Monday, July 21, 2008

Out of the bag


I saw a monster leering from the corner of the 2nd annual South Pasadena Clean Air Car Show and Film Festival yesterday. Made completely of plastic shopping bags, this particular ghoul is the creation of David Beadle and the other great people at the City of South Pasadena Natural Resources Commission. Creepy? Sure. But an effective reminder of the kind of monstrous world we may end up with if we don’t create more planet-friendly ways of shopping for stuff and getting around.

The show was a great example of how visionary minds can unstick us from the literal tarpaper of fossil fuels. Plus, it provided a chance to look under the hoods and kick the tires of some truly amazing machines. We’re not just talking about the reliable but, well, less than elegant Prius. In fact, the BMW Hydrogen-7 was spectacularly James Bond-ish in its sleek design. Examples of emerging alternative vehicles included Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, Electric, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Ethanol, Biodiesel, and more. Down the street, free environmental themed films were shown throughout the day at The Rialto.

Kudos to my savvy town for hosting a terrific pow-wow.

9 comments:

Gerald (SK14) said...

welcome to the cdpb world - will catch up with you again soon.

Petrea Burchard said...

Fun shot!

I'm sorry I missed that car show. I've already decided never to buy another gas-powered vehicle, not even a hybrid. Hope my Altima holds out 'til the auto makers offer something I can afford. The hydrogen-powered BMWs are fab but a little out of my range!

ben wideman said...

Love the blog. I can't wait to follow your South Pas. experience.

Thursday Girl/Hollis the Cat said...

Hello Laurie! I found your blog via Pasadena Daily Photo. I, too, am a relatively recent transplant to South Pas (moved Nov 2006--spent many years in Silver Lake), and I absolutely LOVE it and have made it my 'adopted hometown'. I'm so glad to see a South Pas Daily Photo blog!

Welcome and I hope you enjoy exploring South Pas as much as I have!

Amy
(my cat, Hollis, keeps a silly little blog but she is on sabbatical right now - she is in love with the parrots)

Laurie Allee said...

Gerald, thank you for the welcome! I really enjoyed your blog.

Petrea, yup, the BMW is way out of reach... but fun to look at!

Hi Ben! So glad you stopped by. I've been reading your and Petrea's blogs for so long, I feel like I already know both of you.

And Hello Amy! I am off to look at your, er, I mean your kitty's blog. BTW, I love the Silver Lake area, too. I think Millies was the breakfast joint I used to go to in the early 90s when I lived in Hollywood.

Steve Buser said...

Oh, would I have loved to made that show. I love to look under the hood of machines -- I saw a show on TV today about home conversions to electric cars. i was about an inch from getting the bug.

Thanks for stopping by http://NewOrleansDailyPhoto.blogspot.com
and welcome to the City Daily Photo community. Lot of hard work. But I will tell you it gives you a new appreciation for your community and your surroundings.

Anonymous said...

"Millie's" restaurant??? On Sunset Bl? I haven't been to that joint in a long time. I think it's still around on the north side of Sunset, isn't it?
gettin me hungry again.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Welome to DCP, sure you'll have fun.
Yes it si creepy , but your'e right what better way to demonstrate the waste we produce. I am always going on about recycling so this was great ost for me. Rally great compostion on thte plastic monster man.

Hilda said...

What a wonderful project. Yes, we need reminding every now and then until environment-consciousness becomes a habit.

Welcome to CDP! I'm looking forward to learning more about your city through your blog.