How much Would You Guess?

How much would you guess? Water required per wash load?

10 gal.

20 gal.

35 gal.

65 gal.


I was curious about how much water is required to wash one large load of clothes in my home washing machine. In order to answer my question, I purchased 40 feet of 1.5" flexible drain hose, attached the hose to the machine drain hose, laid the hose across my kitchen and dining room floors, through the sliding doors onto my deck, across the deck and into a large barrel.

During a period of three weeks, I collected the wash and rinse water from three loads per week. The load size for each wash was "large" and included one wash and two rinses. The amount of water used was around the 65 gallons each load. The fifty-five gallon drums overflowed with each load. I removed two, five-gallon buckets from the barrel during the rinse cycles to keep it from spilling over the top.

Conclusion: The correct answer is 65 gal. I was surprised at how much water is consumed with each wash. Water conservation should include planning to reduce the number of loads if feasible.

Have a good week!

Memorial Day, 2008

Here are some ideas about how you and your family might acknowledge and observe the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday:

Attend a Memorial Day Parade in your hometown or near you.

Attend services where names of fallen service men and women are read aloud.

Visit a National Cemetery and stroll among the markers to read names and dates.

Watch the Memorial Day celebrations in Washington, DC.

Explain to your children the background for this holiday and how to respect it.

Make a donation to veteran's causes.

Tell a veteran or veteran's family member "Thank You".

Have a good week and thank you to all veterans, their families, and all people who honor and respect country.

Disturbed

The Shock Doctrine the rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein, 2007, is the most disturbing book I ever read.

Models of society crafted on the concept ultra laissez-faire started in the 1950's at the University of Chicago by Professor Milton Friedman.

During the past fifty years, countries and cultures have have been impacted by economic models of free markets to replace government with privatized services. This conversion is easiest done following war, coups-d'etat, terror attacks, hyper-inflation, and natural disasters.

The dismantling of government was first tested by Chicago School trained economists in Chile when General Augusto Pinochet took control from the Salvador Allende's Popular Unity government. The "Chicago Boys", as they were known, moved into the new government, sold assets, and set up free markets. Many protesters were killed, tortured, or disappeared.

The model of change continued into other South American countries during the years following Chile's test. It continued to Indonesian countries before and after the great tsunami and in New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. Each instance involves changing government to privatization which results in enriching some and impoverishing many. The greater good for a society is lost and profit becomes the almighty goal.

The architect and consultant behind this great movement was Milton Friedman, the University of Chicago, the economists trained there, and the politicians who followed the philosophy to the extreme.

I recommend you read this book for example after example of how common people have been impacted.

Have a good week!

Consumer Product

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog update about using price off coupons to shop and how my wife is a wise shopper who knows how to save money and how to discover and compare product performance. I promised to share an example and here is one that I believe is excellent product design and worth the added nickels it costs.

Cascade 2 in 1 ActionPacs are shown in the pictures above. These self contained soluble packages contain detergent powder and liquid for automatic dishwashers that are superior to the liquid and powder designed to pour from boxes or squirt from plastic containers. The ActionPacs are measured amounts for one wash, are clean to touch, and don't spill or leak during handling or storage.

Click on the pictures above to get a better view of the packaging and one ActionPac capsule inside the dishwasher door.

Have a good week!