Oh yeah -- someone mentioned goats for weed control. I don't know if that works here, but there have been some cool uses of that. Read more here -...

OK, one more, then I need to get back to my work deadline.

(1) I think you need to be clear if this product in this situation is really toxic the way it's being used. I don't know that yet. I...

Hi all -

My thoughts on this topic, Part II -

First, I want to say that unfortunately I'm not available to take on this issue right now. But I will offer a couple thoughts for those who are. ...

Hi all -

Thanks to everyone for caring about toxics and protecting our precious ecosystems, including our waterways. Thanks also to the folks who mentioned my work on the toxics issue. And thanks...

Hmmm, I did NOT see any coverage that the Palm Drive Hosp. was considering closing UNTIL they had already decided it as an impossible immediate fait accompli. I didn't hear "it's coming, we're on the...

For those who are interested, I think this article does a good job of exploring this topic.

Controversy Over Women's Gifting Circles: Blessing or Disaster? ...

Hummingbird - I think you're projecting negative stories and judgments on this conversation and the people in it that have nothing to do with what we're actually saying. I don't think you're trying...

Wow, Hummingbird, what a fascinating viewpoint. I appreciate you sharing it just so we can see it. Of course, anyone is allowed to steer their life by any viewpoint they want. However I think...

This is what confuses me. If it's a workshop, why not call it a workshop? If it's a group with an entry fee, why not call it that? If someone isn't going to get their money back, or if it's just...

I thought it might be helpful to state again what a pyramid scheme is. I think that what's key to protecting ourselves and others is to recognize the form, whatever name it goes under. This isn't...

Hi Geoff -

Nope, Sebastopol absolutely does not fluoridate its water. Healdsburg does, and I think also a smaller water company near there.

In terms of the question about Sebastopol not...

Hey Dixon - I was thinking that it'd be nice to have a stat that reflects the asymmetrical odds with a pyramid scheme. 89% is interesting, but it makes it sound like everyone has those odds -- one in...

Hi - Can you say more about what you mean by the line being nonexistent, at least after the first roll-out? Do you mean that all participants are both victims and perpetrators? By first rollout, what...

Absolutely! Dixon has made that request, and their viewpoints are welcome. I speak as someone who they tried to recruit and I declined, so I can observe the dynamics from that viewpoint.

Kathy - I'm uncomfortable with your comment and find it inconsistent with the facts or a constructive approach. For myself, I know that I was overtly curious to understand your viewpoint, and invited...

Hi Kathy - Thanks very much for sharing more of your thoughts.

To me this isn't about protecting a woman who makes a truly informed choice based on factual information that only impacts her well-...

Hi Kathy - I want to better understand your point. Are you saying that we shouldn't judge the people who get hooked into this? At what point does someone become responsible for their choices?

I...

Kathy - Thanks for your comments. Question - you say that "much of the gains are put back in to sponsor others". Is that really that common? I just can't believe that it would be. And when you say...

Thanks for the conversation here. I'd like to add what might be a useful distinction: Just because AFTER the fact, a person might cope by shrugging and saying "I learned lesson X" doesn't mean that...

Dixon - Thanks again for speaking out about this, and so eloquently.

Philip - I appreciated your riff on con men. I think it's so important that folks see that during the sale they are persuasive...

Thanks Dixon for taking the time to caution people about this structure, in your past post and now. I think your message is so important and well-stated.

A number of years ago, a woman tried to...

OK, one more piece of info, because I think this is really important to understand, then I have other things to attend to!

For anyone who wants to learn more about the source of the chemical used...

Hi Howard -

Yes, let's talk chemistry. Often in this conversation I hear people use these two terms incorrectly. So let's be clear on them first:
1) Fluorine is an element and doesn't exist...

Hi Howard - Do you have a link with real evidence to support your assertion about what's left in the tank? You seem to be passing along a version of what the proponents say but they haven't provided...

Hi Howard - Great, thanks for the link to the SRosa stat. Good to know!

I googled the Sebastopol stat, and found the most recent report on the Sebastopol website. (See below.)
CONSUMER...

Well, as I said, I think it's a bit of a rabbit hole to try to trace every way that we could get exposed to fluoridation of our water supply. But since this has become a thread here, I want to...

Thanks all for the passion and concern about this vital topic. And thanks Sebastacat for your kind words about my work. I blush! But really it's nice to see my efforts appreciated.

I am very...

I think there's another dimension to add to this - all this fluoride is going to end up in the environment and I think potentially in all water supplies (individual wells, other water sources, etc.)....

You're most welcome. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and for your actions too. I love the buttons idea! :-)

You comment confuses me and doesn't seem to reflect the facts of this particular topic. Have you educated yourself on this particular issue? It seems to me that you're imposing a framework that...

In terms of the arguments we make to mainstream folks against fluoridation - I suggest that we stick with the very core scientific arguments - they really are enough - and the more fringe arguments...

I also wanted to deeply thank everyone who stood up for The Next STEP newsletter, and our toxics article in the toxics newsletter, and against one Sebastopol Councilmember's proposal to put...

Thanks all for the conversation here.

I wanted to let folks know that I've created a central webpage for local Sonoma County actions about community water fluoridation (CWF), which offers a handy...

A personal note from Patricia Dines, Editor of The Next STEP

Hi all - First I want to say how moved I am by nearly all the comments here, not only for the support, but also because I feel that...