Some Massachusetts Forestland Is Being Clear-cut To Put Up Solar Farms
The Growth Ponzi Scheme, Part 1 — Strong Towns
Following World War II, there are four ways that American cities have grown (we call these the Mechanisms of Growth). They are:
Government Transfer Payments
Transportation Spending
Debt
The Growth Ponzi Scheme
Focusing initially on the first three, they all share two things in common. First, the initial cost to the local government for new growth is minimal. If the state or federal government provides a grant or low-interest loan to subsidize a project -- for example, the extension of a sewer or water line -- the local government may have to pay something, but it is nowhere near the total cost. Where the DOT comes in and builds a highway, widens a road, puts in a signal, builds an overpass, etc... there may be some local funds contributed, but again, the vast overwhelming majority of the money is spent by the DOT. When a developer comes into a community and uses leverage to finance a development project, and then when families or business owners come in and take on mortgages and real estate loans to acquire a property within the development, the local government spends little or nothing to make this happen.
With The Field Set, Here Are 8 Questions For Democrats : NPR
Now that the 2020 Democratic field is pretty much set (barring a last-minute Stacey Abrams or John Kerry bid) with former Vice President Joe Biden getting in Thursday, let's look at what we've learned so far about the field and what to watch for going forward.
Bad black fly season likely in Adirondacks – newyorkupstate.com
Missed the Pine Bush Hike Today.
It looks like I missed the Save the Pine Bush Hike today …
I wasn’t originally planning on going to the Save the Pine Bush hike, because I was going to up north in the wilderness camping. Not that it’s a real nice day, but the hikes always fun. But without social media to remind me today is Saturday, the hike totally skipped my mind. I don’t mind no longer having social media, but I do think I’m often much more disconnected without it.
There’s just no getting away from microplastic contamination | Ars Technica
Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic are produced. In 2016, this figure was estimated to be around 335 million tonnes. We have no idea where most of this ends up. The amounts that are recovered in recycling plants and landfill don't match the amount being produced. Some of it stays in use, sometimes for decades, which explains part of the discrepancy. An estimated 10 percent ends up in the oceans. Although these numbers could change with further research, there's still a gap.
Wherever that plastic is ending up, we know that it's breaking down over time, disintegrating into micro particles less than 5mm in size, and some even breakdown to the nanoscale at less than one micrometer. (For context, the micrometer is a unit that's often used to discuss bacteria and cells—the human sperm head is around 5 micrometers in length.) The effect that these particles will have on a global scale as they continue to accumulate is not even remotely understood.
Did NYC Ban Hot Dogs?
What's True
New York City announced a "Green New Deal" in April 2019 that would reduce the amount of processed meat purchased by government-run facilities such as hospitals, schools, and correctional facilities.
What's False
New York City did not ban hot dogs outright. Restaurants, hot-dog stands, grocery stores, and other privately owned businesses will still be able to sell hot dogs.