So if I throw my towel in the washing machine, I've now put energy and water back into that towel ...

But can I use a paper towel?

Napkin in my lap, half bites, chew with my mouth closed, no scratching.

This is the amount of energy that goes into any paper towel or embodied water, and every time I use a paper towel, I am using this much virtual energy and water.

My back of napkin theory is this that a rapid increase in internet penetration in a repressive regime does play an important role as it provides an unfettered channel of communication allowing disaffected citizens to share views and more importantly to rapidly organise and mobilise.