Human Achievement Hour founder Michelle Minton talks about the annual celebration of human creativity and innovation that happens at the same time every year as Earth Hour. Ecology and economy are quite compatible. One definition of progress, after all, is doing more with less. When people are left free to achieve and innovate, that is exactly what happens, to the environment’s benefit — and mankind’s.
Some of the stranger governmental goings-on I dug up over the week:
-The federal government is spending $73m this year on the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program.
-The federal government has 5,647 words of formaldehyde regulations for the workplace.
-The federal government has an Arthritis Advisory Committee. They’re meeting on May 12 if you care to attend.
-Government spends $2,000,000 on phone lines for a town of 80 people, some of whom already own satellite dishes.
-OSHA considers sand a poison because it contains silica.
-Vermont to spend $150,000 to build a tunnel for salamanders to cross a road safely.
-The federal government has a Highbush Blueberry Council.
-A fish hatchery in South Dakota is getting $20,000 in stimulus money for new light fixtures.
-In Virginia, it is illegal in many instances to turn on your air conditioning before May 1. Cato’s Tom Firey has more.
-EPA says that de-icing fluid for windshields is an environmental hazard. Worried airline pilots say the EPA is the real safety hazard.
-It is illegal in Kentucky for anyone under 18 to play pool without photo ID and written parental consent.
Posted in regulation
Tagged aac, ac, agricultural water enhancement program, air conditioning, arthritis advisory committee, awep, billiards, blueberries, de-icing fluid, environment, environmental hazard, epa, fish hatchery, formaldehyde, hbc, highbush blueberry council, kentucky, ky, light, light fixtures, OSHA, parental consent, phone lines, photo id, poison, pool, regulation, regulation roundup, sand, satellite dishes, sd, south dakota, Stimulus, the children, va, virginia
A new ordinance in San Luis Obispo, California makes it illegal to feed ducks. The solons of San Luis Obispo claim that feeding the animals increases pollution.
One wonders what political intrigues and backroom deal-making went into the duck feeding ban. It was not a stand-alone ordinance; it was tucked into a bill updating the city’s storm water management regulations.
Was the duck language tucked in to guarantee a wavering council member’s vote? If so, it was a lot cheaper than the “Lousiana Purchase” and “Cornhusker Kickback” that enabled the health care bill to pass.
Joking aside, one is still left wondering what would cause a politician to hold such a grudge against ducks. Of all the sources of pollution in San Luis Obispo, ducks would have to be pretty low on the list.
(Hat tip: Megan McLaughlin)
