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Now you may be thinking to yourself, how in the world are trees like corn? I had never thought of trees in this way until I watched this video from International Paper’s website (below).

When we think of trees being cut down, we don’t usually think of them being replanted. However, trees really are like corn. Corn is planted, harvested, and replanted. So are trees.

Corn has many uses including: food for both humans and animals and its used in some bio-fuels. Trees provide us shade, oxygen, and paper. They provide homes for many different kinds of wildlife and they help combat global warming.

According to International Paper’s website, “The trees they plant become forests that help improve air quality, provide clean water and protect soil and wildlife. The demand for paper contributes to landowners planting about 4 million trees in the U.S. every day. When you go paper, you grow trees.”

According to International Paper’s video, tree farms actually preserve green space and nature. Just think what would happen if the demand for paper drastically drops in this electronic age: green space would disappear. Farmers would be forced to sell their land because they would not be able to make enough money. When farmers sell their land, it is usually developers that buy the ground, not other farmers. That once green land is then filled with subdivisions, roads, skyscrapers, and homes. Once a farm becomes developed, the chances of it ever becoming a farm again are slim.

The last thing anyone wants to see if a beautiful farm turns into a subdivision. I know we did not want to see my grandmother’s farm turn into subdivisions when we sold it. She probably would have rolled over in her grave if that happened. Luckily, someone bought and preserved the farm.

I think comparing trees to renewable crops or fruit gives people a different viewpoint when it comes to cutting down trees. I believe the comparison “Trees are like corn,” or “Trees are like fruit,” makes it easier to understand. The paper that comes from these trees, like corn comes from the stalk, is a renewable resource.

Check out the interesting video below from International Paper’s website. Share your thoughts.

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How many of you have bought a paper lottery ticket in hopes of becoming rich? We all dream of what life would be like and what we would use the money for.

Buying lottery tickets is a weekly ritual for some. Some people play the same numbers every time while others simply leave it up to chance. Most of the time, we usually just waste our money or are lucky if we match one number. However, someone wins. We all hope that that someone will be us one day, so we continuing buying lottery tickets.

There is something magical about holding that little piece of tinted paper that we hope is worth millions. Even though the chances of winning the lottery are slim-to-none, it allows us to dream.

Paper plays an essential role in the lottery. Some people prefer to have all of their numbers appear on one ticket while others prefer to have one line of numbers per ticket. I assume it is probably a great feeling to hold a large, winning ticket in your hand (I have never won anything substantial but perhaps a free play). On the other hand, I would be afraid of losing that winning ticket. I wonder where people put their winning tickets before they turn them in…in their wallet, purse, a safe, or a drawer?

However, I was thinking, if it wasn’t for paper, how would the lottery work? Would we purchase numbers online and numbers would be sent to our e-mail. However, if we won, we would then have to print out the e-ticket, take it to the store, and claim our prize.

Now do you ever wonder what happens to “losing” tickets. Many of them are probably thrown away, torn up, or recycled. However, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Check out this article by Simone Preuss titled “A Millionaire’s Playground Made From Thrown-Away Lottery Tickets” on 1800recycling.com.  According to the article, a couple recycles losing lottery tickets in a unique way…they make art.

“Ghost of a Dream is a collaborative project by artistic duo Adam Eckstrom and Lauren Was. Unlike many other people, the husband-and-wife team do not regard unlucky lottery tickets as simply the end of a dream, but the beginning of one; their own dream of creating highly unusual art on a large scale seems to have come true, at least.”

Click here to view the article and the artwork that is made out of discarded lottery tickets. The art is clever and original in my opinion.

What are your thoughts? Have you or someone you known ever won the lottery? Did he or she frame the winning paper ticket? Have you ever seen art made out of discarded lottery tickets?

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A lot of companies are “going green” by telling customers to go paperless. They make statements that it helps the earth and saves trees all the while keeping your information safe.

According to twosides.us, the statement that going paperless saves trees is misleading. “The message that “going paperless saves trees” is misleading because it links paper to deforestation, i.e. the permanent removal of forest. In the United States, however, the paper industry encourages and depends on sustainable forest management practices that regenerate billions of trees annually.”

On the other hand, how many times do you hear on the news someone hacked a company’s system and your private information was compromised. I know I have received this e-mail at least once. This means I have to change all of my passwords, and I usually delete that company from my mailing list.

Companies make claims that our information is “safe.” Now I don’t argue with the fact hacks don’t happen all of the time. However, anytime you store customer information in a central location, it makes the job easy for hackers.

Just imagine if “hackers” had to drive around to everyone’s mailbox and physically take the mail from the mailbox. They wouldn’t get as much “good” information, and they would have to risk being caught red-handed. I guess they could steal an entire post office mailbox, but that is risky as well, and there is no guarantee of what they will find inside.

Also, if you think about it, companies are pushing printing costs onto the consumer. Some companies now charge customers a monthly fee for paper statements. According to twosides.us, “…according to ESP Consulting, telecommunications companies can expect to save 45 percent per bill, while credit card companies save 37 percent when a paper bill is converted to an e-bill.” Instead of sending you a printed statement, they send you an e-statement. You can then print that off using your own ink and paper.

I don’t know about you, but I still think paper statements, bills, and letters are the way to go. What about you?

For more information about myths and facts, check out www.twosides.us.

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        How many times do you hit “print” in your daily routine? We really have no idea or way to track how much paper we use over our lifetime. However, I just recently found out that my university installed software that tracks each student’s environmental impact in regards to the printing of paper.
        The software they use is PaperCut MF. It allows organizations to see how much paper they are using and the environmental impact.
        I took a look at the website and it looks like a tool that could be helpful, especially for larger organizations. I believe tracking how much paper each organization uses and the costs could help organizations save money all the while helping the environment as well. It could also be a great way to track printing costs in different departments. It also would allow organizations to print/code jobs to certain clients or departments. This could help make someone’s job a little easier.
        Sometimes just seeing the numbers will make you think twice. Do I really need to print this out? It wouldn’t eliminate paper in the workplace; it would just help ensure that employees use paper in an economical and environmentally-conscious way. This would benefit the organization, environment, and the employees.

          Since December 2010, I have printed 464 pages on school computers. However, this isn’t the shocking part. According to their tracking system, thus far, I have used:

• 0.0573% of a tree
• 2.1 kg of carbon dioxide
• Enough energy to power a 60 watt light bulb for  130.6 hours

         This is only the amount of paper that I have used at school. This doesn’t include what I have used at home or work.
         Have you ever seen software like this? Does your company or school use something similar? Do you think if a company installed this type of software it would make people print in a more economical and environmentally-conscious way?

I was recently sent this YouTube video (below) about the future of publishing. I think it is a really interesting and accurate take on the stereotypes associated with my generation and how my generation actually feels. I believe this company “hit the nail on the head” so to speak with this video.

I don’t want to spoil the surprise of the video by talking about what happens. However, I think it makes a great point about the future of publishing and my generation.

Watch the YouTube video below titled “The Future of Publishing – Created by DK (UK)” and share your thoughts about it. Do you agree or disagree?

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E-readers are undoubtedly gaining popularity. They allow readers to have access to an entire bookstore in the palm of their hands. Instead of having to drive to the store or library, readers can now click a button and the book appears!

In order to combat this, publishers are giving old-fashioned print books a makeover so to speak. In an article by Julie Bosman in the New York Times titled “Publishers Guild Books With ‘Special Effects’ to Compete With E-books,” Bosman wrote “If e-books are about ease and expedience, the publishers reason, then print books need to be about physical beauty and the pleasures of owning, not just reading.”

If you think back several hundred years, this technique isn’t new. Books used to be handwritten and were elaborate works of art. However, after the invention of the printing press, it became easy to print thousands of identical copies.

Even though the invention of the printing press gave millions of people the opportunity to read, somewhere along the line the “art” of the book was lost. Most books, although great, are somewhat generic, and I believe this is what publishers are trying to combat now. They want book-owners to feel proud of their purchase and display it as a “work of art” so to speak. Whether it is displayed on a book shelf or coffee table, it can be a great conversation piece.

Electronic versions of books are like the new version of the electronic printing press. It has made reading accessible to many, and it has made reading more convenient.

Another section of Bosman’s article talked about convenience reading versus book-owning:

“‘If we believe that convenience reading is moving at light speed over to e,” Mr. Schnittman said, using the industry shorthand for e-books, “then we need to think about what the physical qualities of a book might be that makes someone stop and say, ‘well there’s convenience reading, and then there’s book owning and reading.’”

Now books that have more elaborate covers may cost a little more; however, that is a choice you are free to make. I’m sure publishers will still print less elaborate, more affordable options for the public in addition to the more elaborate copies as well.

However, in my opinion, paper books have one thing electronic books will never have: elaborate covers and artwork that have the ability to catch your eye while you are passing through a store.

What do you think? Do you think creating more elaborate and lavish covers will help combat electronic books? Do you prefer e-readers or paper books?

For more information on this topic, check out Julie Bosman’s article in the New York Times titled “Publishers Guild Books With ‘Special Effects’ to Compete With E-books.”

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It’s the beginning of a new year, and do you know what that means? It’s time to get a new planner and/or calendar! For some people, such as me, shopping for office supplies is a joy. However, I am curious to how many people prefer paper planners/calendars over electronic ones.

I personally prefer paper planners. I like being able to write down my tasks such as, assignments, meetings, interviews, etc. I also really like the feeling of being able to check these items off of my list. It makes me feel accomplished.

However, finding the perfect planner or calendar can be a struggle. Some people, like my mom, like calendars with big numbers and lots of space to write. Others like planners that fit into their purse, and some people like to find all of these options in one planner.

I personally prefer a planner that has monthly and weekly calendars. It also needs to have plenty of space to write.

On the other hand, for some, electronic calendars are replacing paper planners. Many people type meetings and tasks into their computer or cell phone calendars. This is also a convenient and easy way to organize your tasks.

Electronic calendars and planners do have their advantages. For example, you can set reminders that will remind you of your next appointment or meeting. Paper planners cannot do this.

However, an advantage to a paper planner is that your information is guaranteed to be there. We are so used to technology doing much of the work for us, we sometimes get lazy. We expect our computer or phone to remind us. However, what happens if we forget to set a reminder or if the network goes down? That’s why I always think it is wise to use a paper planner/calendar in addition to an electronic planner/calendar.

If you are having trouble finding the perfect planner, check out this article by Terri Sapienza of the Washington Post Lifestyle section titled “Daily planners: paper or electronic?”

Which do you prefer: paper or electronic planners/calendars? Do you think electronic calendars/planners will eventually replace paper planners and calendars?

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In my last post, I talked about an artist that created sculptures out of old books. I have found another artist that creates sculptures out of books. However, he does it is a different way. He creates landscapes.

According to an article in the Huffington Post by Tara Kelly titled “Carved Books Sculptures Created by Guy Laramee (Photos),” Guy Laramee creates landscape sculptures out of old books.

It is definitely an interesting use of books. His sculptures tend to leave more of the cover of the book intact as compared to the other artist I discussed in my last post.

In the article, Kelly wrote that Laramee’s book sculptures represent the degradation of human culture and convey his belief that knowledge is gained through erosion and not accumulation.

Click here to read Laramee’s artist statement. Also, click here to  visit his website and view photos of some of his sculptures.

What do you think of his art? Do you like it? If so, what do you like about it? If not, what don’t you like about it?

Related articles

• Artist Transforms Books Into Epic Landscape Sculptures (PHOTOS) (huffingtonpost.com)
• These Landscape Sculptures Were Carved From Old Books (businessinsider.com)

According to a segment on cbsnew.com, the artist, Brian Dettmer, creates sculptures out of old books.

In the segment he mentions that some book-lovers criticize his work because he is “destroying” a book. However, take a look at the video below and tell me what you think. As long as he isn’t destroying rare and one-of-a-kind books, which he isn’t, I think he will continue to gain a clientele. It’s the uniqueness and creativity I believe that attracts buyers.

I think this is a creative and beautiful way to display these outdated books. Click on the link below or watch the video to see some of his works of art.

What are your thoughts? Would you purchase or display this type of art in your home?

Check out the cbsnews.com video below and click here to view Dettmer’s website, www.briandettmer.com.

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Millions of people watched the ball drop in New York’s Times Square last night, either on television or in-person. At midnight, the ball dropped and tons of confetti fell into Times Square. It is quite a site on television and I would love to be there in person one year.

What would New Year’s Eve be without confetti? Did you know that some of the confetti on New Year’s Eve in Times Square has people’s goals and wishes written on it? According to timessquarenyc.org, people can visit the Times Square Visitor’s Center and the confetti wishing wall. Visitors can write their wishes for the upcoming year and the confetti is added to the tons of confetti that falls New Year’s Eve.

There is something special about confetti. Confetti has a way of making everyone feel like rock stars. It makes the moment all the more special. However, some people that may not like the confetti as much are the clean-up crews.

According to timessquarenyc.org, over one ton of confetti is dropped in Times Square each New Year’s Eve. Could you imagine having to clean up all of that confetti? However, have you ever wondered what happens to the confetti? Is it thrown away or recycled? Click here to see a picture from the New York Times of the clean-up.

According to an article on earth911.com by Alexis Petru titled “Can you Recycle New Year’s Eve Confetti?” it depends what material the confetti is made out of. If it is made out of paper, it can be swept up and put in a recycling bin. However, if it is made up of plastic or tissue paper, it is not recyclable and has to be thrown away.

I’m not for sure what type of confetti is used in Times Square; however, if the confetti currently used isn’t recyclable, I believe New York City should take that into consideration for future New Year’s celebrations. It may be paper confetti doesn’t fly as well as confetti made from plastic or tissue paper.

Have you ever visited the confetti wishing wall at the Times Square Visitor’s Center? Have you ever been in Times Square on New Year’s Eve? Do you think the confetti should be made out of recycled material if it isn’t already? Share your thoughts.

Related articles

• Times Square Tests Confetti For New Year’s Eve (newyork.cbslocal.com)