Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

msn.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

311–320 of 481 posts

Re: Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

#311

Post by GordonS »

nine_k wrote: post #308
GordonS wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never going the obsession with pristine lawns without clover, daisies, moss and such. I actually think it looks quite nice with some variation. My wife is militant about this, insisting that our lawn is sprayed with horrible chemicals at least once a year to kill off the clover, daisies and moss. Seems such a pointless thing to do, and very obviously not good for wildlife.

If one does not want their lawn to look like a piece of nature, they could as well remove the pesky plants and put some artificial grass, as used on football fields. Both pristine-looking and honest.

I actually suggested that, and got a dagger-stare in return...

Re: Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

#313

Post by graeme »

scintill76 wrote: post #203
graeme wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You missed their point. The link shows that reindeer also multiplied far past their carrying point. Agent smith is wrong, plenty of mammals will overshoot given the opportunity.

Well, it was with our help... > In 1944, 29 reindeer were introduced to the island by the United States Coast Guard to provide an emergency food source. The Coast Guard abandoned the island a few years later, leaving the reindeer.

Yeah. But, species will do it regardless. It’s an easy to point to example, that’s all.

But species do it without human help. I remember caterpillars had boom bust cycles in my hometown as a kid. They’d eat all the leaves and die off.

Re: Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

#314

Post by [deleted] »

elwell wrote: post #222
foepys wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cars are actually more aerodynamically shaped nowadays. But riding a motorcycle will give you the same result today as 20 years ago. To which I must say: yes, the insects seem to be back in larger numbers this year. At least in Germany. But not everywhere: the less farm land, the more insects. Like, from literally none on farm land to "I have to completely clean my helmet because of all that yellow goo" in larger for…

> The research also found that modern cars, with a more aerodynamic body shape, killed more insects than boxier vintage cars up to 70 years old. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon#United_K...

[deleted]

Re: Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

#315

Post by foepys »

elwell wrote: post #222
foepys wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cars are actually more aerodynamically shaped nowadays. But riding a motorcycle will give you the same result today as 20 years ago. To which I must say: yes, the insects seem to be back in larger numbers this year. At least in Germany. But not everywhere: the less farm land, the more insects. Like, from literally none on farm land to "I have to completely clean my helmet because of all that yellow goo" in larger for…

> The research also found that modern cars, with a more aerodynamic body shape, killed more insects than boxier vintage cars up to 70 years old. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_phenomenon#United_K...

I haven't read the complete study but it appears that they only measured the impacts on the license plate? If so, this doesn't seem like good methodology because the license plate is only a very small part of the vehicle and position can vary wildly between brands and models. The license plate can be the most forward facing part but also be in a little cutout of the front fender.

Re: Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

#316

Post by [deleted] »

derefr wrote: post #273
vorpalhex wrote: post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An HOA is typically formed by people who live in the neighborhood to allow a housing development to represent itself as a single larger entity instead of several smaller ones. Like any human collaboration they can be awesome or terrible. A good HOA can manage resources for ammenities like pools and sports courts, they can help homeowners settle disputes over things like fencing and street parking. Like many volunteer…

> Like many volunteer orgs, they're run by those willing to volunteer - which are not usually the most capable at the job. Sounds like a good use-case for sortition. Require that people "submit to the potential for being drafted for HOA service" as part of the purchase agreement of the houses built in the development. Then at least the HOA will mostly be composed of harried people who don't want to do the job and wan…

[deleted]

Re: Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

#317

Post by tomcooks »

flippinburgers wrote: post #263
GordonS wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never going the obsession with pristine lawns without clover, daisies, moss and such. I actually think it looks quite nice with some variation. My wife is militant about this, insisting that our lawn is sprayed with horrible chemicals at least once a year to kill off the clover, daisies and moss. Seems such a pointless thing to do, and very obviously not good for wildlife.

At the very least moss is beautiful. Personally I don't have a problem with "weeds" as Americans see them. If covid ever lets up, you should try taking your wife on a trip to Japan. The moss in Japanese gardens is extraordinary!

I assume it has to do with the US house price laws that mandate one takes care of the lawn, or risk incurring in fines or losing the house (quoting an US friend not sure about the details)

Re: Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

#318

Post by pak9rabid »

gre wrote: post #87
thatguy0900 wrote: post #16

I actually was sitting outside a few nights ago and realized that there was no more fireflies, and I couldn't remember the last time I had seen one. I used to go out all the time during summer as a kid to catch them, they would light up whole fields. That was just like 15 years ago. Pretty sobering realization

For me it's red wasps. Growing up in Texas there used to be so many, you could see them flying low searching for spiders in the grass. Last Sunday, in the heart of summer, I couldn't find a single red wasp where there used to be hundreds.

There certainly hasn't been a shortage of yellow jackets for me here though (Texas).

Re: Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

#319

Post by lostapathy »

vorpalhex wrote: post #269
teruakohatu wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a non-American I have never understood why a people that values personal liberties are sometimes happy to be dictated to by housing authorities. I get it with apartment buildings with shared walls and communal property, but I just don't get why you would with suburban homes.

An HOA is typically formed by people who live in the neighborhood to allow a housing development to represent itself as a single larger entity instead of several smaller ones. Like any human collaboration they can be awesome or terrible. A good HOA can manage resources for ammenities like pools and sports courts, they can help homeowners settle disputes over things like fencing and street parking. Like many volunteer…

This isn't, at all, how most HOAs come to be in the US. Not even close.

Most HOA's are formed when a developer plats a subdivision. They attach the Covenants and other deed restrictions at the property at that time. They do it so they can maintain control over properties they have already sold until they have sold every property in the development. They want to maintain that control so they can cultivate the image for the neighborhood that maximizes their ability to profit from it.

This notion that HOA's get created for altruistic reasons is almost universally false, and should go away. Yes, some HOA's survive in a way that isn't toxic, but even that is really in the eyes of the beholder.

Re: Germany plans to dim lights at night to save insects

#320

Post by lostapathy »

mgkimsal wrote: post #258
bobbob1921 wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

most likely the reason some Americans are fine with a HOA is because they do give up some liberties/freedoms for the other benefits that come with a HOA. Such as amenities, security, upkeep of surroundings, and other benefits from the pooling of resources (ie hoa fees). You also have essentially an arbitrator to deal with disputes between neighbors (mainly over appearances). (and generally when homes are constructed…

I'm on the fence, so to speak. have lived in subs with and without HOA, and mostly haven't noticed much of a difference. we did get a curt letter once about a trashcan "visible from the street" but they didn't followup when I asked for more info. Depending on what street you're on, it might be visible against the back of the house, but it wasn't visible from the front street, which is all I'd assume we'd care about.…

A lot of HOA's send letters about things they don't have authority over, and people comply anyway. If you push back or ask for clarification, they just drop it so they aren't exposed as lacking authority.
Post reply on HN