Sunday, December 11, 2005

Why I felt totally discouraged after the FDP convention

I walked away from the convention on Saturday night, feeling totally discouraged with the whole political process in America. What is becoming evident to me is that our leaders are out of touch with the common person. We show up to these political events, they give some political speeches that stir our emotions. They make sure they talk about the things they think we care about to stir our passions, so we will get excited and want to go out there and help them get elected. As soon as they get elected, the fail to deliver even a public debate on any of the issues that got us involved in the first place. They use us to get re-elected every four years. We are their guinea pigs to help them perfect the message that they use over and over again to get us involved. When they go to Washington or Tallahassee and do their thing, it seldom benefits us.
I only heard one speaker that really talked about something that I cared about, Ron Klein. He was the only one who addressed the fact that we, as a party, need to deliver a promise to the future: end this Iraq war by weaning our society of oil. That needs to be a priority for this country and he wanted to get elected to office so he could help make that happen. I laughed though when he said he was going to do it by 2012! It showed me that he had absolutely no real knowledge of the issue other than, we ought to do it. If he had said by 2025, I would have thought he was being optimistic But the important thing was that he was the only one who really spoke to this issue!

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Roe v Wade and Samuel Alito

So far, this whole judge thing has been off my radar screen. I've been so wrapped up in the othernews, I have to say that I really haven't been paying attention to this Supreme Court nominee. Today, I found an article in the Slate about other reasons to be concerned about Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court. I'll post this in the comment sectcion.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Treehugger Awards

I am encouraged by what I read in Newsweek and Businessweek recently. It appears that big corporations are beginning to see that Global Warming is an issue that can impact the bottom line. Here are some mentioned companies:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are Newsweeks Tree Hugger companies
Ten Eco-Friendly Companies Alternative-energy projects used to be the stuff of high-school science fairs. But pricey oil has changed the game, and the stories of these firms show that new technologies are winning over investors and customers, as well as saving the environment.

1. Harnessing Hydrogen Hydrogenics: Building markets for fuel-cell tech. A big bonus: byproducts can quench a thirst.

2. Farming New Fuels Seattle Biodiesel: It makes an alternative fuel derived from vegetable oil that burns clean

3. Soaking Up the Sun Miasole: Developing new ways, besides silicon, to capture the sun's rays and create energy

4. Go With the Guts Svenska Biogas: Burning animal innards to fuel a locomotive. Up next: fuel from corn sludge.

5. A Sterling Solution STM Power: A modern twist on the Stirling engine, including a 'Fumes to Fuel' idea for Ford

6. A New Power Paradigm Ion America: Developing solid oxide fuel cells that could put a power plant in your basement

7. A Great Wall of Wind Farsighted Group: Using local technology to build the world's biggest market for wind power

8. A Very Light Touch PowerLight: Making solar systems pay off for homeowners, businesses and governments

9. Flights of Fancy SunPower Corp.: Its solar-panel tech is highly efficient, and its esthetics are better for homes

10. A Jolt of Conservation Comverge, Inc.: Its technology cuts power usage and saves money for utility customers

2005 Newsweek, Inc.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10218264/site/newsweek/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are Business Weeks Tree Hugger Companies: ( a suprising list)

1DuPont --Reduced energy consumption 7% below 1990 levels, saving more than $2 billion -- including at least $10 million a year by using renewable sources

2 BP --Reached its 2010 GHG reduction target in 2001. Increased valuation by $650 million through improvements in operating efficiency and energy management

3 Bayer --Boosting energy efficiency also avoided $850 million in investments that otherwise would have been required, because production grew 22%

4 BT --Low-carbon and renewable sources provide 98% of its electricity in Britain, saving $1.1 billion. Adding 38% reduction in vehicle emissions almost doubles savings

5 Alcoa --Slashed emissions of perfluorocarbon (PFC) gas from aluminum smelters by 80%. Expects annual cost savings to reach $100 million next year

6 IBM --Tonnage cuts are from just higher energy efficiency. The reduction triples if other CO2 and PFC cleaning-solvent emissions are included. Total savings: $791 million

7 Catalyst Paper --Substantially lower CO2 emissions stem from efficiency initiatives that have netted savings of more than $17 million over the past 10 years

8 STMicroelectronics --Since 1994, CO2 emissions have been progressively curtailed with better energy practices. Efficiency savings now exceed $100 million a year

9 3M --By cutting energy consumption, 3M has saved more than $190 million since 1990

10 Iberdrola --Tonnage was avoided with renewable fuels, but total emissions grew in 2004. Biomass investments -- $12.7 billion since 2001 -- will yield 5,500 megawatts in 2008

Friday, December 02, 2005

Bird Flu Symptoms

I digress from being really serious to really silly on my blog. I think its good medicine to laugh though so that’s my excuse. Actually, it’s really late and I’m waiting for my computer to finish downloading all my podcasts to my IPOD. So I’m making use of my time and catching up on my e-mail…

Last week I heard a podcast on the bird flu which was really quite alarming. Of course, I told my husband about all the horrific details. His latest e-mail shows you just how he helps keep me balanced!

BIRD FLU SYMPTOMS
The Center for Disease Control has released a list of symptoms of the Bird Flu.  If you experience any of the following, please seek medical treatment immediately:
1.  High fever
2.  Congestion
3.  Nausea
4.  Fatigue
5.  Aching in the joints
6.  An irresistible urge to shit on someone's windshield
HA!