Norm Benson

World War Zzzzz

Due to a pandemic sweeping through the world, we might have to go without our usual cup of joe or pay much higher prices.

In 2011, I was part of a host of people considered to sit on a jury. Considering that the trial for the killing Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman has just ended in a Not Guilty verdict, I thought I would share how the process appears to work in Lake County, California. Jury duty in LakeContinue reading “Jury Selection. Again.”

The Good Old Days

When our climate was just a little cooler.

Me, Microbes, and I

It has been said that “No man is an island.” While you may quibble that it should be “No one is an island,” we know what it means: We human beings depend on one another. We depend on each other, and we also depend on ecosystems to provide us with water and clean air—amongContinue reading “Me, Microbes, and I”

Is Optimism Rational?

Matt Ridley’s book, The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves, continues to be my favorite book. It is not simply my favorite non-fiction book; it is my favorite book: challenging, witty, and chock-a-block full of facts. If you are pessimistic about our world’s future (as I was), you owe it to yourself (and your children) toContinue reading “Is Optimism Rational?”

OMG GMOs

I don’t get it. Yes, Monsanto is a large company. So is Ford. Monsanto does not control the food system any more than Ford controls the automotive system.

Beer and Civilization—Who Knew?

This will be in tomorrow’s today’s Record-Bee in the Green Chain column. It is also cross-posted on my Batch-22 blog. I hope you had a happy Earth Day. It happened, thanks to beer. Fermentation First Evidence mounts almost daily that beer started humans on the path to civilization even before the invention of agricultureContinue reading “Beer and Civilization—Who Knew?”

Weekend Postcard: Economics at Work

“Give me that which I want, and you shall have this which you want…” Adam Smith This picture is of sheep grazing (and resting) at a local winery‘s vineyard, Vigilance Winery and Vineyard (which, by the way, has a great sunrise picture). This shows economics at work. The rancher obviously thought it worthwhile to transportContinue reading “Weekend Postcard: Economics at Work”

Managing That Wild Natural Look

In 1978, I was just beginning my career with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). I worked in the southern Sierra Nevada range as the Assistant Forest Manager at Mountain Home State Forest. The federally managed 1.2 million acre Sequoia National Forest surrounded the 4800-acre state forest. On most of theContinue reading “Managing That Wild Natural Look”

Weekend Postcard: Napa Valley Afternoon Light

I took this picture from inside a moving car looking east near Calistoga. I thought the sunlight striking a vineyard to be beautiful, even with the smudges on the glass.