Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Tell Congress: NO on FAST-TRACKING the TPP

Petition from working families here

What does the fine print say? Here's the quick and dirty from leaked versions of the TPP:
  • It ships jobs overseas.
  • It rolls back Wall Street reforms.
  • It drives up the cost of medicine.
  • It lacks basic environmental protections.
  • It allows corporations to challenge national laws in a privately run international court.

Monday, February 16, 2015

The Opposite of the Apple Post: John Boehner

Here "The rolling disaster of John Boehner’s speakership" -- Washington Post
Regressive, obstinate, grid-lock promoting, obsolete, nadir of leadership for the future.

Apple Putting Solar Big Into Company's Future and Culture

Here Big-pants people, smart, future, huge solar. Big news, big time.

"...Apple CEO Tim Cook responded to a climate-change heckler at the company’s annual shareholder meeting with an impassioned rebuttal in which he famously told investors who care only about profits to “get out of the stock.”

"Now Cook is putting his prodigious sums of money where his mouth is, proclaiming the “biggest, boldest and most-ambitious project ever,” a US$850 million agreement to buy solar power from First Solar...."

NASA Projects Megadroughts for the American Southwest

Graphic video here
Debilitating if we act immediately and earnestly on climate change now
Completely devastating if we keep on the course we are on now
Both options shown, with data-driven color coding to make the effects obvious here

Great article in Dallas News here

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Rooftop Solar Can (Will) Prevent Attacks on U.S. Power Grid, Which is Far a Too Centralized and Vulnerable

Here Truly shocking, terrifying and sobering report, known by CIA directors: our grid could get fucked and even cause meltdowns in a worst case attack. Whoa.
Rooftop/distributed solar can make it impossible to crash the grid.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Obama Offers Namaste at Prayer Meeting with Dalai Lama

Here My mom and Gene went to India about 10 years ago. He said he saw people bowing in respect when they passed a church -- or synagogue, mosque, or Buddhist stupa. This shows respect to the higher aspects of each, even if one is not 'officially' indoctrinated in that religion.
I've found connection to all religions I've studied.
'Namaste' means, approximately, the higher aspect of me sees and acknowledges the higher aspect in you.
For Obama to offer such a cursory sign of respect is wholly appropriate.
For Chinese who are angry about freedom of religion or Tibet, that's too bad. They could use some namaste themselves, and try to find some tolerance and compassion, which is needed in this world.
For Christians, or any other people seeking to find disrespect in Obama's actions, they could use the same.
We must be inclusive, whether you believe in Tibetan Buddhism are not. It is an ancient religion that values peace.
That what we need more of: individual and more communal peace. Seeing and acknowledging the better parts of each other, whether we are different or not. Probably even more important when we are different.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Tell Governor Brown: Ban Fracking in California

Petition here  Because earthquakes, more air and water pollution for you and your kids, and gas coming out of your faucets really isn't cool. At all.

House Panel Agrees to Prioritize Climate Change -- GOP Moving Into Reality?

Here Some progress into reality by the GOP? Away from eventual irrelevance? It's almost too late already. I think the GOP leadership blocking action on climate regulation will be legally liable. And future leaders in the not-too-distant future will be pursuing war-crime like trials for those who are screwing our futures and the lives of millions of people.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Earth's Dashboard is Flashing Red: Are Enough People Listening?

Great data and reportage from National Geographic here Great, as in HOLY SHIT. How are good people not acting more and not demanding more action? ? And how are we so subserviently allowing black-hearted greed fiends to lead our society on such a fossil-fueled charge over the cliff?

"As scientists and much of the public differ on the causes of climate change, the planet keeps getting warmer … and the effects are adding up."

"The researchers conclude that as we keep cutting down forests, domesticating wild lands, building more cities, depleting groundwater, polluting the air and water, and harvesting the oceans, we risk destroying the "safe space for humanity" we have enjoyed for more than ten thousand years."

Monday, February 2, 2015

More Good News: Burlington, Vermont 100% Renewable Powered

Very Nice
"Burlington, Vermont, the state's largest city, recently became the first in the country to use 100 percent renewable energy for its residents' electricity needs. In a state known for socially conscious policies, the feat represents a milestone in the growing green energy movement. NewsHour's William Brangham reports on the implications for the country's green movement."

Three Points by Obama I Like Very Much

Obama Weekly Address: "We Have To Make Some Choices About The Country We Want To Be" Here ME: Yes. The country with the biggest, most prosperous robust middle class = the best system of the people, for the people, we the people. Not the biggest lower classes. Not the wealthiest small upper class.

Obama: We Should Stop "Overinflating" Importance Of Terror Groups As If "They Are An Existential Threat"
OBAMA: You know, the truth of the matter is that they can do harm. But we have the...
Here ME: Agree.

Obama: This "Medieval Interpretation Of Islam" Is Rejected By "99.9%" Of Muslims, Not "Religious War"
OBAMA: Muslim communities in certain parts of the world that have perverted the religion,...
Here ME: Despite Bill Maher making some sense on the subject, I'd like to believe this is the truth, and hope the % (while probably inflated) ends up there. See my previous recent posts on Muslims.

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012

Sunset, Venice 12/20/2012
I've been thinking some about the Winter Solstice, the Mayan end of the 30,000-year-cycle on 12/21/12.

What if in fact the world did end? Even though this probably will not happen, to live consciously it is honest for us to take a bit of an inventory.

Am I happy with how I've lived my life? (Yesterday, I thought mostly yes, with some areas for improvement, as below.) Are there changes I would make?
Would I have tried to forgive those that were hostile or disappointing to me?
Would I spend more time with those I loved the most, telling them that, feeling that more?
Would I be happier, grateful for what I have, what I've experienced, the joy, the beauty in this world?

Maybe the answer is yes to all of the above.
So this time can serve as a point of rebirth for all of us. If we think about it.

Because somewhere along the line I realized I think maybe mankind deserves it. !
The way we are killing each other, killing the planet.
How selfish we are, and snotty to those around us. Petty, competitive. Why is this? Do we have to behave this way? (I say no, it greatly detracts and misdirects energy from the full-time celebration in which we could engage, the great multi-cultural, multi-rhythmic dance we can sustain here.)

Maybe God or the Great Universe is fed up, and will pull the rug out from under us.
Don't think I can say we could blame Him/Her/It.

But it probably won't happen. (Probably not! This time.)

Still we are finite on this ride.

It is a time to think, am I happy with how I've lived my life?
Hopefully most of us can say yes.

For the part of us that have a little worry, a little sadness....
This is the time to be present.
This is the time to be the person you want to be, that can die at peace, that can hope to every day be able to look yourself and the Universe in the eye and say, how beautiful, smiling, and thank you. Let's do that.

Antidotes to Violence, a.k.a., Take Charge of Where Your Head's At - here

Tell Congress to Strengthen Gun Control Laws NOW - here

Good News & Brain Food News -
Christians & Muslims Gather, for Peace here
Good News - Top RIO+20 Summit Posts here
The 'Busy' Trap - NYTimes.com
here