City council meeting, Monday, January 13, 2014

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local channel 26, also live internet feed, pct26.com.  The meeting begins at 7 p.m., or shortly there following.  City council updates and archives are available on the City website.  

City Council Agenda, 1/13/14. 

Confused "Nessy", usually found in Inverness Scotland,
spotted off  Pacifica State Beach, Linda Mar, Pacifica.
Light radiation brought in by "Nessy" from Fukushima, Japan

Closed session -  CA government code 54957.6.  Conference with labor negotiator. Agency Negotiator: Glen Berkheimer.  Firefighters Local 2400, Battalion Chiefs Local 856, Department Directors Local 350. Wastewater Treatment Plant Employees Local 856. Miscellaneous Local 856.  Managers Local 350.   Police Association Officers, Supervisors, Management Local 350.

Open Session, 7 p.m.

Consent Calendar

1.    Approval of  disbursements, fiscal year 2013-14, 11/13/13-12/13/13.

2.    Approval of  Minutes 12/9/13.

3.    Proclamation of severe cliff erosion, revetment supporting storm drain failure, continuing since 4/7/10.

4.    Police Communications Services contract agreement, first amendment: three (3) year extension of current contract from expiration 6/30/14 to 6/30/17.  Resolution.

5.    Congratulatory letters to newly elected School Board of Trustees Presidents:  1) Kalimah Y. Salahuddin, Jefferson Union High School District, 2)  Joan Weideman, Pacifica School District. 

6.    Letter supporting Assembly Bill 418, City and County Association of Governments (C/CAG) stormwater compliance funding legislation. 

7.    City concealed weapon license amendment to reduce the fee.  

8.    Pacifica Pier project, revised repair construction agreement with Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. (BCA) structural engineer consultants, service agreement. $26,000 (reimbursement through grant funding).

Special Presentations - Pacifica Poet Laureatte

Consideration

9.     San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District appointment (1).  Applicants (5). 

10.   City council liaison and committee assignments, 2014.

11.   San Mateo County Council of Cities appointments for 1) the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), and 2) Housing and Endowment and Regional Trust (HEART). 

Adjourn.

Note:  photograph from  Environmental Graffiti.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Pictures don't lie! Fukushima radiation responsible for giant mutant squid on California beach?

'Hot' story here

Posted by Steve Sinai

Millbrae city council mayor rotation occurs by popular citizen vote, sort of

Logic is universal, human, cat, city government.
What is the formula for determining who is our Pacifica mayor?

The Daily Journal (San Mateo), 1/9/14. "Government Watch."

"City government.  As part of the Millbrae City Council reorganization, Robert Gottschalk was named vice mayor.

The council broke protocol in that it normally selects the vice mayor based on who garnered the most votes in the previous election, in this case Marge Colapietro. The city did this in order to rotate the mayor position to another person since vice mayor becomes mayor after the next election and Colapietro has already served as mayor, said Mayor Wayne Lee."  Read more.

Note:  graphic from We know memes/cat logic.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Radiation increase at Pacifica State Beach likely minerals (potassium)

The Daily Journal (San Mateo County), Michelle Durand, 1/8/14.  "State probes spike in coastal radiation."

That's not a sunset, its radiation from Fukushima, Japan

"State health experts are investigating a four-fold spike in radiation readings at Pacifica State Beach but local health officials believe the increase is due to natural minerals like potassium rather than fallout from the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster.

....  There is no public health risk at California beaches due to radioactivity related to events at Fukushima. The California Department of Public Health is not aware of any recent activity at Fukushima or any new data that would cause elevated radioactivity on California shores from the Fukushima incident,” the CDPH said in a prepared statement.

Word of the increase came Dec. 27 when an anonymous caller contacted the state about his personal Geiger counter reading and the California Office of Emergency Services in turn put out an email to counties with the information, much as it does with other incidents like sewage spills or train accidents. Peterson said the notice caught his attention and he sent out staff to the same Pacifica beach location where readings near the high tide mark were three to four times those in the parking lot area."   Read article.

Related -  Fix Pacifica reprint, San Jose Mercury News/Science and Environment/Paul Rogers, 7/4/11. "Debris from Japanese tsunami steadily drifting toward California."  San Francisco Examiner/Chris Roberts, 1/9/14, "Video stokes fears about Fukushima radiation, but experts stress caution."

Note:  photograph of Pacifica State Beach from World Wave Guide.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

State of CA, Governor Jerry Brown's budget

....  "The budget proposes a multiyear plan that is balanced, pays off budgetary debt from past years, saves for a rainy day, and makes wise investments in education, the environment, public safety, infrastructure and California's extensive safety net," the governor's proposal says.

Brown to legislature, "Our balanced budget is our economy."

 ....  California faced a $26 billion deficit and years of anticipated structural deficits when Brown took office in 2011 and promised to turn around the state. Although California appears to be improving, it still faces $218 billion in unfunded pension obligations.

Brown's proposal stresses caution during the economic windfall, saying "stability of the past year will require fiscal restraint." He warns there remain economic risks that could result in significant lost revenue, including fallout from the federal debt ceiling crisis or the threat of another recession."San Francisco Chronicle/Melody Gutierrez, 1/8/14, "Jerry Brown's $107 billion California spending plan leaked."   Read article. 

"As expected, Brown will propose using fees paid by carbon producers to help fund California’s high-speed rail project, and he will announce his support for a proposal by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez to put a rainy-day fund constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

“Learning from the state’s recent history and seeking to avoid the same traps of the past,” the administration said in its plan, “the budget uses the surplus to pursue two goals that enhance the state’s long-term fiscal capacity – paying down debts and liabilities, and saving a portion for a rainy day.”  Sacramento Bee/State Budget, David Siders, Jim Miller, Jeremy B. White, 1/8/14, "Jerry Brown's budget plan proposes cautious spending, paying down debt."  Read article.

Note:  photograph from Fresno State News.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/01/08/6057902/jerry-browns-budget-plan-proposes.html#storylink=cpy

Posted by Kathy Meeh

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, President's transition occurred 1/7/14

Comments from outgoing Board of Supervisors President Supervisor Don Horsley (our District 3).

Half Moon Bay Review/Julia Reis, 1/8/14.  "Coastside representative makes way for new board president.  Supervisor Horsley reflects on tenure as president."

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors,
Outgoing President Don Horsley presiding

Supervisor David Pine (District 1)
New Board of Supervisors
President, Tuesday, 1/7/14

"After serving the one-year term typical of a San Mateo County Board of Supervisors president, Don Horsley, who represents the Coastside as the District 3 supervisor, is set to hand over his gavel to Vice President Dave Pine.

....  What do you feel you learned from serving as Board of Supervisors president?  When you run a department and you’re the final authority, you tend to make your own decisions, where I have to learn I’m only one of five. … I learned that as a board member, too, but it’s even more important as a board president. Just because you’re board president doesn’t mean your opinion has more weight than your colleagues’.

Do you have any advice for your replacement?  All the proclamations and all contracts come to the board president. I made a point of going to the office (in the morning) to sign everything right away. If you do it last minute, the staff people are scrambling around. Other than that, I think Dave is going to be a great president."   Read article.

Reference -  San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

Related article, David Pine - San Mateo Daily Journal/Michele Durand, 1/7/14. "Dave Pine ready to pick up gavel for San Mateo County Board of Supervisors." "....  Pine, a proponent of district elections, is also excited to have the switch finally in place and new boundaries finalized. He said everybody is waiting to see to what extent the supervisors, including himself, will be less concerned about the entire county versus an individual district but feels becoming more attuned to constituents is a positive development."  Related video, Don Horsley -  Don Horsley (our District 3) interview with Ian Butler, 12/9/11, Vimo 28:34 minutes.

Note photographs:  Supervisor's meeting, President Don Horsley presiding from ABC 7.  Supervisor David Pine (1st District) from Wikipedia.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

City economic development expectation, oxymoron?

Branding and planning,
let's study it, its new

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, Staff Writer, 1/7/14.  "Economic development committee members share hopes for Pacifica." 

"Brent Shedd and Michael Varney are among the new members appointed to the city's economic development committee by City Council.

Brent Shedd.   "...what do we want people to think of when they think of Pacifica?  The answer to that question will/should drive the types of events, businesses, etc., that we'll need to have in order to make that happen. It's a pretty basic branding exercise, but one that can drive clarity and purpose for everyone." 

Michael Varney.  "....  I hope to participate in the building of a long-range economic development plan that will build the tax base in a responsible way."  Read article.

Note:  photograph from the Orlando Grace Church.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Updated twist to solar: batteries, Wall Street, most government subsidies gone

San Jose Mercury News/Business/Associated Press/Johathan Fahey, 12/5/13.  "Solar City turns to Tesla for batteries to soak up solar power."

Solar installation USA, careful

 ....  "The solution: big battery packs that will provide backup power while lowering electric bills. The supplier: electric car maker Tesla Motors (TSLA), whose CEO Elon Musk is also the chairman of SolarCity. "Our goal is to be an energy provider, to provide all energy services," SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive said.

SolarCity's solar panels can lower those demand peaks when the sun is shining. SolarCity's battery packs will make sure those peaks stay low when the sun is not shining or the customer needs a little extra juice. The company says the battery systems will lower demand charges by 20 percent.  A secondary benefit: If power goes out, the battery will be able to run critical systems for several hours -- or for several days if it is sunny enough for the battery to recharge with solar electricity during the day."  Read article.

Related and reference videos - Alliance for Solar Choice  (members:  REC Solar, SolarCity, Solar Universe, Sungevity, Sunrun, Verengo Solar).

SolarCity.   New York Times/Diane Cardwell, 11/15/13, "Bonds backed by Solar Power payments get nod." Standard & Poor’s has given its preliminary blessing to the first offering of this kind, rating a set of notes intended to raise $54.4 million for the fast-growing installation company SolarCity. On Monday, it gave a rating of BBB+, a low investment-grade designation, to the notes. SolarCity plans to sell the bonds, which are secured by a bundle of residential and commercial power contracts, privately this month".   Mother Nature Network/Matt Hickman, 6/14/2011, "Google's bright $280 M investment", "Continuing its renewable energy project-backing streak, Google invests $280M in solar provider SolarCity so that the company can continue to offer innovative leasing options to solar-curious homeowners."  Note:  Man with solar panel from this article, courtesy of Zuma Press.

No grid, no problem

SolarCity has produced many sales and informational videos: Why do utilities want to kill solar, 1:31 minutes   SolarCity website, scroll down to residential and commercial solar information.  SolarCity, youtube, 2:43 minutes, links to customer reviews, energy audit, lease vs purchase agreement, installation, 16:19 minutes (really long, but takes the mystery out of installation);  business and future, 4:56, minutes  (relationship with google and other corporate investment partners), etc.  CNN/Fortune, 2/28/13 interview, SolarCity vs. utilities companies, 3:20 minutes, (the sales pitch theory), SolarCity process video, 2:27 minutes, etc.  Its endless.  If you now have solar, please tell us about your experience. 

Not related solar non-grid innovation.  Physics World, 3/13/12, "Reeling in cheap plastic solar film."   "A UK-based start-up is developing printable, thin-film plastic solar cells aimed at providing affordable electricity to individual dwellings that have no grid connection, such as those in rural Africa. The flexible device's photoactive layer will be a blend of two organic semiconductor materials positioned between metallic electrodes, all sandwiched by plastic substrates."  Note:  Photograph of African village from this Physics World website. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

And happy county new year's pay raise for some of the neglected 30 percent

Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, 1/7/14.  "Another San Mateo County labor group set to receive 3 percent raise."

Rolling an economic snowball up a hill
requires training and repetative practice

"The pay bump, scheduled to go before the board of supervisors today, will cost the county an additional $260,000 over 15 months, the length of a newly negotiated contract amendment. If approved, the raise will be retroactive to Jan. 5.

The Building and Construction Trades Council represents roughly 75 county building and road construction workers. Annual pay ranges from $42,827 for an entry-level equipment services employee to $92,684 for a crafts supervisor."   Read more.

Related - Fix Pacifica reprint, Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, Staff, 1/114. "More raises could be in store for San Mateo County's top elected officials."   "A 3 percent increase was approved in November for workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and Service Employees International Union as well as for unrepresented management, attorney and confidential employees. Those groups make up about 70 percent of the county's workforce."

Note:  photograph from  Adrian Swinscoe, marketing and business development.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

5 year old child darted into the street, hit by car on Rosita Road

San Mateo Times/Erin Ivie, 1/6/14.  "Pacifica:  boy, 5, hit by car after running into street."

"PACIFICA -- A 5-year-old boy was hospitalized with major injuries Friday (1/3/14) after police say he darted into the roadway between parked cars.

Emergency crews responded about 12:30 p.m. to the 1100 block of Rosita Road, where callers reported a child had been hit by a car, Pacifica Police Capt. Daniel Steidle said. The boy was taken to the hospital with major injuries, though they are not considered to be life threatening.

Investigators later determined the child ran into the street between two parked vehicles, and that the speed of the oncoming car was not a factor in the crash, Steidle said. An investigation by the Pacifica Police Department CRASH team is ongoing." 

Reference -  Google map, 1100 Rosita Road (Linda Mar/Sun Valley area).

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Planning Commission meeting, Monday, January 6, 2014

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local channel 26, also live internet feed, pct26.com.  The meeting begins at 7 p.m., or shortly there following.  City website, and  Planning Commission archives. 

1375 Livingston Avenue, Pedro Point, Pacifica

Planning Commission Agenda 1/6/14, pages 19.

Public hearing:  CDP-341-14.  Construction of a new 3-story single family residence, 1375 Livingston Avenue (APN 023-017-090).  

Project Summary, page 3.  "The property is a vacant lot, surrounded by properties developed with single-family homes. The lot is sloped downward from the street to the rear lot line and from south to north.  There are no heritage trees on the property.  Approval for construction of a 4,000 square foot single family residence was previously granted by the Commission, but the permit expired and no construction was performed." 

Note photograph:  views from 1375 Livingston Avenue, Pacifica, CA, courtesy of  Zillow.com.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Cell phone radiation, ug!

San Francisco Chronicle/Press Release, RF Safe launches social deal savings on smart phone radiation safety accessories.", 1/4/14.  

"....  RF Safe doesn’t sell tin foil hats, but they do sell easy-to-use and very stylish cell phone accessories that protect users from excessive cell phone radiation exposure."  Read article.

Head  set -  RF Safe, CNN Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta, MD and interview video, 4:07 minutes.

Cell phone radiation affect on your body is even
worse than holding the phone to your head.
Protect both through shield or distance.

Pocket shield -  RF Safe pocket shield. "When a cell phone is attached to a belt, or in your pocket/purse (As shown in the left picture) radiation can penetrate the area near the cell phone handset much deeper into your body.  

This radiant energy is absorbed much faster than at your head because tissues and organs such as liver, kidneys and reproductive organs provide much better conductivity than the skull.  Simply put most of your major organs have no bone protection like your brain does.

To avoid microwave exposure to vital organs and/or fetal development when using your cell phone, a deflective barrier “RF Safe Pocket or Purse  Shield” must be used between you and the handset itself.  Note:  graphic diagram from RF Safe (above).   

Related - Cell phone truth organization/CNN:  "Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta, MD discuss the debate about whether cell phones play a role in causing brain cancer," 5/20/11, video 5:19 minutes.  And, Anderson Cooper and Sanjay Gupta, MD discuss manufacturers' guidance for using cell phone." Keep the phone 10 inches away from your head, speaker, use a head phone, or hollow tube, don't leave in your ear.  5/31/11, video 4:06 minutes.   Also view recent posts on this cell phone truth website and other sources, protect yourself from cell phone radiation. 

Posed by Kathy Meeh

Chris Hunter book signing Saturday, January 11, 2014, be there

Pacifica Tribune/Elaine Larsen, Editor and Publisher, 12/31/13.  "Legendary locals:  Pacifica"

If your name is in this book,
its possible you may be dead

"My good friend and former colleague, Chris Hunter, just did an amazing thing. He put together a book called "Legendary Locals of Pacifica" that, frankly, blew me away.

....  Chris produced two other books for Arcadia: "Images of Pacifica" with the late Bill Drake, former owner of the Pacifica Tribune and the Pacifica Historical Society, and about the Ocean Shore Railroad.

....    Come have Chris Hunter sign your personal copy at Florey's Book Company from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. Florey's is located at 2120 Palmetto Ave. If you love Pacifica like I know you do, you won't be sorry.  This book is a local treasure."  Read article.

Reference - Amazon.com.  "Pacifica has the nickname Scenic Pacifica because of its beautiful ocean vistas and lovely hillside views. Twelve miles south of San Francisco, the city of Pacifica grew rapidly, although not to the size that some had predicted. A haven for young families, Pacifica fostered strong leaders among housewives, environmental activists, and businesspeople. The strength of Pacifica, other than its natural beauty, has always been its people. The schools, service clubs, and athletic fields produced local celebrities, but the proximity to San Francisco helped forge more widely known legends. This combination of personalities helped make it possible to identify a broad spectrum of legendary locals, from a woman who was the first mayor of Pacifica to a successful comedian who earned national attention on Saturday Night Live..."    Note:  Book cover from the Amazon ad/Arcadia publishing. 

"About the Author.  Chris Hunter, a former editor and publisher of the Pacifica Tribune, has chosen subjects for Legendary Locals of Pacifica who represent the fascinating personalities of the city where he lives. Hunter compiled this volume with the cooperation of the current management of the Pacifica Tribune, the Pacifica Historical Society, and other community members."

Google Books,  "Legendary Locals:  Pacifica", Chris Hunter author, Arcadia publishing.  View Chapter 7 and Index.

 

Related articles -   Pacifica Patch/Christa Bigue, Editor, 1/2/14.   Half Moon Bay Review/Tracy Trevenon, 12/26/13.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

BART has an agreement with unions, union members asked to ratify

San Francisco Chronicle/John Wildermuth, 1/2/14.  "BART board approves contract with unions."

BART management and unions agreement,
union member ratification January 3rd and 13th

"It was a tough negotiation, but we're here," board President Joel Keller said at the special meeting at BART's Oakland headquarters.  The revised agreement still has to be ratified by members of Service Employees International Union 1021 and Amalgamated Transit Union 1555, but leaders of both unions are recommending approval.  The ATU vote is set for Friday, with the SEIU ratification vote on Jan. 13.

....   Keller already has said he wants to ban strikes by the unions to avoid a repeat of this year's troubles when a new contract comes up in four years. He plans to bring that proposal up at the board's first meeting in February.  ....  But union officials argued that strikes are an unwelcome but necessary part of collective bargaining and said that Keller's effort, which would need to be approved by the state Legislature or by voters, would go nowhere."   Read article.

Related -  KHOU/Business/Associated Press/Lisa Leff, 12/22/13.  ....  "Bay Area Rapid Transit district and union leaders said the four-year deal reached early Saturday settles a dispute over paid medical leave for employees that arose last month after the two sides had approved an October agreement that ended the second of two strikes BART workers staged this year. ....  Under the revised agreement BART posted on its website, workers who need to take time off to care for sick family members will be allowed to decide how to use sick days, vacation time and other accumulated paid days off to maintain their paychecks. They also will have the option of taking up to 12 days off without pay."  Note:  photograph from this article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Happy new year's pay raise for most county officials and staff, probably

Picking your pocket is only fair,
after all look at all we do for you

Daily News/Bonnie Eslinger, Staff, 1/1/14.  "More raises could be in store for San Mateo County's top elected officials."

San Mateo County's top elected officials recently received a 3 percent raise and may see more in 2014.   ....  Vice President Dave Pine, who is expected to be promoted to president on Jan. 7, said before the vote that he wanted to review salary and benefit data from comparable counties to see whether the pay bump was warranted. He noted that "the board can revisit these salaries, so this is really a floor." 

....  Elected department heads are entitled to the same pay bumps that non-elected department heads receive. A 3 percent increase was approved in November for workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and Service Employees International Union as well as for unrepresented management, attorney and confidential employees. Those groups make up about 70 percent of the county's workforce.   Read article. 

Note:  photograph from The single files.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Alien wild life species are moving into California, welcome

We like California coast, we're staying

San Francisco Chronicle/Science/Peter Fimrite, 12/28/13.  "Weird animals drawn to California in 2013."

 "Strange birds, exotic animals, bugs and sea creatures showed up in California this year in unprecedented numbers after getting hopelessly lost, lured by abundant prey, blown off course or simply carried in by unsuspecting humans.

A lot of the vagabonds are staying put in the Golden State, apparently happy with their new found time zone, according to wildlife biologists and researchers.  Diving gulls, tropical boobies, ducks, owls and other birds from far-off lands were spotted at various times of the year, creating a ruckus among avian aficionados. The alien invasion also came via the sea, with orcas moving in, tuna showing up off the north coast and reports of rare sea turtles far north of where they normally go.

....  Birds and fish are the most common vagrants, but other species also wander. Scientists have documented Pacific plankton in the Atlantic. A Pacific gray whale was spotted in the Mediterranean Sea a few years ago, possibly after getting lost and traversing the newly melted arctic passage."   Read Article, 2 pages.

Note photograph from I like, I wish, I heart blog.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Road ecology, save the deer, the people and the cars on Highway 280

No more freeway hopping

  What, Its only a fence

ABC News channel 7, 2:11 minute video.  

"UC Davis researchers have proposed a $4 million plan to stop collisions between deer and cars on 1-280 in San Mateo County." 

Note photographs:  Deer from a Fox news/Chris Kilham article, deer fence from Fence Center. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Dummy's guide to light bulbs, 2013/2014 replacement of the incandescent

CNN/Tech/Innovations, Josh Levs, 12/31/13.  "Obit:  RIP, light bulb."

CFL light bulb

....  "Farewell, traditional light bulb. As the clock strikes midnight, the light dims on your reign as the mechanical illuminator of human existence.  Rest in peace.  This was no sudden death. The diagnosis came in years ago, in 2007, when President George W. Bush signed a law to replace standard incandescents with more efficient bulbs. Much more. Only about 10% of the energy these traditional bulbs use is for light, the Environmental Protection Agency says.

LED light bulb

....  Seventy-five- and 100-watt bulbs were already banned this year. The ban on production of 40 and 60-watt bulbs -- the most popular in the country -- kicks in as 2014 begins.

"There are 4 billion light bulb sockets in the U.S. and more than 3 billion of them still use the standard incandescent technology that hasn't changed much in 125 years," the EPA says. "A standard incandescent is only 10% efficient -- the other 90% of the electricity it uses is lost as heat."  Read Article.

Reference - Wikipedia/CFL. "A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also called compact fluorescent light, energy-saving light, and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp; some types fit into light fixtures formerly used for incandescent lamps."  

Wikipedia, LED.   "An LED lamp is a light-emitting diode (LED) product that is assembled into a lamp (or light bulb) for use in lighting fixtures. LED lamps have a lifespan and electrical efficiency that is several times better than incandescent lamps, and significantly better than most fluorescent lamps, with some chips able to emit more than 100 lumens per watt.  Like incandescent lamps and unlike most fluorescent lamps (e.g. tubes and CFL), LED lights come to full brightness without need for a warm-up time; the life of fluorescent lighting is also reduced by frequent switching on and off."  Wikipedia, Diode.  "In electronics, a diode is a two-terminal electronic component with asymmetric conductance, it has low (ideally zero) resistance to current flow in one direction, and high (ideally infinite) resistance in the other."

Seattle, WA/Seattle City Light, "Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are a great breakthrough in efficiency for home and business lighting. .... In the last few years, because of improvements in the Department of Energy's ENERGY STAR® specification, there has been considerable improvement in CFLs. They have longer life and better color, and are available in a wide variety of color temperatures, styles, wattages and base sizes, including CFLs for dimmer switches, recessed cans, vanity lights and chandeliers."  For best use and efficiency, see the "CFL Killers" chart.

Related articles -  Star Telegram/Nation (Fort Worth, Tx), Anna M. Tinsley, 1/2/14, "Bye-bye, old-fashion incandescent light bulbs."  Pros and cons. Energy Department officials say traditional bulbs waste up to 90 percent of their energy as heat. They say replacing a 60-watt incandescent bulb with a 13-watt compact fluorescent bulb can save a household at least $30 in energy costs during the life of that bulb — which can be 10 times longer than that of an incandescent bulb. Many incandescent bulbs last 750 to 1,000 hours.  Fluorescent bulbs can cost more than $3 each; incandescent bulbs can cost around 50 cents each. Some LED bulbs can cost $30 or more apiece."  The article includes an embedded consumer resistance video, 1:21 minutes.  

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/01/01/5454479/bye-bye-old-fashioned-incandescent.html#storylink=cpy

NBC News/Business/Martha C.White, Contributor, 1/2/14, "Stockpilers take a dim view of new bulb ban." "In a recent Osram Sylvania survey (Press Release), 30 percent of respondents said they plan to stockpile, more than double the number who said they planned to squirrel away incandescent bulbs just a couple of years ago, said company spokeswoman Anne Guertin."   From the survey link within the Press Release:  Comparison chart of light bulbs:  CFL, LED, Halogen, Incandescent (scroll down).   

Technical videos exist on You Tube, one example:  Illustra Lighting, LED vs CFL Bulb, 4:09 minutes.    Note photographs:  CFL light bulb from "Enhance the human experience" blog.  LED light bulb from "How Stuff Works" courtesy of C. Crane Company, Inc.

: Friday, December 27 2013, 08:32 AM EST (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - You may be in the dark when it comes to replacing traditional light bulbs in 2014. That's because production of the popular 60 and 40 watt incandescent light bulbs ends January 1st. It's been a gradual fade out from the old to new energy-efficient bulbs since the Energy Independence and Security Act was passed in 2007. Friday morning we were joined by Jordan Lehner of Home Depot to tell us more about it.

Read More at: http://www.wwmt.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wwmt_interview-phasing-out-incandescent-light-bulbs-16931.shtml

Updated: Friday, December 27 2013, 08:32 AM EST (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - You may be in the dark when it comes to replacing traditional light bulbs in 2014. That's because production of the popular 60 and 40 watt incandescent light bulbs ends January 1st. It's been a gradual fade out from the old to new energy-efficient bulbs since the Energy Independence and Security Act was passed in 2007. Friday morning we were joined by Jordan Lehner of Home Depot to tell us more about it.

Read More at: http://www.wwmt.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wwmt_interview-phasing-out-incandescent-light-bulbs-16931.shtml

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - You may be in the dark when it comes to replacing traditional light bulbs in 2014. That's because production of the popular 60 and 40 watt incandescent light bulbs ends January 1st. It's been a gradual fade out from the old to new energy-efficient bulbs since the Energy Independence and Security Act was passed in 2007. Friday morning we were joined by Jordan Lehner of Home Depot to tell us more about it.

Read More at: http://www.wwmt.com/shared/news/features/top-stories/stories/wwmt_interview-phasing-out-incandescent-light-bulbs-16931.shtml

Posted by Kathy Meeh

California Nanny-State Life

"I don't know about anyone else but I certainly understand how the author feels sometimes." (Jim Wagner)

The Wall Street Journal/Andy Kessler/Opinion, 12/27/13.  "Andy Kessler:  Living the California Nanny-State Life.  Are you into reusable bags, recycling, fluorescent bulbs and going by the rules?  I know just the place for you."

Don't wash the bag bonus:
8% E.coli bacteria
some salmonella

"What kind of dog?  That's my show dog"

....  "So far, 88 cities and counties in Golden State have banned plastic bags. Most stores are now required by law to charge 10 cents for a paper bag, which so annoyed an elderly man in San Carlos this summer that he took a swing at the cashier. Maybe he was onto something.  Many shoppers have resorted to reusable bags—never mind that a 2011 study by the University of Arizona found E. coli bacteria in 8% of reusable bags, and lots of salmonella too. Perhaps California should pass ordinances requiring bag-washing; a survey of people who shop with reusable bags found that only 3% ever do. Or maybe just give us our plastic bags back.

....  But in California, as in so many other places, the nannyish mentality extends well beyond government, seeming to reach into life's every cranny. Want a simple cup of coffee? Hard to find one that doesn't come without a lecture about its being "fair trade"—as if all other coffee were obtained at gunpoint.

....  Once caffeinated, I hit the streets with my dog. To be nice, I stupidly ask people I run into what kind of dog they have. The smugly self-satisfied answer 98% of the time: "rescue dog." I think that's French for mutt—and doesn't answer the question. When someone asks me what kind of dog I have, I just say "show dog." Shortens the conversation."  Read Article.

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Note:  photo from Keetsa green business blog.  CA Bear cartoon by A. F. Branco from Net Right Daily.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

happy birthday EPA

The Wall Street Journal/Opinion/Damien Schiff and Julie MacDonald.  Schiff and MacDonald:  "The Endangered Species Act turns 40-- hold the applause.  The badly administered law has had a limited effect on wildlife while inflicting great social and economic costs."

In 100 years I'll be swimming in salt water

Don't say it, I know I'm pretty

....  "A law intended to conserve species and habitat has brought about the recovery of only a fraction—less than 2%—of the approximately 2,100 species listed as endangered or threatened since 1973. Meanwhile, the law has endangered the economic health of many communities—while creating a cottage industry of  the we.cc litigation that does more to enrich environmental activist groups than benefit the environment.

....  Shoddy listing determinations naturally result in wasted conservation resources and the issuing of misguided biological opinions that ultimately destroy jobs and undermine communities. After four decades of this, Washington would do well to update the Endangered Species Act before the public clamors for its extinction.

Mr. Schiff is a principal attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation. Ms. MacDonald is a former deputy assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the U.S. Interior Department."

Submitted by Jim Wagner

Ribbit, ribbit

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Related locally - Is the California red-legged frog Endangered?   National Wildlife Federation, "The California red-legged frog is a rare species of frog found almost exclusively in the state of California. It became famous for being the frog featured in Mark Twain's short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Today, the California red-legged frog is on the Endangered Species list, because it is threatened by invasive species and habitat loss."  Habitat map of  the California red-legged frog (all over California),  here.  And don't forget Save the Frogs.

Note photographs:  CA RL Frog under water from United States Geological Survey.  Fat, mature RL Frog from University of CA, Santa Barbara.  The pond RL Frog by Greg Hoffman from Elkhorn Slough Organization,  (Foundation and Elkhorn Slough National Esturarine Research Reserve).  Don't blame Jim, the related local information, and photographs were the choice of the poster of this blog article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh