Art imitates blog

This editorial cartoon by Mike Lester was published in the Rome News-Tribune, of Rome, GA. While I have a feeling it's meant to mock liberals as godless heathens, it could be taken in a number of ways, many of which are respectful to the last democratically elected President of the United States. Perhaps Mr. Lester was inspired by this blog?

recycling at work - yay!

Dear Al Gore,

Very exciting day at work. Normally, those of us environmentally concious employees need to make extra efforts in order to recycle anything beyond paper (we each have our own bins in our cubicles). Now, finally, there are bins on every floor for plastic, glass, and aluminum cans. Plus, we have updated our water dispensing options such that we are not buying bottled water anymore. My father, and you, would be proud.


Thanks,
Will

Even Babies Can Save the World!

Felicitations Mr. Gore,

I was only born 6 days ago, but my Mom says even I have to do my part. So, despite the fact that she uses disposable diapers and wipes (she's just dealt with too much poop in her career to contemplate cloth diapers, etc.), we walked to the grocery store this afternoon, instead of driving like all the other suburbanites in our neighborhood do (and yup, Mr. Gore, the grocery store is a 5 minute walk up the street), and she showed me how to bag our groceries in a reusable bag. It really tired me out, but I'm glad to help!

When I grow up, I'm going to get a Nobel Peace Prize, too!

Sincerely,
Felix (as dictated to Mom while she fed me - the environmentally friendly way!)

consumer consequences

Dear Al Gore,

Since I am home sick, I have been browsing the net more heavily than normal. In my surfing I came across a consumer consequence game via Apartment Therapy:Green. I thought I was doing a good job of being a responsible global citizen, but now I am despondent. Do you have any advice for me?

Thanks in advance!

Love,
Veronique

anniversary

Dear Al Gore,

Thanks for the personalized book in honor of my one year anniversary. I look forward to reading "An Inconvienient Truth" and letting it inspire me further during year #2 of my marriage.

How many years for you and Tipper?

Thanks again,
will

brrrrr

Dear Al Gore,

I know that we should not turn up the heat because it wastes energy, but it's freezing here (relatively, since I live in N. Cali) and I don't live in an energy-efficient home. I am bundled up with socks and sweaters and blankets, but my feet are still cold. Please can you tell the landlord to put the heat on? I'm too cold to dial her number.

Thanks,
Cara

Where do you stand?

Dear Al Gore;

Many many of the Democratic Presidential candidates have come out in support of the WGA and their strike.

"I stand with the writers," Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois said from his campaign headquarters in Chicago. "The guild's demand is a test of whether media corporations are going to give writers a fair share of the wealth their work creates or continue concentrating profits in the hands of their executives."

Notice how no Republicans have pledged their support. Guess it wouldn't sound so good for them to declare: "Actually, artists don't deserve to make money on their works. We support mega-corporations."

But where do you stand? And, what muffins do you like? I'm really lusting for a muffin. Perhaps it's just because I've been watching reruns of Strindberg + helium.

Sincerely,
KW

Long hair = eco-unfriendly mess in the bathtub

Dear Al Gore,
My housemate and I have a problem. We both have long hair which clogs our bathtub drain. Now, I have recently discovered that if I brush my hair, less of it ends up in the bath tub. However, this does not keep enough hair out of the drain to keep it draining properly. I have found that Drano is quite an effective remedy. My concern is the ingredients: hypochlorous acid, sodium salt (sodium hypotchlorite) and sodium hydroxide. I don't think it's a good idea to release Drano into the environment. In fact, the Material Safety Data Sheet says (under safe handling and use) "Steps If Matl Released/Spill: In case of spill/leak flush area with water. Keep out of watersheds and water systems." How can I keep it out of watersheds and water systems if I use it to unclog my drain! What can I use instead of Drano?

Oughtn't I flush?

Dear Al Gore;

Every morning I use the toi-toi before I take a shower. Sometimes, okay... quite often... I forget to flush. But do I? My fiance yells at me. Sometimes she beats me. (If I'm lucky :-)

So it brings up this question... when should we flush? Yes, yes... even with that spare two-liter of Pepsi I once decided to recycle stuck in my toilet to reduce the amount of water used in each flush... I still have this question. I mean, doesn't it waste "waste" water no matter how few times I flush?

Granted, I'm not advocating pooing in my fun-bucket multiple times, but is pee-pee really that bad? Okay, after asparagus... yes. DEFINITELY yes. But really, if I don't flush before taking a shower... is it THAT bad? It's not like I peed in my honey's coffee cup. Though I did that to my baby brother once. He thought it was apple juice! G-d, two year old's are SO gullible. Anyway, that was another time.

SO... what would you do? Outhn't I flush?

KW

which is worse

Dear Al Gore,

Which is worse, leaving my laptop open all the time - letting it sleep on its own and wake up when I touch the mouse

OR

Opening and closing it constantly throughout the day?


Thanks,
Will

And the DVDs? Who will care for them?!

Dear Al;

So the writers are going on strike now in Hollywood. And one of their demands is that they get paid more money for DVDs. Which brings up a question for me -- aren't DVDs unrecyclable yet too easily scratchable? I mean, I just bought a used DVD recently (trying to, you know, re-use) but it was unwatchable... both the content and the DVD itself. I guess that's my fault for buying Jack Ass the Movie though.

But it pains me to think that this DVD will be around long after me, sitting in a dump, another relic of mankind's waste.

Hey! Wait a second, didn't you make a DVD too? How did you handle it (besides making it so awesome that no one would ever throw it away)? Is your's secretly made of recycled gum-drops and pie-in-the-sky?

And finally, as a "writer" on that little-project-you-did, are you going to be striking? I hope so... cause then at least one (shoulda-been) President will have visited our fire-damaged state.

Kristopher

Ivy

Dear Al Gore,

Today my mommy told me that the condo association voted to remove the ivy from our building and bleach the roots (she used bad words). I'm very sad because I enjoy the privacy the ivy affords us here. I like to hide behind it while I watch the world go past my favorite window.

I realize ivy is not native to North America and can be invasive, but since this ivy is here and not hurting anything, shouldn't we keep it alive? Mommy told me that plants use up CO2, which helps counteract the processes that contribute to global warming.

Please advise.

Love and nose kisses,
Sophie

PS - Please send catnip. XOXO

Icky Question

Dear Al Gore,

Many of us here at "Dear Al Gore," have been concerned lately with how to properly recycle items with foodstuffs still attached. I come to this forum with a slightly T.M.I.ish, slightly icky variation on that theme.

You see, chez nous, my husband and I recycle about three times as much as we throw away, and we compost as well, cutting down on food waste in our "trash." What I have noticed, is that bathroom trash makes up a pretty significant part of what we do throw away. You know what I mean: snotty tissues, waxy q-tips, cotton balls with toner/astringent and dead skin cells clinging to them. Now, I know all of these items are actually recyclable in their pristine state, but can I (should I?) recycle them when they're sullied with human detritus?

The next time you're taking a break from saving the world, please let me know your feelings on this matter.

Much appreciation,
Cameron