I had to read that a couple of times. After all the talk about dog shit, when I first read your reply I thought you said you were “old stool.” It was “relieved” upon re-reading.

Just ran across your very interesting site!

As for the litter, I am surprised that you didn’t include a section on New Jersey Beach Whistles.

Dave

I’ll pass on the dental picks, thanks.

I just do not know why someone in their right minds throw litter? Aren’t we developed countries or call ourselves such. Should not we lead by example. The most gruesome scene is when I see parents do it. What kind of lesson we are giving to our kids.

Our behaviors as a society are in shambles, let’s face it hear, we have made all the things just OK which used to be frowned upon: public drinking, pornography, littering on streets, marijuana. We think showing off the bodies of our females who used to be the respect and prime of our households. We find it cool, attractive and exciting. And yes while it could be attractive, it is not the right thing to do. Sin is always attractive and pulls humans towards themselves and then comes the moral compass. And when the moral compass is dead well then this is what happens. And yet we all do it in the name of freedom and liberalism. Our morals really need an overhaul or we should all be grounded.

2 weeks is a Marketing study. It’s not science. People feel good when they buy something that promises to improve their lives. P&G profits…

About 20 years ago when our dog poop laws in Canada were just getting going, a guy let his dog do it on my lawn about 5 yards from where I was standing. I objected and he told me that it was on the town property so he could do what he liked. I picked up my garden spade, scooped it up and followed him home. Dropped it on his doorstep. Never saw him or his dog again. Nowadays it’s almost impossible to see the stuff anywhere as almost everyone in our (small town) downtown neighbourhood carries a bag and uses it.

In Britain it used to be much worse, but seems to be slowly improving as more signage warns of penalties.

In a French village we visit it was awful, but is gradually getting better. I congratulated the street sweeper this year on the improvement and he laughed that his job was getting a bit more pleasant.

In a small Portuguese town we visit it’s terrible, you cant walk anywhere without your eyes firmly on the ground. Almost everyone lives in apartments and just turn the dogs out loose.

Two things that still infuriate me here in Canada, people who let their dogs crap in the middle of hiking trails with acres of wilderness around, and the ones who empty their ashtrays onto the road at traffic lights. Sheer idleness.

It’s not just the dog doo Sterling. I was backpacking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and it was late and started to rain. I was at a shelter and ducked in hoping to spend the night. I wondered what the stench was and when I went ’round back, the ground was full of piles of human poop! I walked on in the rain and set my tent up a mile away. I wondered about these people…a plastic trowel is only $3.99. If a cat can cover it’s stuff, why can’t you?

I avoid National Parks now and usually only backpack in wilderness areas.