The California Energy Commission (CEC) said, “Eureka, we have a refulgently brilliant idea! Let’s require installation of solar panels on new home and low-rise apartment building construction.” Assuming the California Building Standards Commission ratifies the CEC’s proposal (a purported slam-dunk) it will take affect starting January 1, 2020. Less than two years from now. ”TheContinue reading “California’s Solar Virtue Signal Could Put Housing Out of Reach”
Author Archives: Norm Benson
California Warns Cell Phone Users
Lately people have been losing their goddamned minds over the repeal of so-called Net Neutrality. The idea seems to be that more government oversight, regulation, nappy wiping are sure to protect us from naughty and not nice corporations who just care about money. Well if more oversight, regulation, and having your bum wiped is yourContinue reading “California Warns Cell Phone Users”
California’s Chemophobic Political Science
Without chemicals life would be damned hard. Alcohol is a chemical, for crying out loud, and without it, many of us find life damned hard. Oh sure, there are other important chemicals too, I suppose. Salt is a chemical and sort of important. Water is a chemical; it’s useful in making beer and wine. OxygenContinue reading “California’s Chemophobic Political Science”
California bureaucrats consider lowering detection limit for purposes of reporting for perchlorate
This is my response to the State Water Resources Control Board regarding their proposal for lowered detection limit for purposes of reporting for perchlorate. (see the previous post for SWRCB’s announcement). The California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) seems to appreciate the Precautionary Principle, which says, “When an activity raises threats of harmContinue reading “California bureaucrats consider lowering detection limit for purposes of reporting for perchlorate”
An Open Letter to California’s State Water Resources Control Board (Draft)
I received this in an email on June 16, 2017 and I’ve been mulling it over since then. This is a message from the State Water Resources Control Board. You are receiving this email because you have requested notification from the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water (DDW) regarding important updates onContinue reading “An Open Letter to California’s State Water Resources Control Board (Draft)”
March for Climate Earth Change Day
Earth day, since its beginning in 1970, has tried to have ecological gravitas. It has tried to raise awareness of earth’s health, which its founders saw as a fraying cord tethering humans very existence. We were doing to the earth what I wanted to do with Mary Sue Horsley. At the time of this firstContinue reading “March for Climate Earth Change Day”
Industrial Chemicals and the Cancer Epidemic
The Sierra Club mulls the question, “Why are so many people getting cancer?” And then, without evidence, answers itself (like homeless guy on the corner), “One reason may be the legal release of millions of pounds of cancer-causing chemicals into our air and waterways.” Similarly, Rachel Carson asserted that “more American school children die ofContinue reading “Industrial Chemicals and the Cancer Epidemic”
Earth Hour: Will Switching Off Lights Help?
Tonight is WWF’s Earth Hour, where we’re supposed to switch off the lights from 8:30p to 9:30p. What will that do for the 1.3 billion in energy poverty?
Earth Hour 2017 – The Great Switch Off
It’s once again time to celebrate Earth Hour on March 25th by turning off your lights from 8:30pm to 9:30 pm and sitting in the dark; that sounds like a major hoot and a half, all right. As the WWF organizers tell us, we can invite friends to sit in the dark with us. If weContinue reading “Earth Hour 2017 – The Great Switch Off”
An Open Letter to California Representative Ted Lieu
Hey Homes, ‘sup? Did y’all know you was being played for a chump? Played by people with more agendas than congress. Which brings me to your statement on Monsanto’s herbicide, RoundUp, and more specifically, its active ingredient, glyphosate. You issued a press release on March 15, 2017. “New questions about the safety of Monsanto weedContinue reading “An Open Letter to California Representative Ted Lieu”
Nullius in Verba 