Go Ahead, Go Hollywood

We are strange lot indeed. We come ready made with the ability to produce sexy odors. But instead of just letting these attract mates who are attracted to our very essence, we go through great elaborate means to wash off these scents, suppress them, and mask them. Then often as not we splash on the urine of some other animal, presumably to attract mates who are into bestiality.

While these odd little rituals have in the bast been mainly the moment for anthropological parody, these little rituals have become a serious drain on the worlds resources. Even before the prospect of global warming, potable water has been one of most precious and scarce resources in the world. While everyone knows that oil is at the heart of many of the worlds conflicts, a lesser known fact that access to water is just as great a source of conflict and is sure to increase as weather changes make water supplies more erratic and pollution contaminate more water.

While these conflicts have not to large scale violence in the United States it has been source of serious conflict with both Canada and Mexico. Domestically water conflicts between city dwellers and farmers and amongst various states are becoming more and more bitter. Our endless thirst for water is draining from wild life areas, emptying aquifers can invite salt water intrusion which ruins farmland and sink holes which swallow cars and even whole houses. Water is also getting more and more expensive even here and will continue to do so. But for Americans it will be some time before the water from the tap costs what we foolishly waste on the bottled stuff.

Saving water is a simple way to save wildlife, prevent conflict and save money. One of the most wasteful water practices is the daily ablutions society demands of us Best Practice has been devised by the Navy which in storied irony floats on water but suffers from its extreme scarcity. The regulation wash includes one small burst of water, followed by soaping up and washing up, and then concluded with a final brief burst to rinse the soap off. The traditional American shower is referred to in the Navy is referred as "Going Hollywood."

But what if you want Calgon to take you away? The Next Best Thing is to simply save the water that you use. Suddenly instead of watching your moments of luxury slide down the drain you are harvesting grey gold. Through the magick of soap it is possible to use slightly dirty water for cleaning. You can use your bath water, or the shower water you catch by running the shower with drain stopped to mop the floor, wash the car, wash the dog, or even put it into the clothes washer to wash your clothes. That way you get to bathe like you are on a Cinderrella Liberty and impress Jane Fonda and; Captain Planet and the Planeteers.