Margaret (Mattie) Knight (1838-1914) invented flat-bottomed paper bags. Knight was an employee in a paper bag factory when she invented a new machine part to make square bottoms for paper bags. Paper bags had been more like envelopes before. Knight can be considered the mother of the grocery bag. She founded the Eastern Paper Bag Company in 1870.
You go girl!
Paper or plastic was not an issue then and soon it may not be an issue in the near future.
One emerging problem is that people who use cloth bags do not keep them clean. People are getting sick from mildew and mold that grows in the eco-”friendly” containers.
Paper bags, on the other hand or both, are easily reusable, recyclable and are biodegradable. I regularly make a nice mulch by running shopping bags through my paper shredder. Acid-loving plants love this kind of mulch.
Paper bags have solved gift wrapping challenges for manly men. Gifts go into pretty paper bags with nice paper, jazzy tissue, some ornamental ribbons and lots of love. It beats un-squared and over-taped corners and the glare of the “Men can't wrap a package looks by the women at Belks.” Bah!
Square bottom bags also work better for nails, cameras, heavier supplies and groceries. Except for Cuban and French bread and flowers, bags without bottoms are useless except for lingerie purchases that still need to be re-wrapped – in another flat-bottomed bag.
If you are lucky enough to own a Gocco printer or have the skills to decorate bags with your artistic skills, be glad you don't have to build the bag to start with. Just print or ad your art to the existing bag. That adds more love to the gift.
By the way, bag these thoughts: if you use plastic bags before they go extinct, please reuse or recycle them. If you use cloth bags, wash them occasionally. Febrezing ain't cleaning. When you use your paper bag, think about the little lady from the northeast with a great idea.
By the way, the first hot-air balloon was a very large inverted paper bag. Those crazy and daring French! © Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Friday, June 12, 2009
Good Music and Great Teachers
The Police needed a drummer. History will tell the story of how Phil Collins occupied that seat, the sticks and the title – BEST. Then, Phil started to SING. The members of The Police disbanded, but individual careers were born. His is among one of my favorite voices.
Phil Collin's unique sound resonates and owns certain lyrics and tunes. Tonight … Another Day In Paradise ... Invisible Touch … Take Me Home. He owns the songs. Funny thing. At some point, Phil Collins needed a drummer for his band.
What sort of talent would he choose to sit in HIS seat and handle HIS sticks? You can research that answer too.
Thus it goes in growing any enterprise. Even if you are the best at what you do, there is a point at which you must choose to be just what you are and do what you do by yourself or invest yourself in someone else and take the risk of growth.
To the especially gifted, you might earn the title – TEACHER.
I love the process of calligraphy and photography. I like the feel of the equipment and way that it feels right in my hands. I like the way it gives back to me when I invest my energy and expertise in it. I especially like to see others develop the same command of their tools and see the same joy in their faces as I have in mine.
There are teachers taking a break this summer and there are teachers with broken hearts. Their contracts are not renewed and classes are canceled. They are looking at themselves seriously and critically and seeking new places to teach or for new types of work. Our hearts are with them.
If you know a teacher, especially one enduring a special hardship, offer them some help and encouragement.
They love notes, shiny apples and students. Even emails and text messages are good. © Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Phil Collin's unique sound resonates and owns certain lyrics and tunes. Tonight … Another Day In Paradise ... Invisible Touch … Take Me Home. He owns the songs. Funny thing. At some point, Phil Collins needed a drummer for his band.
What sort of talent would he choose to sit in HIS seat and handle HIS sticks? You can research that answer too.
Thus it goes in growing any enterprise. Even if you are the best at what you do, there is a point at which you must choose to be just what you are and do what you do by yourself or invest yourself in someone else and take the risk of growth.
To the especially gifted, you might earn the title – TEACHER.
I love the process of calligraphy and photography. I like the feel of the equipment and way that it feels right in my hands. I like the way it gives back to me when I invest my energy and expertise in it. I especially like to see others develop the same command of their tools and see the same joy in their faces as I have in mine.
There are teachers taking a break this summer and there are teachers with broken hearts. Their contracts are not renewed and classes are canceled. They are looking at themselves seriously and critically and seeking new places to teach or for new types of work. Our hearts are with them.
If you know a teacher, especially one enduring a special hardship, offer them some help and encouragement.
They love notes, shiny apples and students. Even emails and text messages are good. © Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
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