reader's digest(ion)

Reader's Digest(ion).... It was always in the bathroom when I was growing up. He¬llo, and welcome.   Here you will find one man's opinions, some pictures, and hopefully witty commentary by whoever imbibes the blog.  I'll start with a stereotypical, ill-informed rant.  I'm ever concerned with language and associated subjective meanings applied to objects or situations.  On my mind right now are two crap-filled terms that have been bouncing around my skull: Upcycling: Wikipedia (the voice of the proletariat, or those who can afford to be connected) tells us that, "Upcycling is the use of waste materials to provide useful products. Ideally, it is a reinvestment in the environment and embodiment of the notion that while using resources one is also contributing to them and their value. This is antithesis of the consume-and-waste concept in society." "Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value." Upcycling was coined by William McDonaugh and Michael Braungart, authors of Cradle to Cradle.   While I agree with the concept behind this terminology (and Cradle to Cradle is a good book), I feel that the word itself is too much of a feel good catch phrase that is entirely dependant on the subjective definition of value. We need to change our perceptions of what is ‘waste' and what is ‘useful.'  To me this word suggests that by making a coke-bottle-coat-rack (or whatever), that you have somehow reversed the life cycle of these ‘waste' products.  What you have done is temporarily diverted the path of this object from it's ultimate destination, which could be another bottle in the near future, but finally back to the Earth.  And let's be honest about the materials and energy used in the upward movement of these objects. This is real consumption that can't always be soundly justified by a perceived increase in importance, or by applying the lofty ‘art label'.  What about changing our behavior; possibly doing without?  Put down the damn coke! Global Village: Yet another phrase crafted to invoke a false sense of unity.  There is no such thing as a global village, if there were, it would be a giant mall that you never left.  A village is like an extended family, where people largely look out for one another, and there is a common goal of cooperative survival.  Our villages are already too large, we don't know our neighbors, and we are competitive not cooperative.  Our social habits stem from small, closely-knit groups (think monkeys) and have been that way for millennia.  I don't care how many people you know on Friendster or Facebook, imagining that this globe is a village is total crap.