What??!!
I suppose I was showing off a little when I tossed out a fact I had learned from an arborist while I was interviewing a fish biologist.
"Wisconsin has 727 million ash trees," I said.
"How do you know that?" DNR spokesman Mike Staggs said.
"I was talking to Janesville parks supervisor Cliff Englert this morning about the emerald ash borer," I said.
"Oh, ash TREES," Staggs said. "I thought you said ash trays."
The reason I brought up the ash borer conversation to Staggs was that he and Englert sounded a lot alike on the phone.
Staggs was explaining to me the state's emergency rules to prevent the spread of a fish virus. The virus has only been found in a few bodies of Wisconsin waters, he said. That doesn't mean it's not more widespread or won't become so, he said.
Englert said the emerald ash borer hasn't been discovered in Wisconsin yet, but that doesn't mean the bug isn't here or won't get here.
Since then, my roommate, Joann, and I have been debating.
Does Wisconsin have more ash trays or ash trees?
She says trays. I say trees.
Apr 10, 2008 at 8:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
I agree there are more trees than trays.
But are there more ASH trees than ash trays?
That's what cracked us up.
Apr 8, 2008 at 8:16 a.m.
Suggest removal
well,
im thinking that if there are more people
and that there are 142 ash trays per person
well why not go on a nature walk and try to count every tre that you see for atleast a mile
i have a pretty good feeling that there should be more trees than trays
Apr 7, 2008 at 2:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
If we are talking ash TRAYS here, let's look at the numbers. There are 5,556,506 people in the state of Wisconsin. If we rule out the 5.6% under the age of 5 (I'm guessing they don't smoke on a regular basis)that leaves 5,206,447. Take me out because I don't smoke either. That makes about 140 ash trays per person. Probably a little on the high side. I vote for trees.
Don't ya just love math? (And props to the US Census Bureau too.)
Apr 7, 2008 at 12:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
Are we talking ash trays that are in use, or including ones that are collecting dust in the basement of a certain consignment shop? If it's the latter, I vote trays. Although I am more fond of trees.
Apr 7, 2008 at 11:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
While I have not completely, entirely sworn off my affection for the cigarettes that were an integral part of my college experience (and probably never will completely)...
...I REALLY hope there are more trees.
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