Josh Fox on His New Doc "How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change" | Democracy Now!

Josh Fox on His New Doc "How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change" | Democracy Now! 

Good and bad. Good in that he's staying a bit positive and spotlighting the human spirit, even the islanders not giving up and fighting.

Bad in that he's conceding at least some defeat, which is realistic. But worse in that it feeds the negativism and visceral hostility of those who want to keep making money off fossil fuels -- 'damn right, mankind will live without low-lying island nations and crippled or submerged cities from New York to San Francisco to London. Fuck 'em.'

It also sadly feeds into the nihilism and apathy of many common Americans, conceding to the fossil-fuel soaked Republicans' will that climate change is something we don't think man is causing so we'll just have to live with whatever comes.

Forty-Two Percent Of Russians Believe Corrupt Officials Have Performed Silent Coup

Forty-Two Percent Of Russians Believe Corrupt Officials Have Performed Silent Coup 

Vladimir Putin is a naughty boy. $110,000 salary per year. But CIA estimates his wealth at $60 billion.

Uh oh.

And there is new "...Russian legislation defending highly ranked corrupt officials at the top
of the national government and increasing the crackdown on those who
deal in criticising and unmasking them."

Etc. Bad. Very bad.

Pope Francis, Iranian President meet face-to-face at the Vatican

Here  Interesting. Sounds odd, but promising? How much hope can one hold out when violence seems so deeply entrenched in that area? "The Vatican played up the commonalities on Tuesday, while also referencing "the life of the Church in" Iran and "the promotion of the dignity of the human person and religious freedom."

"I wish this day could be a moment that makes us hope for a future of peace, not of conflict and hostility," said Iranian President Rouhani.

Let's hope so. Let's hold them to that.

Week-End Petitions You Should Sign

Today is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on Row v Wade - 43 years ago. Today you can:

Add your name to tell the GOP to stop the attempts to dismantle Roe v. Wade.  

Defend Roe v Wade

ADD YOUR NAME to stand with Democrats and demand an end to the attacks on Planned Parenthood and women’s health.

Miscellaneous strong petitions and actions to support:

Tell President Obama: Don’t Back Down. Fight Secret Corporate Money 

Tell Congress: Overturn Citizens United in 2016

Tell Republicans: Stop attacking Social Security! 

Help Get Big Oil Money Out of Politics

Take action and urge your lawmakers to support ingredient disclosure for household products! >> 

(Workers and consumers don’t know—and the labels won’t tell us—that chemicals found in some ordinary cleaning products are known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects, asthma and other serious health effects.)

Combat climate change with sustainable palm oil products!

Hillary Clinton: On Reversing Citizens United, Growing Democracy - CNN.com

Hillary Clinton: Cure for Citizens United is more democracy - CNN.com 

This is a pretty good piece from Hillary. "The
Republicans could either change themselves -- by embracing the young,
diverse and tolerant America of the 21st century -- or they could try to
change whose voices count in our democracy.

We
all know the cynical path they chose. Six years ago Thursday, the
Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United transformed our politics by
allowing corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence
elections"

"We can't let this continue. It's time to
reclaim our democracy, reform our distorted campaign finance system and
restore access to the ballot box in all 50 states.

That starts with reversing Citizens United. And that's where my comprehensive plan
to restore common sense to campaign finance begins. As president, I'll
appoint Supreme Court justices who recognize that Citizens United is bad
for America. And if necessary, I'll fight for a constitutional
amendment that overturns it."

2015 the Hottest Year on Record by a Wide Margin

Here  Per NASA and NOAA. It will 'continue to happen' because they know what causes it. '...it will continue because the dominant force is carbon dioxide” from burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. 2015 was a third of a degree hotter than in 2014! #globalwarming #fossilfuelsstayintheground #GOPfools #GOPplanetthreat

Not a done deal - click to save solar in California

The California Public Utilities Commission has heard all of our calls to keep solar growing. They recently announced that they intend to reject utility company proposals to gut our state's strongest solar policy, net metering. But there's still time for the utility companies to change the commissioners' minds—and they're trying hard to do just that.

Let the commissioners hear your voice!

The final vote is happening on January 28th. So we need your help now to remind the Commission that Californians like you want them to stand up for solar.

LADWP Electricity Rate Increases

Here "... After five years of rate increases, the typical residential customer would see a $6 to $12 increase to their monthly bill. The price of inaction would be much higher than this.” 

"... the DWP is expected to replace 70 percent of its power sources over the next 15 years “to meet state mandates, fight climate change and fund the energy efficiency programs that enable customers to lower their bills even as rates rise.” 

Ratepayer advocate says it is fair. Scaling it over 5 years good. Oversight needed to continue to make bills more transparent and reforms continuing. More analysis to come from others most likely.

Great Debate Last Night, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton

Google News  Debate Report Here

Last night's debate between Sanders and Clinton (and O'Malley too actually) was very spirited and excellent. Great exchange of ideas, from gun control, clean energy, and reining in Wall St., Citizen's United, rightfully demonizing the disproportionate influence big businesses and lobbyists have subverting American Democracy away from the needs and fairness of the middle class, i.e., We the People, Of the People. Many of those issues and solutions are populated throughout the pages of this very blog.

"...the mainstream media is racing to catch up to a phenomenon that has been
abundantly clear to backers, donors and the progressive media for nine
months."

Obama To Halt Coal Leases in Federal Lands

Good. Tell him to include all fossil fuels here

Bill Murray's Melancholic Christmas Special - Review

Well we watched this last night. Description here
Right after the State of the Union speech. Felt right. Where can you go after that speech but somewhere different, hopeful, special?

So it is interesting, and really very niche, but I can also see how it got 2 stars and some people turned it off. Nina's parents thought it was low budget, and the singing not good (consistently). Well, true that.

But Bill's worn warmth and underplayed pathos, and self-deprecating, even pathetic 'actor past his prime' arc, going slowly toward the end of a life and career, is both the center of his work and of his seemingly genuine personality. Which is a little pathetic. But then there is his quiet spark. His spark is interesting, even enigmatic.

His singing is not great, but with some charisma. Jenny Lewis sang well I thought. And David Johannesen (from the New York Dolls! Look it up if you don't know; Buster Poindexter you might know) was fantastic. Jason Schwartzman kind of made it feel like a Wes Anderson joint. And Paul Schaffer's piano playing was superb. What is Paul up to under those shades, what is he doing without Letterman? So obviously, knowing and feeling these things, I enjoyed this more than most people. Much more.

They didn't promote it right. It is a not an 'upbeat celebrity Christmas Special.' With nice sets and great singing. Miley Cyrus did sing great, and George Clooney was amusing in his role. But promoting them and the image of the snow-laden idyllic set (which was a very small scene in the movie) was an unfortunate and poorly-conceived misdirection. The plot is noir: down and out, a broken-marriage; Chris Rock and even Bill's producers run out on him when they get the chance.

It reminded me of the famous re-created diner picture: with James Dean, Bogie, Elvis, and Marilyn at the end of the bar, with a deserted night street outside.

If Bill crept into that picture and started singing some Christmas songs, with a bit of rat pack vibe and a drink in his hand, that is more of what this 'special' felt like.

That is kind of special. I liked it, very much. But I also can't blame those who turned it off.

New York Times: Readers React to Obama’s Final State of the Union Address

This is good reading here

Obama's Final State of the Union Was Breathtaking

Here I too have faith in my country. I too vote, and voice my opinions, and participate in discussions and direction for the country, and state, and city, and individual.

I was proud to be an American after his State of the Union speech. We are the greatest and most powerful nation on Earth, by far as Obama said. But it is all of us, our diversity, that keeps us greater than the sum of our parts. His ability to take the high road, to logically assess our place in the world and communicate thoughts for the next 5 or ten years was fantastic.

Not giving in to fear, emphasizing the inclusive America, is the high road. Being realistic about fighting terrorism and protecting American citizens as job 1 is the high road.

I was honestly a bit emotional when Obama was done.

We will miss him. The country will miss him. Thank you Mr. President.

Porter Ranch: Natural Gas Debacle, California's Deepwater Horizon

​SoCal Gas reportedly knew about corroding pipes a year before gas leak - L.A. Biz 

Anyone who thinks natural gas is safe, after this, is a knucklehead.

Thousands have been sickened, and evacuated, and exposed to methane and the toxic carcinogen benzene. Here

The climate and environmental costs have been astronomical - like HALF A MILLION CARS driving for a full year of emissions. This figure was as of two weeks ago. Here

The cost of moving people is astronomical -- $5 million so far just for two schools! Over 2500 families have been relocated and almost 5000 have applied for relocation. Here

The EPA is investigating. It seems company engineers knew of pipe corrosion.
Here  and Here

This all for the leak from one natural gas well. ONE. WELL. Think wind turbines or solar panels could do any of this? (Answer: No.)

As scientists say, all wells leak. All of them.

Anyone still fired up about natural gas? Or our Governor Jerry Brown tying our state's grid future to natural gas?

We need to change our energy portfolio immediately away from fossil fuel.

Tell President Obama and the EPA: Stop the worst methane leak in history:

http://act.credoaction.com/sign/porter_ranch?t=2&akid=16485.416532.dGSjob 


In just a few short years, solar power has gotten big in California, and now it’s at the top of the renewable energy heap. Pete Danko KQED -- 1/11/16

AI and Crowdsourcing to Solve Worst Societal Problems?

Here Yes.  "...a fascinating new study published in the journal Science claims that combining artificial intelligence (AI) and crowdsourcing could solve so-called “wicked problems.”

"What are wicked problems? They’re essentially problems that are extremely complex with a huge amount of variables that makes it difficult for an individual to figure out a solution. Problems like the spread of disease, climate change, and geopolitical strife...." 

Combine this with gaming and gamers, and we're on to something. Aiding progress and evolution, and decreasing the cycle of violence. As I've blogged about here. And here. Let's do it. 

Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay | Playing For Change - YouTube

Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay | Playing For Change - YouTube 



Change of pace -- youtube video of people from the U.S to Brazil to Japan collaborating on a gorgeous cover rendition of Otis Redding's great song. Wonderful. What we should be doing.

Obama details executive action on gun restrictions - The Washington Post

Obama details executive action on gun restrictions - The Washington Post 

There can be few amongt reasonable people disputing the need of these.

As Obama stated, the American public vastly supports these regulation improvements.

"One key provision would require more gun sellers — especially those who
do business on the Internet and at gun shows — to be licensed and would
force them to conduct background checks on potential buyers."

Is it possible this hasn't happened yet? You can get a gun easier than a beer?

The GOP is far from reality thinking this is not a safe measure that preserves 2nd Amendment rights. Jeez, alcohol was prohibited, and then regulated. Guns need to be better regulated too.

The rest are also completely common sense measures Obama proposes that I support as well.  That the GOP will try to block this somehow (and hasn't been able to pass legislation to the same end) is beyond aggravating. MISDIRECTED, IRRESPONSIBLE, NEGLIGENT, BOWING TO THE NRA BULLSHIT. There are many lies to be saved here. Common sense must prevail. Or leave it to a full vote from the people.

"He reminded those gathered, including many who have lost family members to gun violence, that other people also have rights — the right to peaceable assembly and the right to practice their religion without being shot."

"As Obama said, tearing up at the mention of the Sandy Hook shooting that took the lives of 20 first-graders, if we can keep children from opening aspirin bottles, surely we can prevent their pulling the trigger on a gun."