Online Calendars

I am sure most of you out there who read things on the web are already well familiar with online calendars, or a localized outlook or iCal electronic calendar. The whole world uses them to schedule their lives. It is enormously useful. I have been using them for years now, I used mine to organize my interview process including when to send a follow-up, thank you or reminder. I use them all the time to arrange dates, to mark social events, to track histories of any organization (including fictional!), and to remind myself of people's birthdays.

And this is where it gets interesting. Because all of them come equipped with a "recurring" date feature, by which you can tell your calendar to add the same event on a daily, weekly, monthly (including abstracts like the second Thursday at 5 pm) and annually. So, for all my dear friends, you are dates on my calendar, marking your birth date and in so being reminded, I remember your birthday, and usually make good on letting you know in some way I want you to be happy all day. This is easy, this is common sense.

But we cannot remark and remember birth without also marking death. I have not considered adding dates of people's deaths to my calendar, rather, I wonder only now how it will feel to have a birthday reminder pop up for someone who has passed.

Will I keep the annual event in my calendar as a means to always remember their life and my love, or will I instead remove their birthday as a way of absolving the past and moving on with my life? Has it become in fact that we will live on in dates and times recorded on pop up reminders that trigger cascading emotional response in our loved ones who succeed us? Is eternity a Google calendar blip, large for a day and small for the month, destined to disappear the following month, only to re-arise like some digital gizmodic phoenix year upon year till finally those calendars too pass into a world much less speculated, yet as poignant and particular as our own misty afters.

About the coolest thing ever

An online graphing website that documents trends in human populations and parameters.  Check it out.  It is mind boggling.

 

The Gap Minder

GRAVEL 2008! The only real candidate

Amazing how computers allow us to better visualize the universe.

My new favorite web site (thanks Jojo!)

http://www.thinkythings.org/odd-things/verbnames.html

This Man Died for our Sins

And I honor him.  What will become of his story?  Will his life and death be in vain?  I hope not.  He will serve as a reminder to me of why we fight.  I hope his memory lives on and that you click on this text and read his story.

What's wrong with Civilization?

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Santas_warned_ho_ho_ho_offensive_to_11142007_af.html

America the Beautiful

What can be said about America that speaks to the truth of this land more than this - America The Beautiful.  This country reaches across a great curve of our earth, it is merely a piece of an incredible globe and it is indeed beautiful.  And I ask you now dear reader, have we made it more or less beautiful? 

 

I know it is possible for humans to make the earth more beautiful, to work with her natural wonders.  Have you ever been to a small hillside town, or an ancient village in a magical agricultural land.  A city built with care and human conditions considered in every street?  Have you ever wandered in a wild area and seen the vastness of nature spread out beyond your horizons?  This is what I see for America.  Something better than what we have now.  Something cleaner, and richer, something greener and more robust.  A happy place where people love each other and shake each other's hands. 

 

I love America, and I want her to be better.

Green Living 01

Green Living tip of the day:  Garbage Resistance Front

 

Instead of paying to have your garbage picked up weekly, which requires generating huge amounts of garbage (garbage = waste) try not having a garbage pickup at all.  Institute a carry in carry out garbage policy for all your guests to drive home the waste impact they (and you) have!  Unfortunately recycling is generally grouped with garbage removal services so you have to do your recycling yourself.  I go to Far West Fibers about once a month with a whole bunch of recycling which is really fun and great because ...  drum roll please...  they accept a myriad of things that curbside recyclers do not!  From plastic clamshells (the remnants of most street cart vendor meals) to Styrofoam.  So I can recycle much more than I would ordinarily be able to.

 

On the flip side the garbage my household does generate amounts to about a plastic shopping bag's worth per month, which gets hand delivered to a can with some room to spare.  I mix it up around the neighborhood so as to spread out my impact.  No one suffers, and I pay less, and guess what?  I recycle more and more every time. 

 

NOTE:  To reduce your garbage this much you must also compost.  For a good resource on composting in Portland check this site.

Nothing is sacred in the Police State

Freedom.  It is my mantra and my guiding light.  Liberal is a word to describe someone who loves liberty and therefore freedom.  The cycle of a police state always begins in freedom.  The freedom allowed becomes a corrupting force for some, and a guiding light for others.  Corruption is a virulent psychosis of the human species and always leads to suffering.  And when the balance of power shifts to those corrupted by the desire for power the police state forms.  First to protect us all, second to protect our valued interests, and third to perpetrate a permanent grip on that power, thereby removing the original reason and mode that the power was available in the first place.  Yet the struggle for freedom will always remain, and I believe always prevail.  It is an endless pendulum of balance, and the ignorance and stupidity that blinds the greedy seems to always keep the pendulum swinging wildly, never settling for long in a peaceful balanced state.

 

So I submit to you this article about High School students in Chicago that performed a completely non-violent sit in for peace.  An act of blessing directly descended from the very idol of the Christian faith which is purported to be the dominant religion in this country.  Has our nation's faith flown so far from it's teachings that we can no longer recognize peace for what it is? 

 

In so defending liberty we destroy it!!!!

 

Acts against the constitution, acts against free speech.  McCarthy has returned as Homeland Security who's mission is noble but who's authority has corrupted even it's simple charge: defend us all from threat.  Our leaders have failed us in the glint of opportunity to power.  It is up to us, as citizens, as free people to remind the government of this.  I call for more non-violent protest, I call upon every citizen to take charge in this.  Police, Army, Navy, Government officers, you are citizens who have sworn your life's work to protect this nation and guide her, what does your heart tell you?  Is sacrifice of freedom any way to protect it?  Is freedom more safe if it is LOCKED UP in a cage?

 

We have come very close to the edge.  If we can turn back will we ever be able to recover what we have lost?  If we must, we shall plummet over the edge into a void of renewal and chaos.  Of course this is what the founding father's intended to a degree, that the tree of liberty be renewed with the blood of patriots.  That blood has already begun spilling;  our brave soldiers overseas, the victims of terror at home and abroad, the futures of the students in the article above, and the fear in the hearts of every red blooded American who knows what freedom should be.

 

Eli Green, LEED AP

 

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The beginning...

I am a serial optimist.  It is my mode of thought, and a way of life.  I will always be so, and I will always fight to thrive.  It is the nature of people to fight for survival, and this is what brings me to my point.  A town in Tennessee has run out of water.  They are making do, but the sheriff makes a great point at the end of the article: what happens when a town of 145 people runs of water is very different than when a city of 4.5 million people runs out of water.  It will be a riot, a fight for survival, a glimpse of what can happen if we find ourselves on a world out of balance.  We cannot rely on the good will of people to do make the transition smoothly, we must avoid that transition.  Incremental change is our only option.  Change now, from a centralized source, for the good of the people.  Because people have shown over and over that we cannot do it on our own.  That is not how survival works.  It is an every person for themselves mentality.  This is not the best way to survive!  We know that!  Yet fight or flight is not about knowing, it is about doing.  And what we do when the oceans rise, and the fresh water disappears will mark this era in human evolution more than anything we have ever done in the past.

 

Get ready.  The change is coming.

Blogger Buzz: Environmental Blog Roundup

Blogger Buzz: Environmental Blog Roundup
A very cool blog that links some environmental blogs that Trav.is sent me. ThanSave as Draftks Trav!

The world as we know it is over

Apocalypse is upon is.  No.  just kidding.  It's close though, especially when you understand that word to mean the end of the world as we know it.  Which it is.  People's lives are valued over the survival of the ecosystem, speciation, and a healthy globe.  And with that almighty constant reigning supreme in the equation we are unable to reach a balance.  Actually the word equation denotes equality, as both sides of the equals sign must be equal (that's why it's called an equals sign).  So when news like this reaches my brain I know that our growth means conflict and death for all other species.  Including our own.  We will evolve, we will struggle, and we might make it.  I give us 1/20 odds.  Not good.  But not altogether bad.  Problem is, we don't know how much we need every other species out there, or if there is a threshold where we have killed too many off.  Only one way to find out, right?  Cross the threshold, then we'll know.  And WE WILL ALL BE DEAD.  That is why we must be progressive, why we cannot wait!  Why we must start doing something NOW!  It's called being progressive and I know that scares the crap out of Republicans and Conservatives (and many Democrats and Liberals as well) but it's our only choice.... or Goodbye. 

 

So, knowing the track record of humanity.  This is an early goodbye.  I've loved you world, and I won't give up, but it's not going to last forever at this rate.  You don't give up either ok?  We can solve this.  Just don't hold your breath.

On old idea taking flight

Automated pods whizzing between destinations are an idea that has been around for a long time.  Imagined as a safer alternative to humans operating vehicles (an idea I heartily endorse) they have been attempted for decades and are rarely successful.  Well, this article from the guardian describes a new system going in at Heathrow Airport in London, England.  That's very shagadellic isn't it?  The article mentions a fee for the service, but it is unclear whether that is for the airport project or the proposed systems going into other cities.  Either way, the future is here, and robot pilots are awesome.  Give it a try next time you fly!

Uh Oh

Well, according to this article germs get way more potent in zero g.  Maybe we'll figure out how to get to the moon without bringing any of these nasty buggers with us, but it could be a big problem.   Just another chance for a cool solution I guess!

I love you rawstory for having this, and I love you Family Guy for drawing this, and I also think this is hilariously awesomely funny and hilarious. Thank god there are people out there with the skills to get paid to make this kind of stuff. Because I have to go draw a building.

Amazing, and equally as powerful as the original. Oden, we all support you and hope you get well soon. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you get to know Portland better. From a long time Blazer fan to our new hope.

Election Reform: the single most important issue of the moment

http://www.getitstraightby2008.org

Our Fascist State

If you doubt in the slightest that we have not crossed the border between democracy and Fascism read this article and watch all three videos, each is short, and all are equally revolting, and all three are of the same thing.  This is not a joke, or a farce, this is recent news; an event that is a sad sad commentary on the state of our rights as Americans.  I hope this event turns into a lawsuit that goes on to affect the rights of police in action, severely limiting their protection in cases of civil rights violations.  That is what this is about.  Race, gender, orientation, religion - are not factors in civil rights violations.  These police offices need to be dismissed and prosecuted for brutally attacking an unarmed civilian acting within their rights.

 

But beyond this event, and the irreparable damage done to this individual, our nation, and the international view of this country what does this mean to you?  How will you feel next time you want to speak up to express your rights?  Or ask a question?  Or disagree with an authority figure?  Aren't these our rights?  Isn't that the FOUNDATION of this democracy?  I say it is too late already.  And we hover in the no man's land between capitulation and revolution.  Bloody and violent.  Sad and worse - a clear sign that this great experiment has failed, and despite the best efforts of millions we have been unable to create a safe, just, and reasonable society that can peacefully defend individual rights, and national values.

 

I know where I stand, and I can be but one thing; the change I desire.

Right up my alley

Thank you Google

A new fuel: Saltwater (but is burning things necessary?)

Just check out this web page about a man's new invention of a technique to use radio waves to break down the salt in salt-water which releases hydrogen that is then ignited. Wow. His last line about being willing to sell his invention is a truly sad cap to this story. But it does make for an interesting new way we might be able to drive industry. Shoot, if I could get this for my home, I'd be stoked!

Actually, just check out the video here:

My kind of architecture

Man I wish I could have been the one to get this commission, but the timing is off... give me about 30 more years I guess. Check out the article and enjoy the photo... we live in a very interesting world and at a very interesting time. The first commercial space port, soon to follow, the first commercial space structure, and then, as it were, the first commercial moon base, and you had better believe I'll be there with a hammer and a low G grin.

Wow, now this is how I'd like to get around.

Please, check out this article about a Mini that's been turned into an amaizng hybrid, far beyond the capacities of current available hybrids.  The trick is an old idea wherein each wheel has a motor inside, eliminating the need for drive train, engine, brakes, etc.

 

Truly the wave of the future.

A good use of the web

Just a simple kudos to the Seattle Examiner for including map content in their news article.  Now maybe American's will be able to find our own country on a map, and not react like this poor girl (who just plain got nervous, but clearly could use a little work on her public speaking and maybe a little less on her image.

Greenwashing the world brown

Inescapable: the fate of man to thwart ourselves and lead the world to ruin, with a bright eye, and torch held high, we face the future without contempt. Buy woa will be upon our brow when the future's falling failing furrow heeds no life from ground. Profit turns our daily clocks, wound with gears and springs clamoring for more resources, industry, blood, sweat, and tears.

In years far from now, people will not wonder why we went so wrong, it will be visible in the records, the recipts and tax histories. Written plainly for all to see: GREED. I do not ask for forgiveness, because we do not deserve it.

Greed in the Amazon

don't worry, the list will continue...

Moving in: Critical Paths

Prepare to be updated:  I have now moved in.  With the unprecedented help of 6 awesome friends I was able to move in to my house in one day, leaving only a few remaining trips of odds and ends.  This is how the critical path to moving in went;

 

Get keys on July 20th.  got them at around 11 am in front of my office from my awesome realtor Jesse Knight.  I was so ecstatic, I had to wander around for a few moments before going back to work to smile at everyone.  That night was also the release of Harry Potter 7, which is awesome so I didn't even go to my house to try out the new keys, I went to happy hour first with a bunch of buddies, then to Powell's till I had the book.  I decided to go to my parent's house afterwards because I had forgotten to bring my sleeping gear in the car that day.

 

Saturday morning arrived and I read HP in bed till about noon.  It is amazing.  Had some breakfast with my mom, packed my camping gear and headed over to my house.  My home.  All I brought was my pack and a laundry basket with my favorite Persian rug.  My buddy Adam Friedman (of Ovenlight) and his beautiful wife met me at my house and helped me make a grand entrance.  It was a great occasion.  Oh!  I forgot to mention the other thing I brought over - beer.  We drank some.  Shannon left to run an errand and Adam and I chilled out and checked the place out.  Turning all the knobs, opening all the drawers, checking all the nooks and crannies.  It was great fun, and when Shannon returned, she brought a wonderful gift of my first new house plant.  Thank you Shannon!  The left soon after (Shannon is pregnant, and couldn't stay longer as I had NO furniture in my house upon which to rest) and I was left to reading.  I rolled out my rug, inflated my camp mattress and unfurled my sleeping bag and read in the middle of the living room floor to my heart's content.  Jamie and Senna came by later and we had a similar time, rooting through all the mysteries a new house presents. 

 

Once left to my foibles again, I read and read all through the night, with a quick stop at my friend Lloyd's house for a little backyard party.  It was awesome.  Thank you Lloyd!  Back home I read some more.  That was it, the first night in my new house, sleeping on the living room floor on my rug, reading Harry Potter 7.  A suitable transition I believe.  I then began the process of making my house mine, and ready for me to move in. 

 

Monday, July 30th Nhance Flooring came by to refinish my original 1926 top-nailed hardwoods.  This was an absolutely generous gift from my father, to whom I am extraordinarily grateful.  Thank you Dad!!!  It takes a day for the floors to dry so you can walk on them, but a week before you can move furniture onto them.  Not to worry, I was headed to Florida for a long weekend on Thursday, and the days passed quickly.  Before I knew it I was back on August 7th and ready to move in.

 

Saturday the 11th was moving day, and like I said above, it was easy and fun with the help of these awesome people:  Jamie Pinney, you rock buddy, thanks for showing up early, helping, motivating and coming back later to end the night with me.  Alex Huang, an amazing man, manager and father.  You rock too, and I am thankful to have known both Jamie and Alex for over half my life now.  Curtis Johnson and Adam Friedman showed up and showed some serious muscle and with their help we got the couch, dresser, boxes and more all moved into Attila and the other cars and were off moving before I knew it.  Thank you both my friends, you rock three.  Kelln and Lindsay showed up later at my house and kicked ass by helping me go get two huge book cases from my office (thanks to Cujo too!) and cooking the first meal in my house which was amazing, and so suitable as it was a communal meal, shared by all, and enjoyed especially by myself.  YOU ALL ROCK!

Thank you all!

 

Yesterday, the 15th of August, Jamie Minkus met me at Ikea and we consumed their brand of delightfully quirky European design like voracious beasts and I now have a bed, a table, another table, some chairs and all the kitchen good I will need.  Thank you Jamie!

 

Now the fun really begins.  All the rest of the modifications, alterations, preservations, conservations, and discoverations are ready to go.  See you all soon, back here with more updates and soon to follow PICTURES!

Despicable, corporate belligerency

In this article, Johnson & Johnson is revealed as the corporation they are, with one single thing on their minds: money.  They are suing the Red Cross for using the logo of a red cross.  And yet, like so many typical corporate mindsets, they are ultimately decreasing their profitability.  By following the law that was set up (and citied in the article above) to allow J & J to share with the Red Cross the logo they have in common more people are exposed to the corporate image, creating better product recognition!  What a shame.  And for a for-profit corporation to sue a humanitarian organization at all is just nasty and revealing.  I just can't believe someone thought this was a good idea.  I am now boycotting Johnson & Johnson.

 

Join me in expressing your disgust by boycotting their products as well.

Green Living: A Home

I decided to buy a house as soon as I had a job, and that was back in November of 2006.  Well I found one, and I made the offer the day it went on the market, days before I was to leave for France for a week.  The offer was accepted and my excellent realtor Jesse Knight made the whole deal so easy, I was a little nervous it was too good to be true.

 

We had the inspection and sewer scope done within days, and the first hitch hit:  During the inspection, under normal investigative measures a leak formed in a pipe leading to an external hose bib.  The leak was due to corroded connections between copper and steel pipes. 

 

LESSON #1 Copper and Steel plus water = corrosion.  Do NOT mix copper and steel.  If you have to, there are special connectors you must use.

 

The situation was resolved with some difficulty because the realtors of the owner were very nasty.  But resolved it was, and the sale moved forward.  On July 11th I closed and signed all the papers. 

 

On July 20th I got my keys.  Ecstatic is the only word I can think of.  I bought a beautiful gem of a small house in SE Portland built in 1926, and retaining all the charm and qualities of that era.  Location was very key to my house hunt and I believe I have the perfect location.  I am right on a great bus line (not a major line, a great line that serves a very specific area, and isn't too fast or slow), very close to two major bus lines, and walking distance to a coffee shop, co-op, New Seasons Market, The Clinton St. Theater, a Burgerville, restaurants, and much much more.  This is South East Portland at is best, and on top of all that I am 4 blocks from my capoeira studio; Capoeira Regional.

 

There are a few issues with the house that I plan on addressing as time goes on.  First and foremost is the fact that there is no exterior window in the bathroom, and it is on an exterior wall.  The tub is a cheap-o unit and may have been installed over an existing window!  I will find out soon enough.  The second issue is the vinyl siding.  The house looks like it was frosted in petro chemicals, but I have seen through the facade and the original siding is intact underneath.  Phew.

 

It is a great little house!  And it is mine!  Hooray!

Just a pretty picture

from NASA

Portland: Greener and greener

Check out this page listing the top 15 Greenest Cities in the world, and please, notice if you will number 2.

Keep it up homies, and know I'm doing my best too, and if anyone out there has any questions on how they can do better, feel free to ask away. I may not have the answers you are looking for, but I might have the resources you can use to figure it out.

A great quote

"I know the people of Washington state didn't want lawyers and judges and prosecutors arguing about little piddly details like this," Hiatt said. "Is the person sick? Yes. Are they using it with a doctor's permission? Yes. Then leave them alone." From this article.

Amazing site

Talk about science, this is amazing. Or don't talk about it and just read about it instead, since you don't know what you are talking about. Yet.

Realestate speculation: positive

Look for the neighborhoods along the dotted line to blow up. I'm talking renaissance. Property values through the roof. Milwaukie; the next N Mississippi? I found this information here from a site that aggregates blogs based on location. Pretty sweet stuff! Thanks again to Tarek for being the source of all cool information.

Ethanol

The grain required to fill a 25 gallon gas tank with ethanol would feed one person for a year. Every time you fill your tank, think about biking, walking, mass transit or just relaxing at home. Live simply so that others may live.

Ethanol is an interesting idea, and I plan to go over the pros and cons in this blog over the next few weeks, but bear with me, as I will be researching and writing at the same time so look out for corrections.
First blush must consider the corn industry in the US and it's own problems. For instance, if we stop using corn to feed animals that were never intended to eat corn because it becomes too expensive is that a bad thing? I think not. Cows put back to pasture, and Americans eating less meat? Sounds too good to be true. We'll see.

My money where my mouth is

Here's something I don't ordinarily do: ask you to donate money (no of course not to me). The only reason I would consider this is because I believe in it, and I just donated some myself.

How many posts have I written about declining species on the Green Manifesto? Well here's a chance for me and you to do something.

http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/

This site is about protecting OUR national resources, which include wild spaces and wild animals, not just oil or coal. Other resources have value, and values much harder to calculate than the cost per barrel. So if you want to find out more, click the link. This campaign is about Grey Wolves, a distinctly American animal and one I personally find incredibly beautiful and elegant. And worth protecting.

As some of my more market driven friends might say, it's not the government's job to regulate the protection of these animals, but unfortunately they are the only people with the power to regulate these animals protection or destruction. It is the government in Idaho who is legislating the ability to hunt these animals who have just recovered from the brink of extinction. So I say, let the market speak! And I have now spoken with my very own hard earned dollars!

Preserve, protect, or perish.

An Awesome Idea

http://www.freespiritspheres.com/

just follow the link, then come back here and read if you care.

This is an incredibly cool idea/form/space/habitat and I am fully in favor. It could be incredibly sustainable, or it could degrade our natural spaces just as viciously as standard development. But I don't think it will ever be like that. Because people who would consider living in this sort of space do it for one or two reasons - they love and want to connect with nature as intimately as possible, or they are plum crazy-wild and have some similar tastes to your's truly.

Let your imagination run wild as I have. A grouping of these beautiful spheres, dangling in the canopy connected by suspended walkways is incredibly compelling. Perhaps one day, we'll get to see it in action!

Additionally, these interior spaces remind me more of a sailboat interior than a house. I think my aunt and uncle would tickled by this product. Thanks for the link Jess!

Outrage

I can only say it so simply. This is outrageous, and has outraged me. Our country is a bunch of sissies and this is exactly the kind of 1st Amendment protection America is supposed to be about. Read this link about a high school senior who has been punished for following the rules and writing something honest. I am not defending his content or timing, but I will defend his rights. The shooting at Virgina Tech is a tragedy and we must do what we can to prevent such tragedies in the future, but not by sacrificing our rights.

Yet another reason to install that bunker while you still can

Have you heard about the bees? They are dying. Life forms like bees that are a crucial and obvious part of our ecosystem are key factors that we use to predict and understand the natural world. And when they start dying, we know something bad is happening. Like the fabled butterfly monsoon connection, this sort of die off is usually the precursor to greater widespread environmental degradation and danger.

I am not suggesting that you go out and buy a bunch of honey, but if you want my suggestion, go out and start a beehive! Or simply create some habitat for bees to encourage their safe growth and a long term supply of life on earth. If you need more convincing here's a great link to an article about bee ecology and how they play a role in our agricultural economy way outside of the honey in the pot.

What's more, this article above suggests something even more interesting. As species decline in number, it is the smaller populations that decrease first. This suggests that smaller niche organisms are the first to go, and that the broader and more robust organisms remain. This has been the case for eternity and is nothing to laugh at or feel remorse over. It is a rule of nature. What it implies though does give me a bit of pause. Postulate with me what could happen if the niche organisms disappear or diminish greatly? It is the loss of the extraordinarily adapted symbiotics, the bizarre plants that lure outlandish insects, the rare plant that requires feeding by even rarer ants. Do you see where this takes us? To a world of switch grass and flies. To a land of few, not plenty. Speciation is one of the gifts of our extraordinary world, and one we must not take for grated.

BioFules in the sky and Bottles in the bank!

Now this is promising news, and coming from an industry leader, and not a government regulation! Being green and saving the world has FINALLY become clear and obvious to the tipping point majority, thank you world!

On another awesome note Oregon looks like it will move ahead and increase the acclaimed Bottle Bill to include water bottles and flavored water bottles! When the bill was introduced 30 years ago it was a landmark bill that increased bottle recycling 90% (all stats are from my memory right now) and stands to do the same with the ubiquitous plastic water bottle. This could make a very big difference in the world.

Bring em home, secure the world

Living Green, and coping

If you haven't noticed, I like to use the internet, for both reading and writing. And I am amazed every day by the sheer amount of information passed through this novel portal. Today I was amazed yet again, and by two very divergent yet strangely related sites. The first was Monsters & Critics who posted a story about Cheryl Crow, a person I know very little about, on a website I know nothing about. And the second was a satire posted by my friend trav.is.

What got me about the first story was the asinine response by all the people who went to the page containing an article that reports Ms. Crow's proclamation that women should be a part of protecting the environment by reducing their use of toilet paper to the minimum of one square per visit. This makes an incredible amount of sense, is very responsible thinking and can actually have a HUGE impact on both our water systems and our paper uses. It implies that this is for going "number 1" but the page did not specify. Nearly all of the responses on the page where churlish and rude, condemning Ms. Crow for voicing her opinion. I say to the people who wasted their time, energy, and money responding so sophomoric: get your heads out of the toilets and respect a small bit of honesty. She is right. This is one of the infinite, incremental steps you can do every day, every time you go to the bathroom to make a difference. It adds up.

We are so blessed in our first world nations (those of us who do, and of whom I am guessing represent 100% of my audience now) to have plenty, to have comfort, and to have extra. And we use more than we need because most of us do not know any better. This is one very palpable lesson in using less. Good for you Ms. Crow.

And now for the second article; a satire my Mr. Trav.is on the dangers of .... water. It took me some reading and common sense, and enough desire to even care what he wrote, to decode the blather of the site mentioned in his post, and it was funny, but I hate to say it, trav.is, I didn't really enjoy the joke.

Many people have incredibly intelligent and sound ideas about free market and open capitalism, and the effect of self regulation, but I am guessing, none of those people have ever suffered through or had someone close die from exposure to a toxic chemical leaked by an unconcerned corporation. It is simple fact that we do not understand the effects of what we do and create until years later, and I believe we should be responsible for our own actions. Just because we work for a company or corporation or government does not insulate us from the effects we cause, weather inadvertently or with full knowledge. Unfortunately not everyone acts with this level of responsibility, and in the glare of the gross, net, and margin, forget everything they every learned about what is right.

Because of these facts, it is vital and necessary to regulate people.

Federal law vs. State law

Ohh boy, where to begin? I had never thought about this issue before, because I used to have faith in our federal government, but ever since the election in 2000 I have begun loosing faith.

So to the point; states, as described in the Constitution (ever heard of it?) States are supposed to have the right to make and enforce their own laws, and yet the federal government is always sticking it's nose where it doesn't belong! Here's a for instance i just read about where the federal government is preventing a woman from taking the medicine prescribed to her by her doctor! The federal government is KILLING this woman and therefore it HAS FAILED.

We are very close to the end. I am not a doomsayer but I am saying it now. We are going down quickly, all hands on board.

Barren worlds: opportunity

What will happen when we discover other worlds with no extant life? Will we be able to tell that there is not life enough to justify bringing our own? Assuming the answer to that question is yes the next steps will be just as difficult. Will we bring plant and animal species from earth to populate a barren world with life as we see fit? Will we try to copy the successful bio system established on earth or will we experiment and make a new world in our own image? This begs the question of genetically altered species being a viable solution if there is no native species to harm.

All questions, and no answers yet... but maybe soon.

Solar utility

What is the biggest problem with solar? Real estate. So here's my new brilliant idea that will make me millions (of gigawats). A new form of electrical utility based on distributed generation and short distance delivery. So here's the pitch:

Lease from home owners and building owners roof top space wherein Solar PV cells are installed on leased roof space, the payment for the space will be in discounted energy rates, but the surplus energy will be distributed to the grid.

Prospective problems: Currently a pv array on your roof is too expensive to get a big enough array to fully power your own house, let alone surplus energy to share with the grid, but with the buying power of a utility (Publicly or privately owned) this problem can be overcome. PV arrays are notorious for being outdated quickly, but with a utility there can be a constant level of replacement and repair, and with this degree of investment technology will progress faster and the cells can be swapped out and updated more frequently.

What do you think? Are you ready to invest? Send me a note and I'll get us all started!

The best work station ever

From a cool article on a cool site.

No more stumps please!

http://action.wilderness.org/campaign/save_tongass_taf

Become a Conscious Warrior - Today.

An incredible person, friend, human being, athlete and thinker has published an incredible book; The Conscious Warrior's Manual. The author Ben Musholt is a physical therapist and good friend. I recommend this book to anyone seeking inspiration, ideas, or invigoration in their life. It is an easy read, entertaining and challenging. Ben addresses your personal health, the health of our civilizations, mental, spiritual, and global health in a scintillating convalescence of right mindedness and simple truths.

I just can't say enough about this book or the author, so figure it out for your self and click on the link to the right that I added to my template, or on the link above. You can buy this book online direct from the publisher (and as a one off, direct sale, this is one of the least environmentally taxing methods of book distribution possible). Enjoy the read and your future good health.

The Greenstigator

Damn it Chavez... why?

I've been a pro-leftist for years and I think I will always be, and then there are days. I understand the anti-Imperialist stance of nations, and I understand the use of that position pollitically. I also believe that many leaders use this catch phrase as a means to another end, a pollitical scapegoat or catch-all, that can be used to justify any action against an Imperial nation. And also, please remember that Americans in general are NOT Imperialists, just the one's that Republicans like to elect.

For instance, Chavez of Venezuela is a very left leader and I have supported his desire to set the course of Venezuela without the heavy handed influence of the US. That is their right as a country. And I understand many of the viewpoints in the Middle East that want the US out of their affairs as well.. some for very reasonable and righteous reasons, and some for political and often aggressive purposes. I think the conflict that is arising (politically, NOT militarily) with Iran is being argued on these levels. But that this is sometimes used as afalse front as an attempt to use a valid argument to further a dangerous, and possibly catastrophic, plan of action.

Recently the president of Iran met with Chavez and they spoke out together against the US imperialists. Understandable when coming from Chavez, who has felt directly the covert operations of the US secret service, and not so secret services. However this is not as reasonable when coming from someone who touts freedom with one lip and hatred with the other! Ahmadinejad is an outspoken anti-Semite who is actively pushing for the destruction of Israel and all Jews. Is this the kind of ally anyone should be making (anyone who is not a racist I mean)? Chavez has his hands full diplomatically with the US and the UK and probably the EU to a lesser degree, so why would he lend his support to someone with even worse relations?

"My enemies enemy is my friend" as the adage goes... a philosophy that speaks volumes about this strategy, and ultimately a strategy that works in wartime but not in times of peace. And that is what this is all about. Peace. Chavez, I want peace between all nations, and between Venezuela and the US is a good place to start. There are many people here in the US who support your efforts towards equality and freedom, and this is HURTING your cause, and mine.

I hope that this sentiment reaches your ears or eyes and you can review your choices to work with this man whom I believe is touting dangerous and hateful positions. Please do not facilitate this further degradation of your position or of the attempts to find peace between all peoples and all religions.

Ahmadinejad is a dangerous man and not someone to ally with until he changes is stance.

Donate to this:

I found this article on Rawstory, and it links to this site called EDGE. EDGE stands for Evolutionarily Distinct & Globally Endangered... yea, stick with the acronym guys. I think it is amazing, and maybe you do too? Look at the creatures on this site and realize the value of diversity. I was shocked to learn that the blue whale, on of the great giant mammals of the world is on this list, and is critically endangered. Can you donate too? I just did.

Greener than thou

Has anyone else noticed how sustainability is showing up everywhere now? And the long term greenies are getting a bit anxious... because their once strong and secure position in a field ignored by big business is becoming eroded... and this is exactly what they have been fighting for!

It's a double edged sword with a poison handle. So recognition is due and I'm not the one to do it. But others will. And even more will co-opt this incredibly enlightened position and take the money and the power that comes with being involved with a trend of this magnitude. For instance, GE just 'released' an electric car!!!! The Chevy Volt. CRAP! A press release so full of lies it is unconciousable to consider this a step forward. GE has been doing EVERYTHING in their power to hinder the advances in the electric car industry. If you want more proof see "Who Killed the Electric Car" because it's incredible just how low these people are, and sad how they have an open door into the wonderful field that has been sown by so many brave, sacrificing individuals.

But we are a community, and we are strong and it is not the time to be guided by fear.

Innovation knows no bounds so let us move forward again.