Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Monday, August 28, 2006

Iran and the US Nuclear crisis. Is there more to the story than we are being told?

The article in the Seattle Times says that the United States of America's infrastructure is rotting and we are coming apart at the seams. First of all, I don't believe this. I do believe in the market economy and I do believe that capital investment will rise to the occasion in most cases, unless...


Lately I’ve wonder about the Iran/Nuclear weapon issue that the Neocons and the media throw at us on a regular basis. I have posed this question, "What if Iran knows that its oil supplies are running out and it really is building the nuclear facility for power and not weapons?"

I've wondered something else too. What if Iran hates us so much and it knows the only way to topple us is to cut our legs out from underneath us? They know that the way to do this is be to blow up the oil wells and refineries. It would drive a stake into the heart of our economy. What if Iran's plan is to flip the switch the day before it happens and go to nuclear energy? What if they also plan to hit our infrastructure weakness that is outlined of in this article at the same time? They would have a dependable supply of energy and we would not. They would have an intact infrastructure, and we would not. Millions of people would die and there would be chaos in the streets.


Our response would be to nuke them....


I've read over and over again that the US is the economic engine of the global economy and it is in the best interest of other countries not to derail our economy. I guess the question is how much do hate us? How determined are they to rid our influence on this earth?

I wonder about their motives. Why would they defy the world and build nuclear bomb? Is it just prestige they want? They would do more damage by cutting our oil supply than they ever could with a bomb.

I was at a political hob-knob last week. There were Democrats and Republicans in attendance so we had a unique opportunity to mix and discuss issues with activists from both parties. I met this man who had been in the military and who was a Republican. He was explaining to everyone why we should go in and bomb Iran. He was serious too.

When I argued the point with him and asked him my "what if...” question, he was speechless. He either thought I was crazy or it really made him stop and think. ( I’d like to think it was the latter… )


He switched the subject and started comparing the Iran situation to Germany and Hitler. He said that if we had stopped Hitler before World War II the war could have been avoided. He of course forgot that the American corporations were making money by selling arms to the Germans and were not about to stop Hitler as long as there was profits to be made.

So if our infrastructure is decaying, we can hope that the free market will find a way to fix the problem. That is unless the Neocons have made us so hated in the world that that hatred of us has become our greatest vulnerability in the war against terror.

I believe it is in our nation’s best interest to wean ourselves from oil and to do it as soon as possible…

Mike Brown--X FEMA Director goes after Bush

On Hard Ball, Mike Brown answers Norah O'Donnell's question, "What was your biggest mistake?" Brown says his biggest mistake was playing along with the President and pretending like everything was fine and they were working as a team. He said, "Every day, we are given a list of talking points and told this is what you need to say to the news. The talking points were the spin of the day." He said that it was wrong to follow the talking and he should have been telling the truth, but he was trying to be a team player.

I'm not surprised. Bush's strategy has been to spin the media and sell the American people an illusion that is filled with deceit and corruption. Paul O'Neil and others in his administration who have fallen out of favor with the neocons revealed after leaving the White House that Bush only listens to a small core of people. He is responsive to them, and everyone else gets marching orders. That is the way his administration works. Clinton, on the other hand, listened to all points of view that were relevant before making a decision.

When I hear Bush speak, I think of Jimmy Swaggert. He seems so shallow and unprepared. He relies on “feel good” statements that are supposed to persuade the faithful to follow blindly along. I keep waiting for the alter call and for someone to pass the plate around and ask for donations. Well actually, they do. They collect money through the RNC.

I acutally heard some Republican whining on the news today saying, "The Democrats are trying to politicize this war," referring to the war in Iraq. Can you believe that Republicans are complaining politicizing the war in Iraq? Bush is in the White House because their whole strategy for the 2004 election was to politicize the war.
They are such hypocrites

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Hope a lot of millionaires by this electric car!

Electric cars!


Look ma' no gasonline
Photo Credits: Bruce Whitaker

So far 100 have been sold and paid for with cash. The price tag, $100,000. But it's good that people are buying these cars. Let's hope they sale a lot more. Maybe then it will "trickle" down to the average person and more cars will be built that use electricity instead of gasoline. The next step would be to find a way to make electricy without coal. We have the ability to do it! Let's make it happen!!


Hurricanes-- Oh my!


Let's see how wrong they are! This is the five day forecast for this hurricane. Needless to say, when we see this, everyone's anxiety goes way up, including mine.

Senator of shame


An unidentified senator placed a "secret hold" on legislation introduced by Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Barack Obama, D-Ill., that would create a searchable database of government contracts, grants, insurance, loans and financial assistance, worth $2.5 trillion last year. The database would bring transparency to federal spending and be as simple to use as conducting a Google search.

... Now the bill is in political limbo. Under Senate rules, unless the senator who placed the hold decides to lift it, the bill will not be brought up for a vote.

I don't care if this Senator is a Democrat or a Republican, let's hope they can smoke him/her out and fire them!

Burning Man


I'm not sure I really get this... looks like a guy burns a bunch of gas burners and then gets people to contribute to offset the about of CO2 he has created. It's an "art exhibit."

There are three ways to participate in CoolingMan 2006:

Option 1: Plant a Tree (or take other direct action to reduce GHG)

Option 2: Purchase GHG Offsets to Support Renewable Energy Projects
Option 3: Donate to Fund CoolingMan GHG Offsets

I guess it draws attention to our CO2 waste, but it's a little weird too.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Congress has failed the American People

Congress has failed the American People!

Congress has failed the American People!

Congress has failed the American People!

Congress has failed the American People!
Congress has failed the American People!
Congress has failed the American People!

Congress has failed the American People!

C o n g r e s s h a s f a i l ed t h e A m e r i c a n P e o p le !
Congress has failed the American People!
Congress has failed the American People!

Congress has failed the American People

We went to see the movie, "Why We Fight" last night. It was very well done and points out the close ties of the military-industrial-complex with Congress. The bottom line was the wars are manufactured because it is good for business. It was striking when they showed the halls of Congress just before the Iraqi war. This is where there is supposed to be debate, which is the foundation of democracy. Congress was silent. Only the Senator from West Virgina, Senator Byrd, had to courage to speak out and decry this war. What was absent was the debate, the questions, the search for the truth. There was no debate... we went to war. Congress failed the American people. They did not do their job.
Some Senators want to shine a spot light on the money/contractor issue. It has been blocked by a "secret" member of Congress. No, they don't want the American people to know who Congress really works for....

Friday, August 25, 2006

Katherine Harris, the new American Taliban


I read this interview with Katherine Harris. (see link) I acutally met her last week at a political hob-nob. After reading this interview, I wonder how in the world she is able to get up in the morning and get dressed without someone telling her what to do. She has NO ORIGINAL THOUGHTS WHAT SO EVER! She is one of those spoon-fed Christian/politicians who has checked her brain at the door. She is like a baby bird who has been fed so much religious-political propoganda that she has nothing to offer but her notoriety to the offfice.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Bush says DEMOCRATS make the world less safe?

If you google the headline in the Orlando Sentinel, you will see other headlines but our paper, has on the cover of today's paper: Bush says DEMOCRATS make the world less safe. But then when you go to their website, you can't find it. I think this shows the partisan nature of this newspaper. Drop a bomb like this on the front page- an accusation like this and then make it difficult to follow up on it.

No Orlando Sentinel and Mr. Bush, I would have to disagree, Democrats do not make the world less safe, YOU, Mr. President, have made the world less safe. And your "FEARMONGERING" is growing old!

This is TRUE ROVIAN politics. Take what is negative about you and blame it on the other party!

Sunday, August 20, 2006

The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire

Info about companies and organizations
trying to do good things...

Kilowatt Ours

Great Video! I saw this a couple of weeks ago and it definately had an impact on my behavior. I'm now turning off the lights when I leave the room. Well done and not too discouraging.

Florida Lags behind in Green Building

According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel/August 14, 2006 is behind in adopting more sustainable growth practices, known as "Green Buildings."
Some new groups are starting to emerge:
Florida Home Builders Association and Florida Green Building Coalition are on beginning to agree on standards for Green building.

Muslims in London

Photo Credits: Andrew Testa for The New York Times

A Hizb ut-Tahrir rally in London Saturday expressed anger over the war in Lebanon and the investigation of a terrorist plot by Islamic radicals.
Doesn't this photo say it all? How in the world do you get Hizbullah out of the hearts of the Muslims. So much for Bush's "War on Terror."

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Now that's talent!

Thomas Friedman-War on Daddy's Dime

Friedman hits the nail on the head again today in his op-ed piece.

"Yes, thanks to $70-a-barrel oil you can have Katyusha rockets and butter at the same time. When oil money is so prevalent, why not? Hezbollah and Iran are like a couple of rich college students who rented Lebanon for the summer, as if it were a beach house. “C’mon, let’s smash up the place,” they said to themselves. “Who cares? Dad will pay!” The only thing Nasrallah didn’t say to Lebanese was, “Hey, keep the change.”"

He argues that cutting oil prices will hurt Iran's ability to pay for wars. We are funding their wars with our driving habits.

War leaves Israelis bitter...

Here is a quote from the paper today. ( Baltimore Sun/Orlando Sentinel-John Murphy)

Polls released this week reflect Israeli frustration. Fifty-three percent of the people surveyed in the poll commissioned by Maariv newspaper said they think Israel should have refused the cease-fire terms and continued to battle Hezbollah.

I don't live there but it would seem to me that ending a war is better than fighting a war
.

Donna Brazile please go away!


Thanks to Mrs. Brazile the Democrats have adopted a new proposal that aims to create an "inclusion program" for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders and disabled. Why do we keep listening to losers like Brazile? Gore ran one of the worst presidential campaigns ever. Brazile was his campaign manager. Now she is going to screw up our chances to appeal to any disgruntled moderate Republicans with this. Do us a favor Ms. Brazile and just go away!

I'm not against these people, I just think that Clinton has the right idea, "don't ask and don't tell." I don't think it is necessary for people to go around and wear a button that says, "I'm gay." Who cares. That's your business not mine. Mainstream America is not ready to openly embrace this lifestyle. Most people do not want to persecute someone that lives an alternative lifestyle, but they don't want it shoved in their face. Anyone who remotely considered voting for the Democrats but strongly feels an aversion to the gay, lesbian issue will hold their nose and vote for the Republicans.

What a moron Brazile is! Please Democrats, stop listening to this out of touch, out of sync strategist! Dump her!

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Green Council

Business Week has a Special Advertising Section titled: Green Buildings: Comes the Revolution. Green construction use to be the frindge. Now it is becoming mainstream. According to this section, 40% of the energy we consume comes from construction.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Sanford, Florida needs bike lanes

I recently took a new job in Sanford, Florida so I'm getting to see lots of places in Sanford that were previously unknown to me. Sanford is not one of the the "high income" parts of Orlando. There are lots of nice streets in the city but also lots of poverty too, all mixed together. That can hurt economic growth.
One thing they could do to make the area more attractive would be to make bike lanes. There are some really quaint places that would be quite "hip" if they had bike lanes. That would be one simple thing they could do for urban revitalization.

Colbert Report-- word of the day

I love Colbert's word of the day to describe the current state of affairs in the electorate here in America: dumb-ocracy....
David Gergen was his guest today. I have never seen this man laugh before. His comments were quite enlightening. Too bad comedy is covering the news better than the news covers the news. What do you expect in a dumb-ocracy....

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Tara's Blog

If you've never read Tara Hunt's blog, it is inspiring and compelling. I found this wonderful example of how Blogs and Vlogs are reaching out to a multi-generational audience. There is so much wisdom out there that our seniors have to share. YouTube might be one way they could connect. Recently I read about and organization that had seniors read letters by troubled teens and develop a pen pal relationship. It was called, "Elder Wisdom Circle." The elders helped the teens with their struggles in life and offered them hope. Maybe the next step is a video pen pal opportunity for youngsters who need a guiding hand to connect with the seniors who need to share their wisdom.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Reflections about Cheney and his unusual remarks about the Lamont vs. Leiberman race



I received via e-mail an article about Dick Cheney losing his grip on reality and being a threat to Democracy because he is quoted to have said that those who voted for "Democrat Ned Lamont in the Connecticut Senate primary, claiming that these votes would encourage "al Qaeda types" to think that "they can break the will of the American people." I also watched the movie Flightplan staring Jodie Foster last night. The movie made me wonder about Cheney and I wondered if we were like the passengers on the plane who thought that Jodie Foster had lost her mind and needed to be locked up.

What I see are two possible scenarios: either Cheney is either wrong and is grasping for power, or he knows something we don't know and is like the mother who refuses to give up when everyone else has written her off. That is the dilemma that we face as citizens. We don't know who's right. What if he's right and there are worse thing brewing that we need to defeat at all costs? What if he is wrong and the anti-war folks are right, that Cheney and the neo-cons are war-mongers that want to dominate the world and are ready to throw Democracy overboard if necessary to retain power. What if, what if, what if... that that is our quandary.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Romney uses the National Guard for his political agenda

So let's see if we can connect the dots.
The news story brakes that terrorist were planning to simultaneously blow up 10 aircraft heading to the U.S.
Romney, who wants to be president, calls out the National Guard. Of course this makes the prime time news. Chris Matthews interviews him on prime time TV. Romney uses the bad news and his repsonse as a opportunity to introduce himself to the American people. He get's free air time because he called out the guard; he showcases his ability to lead the fight against terror for free. He gets good footage to use in later political ads. And we are supposed to feel safer because he called out the National Guard to protect us after the fact? The only thing missing in this "staged event" was the voice over that said, "Vote for me."

...He reminds me of
Bill Frist who tried to hog the spot light during the Terry Schiavo debacle.
It hurt my stomach to watch him.

God of War or God of Peace?

All of these right wing Christians that are so PRO WAR need to ask themselves this question: Is the Christian God the God of War or the God of Peace? A God of Death and Destruction or a God of Reconciliation? How did the church let the party of war become their shepard?

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Can Democrats get their MoJo back? Lieberman vs. Lamont will tell the story!

I have this love/hate thing going with Lieberman. He has done some really good things for the environmental issues that I care about, but he has done some really bad things that I totally disagree on the consumer protection side. He seems to side with big business more than he does with the worker. But he has also stood up for environmental things I care a lot about.

That being said, I still thing I would like to see him defeated. It would send a strong signal that it is time for a change in this country and the Democrats were getting their MoJo again.

The Problem with Deep Ecology

I read this wonderful article in an ecology magazine about this man, Doug Tompkins, who sold is Multinational Corporation and purchased land in Chile, and started this wonderful park, Pumalin Park. He spent a huge amount of money trying to preserve this area. It is supposed to be one of the most beautiful places in South American and worthy of preservation. Tompkins and his wife are to be commended for what they have been able to do with their wealth in terms of trying to preserve the environment.

Much to my dismay, I read in the New York Times on Sunday that they are now having fight big electric companies who want to build a dam for electricy and bury much of the land he has fought to preserve. Now, instead of investing in his goal of land preservation, he's going to have to invest a fortune in fighting off the electric multinational companies. If he is successful, it will only hold them at bay for a while, until he dies, or until the money runs out. It's a never ending battle and it seems like we always lose in the end. People want electricity and are willing to sacrifice what ever it takes to get it.

I'm not going to condemn these people, because I prefer not to do without electricity myself. But it would seem to make sense to invest in alternative sources of energy so that we would not have to bury in water, some of the most beautiful natural places in the world. In my humble opinion, it is the government's responsibility to get the ball rolling. Once it is "profitable" then the markets will jump in and take it from there. But there needs to be leadership in order to make that happen.

I hope Tompkins can win, for now....

Monday, August 07, 2006

Mike Thomas-Sentinel Columnist- owes Orlando an apology

Manatee photo featured on the front-page of the Sentinel August 1st, 2006
So here's what I don't get:
Mike Thomas writes a moving sarcastic commentary about the Manatee death and the 'whodunit' mentality that plagues our nation. Red Tide, which is fatal to all marine life, is becoming more prevalent up and down the coasts of Florida. It is the result of nature but escalated by man's short-sighted use of the ocean and rivers as a sewer and garbage can for every chemical known to man. He sarcastically ridicules the our tendency to tip toe around the issues by saying that it's natural and we "aren't certain" what is causing the problem even though everyone knows that we are feeding the algae with our industrial waste that ends up in the oceans and waterways.

I applaud him for his piece in the paper Sunday, but here's the disconnect that I don't get. This man voted for Bush, promoted Bush and encouraged others to vote for Bush and all things Republican. Has he looked at the voting record of some of these politicians? The Leauge of Conservation Voters has. Bush is the first president that has ever earned an "F" on his report card from them. I'll bet a ton of politicans who are currently in Tallahassee and Washington that Mike supports are right there with Bush and have supported is destructive policies. He criticizes but he supports the very same people who are trashing the environment. H-E-L-L-O! Whether we like it or not, our vote does count in some ways because we elect or reject the people who will decide whether or not protecting the environment is a priority.

Billions of dollars are now being pumped into the Green Movement on Wall Street. The argument that it's “ jobs or the environment” is no longer valid nor ever was valid. Like it or not, Mike, you helped make this situation worse by promoting the amoral Republicans that are currently in office. Everyone is saying: "The Democrats should apologize and say they were wrong about supporting the war." Maybe the people who supported Bush should do likewise and say they were wrong about supporting this President.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Pat Robertson Part 2

I wonder if Pat Robertson, with his new found religion on Climate Change will buy one of these electric cars by Telsa? Only one grand. That is probably chump change for him. He made millions off of all the poor saps that he convinced that Global Warming/Climate Change wasn't real. Pass the hat, Pat needs your cash to preach his new revelation. Too bad you can't get a refund for bad preaching. Would it be sour grapes for the environmentalist to say, "I told you so... ?"

Friday, August 04, 2006

Pat Robertson is converted to believe in Global Warming?

I heard that Pat Robertson now believes in Global Warming. I guess this is like Saul on the road to Damascus when the Lord says, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" Saul becomes Paul and one of the most important figures in the early Christian Church. Pat Robinson is going to become an evangelist for Climate Change now?

I am going to find it really hard to forgive this man for the arrogant pious dogmatic venom that he has spewed in the name of religion, mocking and vilifying people who sincerely tried to warn about Climate Change. Pat Robinson's 700 Club convinced his followers that they could live patriotic excessive lives and suffer no consequence what-so-ever....

Mel Gibson

I wish they would quit already with the Mel Gibson thing.
Who cares!!

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

We have altered the oceans

More bad news.... the animals in our oceans are dying from toxic algae that is a result of our factory farming. Experts warn, we have about ten years to modify our way of life or global waming will be beyond our control.

Babes on Bikes

Girls just want to have fun! Here's the URL for the Bobbies.

Pew Internet Survey

New Apps

One of my favorite blogs to read is HorseCowPig. I've learned a lot about the new Web 2.0 world by readingTara's blog. Here is a post of some of her favorite new Web 2.0 apps.

Barcamp Orlando/Barcamp Earth

I want to see a Barcamp Orlando added to this list.

Conservatives Withouth A Conscience

I've been listening to the book on tape, "Conservatives Without a Conscience" as I commute to and from work. I wish they had picked a better reader. The person reading it almost puts me to sleep! But the content is interesting. If I had time, I would much prefer reading it vs. listening to this guy drone on and on.... zzzz.

But that being said, John Dean is not happy about this new conservative agenda for the country. So far, he says that we are going to loose our democracy if they continue to get their way. These people are not about personal freedom, and do not represent true conservatism, but are a modern phenomena and will drive a stake into the heart of our democracy if left unchecked. This guy is a conservative Republican too.