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Earth

Officials Sue Couple Who Removed Their Lawn 819

Posted by kdawson from the revenge-of-the-lawn dept.
Hugh Pickens writes "The LA Times reports that Orange County officials are locked in a legal battle with a couple accused of violating city ordinances for replacing the grass on their lawn with wood chips and drought-tolerant plants, reducing their water usage from 299,221 gallons in 2007 to 58,348 gallons in 2009. The dispute began two years ago, when Quan and Angelina Ha tore out the grass in their front yard. In drought-plagued Southern California, the couple said, the lush grass had been soaking up tens of thousands of gallons of water — and hundreds of dollars — each year. 'We've got a newborn, so we want to start worrying about her future,' said Quan Ha, an information technology manager for Kelley Blue Book. But city officials told the Has they were violating several city laws that require that 40% of residential yards to be landscaped predominantly with live plants. Last summer, the couple tried to appease the city by building a fence around the yard and planting drought-tolerant greenery — lavender, rosemary, horsetail, and pittosporum, among others. But according to the city, their landscaping still did not comply with city standards. At the end of January, the Has received a letter saying they had been charged with a misdemeanor violation and must appear in court. The couple could face a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for their grass-free, eco-friendly landscaping scheme. 'It's just funny that we pay our taxes to the city and the city is now prosecuting us with our own money,' says Quan Ha."

Comment Re:Wow (Score 1) 447

by proud american (#27655621) Attached to: Vatican To Build 100 Megawatt Solar Power Plant
I agree with the skepticism. From the article, where they describe a previous project:

The 5,000-square-meter roof of the Paul VI auditorium -- built in 1971 by Pier Luigi Nervi, the architect who designed Milanâ(TM)s Pirelli Tower -- was covered with 2,400 solar panels to produce 300 kilowatt hours of energy a year, enough for 100 households, cutting carbon-dioxide emissions by about 225 tons.

So by these numbers a household uses 3 KWH/Year. That's a single 100 watt light bulb for 30 hours. Seems rather unlikely.

Comment The report doesn't say this! (Score 1) 679

by proud american (#27450523) Attached to: Offshore Windpower To Potentially Exceed US Demand
It says:

"Offshore wind resources have substantial potential to supply a large portion of the Nation's electricity demand (Figure 1). According to estimates by the NREL, developing shallow water (typically 0-30 meters) wind resources, which are the most likely to be technically and commercially feasible at this time, could provide at least 20 percent of the electricity needs of almost all coastal States."

How did this turn into 'meet or exceed the nations current demand'?

Report url: http://www.doi.gov/ocs/ExecutiveSummary-final.pdf

Businesses

Submission + - Bank Bailout 101 (treasury.gov)

Submitted by proud american
proud american writes: It is apparent that from the President to the common citizen no one seems to understand the 'bank bailout'. It seems that everyone believes the taxpayer has sent large gift checks to every bank that wants one. The truth is far different.

The Treasury department decided the best way to quickly inject liquidity into the market was to follow Warren Buffett's lead and buy dividend paying perpetual preferred shares in a number of banks, regardless of whether or not the banks wanted or needed the money. The basic terms are:
  • The Treasury will purchase senior preferred shares (Treasurys shares come first if an institution has more than one class of preferred).
  • These shares will pay a cumulative quarterly dividend in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15 of each year at a rate of 5% a year for the first five years, increasing to 9% in year six. (Non-cumulative for banks without holding companies.) If dividends are not paid in full for six dividend periods (doesnt have to be consecutive), the government has the right to elect 2 directors to the Board.
  • Treasurys capital injection will count as Tier 1 capital (which will make the ratings agencies happy). Participating institutions will have to maintain the new capital amount for three years even if they pay back the government before then.
  • Redemption of the preferred shares will be at 100% of the issue price plus any unpaid dividends.
  • Treasury will receive 10 year Warrants with an aggregate value of 15% of the senior preferreds that they purchase. The strike price will be calculated as the average closing price over the prior 20 trading days.
  • Treasury has the right to sell the senior preferreds and the warrants to a third party at any time.

Now that you know the facts, can you tell me what all the outrage is about?

Comment Did anyone read the article (Score 1) 1038

by proud american (#27182729) Attached to: US Adults Fail Basic Science Literacy
This survey was conducted by telephone within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of the California Academy of Sciences between December 17 and December 21, 2008 among 1,002 adults ages 18+.

That's a very small sample size, and it includes only people who:

  • are home
  • answer the phone
  • are willing to answer dumb questions from strangers on the phone

In short, it is a survey of lonely people with nothing better to do.

So let's rename the article "Bored lonely idle American adults fail basic scientific literacy'.
Though IMHO the sample used doesn't even prove that much.

Comment Re:Um, or... (Score 1) 603

by proud american (#24842737) Attached to: Laboring Longer a Growing Trend For Americans
Mom lives in NYC. She no longer drives, so she walks and takes mass transit everywhere. She works in a large museum, she enjoys meeting new people every day, and going to the museum shows and lectures after work.

She has friends and relatives who live in retirement communities and such. She would be bored to tears there in a week.

She hates traveling, it messes up her routine. I think if I put her in the woods she would be dead in a week. Personally I find backpacking a complete bore.

I disagree that 'works sucks'. Being productive is a good thing.
United States

Submission + - People buy small cars though they can be deadly (usatoday.com)

Submitted by proud american
proud american writes: Americans are buying more small cars to cut fuel costs, and that might kill them.

As a group, occupants of small cars are more likely to die in crashes than those in bigger, heavier vehicles are, according to data from the government, the insurance industry and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

"People are looking for ways to save fuel, and they need to know that if they decide to buy a much smaller vehicle, they are putting themselves and their families at risk," says Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. IIHS, supported by auto insurance companies, follows traffic deaths closely.

Personally, I've lived this before, driving with kids in a compact car and rear-ended by a truck. I no longer have compact cars. The delta cost of the increased fuel is relatively insignificant.

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