Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
Obama wants to know: Why open source?
President Barack Obama is a smart guy. Where others zig, he zags. It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that he’s been asking around about the benefits of open source, according to Sun Chairman Scott McNealy, who has been asked by President Obama to author a white paper on the benefits the U.S. government can derive from open source.
10 Web Sites That Will Matter in 2009
You’ve probably never heard of many of them, but chances are you’ll be using some of these Web sites by the end of this year.
Obama inauguration marks new chapter for digital media
On March 4, 1901, a lone cameraman in the employ of Thomas A. Edison was dispatched to capture the swearing in of William McKinley. To posterity he delivered a total of 44 seconds of grainy footage showing a white-haired man on the Capitol steps solemnly, if indistinctly, raising his right hand.
Living free with Linux: 2 weeks without Windows
Can a dedicated Windows user make it for two weeks using only Linux? Preston Gralla tried it and lived to tell this tale.
10 Online Learning Tools for Students
Second semester has started and many students went back to college. If you are one of them check out this list of tools, it might help you with your studies. All applications are web based, simple to use and free.
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Sunday, November 23rd, 2008
US Dept of Energy and Brazil to Commercialize Biofuels
NREL, a DOE Federally Funded Research and Development Center, is managed and operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy and Petrobras is the largest energy company in Latin America.The partnership between NREL and Petrobras hopes to solidify commercialized biofuels.
Is the Happiness Gene Inherited?
The old cliche that you can’t buy happiness may be true, but new findings show it looks like you can at least inherit it. A study of nearly 1,000 pairs of identical & non-identical twins found genes control half the personality traits that make people happy while factors such as relationships, health & careers are responsible for our wellbeing.
Candace Gingrich: A Letter to My Brother Newt Gingrich
I realize that you may have been a little preoccupied lately with planning your resurrection as the savior of your party, so I thought I would fill you in on a few important developments you might have overlooked. The truth is that you’re living in a world that no longer exists.
Carbon dioxide discovered on distant planet
Carbon dioxide, one of the telltale signs that a planet may be able to support life, has been spotted in the atmosphere of a gas giant orbiting a star 63 light years from Earth.
5 Reasons Why Your Company Should Generate Its Own Energy
Is this really the best time for your company to be thinking about generating renewable energy on-site? Yes!
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Saturday, November 15th, 2008
Dumb Eco-Questions You Were Afraid To Ask
New Scientist offers the definitive guide to everything you wanted to know about being green but were too embarrassed to ask.
How Fast Can Obama Fix US Environment Policy?
For eight years the US has been seen as a global outlier on climate issues. Now, with just 12 months to go until the world decides on a new Kyoto protocol, it is catch-up time for president-elect Barack Obama. What can he reasonably achieve in that time?
Unhappy People Watch TV, Happy People Read/Socialize
A new study by sociologists at the University of Maryland concludes that unhappy people watch more TV, while people who describe themselves as very happy spend more time reading and socializing. The study appears in the December issue of the journal Social Indicators Research.
20 Great Online Image Editors
The online image editing space has grown rapidly in the past year, providing great free and subscription-based options for users of all levels. These well-rounded services let you import images from your social networks, touch up photos, promote your work, and more.
Consumer Confidence is Plummeting
This is the dilemma that 30 years of Reaganomics (the real Reaganomics — keeping the economy overstimulated with huge deficits and irresponsible consumer borrowing — not the fantasy Reaganomics of government run like a family and tax cuts that pay for themselves) has left us with. So what do we do?
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Thursday, November 13th, 2008
I have been getting more and more agitated lately about two news pieces that keep popping up. I know how globally popular my blog is and how much pull it has with the media, so I have decided to make a small request here. “Main stream media,” please stop reporting on the following two issues.
What are they?
1. Governor Palin. There is a reason we didn’t vote her into office. It’s because we don’t want to hear her speak anymore. Please leave now.
2. The pregnant man. If you were really a man, you wouldn’t be pregnant. It is impossible for a man to become pregnant. Even you were a pregnant man, I think the media covering your first birth was enough for America to hear.
Thank you. I said it and now I feel better.
PS – I’m serious about the Palin thing.
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
5 Weather Events Worth Chatting About
Usually, the weather is a subject for polite, uneventful conversation with people you don’t know very well. But sometimes the weather is weird, or even downright scary. Here are a few examples of weather events that gave neighbors more than enough to awkwardly discuss.
Greenpeace Activists Detain Palm Oil Tanker
Where Do Readers Stand on Direct Action? Yesterday, Greenpeace announced that, in order to highlight the ongoing deforestation occurring in Indonesia due to expanding oil palm cultivation, it had stopped a palm oil shipments from leaving port in Dumai, Indonesia. The activists locked themselves to the ship’s anchor chain to prevent its departure.
Princeton Scientists Discover Proteins to Control Evolution
Evolutionary changes are supposed to take place gradually and randomly, under pressure from natural selection. But a team of Princeton scientists investigating a group of proteins that help cells burn energy stumbled across evidence that this is not how evolution works.
Utilities Testing Solar Thermal At Traditional Power Plants
The Electric Power Research Institute announced yesterday that two utility companies (Dynasty Inc and NV Energy) will test out the addition of solar thermal energy to natural gas plants in Arizona and Nevada. The EPRI is conducting the project to determine if using solar thermal at fossil fuel plants will reduce fuel costs and plant emissions.
7 Environmental Executive Orders President Obama Should Sign
The Center for Progressive Reform passed on their suggestions for 7 Executive Orders for the President’s First 100 Days, and here they are for you to debate, discuss and otherwise armchair analyze.
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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008
I thought the Democratic National Convention couldn’t be topped, and in some ways, it can’t. The speech Obama gave that night was just awesome.
I stayed up as long as I could last night. When 11PM hit and they announced that Obama had taken the presidency, I, like many other people watching was just thrilled. I guess my gut knew it would happen, but being a Democrat for all these years, I was a little skeptical. A few hours later and after realizing North Carolina wasn’t going to be called, I went to sleep.
Did you see all those people in the streets watching the election results? What a party. I wish I was in Chicago last night.
This morning, I spoke with two of my friends who voted for McCain. They were both just as happy as I was about who won the election. They aren’t die-hard Republicans, so they knew what was going on. I like talking to those kinds of people because they make sense and can navigate through all the bull.
So, congratulations all you folks out there who voted and won. Actually, I think we all won last night.
Oh, and just in case you want to see a really cool post about a little U.S. history, click here.
Courtesy of BarackObama.com
Yes We Can
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
Well, the day has finally arrived.
I would say that I rolled into bed last night around 11PM. I found myself still staring at the ceiling at 3AM. I was having the most random thoughts about today. I finally fell asleep thinking that I am just plain weird. Upon awakening this morning, I read an email from my sister telling me that she had very odd election day dreams last night. After that, I checked out my uncle’s blog and he said the same thing. I guess, either I am not that weird, or all three of us are.
I voted today sticker
The school where the voting was taking place was much busier than I thought. I was on the phone with my idiot friend when I rounded the corner to see police lights. In Connecticut, the police are pretty much required to be there if you are doing anything…voting, construction, etc…they are fairly laid back though. I heard reports on the radio this morning about how crowded the polling locations already were. I figured that this small town wouldn’t have any issues. I am usually in and out.
Traffic on election day 2008
Election day 2008 signs
I drove right by and had to turn around. Me, being me, thought I could find a better spot down the road. When that didn’t happen, I drove into the main parking lot right behind everyone else. While we were waiting in line to find a parking spot, some old man cut around everyone else and parked in an open spot. I wanted to put the car in park, walk over to him and smack him across his chest. I didn’t though because all the cops were around. Watch your back old man.
There were a few differences between New York and Connecticut voting. First, the lines that you go into to check in were alphabetized by street name rather than last name. I helped the woman in back of me find her correct line. She may have been a Republican, so I’m not sure that was such a good idea.
The second difference was that we used paper ballots here instead of the big gray machines from the 1940s. That worked well and was very fast.
After I did what I had to do, I got my sticker and walked outside to enjoy the sun.
Go me.
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Saturday, November 1st, 2008
I think I am visibly nervous. I wonder if people can tell.
I woke up this morning thinking of politics. If you haven’t heard, I really like the whole topic. I like talking about it, but hate talking about it with stupid people. Whenever I talk to a stupid person, we just get tangled up in that day’s headlines. After the conversation, I lose more faith in humanity and wallow a little bit more. I like talking more about world view, big ideas, the whole picture. Since I am so sensitive, much of my discussion is just a monologue on this blog. That’s probably not a bad thing.
I remember I was talking politics with a girl I used to work with. She said, “Well, aren’t you glad we went to Iraq?” I said, “Why would I be glad we went to Iraq?” She replied, “So we can get the terrorists.” Mind you, this is about four years after we discovered there was no threat from Iraq.
One thing that frustrates me is when people say, “I hate politics. All politicians are the same. They aren’t going to do anything different than anyone else.” That may be true, but what would we do differently? I mean, if I were trying to get elected, I would probably gather my base first and then change things up to go after the groups I need. I’m not a fool. I may have the best ideas in the world, but if I don’t get elected, what good are they? It’s why politicians pander.
A few days ago, I was frantically checking all the polls at many of the news sites. I recently decided that my heart couldn’t take it anymore. Any movement just freaks me out. I am not even sure I want to play this game anymore. It’s kind of like when you have to give a presentation in a class, but you haven’t prepared…you figure dropping the class altogether would be a heck of a lot easier. I’m sure many of us have been down that road.
I am starting to think that hiding in a hole until Tuesday isn’t such a bad idea. I am waiting for something to blow up or for us to find out about some horrible thing someone did. I feel so on edge.
I really was ok with both candidates until that magical moment I heard, “Hey folks, I’m just a regular old hockey mom who can relate to all you Joe six-packs out there.” Right after I experienced that, my soul fell on the floor. I thought I was trapped in some freakish dream. I believed with my whole being that it must be some sick joke, or at least a terrible accident. To me, that translated into, “Hey fellers, I’ll meet all you losers down at the Boar’s Nest in a half hour. The first round is on me.” I mean, seriously.
I’ll tell you what bothers me right now. I am bothered that John McCain went negative. I thought he was better than that. I truly did. Seeing the way he has handled himself has let me down. Also, after watching him for a while, I have come to the conclusion that he is going for points. It’s like he yells, “Ah ha!!!” after he comes up with a good line.
I am disappointed that Obama hasn’t really hit back hard. With all the petty things that have come out in this election, can’t someone with some spine stand up and say, “You know what? I don’t give a damn about where my aunt lives, THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING OUT THERE.” Let’s put this in perspective again.
I am annoyed with John McCain’s pick as vice-president. It was very transparent and if he loses, very foolish. It wasn’t thought out and I don’t appreciate that kind of action. This is our country after all.
I think Joe Biden needs to have a little more visibility. Maybe I am just a Joe six-pack, but I like the guy. I think he is smart and makes a lot of sense. I have to remember that I am not part of the campaign and polls dictate where these people go and what they do. Oh well.
Well, only two more days until election day 2008. I am going to stroll into the polling place on Tuesday and vote down the party line. Until then, I will silently think about what coulda been, shoulda been and was.
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Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
In exactly one and a half hours, Barack Obama and John McCain will square off in the final presidential debate of 2008.
I can’t believe it’s happening. I mean, I have been following a campaign, in some fashion or another, for about 8 years now. Geez, it seems like they never end. Someone (I can’t remember who) once said that the campaigning for the second term of the presidency begins the first day of office of the first term. That may have come from a movie, I just don’t remember.
I have been following the hype all day. All the major news outlets have been saying that John McCain needs to really step it up during this debate and knock Obama off his rhythm. If he does, would that bring all the swing voters to McCain? Possible, but not probable.
As you may be aware, there is a huge amount of media manipulation during any campaign, but especially before a big debate, like this one. Both campaigns play what is referred to as “the expectations game.” I actually got that term from the media. I think Obama’s team won this time, because they got all the outlets to report on McCain’s tall order. Now, we are all going to be watching for that knockout punch.
Or, it could be the media is just reporting this to raise ratings. I think this thing is being influenced by both. Either way, I will be sitting down in the basement from 9PM to ??? enjoying another debate with a cold beer in my hand.
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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008
Back when we used to live up in Naples, NY, I loved listening to Rush Limbaugh. I have to admit, I am not a conservative, but the man was entertaining.
This is back in the day when he used to beat up on Bill Clinton. Even though I thought the whole Clinton scandal was a little “consuming” for my taste, I still liked listening to what Rush had to say. Hmmm, perhaps it was because I was living in the middle of nowhere and the radio was slowly becoming my friend. Ok, we’ll leave that out of this.
I have discovered an old pal, Air America Radio. This is basically the “Anti-Rush” equivalent. It’s funny how long it took the left to come up with a counter punch to the right’s rambling on the air waves for all these years. I mean, heelllooooo…is anyone out there? Maybe it’s because there was never anything to talk about. We had a Democrat in office as president, so it would have been a little weird to get on the air and complain about stuff. When people tune in to these kinds of shows, they want to hear drama, not the sound of patting one’s self on the back. I suppose they could have gone after congress and Newt Gingrich, but that wouldn’t have been that effective.
I gotta tell you, I like Air America. Of course, it isn’t all too objective, but it seems to be based more on intelligence than that other show I was talking about in the beginning of this post. I doesn’t seem like anyone is trying to pull something over on me, yet, they are just trying to explain something to me. They even offer the video and audio to back up what they are saying. I may, admittedly, have receptive ears though.
My favorites are Rachel Maddow and Ron Reagan. They offer the same level of sarcasm that I was semi-forced to listen to while in Naples. Now, this is good stuff.
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