Three quick things.

I'm proud to be a scavenger. Haven't gone so far as the dumpsters
behind the grocery, yet, but I am disgusted at the ammount of food
thrown out because the deli staff are too lazy to use the gaurd on the
slicer, so just toss the last two inches of cheese or meat; or can't
be bothered to sort through a produce bin, so just chuck it all; or
the managers can't work something out with a charity. Maybe I'm going
to have to go in. Writing this made it feel like a social duty.

Serene - I used to be a writer (just reveiws in art mags).
Technically held copyright, but never made serious money at it anyway,
and figured, as long as I was credited, not plagarized, not abused - I
was happy to have my words and ideas floating out in the world. And,
it's the Internet now. I have no assumption of ownership of anything
I post. It would be nice if people who think and write could make a
living at it, but the blogosphere has changed that. I haven't bought
a magazine in over a decade, and few new books. And gave up writing.

Funny how trying to be paid as a writer and scavenging are related.

And OM - trying to get rid of dead peoples' things. http://www.freecycle.org
I've never taken anything from them, but have given away a lot, even
things that I couldn't imagine anyone would want. And met some
interesting folks.

B