Sunday, October 28, 2007
So I'm in the UK and noticing the small things...
After a 24 hour trip (as measured from my door to my hotel room), I'm just outside of London getting ready to hit the sack in preparation for the work week. I had plenty of time to walk about the city in the rain and its interesting to note the subtle differences between here and America. There are a lot more different types of people here. You hear many different languages just walking down the street. Many more people are walking around (petrol here is about $8/gal) and what amounts to downtown here is full of different small businesses. Not a Walmart in sight! Most of all, when I walk into one, the service people actually great me and ask how they can be of help. There are many kids working (young adults 18-22 or so) and they are working, not slacking. On the other hand, everyone is on thier cell phone talking or texting, perhaps evern more so than I see at home.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
How to build your own Sputnik
I love the Brits! Can you imagine an American newspaper issuing this challenge?
I think I have all the parts to do this at home: solar panel, Lion batter with USB interface, peltier cooler, transmitters... and maybe a GPS module to send the satellite's position rather than just beep.
If I only hade more spare time!!!
** How to build your own Sputnik **
It seems incredible that the technology that went into building the first successful satellite 50 years ago can now be found lying around the average house. You could even build one yourself, as Paul Rubens explains below. Fancy having a go?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7049002.stm
I think I have all the parts to do this at home: solar panel, Lion batter with USB interface, peltier cooler, transmitters... and maybe a GPS module to send the satellite's position rather than just beep.
If I only hade more spare time!!!
** How to build your own Sputnik **
It seems incredible that the technology that went into building the first successful satellite 50 years ago can now be found lying around the average house. You could even build one yourself, as Paul Rubens explains below. Fancy having a go?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7049002.stm
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Why hasn't America reached its quota on killing and evicting brown people yet?
It seems Americans hate brown people. We started a war where thousands of civilians are getting killed and tortured and we are trying to drive them out of the US with tougher laws supposedly aimed at "illegal immigrants." While worlds apart, both movements have their roots in the American Axis of Evil: Republicans, the Religious Reich, and Neocons.
Republicans are the prison bitch of the the Religious Reich, both with a symbiotic need for power to impose their beliefs and the need for sheep to vote, despite the obvious conflict with the teachings of Jesus. Neocons are the rod up the arse both to guide and comfort them with the belief that America can dominate the world with its moral superiority (which include torture and any other means to justify their vision of the end).
The Religious Reich wants a crusade against Muslims (they are first on the list, with a bullet, but the list is long) and fears the growing number of Hispanic votes which will be able to take away their political power and inflict their Catholic beliefs using the American system that they have worked so hard to destroy through revision history and unconstitutional laws.
They are truthful when they say they aren't racist; its just a coincidence that most of the people that are seeking to destroy are brown. They hate gays of all colors as the incident with Larry Craig clearly shows. They will be happy to stop killing brown people and driving hard working people from their homes and families once they (the brown ones) start believing and acting just like them and they have destroyed the America of freedom and idealism and replaced it with a dictatorial theocracy when the only one persecuting them is themselves.
Republicans are the prison bitch of the the Religious Reich, both with a symbiotic need for power to impose their beliefs and the need for sheep to vote, despite the obvious conflict with the teachings of Jesus. Neocons are the rod up the arse both to guide and comfort them with the belief that America can dominate the world with its moral superiority (which include torture and any other means to justify their vision of the end).
The Religious Reich wants a crusade against Muslims (they are first on the list, with a bullet, but the list is long) and fears the growing number of Hispanic votes which will be able to take away their political power and inflict their Catholic beliefs using the American system that they have worked so hard to destroy through revision history and unconstitutional laws.
They are truthful when they say they aren't racist; its just a coincidence that most of the people that are seeking to destroy are brown. They hate gays of all colors as the incident with Larry Craig clearly shows. They will be happy to stop killing brown people and driving hard working people from their homes and families once they (the brown ones) start believing and acting just like them and they have destroyed the America of freedom and idealism and replaced it with a dictatorial theocracy when the only one persecuting them is themselves.
Social Conservitives may leave? GOOD RIDDANCE! GO!!!!
Conservatism as a movement started by Barry Goldwater was about small government, fiscal discipline, low taxes, free markets, and individual liberty. Then the Religious Reich seized control of the Republican party, mixing the oil and holy water of Political conservatism and Social Conservatism. Social Conservatives believe that the government should dictate the choices you make in your life and in your bedroom; political conservatism thinks the government should mind its own damn business. The best thing for this country that could happen is the for Religious Reich to get its own damn lunatic fringe party and then - hopefully - the political system will stabilize as these lunatics can't hide behind other issues. Maybe we will get a real Conservative party that can pay off the debt and restore America from the damage that the Bush administration has caused.
Lets elect Barry Goldwater. He may be dead, but he's still a better choice than any of the Republicans and most of the Democrats.
Lets elect Barry Goldwater. He may be dead, but he's still a better choice than any of the Republicans and most of the Democrats.
The "hidden" tax on Americans thanks to the Republicains
The Republicans claim some higher moral authority when it comes to taxes. Of course, the spend our tax dollars like a rich drunk in a whorehouse. What they leave us with is HUGE deficits that are paid off by later administrations. Clinton managed to pay down Reagan's deficits and was on the way to a surplus when the Republicans rode into town and looted the Treasury and started a war with no end that is financed by bonds (debt) that you and I will have to pay off.
To add insult to injury, they have pursued a policy of lowering the value of the dollar. Which means that everything you buy costs more because it all comes from oversees. This of course hurt the poor and middle class more because they don't have the luxury of having investment portfolios that invest were the currency - like the euro - is stronger and retains its value.
We pay more for goods, more for gas, and more in taxes because we pay a tax on the rising price of what we buy.
Who benefits? Those who sell their goods oversees, a small group of manufactures and agribusinesses. Their sales go up because American goods are cheaper oversees. For supposedly "patriotic" Americans, the Republicans are sure doing a lot for everyone but Americans. We just get stuck with the bill. $2 TRILLION dollars in war costs that we will be paying off for generations, over 3,500 dead American Soldiers (And a sincere thanks to the sacrifices that all of you are making! I'm sorry we elected a complete idiot as your commander in chief), and a loss of the rights and liberties Americans have enjoyed for over 200 years.
I'm far from claiming the Democrats are righteous; there are proving themselves quite ineffectual, inept, and spineless in start contrast to the corrupt gang led by Gingrich and Delay. But as bad as the choices may be, I'd rather have a real tax that pays for sick kids than a hidden tax that only helps everyone but Americans.
To add insult to injury, they have pursued a policy of lowering the value of the dollar. Which means that everything you buy costs more because it all comes from oversees. This of course hurt the poor and middle class more because they don't have the luxury of having investment portfolios that invest were the currency - like the euro - is stronger and retains its value.
We pay more for goods, more for gas, and more in taxes because we pay a tax on the rising price of what we buy.
Who benefits? Those who sell their goods oversees, a small group of manufactures and agribusinesses. Their sales go up because American goods are cheaper oversees. For supposedly "patriotic" Americans, the Republicans are sure doing a lot for everyone but Americans. We just get stuck with the bill. $2 TRILLION dollars in war costs that we will be paying off for generations, over 3,500 dead American Soldiers (And a sincere thanks to the sacrifices that all of you are making! I'm sorry we elected a complete idiot as your commander in chief), and a loss of the rights and liberties Americans have enjoyed for over 200 years.
I'm far from claiming the Democrats are righteous; there are proving themselves quite ineffectual, inept, and spineless in start contrast to the corrupt gang led by Gingrich and Delay. But as bad as the choices may be, I'd rather have a real tax that pays for sick kids than a hidden tax that only helps everyone but Americans.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
What if we could generate power and use up C02 rather than generate it?
Its not the solution, but it could be part of the solution:
Terra preta is a human-made soil or fertilizer made by burning biomass such as agricultural waste to pyrolisizes it. Since terra preta locks carbon in the soil, it's also a form of carbon sequestration. It can reduce other greenhouse gases and water pollution: according to Biopact, a network that promotes biofuels and biomass energy. Burning agricultural char can also produce energy. The process produces hydrogen, methane, and other fuel gases. These can be burned for heat or to power an engine.
via http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007427.html (Edited)
Terra preta is a human-made soil or fertilizer made by burning biomass such as agricultural waste to pyrolisizes it. Since terra preta locks carbon in the soil, it's also a form of carbon sequestration. It can reduce other greenhouse gases and water pollution: according to Biopact, a network that promotes biofuels and biomass energy. Burning agricultural char can also produce energy. The process produces hydrogen, methane, and other fuel gases. These can be burned for heat or to power an engine.
via http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007427.html (Edited)
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Finally the beginnings of a strategy against terror
6 years later, over 3,500 American Solders dead, over 10,000 wounded, and $2 Trillion of war debt... and finally the beginnings of a strategy.
From MSNBC at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21343519/
In the first major revision of U.S. naval strategy in 25 years, maritime officials said Wednesday they plan to focus more on humanitarian missions and improving international cooperation as a way to prevent conflicts.It seems that Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen , the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, are finally having some impact against the incompetent President, deluded neocons and outright lunatics (Dick Cheney) that got us into this mess. Maybe, just maybe, Gates and Mullen can get us out of this pointless war in Iraq and start actually fighting terrorism. I have a glimmer of hope for the first time in years.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
