Today’s Post: Positives & Negatives

Today’s P&N observations focus on advances in science (the Positive), and Political Fabrications (the Negative). It’s been a tough week to find positives. Not so tough to find the negatives.

· The POSITIVE: Scientists in Japan announced the development of a new clear plastic substitute that breaks down in ten days in soil and in even less time in seawater, which could help stem the proliferation of microplastics and plastic pollution.

The NEGATIVE: Whatever happened to geography, cartography, topography (all those “raphy” sciences)? Donald Trump blamed California’s wildfires on the state not allowing “all this fresh water coming down from Canada and the Pacific Northwest from flowing into California.” News flash: North on a map does not mean uphill. With the exception of the Klamath, which flows to the sea in the far northwest corner of California, no rivers flow “into” California (the Colorado flows along the border of the state). Misinformation obscures real problems. Best to leave water to those that understand it.

Second, no, California politics wasn’t responsible for fire hydrants having low water pressures. While there are lots of examples of any state’s failings (and maybe California has more than its share), this rumor was fabricated by partisan pundits and perpetuated by politicians (apologies for the alliteration). Nearly every community of a certain size in the country designs fire safety water flows and infrastructure the same. Municipal water systems, mains, and hydrants are designed by civil engineers to strict uniform national codes and standards (International Fire Code, California Fire Code, National Fire Protection Association standards), whether the water utility is located in Texas, Kansas, or California. With less than an inch of rain in eight months and 80-100mph winds carrying embers for miles, no municipal water system could have withstood the onslaught. Best to leave water to those that understand it.