Blowout could spill 58 million gallons in Arctic - Yahoo! News
They better up their game here... disaster/clean-up/remediation preparation in this incredible lucrative field is the only way the public will let this dinosaur (ha, and literally 'obsolete' as it's running out and so deadly polluting) energy source continue.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/exxon-mobil-profit-nears-11-billion-2011-04-28?link=MW_latest_news
A collection of ideas, letters, opinions, and inspiration. On freedom, on Generation X, modern society, the ethereal dance of the unconquered mind (ok, that's the name of a photo exhibit in San Jose, but it's nifty sounding), the Democratic Party, how much rock and roll and the web will fuel activism, things worth chronicling, things we can improve, and the future.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Starting to Take a Sustainable Future Seriously
"We can either sit on the sidelines and watch the competition pass us by, or we can get in the race and play to win..."
"With this step by the DOE, the U.S. will have seriously entered the modern version of the space race of the 1960s, the solar race of today..."
Solar Trust of Oakland wins federal loan support
"With this step by the DOE, the U.S. will have seriously entered the modern version of the space race of the 1960s, the solar race of today..."
Solar Trust of Oakland wins federal loan support
Monday, April 11, 2011
Global Military Spending Hits High But Growth Slows
Global Military Spending Hits High But Growth Slows
There may be something positive and sustainable here (if it's not just a reverberation from the economic crisis).
See the 'America is [Statistically Getting] More Peaceful' post below.
There may be something positive and sustainable here (if it's not just a reverberation from the economic crisis).
See the 'America is [Statistically Getting] More Peaceful' post below.
Actual events don't matter, just vague recollections that may or may not be accurate?
"What a bullshit, bullshit premise
Actual events don't matter, just vague recollections that may or may not be accurate?
This is where postmodernism, for all it's positives, fails us. There must be certain factual truths, maybe not in some metaphysical sense or whatever, but these are issues that could be brought before a court of law. We have to set standards for reality, fact, and truth if we are to have a successful society.
This is the kind of thinking that leads people to say nonsense like "every opinion is valid" with the implication that opinions are justified by the equality and dignity of every human. Well guess what, just because everyone is equal doesn't mean everyone's opinion is valid or every "different reality" is valid.
And we wonder how the GOP has managed to win the message war! We wonder how people buy the false equivalence between progressive ideas and fascist lies! People simply do not care about facts or trying to uncover the truth. Everything is a soundbite. Everything is relative. Everything is valid, just because it is said. It's like some bad Orwellian acid trip.
And shame on you for reinforcing these things Mary Elizabeth Williams. You simultaneously and shamelessly criticize and validate every piece of of shit that oozes forth from the asshole of America. And then you write an article about how you're concerned the discourse is poor.
This is where postmodernism, for all it's positives, fails us. There must be certain factual truths, maybe not in some metaphysical sense or whatever, but these are issues that could be brought before a court of law. We have to set standards for reality, fact, and truth if we are to have a successful society.
This is the kind of thinking that leads people to say nonsense like "every opinion is valid" with the implication that opinions are justified by the equality and dignity of every human. Well guess what, just because everyone is equal doesn't mean everyone's opinion is valid or every "different reality" is valid.
And we wonder how the GOP has managed to win the message war! We wonder how people buy the false equivalence between progressive ideas and fascist lies! People simply do not care about facts or trying to uncover the truth. Everything is a soundbite. Everything is relative. Everything is valid, just because it is said. It's like some bad Orwellian acid trip.
And shame on you for reinforcing these things Mary Elizabeth Williams. You simultaneously and shamelessly criticize and validate every piece of of shit that oozes forth from the asshole of America. And then you write an article about how you're concerned the discourse is poor.
—Anticleon Read Anticleon's other letters
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 12:28 PM ET" from Salon
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Budget Crisis Next Time - NYTimes.com
The Budget Crisis Next Time - NYTimes.com
"The federal government survived the hostage crisis created by House Republicans, but emerged staggering from the deal struck Friday night. The compromises were damaging, the amount of money cut from a sickly economy was severe, and the image of Washington as a back-alley dogfighting garage will not soon fade.
...
Mr. Obama will speak this week about a plan to reduce the long-term deficit, and aides are already making it clear he will finally demand that taxes for the rich must go up. The fight next time will be rougher and the principles need to be stronger. The Democrats’ message must be far more convincing than it has been, and their counterattack against Republican irresponsibility far more powerful."
"The federal government survived the hostage crisis created by House Republicans, but emerged staggering from the deal struck Friday night. The compromises were damaging, the amount of money cut from a sickly economy was severe, and the image of Washington as a back-alley dogfighting garage will not soon fade.
...
Mr. Obama will speak this week about a plan to reduce the long-term deficit, and aides are already making it clear he will finally demand that taxes for the rich must go up. The fight next time will be rougher and the principles need to be stronger. The Democrats’ message must be far more convincing than it has been, and their counterattack against Republican irresponsibility far more powerful."
Obama to Offer Details of Plan to Reduce U.S. Budget Deficit - NYTimes.com
Obama to Offer Details of Plan to Reduce U.S. Budget Deficit - NYTimes.com
"...take “a scalpel, not a machete,” to programs like Medicare and education and try once again to extract more taxes from the wealthiest Americans, his senior adviser said Sunday....." Sounds like a reasonable start. Do we need an arbitrator, like in a divorce, to mediate the cuts from both sides of the Congressional aisle?
"...take “a scalpel, not a machete,” to programs like Medicare and education and try once again to extract more taxes from the wealthiest Americans, his senior adviser said Sunday....." Sounds like a reasonable start. Do we need an arbitrator, like in a divorce, to mediate the cuts from both sides of the Congressional aisle?
Saturday, April 9, 2011
World stumbles toward climate summit - FoxNews.com
World stumbles toward climate summit - FoxNews.com
So, after we stumble into progress, can we hold accountable those who set us so far back?
So, after we stumble into progress, can we hold accountable those who set us so far back?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
America Getting More Peaceful!
Chalk this up as the BIG good news note of the month.
Study: Maine the most peaceful U.S. state, Louisiana the least - Yahoo! News
"The USPI report reveals that peace in the United States has improved since 1995 primarily driven by a substantial decrease in homicide and violent crime," the IEP says on its website, adding that "peace is significantly correlated with factors related to economic opportunity, education and health."
Study: Maine the most peaceful U.S. state, Louisiana the least - Yahoo! News
"The USPI report reveals that peace in the United States has improved since 1995 primarily driven by a substantial decrease in homicide and violent crime," the IEP says on its website, adding that "peace is significantly correlated with factors related to economic opportunity, education and health."
The group lists the ten most peaceful states in order as: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Minnesota, North Dakota, Utah, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Iowa, and Washington. And here are the least (also in order, with Louisiana leading the unrest): Louisiana, Tennessee, Nevada, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Maryland.
Obama and budget debate: President warns of consequences of impending government shutdown - latimes.com
Obama and budget debate: President warns of consequences of impending government shutdown - latimes.com
"When was the last time you just got your way? That's not the way it works," the president said.
"The fact is, you have to make compromises — as a family. That's what we are, the American family."
"When was the last time you just got your way? That's not the way it works," the president said.
"The fact is, you have to make compromises — as a family. That's what we are, the American family."
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Why We're Fasting - NYTimes.com
Why We're Fasting - NYTimes.com
"...the House budget bill, H.R. 1. The budget proposes cuts in the WIC program (which supports women, infants and children), in international food and health aid (18 million people would be immediately cut off from a much-needed food stream, and 4 million would lose access to malaria medicine) and in programs that aid farmers in underdeveloped countries. Food stamps are also being attacked, in the twisted “Welfare Reform 2011” bill. (There are other egregious maneuvers in H.R. 1, but I’m sticking to those related to food.)
"...the House budget bill, H.R. 1. The budget proposes cuts in the WIC program (which supports women, infants and children), in international food and health aid (18 million people would be immediately cut off from a much-needed food stream, and 4 million would lose access to malaria medicine) and in programs that aid farmers in underdeveloped countries. Food stamps are also being attacked, in the twisted “Welfare Reform 2011” bill. (There are other egregious maneuvers in H.R. 1, but I’m sticking to those related to food.)
These supposedly deficit-reducing cuts — they’d barely make a dent — will quite literally cause more people to starve to death, go to bed hungry or live more miserably than are doing so now. And: The bill would increase defense spending."