Everyone's talking about 'green' issues these days. I'm sure that's a good thing and no sensible thinking person would argue against the principle, but there's usually a cost involved. Retired old bloggers like me are very cost conscious and protective of our limited retirement income. So we tend to like the idea of being green, but hate the expense.
I was therefore interested in an article I saw recently about how to be 'eco-friendly' when diving your car - seems to me that this is a contradiction in terms, but anyway, I read the article.
Now, I don't know about you, but I get thoroughly brassed off when 30-somethings tell us to walk or ride a bike. I enjoy a walk in the country for the pleasure of it and I'll even ride my old bike a bit - but not when I need to go to town or go shopping. There's no way I'm lugging my resuable bags of shopping back home on foot. Sorry, but at my age, I'll take the car (and no, there isn't a bus for miles).
Anyway, back to this article. The really interesting thing about it was that it explained how I could drive in an eco-friendly way that would also save me money - that gets my attention. In essence, it boiled down to Mazda's Smarter Motoring Tips, and I'm sure they won't mind if I reproduce them here:
1. Change up 'early' through the gears, just before the 'peak torque' rpm. (If you don't know what that means, ask a 30-something person).
2. Ease your acceleration and speed.
3. Anticipate to avoid unnecessary braking and stopping.
4. Use the air-conditioning sparingly as it increases fuel consumption.
5. Switch off the engine whenever it is safe to do so.
6. Check tyre pressures regulalry.
7. Remove unnecessary weight from the car.
8. Reduce aerodynamic drag from the car whenever possible, e.g. removing roof racks when not in use.
9. Follow the recommended servicing schedule.
Most of it's common sense I suppose, but it sometimes helps to see it written down.
Best not print this blog - save the trees.
Be well.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
A BIT SAD, BUT READ IT ANYWAY.
This is a bit sad, but at the same time I think that lots of people of my generation will be nodding sagely having read what follows.
An Obituary printed in the London Times.
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
------------------------------------
There are facilities on the blog to make any comment you think might be appropriate on the death of a friend.
________________________________________
An Obituary printed in the London Times.
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
------------------------------------
There are facilities on the blog to make any comment you think might be appropriate on the death of a friend.
________________________________________
Saturday, May 1, 2010
SUPPLEMENTING YOUR PENSION?
The world's gone mad. But then most of our generation knew that anyway.
How about this as an idea for supplementing your pension? Go to the the Victoria and Albert Museum and help yourself to some soup in their restaurant. Claim that you burnt your thumb in the process and they may award you £400.
Or how about trespassing at Carlisle Castle in the early hours of the morning (say about 2am) and falling into the moat? Have a go at this one and you could get £15,000 - that's about 3 years worth of the basic States Pension.
You might laugh, but both of these incidents actually happened according to a survey in the Sunday Telegraph.
Tourist attractions are having to pay out millions of pounds to visitors who have 'accidents' on their premises. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?
Now, of course, I'm not advocating anything so extreme as a way of increasing your pension or getting a retirement income going. Like I said, the world's gone mad.
Be well.
How about this as an idea for supplementing your pension? Go to the the Victoria and Albert Museum and help yourself to some soup in their restaurant. Claim that you burnt your thumb in the process and they may award you £400.
Or how about trespassing at Carlisle Castle in the early hours of the morning (say about 2am) and falling into the moat? Have a go at this one and you could get £15,000 - that's about 3 years worth of the basic States Pension.
You might laugh, but both of these incidents actually happened according to a survey in the Sunday Telegraph.
Tourist attractions are having to pay out millions of pounds to visitors who have 'accidents' on their premises. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?
Now, of course, I'm not advocating anything so extreme as a way of increasing your pension or getting a retirement income going. Like I said, the world's gone mad.
Be well.
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