Another comment at Trader Joe's today

[daniel]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TimBikes @ Apr 28 2006, 09:57 PM) [snapback]247060[/snapback]</div>

I was at Trader Joes about 6 months ago and saw a woman with a bumper sticker that said "Environment is everything" - on an Expedition. Nothing against an Expedition per se - she may have a large family and have to tow a boat or something, but you have to wonder about people like that who don't see the irony - or even hypocrisy - of themselves.
[/b]

We, as humans, are hard-wired to not see our own hypocrasy. We can employ logic to solve problems, but we do not behave logically. Instead, we use logic to invent excuses for not behaving logically. An environmentalist who habitually rides a bicycle would see us Prius drivers as we see an SUV driver. And the SUV driver will justify her SUV just as we justify burning gas at all.

If you are middle-class in the USA, you are using many times as much energy as the majority of the world's people. Sure, we Prius drivers drive the most efficient and clean gas-burning car around (if you don't count the Insight) but how about home-heating and A/C, vacation travel, and all the things we consume that were transported long distances?

I visited a friend once. I drove 300 miles to get there, and when I arrived, as I would be sleeping on the floor, I used an electric hair drier to inflate my air mattress. He expressed shock and dismay at my use of electricity (maybe a penny's worth?) to inflate the mattress, but never said a word about the 17 gallons of gas I burned on the round trip. (This was in my old Civic.)

I hate SUVs because they block my view, and too many of their drivers cannot keep their vehicle within their lane. But I wonder who has the smaller environmental footprint: me with my big house and efficient car and several trips a year, or an SUV driver who lives in a house half the size of mine and stays at home?

We're all hypocrites. That includes me. Check out the log in your own eye.

[burritos]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Apr 29 2006, 09:43 AM) [snapback]247162[/snapback]</div>

We, as humans, are hard-wired to not see our own hypocrasy. We can employ logic to solve problems, but we do not behave logically. Instead, we use logic to invent excuses for not behaving logically. An environmentalist who habitually rides a bicycle would see us Prius drivers as we see an SUV driver. And the SUV driver will justify her SUV just as we justify burning gas at all.

If you are middle-class in the USA, you are using many times as much energy as the majority of the world's people. Sure, we Prius drivers drive the most efficient and clean gas-burning car around (if you don't count the Insight) but how about home-heating and A/C, vacation travel, and all the things we consume that were transported long distances?

I visited a friend once. I drove 300 miles to get there, and when I arrived, as I would be sleeping on the floor, I used an electric hair drier to inflate my air mattress. He expressed shock and dismay at my use of electricity (maybe a penny's worth?) to inflate the mattress, but never said a word about the 17 gallons of gas I burned on the round trip. (This was in my old Civic.)

I hate SUVs because they block my view, and too many of their drivers cannot keep their vehicle within their lane. But I wonder who has the smaller environmental footprint: me with my big house and efficient car and several trips a year, or an SUV driver who lives in a house half the size of mine and stays at home?

We're all hypocrites. That includes me. Check out the log in your own eye.
[/b]

Exacly.

[Dave]

I see more Prii in the parking lot of the local Trader Joe's than anywhere else.

[subarutoo]

Before I got mine I talked to a lady in the TJ's parking lot. She showed me the interior room, and said she likes the car better than her Acura. It was the first personal contact that really got me thinking Prius. I was interested in them technically, but considered them kinda goofy. That was before $2 gas too. I'm so glad I talked to her. I asked another friend, got the same rave review, and 2 month later, I'm one of them too. Thanks, TJ's.

[Rancid13]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dave @ May 1 2006, 11:56 AM) [snapback]248074[/snapback]</div>

I see more Prii in the parking lot of the local Trader Joe's than anywhere else.
[/b]

I think places like TJ's attracts the type of people who are forward thinking individuals...I love me my TJ's too! TJ's is almost bordering on being a crunchy-granola-type grocery store, but is definitely more mainstream-oriented than say Mother's Market or Whole Foods Market. Prius owners are definitely forward thinkers.

[SyZyGy]

Trader Joe's has the best red licorice ive ever had. Their hickory smoked bbq chips are to die for!(the ones in the red bag)
Every time I go there, I usually see a Prius there.

[TimBikes]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Apr 29 2006, 07:43 AM) [snapback]247162[/snapback]</div>

We, as humans, are hard-wired to not see our own hypocrasy. We can employ logic to solve problems, but we do not behave logically. Instead, we use logic to invent excuses for not behaving logically. An environmentalist who habitually rides a bicycle would see us Prius drivers as we see an SUV driver. And the SUV driver will justify her SUV just as we justify burning gas at all.

If you are middle-class in the USA, you are using many times as much energy as the majority of the world's people. Sure, we Prius drivers drive the most efficient and clean gas-burning car around (if you don't count the Insight) but how about home-heating and A/C, vacation travel, and all the things we consume that were transported long distances?

I visited a friend once. I drove 300 miles to get there, and when I arrived, as I would be sleeping on the floor, I used an electric hair drier to inflate my air mattress. He expressed shock and dismay at my use of electricity (maybe a penny's worth?) to inflate the mattress, but never said a word about the 17 gallons of gas I burned on the round trip. (This was in my old Civic.)

I hate SUVs because they block my view, and too many of their drivers cannot keep their vehicle within their lane. But I wonder who has the smaller environmental footprint: me with my big house and efficient car and several trips a year, or an SUV driver who lives in a house half the size of mine and stays at home?

We're all hypocrites. That includes me. Check out the log in your own eye.
[/b]

True enough - but I only point it out because the woman presented the perspective that "environment is everything" but was apparently doing little on her own to uphold that view. I don't subscribe to this notion. Environment is important, but not the only thing. If I were to put the same bumper sticker on my Prius or espouse the view that environment was "everything" above all else, then the guy biking to work would have legitimate reason to point out my own hypocrisy. Personally, I don't have a problem with SUVs, per se. Only knuckleheads.

By the way - I saw another great one - a window sticker plastered in very large letters across the back window of an Expedition - this one critical of Bush/Iraq and $ for Halliburton, etc. On an Expedition! Another knucklehead as far as I'm concerned.

[Presto]

Trader Joe's Cat Cookies for the win!

[flyingprius]

The orange flavored dried cranberries are fantastic...just like everything else there. There are usually plenty of Prius in the parking at the one I used to go to in Santa Fe. The only time I drove there in another car (Subaru Forester), I got a flat tire in the parking lot...is this a sign?

[TimBikes]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ May 1 2006, 06:18 PM) [snapback]248278[/snapback]</div>

Trader Joe's Cat Cookies for the win!
[/b]

No - the little choc chip ones are the best!