Lessons learned

I have learned that when living with roommates, I don't think about the bath tub. I shower without contacts in, and I clean up after myself (I lose a considerable amount of hair in the shower. It's a wonder I'm not bald.). Other than that, I try not to look around or touch anything. I think it has to do with the Tragedy of the Commons, which is an idea I try to work into as many conversations as possible. Since I don't know what my roommates were washing off of themselves, I don't know when the tub was last cleaned, and I don't like to perpetuate the idea that nobody needs to clean because I will always do it, I never bathe in a tub shared with roommates. No matter what. Often, in the last year, when I have been sick (and that is very often), my mom has suggested that I take a nice hot bath. Sounds nice, yes, but I cannot bring myself to do it.

This is all leading up to something: now, living with Rob and Cynth, they have kindly allotted me my own bathroom. The tub is so clean! Even if it's not, I know what is in there. The long and the short of it is, I've bathed 2 times in the last 4 days (slightly higher than my average shower frequency) and am planning on another one when I go home today (significantly higher than my average shower frequency).

Thesis

Sometimes I feel like this:

Non-dictionary definitions

I often misspell words when instant messaging. If I get questioned as to the meaning of such words, I make something up. The word of the day:

hindisght = Hindi sight

n. Of or having the ability to see any living thing's previous or future incarnations.

The Future Is Now

As I was listening to a presentation on wind energy today, I had a revelation: the future of renewable energy is not in windmills or hydroelectric power, or even nuclear. The problem with all of these is that they require some lower form of energy to eventually make electricity. I think that the future of renewable energy is some sort of biophotoelectric power. This is the name I came up with while I was trying not to fall asleep in the presentation.

Just think - genetically modified plants that have roots connected to a biological battery. All living things conduct electricity, they even have electrical charges. We have bred plants to grow bigger fruit, to have shorter stems, why not generate power using photosynthesis? Now all I need is to be a genius who understands electricity and plant physiology and genetics.

Citizenship

It bugs me when I use the restroom here at the Cropping Systems Research Lab and there are soap drips and water droplets all over the counter. It's so easy to clean up after ourselves, why don't we do it? I have found myself wiping off the whole counter and the sinks with my paper towel after I dry my hands. As I have done this, it has occurred to me that this is something old people do. When did I become an old person? I digress.

As many (ie: 3 of the 4 people who read this blog) of you know, I'm a regular reader of the no impact man blog. Today his post talked about how he jaywalked and people followed him and almost got hit by a car for their trusting behavior. He mentioned that whether we expect it to happen or not, people will follow our examples. My point is, if we do the basic actions expected of responsible adults, maybe people will follow our examples. Maybe the sinks will be clean next time I use the restroom.