Sydney Morning Herald - Iraq invasion spurs terrorism
Quick review of the misinformation:
No WMD's in Iraq plus a later cover-up when Bush claimed in 2003 that there were WMD's; the war has not paid for itself and will approach a total cost of 1 trillion dollars (Lawrence Lindsey, White House Economic Advisor, was fired for suggesting a total cost of $100-220 billion when the administration was putting out $50 billion for the total cost); and the claim that Saddam was harboring terrorists and therefore involved somehow in the 11 September attacks (Concluded the senior U.S. official: "Did Saddam tolerate terrorists? Yes. Was there any evidence Saddam was involved with 9/11? No.").
Here's another good revisionist timeline from 2004 - Center For American Progress - Why We Went In: Version 10.0
The only credible statement I read (I forget where) regarding the Iraq invasion is that the true purpose was a message to the other middle-eastern countries (e.g., Iran, Syria) that the U.S. will use the military for political purposes.
However, lines are now being drawn and China and Russia are backing Iran. Other countries are sitting to the side and the long-term ramifications of current U.S. policy do not look promising.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Monsanto Watch
I'm not sure an entire company can be evil but Monsanto is giving it a try. Who tells farmers they can't replant the seeds they harvest?
Organic Consumers Association Monsanto News
Sourcewatch - Monsanto
Monsanto v Schmeiser
Organic Consumers Association Monsanto News
In order for the FDA to determine if Monsanto's growth hormones were safe or not, Monsanto was required to submit a scientific report on that topic. Margaret Miller, one of Monsanto's researchers put the report together. Shortly before the report submission, Miller left Monsanto and was hired by the FDA. Her first job for the FDA was to determine whether or not to approve the report she wrote for Monsanto. In short, Monsanto approved its own report. Assisting Miller was another former Monsanto researcher, Susan Sechen. Deciding whether or not rBGH-derived milk should be labeled fell under the jurisdiction of another FDA official, Michael Taylor, who previously worked as a lawyer for Monsanto.
Sourcewatch - Monsanto
Monsanto v Schmeiser
Percy Schmeiser is a farmer from Bruno, Saskatchewan Canada whose Canola fields were contaminated with Monsanto's Round-Up Ready Canola. Monsanto's position was that it didn't matter whether Schmeiser knew or not that his canola field was contaminated with the Roundup Ready gene, or whether or not he took advantage of the technology (he didn't); that he must pay Monsanto their Technology Fee of $15./acre. The Supreme Court of Canada agreed with Schmeiser, ruling that he didn't have to pay Monsanto anything...
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Gas Prices
The Politics of Oil: The Discourse Must Change
PDF version
(this is the posting)
Leaders of both political parties are expressing concern about the high price of gasoline. President George Bush announced yesterday that he was suspending deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to make more oil available to consumers as well as putting on hold the traditional regulations requiring additives to make fuel burn cleaner during the summer driving season.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have had their own response to rising gas prices. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has announced his support for the Menendez Amendment, which would "provide more than $6 billion in relief directly to the American people by eliminating the federal tax for both gas and diesel for 60 days." Senator Charles Schumer recently called for a federal investigation to determine whether oil companies are withholding gasoline production, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has blamed high gas prices on the administration's cozy relationship with the oil companies, price gouging, and royalty relief.
The editors of The Oil Drum are ideologically diverse. Over the last year, we have created a forum at www.theoildrum.com to encourage an open, rational, and fact-based discussion of energy issues. While individual editors frequently express an opinion on a subject, we have never felt it necessary to take a unified position on any specific issue. That is, until today.
There's more... (913 words) | Comments (254) | Permalink | Trackback: Google Technorati
We strongly feel that the leaders of both political parties are not only headed in the wrong direction with respect to gas prices, but we also worry that they fundamentally misunderstand the factors behind the current situation at gasoline stations around the US. Public statements by political figures over the past several days would seem to suggest that oil companies and their record profits are the sole factor determining the price of gasoline. Not only is this untrue, but it is dangerous to give the American people the impression that only oil companies are to blame. The American people need to understand that the phenomenon of high gas prices cannot be attributed to a single source. They also need to understand that no one political party will be able to fix our current woes.
The major factor that determines gas prices is the price of crude oil from which gasoline is derived. When crude oil prices are high, so are gas prices. The following are just a few factors that affect the price of a barrel of oil:
1. Oil companies do not single-handedly determine the price of oil. The price of oil is set on the crude oil futures market. Simply put, these prices are affected by supply and demand because, at present, oil trades in a global commodity market where increased demand or reduced supply in one place instantly translates into price shifts everywhere. A variety of publicly available information sources show that supply is relatively static at the moment, while world demand continues to grow as economies grow.
2. We have provided evidence many times at The Oil Drum that the output of major oilfields is declining and that we may now have reached a peak or plateau in global oil supply. Oil companies have not been able to increase production for a number of years, and it is unclear that OPEC is accurately reporting their reserves. Even if there were significant sources of high quality oil remaining, it is getting increasingly difficult and expensive to drill. These factors, along with aging infrastructure for oil exploration and a retiring workforce are also contributing to high oil prices.
3. The geopolitical situation is volatile, and an astute citizen may notice that every time there is news from Nigeria or Iran, the price of oil goes up because of the potential and real effects of these situations on world oil supply. Again, oil traders are fearful that the supply will not remain stable forever.
4. Countries like China and India are industrializing at a great pace, and while we are accustomed to obtaining oil at a comfortable quantity and price, it will be impossible (and immoral) to deny similar resources to these countries. China is working furiously to secure new oil supplies, and they're content to negotiate with countries we're reluctant to deal with, like Iran and the Sudan.
These points demonstrate that disruptions in the supply of oil that affect the price of gasoline at the pump are not just a temporary glitch. For various reasons--decreased discoveries of new oilfields, geopolitical instability, international competition for oil supply--we can no longer assume that we will be able to consume as much oil as possible, or ever get it again for $1.50 a gallon.
Demagoguery and grandstanding are not strategies for addressing our energy problems. As an alternative, the editors of The Oil Drum put forth the following recommendations:
1. It is nonsensical for political leaders of both parties to eliminate the gas tax temporarily or permanently as this will only worsen our dependence on oil by disincentivizing the innovation of oil alternatives and oil conservation efforts.
2. Both mainstream American political parties are doing their country a disservice by accusing convenient scapegoats of price gouging or price fixing instead of educating the public about how the price of gas is actually set.
3. Right now, governments should be focused on helping us cure our "addiction to oil." The answer does not lie in lowering gas prices, which will only encourage people to drive more and further waste our valuable resources. As the Department of Energy funded Hirsch Report on Peak Oil laid out, the consequences of not taking steps to transition away from oil could be dramatic to our economic system. Appropriate solutions include large-scale research, development, and implementation programs to improve the scalability of alternative sources of energy, other projects geared towards improving mass transit and carpooling programs across the country, providing incentives to buy smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles, and promoting a campaign to increase awareness about conservation.
The political discourse on this topic is simply so devoid of fact, and constructive discourse so buried and out of the mainstream, that we felt we needed to raise a voice of reason. Public officials will continue to misinform and obfuscate if we allow it.
The only solution is to educate the public about the most important problem we face as a generation. We, the citizens of the US and the world, must move our attention to this the issue of energy more than any other. We must hold our representative governments accountable for having an open and honest debate on the subject.
Simply put, we must learn more about where our energy comes from.
PDF version
(this is the posting)
Leaders of both political parties are expressing concern about the high price of gasoline. President George Bush announced yesterday that he was suspending deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to make more oil available to consumers as well as putting on hold the traditional regulations requiring additives to make fuel burn cleaner during the summer driving season.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have had their own response to rising gas prices. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has announced his support for the Menendez Amendment, which would "provide more than $6 billion in relief directly to the American people by eliminating the federal tax for both gas and diesel for 60 days." Senator Charles Schumer recently called for a federal investigation to determine whether oil companies are withholding gasoline production, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has blamed high gas prices on the administration's cozy relationship with the oil companies, price gouging, and royalty relief.
The editors of The Oil Drum are ideologically diverse. Over the last year, we have created a forum at www.theoildrum.com to encourage an open, rational, and fact-based discussion of energy issues. While individual editors frequently express an opinion on a subject, we have never felt it necessary to take a unified position on any specific issue. That is, until today.
There's more... (913 words) | Comments (254) | Permalink | Trackback: Google Technorati
We strongly feel that the leaders of both political parties are not only headed in the wrong direction with respect to gas prices, but we also worry that they fundamentally misunderstand the factors behind the current situation at gasoline stations around the US. Public statements by political figures over the past several days would seem to suggest that oil companies and their record profits are the sole factor determining the price of gasoline. Not only is this untrue, but it is dangerous to give the American people the impression that only oil companies are to blame. The American people need to understand that the phenomenon of high gas prices cannot be attributed to a single source. They also need to understand that no one political party will be able to fix our current woes.
The major factor that determines gas prices is the price of crude oil from which gasoline is derived. When crude oil prices are high, so are gas prices. The following are just a few factors that affect the price of a barrel of oil:
1. Oil companies do not single-handedly determine the price of oil. The price of oil is set on the crude oil futures market. Simply put, these prices are affected by supply and demand because, at present, oil trades in a global commodity market where increased demand or reduced supply in one place instantly translates into price shifts everywhere. A variety of publicly available information sources show that supply is relatively static at the moment, while world demand continues to grow as economies grow.
2. We have provided evidence many times at The Oil Drum that the output of major oilfields is declining and that we may now have reached a peak or plateau in global oil supply. Oil companies have not been able to increase production for a number of years, and it is unclear that OPEC is accurately reporting their reserves. Even if there were significant sources of high quality oil remaining, it is getting increasingly difficult and expensive to drill. These factors, along with aging infrastructure for oil exploration and a retiring workforce are also contributing to high oil prices.
3. The geopolitical situation is volatile, and an astute citizen may notice that every time there is news from Nigeria or Iran, the price of oil goes up because of the potential and real effects of these situations on world oil supply. Again, oil traders are fearful that the supply will not remain stable forever.
4. Countries like China and India are industrializing at a great pace, and while we are accustomed to obtaining oil at a comfortable quantity and price, it will be impossible (and immoral) to deny similar resources to these countries. China is working furiously to secure new oil supplies, and they're content to negotiate with countries we're reluctant to deal with, like Iran and the Sudan.
These points demonstrate that disruptions in the supply of oil that affect the price of gasoline at the pump are not just a temporary glitch. For various reasons--decreased discoveries of new oilfields, geopolitical instability, international competition for oil supply--we can no longer assume that we will be able to consume as much oil as possible, or ever get it again for $1.50 a gallon.
Demagoguery and grandstanding are not strategies for addressing our energy problems. As an alternative, the editors of The Oil Drum put forth the following recommendations:
1. It is nonsensical for political leaders of both parties to eliminate the gas tax temporarily or permanently as this will only worsen our dependence on oil by disincentivizing the innovation of oil alternatives and oil conservation efforts.
2. Both mainstream American political parties are doing their country a disservice by accusing convenient scapegoats of price gouging or price fixing instead of educating the public about how the price of gas is actually set.
3. Right now, governments should be focused on helping us cure our "addiction to oil." The answer does not lie in lowering gas prices, which will only encourage people to drive more and further waste our valuable resources. As the Department of Energy funded Hirsch Report on Peak Oil laid out, the consequences of not taking steps to transition away from oil could be dramatic to our economic system. Appropriate solutions include large-scale research, development, and implementation programs to improve the scalability of alternative sources of energy, other projects geared towards improving mass transit and carpooling programs across the country, providing incentives to buy smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles, and promoting a campaign to increase awareness about conservation.
The political discourse on this topic is simply so devoid of fact, and constructive discourse so buried and out of the mainstream, that we felt we needed to raise a voice of reason. Public officials will continue to misinform and obfuscate if we allow it.
The only solution is to educate the public about the most important problem we face as a generation. We, the citizens of the US and the world, must move our attention to this the issue of energy more than any other. We must hold our representative governments accountable for having an open and honest debate on the subject.
Simply put, we must learn more about where our energy comes from.
Organic Dairy Survey
Organic Dairy Report/Ratings Arranged by Cow Star Ratings
Wild Oats, Trader Joes, and Horizon are near the bottom.
I believe buying local is more important than buying organic. But buying local organic is always the best choice.
Wild Oats, Trader Joes, and Horizon are near the bottom.
I believe buying local is more important than buying organic. But buying local organic is always the best choice.
Ethanol Can Be Used With Diesel Too
Bioresource Technology - Ethanol-diesel fuel blends - a review (PDF)
I'm really surprised there aren't more diesel passenger vehicles in the U.S. A diesel engine is durable, offers spirited acceleration, gas mileage similar to hybrids, and diesel fuel can be sourced from or blended with bio-fuels as well as compressed natural gas. It is why I'm waiting for a diesel station wagon as the next family truckster.
I'm really surprised there aren't more diesel passenger vehicles in the U.S. A diesel engine is durable, offers spirited acceleration, gas mileage similar to hybrids, and diesel fuel can be sourced from or blended with bio-fuels as well as compressed natural gas. It is why I'm waiting for a diesel station wagon as the next family truckster.
Minimum Wage Laws
Setting a minimum wage is simply government price fixing.
Los Angeles has a "living wage" and the implications have been studied.
Key Findings PDF
Some items of note: 10,000 workers now are paid over $10/hr and only 112 lost their job. The industries impacted are immobile, meaning they are service oriented and so cannot move elsewhere. Businesses have adapted by cutting overtime and fringer benefits. More than 40% of workers still rely on government assistance of some sort.
The results indicate that a raise in the minimum wage is helping many people but as a policy should this really be the role of government?
Further questions for "living wage" proponents:
If $10/hr is good wouldn't a $25/hr minimum wage be better?
Should a maximum wage set?
Should government set the price of other services and goods? For example, should the government set a minimumm price of $20/lb for organic, fair-trade, shade-grown, coffee so the coffee farmers can have a living wage?
Los Angeles has a "living wage" and the implications have been studied.
Key Findings PDF
Some items of note: 10,000 workers now are paid over $10/hr and only 112 lost their job. The industries impacted are immobile, meaning they are service oriented and so cannot move elsewhere. Businesses have adapted by cutting overtime and fringer benefits. More than 40% of workers still rely on government assistance of some sort.
The results indicate that a raise in the minimum wage is helping many people but as a policy should this really be the role of government?
Further questions for "living wage" proponents:
If $10/hr is good wouldn't a $25/hr minimum wage be better?
Should a maximum wage set?
Should government set the price of other services and goods? For example, should the government set a minimumm price of $20/lb for organic, fair-trade, shade-grown, coffee so the coffee farmers can have a living wage?
Reason Magazine's Take On Peak Oil
Reason - Peak Oil Panic: Is the planet running out of gas? If it is, what should the Bush administration do about it?
The article concedes that 1 trillion barrels of oil has been consumed since the 19th Century and:
However, when all proven and expected sources are added up the USGS estimates 5.9 trillion barrels of oil remains. So the fact remains that as oil demand exponentially increases the half-way point of all recoverable crude oil will be reached someday soon.
And as an aside, the article fails to note the differences between light sweet and heavy crude oil and how it is the easy to recover and refine light sweet crude oil that has reached its peak.
The article concedes that 1 trillion barrels of oil has been consumed since the 19th Century and:
The world consumes about 87 million barrels of oil per day, or nearly 30 billion barrels of oil per year. How much oil is left? It’s hard to be sure. Proven oil reserves—i.e., oil that is recoverable under current economic and operating conditions—are estimated to be 1.1 trillion barrels by the industry journal World Oil, 1.2 trillion by the oil company BP, and 1.3 trillion by the Oil and Gas Journal.
However, when all proven and expected sources are added up the USGS estimates 5.9 trillion barrels of oil remains. So the fact remains that as oil demand exponentially increases the half-way point of all recoverable crude oil will be reached someday soon.
And as an aside, the article fails to note the differences between light sweet and heavy crude oil and how it is the easy to recover and refine light sweet crude oil that has reached its peak.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Biodiesel In Your Pocket?
Wired - Teeny Reactor Pumps Out Biodiesel
But this looks to be an excerpt from the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute April, 2006 newsletter.
But this looks to be an excerpt from the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute April, 2006 newsletter.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Western All-Stars Set To Become Western Has-Beens?
The Enquirer - Alumni, students challenge MU plan
Oxford Press - Allegations fly as Garland decision nears
With a new college president on the way should President Garland even be making a decision on the fate of a program?
Oxford Press - Allegations fly as Garland decision nears
With a new college president on the way should President Garland even be making a decision on the fate of a program?
Are You Helping The Germans? (in 1915)
Poster from WWI published by the National War Savings Committee
Just another example of what people do during a real war versus a manufactured one.
Just another example of what people do during a real war versus a manufactured one.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
A Tour Of Intellectual Force
I'm not sure how but I recently found the blog econotech. This person know a lot of stuff...
Example: see at the bottom of econotech: 4/4 EFM: Market political risks rising: U.S. immigration, Delphi labor contract, French employment law, China currency/trade, Iran 3401 words and the comparison to the 1960's and 70's.
Example: see at the bottom of econotech: 4/4 EFM: Market political risks rising: U.S. immigration, Delphi labor contract, French employment law, China currency/trade, Iran 3401 words and the comparison to the 1960's and 70's.
The Judas Gospel
National Geographic magazine - The Judas Gospel
Christian mavericks find affirmation in ancient heresies
Dear Judas,
I'd like to try out this "martyrdom" thing.
Let's talk. I have a plan...
Love, Jesus
Christian mavericks find affirmation in ancient heresies
Dear Judas,
I'd like to try out this "martyrdom" thing.
Let's talk. I have a plan...
Love, Jesus
A Nation Of Laws?
The Boston Globe - Bush could bypass new torture ban
''The signing statement is saying 'I will only comply with this law when I want to, and if something arises in the war on terrorism where I think it's important to torture or engage in cruel, inhuman, and degrading conduct, I have the authority to do so and nothing in this law is going to stop me,' " he said. ''They don't want to come out and say it directly because it doesn't sound very nice, but it's unmistakable to anyone who has been following what's going on."
Loving Neko Case
Reviews: Neko Case
Music critics are in love with Neko's 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood'.
I listened to this album on a long trip to Ohio and back. It is not that great. In fact I put it behind 'The Virginian' which is behind 'Furnace Room Lullaby' and 'Blacklisted'.
Why do the critics like 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood' so much? Is it group-think? Is this a make-up call because they missed her earlier albums? Is it because of the esoteric lyrics?
If lyrics are incomprehensible does that equate to poetry? This seemed to be how Shudder To Think, Helmet, and even Jawbreaker to an extent operated.
I listen to music to be entertained. Critics listen to music to show how cool or smart they are. 'High Fidelity' is a great movie. In the future when I want to hear some Neko music I'll find 'Blacklisted' or 'Furnace Room Lullaby' on the iPod.
My hypothesis is that in the Arts first and/or second efforts are usually the best. Fugazi's 13 Songs, Green Day's 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, The Fountainhead, Exile in Guyville.
My reasoning is when a person is creating something for the first time they are most likely: A. doing it for themselves so it is very personal; and/or B. doing it to make a statement and therefore know it has to be extraordinary (like a corollary to Carl Sagan's "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" - extraordinary achievements require extraordinary effort).
If an artist doesn't quite get it right the first time it is usually because they haven't found their voice yet. Hence the difference between Neko's 'The Virginian' and 'Furnace Room Lullaby'.
Artist then decline when they stop making the art for themselves and instead do it for the fans and/or critics (dear Liz, I'm talking about you. Please release an album of music that you want to listen to.)
Music critics are in love with Neko's 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood'.
I listened to this album on a long trip to Ohio and back. It is not that great. In fact I put it behind 'The Virginian' which is behind 'Furnace Room Lullaby' and 'Blacklisted'.
Why do the critics like 'Fox Confessor Brings the Flood' so much? Is it group-think? Is this a make-up call because they missed her earlier albums? Is it because of the esoteric lyrics?
If lyrics are incomprehensible does that equate to poetry? This seemed to be how Shudder To Think, Helmet, and even Jawbreaker to an extent operated.
I listen to music to be entertained. Critics listen to music to show how cool or smart they are. 'High Fidelity' is a great movie. In the future when I want to hear some Neko music I'll find 'Blacklisted' or 'Furnace Room Lullaby' on the iPod.
My hypothesis is that in the Arts first and/or second efforts are usually the best. Fugazi's 13 Songs, Green Day's 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, The Fountainhead, Exile in Guyville.
My reasoning is when a person is creating something for the first time they are most likely: A. doing it for themselves so it is very personal; and/or B. doing it to make a statement and therefore know it has to be extraordinary (like a corollary to Carl Sagan's "extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" - extraordinary achievements require extraordinary effort).
If an artist doesn't quite get it right the first time it is usually because they haven't found their voice yet. Hence the difference between Neko's 'The Virginian' and 'Furnace Room Lullaby'.
Artist then decline when they stop making the art for themselves and instead do it for the fans and/or critics (dear Liz, I'm talking about you. Please release an album of music that you want to listen to.)
Ethanol Plant In Northern Michigan?
Ethanol plant may be built in Kingsley
Corn is not an efficient ethanol producer. Sugarcane is twice as efficient. However, some studies show adding sugar-based material to corn stock can speed up the corn fermentation process.
So how about this - locate the ethanol plant near sugar waste streams (e.g.; breweries and vineyards); on a rail line so sugar-beets can be used; and next to TCLP's proposed biomass plant?
Under this scenario sugary waste and corn could be converted to ethanol and the waste from that product burned in the biomass plant. And if next to a rail line product could be moved anywhere.
Corn is not an efficient ethanol producer. Sugarcane is twice as efficient. However, some studies show adding sugar-based material to corn stock can speed up the corn fermentation process.
So how about this - locate the ethanol plant near sugar waste streams (e.g.; breweries and vineyards); on a rail line so sugar-beets can be used; and next to TCLP's proposed biomass plant?
Under this scenario sugary waste and corn could be converted to ethanol and the waste from that product burned in the biomass plant. And if next to a rail line product could be moved anywhere.
Friday, April 07, 2006
More Evidence That Americans Are Not Completely Brain Dead
Slashdot - Americans Gearing up to Fight Global Warming
Time Cover Story - Polar Ice Caps Are Melting Faster Than Ever... More And More Land Is Being Devastated By Drought... Rising Waters Are Drowning Low-Lying Communities... By Any Measure, Earth Is At ... The Tipping Point: The climate is crashing, and global warming is to blame. Why the crisis hit so soon--and what we can do about it
EnergyBulletin - California's breakthrough plan to cut greenhouse gases
Time Cover Story - Polar Ice Caps Are Melting Faster Than Ever... More And More Land Is Being Devastated By Drought... Rising Waters Are Drowning Low-Lying Communities... By Any Measure, Earth Is At ... The Tipping Point: The climate is crashing, and global warming is to blame. Why the crisis hit so soon--and what we can do about it
EnergyBulletin - California's breakthrough plan to cut greenhouse gases
The Party Of Small Government?
Field & Stream - Conservation Report: The Killing Fields: Unchecked energy development is ruining our public hunting grounds
Federal land managers in the Forest Service and the BLM are, in many cases, trying their best to balance the energy boom with the other uses of the lands. “I honestly believe that we could develop these resources responsibly,” said a staffer in the Pinedale office who asked not to be named, “but we have to be allowed to do our jobs. Right now the decisions about development in our area are made in Washington, D.C., not here.”
If Democrats Won't Do It, Someone Else Will
Message on war could be no clearer
Resolution to Impeach Bush-Cheney Passes 7-3
Bring the Troops Home referendums. Added together, the referendums produced a resounding 40,043 to 25,641 vote against the continued U.S. occupation of Iraq 61 percent to 39 percent. Supporters of the war are spinning like crazy to suggest that the referendums offer a reflection only of liberal, anti-Bush sentiment in college towns like Madison.
The problem they've got is that, while the Bring the Troops Home referendum won Madison by a thumping 62-38 percent, similar referendums won by 70-30 percent in the well-to-do Milwaukee suburb of Shorewood and by a dramatic 82-18 percent in the community of Couderay in rural Sawyer County.
Resolution to Impeach Bush-Cheney Passes 7-3
On Tuesday, February 28, 2006, the City and County of San Francisco became the first large municipality to call for the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney, by a 7-3 vote.
Venezuela's Oil
BBC NEWS - Chavez rules out return to cheap oil
But it will be expensive oil...
Venezuela's deposits alone could extend the oil age for another 100 years.
But it will be expensive oil...
Immigration
Immigration Quotas vs. Individual Rights: The Moral and Practical Case for Open Immigration
Open Immigration vs. Xenophobia
Social Trust and Foreign Policy: Immigration and Law Enforcement Issues
Mercury News - Global migration policies hold lessons for U.S.
Open Immigration vs. Xenophobia
Social Trust and Foreign Policy: Immigration and Law Enforcement Issues
If we look at our history of immigration concerns and legislation, one could conclude that America has been preoccupied with 4 issues:
1. From our founding days until WWII our emphasis was on maintaining our original racial and religious characteristics.
2. From WWII to the present our concern has been to maintain our ideological values of capitalism and democracy.
3. Throughout our entire history we kept our doors open to the persecuted.
4. Throughout our history we continued to stress our needs for labor and scientific know-how.
Mercury News - Global migration policies hold lessons for U.S.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Autism
The Diane Rehm Show for Monday April 3, 2006 - Autism
Many parents believe their child's autism is linked to vaccines. However, autism symptoms onset at 12 to 18 months; the same time frame as vaccines.
Plus, studies in Europe show some countries have had cases of autism continue to increase after mercury preservative was removed from vaccines (Thimerosal and the Occurrence of Autism: Negative Ecological Evidence).
Autism is clearly genetic. Boys are more likely than girls to suffer from it as are children who have a sibling already diagnosed as autisitc. Parents in the scientific and technical fields appear to be more likely to have autistic children. This seems to rule out primary environmental factors.
Here's my hypothesis: Autism is caused by a recessive gene and has only become more prominent as carriers for this gene have become more socio-economically successful.
According to the Diane Rehm show autism was first recognized in the 1930's and rates have been increasing since then.
This coincides with a dramatic shift from an agrarian to industrial to technical economy. I know two men with autistic sons and I would describe both of these men as nerds. What profession would they have had prior to computers? Whatever it may have been it probably would not have been as economically attractive as working in the computers/networking field is today.
By being paid more these technical workers are more attractive to the opposite sex than they would have been in a different society. -> Marriage -> Kids -> "autistic genese" are passed on when in the past these people may not have married or perhaps not been able to economically support children.
Just a thought...
Autism affects one in every 166 children living in the United States. Diane and her guests discuss what is known about the disorder, possible treatments, and a new national database to help aid in education and understanding of autism.
Many parents believe their child's autism is linked to vaccines. However, autism symptoms onset at 12 to 18 months; the same time frame as vaccines.
Plus, studies in Europe show some countries have had cases of autism continue to increase after mercury preservative was removed from vaccines (Thimerosal and the Occurrence of Autism: Negative Ecological Evidence).
Autism is clearly genetic. Boys are more likely than girls to suffer from it as are children who have a sibling already diagnosed as autisitc. Parents in the scientific and technical fields appear to be more likely to have autistic children. This seems to rule out primary environmental factors.
Here's my hypothesis: Autism is caused by a recessive gene and has only become more prominent as carriers for this gene have become more socio-economically successful.
According to the Diane Rehm show autism was first recognized in the 1930's and rates have been increasing since then.
This coincides with a dramatic shift from an agrarian to industrial to technical economy. I know two men with autistic sons and I would describe both of these men as nerds. What profession would they have had prior to computers? Whatever it may have been it probably would not have been as economically attractive as working in the computers/networking field is today.
By being paid more these technical workers are more attractive to the opposite sex than they would have been in a different society. -> Marriage -> Kids -> "autistic genese" are passed on when in the past these people may not have married or perhaps not been able to economically support children.
Just a thought...
Wall Street Sees Climate Change
CS Monitor - A better shade of green for Wall Street
Goldman Sachs became the first global investment bank to adopt a comprehensive environmental policy that acknowledges the value of "ecosystem services" last December.
Goldman Sachs became the first global investment bank to adopt a comprehensive environmental policy that acknowledges the value of "ecosystem services" last December.
Opposition To Iraq War Reaching A Tipping Point
NPR - Wisconsin Towns Poised to Vote on Leaving Iraq
It would've been more helpful if people would have done this prior to the start of the war.
At this point what is needed in Iraq is more U.S. funded civil works projects as Robert Kaplan explains in the April Atlantic - "The Coming Normalcy?".
It would've been more helpful if people would have done this prior to the start of the war.
At this point what is needed in Iraq is more U.S. funded civil works projects as Robert Kaplan explains in the April Atlantic - "The Coming Normalcy?".
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Cook With What You've Got
Two more resources to make it easier to cook with what is on hand.
Taste of Home Recipe Finder - Search by ingredient; time; holiday; etc.
Cooking By Numbers
Taste of Home Recipe Finder - Search by ingredient; time; holiday; etc.
Cooking By Numbers
Saturday, April 01, 2006
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