Thursday Open Thread 3-1-2018
Wonder why the store aisles of household cleaning supplies and gardening chemicals are usually empty with few casual browsers. Article on the dangers of in door cleaning products. (the study)
Regular use of cleaning sprays has an impact on lung health comparable with smoking a pack of cigarettes every day, according to a new study.The research followed more than 6,000 people over a 20 year period and found women in particular suffered significant health problems after long-term use of these products.
An article reminding us the choices of the products we buy and use have a wide effect on the local environment. (the study)
Compounds from burning gas and diesel have declined over time, but startling new research published on Thursday in Science suggests that there’s an unexpected growing source of air pollution right under our noses. Turns out, many of the things we rely on and enjoy as part of daily life are degrading air quality in ways scientists have vastly underestimated.
Cleaning products, hair spray, makeup, printing inks, glue, paint, and even booze all contain a wealth of petroleum-based chemicals. Those chemicals slowly release volatile organic compounds over time through a variety of processes from paint or nail polish drying to stirring up cleaning products. Once they’re released into the atmosphere, chain reactions can turn them into particulate matter that’s harmful to public health.
The US military appears to be a major financial supporter of gene drives. Making changes to genetic make-up of living organisms to released into the environment to multiply naturally.
Over 1,200 emails obtained through a freedom of information request by the ETC Group, a research and advocacy organization that focuses on ecological and agricultural issues, shed new light on gene drive research conducted by the shadowy Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The US Department of Defense has pumped at least $100 million into a controversial technology known as “gene drives” – $35 million more than previously reported – making the US military the top funder and developer of the gene-modifying tech.
.....
“Gene drives are a powerful and dangerous new technology and potential biological weapons could have disastrous impacts on peace, food security and the environment, especially if misused,” said Jim Thomas, co-director of ETC Group. “The fact that gene drive development is now being primarily funded and structured by the US military raises alarming questions about this entire field.”The emails also revealed that a group of US military advisers have conducted two classified studies on genome editing and gene drives. The secret research, which focused on the potential military application of gene drive technology and use of gene drives in agriculture, included outside input from a Monsanto executive.
.....
DARPA is no stranger to meddling with mother nature. In November, the military research agency announced plans to genetically engineer plant-based sensors as battlefield surveillance tech.
Interesting video on combining multiple diciplines of agriculture - crops, livestock and trees.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJsKmBbtw7Q]
Farm Report
A few hours after I posted last week the electricity was interrupted with an unknown time frame for a fix. Quick assessment: Looked out the window it was dark to the west, but could see some lights in the distance to the north. All the stock water tanks were full only needed to break ice or melt with hot water mid-day. Phone had a good charge. Started heating the core of the house with the fireplace. Drained well pressure tanks to minimize frozen pipe problems in pump house (fortunately none). Started moving plants from the orangerie (I like this new term) to a warmer part of the house. It has taken me all week to undo all the items moved and collected in those few hours.
Generated some new ideas for preparedness for extreme cold. Realized having running water 24/7 in northern houses is made possible by heated buildings not plumbing. Needing to supply heat to large areas of the houses is a requirement to prevent water damage from pipes. A bucket can freeze without breaking, the bathrooms with the pluming at exterior walls were the greatest risk.
Isolated from the modern world by a man made problem. A few days later isolated from the rest of the world visually by nature.
view Mt Hood
view Mt Jefferson
Late winter test the patience. The scenery is bare and view harsh. Looking forward to a couple of days with a few hours above freezing.
Comments
I have had similar revelations about Florida.
Concrete block houses with wall-to-wall carpet, in Florida, rely absolutely on the air conditioning working, which means that the power has to be on.
When the power is knocked out, as from a hurricane, wall-to-wall-carpet becomes a moist spongy mess, and if it goes on long enough, will grow quite impressive molds and mildews.
The intelligent thing to do would be either to decentralize energy production and give each production center a smaller area of distribution, or to stop building and furnishing houses like we live in Ohio.
We could at least bury power lines.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
But that would go against the will of the capitalists.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
I visited friends in Ft Myers one year in August.
Donnie The #ShitHole Douchebag. Fake Friend to the Working Class. Real Asshole.
@Citizen Of Earth This is the subtropics.
I'm the only person I know who moved to the DC area and found the air too dry.
I also have an ingrained habit of putting my bread in the refrigerator, because if you don't it will start to mold in record time.
Florida is beautiful, not convenient.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
too hot, too muggy, too buggy
Or, as a Southerner friend of mine put it, "too hot, too muggy, too buggy, and too many of the people are too stupid!"
(No reference to present company, of course! You are no mug and no bug; and you are most emphatically not stupid!)
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Air conditioners do dehydrate the air
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Policy keeps focusing on nationalizing the electical grid
Interactive map - from 2009 showing power production and transmission lines.
using modern technology.Many modern buildings are not designed to optimize living conditions typical natural disasters in the local environment. We repeat the same pattern in the type of products used and landscaping practices. It keeps us dependent on the "machine" and outside assistance.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Heavy rain, wind headed to Sonoma County after bone-dry February
What about the people in tents? Never mind.
Biggest storm of season may bring as much of 5 feet of snow to Lake Tahoe
Be careful out there.
--- low tech approach
This makes sense, I like it. Fruit Walls: Urban Farming in the 1600s
Haha that's true, but I think (cannabis) farmers have come pretty far with greenhouse technology lately, it's not so bad.
--- yesterday's waxing moonset through the back window
Today's yoga color is Green, so today is Green Day. smile
@eyo I've got some stuff
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Respecting knowledge from ancient cultures
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Was surprised to see
Report: California has the worst 'quality of life' in the US when reading the article on potential March rains.
the articleEnjoy your updates on Northern California. Have driven through the area so many times visiting family it seem part of my personal migratory route.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Witnessing a type of mass hysteria right now... or something
So this is happening all over the front pages too. Today: Report of suspicious person prompts lockdown at Piner High School
Yesterday: Threat of gun violence scribbled onto wall of Santa Rosa High School, and Analy High School student arrested in school violence threat .
Three different high schools with no homework for a couple of days. Reading the reports, the comments quoted, people are freaking the hell out. Community PTSD from the wildfires I think, and too much TV on facebook or on the youtube. Plus, Netflix is in the county filming all the time, hollywood personalities junking up the place. Lots and lots of actors. Not my bag.
peace
Haven't had time to read or comment much . . .
Again, great food for thought SOE! I watched the beginning of the video - I like that thinking = alternative approaches. Going without electricity. Wow. Could we do it at my house for a significant length of time? I remember the electricity being out for many days occasionally in the winter as a child in northern Iowa. That meant milking all of the cows by hand. Heat was from the gas kitchen stove. No water, but the phone worked.
Busy here because we have 3 extra people at the moment, a mom and 2 babies with nowhere else to go escaping from a meth-head husband/dad. Looks like they will be moving on soon to hopefully a brighter future. She plans to work part-time and go back to school to be an RN. Registered for classes yesterday. Hope it all works out for them.
Planting into the round bales for the second year. Looks promising. Lots to do during the next three sunny days. Battling fire ants in the greenhouse. Yikes! I just dump cheap dishwashing soap on them. They got into one flat of starting seeds, but that is all.
I know I have missed many wonderful essays here at c99! Have a great day everyone!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
@mhagle Marilyn, I keep telling
I'm in a general period of pulling my head out of my ass and when that's accomplished (fingers crossed) maybe I'll be more organized and better able to direct my attention to places like your website.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Thanks . . .
I have an essay planned for the website to encourage lurkers but mostly to invite bloggers here to index their essays at nowthepathforward. Along with the index could be included additional comments or activities?
Thanks for your encouragement. I always look forward to your essays and comments!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
Glad you stopped by today
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Losing electricity
Not a slow down activity! I can't even imagine it. Always look forward to Thursday morning!
Thank you!
Marilyn
"Make dirt, not war." eyo
i like
those photos. Sometimes mountains like Hood and Jefferson prefer not to be seen; then, they send out that weather, so they can do what they want, without a bunch of people Looking at them.
What I don't get is why birds with beaks sharp enough to draw blood expect me to go out and break up the ice in the pails. Seems like with those beaks they could do it themselves.
hidden mountains
Until the human they successfully hide from is piloting an aircraft. Then, things get tricky for both human and mountain.
"Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!"
Ice is much harder than living flesh. Drawing blood from the latter is much easier than breaking ice up.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
thanks
for explaining about the bird beaks. I knew there must be some excuse. ; )
Ice can be nasty stuff, man!
(But you know that already!)
The Inuit and Siberiaks both have many words for different kinds of ice, each with its own characteristics. And they're all badder-ass than flesh!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Good morning, SOE, great pics. Sorry to hear of the power
outage. (And the reminder to do some generator maintenance). Serious rain here, which is good. Looking foreward to watching the video as I get the time.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Never done well with gas combustion engines
So I focus on non-petroleum fuel engine solutions on the property. Once I get the task done there is time for trying to start a generator, tool or vehicle. This turned out to be a dry run and it ran smoothly. There was just not the extra capacity of a safety margin if one of the systems had a hiccup or I wasn't feeling well.
I think you will enjoy the video.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
I was thinking of my generator, for the trailer and/or if we
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Actually have a generator
Freezer plan - wrap with bubble wrap, wool blankets and don't open for 3 days if full it will hold its chill. As a habit when the freezer shelves start to empty cold packs and milk jugs with water (shortly ice) is added to keep a bulk mass of frozen items. If outage goes on too long pull out items to dehydrate, jerky, ferment or salt. usually have 50 to 100 lbs of salt around in case I get a load of damp hay. This time it was colder outside than in the freezer.
Refrigerator Plan - Fridge use as an ice box and only open once daily to shift items to a camping cooler. Eat fridge items before boxed goods. Other option if a trailer or moter home is available shift items to that fridge.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Tell me again how democrats are any different that republicans
The system is rigged for Wall Street and this plainly shows how the democrats help rig it.
A Dozen Democrats Want To Help Banks Hide Racial Discrimination In Mortgages These senators are finding common ground with President Trump.
When Kaine was confronted about this bill his spoke person tried to shuffle bullshit.
A Kaine spokesperson said the senator is just looking to provide “relief for small community banks and credit unions in Virginia while strengthening consumer protections for all Americans.” The spokesperson also noted Kaine’s background: “As a former fair housing attorney who fought against discriminatory lending practices, Senator Kaine supports stringent requirements to protect against unfair lending, and this legislation keeps those protections in place.”
"Supporters of the bill bristle at the suggestion that it protects racial discrimination."
Of course they do. They don't like being exposed for the pieces of shit that they are.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
@snoopydawg If you don't cover those
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Heh.
"Will
breaking up the banksThe Democratic Party end racism? NO! Will HRC? HELL NO!"That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
I couldn't believe how many people cheered when she said that
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
@snoopydawg Poor, poor small banks
Not, of course, from the much larger banks that would like them all to go belly-up and die.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Democratic Partly have used housing policy to foster
Democratic Chicago has been a poster city for creating segregated neighborhoods in America. The national platform of ending racial discrimination simply provided public relations cover.
discrimination for decades.Glad you brought the subject up for discussion. It deserves a full diary. Unfortunately I don't have the time.
Another interesting tidbit
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Since we are having a farm report on St. Davy's day, I thought
I'd toss in some information about regrowing leeks:
About Leeks:
The leek is a vegetable, a member of the Allium family. Like its smaller cousi, the green onion, it can be regrown from the root end. When preparing one or more for cooking, simply leave about 3/4 to 1 inch of the base intact. Place it in a shallow container with enough water to cover the roots and place in a window sill. Change the water as needed and in a while it will begin to sprout a new top. Plant in decent soil and wait for your next leek.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
nice to know, I will try that out, thanks/ nt
https://www.euronews.com/live
San Francisco police fire 65 bullets at suspected killer
... and missed. wow
I guess there's a video there but I can't see it, don't care to. Will cops now want rocket launchers, to protect Pacific Heights when their decrepit Ds finally retire. Wonder how many LEOs double-dip pension funds already, nice work if you can get it. I like it when no one gets killed. Thanks.