hank’s Recent Comments

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  > Hatch Act http://www.osc.gov/ha_fed.htm ---excerpt--- Permitted/Prohibited Activities for Employees Who May Participate in Partisan Political Activity These federal and D.C. employees may- * be candidates for public office in nonpartisan elections * register and vote as they choose * assist in voter registration drives * express opinions about candidates and issues * contribute money to political organizations * attend political fundraising functions * attend and be active at political rallies and meetings * join and be an active member of a political party or club * sign nominating petitions * campaign for or against referendum questions, constitutional amendments, municipal ordinances * campaign for or against candidates in partisan elections * make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections * distribute campaign literature in partisan elections * hold office in political clubs or parties These federal and D.C. employees may not- * use of official authority or influence to affect the results of an elections * solicit or discourage political activity of anyone with business before their agency * solicit or receive political contributions (may be done in certain limited situations by federal labor or other employee organizations) * be candidates for public office in partisan elections * engage in political activity while: o on duty o in a government office o wearing an official uniform o using a government vehicle * wear partisan political buttons on dutyOn EPA demands attorneys remove video critical of cap-and-trade posted 1 week ago 28 Responses

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  Hey David --- I'm going to post an excerpt from email (while asking the writer to get directly and identifiabl involved) defending _some_ carbon offsets: "... Their example of forest offsets is grossly oversimplified. Any private forest that lacks protection is subject to harvest or, worse, conversion to other uses and average land tenure among small private forests in the US is SEVEN YEARS! Thus, the 'not planning to harvest it' argument doesn't hold up. The 'leakage' argument doesn't account for the fact that harvest can continue, just w a lot more forest structure maintained (ie more carbon stored than the industrial model). High quality offsets like [the one I'm in touch with] deal w these issues head on. Deforestation also causes 20-25% of net emissions, so if you don't incorporate them into the carbon economy, you're leaving a huge piece of the system out....."On EPA demands attorneys remove video critical of cap-and-trade posted 1 week, 4 days ago 28 Responses

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  These are receptacles with one socket and a switch:

  http://www.doityourself.com/icat/switchreceptcombo

  On Ask Umbra on smarter outlets posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago 9 Responses

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  See the warning I posted in the earlier thread -- look for _metal_ not plastic power strips.

  http://www.firemarshals.org/mission/residential/fuels-in-the-home/consumer-electronics/

   

  You can find metal power strips with a switch for each outlet.  How?  Clicky:

  http://www.google.com/search?q=metal+power+strips+with+a+switch+for+each+outlet

   

   

  On Ask Umbra on smarter outlets posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago 9 Responses

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  One plea -- please recommend METAL power strip boxes, not plastic.

  Here are some for example:

  http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/product-series.cfm?txtSeriesID=366&EID=12

  
  The small one has 3 outlets, in a metal box, with a switch.  That's the kind I've been putting in around our house.

  
  And you can find similar ones with a switch for each outlet, also in metal cases.

   

  Don't fail to look at the problem reports on fires:

  http://www.google.com/search?q=home+electronics+fires+fire+marshal

  
  Even the supposedly safe plastics actually burn.  And that would be assuming the manufacturers never spoofed the fire-safety tests by sending in specially crafted materials then selling the cheaper and more flammable materials once they got their UL stickers. 

  The fire marshals page used to warn that this stuff usually burns up completely in home fires, so there's no evidence statistically to show. But they tested it and videotaped plastic cases on home electrical/electronics catching fire and supporting enough fire to fill a room.

  A coworker had one catch fire at night a week ago, set the bedspread on fire -- a few minutes after she'd gotten up in the morning, luckily for her, rather than overnight.

   

  On Ask Umbra on power-strip alternatives posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago 8 Responses