Brad DeLong's Semi-Daily Journal: A Weblog

Brad, it's for the benefit of California residents from the drier areas. If they are unexpectedly with a load of liquid in August while outside, they could die from shock - it can't be water, so it must be something horrible. The people from Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, etc., would, of course, just die from exposure to water.

Nah, people from Utah are quite used to getting hit by sprinkler systems with no warning whatsoever, and occasionally in the middle of thunderstorms. There was one time on the University of Utah campus that an entire sidewalk was impassable owing to sprinkler systems that were operating at water-cannon levels, literally up my nose I think (and I'm six feet tall). I had to skirt round them on the grass.

Just blame it on the Bush administration. It's responsible for so much that's wrong with this country, so why not just assume that it's responsible for the sprinklers, too?

Heh. Given the massive traffic jams that occur in San Diego any time the pavement gets damp, the natives here would probably benefit from air raid sirens to warn of an approaching sprinkle.

It's a vital safety precaution because of the diverse multicultural Berkeley community. Remember what happens to those Western Witches if they get wet.

Well, it isn't an East Coast / West Coast thing. We know that NYC takes lawn care very seriously, too.

It's to protect the witches!

Should this mean a red alert? So be afraid...

damn terrorsymp sprinkler systems...

Who knows what's in the water? Can't be too careful these days according to the Bushies, some ecoterrorist might've decided to put something (organic fertilizer?) into whatever source the sprinklers draw water from.

Actually, we in the used-book business would greatly appreciate such a warning. I was once at a book sale in Silicon Valley where the only place to stash our books was on a stone walkway next to the grass. You guessed it! Water and books don't mix--or, rather, they mix only too well.

Am I the only one who thinks that their "running all day" is absolutely absurd? Sprinklers should be restricted to only the early morning, and only on days when there is <50% chance of rain! Otherwise, the water they sprinkle is either evaporated much too quickly or else is redundant!

Am I the only one who thinks that their "running all day" is absolutely absurd? Sprinklers should be restricted to only the early morning, and only on days when there is <50% chance of rain! Otherwise, the water they sprinkle is either evaporated much too quickly or else is redundant!