Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Flashes: July 10, 2013


  • It seemed a bit too trite to do a Flashes post on July 3rd....while watching fireworks.
  • In a further lesson in the economics - that price has nothing to do with cost and bulk buying improves efficiency:  Fresh, organic juice at a trendy, downtown healthy foods outlet is about $0.40 per ounce, at my local, small business health foods store it is $0.16 per ounce, and to make it at home is $0.22 (not counting my own time).  
  • Bike share is a great idea to help make public transportation easier as long as stations are set up where people can get them, and they can use them to get to a rapid transit hub easily.  The annual membership, though, is priced just above a new bike at a big-box retail store, and significantly more than a bike at a reseller like Working Bikes.  For a person of middle-class means, the benefit of not having to lock and maintain a bike may win out on the price (and for a tourist, it's a no brainer to get a day pass for $7), but for the working class it's hard to justify the price even if stations were located in their neighborhood.
  • Interesting to hear after the devastating loss of life fighting fires in Arizona that a voice of reason came to the forefront and questioned whether we should risk lives to protect foolishly built property.  Our ancestors moved where the water, food, and shelter made most sense, and cheap energy and technology made us think we controlled nature.  Hopefully we are finally waking up to the fact that those who thumb their nose at nature when building should bear the consequences.
      Enjoy the journey!

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