Why do people keep using plastic bags when they go shopping? They pollute the roadside and the ocean, they do not biodegrade, they are made from petrochemicals (oil), and are infrequently recycled. Sure, it’s more convenient to just grab them when going through the checkout, but the cons far outweigh the pros. It’s simple enough to pick up a few canvas shopping bags and reuse them each time you go shopping. Many stores offer them for very little cost.

In order for people to stop using these bags, there has to be some sort of incentive

One option would be charging a deposit on bags, much in the same way as soda bottles. Plastic bags are easier than plastic to recycle, but almost no one does it. If the recycling rate of bags approached 50%, that would offset environmental impact greatly. However, it takes time and manpower to collect and pay out the deposit, and this cost may exceed the savings in recycling.

Retailers could also follow the example of Ikea, who charge a $.05 fee for use of plastic bags. In the UK, plastic bag use in their stores has dropped by 95%. If several of the largest retailers began doing this here in the States, plastic bags could almost be eliminated. Most would see that it is more economical to purchase reusable bags.

One way or another, all plastic bags must be either eliminated or recycled. They harm the environment and use precious oil. Either recycle them, or don’t use them.

I was watching some TV last night, and the commercial for Cymbalta came on. It’s the one that says, “Depression hurts everywhere” and stuff. There’s this depressing music in the background and images of depressed people being… depressed. If I was depressed, that commercial would probably send me over the edge. I know advertisements are supposed to appeal to the emotions, but this is a little much.

Some would have you believe that. Most people would rather tune in to their favorite primetime drama or reality show than pick up a good book. Libraries these days are desolate, great books go unread by many. People would rather be entertained than informed or educated. It’s almost like the realization of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. If you have been too busy watching reality shows to know what that novel is about, it’s about a futuristic society where everyone has a room with three walls of televisions, and everyone has a little transmitter in their ears to broadcast advertisements. Books are illegal, so all of them are burned by “firemen”. I’ll leave the rest of the plot for you to find at your local library.

When I ask someone if they have heard of [insert classic literature here], many say, “Oh yes, I saw that once.” I’ll say, “It’s a novel.” He or she will say, “Oh, I just saw the movie.” I don’t particularly like movies based on novels. Even if they stay true to the plot and include most of the details, it removes the influence of the imagination on the novel. Some things are not enumerated for a reason. Being able to visualize the story and scene in your mind is one of the greatest things about reading. Everyone should go pick up a good book and read it. And hug a librarian. Or a writer.

I found that the handling of this tragedy by the media was inappropriate. Before the 5:00 p.m. press conference with the school president and the police chief, they were speculating on just about every detail of this incident. My mother told me some stuff she had previously heard on the news, like the first shooting may have been domestic in nature, but when I watched the press conference, just about everything she had told me was addressed during it. Also, I’m tired of the media using tragedies as advertisements. I’m not sure about the rest of the country, but the Fox affiliate station I get was airing commercials for their 10:00 news program with the big, bold, animated words flying around the screen, such as “MASSACRE”, among other things. These were aired just like other FUD commercials, like “ARE YOUR CORN FLAKES KILLING YOUR FAMILY? MORE AT 10″. The media should take some responsibility for the “facts” that are presented to their audience. The media should also tone down its use of tragedies as advertising for news programs and show some respect to the victims and their families.

The American secondary school system is going down the tubes. I don’t think there is anyone in particular to blame; it’s just the whole secondary education establishment. Back when most people earned their livings by a trade, boys went to school for a few years to learn to read and write, and then learned their father’s trade. Now schools are geared toward the Industrial Age, preparing students for factory work with the obnoxious bells and strict rules on time. This is no longer necessary. Society is moving toward a system where “face time” doesn’t count as much as it used to. Instead of heavily penalizing students for not being in class, students should be given more control over their lives. Homework is another area that could use improvement. There is no reason for teachers to breathe down students’ necks over assignments. Students should be responsible for learning what they need to know for large assignments. Everything should be taught in class, but if a student doesn’t show up for said class, or doesn’t take the time to study, that should be the student’s problem, not the teachers.

Another issue is the lack of vocational training in secondary schools. An American high school graduate is almost useless in the workforce nowadays. It is almost required that students attend at least some college to be able to find a good job. My high school provided some vocational training to juniors and seniors, but it was only in areas such as auto body and cooking. There were no options for college-bound kids other than some generic “college prep” (i.e. Advanced Placement) classes, and some dual-enrollment classes with a local community college. If I wanted to become, say, an engineer, all I could do was take AP Calculus. That’s it. I don’t see how something like AP History would help me become a better engineer. Having some specialized training, even if it covered broad disciplines, would certainly help shave some time and expense off college, and help those going into the workforce get better jobs. High schools need to stop churning out fast-food and retail workers and start preparing students for the real world.

I sure am. Every night at 8:00, I can be sure to find some show on CNN or Fox about her. She’s been dead for two months, and the talking heads are still going on about her. She wasn’t exactly a great contributor to American culture. She posed for Playboy and starred in some B-list films.

I’m pretty sure that the entertainment industry is single-handedly destroying American society. There is constant prattle about the personal lives of people who happen to have more money than you do. NASA could be launching the first manned mission to Mars, but it would be interrupted by this important message: “Britney Spears has just taken a huge dump in her $100 million mansion!”. I couldn’t care less about how these people live. If they want to run around naked hitting each other with sticks, I’d be fine with that, but only on two conditions: 1. They stay in California. 2. I don’t have to hear about it every single night.

My name is Blake. I’ll be sharing my thoughts here from time to time. I also design Web sites, so if you need one, drop me a line!