original article: Toward Freedom - Bush Moves Toward Martial Law
Monday, October 30, 2006
Coming Soon To Your City: Martial Law.
I'm sure its like a carnival, only with more guns and less carnies. The article below details several steps and laws that have essentially given the president power to conscript state national guards, send them to non-local domestic areas and institute martial law. The second part allows for torture and detention over seas. They use provisions set forth under the Regan Administration "in the event of a crisis such as violent and widespread internal dissent or national opposition against a U.S. military invasion abroad." This was passed as a small rider to the 'defense authorization bill conference report' that raised little debate because it its timing. Senator Patrick Leahy is the only person asking questions about why these provisions are necessary. I'm sure there's more to this than I understand right now, but it sounds not good. Just keep you ears open.
original article: Toward Freedom - Bush Moves Toward Martial Law
original article: Toward Freedom - Bush Moves Toward Martial Law
If You Can't Trust Bloggers...
I remember back in the day when people used to write for the fun of it, before all this payola crap tainted opinion pieces from the common man. Now people have to wonder if you're being paid to say nice things about a company or product. PayPerPost is the end of trustworthy anonymous sources of advice and opinion on the Internet. I'm a big fan of transparency so the policy of optional disclosure, or the dilution of disclosure pisses me off a bit.
The policy on PayPerPost is that bloggers need not disclose that they are being paid to express a specific opinion about a product. Also, in an astroturf-like move, PayPerPost has launched DisclosurePolicy.org which helps people develop disclosures for their sites (and pays them to display it). The trouble is that they want people who have nothing to disclose to also display one.
But rest assured, I'm not going to stoop to this. Granted there's no reason to believe me; but if I recommend a product, its because I really like and endorse it. Not because I'm being paid to suck up. Unless you see me on a Subway commercial talking about how I lost 400 pounds eating chicken subs, then it will be for the money.
The policy on PayPerPost is that bloggers need not disclose that they are being paid to express a specific opinion about a product. Also, in an astroturf-like move, PayPerPost has launched DisclosurePolicy.org which helps people develop disclosures for their sites (and pays them to display it). The trouble is that they want people who have nothing to disclose to also display one.
This blog does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. We write for our own purposes. However, we may be influenced by our background, occupation, religion, political affiliation or experience.I'm not going to say that, because I'm writing my opinion, and of course my opinion is going to be influenced by who I am, that's why its mine. They're trying to desensitize readers to advisories like this, conveying that everyone has an agenda, and it shouldn't matter what motivates them. So as soon as the kickbacks start rolling in, I'm going to have a disclosure posted on every article.
But rest assured, I'm not going to stoop to this. Granted there's no reason to believe me; but if I recommend a product, its because I really like and endorse it. Not because I'm being paid to suck up. Unless you see me on a Subway commercial talking about how I lost 400 pounds eating chicken subs, then it will be for the money.
Monday Greening
More wave power generation. These guys are floats anchored to the ocean floor that bob under the surface as wave crests and troughs roll by. I'm assuming that they're more sheltered and less susceptible to damage in rough seas.
Bio solvent and striper; way better than chemical strippers that give me the jibblies.
Using corn to make biodegradable plastics like this water bottle and filter.
Whole Foods is to sell wind power gift cards. Bound to be the best stocking suffers you give this year.
Why aren't there plug-in hybrids? A nice long article about the benefits of plug-ins that actually talks with engineers about why they're not here yet. Spoiler: they're worried about battery longevity.
Bio solvent and striper; way better than chemical strippers that give me the jibblies.
Using corn to make biodegradable plastics like this water bottle and filter.
Whole Foods is to sell wind power gift cards. Bound to be the best stocking suffers you give this year.
Why aren't there plug-in hybrids? A nice long article about the benefits of plug-ins that actually talks with engineers about why they're not here yet. Spoiler: they're worried about battery longevity.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Watch Me Burn Your Dinner.
I've never really been so hot on ethanol as an alternative fuel. Sure, its technically renewable, but I'd rather see these fuels come from untapped resources, not re-purposed necessities.
I know its hard to get solid facts, since sources vary so widely on the subject. Mostly you hear about how wonderful ethanol is as a renewable fuel that releases zero carbon emissions and works in current engines. I don't want to discount those positives, but I think the glossed over downsides are worth contemplating. Environmentalist Lester Brown is a major proponent of using food for food. He points out that rising gas prices are making corn more profitable as fuel than as food. Ethanol plants are being installed all over the world, Brazil leading in production. Last year the US ethanol industry consumed more corn than the entire Canadian harvest.
How is someone supposed to be able to compete with an industry that is willing to pay double an item's worth just to burn it? Couple the ethical dilemma of burning dinners with the fact that ethanol just shifts pollution. Sure, zero emissions when it is burned; but ethanol is produced using fossil fuels that release just as much carbon. Then think about the production and transport of crops using fossil fuels, and you'll realize that such a complicated process requires many layers of infrastructure that will all need to be modified as we try to shed fossil fuels.
Ethanol is a stopgap. Its meant to appease people without having to lay out for a new car that uses a fundamentally different technology. I'm not saying it isn't a small improvement over the past 50 years of consumption, but I find it hard to believe its superior to other methods of energy collection.
I know its hard to get solid facts, since sources vary so widely on the subject. Mostly you hear about how wonderful ethanol is as a renewable fuel that releases zero carbon emissions and works in current engines. I don't want to discount those positives, but I think the glossed over downsides are worth contemplating. Environmentalist Lester Brown is a major proponent of using food for food. He points out that rising gas prices are making corn more profitable as fuel than as food. Ethanol plants are being installed all over the world, Brazil leading in production. Last year the US ethanol industry consumed more corn than the entire Canadian harvest.
"There is no international body to mediate the competition between 800 million people with cars and two billion of the poorest people who spend more than half their income on food.'
How is someone supposed to be able to compete with an industry that is willing to pay double an item's worth just to burn it? Couple the ethical dilemma of burning dinners with the fact that ethanol just shifts pollution. Sure, zero emissions when it is burned; but ethanol is produced using fossil fuels that release just as much carbon. Then think about the production and transport of crops using fossil fuels, and you'll realize that such a complicated process requires many layers of infrastructure that will all need to be modified as we try to shed fossil fuels.
Ethanol is a stopgap. Its meant to appease people without having to lay out for a new car that uses a fundamentally different technology. I'm not saying it isn't a small improvement over the past 50 years of consumption, but I find it hard to believe its superior to other methods of energy collection.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The Cops Are Coming, Eat Your Cigarette.
Holy crap. No smoking outside in Omaha. I know, my head is swirling with the implications. If I'm reading this right, you have to find a bar with a Keno license that doesn't serve food to get your fix. And here's the kicker, the police want people to call 911 if they see infractions.
1) Omaha has a monstrously overbuild emergency response service (which wasn't very likely and we didn't expect it)
2) People aren't smoking in restricted areas and are law abiding model individuals.
3) No one is calling the cops on smokers cause it seems silly to respond as if they'd just seen a car jacking or mugging.
"just like they would for any other crime they observe being committed."Wow, there must be nothing going on in Omaha. I usually assume the cops have better things to do that give me a ticket for speeding on the beltway around here. But it turns out that the increased call volume has been "insignificant" which means one of three things:
1) Omaha has a monstrously overbuild emergency response service (which wasn't very likely and we didn't expect it)
2) People aren't smoking in restricted areas and are law abiding model individuals.
3) No one is calling the cops on smokers cause it seems silly to respond as if they'd just seen a car jacking or mugging.
Monday, October 23, 2006
I Said Turn Left. Now Bitch!
Don't let those in dash systems boss you around. I don't care how hot she sounds. I'm not sure what's funnier, that the nav system said to drive down the train tracks or the fact that he did it.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Stick it!
I was looking through the bumperstickers on CafePress (by the way I just got my Daily Placebo hoody in the mail, and boy is it comfortable) and figured I'd share some with you.
Funniest administration ever.
Pirates are the new black. Get on board. Arrr...
I just need this.
Goes great with my 'Jesus fish'
'Who wrote "The Moon Rules #1" on my car with a key?'
Either you know or you don't.
Funniest administration ever.Pirates are the new black. Get on board. Arrr...I just need this.Goes great with my 'Jesus fish''Who wrote "The Moon Rules #1" on my car with a key?' Either you know or you don't.
The Leap From The Lion's Head.
This is great. I don't know if you've ever seen any of that sidewalk art that looks to have depth from the right persective. If not then you might be a little skeptical that this could be done convincingly. Someone painted the floor of this elevator to look like an elevator shaft. I don't think I 'd be going in there.http://www.hemmy.net/2006/10/03/elevator-floor-illusion/
or
http://duggmirror.com/offbeat_news/Elevator_Floor_Illusion/
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