Captain Planet needs to make a comeback!

[Ultima22689]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjRlp1wgQWw

You know what was good about these times? Shows like this spoke to kids and it was GOOD for what it was. Captain Planet should really get an update along with shows that carry similar metaphors that help the world out. Kids these days are growing up with terrible media. Personally when the time comes for me to have kids I will never, ever get cable and i'll just have to buy a ton of stuff for them of decent quality, like Batman: TAS for example. Mainstream media has become a cesspool these days.

[Will]

I always felt bad for the Amazonian kid that got the "heart" power. One of them could create and control fire and heat, one of the wind, one of them water, and one earth. Talk about drawing the short straw.

[LoneMateria]

Lol I always thought that too will.  

Since were talking about captain planet and he was big on recycling has anyone seen the Penn & Teller Bullshit! episode when they talked about recycling?

[Ultima22689]

I now this sad on my part but I have never watched their show, what channel does it come on?

[LoneMateria]

Showtime.  It has nudity in it often because the show is that awesome.  I tell you what though they have a very convincing argument on why to not recycle.  I know many people here won't like that episode, but its real interesting.

[Big Mac]

I wonder how "green" the production of the Captain Planet episodes were. It'd be ironic if they contributed heavily in pollution/waste. Kind of like that show Trippin' with all those loud mouth dumbass celebrities flying around to remote places and patronizing villagers. They claim they offset pollution by buying carbon offsets. Why not just reduce your impact on the environment?

I love Bullshit, but I think there's a flaw in their argument against recycling. For one I doubt recycling costs more than what trash collection would. Both use manpower, both use guys collecting waste, but one puts it back into the system while the other just dumps it somewhere.

Even if it were a purely monetary stand point, there is no way you can argue against the fact that the earth's resources are being taxed with a population of 6 billion humans who will increase in numbers within the coming decades. Teaching people to reduce, reuse, and recycle is a good thing. I always recycle my plastics, papers, and aluminum cans. I save many of the glass jars and plastic containers (the  resealable kind) to be washed and reused in the kitchen. Why buy expensive tupperware when you buy the exact same thing when you buy salsa or saurkraut or dead baby powder? It's paid for and way cheaper just to thoroughly clean and use it again.

I do agree with them on the hysteria people have about not recycling. Both sides of the spectrum can get extreme, it's better if we stay a little grounded here and work on some sensible solutions.

Here's a few things I've done to help reduce my impact on the planet and my wallet. They're easy and cheap to do.

1.) Reduce your toilet water usage. Get either a gallon or half-gallon jug (milk, OJ, whatever). After your done enjoying the tasty beverage fill the jug with either sand or water. Now if you have a large tank, the gallon will fit, but I know for a fact the half-gallon jug will fit almost any tank. Put it to the end of the tank where the plunger and other moving parts won't hit it. Voila...you're done. It displaces the water so it fills up faster with less and still works just like it did before. Now you've reduced your water use by quite a bit without sacrificing the ability to remove solid waste/urine. If every home did this water would be saved in probably the millions of gallons.

2.) Use a candle for light when reading/studying late. Buying candles (unscented ones in this case) in bulk is actually not that expensive. Go to a dollar store or Wal-Mart and buy one of those religious candles (if you live in Texas H-E-B has them in the non-grocery aisles) that cost like a buck a pop. They provide decent light if you use a couple in strategic locations. A cool trick is to put a little mirror behind them and angle it to where the light gets spread around the room. Granted it's not the same as turning on the light switch but it doesn't use energy up and saves you money in the long run if you do it consistently. There is something soothing about reading by candlelight as well.

3.) Solar power kind of. During the day  there's this natural light that is everywhere called sunlight. Why use up electricity to light up a room when you can open those curtains and let natural light in? You scoff but a lot of people don't harness the sun's soothing light like they should.

4.) Unplug your stuff! You turn off everything when your done with it, right? The TV, Computer, Blow Dryer, Flux Capacitor, etc. so that means they're not using electricity, right? WRONG!!! They still use a small amount of juice when they are plugged in. Over time that adds up. And it's for naught because it doesn't do anything useful. I don't even leave my microwaves plugged in. I don't need them to tell the time for me, I have a watch/clock/computer that does that already.

5.) Take smart showers! For every minute you leave the shower running it will roughly be 5 gallons of water used. Often times it just got you wet while you were wet. Here's what I do. I get in the shower, get it going and get good and wet for 30-45 seconds. Then I turn it off and lather up fully. Hair, face, body, all that good junk. Then when I'm done I turn it back on and rinse myself off as quickly as possible. Water is saved and I'm just as clean as I was before I started this practice. Oh and don't take baths as much. They use more water than showers do.

6.) Skimp on AC/Heater use. I go around my place in boxers most of the time and if it's hot (which is Texas it's almost always warm) I use fans instead of AC barring a few REALLY hot days. In the rare times it's freezing cold in Texas, I just bundle up more and use a space heater (turning it off periodically as to help save energy) instead of the heater, but if you use candles they also provide some warmth as well. My place is pretty well insulated so I can get away with this. It really is amazing how much juice is used up heating/cooling your home.

7.) You need an adjustment, mister! (insert miss if you must) Go to your fridge and look at the temperature setting. Is it on the highest setting? If so put it down to 3 or so (or whatever is a lower setting, each is different and the fridge should have some sort of instruction by the knobs). Your food will be fine and it'll save a TON of energy. Fridge technology has improved so much that if you have a fairly new fridge, it will be efficient with a lower setting just fine. Believe me, frozen/refrigerated food will be just fine on a lower setting. The higher setting also increases your risk of freezer burn!

[LoneMateria]

I love Bullshit, but I think there's a flaw in their argument against recycling. For one I doubt recycling costs more than what trash collection would. Both use manpower, both use guys collecting waste, but one puts it back into the system while the other just dumps it somewhere.

I tend to believe the people with a research team.  Also if I remember correctly collecting trash wasn't the issue.  It was the process in which the materials "Cans, paper, and what not" were broken down and remade into new materials.  This process creates more waste then the original process of breaking down the resources.  At least according to their research team.  

Even if it were a purely monetary stand point, there is no way you can argue against the fact that the earth's resources are being taxed with a population of 6 billion humans who will increase in numbers within the coming decades. Teaching people to reduce, reuse, and recycle is a good thing. I always recycle my plastics, papers, and aluminum cans. I save many of the glass jars and plastic containers (the  resealable kind) to be washed and reused in the kitchen. Why buy expensive tupperware when you buy the exact same thing when you buy salsa or saurkraut or dead baby powder? It's paid for and way cheaper just to thoroughly clean and use it again.

This looks like a straw man.  Again recycling these resources puts more hazardous chemicals and waste products in the environment.  They are not contesting that our resources are being taxed they are contesting the "solution" which throws more pollutants in the environment.  Teaching people to reuse products is different then telling people to recycle them btw.  

2.) Use a candle for light when reading/studying late. Buying candles (unscented ones in this case) in bulk is actually not that expensive. Go to a dollar store or Wal-Mart and buy one of those religious candles (if you live in Texas H-E-B has them in the non-grocery aisles) that cost like a buck a pop. They provide decent light if you use a couple in strategic locations. A cool trick is to put a little mirror behind them and angle it to where the light gets spread around the room. Granted it's not the same as turning on the light switch but it doesn't use energy up and saves you money in the long run if you do it consistently. There is something soothing about reading by candlelight as well.

My eyes are bad enough (I can't see past my elbow and i'm 22) I don't think i will be reading by candle light unless another hurricane hits us.

3.) Solar power kind of. During the day  there's this natural light that is everywhere called sunlight. Why use up electricity to light up a room when you can open those curtains and let natural light in? You scoff but a lot of people don't harness the sun's soothing light like they should.

This seems reasonable however you haven't lived in Florida have you?  Well our summers (in northern florida) get into the upper 90's low 100's during the day with 100% humidity almost every day (afternoon showers do that).  With the blinds up it heats the house and in order for us to stay cool we need to run the Air Conditioner.  Its a losing battle in the summer time though the winter time it might be effective.

Still whether you agree with Bullshit! or not the recycling episode is interesting.  I didn't watch the Going Green episode but supposedly thats a pretty good one.  And the Hybrid one is a good one.

[Big Mac]

I love Bullshit, but I think there's a flaw in their argument against recycling. For one I doubt recycling costs more than what trash collection would. Both use manpower, both use guys collecting waste, but one puts it back into the system while the other just dumps it somewhere.

I tend to believe the people with a research team.  Also if I remember correctly collecting trash wasn't the issue.  It was the process in which the materials "Cans, paper, and what not" were broken down and remade into new materials.  This process creates more waste then the original process of breaking down the resources.  At least according to their research team.  

Even if it were a purely monetary stand point, there is no way you can argue against the fact that the earth's resources are being taxed with a population of 6 billion humans who will increase in numbers within the coming decades. Teaching people to reduce, reuse, and recycle is a good thing. I always recycle my plastics, papers, and aluminum cans. I save many of the glass jars and plastic containers (the  resealable kind) to be washed and reused in the kitchen. Why buy expensive tupperware when you buy the exact same thing when you buy salsa or saurkraut or dead baby powder? It's paid for and way cheaper just to thoroughly clean and use it again.

This looks like a straw man.  Again recycling these resources puts more hazardous chemicals and waste products in the environment.  They are not contesting that our resources are being taxed they are contesting the "solution" which throws more pollutants in the environment.  Teaching people to reuse products is different then telling people to recycle them btw.  

2.) Use a candle for light when reading/studying late. Buying candles (unscented ones in this case) in bulk is actually not that expensive. Go to a dollar store or Wal-Mart and buy one of those religious candles (if you live in Texas H-E-B has them in the non-grocery aisles) that cost like a buck a pop. They provide decent light if you use a couple in strategic locations. A cool trick is to put a little mirror behind them and angle it to where the light gets spread around the room. Granted it's not the same as turning on the light switch but it doesn't use energy up and saves you money in the long run if you do it consistently. There is something soothing about reading by candlelight as well.

My eyes are bad enough (I can't see past my elbow and i'm 22) I don't think i will be reading by candle light unless another hurricane hits us.

3.) Solar power kind of. During the day  there's this natural light that is everywhere called sunlight. Why use up electricity to light up a room when you can open those curtains and let natural light in? You scoff but a lot of people don't harness the sun's soothing light like they should.

This seems reasonable however you haven't lived in Florida have you?  Well our summers (in northern florida) get into the upper 90's low 100's during the day with 100% humidity almost every day (afternoon showers do that).  With the blinds up it heats the house and in order for us to stay cool we need to run the Air Conditioner.  Its a losing battle in the summer time though the winter time it might be effective.

Still whether you agree with Bullshit! or not the recycling episode is interesting.  I didn't watch the Going Green episode but supposedly thats a pretty good one.  And the Hybrid one is a good one.

I've lived off the coast of Texas where we have similar summers. Believe me, I know plenty about humidity. It's called toughening up to nature's harsh treatment. I just power through because I rule. I'm kidding, these are just some observations I've noticed that are free to do to help the environment and can help reduce the cost on living expenses. Not everyone lives in Florida (hell here in central Texas it can get pretty humid with all the rain we've been having) so it takes all kind. I'm just trying to help point out the stuff I've discovered works, broseph.

Also, if your eyes are that bad how do you stare a computer screen? I'm blind as a bat without my glasses but I can read by candlelight just fine. Just curious is all.

You know I need to see that episode again, I can't recall where recycling creates more waste. It's been a while since I've seen it. I think the women they picked is a little self-righteous with trying to do her part. It feels good to help but don't act like your doesn't stink, am I right?

I do enjoy Bullshit! because I agree with most of their views. I think some episodes weren't done in the best way but for the most part the show is well-made and informative. I wish the episodes were an hour long, there is so much that can be said in each subject that 30 minutes seems fairly anemic.

[LoneMateria]

Also, if your eyes are that bad how do you stare a computer screen? I'm blind as a bat without my glasses but I can read by candlelight just fine. Just curious is all.

I wear glasses all the time.  I do computer programming work so staring at a computer screen for hours on end is kind of a prerequisite.

You know I need to see that episode again, I can't recall where recycling creates more waste. It's been a while since I've seen it. I think the women they picked is a little self-righteous with trying to do her part. It feels good to help but don't act like your doesn't stink, am I right?

its been a while for me too.  I don't remember any women interviewed in it.  I remember they gave a guy like 15 recycle containers saying they were each for something different.  I also remembered they interviewed that guy who lied and said we were running out of landfill space.  But yeah I need to download and watch that again too.

I do enjoy Bullshit! because I agree with most of their views. I think some episodes weren't done in the best way but for the most part the show is well-made and informative. I wish the episodes were an hour long, there is so much that can be said in each subject that 30 minutes seems fairly anemic.

I too agree with most of what they say.  The bit I don't agree with is the stuff I tend to not think about much.  Then I have to tell myself that they are probably right and I need to look into it more before forming an opinion.  Some episodes could have definitely been better and an hour long show would help in some spots but not others.  I'm sure its hard to keep people paying attention after more then half an hour of learning.