DISPOSABLE NAPPIES (DIAPERS)

I cannot think of a more disgusting thing than a baby's dirty nappy.

Although nappies are necessary disposable ones are disgusting especially when the parents just throw them in the street instead of using a nearby trashcan.

These disgusting things are non biodegradable although their contents are. The must take up tons and tons of landfill.

There are alternatives out there. Granted all of them are reusable and have to be washed.  And most young mothers are just too plain lazy to wash nappies.

From wikipedia:

An average child will go through several thousand diapers in his/her life.^[25] Since disposable diapers are discarded after a single use, usage of disposable diapers increases the burden on landfill sites, and increased environmental awareness has led to a growth in campaigns for parents to use reusable alternatives such as cloth or hybrid diapers.^[26] An estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year in the US, resulting in a possible 3.4 million tons of used diapers adding to landfills each year.^[27]

The environmental impact of cloth as compared to disposable diapers has been studied several times. In one cradle-to-grave study sponsored by the National Association of Diaper Services (NADS) and conducted by Carl Lehrburger and colleagues, results found that disposable diapers produce seven times more solid waste when discarded and three times more waste in the manufacturing process. In addition, effluents from the plastic, pulp, and paper industries are far more hazardous than those from the cotton-growing and -manufacturing processes. Single-use diapers consume less water than reusables laundered at home, but more than those sent to a commercial diaper service. Washing cloth diapers at home uses 50 to 70 gallons (approx. 189 to 264 litres) of water every three days, which is roughly equivalent to flushing the toilet 15 times a day, unless the user has a high-efficiency washing machine. An average diaper service puts its diapers through an average of 13 water changes, but uses less water and energy per diaper than one laundry load at home.^[28]

In October 2008, "An updated lifecycle assessment study for disposable and reusable nappies" by the UK Environment Agency andDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated that reusable diapers can cause significantly less (up to 40 per cent) or significantly more damage to the environment than disposable ones, depending mostly on how parents wash and dry them. The "baseline scenario" showed that the difference in green-house emissions was insignificant (in fact, disposables even scored slightly better). However, much better results (emission cuts of up to 40 per cent) could be achieved by using reusable diapers more rationally. "The report shows that, in contrast to the use of disposable nappies, it is consumers’ behaviour after purchase that determines most of the impacts from reusable nappies. Cloth nappy users can reduce their environmental impacts by:

• Line drying outside whenever possible
• Tumble drying as little as possible
• When replacing appliances, choosing more energy efficient appliances (A+ rated machines [according to the EU environmental rating] are preferred)
• Not washing above 60 °C (140 °F)
• Washing fuller loads
• Reusing nappies on other children.^[29]

There are variations in the care of cloth diapers that can account for different measures of environmental impact. For example, using a cloth diaper laundering service involves additional pollution from the vehicle that picks up and drops off deliveries. Yet such a service uses less water per diaper in the laundering process.^[30] Some people who launder cloth diapers at home wash each load twice, considering the first wash a "prewash", and thus doubling the energy and water usage from laundering. Cloth diapers are most commonly made of cotton, which is generally considered an environmentally wasteful crop to grow. "Conventional cotton is one of the most chemically-dependent crops, sucking up 10% of all agricultural chemicals and 25% of insecticides on 3% of our arable land; that's more than any other crop per unit."^[31] This effect can be mitigated by using other materials, such as bamboo and hemp.

Another aspect to consider when choosing between disposable diapers and cloth diapers is cost. It is estimated that an average baby will use from $1,500 to $2,000 or more in disposable diapers before being potty-trained.^[32] In contrast, cloth diapers, while initially more expensive than disposables, cost as low as $300 for a basic set of cloth diapers, although costs can rise with more expensive options.^[33][34] The cost of washing and drying diapers must also be considered. The basic set, if one-sized, can last from birth to potty-training.

Another factor in reusable cloth diaper impact is the ability to re-use the diapers for subsequent children or sell them on. These factors can alleviate the environmental and financial impact from manufacture, sale and use of brand-new reusable diapers.

Options as alternatives to disposable nappies:

List of cloth diaper types[edit]

• Terry Towelling Diapers – Terry diapers are large, flat square sheets of absorbent cotton material, which have to be folded and fasten together with safety pins. The towel like fabric is usually white in colour.
• Flannelette or Muslin Square Diapers – Flat square sheets of absorbent cotton material, which have to folded and fasten together with safety pins.
• Shaped Diapers – Flat Triangle, T-shaped, X-shaped, Y-shaped cloth diapers made out of towelling, flannelette or muslin coton material, fasten together with safety pins, velcro of poppers, designed to fit a baby without folding the diaper.
• Tie-Up Diapers – This type of cloth diaper has to be folded, it is fasten together by using the strings attached to the diaper.
• Flats – Flat diapers are a large, single layer, square or rectangle of absorbent cloth. Birdseye cotton or muslin are the most common materials used, but any absorbent material may be considered a "flat" if it is composed of one single layer. Flats may or may not be hemmed or otherwise finished at the edges. Flats must be folded into the desired shape before they are usable as a diaper.
• Prefolds – Prefolds are a rectangular piece of absorbent fabric that has been folded, layered, and then sewn so that the center strip of the diaper has more layers of absorbent material than the sides. This reduces bulk while still providing enough absorbancy where it is needed. Prefolds get their name because before their invention, flats were the common diaper type available. Flats require folding in order to obtain the appropriate number of layers of absorbent material in the wet zone. A "prefold" is pre-folded and sewn down so that less folding is required at the time of the diaper change. Prefolds typically have 4 to 6 layers of material in the center and 2 to 4 layers on the edges.
• Contours – Contoured diapers are made of multiple layers of absorbent fabric and are cut and sewn into an general hourglass shape. This is done so that no folding is required before they are ready to be used as a diaper and also to reduce bulkiness.
• Fitteds – Fitted diapers are hourglass shaped absorbent diapers that have elastic at the legs in order to better contain feces and urine. They usually also have a built in closure such as velcro or snaps that is used to secure the diaper onto the baby. There are several subtypes of fitted diapers including closureless fitteds (those that lack velcro or snaps), prefitteds (fitteds made from prefold diapers), and pocket fitteds (pocket diapers that use absorbent materials for all the layers instead of wicking or waterproof materials).
• Pocket diapers – Pocket diapers are hourglass shaped and have closures to secure them onto the baby (generally snaps or velcro). They consist of a waterproof outer layer and an inner layer that are sewn together on three sides to create a pocket. The inner layer may be made of a moisture wicking material or an absorbent material. The pocket is then stuffed with absorbent insert that can be customized based on the absorbency level required for each baby. The most common inserts are made of microfiber, bamboo or charcoal bamboo. One subtype of pocket diapers is the sleeve diaper, which is sewn only on two sides instead of three so that the pocket may be accessed from both the front and back of the diaper.
• All-in-one diaper – An all in one (AIO) diaper consists of a waterproof outer layer sewn together with absorbent material on the inside. There may also be an additional inner layer of moisture-wicking material. All-in-ones are hourglass shaped and have a velcro, snap, or other closure to secure them on the baby.
• All-in-two diaper – An all-in-two- diaper (AI2) is a diaper with two parts. An all-in-two diaper consists of a waterproof diaper cover with fasteners and an absorbent insert. The insert is a rectangle or hourglass pad of absorbent material, that may or may not have a moisture wicking material as its top layer. The insert snaps or lays into the cover and may be removed when soiled or wet. The cover may be reused throughout the day by replacing the insert at each change.^[21]

ATHEISM

What do believer's not understand about "I do not believe"?

Whenever I state that I am an atheist, a Christian, Jew, Muslim whatever will almost invariably argue with me and say "you believe......."

Excuse me if I say  I DO NOT BELIEVE in your religion, your invisible omniscient superhuman being or your faith.

Do not try and convert me to your way of living.  I don't care how you live. I don't care what you believe.  AND quite frankly I don't care.

My indifference underwhelms me

While sitting at a restaurant two men were discussing subjects of mutual interest when the subject of rugby came up.

The one says: "My indifference underwhelms me!"

So apt I thought.  This is the feeling I have for most sport that is inflicted on me on the TV, on the radio and in Newspapers.

My attitude to rugby is:

30 extremely large men beating each other up for the possession of an inflated piece of leather.

But then this can be applied to most sports.  Substitution for men's desire for battles and war.  

I don't care if you want to play sport, watch sport or do anything with sport, just don't expect me to give a tinker's cuss as to who won or lost.

"My indifference underwhelms me!"

THE MEANING OF LIFE

Dali Tambo and The Buggame by rejoice Ngwenya

Rejoice Ngwenya 

04 June 2013 


Rejoice Ngwenya says the interviewer a member of that vocal breed of SA dunderheads who worship the Zanu PF leader to the point of idiocy 

Dull Tambo: The Perfect Political Cosmetologist 

Xtreme Opinion is my Trademark of Polemic Bigotry

On Sunday night, June 2013, on SABC 3 People of the South documentary, host Dali Tambo was in his natural habitat: superfluous aristocracy laced with exaggerated self-worth, whiskers twitching with feline treachery, groveling to the whims of a totally detached Blame it on Blair President Robert Mugabe.

If this was meant to be a deep-sea expedition to an African hero's life, it turned out to be kayaking on cheap garden `waterfall'. My take: Dali Tambo is the devil incarnate, a somewhat modern-day caricature of the Biblical Mark of the Beast, triple six, the epitome of abomination of desolation. He finally outperformed Lucifer, with more falsettos in one voice than any grand piano can exude in a single octave.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of ignorance to the dizzying heights of lunacy, Dali appeared surreal to the point of vulnerable, mechanical Dinosaur spewing phlegm of praise, consumed with shameless idolatry. He came across as that rare but vocal breed of South African dunderheads who worship Mugabe to the point of prostrate idiocy, totally detached from reality, floating in orbit of self delusion. I guess he finally realised his childhood fantasy of dining with The Emperor, flapping about like a content 13th century monarchial spoiled brat. Dali can now die in blissful tranquility.

His pampered narrative of Mugabe's so-called humaneness refracts through the prism of upper class naivety. Dali's father, the late nationalist Oliver Tambo, president of African National Congress was a man of honour who abhorred racism. He must be turning in his grave to `see' his son blatantly exploited like a willing spin doctor of a fading but violent political dynasty. The only legacy he inherited from Oliver is one - family name.

Ahgh, Robert Mugabe has "made mistakes but in general he's going to go down in history with a very positive perspective from Africans". Which narrow-minded, politically disabled African does Dali cluster in this proverbial group of psychotics? Mugabe "has been misunderstood and ill-judged by a lot of the press". Bizarre! Vacuum cleaning ZANU-PF with sanitised accolades to the point of self immolation! Dali, use the periscope of your rogue political submarine to encounter the harsh realities of Mugabe's true political persona.

In the 1980s, 20 000 citizens perished under the bayonet of Gukurahundi during Mugabe's watch. Year 2000 and beyond, ZANU-PF `orderly chaos' displaced millions of Zimbabweans into South Africa, Botswana, England, USA and Australia.

During this decade of madness, we laboured under a billion % inflation that decimated incomes, destroyed industry and pushed unemployment to over 90%. Zimbabweans suffered from state-sponsored repression and electoral violence that saw thousands of villagers molested in torture bases.

Dali may have not noticed: Zimbabwe now imports most of its food, has no currency of its own while its cities have little running water. Mugabe wields the most repressive media laws which have resulted in journalists losing their livelihoods. Only ZANU-PF members can freely host political meetings while arbitrary arrests are made possible by selective application of the law. It may not matter to Dali but we are burdened with service chiefs spiteful of electoral democracy.

There is evidence how our prized diamonds are looted by an anointed view with absolutely no chance that national resources will be channeled to restoring infrastructure plundered by decades of ZANU-PF misrule. There are millions of Mugabe's `my people' who will never experience a fraction of stately hospitality encountered by Dali. Their spouses are either exiled or perished in ZANU-PF's violent wars of self-preservation. `Dull' Tambo skillfully evaded these.

Rejoice can be contacted at xtremeopinion@yahoo.com

THIEVING BANKS of SOUTH AFRICA

I hate banks in South Africa.

They advertise widely on the gogglebox that they want to "look" after our money, but the thieving swine just want to steal it.

In the bad old days one opened a saving account and the bank paid an interest to the account for the privilege of borrowing that money from the client who deposited their money in the hopes of earning said interest.

Now these banks take your money "give" you a pitiable interest of 1% (which is taxable) and then still charge you exorbitant fees for you to deposit money, cheques and should you want to withdraw said money you have to pay a withdrawal fee.

Six or seven years ago Pick n Pay came up with a wonderful banking system called go banking where the minimum required balance was R50.00 and the bank charges were minimal.  R3.00 to withdraw money at a Pick n Pay till.  Purchase groceries for R3.00 charge.etc.  Now Pick n Pay has pulled out and handed the go banking system back to the evil Nedbank and Nedbank demands that everyone on the go banking system must have R5000 in their account or pay R16.00 per month maintenance fee.  What a rip off.

Tomorrow I go to Capitec Bank and open an account there.  According to their advertising they are quite reasonable:

http://www.capitecbank.co.za/money-management/online-calculators

Between these banks securitizing loans and stealing "bank charges"  they do not deserve to be in business.  They certainly do not do anything for their clients.

I was going to get a Virgin card but then discovered that Virgin had got into bed with ABSA who are the biggest thieves of the lot.

My names for these thieves are:

SB - Stupid Bastards
NB - Nasty Bastards
FNB - Flipping (or any other F word you can think of) Nasty Bastards
ABSA - Absolutely Bloody stupid Assholes.
CAPITEC - Confused and Protected Idiotic Twits Eventually Collapse

I hold a bank account only because my insurance company insists on doing debit orders. I just make sure that there is enough money in the account to cover the debit orders at month end.  When the SARS (South African Revenue Services) look at my bank account they will  find very little there to interest them.

AND to add insult to injury I never go into a bank,  I hate them.  I seldom go near a bank.  I DEAL IN CASH!!!!!!!.

Darwin's Mistake

Darwin's Mistake(author unknown)

Three monkeys sat on a coconut tree

Discussing things as they're said to be.

Said one to the others, "Now listen, you two,

There is a certain rumor that can't be true

That man descended from our noble race.

That very idea is a disgrace.

No monkey ever deserted his wife,

Starved her babies or ruined her life.

And another thing you will never see:

A monkey build a fence around a coconut tree

And let the coconuts go to waste

Forbidding all the other monkeys to taste.

If I put a fence around this tree,

Starvation would force you to steal from me.

Here's another thing a monkey won't do:

Go out at night and get on a stew,

And use a gun, or club, or knife

To take some other monkey's life.

Yes, man descended, the ornery cuss -

But, brother, he didn't descend from us.