NPR did a report a few months ago on plastic bags and other recycling initiatives and how outright bans can backfire to some degree. I think it was Ireland that they used as an example. They either banned or put a surcharge on the plastic bags used in stores. As a result people started purchasing plastic trash bags to line trash cans and for things like pet waste. The purchased plastic bags tend to be thinker than the shopping bags. They actually saw a pretty significant spike in the amount of trucking used to transport the plastic bags that were being sold. So yes, it kept some plastic out of the landfills, but people ended up buying other plastic products, and then there was an unforseen impact with vehicle emissions from diesel trucks.

Yeah, I think I heard about that somewhere. Still, I have to think making people purchase their bags cuts down on the free-floating unused bags that are clogging up the ocean. And even if the bags are heavier - I can't imagine that anyone who doesn't have pets comes close to using as many purchased bags as the number they acquire under the current bag-happy routine.

It's definitely a complex problem, which means that things like devising newer and cheaper kinds of bags is key, as is doing more to encourage/enforce recycling and simply reducing use.

In Decatur, Georgia, when I lived there, they had put in place a policy that trash would only be picked up in special blue City of Decatur bags that you had to buy at stores for $1 a pop. You better believe people paid more attention to what they were buying and throwing out v. recycling/composting, etc.

I ended up buying the dog a new crate while out because she can no longer hold her head up while standing in her puppy crate. She's pointedly ignoring it, but I'd like her to get used to the idea that it's her room before she goes to stay with my parents next week.

I have found with carrier-shy cats, that it works wonders to toss a treat or two into the carrier.

We went to Dog Adoption Day today. It was huge event, with probably 150 dogs from various rescue organizations there. Lots of fun, except for the fact that it was twelve zillion degrees out. We fell TOTALLY in love with this guy: [link]

And put in an application to adopt him. Keep your fingers crossed that he likes our cats and that they like him! Our dog indiscriminately loves all dogs, so we aren't worried about her.

He's a handsome thing, Scrappy. Fingers and paws crossed!

PUPPY!

Aw, sweet guy. How old is he?

I've had a CSI marathon on in the background today, and they keep running that Sarah McLaughlin ASPCA commercial that just breaks me. And then I have to go and get all huggy with the dog and that annoys her.

I've thought about getting another dog from time to time, but while Lucy gets along with almost any dog, she does get a little jealous of my attention. And since, to be honest, there's not really enough of that to go around, I've always concluded that it wouldn't really be fair to her.

Passover is over! Just ordered some bruscetta and ravioli from the Italian place down the street. Unfortunately, no delivery, so I've got to go pick it up in a little while.

Passover is over!

Yay that means buffalo chicken pizza on Tuesday!

I am trying to decide if I want to go get either a beer or dessert. Or both. On the one hand, I feel I deserve it after dealing with my parents this weekend. On the other hand, not only would that take me away from the intarwebs and the comfort of my hotel room, it would be calories i don't need (I stepped on a scale the other day. I've gained about 15 pounds since moving to Seattle. Pounds that I had taken off in DC with great difficulty. Hrmph)

Aww, Scrappy, poodlehead is cute! I just got to meet my sister's new dog...sort of. His "real" owner got him, and then realized he's never home during the week. So my sister has him all week (and gets to bring him to work!) and then the other guy has the puppy on the weekends. Seems unfair to me...but he's a black and grey toy poodle, and just adorable.