Geoffrey Settle Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 This is an old one but given that the cost of posting letters has gone up again - should posties be saving and reusing their rubber bands. The other week I picked up over 20 red ones in one close in Penketh and today I found more near to where I live on the pavement alongside the main road. Surely they don't just ping into the air and out of sight. It would appear that it's only certain mail deliverers who either have poor eyesight or can't bend down to pick them up and save them for tomorrows round. Have you seen any other examples where recycling would have been a good thing to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 There is no way I am picking up a used rubber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 why pick them up, when they've got you to do it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 The question is, who are you bothering in Penketh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harry hayes Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 To get your minds boggling, I use the red rubber bands for a variety of reasons. They don't seem anything like as common as they used to be - my own postie doesn't drop them and the town centre seems pretty free as well Suppose it depends on your postman,and just in case I get banned(punny and don't say for a long stretch), post-woman. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted May 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 The question is, who are you bothering in Penketh? How very dare you Pete me annoy anyone I only visit to paint and relax . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 Years ago we used to collect the rubber bands the posties discarded as they were everywhere, great for making rubber balls and firing off our fingers at targets (mostly non human of course... honest ). It's something I'd completely forgotten about until you posted this Geoff as I must admit it's many years since I remember seeing any lying around on pavements etc. I must ask my postie tomorrow and hopefully he may start dropping a few so I can 'educate' the kids round here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted May 2, 2011 Report Share Posted May 2, 2011 The question is, who are you bothering in Penketh? How very dare you Pete me annoy anyone I only visit to paint and relax . They are useful though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted May 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2011 I'm taking Dizzy's advice and starting to make a rubber ball - picked up 8 the other day in one street off Poplars Ave and there were a couple outside the Town Hall. Anyone else spotted them on their streets or are you rubber band free Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted May 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2011 Just a thought has anyone got any good tips about starting off and building a rubber band ball - what's the technique Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted May 7, 2011 Report Share Posted May 7, 2011 A bit like making a ball of wool from a skein. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted May 7, 2011 Report Share Posted May 7, 2011 Surely a man of your intelligence can figure it out Geoff If you want to do it the proper way I'll give you a clue "stretch, twist, double, stretch, twist, double etc and finally release".. or you could try bunching a few together and wrapping a band round those to get you going I guess. Anyway here's one my son did and it's a very neat way to store your elastic bands too (ps that's your post in the background' I've still not found any elastic bands on the pavements round here though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 Thanks Dizzy a really good friend of mine used to make them at work - it helped him concentrate - mind you when he threw it at the wall you had to hide under your desk and watch out because it had the power of a golf ball and could fly anywhere I don't think it's much to do with intelligence , although he was a computer whizz but it's about technique . I picked up another two outside the Town Hall on Friday so my little ball is now a small ellipse and doesn't bounce well ? but it is growing. So watch out if I launch it in your rubber band street . How long did it take your son to make that one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reader Posted May 14, 2011 Report Share Posted May 14, 2011 Come round the corner at lunchtime or somedays pm, Geoff and you will get a few more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted May 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2011 Yes I picked up a few more yesterday outside the SPAR shop. My rubber ball will soon be bouncing higher and I'm working on my technique, it's eliptical and very small . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted May 15, 2011 Report Share Posted May 15, 2011 it's eliptical and very small . What is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted May 15, 2011 Report Share Posted May 15, 2011 Best not to ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted May 15, 2011 Report Share Posted May 15, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Surprised this debate can go on for so long without someone pointing out that discarded rubber bands in the street can be mistaken by birds for worms. They try to eat them - and choke to death! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Ooooh that's horrible Don't the birds realise that they are not wriggling and smell different though Good job Geoff is picking them all up and making his rubber ball then eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Perhaps that is a new way of keeping the feral pigeons under control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Thought pigeons were a problem in Town Centres? Seems like rubber bands could be the answer?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted May 16, 2011 Report Share Posted May 16, 2011 Surprised this debate can go on for so long without someone pointing out that discarded rubber bands in the street can be mistaken by birds for worms. They try to eat them - and choke to death! I think this comes under the banner of natural selection. The birds that aren't stupid enough to eat rubber bands live to pass on their more intelligent genes. JH, I think you come under the "if something bad happens the human did it" label Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzy Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 Apparently you can shoot pigeons and magpies without getting in trouble... You can't shoot blackbirds though as they are protected. So if a person dropped a rubber band and it was eaten by and killed a blackbird could they get sued Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted May 17, 2011 Report Share Posted May 17, 2011 Magpies are protected, unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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