A Whole New Way to Waste Energy
Posted on July 23rd, 2008 in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »
In an effort to combat “germs,” a Maryland supermarket has installed a shopping cart wash.
Not too long ago, I saw advertised a pen with a “germ-resistant” surface.
When and why this obsession with germs began would be a topic for an interesting magazine piece.
Hmmmmm……
9 Responses
7/23/2008 9:08 am
How about when did the Purell (hand sanitizer) Company start its first marketing plan, they are the first ones that really got me thinking (that and becoming a mom.)
7/23/2008 10:30 am
Oh please. What bubble do these people live in? And, who is paying for this? Yet again another way to part education (stupid) people from their money.
7/23/2008 10:38 am
Richard, you are now the editor of Worth magazine. That means that your job, at bottom, is to promote anything that is good for capitalism. Your mantra now should be: anything that sells is good. Please get over these petty environmental considerations and help restore America’s greatness!
7/23/2008 10:56 am
Thanks for telling me my job… (smile).
7/23/2008 10:59 am
If you are doing a piece on this, you should contact Elaine Larson at Columbia U. School of Nursing. She’s the “handwashing” guru and has written tons of papers about germs, antibacterials, etc. She’ll probably tell you this is probably over-rated.
7/23/2008 1:14 pm
Not sure which end is the ‘clean’ end and which is the germ infested on the photo above, but I like how the employees seem to be handling the carts with their bare hands (!) regardless. Symbolic politics…
7/23/2008 4:27 pm
As for bare hands: A friend of mine in public health did a study of the hands of people working behind the deli counter. At regular intervals he would put their hands in a form and culture the bacteria that were found on them. The result was that those workers who used latex gloves had significantly higher bacterial contamination. So, again, perception and public fear (for example of “bare hands!!”) seem to guide practice, more than actual risk.
Back to the truths of the” handwashing” guru, I’m sure.
7/23/2008 10:21 pm
And here I thought Richard’s job was to be the embodiment of fabulousness……(wink)
7/27/2008 9:44 am
Beecham,
The point of the latex gloves is that it doesn’t matter how dirty their hands are — they’re inside the gloves! which should be fresh every few sandwiches….