22.09.08 the smell of progress

Posted under: society, travel

Two weeks ago, upon arriving in Stockholm, I went for a walk, and within a very short time smelled something I hadn’t in a long time… The smell of Lepage, the glue our teachers insisted we use in primary school. It brought back memories, not of grade school, but of waiting for the bus in Sweden, when I lived there nine years ago.

Immediately, I remembered that in Sweden, you always smell the bus coming. Quickly, I turned around and sure enough, there was one of Stockholm’s fine, environment-friendly etanolbuss. I thought to myself, why is it that even small towns like Lund (where I lived) had these nine years ago, and we’re just talking about it?

Then, walking to work today, I smelled Lepage glue. Could it be? I asked, right before I saw written on a Montreal bus across the street, “Cet autobus roule au biodiesel”. How cool is that.

So, Montrealers, next time you think you smell Lepage glue, look out for the bus.

Previous: nauseating fact #2852 about sarah palin
Next: condo for rent

4 comments on 'the smell of progress'

Subscribe to comments with RSS or TrackBack to 'the smell of progress'.

  1. Comment by mare on 22.09.08 at 11:50 pm

    Unfortunately it’s a big lie. The STM busses use only 5% biodiesel. Yes, only 5%. I wouldn’t call that “Cet autobus roule au biodiesel”.

  2. Comment by Vincent on 23.09.08 at 9:16 am

    Ça fait longtemps que les autobus de la STM roulent au biodiesel mais à 5% comme fait remarquer mare. Ce n’est pas vraiment du progrès parce que le carburant à l’éthanol a fait monter les enchères pour les champs de maïs qui ont pour la plupart été convertis pour la production d’essence plutôt que de nourriture. C’est un peu la cause de la crise alimentaire mondiale actuelle.

    Enfin, moi aussi j’aime bien l’odeur de la colle Lepage!

  3. Comment by Alston Adams on 23.09.08 at 9:41 am

    I always hated that stuff, with the shitty nozzle. It always got everywhere. I don’t know why they insisted on making us use that messy crap.

    That said, yes, the smell wasn’t bad.

  4. Comment by Philippe-A. on 23.09.08 at 9:45 am

    Ethanol, if made from grain, is a very problematic energy source. It the corn was grown on former parking lots, it would be perfect. But when the rainforest is being decimated to produce some fuel, we have a big problem.

    When made from Cane sugar, though, it can be awesome. In Brazil, every liter you pump in your car has at least 50% ethanol in it (if not more). And all this come from a very small portion of their agricultural land.

Comment on this post