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First up . . .
California law requires stores have gender-neutral area for children’s products
California has become the first state to require large retailers to have gender-neutral sections for products like toys and toothbrushes — a law pushed by LGBT advocates who say that pink and blue marketing reinforces gender stereotypes and is harmful to children.
[....] “We need to stop stigmatizing what’s acceptable for certain genders and just let kids be kids,” Low said. “My hope is this bill encourages more businesses across California and the U.S. to avoid reinforcing harmful and outdated stereotypes.”
Would it perhaps be easier to simply require stores to have separate toy sections for each and every possible gender? Some toys that are intended for multiple genders might have to be stocked in multiple different toy sections.
Another idea: keep the colors pink and blue. Also offer items in other colors. Using the example of toothbrushes in the article, offer colors such as yellow, red, green, but not purple -- not ever purple.
Next up . . .
California law bans small off-road gas engines, including lawnmowers and chainsaws
California took another step toward its goal of ridding the state of all gas-powered engines thanks to a new bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday.
The new law will ban the sale of all off-road, gas-powered engines, including generators, lawn equipment, pressure washers, chainsaws, weed trimmers, and even golf carts. Under the new law, these machines must be zero-emissions, meaning they will have to be either battery-powered or plug-in, according to the Los Angeles Times.
What if I got one of the banned items from a state neighboring California, such as Connecticut. Will California have border inspection stations for off road gas engines, similar to agricultural border inspection stations?
If these lawn equipment, pressure washers, chainsaws, etc are able to be used ON the public roadways, then can they be sold and not affected by the ban?
As for portable electric generators, it would be possible to have a generator that is powered by a motor and battery. Also Home Depot offers green portable generators that should not be banned.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday October 11 2021, @05:25PM (1 child)
I hope they reuse the present inspection stations rather than add more. But yes, I imagine that they'll find a face-saving way to appear to do that.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 11 2021, @06:26PM
It will lead to
excusesimportant reasons for screening for more and more things entering the state.Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 11 2021, @05:45PM (2 children)
What, both of them?
Fantasy land. How much of the imported electricity from Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona is from coal powered generation?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 11 2021, @06:42PM
As I wrote elsewhere, we need a Federal Department of Gender [soylentnews.org] to maintain a list of all possible genders, gender codes and an official color for each gender.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday October 11 2021, @06:46PM
Assuming, they meant Gender Identity. That starts to get expensive and/or vanishingly small sections. LGBTQIA+ I mean, the plus is there for a reason. Instead of just Boys/Girls. I mean, it's not like there's anything stopping them from going down said aisles. Who even labels the aisles boys toys / girls toys? They are generally separated by group of interest. By all means though, micromanage that a bit harder, please. In the event that they feel pressured to identify as what they were born as, because all the other born as are going to the car toys section. Deal with it? Are Asians offended by the Asian section in the grocery store? How about, if you're offended, go somewhere else. In the event that your money doesn't make a drop of difference, it's not going to change. In the event that it does, you'll get your own special over priced shop and/or Walmart will eventually cave to your whims. At a certain point, you're demanding unreasonable things. What that point is, may be a bit up in the air. Legislating that you have to mix the toy sections, seems like a pretty big overreach.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 1) by tavares on Monday October 11 2021, @06:07PM (2 children)
You're not leading, if no one is following you.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 11 2021, @08:44PM (1 child)
Lemmings have a leader.
I'm not sure if moths to a flame have a leader.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Tuesday October 12 2021, @05:57AM
They both have an attraction, not a leader
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 11 2021, @06:09PM (4 children)
> ... Home Depot offers green portable generators
Couldn't find the definition of a "green generator" at that link. Several of the units there are gasoline/propane dual fuel, so that sort of makes sense. But, I'm going to guess that most of these are always run on gasoline--the pics on that page don't show any of the units connected to a propane tank. Propane is nicer on the engine in the long haul, but imo the convenience of gasoline is going to win over the relatively more cumbersome operation of exchanging or filling a propane tank. Propane de-rates the output about 10% compared to gasoline. At least one model is available single or dual-fuel--adding the propane option costs an extra $150.
The little one is gasoline only--it's the newer style with DC generator and a built-in inverter to make 120VAC, I think this style was popularized by Honda(?)
Some of the larger ones are also gasoline only...but brag about a lithium battery for starting the engine. "Digital" too--has a digital readout for Volts, Frequency and running hours.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 11 2021, @06:28PM (3 children)
The units are all fossil fuel powered. And they are all green, various shades of green. I simply googled for "home depot green portable generators" and there they were.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 11 2021, @11:25PM
That must be it. [powermag.com] Those cunning Californians!
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Tuesday October 12 2021, @01:02AM (1 child)
Where's the pink [alicdn.com] and blue [inhabitat.com]? Oh wait, those were banned
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday October 12 2021, @01:41PM
We must not have wind generators that force people into gender stereotypes.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 2) by Tork on Monday October 11 2021, @06:47PM (14 children)
Why would the be easier than just not making a big deal about it?
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 11 2021, @08:54PM (12 children)
I think you'll find it was an attempt at humor.
Just as male chimps in a troop mock the alpha male, humans poke fun at those with institutional power. [youtube.com] The option of "not making a big deal about it" doesn't seem to apply to people so self-entitled they'd call for legislation rather than just walk around the store. When did the purpose of legislation become appeasement of narcissism?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday October 12 2021, @01:55PM (8 children)
That is exactly it. Why does California need to mess with store toy sections? Don't they have bigger problems that their state government should be
undressingaddressing? For example, blogs that use the wrong color schemes!Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Tuesday October 12 2021, @02:57PM
Or the shameful deprecation and banning of the <blink> tag.
No problem is insoluble, but at Ksp = 2.943×10−25 Mercury Sulphide comes close.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 12 2021, @04:37PM (4 children)
Hey, you voted the Dems in, this is what you get.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday October 12 2021, @08:17PM
I didn't vote in California.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday October 12 2021, @08:17PM (2 children)
Stupidity is stupidity no matter which party does it.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 2) by Tork on Tuesday October 12 2021, @11:51PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Wednesday October 13 2021, @04:30AM
But where is the stupidity? Certainly not in the Party, even though their reelection depends on it
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 12 2021, @06:00PM (1 child)
SN: where old people go to complain about the world changing. Oddly the Venn diagram overlaps other groups unhappy about cultural changes like anti-discrimination laws and environmental protections. Mught want to re-read the bill before you get torsion from your bunched up undies. Carrying a few generic versions of items is hardly the over bearing nanny state at work.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 12 2021, @07:13PM
If you linked to the bill [ca.gov] people would be in no doubt that it is, in fact, ridiculous. Do you have a Venn diagram for that?
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 12 2021, @05:25PM (2 children)
Around 1992, I mean, it got started in the 70s, but '92 was when it went over the cliff
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday October 12 2021, @08:20PM (1 child)
Narcissism was on full display in 2015 prior to the election of 2016.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 13 2021, @03:41AM
Pffft.. Please.. It was on full display 30 years ago, the Trump spectacle is the inevitable result. And the presidency is being handed back to him on a silver platter
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/575387-gop-ramps-up-attacks-on-irs-proposal-for-spending-package [thehill.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 13 2021, @02:38AM
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 11 2021, @07:11PM (9 children)
At close of season, I've maybe burned 1.5 gallons of gas mowing my lawn this summer. That's going to save a whole lot of environment, having PG&E try to deliver power to charge a battery lawn mower and having the process take twice and three times as long.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday October 11 2021, @08:42PM (8 children)
Are you trying to suggest that ICE vehicles everywhere and factory smokestacks might be a slightly more significant problem to solve than banning the sale of a few small engines that are infrequently used?
I wonder if the California governor knows that?
This legislation feels like grandstanding. A few pokes at the tip of a very large iceberg headed our way.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 11 2021, @10:48PM (7 children)
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday October 12 2021, @12:41PM (6 children)
Somehow, I never saw the point of leaf blowers. Run the mower over them, chop them up, and leave them for mulch.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday October 12 2021, @01:58PM (3 children)
Yes!
Additionally, I never saw the point of lawn mower bagging grass. Just mulch it up. I did this for years and years and didn't see any problem? I wondered why people less lazy then I bothered to stop, remove the bag, empty it into yet one more trash bag, and haul it to the curb, then come back to the idling mower and continue mowing.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Tuesday October 12 2021, @04:40PM
I've chalked it up to unnecessary fastidiousness, and a lack of understanding of biology, horticulture, recycling, etc.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 12 2021, @09:59PM (1 child)
That's because in normal situations it isn't a problem. However, your HOA literally requires you to bag them or requires a lawn with a high enough grass height or certain other conditions and you suddenly have to bag them. Add on top of that older mowers couldn't always mulch and the momentum of tradition and it isn't too surprising that you end up with a lot of people bagging grass.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 13 2021, @01:06PM
I'm always amazed that people actually choose to buy a home that subjects themselves to another level of government.
(Score: 2) by Tork on Tuesday October 12 2021, @04:14PM
They keep the parking lots and sidewalks leaf-free because that's some sort of eye sore, and I agree that's silly... especially since these loud-ass things MUST be operated underneath my window during a Zoom meeting every fucking week.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by RS3 on Tuesday October 12 2021, @04:46PM
In my fairly well treed area, even chopped up, the leaves will kill the lawn. I now have a suction / collection system for my lawn tractor, and the chopped up leaves go in a nice pile in the woods and turn into amazing soil after a few years.
My main irritation with leaf blowers is: idiots running mowers blow grass clippings onto driveways, sidewalks, and roads, then later run the blowers to blow the clippings back onto the lawn. Why not just run the mower such that the clippings blow onto the lawn in the first place? Maybe I'm missing something.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 11 2021, @11:49PM (1 child)
https://babylonbee.com/news/california-bill-prohibits-stores-from-selling-toys-that-dont-actively-confuse-childrens-sexuality [babylonbee.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 12 2021, @07:21PM
https://babylonbee.com/news/newsom-takes-a-dip-in-pacific-ocean-causing-massive-oil-slick [babylonbee.com]
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 12 2021, @01:49AM (5 children)
Seriously, small engines are polluting as fuck. An hour with a two-stroke leaf blower is the equivalent to days of driving an automobile. Even with all the losses, it is less polluting to centrally generate electricity and transmitting it to the battery or extension cord than use one of those. Four-stroke engines are better but even those fail in comparison to vehicle engines or electricity in terms of pollution.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday October 12 2021, @02:00PM (2 children)
If we can effectively solve the elephant in the room problem of gasoline automobiles, then the technology problems for that might be very adaptable to applications of small gasoline engines.
If what you say is true about small engines polluting disproportionately more, then that is something I should think about.
Would a Dyson sphere [soylentnews.org] actually work?
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Tuesday October 12 2021, @03:04PM
Imprecise terms strike again.
Small motors like mowers, chainsaws and leafblowers produce much more actual pollution* per litre of fuel than cars. They both produce about the same CO2 per litre of fuel.
* VOC's, unburnt fuel, NOx, particulates, smoke, etc.
No problem is insoluble, but at Ksp = 2.943×10−25 Mercury Sulphide comes close.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday October 12 2021, @03:16PM
What Deimtee says. I've read a number of articles over the years that claim motorcycles are relatively more polluting than cars are. Same 4-cycle engine tech, for the most part, but "small engines" get a bad rap, plus, the pollution technologies applied to cars aren't seen in motorcycles. (Where's our electronic ignition?) Smaller engines, such as lawn mowers, are supposed to be much worse than motorcycles - and when you make the jump from 4-cycle to 2-cycle, things are much much worse.
Of course, that's all based on per-liter or per-gallon pollution. Most of those small engines only run 5 to 30 hours per year. Many of them only have an expected lifetime of ~100 hours. If lawn mowers ran 5,000 hours per year, and lasted for 20 years, they would be a much bigger target for the Green people.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 12 2021, @02:13PM
There are many open questions here.
What about ones running on, for example, propane? Honda's GX series engines have a vast aftermarket including propane adaptations. Many of those, and their competitors, are found in a huge array of generators as well as everything from lawnmowers up to garden tractors, pressure washers and small equipment such as log splitters.
Granted that they are polluting, it's not just about efficiency, it's about portability and the environmental cost of alternatives. Mining metals in Congo and Xinjiang isn't less polluting or ruinous because it doesn't happen to be in Sacramento.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 12 2021, @06:03PM
As I understand the small engine problem, the cost of pollution controls (for any engine) has some fixed costs--for example the computer and various sensors. This means that adding pollution controls to a 4-stroke lawn mower might double(?) the end user price.
In comparison, adding pollution controls to a car costs something, but much less than the total cost of the car.
Beyond that, the chances that lawn mower operators would maintain the pollution controls over time seems unlikely (cars are registered, have to be smogged or otherwise checked in most places).