Nov. 25, 2007 - 21:28 MST

RECYCLE ?

Reading in the paper today on matters somewhat local but seem to me to be things national perhaps.

Mentioned was wind energy, which in the old days was supplied by windmills, nowadays the wind still works for us.

And Transportation ? In Denver half a century ago people got on trolley cars and rode downtown and on the interurbans to Golden. A large network of rails supplying cheap transportation to the whole area. Then the eggheads began the destruction of our rail system. First the tracks, covered under depths of asphalt, buses still used trolley wires. Then pretty well the overhead trolley wires disappeared and diesel buses took over. Serving the public, but more polluting than the trolley system. And now ? They call it light rail, needing heavier tracks and using trolleys for power. Still cheaper than driving a car and paying parking.

Way back when, people went to the polls and voted - - using paper ballots. Nowadays we, for the most part, have been using electronic methods for voting. Doubt over the honesty and efficiency of such systems, seems to be leading us back to the paper ballot. New is the mail in ballot which seems to be stirring up dissension.

Mr. Dan Haley in his article in The Denver Post this morning said QUOTE: "Take the environment. We'ver been more concerned about geing "green" and enviro-friendly, yet we buy billions of plastic bottles full of what's essentially tap water each year. It takes lots of energy (which means pollution) to create these bottles, which then can languish in landfills 'til the end of time. Yet not too long ago, we actually filled up washable cups or glasses when we were thirsty, saving landfills and energy." UNQUOTE

Some things can't be replicated all that easy. Time was when good drinking water was pumped up from the earth by windmills, but now groundwater in so many places is so polluted it is undrinkable. Recently in our papers I read that some cities far east of the arid west are having trouble supplying potable water to their citizens.

I remember the magic of the first shopping malls, which came into being because downtown stores would not supply adaquate free parking. How nice it was to go shopping, cruise the mall, making purchases where wished. Now it seems that those malls are passe, and huge shopping centers with individual parking is the norm. If I wish to shop at another store, I have to go get the car, drive to the wanted place, park and walk in there. No more can one find a comfortable bench in the mall itself to rest between purhcases. The old malls are disappearing too.

I remember the days when folks dried their laundry on clothes lines out doors, the wash having been done on washboards in galvanized tubs, the most energy consumed was probably heating the water and the sweat of the housewife. Doubtful that will ever recycle, I can remember when clothes came in from the line all sooty back then.

It occurs to me that what once was, has returned in one form or another - - - - - - sort of RECYCLE ? . . . . . . . . .

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