Saturday, December 31, 2011
Something to keep in mind from this year, now ending
Barack Obama ordered the killing of Osama Bin Laden. It took him two and half years to do what Bush couldn’t do in eight. Just saying. Happy New Year, y'all.
Friday, December 30, 2011
On creativity
Ira Glass, from NPR's "This American Life":
Links: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Glass
How great would this be?
Here's the deal--you're Margaret Thatcher. You're not especially physically attractive and you fight your way to the top of British politics. You're also into very austere, punishing, Right-wing, Conservative, heartless government.
And that's just the beginning. Much later, after you've long-since retired, none other than Meryl-freaking-Streep is tapped to play you on the big screen.
Further proof, as though we needed it, that life is grossly, grossly, too frequently punishingly unfair. (Think happy thoughts, campers).
What'd I say about "The Adventures of Tin Tin"?
Big, big questions for 2012
They are big, indeed, the questions we can pose now, for this coming new year. So many people are predicting collapses of different kinds. So here goes, some of my questions for 2012:
1) Will Greece's economy collapse?
2) Will Italy follow suit?
3) Spain?
4) Portugal?
5) Will the Euro collapse, in full or part?
6) Will the US financial system face the same or very similar collapse as we did in 2008, yet again?
7) Seriously, many people I've spoken to--friends--have predicted and are predicting--gulp--the collapse of the US. Nice thought, huh?
Understand, I'm not predicting any of the above. I've just seen many people predicting these things. Consider it just food for thought.
Think happy thoughts, y'all. And happy new year.
Missouri and Kansas in "Top 10 States Hit by Extreme Weather in 2011
Watch How 2011 Became a 'Mind-Boggling' Year of Extreme Weather on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.
The number one state for most effected by extreme weather? Texas. They fried. This past year has been described as "weather on steroids." (see last 2 links below) Here's hoping 2012 is better to the planet. Links: http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/12/30/395849/top-10-states-hit-by-extreme-weather-in-2011/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+climateprogress%2FlCrX+%28Climate+Progress%29; http://www.climatecentral.org/news/top-ten-states-hit-hardest-by-2011s-extreme-weather/; http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/12/30/395914/our-weather-on-steroids-the-mind-boggling-climate-disasters-of-2011/; http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/12/29/395730/pbs-covers-link-between-2011s-mind-boggling-extreme-weather-and-global-warming-its-like-being-on-steroids/The biggest way America is broken
The reason our gov't doesn't represent the people is because "campaign contributions" have gotten so out of hand. We need to, finally, institute true, accountable, tough, prosecutable campaign finance reform so the wealthy and corporations can no longer buy our representatives and so, their legislation, thereby buying our laws and government. Untiil we do that, nothing will change. Until we do that, they will continue legislating for those same wealthy and corporations, instead of for the country and people. Right now, it's not "for the people" at all. We need to get the money out, that's all there is to it.
Quote of the day
“The boom, not the slump, is the right time for austerity at the Treasury.” So declared John Maynard Keynes in 1937, even as F.D.R. was about to prove him right by trying to balance the budget too soon, sending the United States economy — which had been steadily recovering up to that point — into a severe recession. Slashing government spending in a depressed economy depresses the economy further; austerity should wait until a strong recovery is well under way.
Unfortunately, in late 2010 and early 2011, politicians and policy makers in much of the Western world believed that they knew better, that we should focus on deficits, not jobs, even though our economies had barely begun to recover from the slump that followed the financial crisis. And by acting on that anti-Keynesian belief, they ended up proving Keynes right all over again. --Paul Krugman, economist, columnist and writer for The New York Times. Link to original post here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/30/opinion/keynes-was-right.html?_r=1
Happy National Bicarbonate of Soda Day!
Happy Friday
Reputedly the top-viewed viral video of this past year. I figured I'd only post it once and this seemed the perfect day for it.Enjoy the weekend, y'all and have a very safe, happy and prosperous new year.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Apple premium
I needed a pair of headphones for my ipod shuffle and was on the Plaza so I stopped in to see how much they'd be. I figured they couldn't be that much and I like the white ones they have so I'd check it out. I asked a "genius" (I'm not being sarcastic) for their "best, least expensive" ones and he said they were---gulp---$49.95. I was stunned. Not only that but they went up to as high as $79.95 for the "really good ones", I presume. Well, it didn't take me long to blow that off and go up the street to Radio Shack. The difference? Here you go:
Again, Apple earbuds--$49.95/pair. The "knockoffs"? Some other brand's earbuds?
As you can see, an Auvio brand (never heard of them) in black for--check this out--$9.95/pair. Now, I ask you, why would I not pocket the $40.00 minimum savings? Yikes.
Sears, K-Mart to only close one KC store
I'm so old...
I remember all ten (from an online article): 10 Brand Names Gone, But Not Forgotten They are (were): Woolworth's (first named F.W. Woolworth's), Amiga (computers), Merry Go Round/Chess King (clothing stores), Diners Club Card (a credit card), Tab (sugar-free soft drink), Rustler Steakhouse (I remember it but never ate there. Maybe that's why they failed), McCall's magazine (Mom took this one, at one time as I remember), General Cinema Corporation (a movie theater chain), Pan Am (the jet airline) and Chiclets (chewing gum).
What we denied about the George W. Bush administration and the Iraq War
I ask you, is this not what happened, ladies and gentlemen?
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
$2.87/gal was apparently as good as it gets
Okay, so Christmas, 2011 gas was $2.87 per gallon. At least it was up here in the Northland and on the East side of the city. Now, today, it's back up to $2.99/gallon and is expected to go higher in the new year though it's lower on the international markets today, due to the Saudis saying they'd make up for anything we lose if the Iranians shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Who knows? Stay tuned. Link: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-price-falls-saudis-trump-iran-threat-145636032.html;_ylt=AmHECaU3OViIVGuEdlIh4Rn99XQA;_ylu=X3oDMTRvaHE1dDVkBGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDEwMDBwb29sd2lraXVwcmVzdARtaXQDTmV3cyBmb3IgeW91BHBrZwMxZWU5ODJlOC02YmIyLTMwMmUtODA4Ni04ZGMyMzFiMWM5ZGIEcG9zAzIEc2VjA25ld3NfZm9yX3lvdQR2ZXIDMGI0MWIwYjAtMzE5OC0xMWUxLWFiZmYtNGFiOTU4MmM2Yjkw;_ylg=X3oDMTJ0am41dTRtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDM2ExMDUzZWYtNTVlNS0zZDM3LThiZDgtM2E5OTBhZWE0OTBjBHBzdGNhdAN0ZWNoBHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQR0ZXN0Aw--;_ylv=3
A haunting, beautiful, sad tale
From The Los Angeles Times today: Texas teen dies on Christmas, leaves online message Ben Breedlove died on Christmas, leaving behind a wordless, two-part YouTube video message about chronic illness, death and the afterlife viewed more than 450,000 times as of Wednesday.
In the first part of the video, posted Dec. 18, the teen starts out smiling, brown hair neatly parted, staring into the camera and holding up the first card, written in blue marker. The only sound is instrumental music playing in the background, Gary Jules' "Mad World." I'll leave the rest to him:
More societal change due to technology
Yet another, new Catholic sex scandal
Hot off the wires: Officials: Educator Videotaped Students in Showers Fortunately, it's not from the local area.
SOMERVILLE, N.J. December 28, 2011 (AP)
Prosecutors say an educator secretly videotaped teenage boys in the shower at a New Jersey Catholic high school for nearly three years.
Authorities say the videos were recorded in a communal shower area at Immaculata High School in Somerville starting in January 2008.
Fifty-four-year-old Patrick J. Lott, of Somerville, faces numerous charges, including child endangerment and invasion of privacy. He is an assistant principal at a public middle school and volunteered at Immaculata. Too bad he's not a Catholic priest or bishop. He'd get off scott-free. Link: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/officials-educator-videotaped-students-showers-15248621#.TvuI-PnNkqM
So many really bleak predictions
I have friends I keep in contact with, one way or another, through email or on Facebook (yes, that) and frequently they will make the point that we're on the verge of World War III or some such cataclysm. I tell you, it's frustrating. It's really dark, really bleak. News out today, yet again, seems to point that way for them, too, I must admit, in this form: U.S. Fifth Fleet says won't allow Hormuz disruption And today's warning is our repsonse to this: Iranian Official Threatens Military Drill Sealing Off the Strait of Hormuz The list goes on and on for these people of how we're all being set up for one more war, this one with Iran. Some say it will be WWIII. Others say it will be the end of the world. It is tiresome. And nihilistic. Can we not have hope any more? Can we not hope the right things will be done and that intelligence will prevail? Is that too much to ask? Sure, the world economies have gone to heck and there are major realignments all across the planet but if anyone knows anything about human history, it has happened before. Imagine life in 1917 Russia. Granted, now humankind has nuclear weapons capable of wiping life off the planet but can we not hope that cooler, calmer and more intelligent heads will prevail? I know I do. I refuse to be all "pollyanna" about the world but that doesn't mean I can't have hope. Sue me. Links: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/12/13/iranian-official-threatens-military-drill-sealing-off-strait-hormuz/; http://news.yahoo.com/iran-navy-chief-says-shutting-off-gulf-very-092339883.html;_ylt=AlX783MEMF0gglA.2MT8vwWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTQ1ajE1M2NtBG1pdANTZWN0aW9uTGlzdCBGUCBXb3JsZARwa2cDYjBkYjY3ZmEtZTcwZS0zNWQ1LWE0ZmMtNWE5OTIyYTU1OGRkBHBvcwMzBHNlYwNNZWRpYVNlY3Rpb25MaXN0BHZlcgM1YjZhMmRlMC0zMTc3LTExZTEtOTZjZi1mNGNlYTExYmMwYzI-;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=3
Fighting. At the Church of the Nativity. In Bethlehem. At Christmas. Just as Jesus would have wanted
Can you believe these people? Here's the description of the video from YouTube: "A fight broke out at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem after rival groups of Orthodox and Armenian clerics clashed over the boundaries of their jurisdictions inside the church." Nice. So much for that "turning the other cheek" stuff, eh? WWJF? (Who would Jesus fight?) Then, not to be outdone, the Jews got into it: Israelis Clash Over Strict Religious Codes
Seriously, does it not seem as though the whole world has gone mad? (I must say, however, that I love that smiling, laughing kid in the middle background of the picture. He's totally loving it. I hope he's not a brat.) Link: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/28/144364324/israelis-clash-over-strict-religious-codes
Sorry, but that picture cracks me up
Some good news for the new year
A little good news...
8 states are raising their Minimum Wage rates on New Year's Day, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Their rates will increase by 28 to 37 cents an hour to between $7.64 and $9.04. The National Employment Law Project (NELP) calculates that will bring nearly 1.4 million full-time minimum wage workers an extra $582 to $770 per year.
Studies show that even during times of high unemployment, raising the minimum does not lead to a loss of jobs. Actually, the number of jobs has grown after each of the 19 times the federal minimum has increased over the past 73 years. Happy new year, y'all.
Someone had some local video fun
From their notes: "Time lapse of various scenes in Kansas City, MO. All scenes were shot between May and December, 2011, with a Pentax K5, using the built-in intervalometer and various lenses and filters." We look pretty good, don't you think?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
An old idea revisited: A Smithsonian in the Midwest
I see in the Star today that Franklin, Kansas is getting a travelling Smithsonian exhibit soon. They're all excited, naturally, for what it can mean for their town. Good for them. Good for the Smithsonian. Good for this area. It brings back the idea, for me, that it would really benefit the Smithsonian, Kansas City, the region and even the entire US, really, if that same Smithsonian took just some of the things in their collection--from storage--and opened a midwestern museum here in Kansas City. It just makes so much sense. They have more things than they can show so they're in storage. This way, more people could see more of their things. I'm sure it would raise money for them, what with an entrance fee. It would make those pieces more available since you wouldn't have to go all the way to Washington, DC to see them. It would be a great boost for the city and region. People from all over the midwest and even the nation could come here to see the objects. Sure, Union Station is no longer available for it (who knows if that would have been big enough anyway) but we have plenty of space in downtown to locate such a facility. It just makes so much sense. Link to original story: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/27/3339396/franklin-kan-prepares-for-big.html
A load of propaganda--and crap--from the airport authority today
I can hardly believe what I see in the Star this morning. It's an article about the pollution in the KCI airport's pond due to runoff of the deicers used on the jets. That, by itself, would be fine but the article goes on to say that the "New terminal would provide a solution to the pollution." This is so clearly an attempt by the airport authority to propagandize the people of the city into buying into this whole "we need to build a new airport" nonsense. I call it that, too--nonsense and hogwash. As my grandfather used to say, "In a pig's eye." You don't tear down 3 buildings to fix the water clarity of a pond, for pity's sake. I say again, you can't tell me that tearing down and throwing away 3 entire already-existing buildings and then building a new one (or new ones) is more economically-feasible than working with what's already there. There is no way that makes economic sense. Then, added to it that we--the people of the city--like our airport and its current, convenient, sensible, logical design, it's beyond question. The city and airport authority need to drop the idea of tearing down that airport and we need to get them to drop it. Link to original story: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/25/3339013/new-terminal-would-fix-kcis-polluted.html
A no-bid contract??!!
Kansas City, Missouri and yet another no-bid contract?? Are you freaking kidding me? There's an article in this morning's Star, telling of yet another of these things: Energy auditor angry over no-bid Green Impact Zone contract Why is this even legal let alone allowed? How much hell do taxpayers have to raise until this kind of ridiculous, irresponsible, unfair, biased practice is no longer allowed? Why is this even still legal, on this, local level or on national, public purchasing? Why does the Federal Government get a pass on it? The Pentagon and Department of Defense do this with abandon, from what I read. I ask again, why is this allowed? Why is this legal? It's long past due that this should be done away with. If anything needs an initiative so we get it on local, state and national ballots for election, it's this. Link to original article: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/12/3338975/dispute-over-weatherization-grant.html
China vs. the USA
Okay, here's the Chinese part:
China tests 500 km/h super high-speed train A train that goes 500 kilometers per hour. In the meantime, we, here in the USA aren't even working on such technology, I don't think. If we are, I'm certainly not aware of it. Some company may be working on some superspeed train but they aren't being tested or installed anywhere here in the States, between our cities. Here's our current train, as we know:
What is that? At least 40 year old technology, isn't it? 50? Are we the "world's leader" in much anymore? I mean, except in war and warmongering, anyway. Link to original article: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/26/us-china-train-idUSTRE7BP04N20111226
War is not a game, by any means
More and more, the American military has been advertising in the last several years to teens and young people in the country, with what seems to be an appeal to potential candidates for service with them, as though war and what they do is some kind of computer game. I found the following yesterday, making my point: "Below is a 30-second Air Force recruitment TV ad (h/t SuperBowlXX); how can anyone, after seeing this, not swoon over the greatness of drones? It’s precisely because of their constant glorification in the War on Terror that their use is virtually inevitable on U.S. soil: if they’re such fantastic weapons for stopping Bad Guys over there, why wouldn’t they be used over here?"
I'll discuss the seeming, growing fascism and police state in the US here later, I promise. Link to original post:http://www.salon.com/2011/12/06/nprs_domestic_drone_commercial/singleton/
Missouri, Kansas & Iowa ranked as some of the worst states for "Home health workers"
Missouri, Kansas and Iowa are ranked some of the worst states in the nation for these important workers--that is, very important, once you need them. (see link below). None of these 3 states have either a minimum wage or offer overtime pay for home health workers so companies don't have to pay a true "living wage". Making it even worse is the fact that that's the way most of the nation is, too. Nice, huh? And with mostly Republican and Right-wing leaders runninng too many statehouses, it won't change any time soon, either. Pitiful. So much for that middle-class we used to enjoy. Link: http://stateimpact.npr.org/new-hampshire/maps/home-health-pay-and-overtime-policies-by-state/
Monday, December 26, 2011
Things I have right now because of Christmas
Things I have right now because Christmas was yesterday--things I don't usually--virtually ever--have: 1) ham in the refigerator; 2) turkey; 3) broccoli casserole; 4) apple pie (thanks, Myra!); 5) a new merona wool scarf (thanks, Sarah!).
Yahoo! and Yahoo! News have become solidly Right Wing
In the last few months, there have repeatedly been times when I've seen a headline on Yahoo! News that strikes me as patently biased, Right- Wing "reporting". Today is another such day as this is the headline I saw: Ron Paul Is a Dangerous Tin Man Who Has No Heart (link at bottom) Sure, it's commentary and it's even from one of their "contributors" but could they be any more biased? This isn't even reporting. This is just ugly, very-slanted opinion. Later, up poppedd these two headlines, too: .
First this one: Ex-Aide: Ron Paul Foreign Policy is 'Sheer Lunacy' And then this one: Fmr staffer: Ron Paul planned ‘No’ vote for Afghanistan invasion, staff threatened mutiny It seems clear Yahoo! really doesn't want Ron Paul even remotely considered as a candidate. Don't get me wrong here, either--I'm no big Ron Paul fan or supporter. I just think there should be responsible reporting and journalism in the country for the benefit of the voting populace. This is just ugliness, opinion, again, and possibly even vitriol. It serves no good purpose. Link: http://news.yahoo.com/ron-paul-dangerous-tin-man-no-heart-053200808.html
America loves the young, rich, brilliant and/or beautiful
Further proof today that America likes to support, help and be with the young, rich, brilliant and/or beautiful, to the exclusion of the rest: Mentally ill flood ER as states cut services (link at bottom) If you're poor, black, Hispanic, gay, homely (yes, I'm serious), a child, mentally- or physically-challenged, hungry, sick, or otherwise downtrodden or deprived in some way, America is not going to beat a path to your door. We reward success, unabashedly. Sure, there are some people and organizations that do help some downtrodden, but by and large, as a society, if you're "down" in some way, America is not for you. At least America is not really for you since the 80's. We seem to have lost our way about then. We love kowtowing to the rich and beautiful above all other, too. We know far more about Lindsay Lohan and Kim Kardashian than the hungry or sick or others in our society. I only point it out so a) we recognize it and b) we change. Here's hoping. Links: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/24/us-usa-health-psychiatric-idUSTRE7BN06820111224; http://pdf.reuters.com/pdfnews/pdfnews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=2011_12_22_10_29_7ee9cb1cb9ef4d1bbe110e706e416290_PRIMARY.gif; http://pdf.reuters.com/pdfnews/pdfnews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=2011_12_22_11_17_5e768f52c85343ed9bbdc4ee19921da7_PRIMARY.gif
Observations on a holiday
1) It's always great when Christmas is over (at least for me);
2) The sunshine this holiday was fantastic. Just one more gift;
3) There surely were some odd things about people yesterday;
4) It's always nice to be able to visit with people--family and friends--if even briefly;
5) I have no idea how my daughter knew to come up with the perfect gift for me;
6) The best part of the entire holiday is always--always--the Christmas Eve I get to spend with my daughter. If I can have that, I need no material gift. It's all I want;
7) I always cry at the end of the Christmas Eve church service when, at the end, everyone sings "Silent Night", acapella, each with our own lit candle. It's so beautiful;
8) If the minister knew this year, I think there were plenty in the audience who didn't, how right he was about "people hurting out there." At least he knew.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
It's a Calvin & Hobbes Christmas
As ever, click on the picture for larger viewing.
Merry Christmas, y'all.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
There's nothing more to say. Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Now.
Go, Chiefs!!
Friday, December 23, 2011
We need to stop sugar-coating war
More outrageous, ignorant hypocrisy from a Republican Congressman
No, there's no racism about this president...or at Fox "News"...or in the Right Wing
And it doesn't inform their politics, either, no. Right.
The United Corporations of America, singing the "Hallelujah Chorus", their way
So true. (Thanks to friend Duane for thinking of me and sending this).
I'm so old...
On the insanity that is Iraq
Sam Brownback and Kansas in the news
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Quote of the day
"Without a global revolution in the sphere of human consciousness, nothing will change for the better in the sphere of our being as humans, and the catastrophe for which the world is headed — be it ecological, social, demographic, or a general breakdown of civilization — will be unavoidable."
--Czecholslavakian President Vaclav Havel, 1990 to U.S. Congress Link:
Springfield, MO No. 3 on list of "Cities Gaining the Most Jobs"
This out yesterday, according to the 24/7 blog, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They're findings:
3. Springfield, Missouri
> Employed pct. increase: 4.96%;
> Total employed increase: 3,610;
> Workforce: 82,429;
> Unemployment rate: 7.4%
The employed workforce in Springfield, Mo., jumped nearly 5% between November, 2010 and October, 2011. The city has added 3,610 jobs over the course of the past year, and unemployment has dropped to 7.4%, below the state rate of 8.5%. The city of Springfield says its sales tax revenue increased more than 10% from last year. The improvement came in "sectors like restaurants, department stores, and home improvement stores," according to Ozarksfirst.com. This growth points to a healthy, growing economy — the most important component of job growth.
By contrast, Washington State had cities in the "Losing the Most Jobs" category. That would be Spokane (3rd worst), Tacoma (4) and Vancouver (5). Who knows what's going on in Washington State, eh? Link to original post: http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113812-11705-4-the-american-cities-that-gained-and-lost-the-most-jobs?ywaad=ad0035&nc
KC: No. 10 on List of "The 10 Emptiest Cities"
Breaking internet/UFO news out of Kansas!
A UFO?? In Kansas?? (THAT was a drone??) Link to original post: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/did-military-haul-ufo-kansas-150544531.html
Aisha Khan safe
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Even the Wall Street Journal has had it with the Republican leaders
Face it, I-70 will be a toll road one day
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Question
At what point did sweatshirts with pictures on them become "dressy"? Would someone tell me? When was that?
Carl Sagan, 11/9/34 to 12/20/96
I'm just glad Victoria Secret uses regular, everyday women for their models
Is this the kind of America you want?
Senator John McCain on Kim Jong Il
Perhaps you heard Senator John McCain's quote on Kim Jong Il, after his (Jong Il's) death: "The world is a better place now that Kim Jong-Il is no longer in it. I can only express satisfaction that the Dear Leader is joining the likes of Kadhafi, bin Laden, Hitler and Stalin in a warm corner of hell."
My take?
Seriously, for the sake of the country, if you can't say anything nice, Senator, don't say anything.
These are people with nuclear weapons.
There is an outside chance now is a time when maybe we could reach across the globe and no longer be enemies.
With all due respect, shut the hell up, Senator McCain.
Link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=143968279
Monday, December 19, 2011
Tired, tired, tired
I am so incredibly tired of the ugliness and negativity and pessimism--too much of it unfounded--along with the baseless paranoia rampant in the world today.
Maybe it's just the United States.
Between people who haven't paid attention to the local, regional, state, national and international situations, along with the fear of the country failing or falling, coupled with the outright fear of something as simple as having a president of a different race as them who isn't on their own intellectual level, is it any wonder so many are confused?
If you haven't known what's going on for the previous decade and suddenly you find yourself--and your nation--in a bit of trouble--financial, mostly--it's no wonder people are scared.
Sadly, they lash out.
Some just verbally.
Others, physically.
Uninformed?
Yes, frequently.
Sincere?
All too frequently.
One of the best Super Bowls ever?
On Vaclav Havel's passing
The Kim Jong Il I'll always remember
From the creators of "South Park"--Matt Stone and Trey Parker, from their 2004 movie "Team America, World Police."
Does this not seem true?
I wasn't a big fan of comedian Louis C.K. but with time, after hearing more from him, I've grown to appreciate what he says. This whole "we're pretty danged spoiled" thing rings true to the core of modern society, I think.
Question
Since corporations are people as the Supreme Court of the US told us last year in their "Citizens United" ruling....why don't we tax them as people?
Great, breaking news on solar energy
Check it out: Breakthrough could double solar energy output "A new discovery from a chemist at the University of Texas at Austin may allow photovoltaic solar cells to double their efficiency, thus providing loads more electrical power from regular sunlight.
Not only that, but it’s way cheap."
And that's not the end of the good news:
"Breakthroughs in the solar industry seem to be coming fast of late. Just two weeks ago we heard about researcher Douglas Keszlar at Oregon State University in Corvallis, who is studying the photovoltaic potential of fool’s gold– pyrite – and discovered instead that some more ordinary materials could make improved photovoltaics, especially iron silicon sulfide. Once again, the advantage would be that it’s hyperefficient and cheap."
I'm telling you, one day in the not too distant future, we will be able to have photovoltaic cells all over our homes, our office buildings and cars and they will generate their own electricity, far, far cleaner than we create that same energy today and with, obviously, far less pollution and carbon dioxide released. We won't need big, expensive, crushing utility companies any longer.
Think about it. As the song says, "It's a new dawn. It's a new day."
Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-breakthrough-double-solar-energy-output-20111216,0,3897047.story
The Top Ten Quotes of the Year
"Fred Shapiro, associate librarian at Yale Law School, has released his sixth annual list of the most notable quotations of the year:"
1. "We are the 99 percent." — slogan of Occupy movement.
2. "There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody. You built a factory out there — good for you! But I want to be clear. You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for. You hired workers the rest of us paid to educate. You were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for." — U.S. Sen. candidate Elizabeth Warren, speaking in Andover, Mass., in August.
3. "My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress." — Billionaire Warren Buffett, in a New York Times op-ed on Aug. 15.
4. "I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy." — Presidential candidate Jon Huntsman in an Aug. 18 tweet.
5. "Oops." — Presidential candidate Rick Perry after unsuccessfully attempting to remember the third federal agency he would eliminate during a Nov. 9 debate.
6. "When they ask me, 'Who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan?' I'm going to say, 'You know, I don't know. Do you know?'" — Then-presidential candidate Herman Cain in an interview by Christian Broadcasting Network on Oct. 7.
7. "I am on a drug. It's called 'Charlie Sheen.' It's not available because if you try it once, you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body." — Actor Charlie Sheen in a February interview with ABC News.
8. "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow." — Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' last words on Oct. 5, as reported by his sister Mona Simpson in her eulogy.
9. "I can't say with certitude." — Then-U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner on June 1 when he was asked whether a lewd photograph was in fact him.
10. "Instead of receiving the help that she had hoped for, Mr. Cain instead decided to provide her with his idea of a stimulus package." — Lawyer Gloria Allred on Nov. 7 discussing Herman Cain's alleged sexual harassment of her client.
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/99-percent-chosen-years-top-quote-171947746.html
John Boehner & the Republican leadership, once again the tail wags the dog
Once more, John Boehner, his office and the Republican leadership make a deal with the Democrats in Congress, take it back to his people--the rest of the political party--and the extreme right wingers kill it:
Boehner Says Two-Month Tax Cut Bill 'Just Kicking Can Down the Road'
A day after the Senatevoted 89-10 to extend the payroll tax cut by two months, Republicans in the House are signaling their displeasure with the short-term fix, saying action should have been taken to resolve the issue for the whole year.
It's difficult, at least, if not impossible, to work with these people.
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/boehner-says-two-month-tax-cut-bill-just-202122428.html
California politician calls for the assassination of President Obama---and his family
Nice, huh? Here it is: "California libertarian and Tea Party darling Jules Manson is caught calling for the assassination of President Barack Obama and his children.
On Sunday, many Facebook users were greeted by the shocking spectacle of a California libertarian and Ron Paul supporter by the name of Jules Manson advocating for the assassination of President Barack Obama. Manson, a failed politician, recently ran for and lost a seat on the City of Carson’s City Council last March.
The following is the text of Manson’s racist, treasonous, deplorable post:
'Assassinate the (expletive deleted by examiner editors) nigger and his monkey children'
I only post this to show how horrible this is and so no one else repeats anything remotely like it. We have to shine light into the dark corners of our society to flush this kind of thing out so it isn't replicated.
Link: http://www.examiner.com/democrat-in-national/california-politician-advocates-assassination-of-obama-and-family?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150481264902206_20390720_10150481406332206#f1fb3395f0c88
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Ding, dong!! Kim Jong Il is dead!!!
Things our soldiers are doing in our name
We send them over there. The least we could do is know what they're having to do for us.
YYYYAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!
Former President Harry S. Truman, from the 40's, on GOP Leadership
Click on picture for easier reading.
Stunning. They were that way then and they still are today. Sad.
Ladies and gentlemen, your United States government
500 billion dollars and they don't know what central banks it went to. One half trillion dollars.
Looking forward, looking back
Today in History: U.S. Supreme Court upholds forced relocation and detention of Japanese-Americans during World War Two. That's the looking back part. Looking forward? Congress just passed the National Defense Authorization Act which is said to have made possible--legal--the "indefinite detention" of American citizens without formal arrest charges or trial. As the song goes "when will we ever learn?"
Jon Daily on Newt Gingrich
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Indecision 2012 - The Great Right Hope - Intervention 2012 | ||||
| ||||
Iowa, one of top 5 states saving on energy
A report out today shows that neighboring state Iowa is one of the "The 5 States With the Most Installed Wind and Solar Power Saw the Least Increase in Electricity Prices from 2005-2010." The top 5 states are Texas, California, Iowa, Minnesota, and Oregon. As the article says, "The health, environmental, and direct job creation benefits of renewable energy vs. traditional forms of power generation are widely accepted. All other things being equal, it would be a foregone conclusion that renewable energy should be chosen over other types of generation." If one only looked at these factors,cost, above, it seems the investment in clean, "green" solar and wind energy makes sense. If one also takes into account the carbon dioxide and pollution, at minimum, that is not released into the atmosphere, the benefits continue to mount. Think happy thoughts, y'all---and enjoy your Sunday. Link to original article: http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/12/18/390865/states-most-installed-wind-solar-power-least-increase-in-electricity-prices/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+climateprogress%2FlCrX+%28Climate+Progress%29
What have you (this US Congress) done for me lately?
“Just 62 bills were signed into law through November this year, meaning that 2011 may fall short of the 88 laws enacted in 1995, the lowest number since the Congressional Record began keeping an annual tally in 1947.” --Bloomberg News
Quote of the day
“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerated the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism: ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.” ―Franklin D. Roosevelt
Big "oops" at Missouri Southern University on the internets right now
Ouch. Those mistakes hurt, don't they? There's a big story on the Associated Press (AP) and Yahoo! News right now about--well, read it: Mo. university chief sorry band played 'Dixie' SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Missouri State University is apologizing after its band performed "Dixie" at a site where three black men were lynched in 1906. Ow. Someone needs to pay more attention to details down at SMU.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
The big Iowa endorsement: oh, here's a shock, huh?
Breaking Republican political news: Des Moines Register backs Mitt Romney for GOP nomination Wow, didn't see that coming, huh? Link: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/des-moines-register-backs-mitt-romney-gop-nomination-014155146.html
Sewage rates in Alabama due to federal requirements
I was reading the news today when I was struck by this rather explosive headline: Alabama Residents Furious Over Possible Rate Increases: ‘If They Let This Stuff Happen They Are Going to Get the Biggest Riot the South Has Ever Seen’ It seems people are paying sewage and water bills from the city to the tune of $150 per month--and it's been threatened with big increases. What got me about the story, as far as KC is concerned is this: "Sewage and water rates (on average) have increased faster than inflation because the federal government has demanded that cities replace their “worn-out” sewer facilities to meet federal clean-water standards.
When a federal judge forced Jefferson County to upgrade its outdated sewer system, officials decided to finance the project with bonds." Now, they did make a big mistake by taking out floating interest rate loans for the bonds but here's another big problem: "The sewage system was supposed to cost $300 million. However, since the project started in 1996, the costs have risen to $3.1 billion after various problems and a series of bond and derivatives deals fell through in 2008.
Not surprisingly, a large amount of corruption was involved.
JP Morgan Securities and two of its former directors have been fined for trying to bribe to Jefferson County employees and politicians in a bid to win business financing for the sewer project. Six former Jefferson County commissioners have been found guilty of accepting bribes, along with 15 other state officials." Hopefull nothing remotely similar will happen here in little ol' KCMO with the new sewers we're supposed to be getting. Here's hoping. Enjoy your weekend, y'all. Link to original article: http://news.yahoo.com/alabama-residents-furious-over-rate-increases-let-stuff-202403568.html
2011's weather catastrophes
"To date, the United States set a record with 12 separate billion-dollar weather/climate disasters in 2011, with an aggregate damage total of approximately $52 billion. This record year breaks the previous record of nine billion-dollar weather/climate disasters in one year, which occurred in 2008. These 12 disasters alone resulted in the tragic loss of 646 lives, with the National Weather Service reporting over 1,000 deaths across all weather categories for the year." --The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Link: http://www.truth-out.org/how-now-brown-cloud-what-smog-hath-wrought/1324077646
Obama haters aren't going to like this
A story on Missouri kids and tobacco I missed
KS Governor Brownback: Back to Brown vs. the Board of Education?
On the KCMO School District
Word on the street is that all the school districts in the area that can, in fact, take students from the Kansas City, Missouri School District are all telling the parents or children who call---no. They won't be accepting any of the students from what I understand. They're supposed to actually live in the area/town/city they'd be trying to change to, first, and second, the schools are just too full and are told to say no, when/if anyone asks. That surely has to be a bit of a relief both to the schools who can and do say no, if they don't want or need the new students, and it must be a bit of a relief to the KCMO District. There might have been some concern about too many kids leaving at one time. There's one more factor, too, in this. The KCMSD is said to be willing to pay up to "X" amount of the student's fees and I'm sure they're obliged by law. In the meantime, the other schools the student might transfer into says it's costs are actually higher than that so what would be paid isn't high enough. (see 2nd link, below) Short conclusion? Not many transfers will happen any time soon. March, however, when the lack of accreditation hits, though? That has yet to be figured out. Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/15/3322254/kc-district-outlines-how-student.html; http://www.kmbc.com/education/30019921/detail.html
KC Southern Holiday Express Train at Union Station this weekend!
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