Author: Fee Writes

Fee Writes

When is Something Eco-friendly?

I often hear funny stories, and this one about eco-friendly packaging is undoubtedly one of them.

Have you ever been in a situation when you think, does this person really get the gist of what it means to be eco-friendly? (Or anything else that you may be discussing).

Recently a friend of mine who owns a promotional product company told me how bizarre the whole eco-friendly is. They have a beautiful pen they sell. This pen is made with eco-friendly material like bamboo and recycled cardboard. How cool is that? But wait, unless my friend tells the manufacturer specifically not to, each pen is wrapped in plastic. Huh? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of the ‘eco-friendly’?

So let’s see – plastic … eco-friendly?

Plastic is a by-product of the oil industry, and there is no way that it is eco-friendly no matter what the industry tells you. The only “friendly” thing would be if the packaging were made from recycled plastic, but it would eventually find its way into the landfill, so what’s the point.

We see it all the time, especially in supermarkets. Who hasn’t seen the cucumber tightly wrapped in plastic film? Or the capsicum in packs of two or three? Then there are the halves of vegetables such as cauliflower or, and this is my pet peeve, half a pumpkin. The problem with the pumpkin is taking the plastic off. It’s sucked on so tight; one has to be very vigilant in getting all the bits because, through my experience, it doesn’t come off in one go.

Obviously, I am fully aware of the ‘why’… doesn’t mean I like it. Wherever possible, I choose fruit and veg that are loose, and the leftover pumpkin gets cooked, mashed and frozen so I can use it for sauces or soups.

Sadly plastic is very much a part of our world; however, some amazing alternatives are being invented, which gives me hope that maybe one day we will be plastic-free.

STAY IN THE LOOP

Fee Writes

Random

The Fortune Teller

Have you ever been to a tarot card reader or any one of the many psychic modalities?

What is the allure of fortune-tellers? And why do we need to look into the future?

As far as I’m concerned, the jury is still out as to whether they really can predict what is going to happen in my world.

Over the years, I have been to many different psychics, from card readers, astrologers and numerologists to clairvoyants and palm readers. All have been able to tell me my traits, personality etc. and be pretty on par with that.

But for telling the future… pretty darn abysmal.

Yes, I know, free will means that I can block anything they’ve told me from happening. But, hey, if it’s good, then why would I??? Wouldn’t I be more likely to be looking forward to the predicted outcome?

There have only been two occasions when what the psychic told me has come to fruition. And of those two, only one was very much outside the square and not something I was expecting at all. Which brings me to wonder … was it a lucky guess? Or was she an excellent clairvoyant?

As for all the other things that should have happened, well, I’m still waiting. There’s a man from Portugal with the large yacht yet to sail into my life – geez, it’s been over 20 years! And what about all the public talks around the world I was to give??? Mind you; perhaps the cards couldn’t foresee the virus putting a dampener on any travelling.

The funny part is when I see a card reader, I’m still tempted to sit down opposite just out of curiosity. It’s a bit like being tempted to take a lotto ticket. But I don’t spend on the lottery because of the enormous odds, so I probably won’t be looking into the crystal ball either for the same reason.

P.S. And just so you know – the two clairvoyants that seemed to get it right… I jolly well can’t remember who they were – now, isn’t that just a rotten plot twist!!!!!

STAY IN THE LOOP

Fee Writes

Environment | WTF

The Power of Words.

Spin doctors – copywriters – marketing hype etc., all rely on the power of words to tell you a story.

The latest comes from the oil industry who have finally come on board with the whole climate thing. In other words, no longer saying it’s a hoax.
But now, especially in the U.S., since the new government is back into the whole ‘save the environment’ mode, big oil is getting the message out that ‘natural gas is now ‘low carbon gas’.

Come again?

Yes, you read that right. The ‘low carbon’ talk is being ramped up and being spun in all sorts of directions. ‘Low carbon solutions’ or how about ‘low carbon technologies’? These are the words that are currently being used.

Now methane (short-lived but 86 times more potent than carbon) is a massive problem. It comes from many different sources, including leaking out of pipelines or being burned off at refineries. By the way, methane emissions are increasing more rapidly than scientists thought, and in the past 20 years, it’s risen by 150%, whereas carbon’s gone up 50%.

So our friends at big oil want us to keep our eye on carbon and are getting us to believe that natural gas is the ‘good guy’ because it is ‘low carbon’. Don’t fret your beautiful head about methane – it’s short-lived, so not the worry.

It’s all bullshit. No matter what the industry or governments, for that matter, tell us. Coal, gas, oil, animal agriculture, rotting food all play an enormous part in the mess we find ourselves in as they all emit methane. And my money is on methane being the elephant in the room.

So ‘low carbon’ is just another play on words that is being spun to the plebs to get them to believe they are doing something that will help reduce emissions.

And on we will go – forever forward and upward with our emissions.

Research ref: Research.noaa.gov

STAY IN THE LOOP

Fee Writes

Memories

The Little Triggers

Every so often, things happen in life that become little triggers for memories.

The older I get, the more those little triggers fire up a memory. The trouble is, often, the memory is not in full coloured detail. More likely, it’s a fleeting “oh, yeah, I remember…. Um… how did that go again?” type of picture. Other times a little trigger can transport me back to a place, and I experience a full re-enactment of a long-ago time.

Of the five senses we possess, it appears that smell is the most dramatic.

A smell can trigger all sorts of recollections and recapture moments in vivid detail.

To give you an example.

There is a particular supermarket here in Tauranga. It’s not one that I regularly frequent as it is some distance away. But on the odd occasion that I do, as soon as I walk in, I am immediately transported to a specific supermarket in Arcata, California. I would go there with my daughter whenever I visited her. Sometimes even going on my own driving her American ‘truck’ with its column change and steering wheel on the wrong side – my adventure!

But why does this one N.Z. supermarket remind me of the one in Arcata and not other markets? It’s definitely the smell that is exactly the same the moment I step inside. I believe it could be how both of them are laid out. The N.Z. one has a café with the coffee smell to the right, the produce to the left, and that includes the bakery. The Arcata one is laid out slightly differently, but the combination of the smell of the coffee, the bakery and the produce is the same and this is the trigger.

So on the odd time when I am missing my daughter, especially during this last year when neither one of us can visit, I go over to the city and saunter into this supermarket. I close my eyes, and I’m right there with her.

And just so you know it’s not only me. Her father has the exact same reaction.

STAY IN THE LOOP

Fee Writes

Laugh!

When is a Toy Not a Toy?

There are times when I see things and I do wonder what the story is. And this was one of those times when I spied a toy.

So in this case I have to ask – when is a toy not a toy? And I’m not talking about adult toys… Please, raise your thoughts into higher spheres.

Although, in this case, there may be a bit of ‘gutter speak’ going on.

Now, this particular type of little toy – see image below, I’ve seen around many times. It pops up in odd places, like hanging on a keyring or on a kiddie’s backpack.

This little man is keeping guard over the front door, hanging from the coat rack.

So when I spied one on the back of a large Toyota trucky-type vehicle, I smiled but then did a double-take when I spied something rather unusual about it.

First thing I noticed was that it was on the outside back window and gave the illusion that someone, other than the owner, had put it there, deliberately.

Now, I’m quite sure that the guy who owns the Toyota. Whoa, that’s a bit sexist of me to assume that it’s someone of the male persuasion that owns this double-cab massive, extremely clean (LOL) wagon. It could easily be a woman.

But I digress.

Now the person who owns the truck, I’m quite sure didn’t attach the toy up there for all to see. And what makes me think that is because the very next day, the truck was in the gym car park but the toy was gone!

So, take a look at the photo……. Carefully.

As I said, I did do a double-take when I saw that an extra appendage had been added.

Now what nudges my funny-bone is that there has to be some story that goes along with it.

An inside joke?
A jilted lover?
A flirtatious affair?

I realise I’ll never know the story, but it was certainly fun thinking about it.

One of the joys of my life is finding the funny.

STAY IN THE LOOP

Author: Fee Writes

When is Something Eco-friendly?

I often hear funny stories, and this one about eco-friendly packaging is undoubtedly one of them.

The Fortune Teller

Have you ever been to a tarot card reader or any one of the many psychic modalities?

The Power of Words.

Spin doctors – copywriters – marketing hype etc., all rely on the power of words to tell you a story.

The Little Triggers

Every so often, things happen in life that become little triggers for memories.

When is a Toy Not a Toy?

Search

I’m On Bluesky

About Me

Categories

DROP ME A LINE

A Trusted Site