It is no secret, but still surprising, that rock concert goers are exposed to sound levels of up to 120 decibels (City traffic inside a car is about 85 decibels; pain begins at 125). Most concerts will have sound levels of between 95 and 105 db. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders […]
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First Veterans, Promises, and the US Constitution
Veterans Day weekend is upon us here in the United States; nominally we pause on November 11 each year to remember and honor each of the 22 million men and women served in the Armed Forces of the United States. There are 22 million living veterans in the United States. Each has their own history, […]
Community, Children, and Comcast
“Internet for $9.95″ caught my eye as I strolled through Wordstock at the Oregon Convention Center two weeks ago. I couldn’t resist inquiring about the deal since me, and most of us, pay a bit more than that for Internet access. I met Andrea Sargeant a Comcast Government Affairs Specialist who was promoting the $9.95 […]
Hot Water, High Technology, and Magic
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke One of the first problems we noticed when we moved into this house ten years ago was the inordinate amount of time the hot water took to arrive in the master bath. Our home is multi-floored, basemented, with the hot water heater located about […]
Frugality, Fish, and Public Trust
Just when I thought I was finished writing about the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) along comes a new piece of news. In my last two posts I gave my opinion on BPA’s funding the update of a laser light show at Grand Coulee Dam. The free show runs during the summer tourist season; the costs […]
Frugality, Public Trust, and Money
In my last post I offered my opinion that spending US $1.6 million to upgrade a free laser light show at Grand Coulee Dam was inappropriate. (Frugality, a Laser Light Show, and Food Stamps). In addition I opined that responsible parties at the Bonneville Power Administration and Bureau of Reclamation just don’t get it. This […]
Frugality, a Laser Light Show, and Food Stamps
As soon as I begin to believe I’ve seen or heard just about everything I’m proven wrong again. A recent Oregonian carried the announcement that the Grand Coulee Dam was updating its laser light show for a US $1.6 million dollars. The 36 minute show is projected against the water as it rushes across the […]
Food Stamps, Cotton, and Brazil
The US House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee has approved the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012 (HR 6083) and sent it to the full House for approval. This is the much awaited farm bill that will guide spending on crop insurance and subsidies, SNAP (food stamps), forests, and the US Department of […]
A New (to me) Scam
My spouse and I own a small business selling her oil on canvas fine art. In addition to area galleries her work is sold through our website and Yessy. That is preface to a our being a target of a new, to us, scam. If you market and sell on the web please be advised. I […]
Celebratory Gunshots and Falling Bullets
The Fourth of July in the US brought a few media reports of injury due to falling bullets; bullets fired into the air in celebration. I cringe when I see the television reports of fighters blasting away at the sky in celebration – it is a waste of resources and shows a disregard for the […]
