Saturday, June 19, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
AN interesting take on the New York Times story that apparently wasn't really "new" news.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Addendum ...
JOE Barton, the Republican congressman from Texas, is now sorry for calling the BP liability fund a "shakedown." Or so he says. Barton understands the meaning of "shakedown," though. Oil and gas interests gave him more than $100,000 since the start of 2009, the AP reports. It has to do with the House committee he's on. It's interesting that Missouri's Roy Blunt, another Republican, got even more: more than $133,000.
Thursday, June 17, 2009
THE County Board is discussing the pluses and minuses of placing power-generating wind turbines in the county, which caused me to search through photographs I took in Germany during a Sister City trip. The two photographs below suggest the extent to which Germany makes use of wind:
These were taken in 2004 — six years ago.
In general, Europeans do several little things to conserve energy: motion sensors that turn on lights in public areas, such as apartment building lobbies, when people enter and turn them off when no one's there. You place your motel door key in a slot inside your room to power on lights; when you leave you must remove the card and that means you cannot leave lights burning while the room is vacant. I wonder how much energy we would save if this country did a few simple things like that — mainly, make it easy and almost automatic to save.
But, of course, we Americans don't do rational: We must have a crisis on which to blame a president and absolve ourselves of our profligacy.
These were taken in 2004 — six years ago. In general, Europeans do several little things to conserve energy: motion sensors that turn on lights in public areas, such as apartment building lobbies, when people enter and turn them off when no one's there. You place your motel door key in a slot inside your room to power on lights; when you leave you must remove the card and that means you cannot leave lights burning while the room is vacant. I wonder how much energy we would save if this country did a few simple things like that — mainly, make it easy and almost automatic to save.
But, of course, we Americans don't do rational: We must have a crisis on which to blame a president and absolve ourselves of our profligacy.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
IF you want to know what's really going on in the Gulf with BP, check out The Oil Drum. Unlike all the "blame Obama" crap you see or hear from TV's talking heads, these guys can give you real info.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
MY God, what are "get-government-off-our-backs" Republicans coming to? Why, we've go Newt demanding Obama "save the Louisiana coast, save the fisheries, save the wetlands." We've got a California Repub demanding he use "the full force of our government." Romney demands "a leader" (like Stalin, maybe?)
Fortunately, the Chicago Tribune's Steve Chapman gently points out the slime-ball hypocrisy of the right-wing crowd that passes for the Republican Party these days.
THIS rainy, muggy June so typical of the Mississippi Valley sprouts some odd creatures in the front yard.
Fortunately, the Chicago Tribune's Steve Chapman gently points out the slime-ball hypocrisy of the right-wing crowd that passes for the Republican Party these days.
THIS rainy, muggy June so typical of the Mississippi Valley sprouts some odd creatures in the front yard.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
"Mugg Island" (20" x 40" acrylic 2010)SWEDEN is leading the way toward a "new kind of manly." Interesting.
WE are in the end-phase of the modernist conceit in art, writes Ben Lewis in Prospect.
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