Lucky

When we exited the cab, the meter read over $70. It would have rang up another ten for that last block as traffic was at a standstill. When I saw the credit card bill, I noted that the cab driver had lowered the fare to $65.

The LA Times today editorializes on what we should put in the toilet. Pee and Poop are obvious, but read on to learn the third P: By The Times Editorial Board Nov. 15, 2023 3 AM PT What goes in the toilet, and what goes in the trash? It’s the kind of discussion one has with a 2-year old, and is all the more delightful because it’s a topic generally regarded as taboo in polite conversation. You get to say things such as only “the three Ps” — pee, poop and paper — go in the toilet. Everything else goes in the trash can. Right? Alas, modern human life is much more complicated and the conversation far more difficult, though fundamentally important for health, safety and good manners. The last century has given us three new Ps to contend with: plastics, PFAS, and pharmaceuticals. We should not flush these, though throwing them in the trash doesn’t mean they won’t come back to harm us. Microplastics are found in human blood. PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are known popularly as “forever chemicals” and are associated with a host of bad health effects — taint the drinking water of numerous communities. Drugs meant to treat deadly disease in human beings end up causing illness in other creatures when, discarded, they leach into the water. California is currently hammering out regulations that will govern the operation of a new generation of water purification and recycling technologies, and those systems will be major steps forward for health and safety. Water that for too long has been dismissed as merely part of the waste stream, to be flushed into the ocean and supposedly never seen again, will be cleansed and monitored at a level not previously attained to form a buffer against drought. That makes it more important than ever to revisit our approach to managing the three Ps and understand where it may fall short. The first two — the ones that pass out of the human body — are treated to kill pathogens. Liquids and solids are separated and, to oversimplify a bit, liquids go to the ocean and solids are used to enrich farm soil. Human waste fertilizes crops? Yes. Anyone who has bought a bag of Milorganite fertilizer to spread on their lawn and keep it green has in some sense become a customer of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, which produces the product from carefully treated biosolids, the word used to describe human — well, you know. Los Angeles was once dotted with “sewage farms” fertilized, disturbingly, with untreated waste, according to “Brown Acres,” Anna Sklar’s fascinating 2008 history of the L.A. sewer system. They produced vegetables that were considered safe to eat only if cooked. Now L.A.’s waste is properly treated, after which much of it is trucked to farmland in Kern County alongside Interstate 5. Crops there are lush and healthy. Adjacent, unsupplemented land looks like a moonscape. The third P is more problematic. Toilet paper is made to dissolve, but there are arguments and lawsuits over some other products labeled “flushable” (baby wipes and moistened cleaning pads, for example) that municipal sanitation agencies say clog sewer systems and cost taxpayers and ratepayers millions of dollars each year to clear. Should so-called flushables go into the trash instead? Yes. Municipalities have long lists of things people commonly flush but shouldn’t, including facial tissues, tampons, dental floss and indeed any non-organic material. But don’t think placing them in the trash renders them harmless. Plastics (like dental floss) in landfills become microplastics that leach any chemicals they were treated with right back into the water. Unused pills are bad news whether flushed or tossed. PFAS leach from some types of paper plates, takeout containers and other things that generally are placed in the blue recycle bin but shouldn’t be. Some used clothes, old carpets, in fact anything that “miraculously” resists stains, moisture or wrinkling, may leach PFAS. They obviously can’t be flushed but really shouldn’t go into the bin either — not the green one, the blue one or the black one. Many people put them there anyway. The companies that produce these wonder products make them appear affordable because they “externalize” their costs — they offload them, unseen, onto our sewer bills; our medical bills; our bodies; the land, water and air. How to properly reallocate and recoup the costs of dealing with things that we’re not supposed to flush or toss — but often do anyway — is one of the challenges of the 21st century. One of the solutions to this conundrum are so-called extended producer responsibility laws, in which manufacturers are forced to assume liability for the end life of their products. California has passed a number of such laws including the Paint Stewardship Program and Senate Bill 54, the sweeping plastic packaging reduction bill passed last year. The basic rule remains sound: Flush only the three Ps. For now, everything else has to go into the trash, though we need to recognize the hazards that filling our landfills continues to cause and move quickly to a more sustainable system. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-11-15/editorial-toilet-or-trash

From the masseur's viewpoint, he brings up the amount of the tip because he has likely been burned by cheapskates who get the most out of him and then leave a poor tip. Why give your best without knowing that the person is generous or tight? I make no secret of the fact that I am generous when pleased.

All of these years I have trusted NY cab drivers, but this trip both leaving LGA and going back I got the tourist treatment. They drove all over the place and ran the bill pretty high. Should have taken the bus!

I know two guys here who each entered into a relationship with a much older man and took care of him to the end. They are now both multimillionaires.

Sometimes you just have to answer your own question. Yes, Philip is still at Time Square Mens Spa. I had a great massage from him last week. He's still cute too!

Happy birthday to one of my favorite posters! Those who love the Palm Springs Weekend will wish him the best, as he is the guy who helps @Oliver get there and back. Happy birthday @jawjateck

He is listed as a New York escort. Anyone know for sure?

Could we keep cattiness out of this forum, please?

Are tickets on sale already? I looked yesterday and it didn't seem to be the case. Eddie Redmayne was great in Red.

Isn't he your neighbor's son?

I might have a come with Jesus moment!

The more letters make it less meaningful. Pretty soon you will have the whole alphabet.

I recently bought tickets to see the movie shown at The Sphere, the new attraction in Las Vegas. Now to find a hotel. I remember how cheap Vegas hotels used to be. And you still see Circus Circus listed for $20 or so. But every hotel listing is suspect because they all add on fees and taxes. Circus has a fee that pays for use of the fitness center and phone calls...about $40 a night! Not that you'd stay there anyway. All of the hotels jack their prices up from the list price. I had settled on New York, New York where I have stayed before. It was $130 a night plus $70 in fees, so $200. When I went to book it today, the price was up to $290 a night, including taxes and fees. Ouch! A friend recommended a hotel, but it is over $400 a night. Aren't they making enough money off of the gamblers? We stayed at the Wynn once for $139, but now that same room is over $1000! I'll probably break down and pay what I have to pay, but the damn Sphere better be worth seeing. I wonder how much the buffet at Bellagio costs now...

I think the OP is incapable of posting respectfully about a death.

Wassamatter? Nothing to be thankful for? Our list of upcoming events included some fairly minor ones, but Thanksgiving isn't even listed! How am I going to express my thanks without it? Upcoming Events Nov 11 Veteran's Day Nov 11, 2023 Dec 25 Christmas Dec 25, 2023 Jan 01 New Year's Day Jan 01, 2024

Since you put this in a travel section, can I assume you want information hotels, restaurants, or tours? You give no idea on what you are truly seeking.

The playoffs were good, but the World Series is a bore. What happened to those snakes? One advantage of the Series ending is that we will find out if the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a 500 million dollar contract. If not them, who?

And let's wish him a happy birthday while we are at it!

Gosh! I can't wait for chapter 2!

https://buyfromben.us/ Ben's prices are higher than those at the local Gay Mart, but not by much. I read an interview with the guy who once ran the popper business, and in it he says that Rush and Super Rush are the exact same thing. I also wouldn't advise buying the larger bottles of poppers, since once opened the solution starts losing its potency. Not that I would know from personal experience! 🫥

@Gar1eth It is nice to see you posting here again.

It was thrilling to watch Houston lose.

"At this hour?" From what I can tell, you posted at 1:45 am. I hope that your sneezing has abated and that you are sound asleep now.

Seventy dollars now!