Some women prefer the Diva Cup, which can be washed and reinserted.
Look into plastic-free sunscreen options.
I've found two great plastic-free sunscreens: Balm! Baby and Avasol. Read about them here. Several readers have offered other options. Check out my May 7, 2010 post and especially the comments for plastic-free sunscreen alternatives.
Choose a plastic-free wooden hair brush.
Read about my new plastic-free wooden hairbrush with wooden bristles here.
Find Do-It-Yourself alternatives for over-the-counter remedies.
Last winter, I tried making my own homemade cough syrup and looked into natural remedies for heartburn. Lately, I've been checking into herbs that can be used to promote sleep. I also learned to do acupressure to treat a headache. Take a look at my favorite plastic-free cold remedies.
Use handkerchiefs instead of paper tissue.
I've never seen a Kleenex box without any plastic window. More importantly, we can avoid all waste by opting for reusable hankies. Some people make their own out of old t-shirts and cloth diapers. I found lots of hankies at a thrift shop. Another ingenious idea is the HankyBook, which makes carrying a cloth hanky so much neater.
Bring your own water bottle — even on the plane!
Many people don't know it's actually fine to bring your own water on a plane. You just can't bring water through airport security. So what do you do? Bring an empty water bottle through security and fill it up at the drinking fountain on the other side. It's really okay. In fact, it's what musician Jackson Browne does!
Bring your own snacks.
Avoid plastic-packaged food. Bring your own sandwiches or containers of fruit, cut veggies, trail mix, or other snacks. But avoid liquid or semi-solid foods when flying.
Bring your own utensils.
Why should traveling be any different than staying at home? If you're remembering to bring your own utensils while at home, don't forget them when you go away.
Bring your own travel mug.
I've traveled to many different states in theU.S.and never had a problem getting my mug filled. In fact, most cafes these days will give a discount for bringing your own mug. And your mug can come in handy in hotels that provide plastic or Styrofoam cups in the room instead of real glasses.
Don't forget your headphones.
When flying, bring your own headphones. Most planes will offer you new headphones in plastic packaging, but you won't need those if you come prepared with your own.
Bring your own personal care products.
Skip the free travel size shampoos, soaps, and lotions offered by hotels. Just because they're free doesn't mean we should take them. What is the true cost of "free" when the environment is at stake? Instead, fill up your own reusable travel- size containers at home. If you're not checking baggage, make sure they fit in your regulation zip lock bag (U.S.residents).
Refuse the mini bar.
Mini bar snacks and drinks are incredibly expensive. And they all come in plastic packages or bottles. Find real food to eat. Do a little grocery shopping when you reach your destination and stock your hotel room with healthy snacks in less packaging. Even if you can't avoid plastic entirely, you can resist single-serving sizes.
Choose natural cat litter.
SwheatScoop cat litter is made from wheat and comes in a paper bag. It's also certified flushable. We feel okay about flushing our cats' poop because they've tested negative for toxoplasma gondii and they are indoor-only cats. If you live inCalifornia, you should not flush cat poop unless you know for sure it is free of the parasite toxoplasma gondii, which is harmful to sea otters. Outdoor cats are susceptible because they pick it up from rodents.
Choose pet toys/furniture made from natural materials instead of plastic.
- Purrfect Play makes beautiful all-natural toys made from wool and catnip.
- I've also found all natural wool, leather, coconut, and feather cat toys at my local pet shop recently.
- But the best cat toys of all? Wine corks, hands down. The real ones, of course. I don't let my cats play with plastic.
- We found a bamboo/sisal scratching post instead of synthetic carpet
- Cardboard cat scratchers are great
- This natural wood/sisal over-door climber is very sturdy and doesn't contain any synthetic chemicals that can off gas into our home our the bodies of our pets.
- Our most economical cat climber? We cleared off most of the flat surfaces in our home (tops of book shelves, etc.) so that our cats could roam and climb to their hearts' content.
Avoid plastic bowls.
Did you know plastic food/water bowls cause pet acne?
Buy secondhand pet supplies instead of new.
We found our cat litter boxes and plastic cat carrier boxes through Craigslist and from thrift stores. They are plastic. But they are not new plastic!
Learn to make homemade pet food without much plastic.
We make our cat food from scratch instead of buying BPA-lined cans that come shrink-wrapped in plastic or dry pet food in bags lined with plastic. Our recipe does include a supplement powder that comes in a plastic bottle, but it lasts two months. Read more about our less plastic homemade cat food here.
Repair things when they break.
When a plastic item breaks, try to repair it instead of buying a new one.
I'm trying to conserve as many of the tools and appliances that I already own instead of allowing them to become obsolete or chucking them when they break.
Acquire necessary plastic items used instead of new.
Check second-hand stores, Freecycle, Craigslist or borrow. Car-sharing. Tool-lending. I have no problem acquiring second-hand plastic. I think it's always good to give things as many uses as possible before sending them to the landfill or recycling center. I also look for items made from recycled plastic, for the same reason. Here's a partial list of plastic items I've acquired second hand since my plastic project began:
- Plastic cat litter boxes and cat carriers via Freecycle and thrift shops
- Computer monitor from Craigslist when my old one broke and couldn't be repaired
- Crock pot
- Power strips via Freecycle
- Laptop computer from secondhand electronics store
Request zero plastic packaging when ordering online.
I'm trying to buy fewer things in general, but vendors do sometimes send me products to review for this blog. When that happens, I include a message to the seller requesting zero plastic or Styrofoam packaging, including plastic tape. (See my packaging policy here.) When this doesn't work, I've started to send back unwanted plastic packaging with a letter of explanation. And I send back unwanted plastic I receive unsolicited in the mail or on my doorstep. Here are some examples of innovative zero waste packing materials:
- Reused packing materials from packages sent to you. Before buying new packaging material, use what you already have.
- Yesterday's News padded mailers made from recycled newspaper fiber
- Jiffy padded mailers (the kind with paper pulp padding rather than plastic bubble padding)
- Jet-Cor rigid cardboard mailers
- Paper packing tape or Biodegradable Cellulose tape with natural rubber-based adhesive
- Molded paper pulp
- EcoCradle molded packing material made from mushrooms
- PaperNuts
- Geami protective wrap
- Expandos
Read more about plastic-free packaging materials here.
Get off mailing lists to reduce plastic envelope windows.
I have switched to online billing, online statements, canceled subscriptions, and called to have my name removed from mailing lists. I want to save paper as well as plastic. TrustedID (formerly known as Catalog Choice) can help.
Make your own glue.
Here's a recipe for homemade wheat paste that really works.
Avoid disposable plastic pens.
I use pencils as much as possible and for times when a pen is necessary, I have switched to a refillable fountain pen with a cartridge converter that allows me to refill the pen from a bottle of ink rather than buying new plastic cartridges.
Look for secondhand electronics, games, and toys first.
There are so many useful products already in existence that have been gently used and need a good home. Read about the awesome secondhand computer I bought when my old one wore out.
Choose refurbished equipment from a certified e-steward.
Learn how you can do your part to combat "planned obsolescence."
Take care of what you have already.
Often we can avoid buying new stuff by keeping the stuff we do have in good condition. I learned this lesson the hard way when I broke my laptop screen through a stupid accident that could have been easily avoided.
Avoid buying new CDs and DVDs.
They are made from polycarbonate plastic, after all. Instead, I download music and movies and borrow DVDs from Netflix or the library.
Learn to recycle old disks.
You can recycle old disks. But keep in mind that recycling is no substitute to reducing what you buy in the first place.
Choose healthier electronics.
Try to find electronics secondhand rather than buying new plastic, but when you do have to buy new electronic gadgets, choose those that have the least packaging and toxic materials. For example, thinksound ear buds are PVC-free, made from wood, and come packaged with almost no plastic.
Find DIY solutions for techno needs.
For example, I knitted a cover for my iPod instead of buying a plastic one, and I crocheted new headphone ear pads when the foam on my old headphones wore out.
Learn strategies for green gift-giving.
Give only what will be truly appreciated. Opt for experiences or services (like restaurant meals, tickets to events, your help with a task) over stuff. Read my Guide: Green Gifts Don't Have to Suck to learn more.
Consider giving charitable gift cards.
But choose wisely and plastic-free. Read my comparison of charitable gift cards here.
Request plastic-free gifts for yourself.
It can be challenging to ask friends and family not to give you new plastic. But it can be done in a kind way. If you don't need any new things, request a donation to your favorite charity, perhaps.
Find ways to wrap gifts without plastic tape.
Here's a method I discovered for myself. And use paper tape for other types of packaging needs. Of course, reusing gift bags, reusing wrapping paper, and wrapping presents in reusable cloth bags or furoshiki are the best options.
Bring your own beverage container & ustensils to parties and events.
If you're not sure whether the host will offer real dishware or disposable plastic, discreetly bring your own. Or be less discreet, depending on your relationship with the host. I carry a little stainless steel wine glass (which is good for events where glass is not allowed) and bamboo utensils with me, just in case.
Throw a Zero Waste party.
Here's an example. Provide durable dishes, glasses, utensils. Ask guests to bring their own dishes or at least cups. Stock up on thrift store utensils and mugs (mixing and matching crazy mugs can be fun) especially for parties. Request no plastic cling-wrap on potluck offerings.
Re-think your Christmas tree.
Most artficial trees are made from toxic PVC. Opt for a real, sustainably-grown and harvested tree, a live tree that can be planted, or an artificial tree made from natural materials. There are "trees" made from recycled cardboard, wood, or even recycled glass bottles.
Skip holiday plastic tchotkes.
Make your own plastic-free vegan Easter eggs. Avoid Valentine's Day and Halloween plastic crap.
Choose natural fibers.
So much new clothing these days is made from synthetic materials with names like: polyester, acrylic, lycra, spandex, nylon. In other words, plastic fabric. When buying new clothes, I look for organic cotton, hemp, ethically-raised wool, and other natural fibers. I avoid conventional cotton because of pesticides used to grow it. Sometimes the best place to find these materials is online. One of my favorite sources is Hempest.com. Just be sure and request no plastic packaging when placing your order.
Shop thrift stores.
Buying gently-used secondhand clothing and shoes is a good way to get the styles you want without buying new plastic — except of course for that inevitable tag hanger! It's also a lot less expensive than buying new.
Make your own clothes.
Um… as someone who is afraid of the sewing machine, I can't really elaborate on this one. But I know a lot of you crafty crafters are up for it. Be sure and choose natural fabrics.
Look for plastic-free shoes.
For example, Feelgoodz flip flops are made from natural rubber rather than plastic.
Choose ethical underwear.
You may not be able to find underwear that is completely plastic-free, but look for styles/brands that contain a high percentage of natural fibers. I like PACT organic underwear because they are made from 95% organic cotton, are packaged in compostable bags, and support non-profit organizations.
Choose plastic-free camping equipment.
Going to Burning Man two years in a row forced me to seriously consider alternatives to plastic camping supplies. I found:
- A vintage canvas, wood, & metal camping cot on eBay
- A secondhand double-walled 10-gallon container for water (also eBay)
- A mostly cotton tent
- And more…
Stop buying plastic water filter cartridges unless necessary.
We had our water tested to find out if we even needed to be filtering it in the first place. Turns out, our Oaklandwater is fine without a filter. So we can avoid plastic water filter cartridges from now on. For those who do need to filter their water, Brita has teamed up with Preserve to create a way to recycle the plastic cartridges. Here are the details: http://www.brita.com/us/support/filter-recycling/
Avoid the Worst Plastics
If you do nothing else, try to steer clear of Polyvinyl Chloride (#3 PVC), Polystyrene (#6 PS), & Polycarbonate (#7 Other). PVC is found in many, many products and causes a whole host of environmental problems. Read my post about the problems of PVC. PS contains styrene, which is toxic to the brain and nervous system. PC contains BPA. Read more about BPA here. If you must use plastic, make sure it's not #3, #6, or #7 polycarbonate. (Note: #7 is a catch-all for many types of plastic that doesn't fit into the first six categories. Biodegradable plastic is also labeled #7. So when in doubt, ask.)
Top Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste
Grocery Shopping
Eating and Drinking on the Go
Lunch Time at School or Work
Kitchenware & Food Storage
Make It From Scratch
No More Plastic Trash Bags
Household Cleaning
Personal Care
Medication and Healthcare
Plastic-Free Pet Care
Get it Fixed!
Buy Secondhand
Packing and Shipping Materials
In the Office
Electronics & Entertainment
Gift Giving and Receiving
Holidays and Entertaining
No New Plastic Clothing
Camping and Outdoors
Avoid unnecessary plastic around the house
If You Do Nothing Else
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Yay! Say no to plastic bags and use ecofriendly alternatives! So many great tips here :)
Thank you so much for your info. it is fantastic. We use frequently reusable bags, for example;
i read your post.it is very nice and informative blog.through your post i got so many things new to read.thank for sharing it.http://www.bestoralhygiene.com/the-best-electric-toothbrush/
Nice list of things to do for preventing our nature from plastic disaster. thanks for sharing such an amazing information here.
Sierratello I was just wondering if you knew if the white part of the filter is made of plastic. It looks like it is, but I wouldn't want to miss out if it isn't!
Hi. I've been searching for and asking companies for this for seven years. My workaround right now is simply not to drink directly from the lid. My particular mug has a nice smooth rim, so drinking without the lid is comfortable. Of course, this means not drinking while walking or while riding in bumpy vehicles. If you do find a stainless steel mug without a plastic lid, please let me know!
@Maria You should track down a living bath mat - they are made of moss I think. They are supposed to be fantastic.
I was so glad to find your page - I live in Canada and I was getting so frustrated because we just don't have the variety and availability of different products and packaging in my province they way you do in the USA. I have found a few local small businesses who sell handmade products, some of which are in responsible or no packaging, but we are limited by the seasons here when it comes to a lot of things - we only have a farmer's market with produce for two or three months of the year. I can't even switch to using cash to avoid plastic credit/debit cards because our "paper" money is now made of plastic (!). I read your posts about your struggles with plastic-free solutions and your triumphs and it gives me hope that things will one day change!
Found this to be super helpful and extensive.
I do have a suggestion for the toothpaste tubes though, Lush cosmetics make Toothy tabs,
they come in cardboard boxes and are little chewable tabs that you crush between your front teeth and then brush. There are a range of flavors and they work really well. Their solid deodorant is really effective too.
Wow this list is amazing!
Another non-plastic alternative for everyone when it comes to a filtration pitcher is getting a Soma. I just purchased one since I am trying to reduce buying plastic products and I absolutely love it!
It is made out of shatter resistant glass and has a biodegradable filter so you can compost it.
This company is amazing and i would recommend a Soma to anyone. Their website is drinksoma.com if you're interested! I promise you wont be disappointed
"But we also need to close the tap" http://www.iflscience.com/environment/19-year-old-develops-machine-clean-oceans-plastic
100 Tips..very detailed..thanks for your time n effort
ALmost complete..would be handy for anyone who want to get rid of plastic
you can use 100% olive oil bar soap as toothpaste read here
and my family has given up a christmas tree altogether. my mom loves your website. weve really been trying. we compost as much as we can, almost never eat out, walk to school each day, are on days 8 and 18 of no poo, use olive oil and sugar scrub made at home once a week for soap, we dont use soap exceptfor that, olive oil for lotion, no plastic water bottles, and baking soda and vinegar for almost all cleaning products. we also only use borax for dishwashing detergent. any other useful tips? we grow and can our tomatoes, beans, and peppers just this year.
Thank you so much for this list! I'm trying to switch my family over to as many of these alternatives as I can but as you said it does take time! We do a lot of them already but there are so many more we need to start doing! Thanks again! :)
Any one have an idea for a plastic free solution to a shower mat? We have a clawfoot bathtub and live in MN = coldness for feet all year round.
I'm trying to think up a mat or something to stand on while showering before winter ...
Thanks for any ideas you may have!
Where did you get your stailess steel bucket for keeping your compost in? I love that it's attractive, and keeps smells/fruit flies at bay.
Truly impressive - thanks a lot for all of this!
BethTerry I'm looking for non-plastic lids. I'm doing my own project Ditch the Plastic. Stainless is great, but conventional plastic lids will still leech chemicals and even "BPA free" plastic leeches toxic chemicals other than BPA, some of which are WORSE than BPA! All plastic has bisphenols, and more than just one. I'm looking for an alternative so I can have hot drinks.
Hi Terry, one idea for makeup, coconut oil is the best makeup remover, and it can be found in a glass bottle. Hugs, Cris
Did you see this blog yet: http://www.thekitchn.com/is-there-a-plasticfree-electric-kettle-good-questions-183593 ? (she always has good stuff!)
cheryljoy That's similar for what I have for home use, but I'm trying to find one for my office (which doesn't have a stove or heating element).
How about just a regular stainless steel one that goes onto the stove? Mine is from a thrift store or yard sale (can't remember which) and it's got a built in whistle! (I ruined many without the whistle, but fortunately never burned down my kitchen.) It's Revere-Ware. Though it does have a plastic handle. A while back I looked for the best and found my dream kettle: Simplex, made of copper, wooden handle, and there's a version for gas stove and a different bottom for an electric stove - oh it's beautiful! but definitely out of my price range.
Hi! Any suggestions for a plastic free electric tea kettle? Thanks!
WOW! This is one of the most comprehensive lists I have ever seen. Thanks for putting in all the research and sharing it on the web.
zambooka I think this is a good step. Yes, they are still using plastic, but a lot less of it. Hopefully, they can figure out a way to recycle the bags that doesn't involve shipping them through the mail. If the stores that sell the bags would collect them for recycling, that would save on fuel. Perhaps the company could work with the stores that sell their product to come up with such a system.
I'm collecting ideas for a global database of solutions. I hope you'll share any resources you find in France.
Hello, thank you for posting so many ideas!!! I wish I could find the products you talk about here in France... I guess I will have to find my own solutions!!! But thank you very much!!!
We can use CLAY container in kitchen, in ancient India people use maximum clay like for handwash, kitchen container, i found some website which greatly offer clay product, you must see it,
7Holly Awesome! Let me know if you have any questions.
I am astounded by the detail and thoughtfulness here. I am going to scour this because I am already finding your research invaluable. I, too, am trying to live a healthier, plastic-free as I can be, life. Thank you so much! :-)
Hi. Can you please remind me which comment this refers to? This one went in as a separate post, so it's not attached to the original comment as a reply.
Hi Zambooka. This would be a great question for the Discussion Forum. More people will ser your question. I don't have a worm bin so I can't answer. http://myplasticfreelife.com/forum/
I just wanted to add that the company decided to recycle the plastic sent back to them and they did not go with the reuse idea. If you could send an email to the company commending them for their brilliant idea, but informing them that reusing the bags sent back to them would be much better for the environment I'm assuming it would also save them on money. Then if the bag is no longer usable, then they can recycle it.
I imagine it would be difficult to reuse these bags. But I wonder if there is a way.
Hey one of my favourite companies Nature Clean started making their cleaning products in bulk. One of the store nearby bought the bulk and allows people to fill up their old containers, using the product. Unfortunately the bulk containers were made out of plastic that had to be recycled when it was finished. (It's still way less plastic then buying new containers all the time. )I wrote to the company comending them for thinking up this neat idea, and I explained how I was trying to save on the amount of plastic I used. I asked them if there was a way in which they would accept the empty containers back for reuse. I also asked them to make a few other of their products in bulk.
They replied to me and said that there is an impact on sending big empty containers through the mail too. They also said that the company was having financial troubles but they would do their best to think up a solution to my idea.
I looked on the company website, and they made a new feature advertising that it saves 85% of the plastic used. Here is the link. http://www.naturecleanliving.com/nature_clean_eco_refill_program
The company is really concerned about the environment and their products are all natural and eco-friendly. The company does not use sweat shop labour and their products are all manufactured in Canada. I love that this company took what I said to heart, and actually tried their best to make something work to reduce their footprint.
@KarenScribner Lol. I know what you mean. I find that if I show them my glass straw, they are more likely to remember my request. :-)
BethTerry Thanks for your excellent research. I don't take a plastic bag, bring my own bags. When I ask for no dry cleaning bag or straw in my drink, for instance, these things come anyway. I have trouble with service people who are on auto-pilot or brain-affected by RFID, wifi and cell phone signals.
The problem with Trex is that it cannot be further recycled. But interestingly, I just yesterday spoke with a guy who worked for Safeway's recycling department, and he told me all that plastic film is not shipped to Trex but to China, like the majority of plastic recycling in the United States.
@Zambooka, your progress is great. One step at a time, and you've taken many!
I use a stainless steel mug from Aladdin. I take off the plastic lid before I drink. But I do like the mason jar idea too. This is the Aladdin mug I have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000IZ99YU
sunshinedaydream I use a mason jar with a cloth napkin wrapped around it and held on with a couple of rubber bands in matching colors. It looks good, too, choosing appropriate napkins for the season or the occasion. The only problem is the lining on the metal lid, but it's one of my last holdouts also, like Beth.
Can you recommend a travel mug for hot tea that is is safe?
I have to say, for the past year and a half I've reduced my packaging footprint by a lot. I no longer use,
1. Disposable feminine hygiene products
2. plastic bags from stores
3. cling wrap
4. bought cheese
5. plastic yogurt containers
6. shampoo/conditioner/body wash containers
7. new Dish soap containers (I refill from bulk)
8. plastic deodorant containers
9. plastic bulk bags
10. plastic fruits and vegetable bags
11. disposable milk containers
12. (I've only bought one kleenex box for guests)
13. cleaning supplies containers (except vinegar)
14. new handsoap containers
15. Ziplock sandwich/freezer bags
16. disposable water bottles
17. (very few plastic covered chocolate/candy) I have my moments of weakness but I have cut down significantly.
18. new plastic toothbrushes. (I only buy the heads)
19. bought bread covered in plastic or paper
20. I reused my berry containers when I could go to the farmers market. (for 5 months of the year.)
21. new laundry detergent containers
22. plastic straws
So yeah... even though I still use a ton of plastic, I'm still proud of my reduction!
@Maddiey Yes! Toothy Tabs are great. I didn't realize I hadn't updated that portion of this list. I'll do it right away. Cheers! (Here's my review of them, by the way. http://myplasticfreelife.com/2011/08/searching-for-the-perfect-all-natural-plastic-free-toothpaste-or-powder-or-soap-or/)
@Sierratello Hi, I am looking for a plastic free water filtration pitcher to replace our Brita, and have been looking at the Soma as well. However, isn't the cone that holds the filter made of plastic? That, and the limited filtration (no lead or other compounds besides chlorine) are turning me away from it. Is the cone made of petroleum based plastic? Thanks!
@AneCristi Absolutely. In fact, I have a post coming up on this very topic.
@Shayna Keil You guys are doing a great job. But regarding the olive oil soap toothpaste -- I actually did try it a while back, and I personally couldn't hack it. Everyone's different. Some people swear by it, but I couldn't do it without gagging. I just couldn't handle the taste -- even in tooth chips that have flavoring in them. Here's the post I wrote about it: http://myplasticfreelife.com/2011/08/searching-for-the-perfect-all-natural-plastic-free-toothpaste-or-powder-or-soap-or/
@zambooka It's actually an old ice bucket I found at a yard sale.


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Thursday was a big night for the Cleveland Middle School volleyball team. Finishing up the second week of an already short season, the sixth, seventh and eighth grade celebrated having all its players score wins all around against Bledsoe County by scores of 25-5 and 25-7. The seventh-grade girls pulled off wins of 25-10 and 25-13.
The eighth grade proved that one of the strongest components of their game was from the back line. Emma Flowers and Lauren Lee led the team in aces, with each having 11 service points. For the match, Lee had seven aces, 11 receptions, two digs, and three assists, while Flowers contributed eight aces in one set. Other key players included Caroline Gregory with four aces and a kill. Regan Fuller and Sammie-Kate Eason each added a pair of aces. Shanti Mastin served up three aces and Amber Morman had four kills.
"They had a lot fun tonight," said CMS head coach Brandi Ownby. "They have great chemistry and their energy was evident the entire time."
The eighth-grade Lady Raiders hold a record of 5-1 overall.
The sixth- and seventh-grade teams were no different from the serve line against Bledsoe and had a total of 15 aces.
Krissinda Clark and Emma Flowers each had four apiece. Brooke McCurdy added three, Hannah Longley had two and Aly Grace Lemons and Katelyn Hanshew each contributed one ace.
The sixth-grade team had its second win of the season Thursday night, beating Bledsoe 25-7 and 25-13.
Setter Anna Renshaw had three aces, two digs, one kill, and three assists. Audrey Morman served 15 points, and led the team with a total of nine aces. Sydni Geren had a big night as well, serving 12 points with seven aces, three digs, and two kills. Faith Shellhouse added three aces and Olivia Jabaley had two aces. The sixth-grade team had a total of 26 aces for the night.
CMS will travel to Lake Forest today.


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Riccardo Muti leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a free concert at the Apostolic Church of God Thursday evening. I Scott Stewart~Sun-Times
Article Extras
Updated: November 21, 2011 10:29AM
For first time in five years, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra finds itself in the red.
At its annual meeting Wednesday afternoon, the CSO Association reported a deficit of $927,000 on operating expenses of $64.7 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30.
Riccardo Muti's first season as CSO music director saw a record level of fund-raising success. But his two extended absences for illness, and an unprecedented number of cancellations by solo recitalists and an entire sold-out visit by the Cleveland Orchestra meant lost revenues that resulted in the CSO's first deficit since 2006.
"We believe that it is very important not to try to hide any aspect of our circumstances," CSO Association president Deborah F. Rutter said in a phone interview Wednesday before the meeting at Symphony Center. "And we do so in the larger context of being individually and comparatively a very strong institution and facing a very good future."
Rutter said there had been "tremendous momentum" when Muti arrived in Chicago 13 months ago, culminating in the huge success of a free CSO concert in Millennium Park attracting some 25,000 people. "That was reflected in a surge of subscription and single-ticket sales," Rutter said. "Then some of that momentum stalled."
The Millennium Park concert as well as another free concert in Pilsen also added to expenses. In addition, the cancellations of 10 recitalists impacted the bottom line. Among the artists bowing out due to illness were pianists Maurizio Pollini and Murray Perahia. Because of the February blizzard, the Cleveland Orchestra, under music director Franz Welser-Möst, had to call off its sold-out concert.
But fund-raising had a marked upswing with $24.2 million raised in annual gifts, a 15 percent increase over last year. Additional gifts of $1.4 million brought the association's total fund-raising in all categories to some $25.6 million. Total assets increased by $32 million to $455 million.
"Some recovery in the economy and increased confidence in the business community meant we saw very nice increases in corporate donations," Rutter said.
Even with the setbacks, ticket sales were up, including a 1 percent increase in subscription sales and a 17 percent increase in single ticket sales for a record $4.8 million. Ticket income for a all CSO and other Symphony Center Presents events was $20.6 million. Additional earned income, such as that from touring and building rentals, was $6.6 million.
In the interview, Rutter said the reported and current season numbers indicate that "live concert music is thriving. Our challenge is to work with the different expectations for participation and experiencing music that today's highly curious audiences have to keep up our mission for a very long time to come."
Bass player Stephen Lester, chairman of the CSO players' committee, told the gathering that this had been a year of "wild swings, tragedies and wonderful triumphs" for the orchestra. Through all of this, Muti has been not only our "great musical inspiration, constantly pushing us to improve," he said, "but also shown himself to be a warm and caring human being with true insight and commitment to all of the communities we work with."
Andrew Patner is critic at large for WFMT-FM (98.7).


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Photo #: NH 63177-KN (color)
Action between USS Chesapeake and HMS Shannon, 1 June 1813
Colored lithograph by L. Haghe, after a painting by J.C. Schetky based on a design by Captain R.H. King, RN. Published by Smith, Elder & Company, London, in 1830.
This print (Plate No. 1 of four) depicts the commencement of the action, with the two frigates exchanging gunfire at close range.
See Photo # NH 63181 for a detailed description of the action and the activity seen in each of the four prints. The series is dedicated to Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke, R.N., Shannon's Commanding Officer.
Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, Maryland. Beverly R. Robinson Collection.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 174KB; 740 x 645 pixels
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than this digital image, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."
9 May 2003


text: WWMT - wwmt.com - Search Results The following is an archived video story. The text content of that video story is available below for reference. The original video has been deleted and is no longer available. Bill would add security alerts to healthcare administrationWASHINGTON (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - The President's health care law is back in republican cross hairs as the GOP-led House weighs a bill that would impose new requirements on the administration.The House bill would require the administration to notify an individual within two business days of any security breach involving personal data provided to the government during health care enrollment.The healthcare.gov enrollment website got off to a rocky start, followed by widespread reports of canceled policies and higher premiums.


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Select your desired product options and we will notify you when it is back in stock.
For a shoe that can healthily propel you throughout your busy routine, check out the The Orthaheel Whistler Tan Synthetic Men's Shoe now. Though the style is casual, the health benefits this footwear yields are nothing less than impressive; respected podiatrist Phillip Vasyli has designed a shoe that offers elite arch support that corrects unhealthy movement of the feet so you can go about your day without pain or injury.
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i cannot wear thongs as they hurt my feet. I wish you would make more slide sandals.
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|Stay Fabulously Warm with Faux Fur
|Written by Amy Wray
|Friday, 04 November 2011 17:05
Stay Fabulously Warm with Faux Fur
One local woman started her business in her basement more than 20 years ago only to rise to become one of the leading icons in the fur industry. Read on to find out more.
Winter is almost here, and Jack Frost will begin nipping at our noses, making us want to bundle up. One of the season's hottest trends is faux fur. It's hot because it looks luxurious, keeps us warm and doesn't come with the guilt of wearing the fur of a innocent animal.
Covington, Kent. is home to one of the international icons in the faux fur industry. Fabulous-Furs is known around the world for the finest quality faux fur and its designs are used throughout the entertainment industry and can be found in high-end retail stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and W Hotels. Fabulous-Furs has also been featured on the shopping network QVC, resulting in selling out of some products.
Donna Salyers started Fabulous-Furs in her basement in 1989 without any prior knowledge on how to start a business. The idea for the company was planted when she was in her car on the way to purchase a mink coat, and she happened to catch a radio segment describing how kittens were being skinned alive to make mink teddy bears. Instead of making that mink coat purchase, she started Fabulous-Furs.
"We began with a single product: a kit to sew a faux fox coat," says Salyers. "We make about 60 percent of our products in Covington in the same building that houses our call center, offices and distribution center. Luckily, my grandmother taught me to sew, preparing me for a business based on fashion and design. I have no business background or education, so it's truly an 'only in America' success story."
Being an international icon for fabulous faux furs is a big title to hold and comes with the great responsibility of staying on top of what's hot and being on the cutting edge of new styles. This isn't as hard to do when you have such a terrific team working for you with equally as fantastic customers, though, Salyers says.
"We have a great merchandise team with many age perspectives," says Salyers. "All of us love beautiful things and imagining how to make them irresistible to our customers. Our call center is a wonderful source of inspiration, because they speak with customers all day who know exactly what they want to see in our catalog and on our website. Looking ahead to 2012, it feels as if color will remain and maybe things will lean towards being a bit more refined and structured."
Fabulous-Furs also has a marvelous in-house designer who is the epitome of what customers want and for what Fabulous-Furs stands. "Kristen Bolt, our in-house designer, loves over-the-top, pretty things, which matches our customers' tastes," says Salyers. "She's a DAAP graduate, so her skills match her aesthetics. All of us appreciate high quality, distinctive things not easily found."
This winter you will want to experience the warmth and style that Fabulous-Furs brings to the table. If you like the fur trend but are too afraid to try an all-out fur look, you can try its customer-favorite Sable Hook Faux Fur Vest or Pull-Through Scarf, which is getting a lot of press.
"Lucky magazine featured our pull-through neck scarf, which is perfect with a sweater or more traditionally with a coat or jacket," says Salyers. "InStyle requested an entire color array of the same scarf, a real indicator of a trend with legs."
If your personality is bold and you have a fashion sense to match, this season will tickle your fancy as Salyers says this winter's trends are wild and wooly. Fabulous-Furs' faux Russian Lynx jacket has been the shining star for this season, with its Plum Mongolian jacket being a close second.
Each year Fabulous-Furs' product line gets a 60 percent or greater overhaul with numerous new products gracing the pages of its catalog, so keeping up with the ever-changing styles in fashion never gets dull.
More articles by this author
|Last Updated on Monday, 07 November 2011 06:32


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Grey's Anatomy Caption Contest XXXVIby Steve Marsi at . Comments
Sadly, Grey's Anatomy is in repeat mode until January 4. But at least we still have the Caption Contest to keep things interesting.
We've taken a long, hard look at the 45 replies we received for this image (from "Oh, the Guilt"), and determined that Miaka is the winner. The winning reply appears below, underneath the picture. Scroll down for the full list of submissions we received!
Thanks to all who participated, and we wish you the best of luck next week! We appreciate your participating in this weekly contest and thank you for your help in making us the #1 Grey's Anatomy fan site on the web.
Here's this week's Caption Contest image:
Meredith: "Addison, are those my panties on the board again?"
Addison: "Uhh… N-no. No, those are Derek's."
Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.Tags: Grey's Anatomy, Caption Contests
How is this not awkward?
A: So that's what I should've done to spice things up a bit? That sounds too painful.
M: Oh, trust me. It is.
addison: oh god. is that mark?!
meredith: yep. that's mcsteamy.
addison: and donna right?
meredith: mmm yeah. donna. the guy turned girl.
addison: woah. i need to go. go far away from here. happy land. KAREV! can i speak to you for a minute?
OH No Why IS he here
Addison: "Hmmmmm...are those your red panties on the board Grey?" Meredith: "Actually no...those are Christina's."
Addison: Damn it Meredith. You took my husband away from me, the least you could do is get out of my face and stop looking at MY Mcsteamy! Meredith: right...walking away now
Okay,! Action! I said Action............. Seriously....! Let's get back to work and stop McDayDreaming!
Meredith: Do you think McSteamy is "the one" for you now?
Addison: Grey, I'll only answer a question like that if you're high on morphine & won't remember the answer.
Meredith: Thinking "Don't make eye contact, Meredith... keep walking maybe she won't talk to you, seriously... just keep walking"
Addison: Thinking "Dark and Twisty Dirty Mistress"


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TELNPS and WebEx Training
The Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Network is the mechanism whereby thousands of National Park Service employees receive competency-based training at or near their work site at little or no cost to them. The Network has over 230 receiving stations across the Service spanning five time zones. The highly interactive training allows students immediate access to their instructor. This interactivity is the key component to the success of broad and varied training opportunities. The installation of the TELNPS station at NCPTT has provided Center employees and NPS employees from the surrounding area with the opportunity to gain high quality distance learning specific to their jobs at a convenient location.
Our library contains a vast amount of literature concerning architecture, preservation, restoration, technology and training. It holds publications such as Common Ground, American Cemetery, American Anthropologist, and American Journal of Archaeology. The library also contains hundreds of products that the Center has funded that can be ordered or downloaded through our product catalog.


text:
400 Series Size 2 Regular/Parallel Arm Grade 2 Door Closer
The 420-P is a standard duty, size 2 surface mounted door closer is suitable for light duty commercial and residential applications. It is non-handed and includes a parallel bracket.
- Standard Duty Commercial Door Closer
- Size 2
- Dual Valve Closing and Latching Speed Control
- Universal Application
- Non-Handed
- Reinforced Type Adjustable Tube Arm
- Rack & Pinion Operation
- Streamlined Design Permits Installation on Most Commercial and Residential Application Without Adaptors
- Grade 2, ANSI 156.4
- Includes All Mounting Hardware
- Optional Cover Available: # COV/400
- Optional Hold-Open Arm Available: # 301/302
- Closer Body Length: 5-13/16"
- Horizontal Mounting Holes: 5-3/16"
- Vertical Mounting Holes: 25/32"
- Closer Body Height: 1-15/32"
- Closer Body Projection from Door: 2-1/4"
Cal-Royal has focused on providing "Innovative and Value Added" hardware products and accessories to the builders industry since 1983. In accepting this charter, Cal-Royal has continued to be the leader in import hardware. Their product offering is designed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and to encompass all levels of ANSI classification, Grades 1, 2 and 3 as well as UL requirements. They offer a complete line of mortise locks, exit devices, door closers, hinges and many other hardware and trim products.
Additional Cal-Royal Links
Our SKU: Cal-Royal 420-P
This product is listed under the following manufacturer number(s):
- Cal-Royal 420PALUM
- Cal-Royal 420PDURO
- Cal-Royal 420PGOLD
*Denotes a finish or option that has been discontinued
Manufacturer Resources
Installation Resource Center
Whether you are installing the product yourself or hiring a professional, our installation Resource Center has everything you need to get your project done. Visit the Installation Resource Center to get started.


text:
It's been awhile since I tried a totally new soaping technique, and I've been getting so many requests for shower gel, hand soap and the like, so I decided to go ahead and try my hand at making liquid soap.
It would be nice if I had pictures to post of my project. You know, ingredients being added to the pot, things getting stirred together, the progress as the soap cooked. Yeah, that would have been nice. I think I was a little too excited to get the project started and a little uncertain of myself once it was underway to think about taking photos.
Anyway, it was a great experience! I'm so happy to share my wonderful results:
Look at how translucent it is!! It turned out even better than I expected. I left it its natural amber color and scented it with rosemary, peppermint and spearmint essential oils. It's super bubbly and so much gentler on your skin than the commercial products you buy in the stores.
Check out my Etsy shop, http://www.BellaLunaCrafts.etsy.com , for more info!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Liquid Soap!
Posted by Bella Luna/Shannon at 8:57 AM
Labels: bella luna soap, etsy, liquid soap, rosemary mint
1 comment:
I too have just recently returned to making liquid soaps! It is SO exciting isn't it? I have a whole new love!
I started making liquid soaps YEARS ago, however, not totally understanding the whole process and not being familiar with the soapmaking process at all.... Long story short, I went into making bar soaps, got used to the process, got familiar with the terminology and now I am finding myself going back to making the old fashioned HOT PROCESSED Liquid soaps, and LOVING IT!
I am seriously thinking of taking the whole liquid soap process to a new height and kind of leaving the Cold Processed soaps a thing of the past for a while!
Good luck, your soaps look incredible!
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Hello ladies! Hope you don't mind an IF girl crossing over just to ask a quick question! What was the grades of your embies when you got your BFP? I had my transfer today and was a little bummed that I only had 1 Grade C blast transferred with none to freeze. Looking for a little light at the end if the tunnel!
Congrats to all you fine ladies and wish you a smooth 9 months!
I asked this question too about 6 months ago. I didn't get very many responses. I think the grading scale varies based on your center. My blast and transfer info is in my siggy. FX that your little blast is sticky and snuggles in. GL
BFP #1: 12/2009 m/c 1/2010 BFP #2: 6/2010 m/c 8/2010
BFP #3: 10/2011 ectopic 11/2011 (right tube removed, learned left tube was probably nonfunctional due to scar tissue from infection after m/c)
3 failed IUIs, IVF #1: 18R, 12M, 10F, 3 poor quality 5d embryos transferred= BFP #4!!!!!
Betas: 9dp5dt: 64 ~14dp5dt: 91 (expecting miscarriage, doubling time of 236 hours) ~16dp5dt: 200~18dp5dt: 500
First Ultrasound at 6w2d revealed two sacs, only one with a heartbeat
Laura Kate arrived after 42 weeks on August 14, 2013! Beautiful, healthy, and happy!
My embies were both Grade A Fair. (3dt) but my REs office has weird standards when it comes to grading.


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World News and Views :: Top of the News
BASF, Back on Top
11:48 AM MDT | September 25, 2007 | Michelle Bryner
Hambrecht: Growing faster than market. BASF has reclaimed the number one spot from Dow Chemical on CW's annual Billion-Dollar Club ranking of companies by sales. BASF had held the top spot for three consecutive years before ceding to Dow last year. The company's sales, excluding oil and gas, climbed 19%, to €39.4 billion ($51.6 billion), helped by the acquisitions last year of Engelhard, Degussa's construction chemicals business, and Johnson Polymer (Sturtevant, WI). The acquisitions accounted for 10% of BASF's 2006 sales...
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Though the full lineup has been out a second, today the Manchester, TN institution announced its full schedule. I'm sad to report that there's a fifteen minute overlap between Foster The People's and St. Vincent's sets on Friday — which goes to show you, no matter how hard you try, you just can't have it all. Check out the full itinerary here.
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Will 8-8 Be Considered A Success In 2012? Manning Edition
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That One Guy
Producer of Nonsense
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sun and Beachville
Posts: 14,033
Originally Posted by
But is our roster actually better? That's my point. Not whether or not Manning will have a positive effect on them. Right now we have lost our best DT, and added nothing of worth so far in return (leaving Manning out obviously). So again, how is this roster better than last year's?
The passing game will be better, the running game will be worse. In this league, that translates to points. That's how this should be judged. We didn't change the roster when Tebow became QB but the run game got more productive by way of how the players were used. The offense will be able to put up more points (in theory) so the team will be improved. Whether they can translate that new scenario into a more effective use of the D is what we'll be waiting to see. Some theorize they can send the pass rushers now and it'll make a difference but straight up the middle is possibly worse right now than anything Manning ever had on one of his Ds. As of right now, the D has gotten tremendously worse so at this point, we have to rely on the different usages of the players to bail us out or we're fooked.
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