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Google sends Cr-48 to "Will it Blend?"

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Re: Google sends Cr-48 to "Will it Blend?"

#61

Post by [deleted] »

phlux wrote: post #45
robryan wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While we sit here thinking about this though much worse waste is going on it the world unseen. My uni gets big dumpsters and throws out 100's of computers each year. Granted they are usually getting old though.

So here we have: New-laptop->blender For your comment we have: New-machine-->user------------------------->trash/other-user/some-other-market WTF don't people understand about how wasteful this is? Also, this machines toxic+precious components are being munger to the point where any hope of recycle is lost. If you aren't already paying attention, countries like China are securing the next 50-100 years worth of natura…

[deleted]

Re: Google sends Cr-48 to "Will it Blend?"

#63

Post by Natsu »

jrockway wrote: post #40
apetresc wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're joking, right? The fact that you weren't one of the thousands to receive a free laptop makes Google developer-unfriendly?

Yes, my post was intended to be tongue-in-cheek. The article is about putting the laptop in a blender; comments should be read with that in mind.

Well, at least you're not alone in having no luck.

Re: Google sends Cr-48 to "Will it Blend?"

#64

Post by benatkin »

phlux wrote: post #2

While funny etc. We have so much waste in the world as it is - the last thing we need is the toxic waste of a perfectly good machine being blended and thrown out. I have never had respect for the 'will it blend' concept, regardless of how funny one may find it. It is simply wasteful.

The environmental cost per viewer is infinitesimally small, so I don't buy that argument. An argument about it leading viewers to carelessness would be a sad statement about humor.

Re: Google sends Cr-48 to "Will it Blend?"

#65

Post by benatkin »

hugh3 wrote: post #34
thingie wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It might still be cheaper than some kind of elaborate ad with a lot of actors, scenes and stuff, and even have lesser environmental impact (one laptop is much less waste than, say, flight to some distant place to take the shots for an ad). So, yes, it can actually make sense. But still, I just don't like the culture which shows that it's perfectly ok to smash and destroy stuff just for pleasure and marketing. Imagine…

It's just a bunch of atoms. It was a bunch of atoms before the manufacturers got to it -- mostly goo, some rocks, a bit of sand. They rearranged the atoms into a different order. Then Blend-Tec guy put it into a blender and rearranged the atoms again, now it's dust instead of goo. What has been lost, apart from a bit of irreplacable time out of the lives of everyone involved (including me writing this comment and you…

Plastic bags are composed of atoms, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjmtSkl53h4

Re: Google sends Cr-48 to "Will it Blend?"

#66

Post by benatkin »

phlux wrote: post #4
huntero wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's advertising. Admittedly, I don't have the numbers to back it up, but I would imagine that the economic impact of this advertising is worth more than the cost for Google to send a CR-48 to be blended.

>...economic impact of this advertising is worth more than the cost for Google to send a CR-48 to be blended. I know what it is called - but it is still clearly waste. I was not referring to the economic impact but rather the environmental. Sure, we can all say "who cares" -- I do, which is why I ask. Have you seen the garbage problems we have? The toxic waste dumps that are china and other places. I am not trying to…

When I saw a BlendTec commercial for the first time, I thought: "that's wasteful!". Then I thought about it some more and realized that it was a tiny fraction of the waste that's being produced by viewers. I realized if viewers would keep their electronics 10% longer it would make many times as big a difference as putting a kibosh on this commercial series. So it actually raised awareness for me.

Re: Google sends Cr-48 to "Will it Blend?"

#67

Post by cabalamat »

jonhendry wrote: post #48
hugh3 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's just a bunch of atoms. It was a bunch of atoms before the manufacturers got to it -- mostly goo, some rocks, a bit of sand. They rearranged the atoms into a different order. Then Blend-Tec guy put it into a blender and rearranged the atoms again, now it's dust instead of goo. What has been lost, apart from a bit of irreplacable time out of the lives of everyone involved (including me writing this comment and you…

Toxic chemicals were used during production of the components, probably leaving waste to be dealt with, toxic gases vented, etc. The components of the computer were made using minerals possibly sourced from conflict-ridden, corrupt places like Congo. Some of the minerals involved may become significantly more scarce in the foreseeable future. If you're going to incur these (ethically, if not strictly economically) no…

Yes, the notebook was used up for a frivolous purpose. But consider, the vast majority of game consoles are used -- and used up -- for frivolous pruposes, and over their lifetimes, they'll have used more resources (e.g. electricity). Or consider large sporting events that costs lots of money to stage and large amounts of energy for the crowd to get there.

A lot of human resources are used for frivolous purposes. do you want to ban them all?

Re: Google sends Cr-48 to "Will it Blend?"

#69

Post by wazoox »

JonnieCache wrote: post #38
hugh3 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's just a bunch of atoms. It was a bunch of atoms before the manufacturers got to it -- mostly goo, some rocks, a bit of sand. They rearranged the atoms into a different order. Then Blend-Tec guy put it into a blender and rearranged the atoms again, now it's dust instead of goo. What has been lost, apart from a bit of irreplacable time out of the lives of everyone involved (including me writing this comment and you…

>What has been lost, apart from a bit of irreplacable time out of the lives of everyone involved (including me writing this comment and you reading it)? Short answer, we've gained entropy. Over time, entropy will be the end of us, and therefore it is our responsibility as lifeforms to hold it back wherever we can. Otherwise what's the point? May as well just give up on the whole spontaneously emergent complexity deal…

However if you don't mind, I still prefer my soup, purée, mashed potatoes with some entropy.

Re: Google sends Cr-48 to "Will it Blend?"

#70

Post by extension »

jonhendry wrote: post #48
hugh3 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's just a bunch of atoms. It was a bunch of atoms before the manufacturers got to it -- mostly goo, some rocks, a bit of sand. They rearranged the atoms into a different order. Then Blend-Tec guy put it into a blender and rearranged the atoms again, now it's dust instead of goo. What has been lost, apart from a bit of irreplacable time out of the lives of everyone involved (including me writing this comment and you…

Toxic chemicals were used during production of the components, probably leaving waste to be dealt with, toxic gases vented, etc. The components of the computer were made using minerals possibly sourced from conflict-ridden, corrupt places like Congo. Some of the minerals involved may become significantly more scarce in the foreseeable future. If you're going to incur these (ethically, if not strictly economically) no…

I think you overestimate the non-frivolity of proper laptop use and life in general.

Beyond providing the bare essentials of survival to yourself or others, you're just playing around. Call it Serious Business if you like, but if you don't need to do it to survive then it's no more important than blending laptops to entertain the internet.

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