As the father of a toddler, I am an expert on dirty diapers. I know exactly what to do with them: throw them out!
But along comes a New York waste company and a town in California who want me to do something else with my dirty diapers. Like cover my roof with them. Or walk on them. Or build a doghouse with them, perhaps.
Does this sound nuts? Well, it's not. In fact, this project just won the world's top happiness award: the 2003 Happy Guy Award (www.The HappyGuy.com).
A few months ago, we lived in a "vertical community". When The Little Lady was born, we wanted to expand our home to make room for her, but our neighbors below objected to us digging a basement, and a front porch would have blocked the hall. So we opted to move out to the country, and with that move we had to sacrifice the diaper service and any environmental high ground we could claim.
Yes, we became what we had always wanted to avoid being: diaper-dumpers.
If you have never had children, you may not realize how much a little child can dispose of. In olden days, a couple would have a dozen kids, give or take a few. In these modern times of disposable diapers that just is not possible ? the diapers from the first child take up more place on this planet than several dozen siblings would.
So along comes the town of Santa Clarita and Knowaste Inc. proposing to recycle dirty diapers. Sure, you think, just mix them all together, throw in a bit of water, steam them clean and slap them back on baby.
Ironically, the only product that does not seem to be on the list of end uses is diapers. Roofing shingles, sure. Shoe insoles, yes. But not diapers. As I pondered how the world might look if the massive force of dirty diapers was unleashed, it became clear that there could be several big markets. Imagine the pitches ...
From Milan and Paris: "Next we have Oo-La-La Picotte strutting her stuff in a lovely ensemble of pure recycled diapers. Notice the fashionable fuchsia on the upper tilt of the collar. This line will be all the rage in parlors and bars this spring."
From Detroit and Tokyo: "Feel the energy and invigoration. That's the power of 100% pure recycled diapers under the hood. Go ahead. Kick the tires. Pick your color. And drive away safe in the knowledge that you are being protected by 2000 pound of pure recycled baby poop!"
From Los Angeles: "It's a smash hit. Dirty Diapers II: The Recycled Story opened in theatres across the country yesterday and immediately claimed the number one spot. What a movie!"
From New York and Toronto: "This just in. Citizens are being asked NOT to hoard dirty diapers. I repeat, do NOT hoard dirty diapers. The shortage has already slowed the economy by three percent and housing starts have ground to a halt. Please take all your dirty diapers immediately to a drop-off depot. This has been a public service announcement."
So what will YOU be doing with your dirty diapers?
About The Author
David Leonhardt is the Happy Guy, speaker, author, and publisher of "Your Daily Dose of Happiness" at http://www.thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html Visit him at http://www.thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html
http://www.thehappyguy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html
no-contract cleaning service Des Plaines ..Despite the theory that people have kids because they want... Read More
It was a day that I will forever be etched... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
There are many parenting styles. Yours may be very different... Read More
You are sitting with the professionals who know about learning... Read More
Love, love, love. It makes the world go round. It... Read More
When my oldest daughter was born, I walked the floor... Read More
Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a... Read More
For most children, it is easy to learn to read... Read More
Many parents would like to homeschool their children but are... Read More
Winnie the Pooh is the classic picture of Inattentive ADHD.... Read More
Memorabilia ? Children can create enough artwork for an entire... Read More
Non-compliance is the family therapist's big word for your child... Read More
By the time your children reach their teens, there is... Read More
Graphology for Child development.:- Graphology is the science of understanding... Read More
Public education in the United States has never been equal... Read More
Why Me?"We should certainly count our blessings, but we should... Read More
Giving advice to a teenager is very easy; getting a... Read More
Former students would probably attest to the fact that few... Read More
The most common medications used in the treatment of Attention... Read More
Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles,... Read More
"Money is tight, and my husband's obsessed with doing everything... Read More
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is making... Read More
Voices have a way of falling into a pattern, not... Read More
IntroductionChildren are the gifts of God to parents. That young... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Lake Forest ..As with everything, names go through cycles of change with... Read More
In school, kids are encouraged to create, draw, color, paint... Read More
Life is full of competition -- even in childhood. Kids... Read More
Parents are always looking for ways to open up the... Read More
A tall, weary-looking mother with glasses, walked into my counseling... Read More
Certainly we all want our children to excel. But it... Read More
Recently I took my two children to a popular new... Read More
If you are like most people today, you do not... Read More
Here in Kansas, where we live, the leaves are turning... Read More
Individualism is a common thing in today's modern society. Many... Read More
As Mother's Day approaches I would like to give a... Read More
Many families today are blending members from past relationships. It... Read More
Would you hand a child calculus problems once she was... Read More
Although it's hard to say when the first stuffed dogs... Read More
Travel is a common theme in my life -- probably... Read More
The children of Baby Boomers, the Echo Generation, are entering... Read More
There's a new trend for party entertainment. It seems as... Read More
1 "Law of Belonging": The greatest need of teenagers (after... Read More
We begin forming healthy habits at a young age. With... Read More
It's been raining for a week and the kids and... Read More
In the wonderment of childhood, it is easier for a... Read More
If your parenting methods include abuse of any kind; physical,... Read More
Maintaining a safe home environment for your childrenAs adults and... Read More
As the new school year begins, parents play a pivotal... Read More
We were sitting in the family room. My kids had... Read More
Parenting |