refiamerica

Five Reasons To Sign: SensibleWashington.org

2011-01-11T14:24:00.000-08:00

Five Reasons To Sign:

Marijuana is a benign substance. Unlike alcohol, cigarettes, and caffeine, marijuana has never caused a single death. Marijuana should not result in a lifetime criminal record. Students should not be ineligible for financial aid and children should not be taken from their parents over a marijuana conviction.
Marijuana prohibition is a waste of money. The State of Washington spends one hundred million dollars annually to arrest, prosecute and jail 12,000 people a year for non-violent, victim-less “crimes” related to marijuana. That's taxpayer money that could be saved -- or spent on education, health programs, teen drug treatment programs, etc.
Just like alcohol prohibition, prohibition of marijuana empowers violent organized crime. Instead of allowing small business owners and farmers to grow and sell marijuana and industrial hemp, the government has granted a monopoly to criminals who will maim, kill, and sell drugs to children in the name of profit.
Medical marijuana patients are not protected by current law. Voters in Washington overwhelmingly approved our medical marijuana law in 1998. But patients are still being arrested, prosecuted and sometimes even jailed for using doctor authorized medicine. The only way to really protect patients is to make their medicine legal.
Hemp is an eco-friendly, profitable crop for Washington's farmers. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of hemp can be grown locally instead of imported. Industrial uses include cooking and fuel oils, fabric, paint, paper, construction materials and environmentally-safe plastics. Hemp Seed is nutritious and contains more essential fatty acids than most other food sources. Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber on a sustainable basis and grows well without herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides.

from: 5 Reasons To Sign - A flyer produced by Troy Barber for the upcoming petition drive.

Sensible Washington
3161 Elliott Avenue, Suite 340
Seattle, WA 98121
www.sensiblewashington.org

10 Things Michelle Obama Wants to Say to Sarah Palin [but can't]

2010-12-14T09:07:00.000-08:00

I ran across this commentary by Keli Groff on the Huffington Post today. The first lady is constrained from speaking her mind, but Keli does a good job ad-libbing for her... I busted up at some of these...

10 Things Michelle Obama Wants to Say to Sarah Palin

For once I agree with Barbara Bush.

At least I know the difference between North and South Korea.

If Katie Couric had asked me I could name plenty of publications that I read on a regular basis because reading is something you get used to doing in law school.

When I said I was proud of my country for supporting my husband, what I really meant is I was proud Americans were smart enough to support him over the other guys (and gals, hint, hint...)

Some people shoot harmless animals. I adopt them.

When you accused me of not trusting parents to do a good job raising their own children, you were only partially right. I trust most parents, but some could use a little help because their kids are out of control; you know calling people offensive slurs and whatnot. Not like my well-mannered girls.

While I realize a strong, attractive black woman defeated you for the Miss Alaska crown (which must have really stung since there are like 5 of us in the whole state) you shouldn't let that leave you with a chip on your shoulder about all of us strong, attractive black women.

Not that I'm judging, but Sasha and Malia will appear on "Dancing with the Stars" the day my husband goes ice-skating in hell with...well you.

Some people appear on reality tv, while some of us appear on the cover of VOGUE. (Click here to watch a fashion faceoff between the two ladies.)

Please run for president. I'd really like to live in the White House another four years.

Goldman Sachs Emails: Firm Had 'The Big Short' As Economy Fell

2010-04-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

I love this part of the article ;-]

The firm made money on the upside -- originating, securitizing and selling subprime mortgage-based securities to investors -- and on the downside, thanks to the insurance.
"Bad news," a May 17, 2007, email began from one Goldman employee to another. A security the firm had underwritten and sold had just lost value, costing Goldman about $2.5 million.
Further down in the email, the employee, Deeb Salem, wrote "Good news...we own 10mm protection...we make $5mm."
The firm made $5 million betting against the very securities it had underwritten and sold.

Counterspin just interviewed someone that did a great analysis of this and how WaMu knew that the mortgages they peddled were fraudulent. Get you money local before it is too late! hahahaha

Goldman Sachs Emails: Firm Had 'The Big Short' As Economy Fell

Doug Bandow: Blowback: The Lessons of the Moscow Bombings for America

2010-04-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

Incoming! Doug hits the nail on the head big time. Terrorists don't really hate America or it's people, they hate the American Government and the people who are behind all of "our" meddling. The US gov't meddles, the people pay. Wall street and the Banks meddle, and again the people pay. Big Corporations bent on maximum profit meddle, again, the people pay.

I don't know about you, but I am getting pretty damn tired of being stuck with the check...

Let the Flames begin ;-]

Doug Bandow: Blowback: The Lessons of the Moscow Bombings for America

Official Google Blog: A broadband catapult for America

2010-03-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Official Google Blog: A broadband catapult for America

Wow, this is amazing... Google is really behind Broadband for America, just like every one of you should be. This is the kind of economic stimulus that really puts people to work, and gee, there might even be some benefits. I urge everyone to run the FCC broadband test and let it report your numbers to the database. The FCC cannot justify projects like this unless people participate to show a need, We all know there is a need. I urge everyone to download and run the FCC National Broadband test. Information on the reasons why the test is important and instructions for running it are at: http://www.broadband.gov/qualitytest/about/ - do it! --egrep

KEXP 90.3 FM - Programs

2010-03-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

KEXP 90.3 FM - Programs

A really awesome discussions going on right now on "Community Forum" - kexp.org The segment just ended on excessive corporate rights, and now there is a forum being broadcast on basic human rights as they relate to how corporations can basically do what they want to us, our environment, and our world. If you miss it, I will follow up with the archive link in a bit...

Live stream at: http://kexp-mp3-128k.cac.washington.edu:8000/listen.pls

Mark Shriver: How to Turn Banking Waste into a Bright Future for All Kids

2010-03-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

The only way to keep my kids out of debt for half their lives due to student loans was to pay their schooling costs myself. Best damn investment I ever made. I am not sure what the fix is, but I urge everyone to complain, no scream at all their elected officials about these issues and problems. This is just another example of corporate interference in our government. Anything to make a buck, right guys?

I think my 401k would be better served by setting aside part of it to invest in an "educational bond fund". Government backed, and the money invested in the fund goes directly to students and institutions. NO BANKS. If enough people do it, it might send Wall Street a message. Payback is a bitch bankers... You have been warned... ;-]

Mark Shriver: How to Turn Banking Waste into a Bright Future for All Kids

The Best Ambiance playlist-March 8, 2010

2010-03-11T18:33:00.001-08:00

A short playlist below as this is the week of the KEXP Spring membership drive. Thanks to all of you who supported our station, and kept us on track for the goal. Your support keeps this station and African music alive on the radio dial!

You can check out the show for two weeks following the broadcast, on our streaming archive at www.kexp.org.

The concert and events calendar is found after the playlist below.

-Jon Kertzer, "The Best Ambiance" KEXP-Seattle

Playlist

Monday, March 08, 2010 (LISTEN TO THIS SHOW)

Time	Artist	Song	Album	Label
6:05	Bibi Den Tshibayi	The Best Ambiance	The Best Ambiance	Tangent(France)
	DJ Comments: theme music-Congolese soukous
---- air break ----
6:07	West Nkosi	Majava Java	Jive Nation	Earthworks(UK)
	DJ Comments: great South African sax player and producer
6:09	Mahotella Queens	Kazet	Kazet	Marabi(France)
	DJ Comments: veteran female trio of mbaqanga singers
6:13	Busi Mhlongo	Yehlisan'umoya Ma-Afrika (African National Calm)	Urbanzulu	M.E.L.T. 2000(S. Africa)
	DJ Comments: popular South African female maskanda singer
---- air break ----
6:28	Habib Koité & Bamada	Cigarette A Bana	Muso Ko	World Village
	DJ Comments: Malian's first hit, coming to Seattle in April to Jazz Alley
6:33	Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba	Jonkoloni	Segu Blue	Out Here Records(Germany)
	DJ Comments: from debut of ngoni band, with Amy Sacko on vocals, coming to Triple Door on March 16th
---- air break ----
6:47	Virunga	Jaffar	Feet on Fire	Sterns(UK)
	DJ Comments: band from Kenya, led by singer Samba Mapangala
6:51	Abdul Tee-Jays Rokoto	Kamilay	Kanka Kuru	Rogue
	DJ Comments: London based guitarist from Sierra Leone
7:02	Frank Ulwenya	Safarini	Safarini In Transit - Music Of African Immigrants	Smithsonian/Folkways
	DJ Comments: Kenyan singer from Seattle, with Yoko Nzenze
7:08	Orchestra Super Mazembe	Kassongo	Giants Of East Africa	Earthworks(UK)
	DJ Comments: East African hit of the early 80's
7:12	Mabulu	Bula Bula	Soul Marrabenta	Riverboat(UK)
	DJ Comments: band from Mozambique
---- air break ----
7:24	Ayub Ogada	Wa Winjigo Ero	En Mana Kuoyo	Real World
	DJ Comments: music from Kenya on nyatiti harp
7:28	Béla Fleck and Anania Ngoglia	Furaha	Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 - Africa Sessions Part 2	Bela Fleck Prod.
	DJ Comments: just released, second volume from movie, Anania from Tanzania
7:32	Afel Bocoum & Alkibar	Sambe Sambe	Tabital Pulaaku	Contre Jour(Belgium)
	DJ Comments: latest from singer/guitarist form Mali, and his band; formerly with Ali Farka Toure
---- air break ----
7:45	Staff Benda Bilili	Staff Benda Bilili	Très Très Fort	Crammed Discs (Crammed Discs)
	DJ Comments: parapalegic band from Kinshasa, Congo
7:51	Mahube	Ziwere	Mahube	Sheer Sound (S. Africa)
	DJ Comments: group featuring Oliver Mtukudzi and Steve Dyer
8:05	Antibalas	K-Leg	Live @ KEXP	n.a.
	DJ Comments: NYC afro-beat band live in our studios Feb. 19, 2002
8:12	Sir Shina Peters	Yabis	Nigeria 70-Lagos Jump	Strut(UK)
	DJ Comments: vintage juju music from Nigeria
---- air break ----
8:25	Shiyani Ngcobo	Wayi Thathaphi	Introducing Shiyani Ngcobo	Introducing/World Music Network(UK)
	DJ Comments: guitarist from South Africa
8:28	Eric Agyeman	I Don't Care	African Moves Vol. 3	Sterns(UK)
	DJ Comments: highlife classic from Ghana, from early 80's
---- air break ----
8:46	Bembeya Jazz National	Yelema Yelemaso	Bembeya	World Village
	DJ Comments: band from Guinea, reformed in early 90's, with this recording
8:52	Les Amazones De Guinée	Wamato	Wamato	Sterns
	DJ Comments: all female band from Guinea

TBA Events Calendar

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Afrocentric night, with Sol Afrique, at the Musiquarium Lounge at The Triple Door, 216 Union Street in Seattle, 9PM, free.

Friday, March 12, 2010.

Soweto Gospel Choir performs at First Presbyterian Church in Seattle (next to Town Hall). It’s part of the American Choral Directors Association Conference and a limited number of tickets will be available to the public. 8pm.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

African All-Stars, at Hidmo Restaurant, 20th and Jackson, Seattle, 8PM-10PM.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

From Mali, Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba, at the Triple Door, 216 Union St, Seattle, 7:30PM. info at http://www.thetripledoor.net/Calendar.aspx; then Kane Mathis plays in Musicquarium Lounge at 9PM.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Andrew Oliver Kora Group- acoustic concert at Empty Sea Studio, 8PM, at 6300 Phinney Ave. Seattle; info at http://kora.andrewoliver.net

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Lora Chiora with Danai and Draze Maraire, 7:30PM, at The Triple Door, 216 Union St, Seattle, 7:30PM. info at http://www.thetripledoor.net/Calendar.aspx

Tuesday – Wednesday, April 6 & 7, 2010

Habib Koite and Bamada at the Jazz Alley, 2033 6th Avenue, Seattle; phone 206-441-9729; 7:30pm, $26.50.

http://www.myspace.com/habibkoite

Monday and Tuesday, May 3 and 4, 2010

King Sunny Ade at The Triple Door, 216 Union St, Seattle, 7:30PM. info at http://www.thetripledoor.net/Calendar.aspx

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YouTube - The YouTube Interview with President Obama

2010-03-10T18:14:00.000-08:00

Robert Scoble asked a great question about getting YouTube videos to feed properly into Buzz. Since I know feedburner will send blog posts to Buzz, I just have to try feeding this CitizenTube interview with the President that took place on Feb 01, 2010 and see what happens - wow, am I late to the game or what? ;-]

YouTube - The YouTube Interview with President Obama

Robert L. Borosage: All You Really Need to Know About Banking Reform

2010-03-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

My simple solution to show my disgust at the banking industry is to walk the walk, and take my money to my local credit union. Just got off a telephone town hall with Senator Murray, and she opened with how hard small businesses have been hit because the big banks ignore them, and the local banks are replenishing capital to keep themselves from going under.

I don't know about you, but I am pulling all of my money out of the latest big bank to take over the one I just had [Wamu -> Chase], and putting everything into my local credit union; Kitsap Credit Union. I told them exactly why I was moving my my money there, and inquired if they had local investment funds I could stick some money in that focused on lending to local business. No definite yes or no, but hey, I let them know what I wanted my money to be invested in. Hey, the people who run credit unions are the people who bank there, not some capitalistic board of vampires.

Sure, you should join groups that work towards banking/investment reform, but you would be amazed at how hard you can get hit back when you walk the walk.

Robert L. Borosage: All You Really Need to Know About Banking Reform

Official Google Blog: An update on Google.org and philanthropy @ Google

2010-03-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

I did not even know Google.org existed. Well, I do now. This is awesome, especially the Google PowerMeter, Flu Trends and the Earth Engine. I have a new favorite site to get info on non-profit organizational tools... [just what refiamerica needs ;-]

Official Google Blog: An update on Google.org and philanthropy @ Google

PostPartisan - How Obama can shift the health-care debate

2010-03-09T02:16:00.000-08:00

A buzz friend posted this to facebook. I decided to read it because I try to follow healthcare happenings. I read the entire article because what David Ignatous had to say. His point? Do it. Not because it will save money and cut premiums [we could only hope!] but because it is the right thing to do. Hat/tip to Alice for posting this link.

PostPartisan - How Obama can shift the health-care debate

Heart of America Northwest - Hanford turning into a nuclear dump?

2010-03-07T08:19:00.000-08:00

Shout out to all Seattle/PacNW residents: Hearings on Hanford as a National Radioactive Waste Dump: A public meeting in Seattle Monday 3/8 7pm. Info session starts at 6pm. Feds want to abandon the cleanup plans, and expand Hanford to start up weapons production again. This hearing is being featured on "Mind over matters" this morning on the kexp.org stream.

From the web site: "Hanford is the most contaminated area in the Western hemisphere. Today radioactive and toxic contamination flows into the Columbia River, which flows through Hanford for fifty miles, at levels as high as 1,500 times the federal Drinking Water Standard. Over a million gallons of deadly liquid High-Level Nuclear Waste has leaked from tanks at Hanford, and over 120 million gallons of these deadly wastes was dumped into the soil. The contamination is spreading towards the River faster than the federal Energy Department (USDOE) claimed was possible.
Heart of America Northwest believes in “Clean-Up First!” - requiring the massive amounts of existing wastes to be brought into compliance and cleaned up before allowing USDOE to dump more waste at Hanford. Please read on, and do not hesitate to call or send us any questions or suggestions. Please join us and sign up to receive email action alerts and to volunteer (we can use volunteers anywhere in the Northwest)."

I am going to try and be there...

Heart of America Northwest

Bob Cesca: The Tea Party Is All About Race

2010-03-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

Bob really struck a note with me on this one. For the longest time, I have been at a loss to explain "why" the current "tea party or tea baggers" bothered me so much. They appear to be for things that would be good for America, but once you look into it, you are like "that's just wrong...!". I think Bob really has something here... hat/tip -> Bob Cesca.

Bob Cesca: The Tea Party Is All About Race

one person, one vote

2009-11-23T15:06:00.000-08:00

[originally published 15-Nov-09 20:21 on refiamerica.org]

The idea: A national, government verifiable way to register internet users as 'voters or opinions', with anonymity resting with an open source organization, community founded, much like nanog [north american networks operators group], or the Gnu foundation [is it a foundation?].

As voting citizens, we prove to the gov't who we are to be able to vote, but when we vote, it is private, anonymous, except for polling location.

What if you could go and re-register to 'vote' in person at your local polling place, and once verified, the gov't official hands the person at the next table a scan code or printed number. The next group is a representative of this open source organization that uses the gov't code to create a secure-id two factor otp [one time password] token that anonymously ties that token to 'a registered voter in this precinct - anonymous". It does not id you personally, it just guarantees that you proved to the voter registration people you are who you say you are.

The voter then registers with a secure web site that is also the web site where they can be polled. We are not talking about voting, this is opinion polls. "Should the US pull out of Afghanistan?" Extremely good accuracy of the count and verification of "one person, one vote". Heck, they even get the accuracy down to zip codes if the user allows that [ok, maybe that is a condition of having the right to cast your certified opinion].

Just something to think about... --egrep

losing 40 lbs? definitely worth it...

2009-11-23T15:04:00.000-08:00

[originally published 03-Sep-09 03:45 on refiamerica.org]

the idea...
free. Hey, what are brains for if you do not listen to them?
trying to pitch the idea...
3 years of hell
running the gauntlet....
hella fun! Try it sometime.
losing 40 lbs to be able to run the gauntlet...
worth it, believe me
thoroughly enjoying pitching the idea in a 30 minute one-on-one with the CIO of your company..?
priceless...

Los Cabos, Mexico - evacuated... yikes!

2009-11-23T15:00:00.000-08:00

[originally published 02-Sep-09 08:06 on refiamerica.org]
(wow, my first real correction/retraction...)
Apparently, the hurricane will make landfall tonight (right at the entrance to the sea of Cortez. All low lying commnities in the area are on alert, and I thought I heard that they had evacuated my second home, the city of San Carlos on Monday Sept. 1st 2009. I hope all families get out safe and their homes are still there once the storm passes. Jim is up in Colorado helping Becky get everything tied up before they move back down to San Carlos this October. I think Jim's boat is in dry dock, so it should be ok...? Need to ask Jim today if they are all set.

My big worry is for the Soggy Peso Bar, an awesome home-built shanty/restaurant/bar located at 27 degrees 58 minutes north and111 degrees 06 minutes west. The Peso has a unique simple explanation, and is probably the most unique, interesting place to find yourself on a lazy San Carlos afternoon. The Peso is owned and run by Lisa, the woman I hope to convince I just might be worth keeping around when I get down there in October. We will see...

My biggest fear is that she decided to stay and ride it out. The place means that much to her. If she and the Soggy Peso survive, I am sure she is going to need lots of help putting it back together once the smoke clears. --egrep

Coersion or education. Which works best?

2009-11-23T14:57:00.000-08:00

[originally published 02-Sep-09 06:08 on refiamerica.org]
Sunday night, after I had settled in to the hotel, I stopped by one of my favorite watering holes in Glendale CA; a place called Jax. If there was ever a '60's piano/jazz place that survived intact into the 21st century, it is Jax. A lot of things are still the same here in Glendale since I moved up to Washington 2 years ago, and except for 2 new-to-me, interesting bartenders, the place is just as I remembered it. Last night, I got to talking to April (the Sunday night 'tender), and I strayed into what I am trying to get going in the pac nw (what we call the Pacific Northwest), and April looks at me and says "oh, you want to talk to my sister Kristine.

So, on a whim, after I had explored all of the parts of Glendale that _have_ changed (nice job on the Americana guys... cross between an awesome "Universal City Walk" and and Celebration off Disney World). I stopped by Jax Monday night, and finally asked if this interesting person I was talking to was indeed Kristine. Turns out it was and I eventually figured out the connection, a concerned person who was looking to live somewhere where things could be better.

More on why I told her it was time to leave LA in a future post, but where this ties into my question posed in this topic rests with two Apache tribesmen who had just finished up with a cattle auction. Hearing some of the things they talked about made me _really_ want to go over and get into a good spirited discussion on questions about tribal life that have been in my head since the last time I attended an Indian powwow. It was probably the summer of '69, we were in Colorado, probably within a day's drive of Denver and the images and memories I see now, show a great, proud people who just flowed with self assurance as they all danced as one people. I still remember how when I thought no one was looking I used to dance right along with them. Memories sure are a funny thing...

The 'funny thing' is where there is this click, and the pieces making up the players and in the "now" just seem to fall into place. Never having tried to really understand the best way to approach situations where my main thirst is for knowledge, and to share something of what I know in return, I decided about a week before I headed on this trip to try and find out how to pull this off. I have never been good a sales... Don't ask... ;-]

I thought about all the people I have admired up to now in my life, and using pieces of each as needed, I created this simple formula:
Toss an innocuous aside within earshot of someone you want to interact with, but make it related in a positive way to the "now" (where "now" is the moment in space/time you are interacting with). If the person responds in a manner saying "I heard something interesting, please continue", then you follow with an intelligent question, comment, or observation germane to what you are trying to learn (or fix; this works well in preparation for a good compromise too - more later? yeah...). In no time you will either find yourself in a spirited discussion related to that which you seek, or within a few polite comments, you will both agree to let things dissolve as you paths diverge.

So far, I'm batting a thousand. this is so cool! I tossed a comment that allowed the current speaker to hear it; finish what he was saying or speaking to at the time; respond in a positive manner and then pause while I was invited to present an opening statement. Best damn half hour talk I have had in a long time. I really hope the gentlemen email me, because I have even more questions now that I have digested our first talk.

Where is the connection to coercion you ask? Well, most of my life people/companies have been telling me to do these 'things', buy these things, and generally toe the line in conforming to others' wishes. I _know_ I have been guilty of this also, so do not think I am just playing victim here. What I am saying is that you can coerce someone into the end result you seek, but all you gain in the process is a situation where you have bullied someone, and they have learned only resentment in the exchange.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my encounters, and feel education is _still_ the best path... Always. You may even end up teaching yourself something good... Just like I did... I'll never go back.

Good to meet you, let's exchange some knowledge. -egrep

3d moving real-time camera?

2009-11-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

[originally published 17-Jul-09 12:40 on refiamerica.org]
Heard a Science Friday npr broadcast, where an associate professor at MIT 11 years ago was on talking about a "perfect mirror". This turned into a flexible mirror lined tube that does an awesome job of bending and controlling a laser beam that is perfect for specialized surgeries. This allows for many new, innovative types of of endoscopic surgery (no/minimal invasion/incision).

New developments described in a recent MIT paper detail how they developed a fiber based on the same principals that can detect and measure 8 different parameters of 2 wavelengths of light hitting it's surface. Lots of applications. One I dreamed up:
Imagine a fabric that could record all light hitting it. Imagine this being incorporated into a one piece body suit. Imagine a person wearing this suit in a crowd during a demonstration. Since the suit records all light hitting it, and can convert that light into images, this person waring this suit becomes a real-time 3d recording device, and could probably broadcast this data real-time.. Talk about citizen journalism... --egrep

Cap 'n Tax? In a way, yes. Will it really cost more?

2009-11-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

[originally published 16-Jul-09 03:06 on refiamerica.org]
Everyone, even dems and the White House agree that the energy bill, with it's inclusion of the Cap and Trade provisions will cost America more money for energy. Since producers will be charged for the amount of carbon their energy production produces (be it generating electricity or burning gasoline in your car), the energy production method that produces the most carbon will pay the highest carbon rates. The production methods that produce the least carbon will pay the least. I suppose that consumers can sit back and blame the government for adding carbon costs when the utilities and others charge us for the difference, but why should we pay it? It is not our fault they burn coal to produce electricity. It's not our fault that gasoline engines average 25 mpg. Is there a silver lining? I think there is. Guess what? A utility that uses solar or wind pays less of a carbon penalty because those methods of producing electricity produce very little carbon. Same with hydroelectric. Ever wonder why some utilities offer the option for you to request that your electricity come from renewable resources. like wind or solar? Bet you can opt to request 100% green sources and not have to pay carbon penalties for your electricity. How long before utilities invest in green technologies if none of their customers are wiling to pay for power that has a high carbon price tag.

So, we can bend over and let the coal and oil companies continue to cut the tops off our eastern mountains, and drill into the arctic preserves to suck out a bit more of our precious petroleum, or we can tell the utilities that we want green, low carbon power now. Utilities usually need Public Utilities Commission approval to raise rates or to apply surcharges to your electric rates. If people go to these meeting and tell the PUC members that they will not pay higher rates because the utility will not convert from coal, then maybe the PUC will deny the rate hike. All of the sudden, the coal burning utility will have to pay the carbon surcharge themselves. hmmmm...

Gee, think this might increase the lagging demand for green energy? Stand up people! Let your legislators know you want low carbon choices. --egrep

"ya pays me now, or ya pays me later"

2009-11-23T14:49:00.001-08:00

[originally published 27-Jun-09 13:51 on refiamerica.org]
Hearing the voices against a climate control bill rant how "cap and trade will destroy the economy" and "cap and tax will be the biggest job killer ever voted on by congress", makes me just want to puke. A great quote in a recent renesys blog post sums up where America is right now in the global warming fight, "don't wait until the tanks are in the streets to figure this out, because by that point, you may have already lost the war". Of course reducing carbon is going to increase energy costs to consumers, but hey, "ya pays me now, or ya pays me later"... We can pay the up-front costs now, and the continued higher cost for energy that is so cheap to us now, or we can pay enormous sums of money and watch thousands die when droughts hit and the rising seas shrink coastlines. How secure will America be when unfriendly governments, seeing that their land is being destroyed and their economies are being ruined, decide to lash out at whomever has more resources or whom they think got them into this mess to start with. Yeah, not so secure. You think times are bad now...

Ok, I digress. Bottom line is that we are already way past stopping CO2 from screwing things up, and can only reduce what we can now and in the future and then adapt to the changes that will continue to plague the world for decades to come. NASA GISS recently released a study oh projections of peak oil's effect on the future climate. To quote that article:

"Previously published research shows that a dangerous level of global warming will occur if carbon dioxide in the atmosphere exceeds a concentration of about 450 parts per million. That's equivalent to about a 61 percent increase from the pre-industrial level of 280 parts per million, but only 17 percent more than the current level of 385 parts per million. The carbon dioxide cap is related to a global temperature rise of about 1.8°F above the 2000 global temperature, at or beyond which point the disintegration of the West Antarctic ice sheet and Arctic sea ice could set in motion feedbacks and lead to accelerated melting."

Other NASA studies show that the number at which we start seeing bad effects (the level past which life as evolved on earth starts being affected) is with a CO2 concentration of 350 ppm. Guess what? We have already past that number and are rising at a rate of 2 ppm/year. Not good. So not good that big Large Scale Integrators (LSI) like GE and other multinationals are now shifting resources and money from Carbon reduction research and planning to "Adaptation technologies" to allow regions to deal with rising seas and other climate related changes to their environments. So, the big 20+ year projecting producers in the world are already admitting that it is too late for parts of the world and are developing tech to help countries deal with rising seas. not good. --egrep

People of the world - a shout out to Iran

2009-11-23T14:48:00.000-08:00

[originally published 27-Jun-09 10:46 on refiamerica.org]

We are a world of people. We are the people of the earth
As people of the earth, we are all equal in our individual rights
As people of the earth, we want an earth we can live in harmony with
As people of the earth, we are all responsible for nurturing the earth
Governments and business will listen to what the people say about the earth
We are a world of people, we are not a world of governments
Governments should represent the people and their wishes
Governments do not control the people, the people live in harmony with each other
Governments: Stop repressing and trying to control the people and start listening to the people

--egrep

Why we should want Iran to succeed in their re-vote effort

2009-11-23T14:46:00.001-08:00

[originally published 18-Jun-09 01:08 on refiamerica.org]
This is going to be a slow start, but I just wanted to say a bit about the demonstrations going on all over Iran. I lived in Teheran between 1964 and 1966, only a 3rd grader at the time, but it still played a big role in shaping my ideas of humanity. During those years, the Shah of Iran ran the country. At that time, there was only the very rich, and the very poor. Only middle class that I was aware of were military and professional people (technicians and gov't employees). No matter how poor people were, they were always extremely friendly, helpful, and yes, even tolerant of a "little kid" who speaks atrocious Farsi and had the manners of a donkey :-)

My father worked for caterpillar Tractor company representing them during the boom years when oil and US aid money was pouring in. What I did not learn until much later in life, was that the CIA played a big role in the coup d' ta that put him in power. In 1978-79, the Iranian people got fed up and overthrew the Shah and wrote their own democratic constitution. I think they are seeing now that it became too easy for a single person or small part of the gov't to have total control over the people. This is not good. I think the Iranian people want to hit the figurative reset button just like the US and Russia did when Hillary messed up her Russian :-)
So, they probably want either a) a re-vote, with external monitors to try and keep it honest, or b) get rid of the current Supreme Leader, the current president and then sit down rewrite their constitution so that they reduce the chance of Tyranny again. All they want is their freedom, their vote to count, a gov't that listens and does what the people say, and relax the dress code for women a bit, will ya? They used to really like wearing what they wanted when I lived there.

And hey, if they pull this off, just think what a shot in the arm that would be for American citizens! Can you imagine us marching like that because Congress won't implement CO2 regulations, won't push for green energy, dragging their feet on health care reform, won't do a lot of things they are supposed to be doing for their constituents (us, remember?). The president can't do all this by himself. If you think congress and the senate are not doing the right thing, then start talking out about it. Post on forums and blogs. We have the same internet access as Iran did up until last Friday. So get up and let's fix this country. Times 'a wastin'! --egrep

What do you do with a car company?

2009-11-23T14:45:00.000-08:00

[originally published 30-May-09 00:49 on refiamerica.org]
It looks like GM will file Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday. That means that when they emerge, the US of A will own 70% of GM. What do we do with a car company? I say "we" because it is the American people that "own" almost 3/4 of the biggest car company in the US, and maybe the world. So, what do we do? Well, a lot of us would like to see greener cars. We would like to see better mileage. We would like to see more commuter options for vehicles (see networks of loaner cars). We just set new Cafe standards for mileage, so hmmm... maybe the US government (that's us...) could "lean" on the company that we own 70% of. We might not be able to do that, as the initial deal specified "non-voting" stock. The big question is, would it convert to voting stock once GM goes into bankruptcy? Maybe we will get an answer to that question soon... maybe not... --egrep

Where are the Queens?

2009-11-23T14:43:00.000-08:00

[originally publish 17-Apr-09 02:05 on refiamerica.org]
Bee keepers in regions all over the US and other parts of the world are reporting that bee colonies are collapsing in their areas. The worker bees are all of the sudden not there anymore. No dead bodies, just no bees. "Where are the queens?". Could the queens have abandoned their hives to die because it is easier to travel a long distance in a small group? If she is no longer there, did the workers go with her, or just not stick around because she was no longer in the hive? An interview with a pollination expert talks about how widespread the problem is and what it means to our local food supplies. No pollination, no food. Genetically modified food is not affected because it is self pollinating and only lives one season. You always have to buy more seed. You think Monsanto is only going to sell you one crop's worth of seed? Heck no, they want repeat customers every year... Maybe they put something in the pollen that does not fertilize anything that has caused the bees to leave after absorbing it. Think of the queens going into hiding like near the end of "Ender's Game". --egrep

One lump or two?

2009-11-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

[originally published 15-Apr-09 12:10 on refiamerica.org]

I was not really aware of this, but apparently, all over America, tax and fiscal protesters have rallies, marches and other gatherings to protest the current system of taxation (or no taxes at all). To me, no taxing is about as close as we would get to general anarchy. I mean, without taxation, how would we fund any government functions? Uh, oh, North Korea is invading the pacific northwest, call everyone up, have them get their guns and meet at the beach... Sheesh. Forget the federal government, what about funding the fire department in your local town?

Many of these protesters think that those with the money can fund community functions, but does that not give them ownership of all who receive those services? Sure, everyone could just chip in, volunteer what they want/can/feel they should... Wait, that sounds like the public radio model... public government model? Isn't that what we are supposed to have? A government _of_ the people? --egrep

howtosaythatname.com

2009-11-23T14:33:00.001-08:00

[originally published 14-Apr-09 21:23 on refiamerica.org]
From today's As it Happens, a story about a web site that shows in text and audio how to pronounce the names of people from about 28 countries - howtosaythatname.com . Cool.

Sew your way to $50,000 dollars...

2009-11-23T14:32:00.000-08:00

[originally published 14-Apr-09 17:09 on refiamerica.org]

Dateline... Saudi Arabia... BBC news reports that Saudi's are rushing to buy old Singer sewing machines, some paying US $50,000 for one, to recover "red mercury", a magical substance thought to be able to work miracles including being used to make a nuke.

I do not know what to say... At least there does not appear to be anything on Snopes about sewing machines or red mercury. I guess some people might fall for it, but it just seems so crazy. Mercury (I guess even the unknown red kind) is a _liquid_ metal. Where would you put a sealed container of mercury in a sewing machine? What on earth could a sewing machine use a red liquid metal for? This story really needs to be covered on the CBC's As it happens... LOL -egrep

Increase in gun and ammo sales... 2nd amendment fears related? nah...

2009-11-23T14:28:00.000-08:00

[originally published 13-Apr-09 09:23 on refiamerica.org]
Everyone in the media talks about the increase in gun and ammo sales being due to fears of our second amendment rights being limited... Me, I think it is a general uneasiness with what the financial crisis we are in might bring. People want to be prepared for the worst in case things completely fall apart. I really doubt we will have any issues, but it does not hurt to be prepared.

You really think anyone in the government would seriously consider limiting our right to bear arms when they just might need those arms in the next year or so? Think about it. The pres knows what he is doing. If things in the world start really falling apart, "having to take the US house by house" may be the best thing this country needs. -egrep

The Guy Who Helped Blow Up Wall Street

2009-11-23T14:23:00.000-08:00

[originally published 04-30-2009 on refiamerica.org]
Heard a great story on "All things considered" on kuow.org about a week ago about a programmer that wrote software back in the '90s that allowed banks to manage and try to predict the performance of their mortgage backed securities. He later sold the product and left Wall Street to become an oyster farmer. Needless to say, when he heard talk about "toxic assets" last year, he had kind of an "oh... sh*t..." moment or two. The article and podcast links are at npr's "All Things Considered". There is also a link to the original article published by the programmer in New York Magazine. I love this comment from the author... "Here's one thing that's definitely true: The software proved to be more sophisticated than the people who used it, and that has caused the whole world a lot of problems." Wow. -egrep