The grass is always greener...

On my way back home from the Simpsons movie, I drove next to the golf course near my house. The site of the golf course used to be a landfill. After years of subterranean methane extraction the area was deemed safe (underground methane pockets from decaying trash are prone to explode) for the construction of the golf course and surrounding condominiums and apartments. This evening, the grass was being watered. Unfortunately, the sprinkler had pointed itself at the road and sprayed continuously away from the grass and onto the lane upon which I traveled. This no doubt bathed my car in a soft cloud of tiny water droplets which right now are probably collecting the pollen and dust in the air; ready to dry up, leave their stowaways behind and thus completely eliminate any sign that I did in fact wash my car this weekend.

But I digress (actually this whole blog is a sort of digression). When I was 9 I learned that plants need water, soil and sunlight to grow and survive. I have taken these lessons to heart and have become the steward of a bamboo shoot that lives in a vase on top of my guitar amplifier. After about 2 years, the bamboo seemed to be lagging (read: dying). I thought it would be a good idea to "mix it up" by placing the core of a pear in the vase for the afternoon - perhaps the pear would offer special "plant regenerative enzymes" that would stimulate growth and fight the build up of unsightly brown areas on the leaves.

Actually it appears the pear has totally destroyed the vase ecosystem as the plant now reeks of decay. Furthermore, the stem has become yellow and brittle and it appears eminent that my bamboo will die. Very sad.

So as I passed the golf course that was supposed to be receiving its water, I thought to myself "whose running the show here?" Its night. How can a plant use water without the sun? How can it do the photosynthesis? It will be dry and thirsty (and probably dusty and dirty like my car) when the first rays of sunshine reach the those manicured blades. On top of that, the grass is growing on top of a 3 square mile trash dump. I already know what one discarded pear can do, but a whole landfill? That cant be good. Nor can the water treatment facility and settling ponds located across the street from this.

Give a hoot don't pollute.