Norm Benson

The Bet

The United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development‘s Brundtland Report (1987), Our Common Future, defined sustainable development‘s path as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” It sounds simple. But how do we judge “the ability of future generationsContinue reading “The Bet”

Guest Commentary: National Wildland Fire Management Policy and Firefighter Deaths…more rhetoric, no solutions

This is a version of an Op-Ed by Kenn & Susan McCarty that appeared in the Lake County Record-Bee. Susan is a 16-year wildland firefighter veteran and a former United States Forest Service Hotshot Firefighter. Kenn is a 33-year fire service veteran and is presently a fire hand crew supervisor for the California Department ofContinue reading “Guest Commentary: National Wildland Fire Management Policy and Firefighter Deaths…more rhetoric, no solutions”

Burned Policy

“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves….” Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Act 1, scene 2. Still Playing With Fire It is summer so wildfires are in the news, and this year’s Yarnell Hill and Rim Fires are partially used to hype man-caused global warming. Our fire problem has been a longContinue reading “Burned Policy”

Weekend Postcard: Wildland Fire

This is the “San Joaquin Fire” that started around 2pm (PDT) on San Joaquin Avenue of Clearlake Park, CA. The photo was snapped at around 2:10pm. The fire was contained at seven acres (about what you can see in the photo).

Energy Independence is a Dumb Idea but not Because We Will Run Out of Oil

Update: One more sentence has been added to Charlie Munger’s quote. Over at the Farnam Street blog, Shane Parrish has a post titled “Energy Independence is a Terribly Stupid Idea.” I agree. But, apparently not for the same reasons that Farnam Shane Parrish or Berkshire Hathaway Vice-Chairman Charlie Munger does. (But, hey more people followContinue reading “Energy Independence is a Dumb Idea but not Because We Will Run Out of Oil”

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.

Jury Selection. Again.

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?”