Sorry to post out of turn, but this was in today’s New York Times: 10 Things to Scratch from your Worry List.

“For most of the year, it is the duty of the press to scour the known universe looking for ways to ruin your day. The more fear, guilt or angst a news story induces, the better. But with August upon us, perhaps you’re in the mood for a break, so I’ve rounded up a list of 10 things not to worry about on your vacation.”

According to John Tierney, among other things we can now breathe a sigh of relief and file under “not worth worrying about,” are our good old friends. Number five on the list:

Evil plastic bags.

“5) Take it from the Environmental Protection Agency: paper bags are not better for the environment than plastic bags. If anything, the evidence from life-cycle analyses favors plastic bags. They require much less energy — and greenhouse emissions — to manufacture, ship and recycle. They generate less air and water pollution. And they take up much less space in landfills.”

NY Times…I thought you were a progressive newspaper…and then you publish this….My eyes…I can’t see anymore. I think all the blood vessels in my eyeballs popped open. I think I’ve gone blind. John Tierney has made me go BLIND!!!

Regardless of whether paper isn’t better than plastic, the message of this article: Keep on using those plastic bags – no worries! You deserve a break from all that environmental hoo-hah!

Tierney posted this on his blog, I suppose he’s expecting an attack. I don’t get why everyone is saying replace plastic bags with paper bags…don’t they know there are other options?

Let’s play a game: how many destructive statements/implications can you find in the Ten Things… article?

I am writing a letter to the editor of the New York Times on this one. Seriously. Anyone ever done that before and know of any good ways to get it actually published?