Here is today’s Green Chain column for the Lake County Record-Bee. “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?” – John Maynard Keynes. It appears we are witnessing the crumbling of the green movement, as we know it. Dr. James Lovelock, who postulated the ‘Gaia hypothesis’ of earth operatingContinue reading “Green Games”
Author Archives: Norm Benson
Weekend Postcard: Sailboat on Clear Lake
A few weeks back we saw colorful sailboats on Clear Lake. (Clear Lake is in Lake County in northern California.) According to the Konocti Bay Sailing Club, 45 boats participated the 28th Konocti Cup (their route is here). We might see one or two sailboats in a month, to see so many at one timeContinue reading “Weekend Postcard: Sailboat on Clear Lake”
Weekend Postcard: Hop Vines in the Garden
Hop plants are technically bines and not vines; vines use tendrils to grow and bines do not. Nevertheless, this bine is a Zeus hop (Humulus lupulus var. whotheheckknowsii, part of the CTZ–Columbus, Tomahawk, Zeus–hops triad). I have planted approximately 20 hop rhizomes inside containers around the house. I have hung wire from my decks downContinue reading “Weekend Postcard: Hop Vines in the Garden”
Weekend Postcard: cappuccino at Peet’s
Beauty lives in simple pleasures. And, at $2.50 for a simple cappuccino made with competence and delight is an affordable luxury. Taking a moment to enjoy the bubble of calm and the wondrous taste of cappuccino with its foamed milk and dark espresso roasted coffee complemented this visual treat. I was walking towardContinue reading “Weekend Postcard: cappuccino at Peet’s”
Weekend Postcard: Redbud in bloom
The western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) has bloomed throughout Lake County, CA. With its cordate (heart-shaped) leaves and magenta flowers, it dazzles us during spring. Related articles The Razzle-Dazzle Redbud (notesfromtheblogusfear.wordpress.com) Theodore Payne Wildflower Report 4/27/12 (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
Weekend Postcard: Lilac Flower
Spring has meant an explosion of color around the neighborhood. The flowers and new shoots on the plants feed the soul (okay, I’m not a complete non-romantic). Since it is spring, we have planted the tomatoes in hopes of getting those delicious fruits for our sandwiches and salads. We have also planted some hop rhizomesContinue reading “Weekend Postcard: Lilac Flower”
This Earth Day, stop thinking as an environmentalist and start thinking as an economist.
“In the beginning the Universe was created. This made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.” ~ Douglas Adams April 22 is Earth Day, and you know what that means. That’s right, the 43rd running of the Eco-catastrophists and Neo-Malthusians! Why, according to the Earth Day Network,Continue reading “This Earth Day, stop thinking as an environmentalist and start thinking as an economist.”
Weekend Postcard: vineyard in the Alexander Valley
This is another picture of a vineyard in the Alexander Valley, just east of Healdsburg, in Sonoma County of California. Agriculture is amazing. Long ago, we humans domesticated (formerly) wild plants and animals for our purposes, and changing what they do radically in the process. This scene looks peaceful, bucolic, and natural. Well, two outContinue reading “Weekend Postcard: vineyard in the Alexander Valley”
Pink Slime gone. 1.5 Million more cattle needed to meet US demand.
Travis Arp is Ph.D. student at Colorado State University studying Meat Science and “grew up on a farm.” He says in the comments section of his post that 1,500,000 additional cattle will need to be raised to meet the shortfall due to the closure of three of four of Beef Product Inc,’s plants. That shouldContinue reading “Pink Slime gone. 1.5 Million more cattle needed to meet US demand.”
Writer, Travis a PhD candidate in Meat Science, says that 1,500,000 additional cattle will need to be raised to meet the shortfall due to the closure of these BPI plants.
Nullius in Verba 