paperless society - who me?

At work, we are (like all other companies, I hope) trying to cut down on waste and one measure is to stop needlessly printing out emails. However, it is still true that most staff have notebooks that are taken to meetings.
I remember reading an article years ago that heralded the advent of the paperless office. But paper is still so much easier to handle in many situations.
And at home? Well, I have just bought a new bookcase, to hold my overflowing collection of books - crime novels, books on science, geography and travel, religion, cookery and education. I find nothing more relaxing than curling up with a good book. Especially after a day spent staring at a computer screen!

taken for granted

I went out shopping this evening, looking for food to take to our community Intercalary Day party. In the Baha'i calendar the Intercalary Days (February 26 to March 1) are days for hospitality and giving of gifts, and they come just before the month of fasting.
It took me a moment to realise what was wrong. Not only were there no lights in the car park, there were no lights in the shop either - apart from someone waving a torch around, guiding those who were in the building to the exit. We so rarely have a power cut that we assume power will always be available to us. Our whole lives, it seems, are dependant on constant power - for our lighting and heating, public services, entertainment and everything else.
And yet, we are all so reluctant to cut our energy consumption or to use renewable resources such as wind or water power.