Unintended consequences

April 17, 2007

Many things we do have unintended consequences. Consider for example the research suggesting mobile phones may be killing off bee colonies. The consequences of this are particularly dire on our food crops. In spite of a great apricot blossom this year we appear to have few fruit set on the trees. What we didn't have to go with the blossoms were the bees to pollinate them.

Southern Nevada Water Authority's attempt to grab water from rural Nevada and surrounding states is rife with such unintended consequences. Consider the global food supply chain that feeds Las Vegas. With the destruction of the agricultural areas of the state Las Vegas will be totally dependent on this global chain instead of having the local resources to support the community in times of crisis. We have recently seen the effects of this global supply chain when a Las Vegas company sold contaminated wheat germ to pet food manufacturers and poisoned pets across the continent. With a food supply this fragile even small disruptions have huge consequences.

House of cards

April 16, 2007

Today's news includes the story that our country's experienced military leaders fear the effects of global warming may be a threat to homeland security and our security interests around the globe. Closer to home Southern Nevadans are being asked to support a plan that could crush their security. The Southern Nevada Water Authority's risky plan for exploiting the resources of rural Nevada, if allowed, will upset the delicate balance of life in the desert.

Unfortunately there are operatives, formerly known as newspapers in league with the Water Authority. Instead of educating Nevadans and those who might visit here about the devastating effect such a plan would have on the area these papers run off the wall editorials when a commissioner is not afraid to stand up for what is reasonable. It is difficult to decide where to start when addressing the problems with SNWA's suspicious scheme. To begin with SNWA and its partners routinely state a cost figure of $2 billion. Independent experts place the cost at between $12 billion and $20 billion. Even at the high end these estimates don't address that the deep water aquifers may have dissolved salts and require desalination.

Should non-profits take used laptops

April 9, 2007

A not-for-profit organization I work for is soliciting used laptops for our program educating today's youth about citizenship, leadership and their responsibility to stand up for the rights they have as Americans. The idea brought up some concerns that we discussed. Many of these are discussed on TechSoup's Donated Computers for Nonprofits page.  In the article they recommend looking at their list of recycled hardware.

Labor day

April 9, 2007

finished bedroom renovationIn truth it was far more than a day. It was several days of the help of friends and family that got us to where we are. We've been working on getting the house renovated and into shape for things to come. The new floors are down throughout and the painting is largely done. Nature's call even helped our aging pup water test the floor this morning but it held up well.

Ignorance is not a defense

April 6, 2007

Throughout my decades of being a student of public education I have been taught that ignorance of the law is not a defense. It seems even some attorneys don't get it. Though I am not a legal scholar or expert in any way the logic of Russo & Hale's motion in a case against a former client is simply baffling. Perhaps the firm should change it's name to Bottom & Quince. Though it is hard to imagine even Shakespeare's most comical players playing this skit.

This drubbing of a customer makes me think of an experience we had a few days ago. We went to a nice, expensive restaurant for dinner. It was not as good as it had been about a year ago when we were last there but it was still good and fun. The trouble started for us when we ordered desert, the chocolate course. We each asked for coffee and placed the order. And we waited. And waited. And continued to wait. Finally a manager shows up, slings the chocolate on the table, drops off the fruit plates and says "is there anything else you need". We asked for the coffees we had ordered. It is then that the manager tells us that our server got a big table. At this point I'm thinking "here's a manager that doesn't get customer service".

For Las Vegas pet food recall hits home

April 4, 2007

Las Vegas company ChemNutra announced yesterday a recall of all wheat gluten imported from one of the company's three Chinese suppliers. The wheat germ was shipped by ChemNutra from their Kansas City warehouse to pet food manufacturers. None of the wheat germ is believed to have entered the human food supply chain.

The recall, the latest in a recent string, brings to light some perils of the global food supply. All is fine when things are good but a small disruption can cause major consequences across the globe. While the stories on the news today will focus on the conflict over Iraq there won't be a major media outlet discussing the effects of a food supply chain dependent upon WTO partners and the need for a local supply of food as a matter of homeland security.

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