It's nearly impossible to buy leaded acid-core solder for plumbing now in the US. I used to see people scalping it on Ebay, but I don't see any current listings. The lead-free stuff is getting better.
I wonder how long it will be before THEY outlaw leaded electrical solder.
Talking to my local fire chief a while back, he said that if someone broke a thermometer now, and it was reported a hazmat team would be called in to take care of the "spill" after a city block was blocked off. (He wasn't kidding)
BTDT. It was the most absurd and ridiculous experience of my life. We were out of our house for the better part of a week. Sink got torn up, floor got torn up. Seemed like every government agency in existence got involved. Welcome to the nanny state.
Was it Ben Franklin that said that any society willing to trade freedom for security deserves neither?
At this point, it seems that the USA has gotten so over protective as to become the biggest creator on unfair trade barriers that Americans have to suffer the consequences of. It has become quite difficult in many cases to have a hobby with hands on creativity because only 'safe materials' are available.
I have read "Silent Spring". I even have a copy here on my desk. While it is an extremely compelling presentation of the potentials of environmental hazards, I tends to over-generalize the outcomes. According to it, I should have been dead many years ago from working construction, doing lawn care, and spraying fruit trees.
Sure information is important, but as some point information morphs into hysteria. Thus, the nanny state - big government and nonsensical application of rules.
The biological reality is humans have a much higher probability of causing their own extinction before they kill off the whole biosphere. There are even parts of the biosphere that cannot be destroyed by pollution. (Try killing off all the insect populations of the world.)
But we do need to protect 'THE' food chain. Which I mean to say is our food chain. And we need to protect children from developmental problems caused by toxins, including alcohol abuse during pregnancy and second hand smoke.
But can we ever get this right? I dunno. It is worth a try. And I am happy we've saved the whales and redwoods for their own sake. I just wish we were equally aware of how many people have had to turn to rather degrading employment as the world has become safe and old hazardous tasks have not been replaced with equally rewarding ones.
Comments
I wonder how long it will be before THEY outlaw leaded electrical solder.
BTDT. It was the most absurd and ridiculous experience of my life. We were out of our house for the better part of a week. Sink got torn up, floor got torn up. Seemed like every government agency in existence got involved. Welcome to the nanny state.
Was it Ben Franklin that said that any society willing to trade freedom for security deserves neither?
I have read "Silent Spring". I even have a copy here on my desk. While it is an extremely compelling presentation of the potentials of environmental hazards, I tends to over-generalize the outcomes. According to it, I should have been dead many years ago from working construction, doing lawn care, and spraying fruit trees.
Sure information is important, but as some point information morphs into hysteria. Thus, the nanny state - big government and nonsensical application of rules.
The biological reality is humans have a much higher probability of causing their own extinction before they kill off the whole biosphere. There are even parts of the biosphere that cannot be destroyed by pollution. (Try killing off all the insect populations of the world.)
But we do need to protect 'THE' food chain. Which I mean to say is our food chain. And we need to protect children from developmental problems caused by toxins, including alcohol abuse during pregnancy and second hand smoke.
But can we ever get this right? I dunno. It is worth a try. And I am happy we've saved the whales and redwoods for their own sake. I just wish we were equally aware of how many people have had to turn to rather degrading employment as the world has become safe and old hazardous tasks have not been replaced with equally rewarding ones.