Watson Wire

Convention Blog Report:  It ain’t easy being green

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Last night was the “official” beginning of the Convention.  The showcase events were a semi-surprise appearance by U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama giving her speech.  Senator Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor and the word was that, with a compromised immune system, he couldn’t be at the convention.  It was a touching moment for him to be introduced by his niece Caroline Kennedy and then have the Old Lion roaring once again from a National Democratic Convention podium. 

Michelle Obama gave a great speech and they did a good job of introducing the kids to the convention.

A big part of this convention is an effort to be “green”.  As you would expect, they have the traditional recycling bins for glass and plastic.  But, I now know they also have bins for “compostable” materials.  They even have volunteers standing near the bins to make sure well meaning, environmentally sensitive delegates don’t screw up and throw their compostable material into the regular garbage.   Of course, the only way a person could make this mistake is by not paying attention.  I mean, come on, everyone knows what is and isn’t compostable, right?

I tested this system last night by pitching a pizza box into a trash can.  A rather stern young woman (far too young to be so stern) sort of leaped over to the trash can and scooped out my refuse.  My face must have registered shock, or maybe horror.  She eyeballed me and, staring at me, only said, “compost.”  I don’t remember saying anything in return.  I’m positive my face showed that I didn’t comprehend.   Was she calling me Compost?

She gave a brief lecture on the fact that my pizza box was compostable and shouldn’t be thrown in the trash. 

And, yes, it was a pizza box, meaning I ate pizza last night.  Frankly, I ate a lot of pizza last night.  And some ice cream.  The Rules of the National Democratic Party expressly state that you have to eat bad and eat a ton at these things. I am just following the rules.