SoCal Woolsey Fire

Discussion in 'Random Thoughts' started by purr1n, Nov 9, 2018.

  1. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    You are right, but understanding the effects of climate change and all the immediately practical items you suggest are not mutually exclusive. In fact, because of climate change, those things are even more important.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It will be the year 2100 and we still will not "get" climate change. Undoing slowing down climate change requires DRASTIC measures that no American is willing to take. Rich people will continue to consume, poor people will not be able to afford clean tech. So far, it's all been "feel good" shit for rich people to like the smell of their own farts.

    Until Governor Jerry Brown gives 80% of his wealth to build solar panels for the people of California or passes laws to slow consumption, e.g. stipulating that iPhone upgrades* can only occur every four years, I'm not buying any of this climate change shit.

    *People who drop their iPhones get a loser used Android phone from HTC, LG, Samsung, etc.
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2018
  3. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    ^That sums it up, really. It's far too little and far too late at this point unless people go out of their way to educate themselves on actionable steps (ugh) they can take to reduce their footprints and make small sacrifices to that end.

    But Jesus, some people don't ever learn to read the menu while queuing up at a fast food place so they don't waste other people's time.

    Also, this is pretty self-evident but "clean" tech is not for 99% of the population when there are other things that they should or just want to spend on. Don't get me wrong though, I know many people living in... more destitute situations that actually use solar panels to take the edge off their electric bills (because electricity here is stupid expensive... monopoly and all that), so it's not as if it's just a rich person's toy, but it's too much effort and too much of an investment for most anyone. Also, I'm doubtful of the longevity of $87 150W panels.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's not going to matter. China's got x4-5 population of USA moving up to consumer economy. They won't care about climate change. Sure China signed the Paris Agreement, but anyone who lives in the Pacific Rim or South Pacific knows that's just lip service from the Communist Party of China / Emperor Xi. Only rich Westerners are dumb enough to believe that China will stick with what they've committed to.
     
  5. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    “Second world” means former Soviet satellites, i.e., industrialized socialist-in-transition-to-communism states. “First world” means developed market economy states, typically NATO members. “Third world” means unaligned to either side. Pet peeve of mine to hear those terms misused as proxies for stages of development. Other than that, please carry on — I find this discussion illuminating.
     
  6. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    *siiiiiiiigh* Yeah that sucks.

    Granted, but really that's just indicative of a larger problem where people just can't be bothered to give a shit if it they don't think it impacts them personally. They're our neighbors (in an international sense) and we get a lot of cultural overlap from their shores. While I call bull on generalising a whole bunch of people to that extent the fact remains that there's a very real pollution problem in mainland China that doesn't look any closer to a solution now than a decade ago.

    https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong...inas-waste-ban-has-rocked-recycling-world-and

    Not just China though, I see gaggles of people here blatantly smoking and tossing their cigarette asses on the sidewalk like there aren't trashbins literally five f'ing steps away. This is particularly bad in the business areas and the surrounding nightlife places where you can't really pass through without getting lungfuls of smoke. This is a massive peeve and I'll probably rant for a solid day if given the opportunity, but the fact remains that this attitude towards waste and how it's contributing to climate change are not something endemic to any particular group of people; it's just masses of people not giving a crap and our great-grandkids earning a debt they didn't ask for.

    P.S.
    @gepardcv I literally didn't know that until now, or did but have since forgotten. Huh, learned something new today. Grazie!
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Meant in terms on consumption. Perhaps reducing consumption to that of second world countries would have been more precise.
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It's the Emperor Xi thing. Chinese from the mainland who I personally know don't want that pollution, but they have no say. That's why they'd rather stay here and have their kids become Americans.

    Do I think that China should be given allowances because they are still a developing country? Sure. But then again, the USA decided that doing business with China, this going back to Nixon, would be a good idea because it would bring democratic reforms and make China into a responsible global player. It would seem that the opposite as has happened as China has become wealthier.

    Ultimately, it's all about balance. There's not much California can do to solve a global problem, but we should do what we can in a reasonable way that doesn't hurt people who are not rich. It just pisses me off when politicians take climate change measures for the sake of climate change measures, e.g, CARB (California Air Resources Board) implementing more and more difficult to meet mileage and emissions targets. It's like IT people who implement technologies for the sake of the technologies rather than solving business problems or DAC people who daisy chain more and more Mutecs, Rednets, Wyrds, Regens for the sake of the USB-de-fuckifiers rather than listening to music.

    I didn't necessarily want to get a gas-guzzling OHV V8, but I'd figure I'd get one now before California takes away that possibility in a few years. It will happen considering how much Californians love to vote to tax themselves more and love so much to be card-carrying members of the climate change club (everything is the fault of climate change, not people, because if people cause the problems, then the problems can actually be solved, and what politician wants to really solve problems caused by people?)
     
    Last edited: Nov 16, 2018
  9. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Just to add another bit of continent: no good news from that other country with a massively huge population.
     
  10. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Yeah, the Red Cross doesn't know whether it's coming or going, as long as it feeds it's admin big $$$.

    Speaking from first hand experience during and after the Ft McMurray, Alberta Canada wildfire in 2016. Money donated to the Red Cross may not end up where you intend it to.

    Many of my co-workers were offered Red Cross money for being displaced from work, although the majority (roughly 70% fly in from Eastern Canada, maybe another 10% from Western Canada, 0.5% from the USA) don't actually live in the area where the fire took place, and maybe missed 2 weeks worth of work. Which is a small drop in the bucket when we were making $150k Canadian a year. You know what, probably 95% of my 600+ co-workers took that money and did so laughing, It made me sick. I was criticized for NOT taking it, and putting people on blast that did (including my managers).

    I will not donate to any "corporate charity" or person soliciting/begging on the street, however I will give that beggar a fresh meal/pizza (not restaurant leftovers) in lieu of money every now and again.

    Sorry this may tick some of you off, but.. my Grandfather was a Master Freemason, and on his deathbed told me the Masons did a lot of good in the world, but they were capable of doing so much more with the wealth and power at their disposal. He felt ashamed that more wasn't done to help the truly needy...
     
  11. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    This should be printed out and posted in places where loads of panhandlers gather (with measures taken to make sure the bills aren't torn down). Better in other people's bellies than huge-ass landfills. Money's easier to part with in small quantities though, which is why begging can be surprisingly lucrative.

    Masons are cool. I've always kinda aspired to be one from the time I was a kid and saw all those monuments and heard news of all the things they do for other people.
     
  12. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

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    I know a couple guys pulling in $70,000+ per year begging in downtown Detroit. Quit their jobs to do it full time. Carry 2 pistols and walk specific inconspicuous routes back to a shit-box car just to be safe. If they are being followed they pull into the closest police station and the people usually drive off.
     
  13. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Used to be a professional panhandler near my apartment building in downtown Philly when I was in grad school. She was a fixture on the block, and people would do all types of things to help her. One day I had to get to school extra early and on my way out I saw her getting out of a cab on her way from her home to her "job". Have always been a bit pessimistic about such people since, although clearly few are probably in her position.

    Being in Philly we've also had this huge "GoFundMe" clusterf*** about the "good Samaritan" beggar and the lady in distress that turned out to be a scam. They've done more damage to the whole concept of giving than they could possibly imagine.

    http://www2.philly.com/philly/news/...couple-kate-mcclure-mark-damico-20181114.html
     
  14. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Sorry, but the Red Cross' administrative expenses are 5%. That is quite low. There are some lower and some higher. My father in law volunteered for the Red Cross for years, and fishing his career before retirement as an employee as their director of disaster communications. He didn’t make much. My parents flew from California to NY to volunteer for the Red Cross cross after 9/11. My wife and I volunteer. It’s great if you can help people locally (and I highly recommend that), but when you can’t, the Red Cross, and many many other worthy organizations, do tremendous good helping. When my town had to evacuate the Red Cross was there to provide shelter for those that had no where to go.

    I’m still gonna encourage people who can to donate to the Red Cross, or any other organization trying to help people in need.
     
  15. Metro

    Metro Friend

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  16. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    My mother volunteered for the Red Cross for a almost 15 years, and left due to the massive misappropriation of funds she personally witnessed. What's written on paper is not where the money always ended up. It was easy for money to be funneled into the pockets of "volunteers" and their accomplices, and went largely unchecked, even when brought to the attention at higher levels.

    I'm not saying the Red Cross is bad, but It's not how I'm going to help those in need. The bottom line is that the Red Cross is a LARGE corporate entity, and things fall through the cracks quite often, while people are blinded by the "I'm doing good" routine.

    Spend your cash how you feel.
     
  17. bixby

    bixby Friend

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  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    SBAF administrative expenses are -5% from the donations to the community war chest. There is a lot of ancillary stuff that I put in myself. Heck, the war chest is temporary negative because I've put two grand into it for expensive DAC evaluations. If I were paid $60 an hour for my time (the measurements and loaner related stuff, not the yabbering), SBAF administrative expenses would be -2000%. This is the true spirit of volunteerism.

    You dad made shit because he was a volunteer in the olden days, not someone connected to a Senator in D.C in modern times.

    2017 American Red Cross - sure % of expenses aren't high for salaries, but they wouldn't be because of the millions of dollars taken in and going out. It's basically a corporation. They do good, but they ain't my thing. I'd rather bring the neighbors affected food and blankets, hammer in a few nails, or drive them where they need to go.

    $603,564 0.02% Gail J. McGovern President, CEO
    $650,966 0.02% Greg Williamson Chief Investment Officer
    $612,562 0.02% Benjamin Spindler CEO, Delta Blood Bank
    $606,325 0.02% Shaun Gilmore President, Biomedical Services

    Program Expenses 89.3%
    (Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs and services it delivers)
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2018
  19. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Somewhere on the internet, within the past two days, I passed by a report claiming that the fires have resulted in California currently having the most polluted air in the world. Or something like that. Paraphrased. But damned bad.

    There ought to be a Godwin's law for mentioning beggars with large earnings. For the record, I do give to beggars here in India, despite knowing that they belong to gangs, pro-begging families, etc. Hey, what a lousy job to have. Oh dear, I just failed my own new internet law. Let's move on...
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2018
  20. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Karl Sagan made a big stink about green gas effects and showed that Venus was a death hell as a result of this.

    I do not see "we" (humans) as outside influences of our natural habitat. I see us as fully part of this closed environment we call Earth, that goes through cycles and indeed recycles itself (including us as part of it). I do not distinguish between "artificial"/"man-made" and "natural".

    However, if we are going to arrogantly blame ourselves for global warming and pollution due to our "artificial" contributions, then the problem in my individual opinion is simple: overpopulation.

    In this Sagan was a hypocrite, because he reproduced like a totally irresponsible rabbit, and freely fucked everything that moved. If we want to reduce human footprint in the planet (for good or bad), then we reduce our reproduction rate. However, there will be the irresponsible that will have 10+ kids because such-and-such God "told" him to, whether this makes sense or not. And endless arguments about "freedom" this and "liberty" that and "religion" there will ensue.

    It is easy to put the blame on stupid shit like power generation and irresponsible leaders. It is harder to put the blame were it belongs. All of us irresponsible stupid humans (as individuals) that think too much of ourselves and waste to much time in blaming others w/o taking a good look at ourselves.

    The question is, what can I do as an individual, however small. Even not having 26 kids, or something even simpler like turning the lights off when not in use is better than getting worried about shit that is not fully in our hands. Do, what is fully in our hands.
     

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