Gene Upshaw died today. It happened suddenly:

"in a posting regarding the passing of Executive Director Gene Upshaw, the NFL Players Association discloses that Upshaw first became aware of his illness on Sunday, August 17.

It was only two days after his 63rd birthday.

Four days later, he was gone.

Upshaw had been fighting pancreatic cancer, a disease that often develops silently, producing no symptoms until the final stages of the illness.

The news has sent shock waves throughout the league, and many executives and agents are still stunned by the news."

from profootballtalk.com great website, plenty of talk on the Bengals, for those of that persuasion. Chris Henry is back. when is the next arrest. Okay, I'll shut up waiting for Marshall's next arrest in Denver.

I bring this up because he has been Gene Upshaw has been vilified for not getting the players enough, unlike baseball or basketball. Which league is healthier? and some of it is because there are no no-cut, must pay contracts in football, unlike baseball or the NBA. Sorry, I am a football junkie and was a Browns fan until Modell moved the team to Baltimore. asshole. I was a Brown's fan the whole time I lived in denver watching John Elway kill the team until his announcement. Now a Broncos fan.

Other things--

stupidest things I have heard lately:
1) McCain doesn't know how many houses he has. It must be the pain of not being able to sell all his houses. I know I own two houses (okay, the bank does, but let's not mince words) because I cannot sell one in the recession. Poor man can't sell his houses and can't admit it.

2) Gingrich telling everyone Obama is in the pocket of Big Oil because Big Oil checks your tire pressure so you have to buy more gas. Anyone have a service station jockey check your tire pressure lately? Or do I go to the wrong service stations?

books I have read while on the road over the past eight months:
1) all the Dresden Chronicles. fun, fun, fun.
2) Justine Musks' Bloodangel and Lord of Bones. These are excellent and well worth the read if you like horror/fantasy/X Files.
3) Archer's Rogue Angel series. An archeoligist who is hte reincarnation of Joan of Arc. Dude, can't beat it. It will be a graphic novel. I want to read it.
4) Iron Hunt--needed another rewrite
5) Delia Sherman's first story in Salon Fantastique.

rojo

I read in the paper that LeRoi Moore of the Dave Matthews Band died yesterday. It made me sad. He was too young. Under the Table and Dreaming was a magnificent album that got me listening to (new) music again, much as Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello and the Clash did in the late 70s. I was wondering who would be playing sax for the DMB on the upcoming tour and thought maybe Jeff Coffin of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and found that sure enough he is sitting in for last night's LA show. I know Jeff Coffin plays in a lot of pick up and jam bands, but here is hoping he does not leave the Flecktones.

On the environmental side, there has been a link found between low levels of arsenic and the development of Type 2 diabetes. What is new in this study is that diabetes may be caused by lower levels of arsenic than thought possible before. I searched about 20 articles today and not one listed what the low levels of inorganic arsenic levels were that were tested. The best I could find was the urine of those with type 2 diabetes had at a minimum of 2 micrograms per liter (that is a really small amount, maybe a little less than 1/4 of an ounce in 1,000,000 gallons. ) Drinking water limits were just lowered to 5 times that amount after much discussion. I could find no listing of what levels of aqueous arsenic were tested. So there is no way of postulating the correlation to the levels of arsenic found in drinking water to urine. Public water systems have to be tested every three years for arsenic. Private wells are not tested at all. This could be a problem. Simple sampling can be done if you are on a well by contacting a well. If arsenic is present, you would have to go to reverse osmosis to get rid of it.

rojo

Confession time--I sit around at night to watch Keith and Rachel every night so I can hear intelligent commentary (and yes, I have been stuck on the road in hotel rooms in CA and TX where they are not on TV, and the best news is CNN). They laughed at John McCain tonight almost asking his wife to "show us your tits" at the annual biker fest in South Dakota. They said he blew up today. I am sorry to disagree, because today he won at 30,000 votes, showing he is one of the guys. Is this intellectual? Hell no, knuckle dragging to the nth degree. But I know these guys. I have worked with them all my life. McCain is now their buddy. Obama uses too many big words, speaks in measured tones (and real thoughtful sentences.) These guys want sloganeering. They want one sentence solutions whether they work or not. This is his majority and maybe a secondary base. His ads have appealed to this level of intellectual and critical thinking and it scares the hell out me he could be the worst candidate, but have a better PR firm that knows how to target the market he needs and goes after it. The electorate he is going after knows what words follow uppity and don't care if it is wrong if it gets them power. No moral dilemmas at all. This is what the campaign has devolved to.

He shows up at a nuke plant and he shows oneness with people that need gas money. They don't care or know the reactor melted down and was the basis for the movie the China Syndrome. They won't read the fine print. They will see the cultural hero at a Nuke Plant. They want relief now and a one sentence plan.

Call it dumb. Undisciplined, Immediate gratification. Whatever. This is the way more people in America are than we would care to admit. My great hope is that there will be huge bump after Denver at Mile High and from there it may be conversation about issues. The GOP has the answer if the campaign is to be one line slogans. Don't underestimate the guys who want their wife to show others her tits. They vote and would love to vote for a buddy.

rojo

More evidence the military culture is completely screwed.

rojo

A while ago I railed about men's sexual identity and politics, going so far as to question whether many instances of torture and violence were caused by sublimation of sexual insecurities. Then I read this. 41% percent of women serving in the military that were in the veteran's hospital have been sexually assaulted! Stop, take a deep breath. And then look at that again. 4 in 10 women who are in the veteran's hospital have been sexually assaulted.

These are women who are trying to defend our country. To serve it with their lives. They are betrayed by a culture that really has no concern for their well-being. I will take it as a given that 99.9% of the men in the military have not read such texts as Refusing to be a Man by John Stoltenberg, or Women's Response to the Men's Movement (compilation of essays) or The Stronger Women Get, the More Men Watch Football By I don't remember. Or even less enlightened texts of the Men's Movement such as Iron John by Robert Bly. The male enlistees are probably not college grads or trust fund kids or kids of left wing parents. Most of the military comes from male dominated cultures and the military culture is strong male, Old Testament Christian vengeful god orientation. If you want proof of that google the Air Force Academy scandals, etc.

The women came to serve, expected camaraderie and got raped. Just like the Air Force Academy young men had their medals pinned directly to their chests. Yes, that is right, to their chest muscles. Pressed through their skin. While these are not anywhere equivalent acts, it points to how twisted this culture is. Rape, torture and hazing are expected. Just like a fist fight in a buddy movie.

These are the people that are making decisions on how we spend money, how the military is run, how it interfaces with government, how paranoid we need to be and what are foreign policy is. If they do not make the decisions, they certainly have a controlling interest into the input that helps form foreign policy decisions.

and now Blackwater is taking their group of unregulated mercenaries (you know, guys who are real good at war, can't get enough of it and revel in that culture) and are forming private espionage groups for industry. Or as they are known in many speculative fiction novels as corporate states. Unregulated entities doing undercover work for self-interested multi-national corporations. Yeow! That is a recipe for disaster.

Then I hear Obama state that the generals serve at the pleasure of the President. This is correct. It makes me very afraid for his life. He is not part of the aforementioned culture. While I am certainly far left of his stances at times, he is far from the stances of the current power structure. I fear for his life. The last time I saw a candidate with this much charisma and "outside the box" appeal, their last names were Kennedy.

Blessed be, Obama. Via con dios.

rojo

I am tired, just so tired of those who know how we should practice sex. Routinely, they have God on their side. I mean, who can argue with the Divine? This comic book released by Brent Rinehart in his bid to be elected as County Commissioner in Oklahoma County takes the cake. All I can say is "Wow!" Talk about trying to reach your constituents. If this is the prevailing attitude in the great State of Oklahoma, it may win the award for the most backwards place in the US, or at least tie with Wyoming when it comes to gay politics and probably the environment. I left a trade show in Wyoming years ago when the salesmen at the bar (almost all sales at trade shows end up in the bar, seldom on the trade show floor, even if conversations start there) were joking about the gay killing in WY and why it was a good thing. It made my skin crawl. But in that situation speaking out would not have worked. About six of us left and went to another group and the talk there revolved around using high powered rifles to hunt antelope. Left that one too. I noticed that there was little conversation about vibrational healing, reflexology or meditation. (As an aside, since then, I have found a good cranial sacral therapist in Casper, along with a burgeoning metaphysical bookstore scene and organic food stores. and Bike paths. not bad actually.)

Anyhow, I am tired of sexual intolerance. Angry at it. Alabama has outlawed sex toys. Gay sex is verbotten (at least they don't stone gays there.) And the architect of many of these rules, well, let's just say he does not practice what he preached. Kind of like the incident in Indiana. I can hear it now--"I just don't know how that thing got in my mouth. It must have crawled there."

I just don't understand. But I am seeing a consistent pattern of those who seem to speak out the loudest about sexual orientation really, really, really seem to have monsters in their closet. They cannot admit that they have some attraction to other men, or at least have never completely individuated their sexuality. I mean, after a while, comic book archetypes such as Barb Wire cannot be the ultimate in sexual fantasies. Or school girls. Are plaid skirts really a turn on?

There was some sense of privacy in the recent court case of the head of Formula One (FIA) for taking part in an S/m or B/d scene. The biggest problem was that it had Nazi overtones. The British judge hearing the case said it was his own fantasy and private business. Period. If he wants involved in B&D and leather-garbed dominatrices, let him. Actually, it was just a good-old-fashioned S&M orgy. The trial proved that and he won a civil case.

I sit and wonder at male sexuality at times and think if there were more openness in men about urges, the world would be a better place. Somewhere in gym classes and locker rooms, guys have wet towels snapped on their dicks if they are not studly enough. O yeah, this DOES happen. So, if you don't want to be labeled or get the shit beaten out of you, you toe the gender lines. and hide any uncertanties you may have. any feeling that are not completely developed get thrown into the pit of the subconscious and fester. Oh, they come out in weird ways. Anyone look at American policy towards terror lately, or wonder why Jeffrey Gannon had access to the White House routinely? Or wonder why the US military has to pick a fight with Grenada? Maybe their dicks will fall off if they don't win a war. Or why Gitmo is considered like frat house pranks? Because this kind of stuff happens. coat hanger branding, tying up drunks and humiliating them and so on. Doubt that, search hogtie and comedy on You Tube.

It has already been noted in scientific journals that gay and lesbian brains have different connections between brain hemispheres than heterosexual brains. Now there is research that different hemispheres of the brain are configured differently if you are attracted to men or women. Who knows where all this may lead? And notice that bi-sexual tendencies have not even begun to be researched in this manner. How many men (I can't speak for women) have had to sublimate bi-sexual tendencies so they are not castigated or punished when they are young and vulnerable? Or at least had to hide incomplete sexual gender orientation?

I am convinced at this point that the anger at homosexuals, anger at "not normal" sex is nothing more than bluster to hide uncertainties. I won't make any cheap jokes about American Men and pick-up trucks. I am too close to 50+ and still want a sports car, but killing animals, hunting and pickups has never been my thing. Fast cars and women in leather jeans, maybe. The point is how much culture that is accepted as normal stuff is no more than covering insecurities. These insecurities are what ad campaigns trigger to fuel the capitalistic economic engine we are so familiar with. Buy a new car, buy a new computer and so on and get laid. Wahoo! Oh, yes, my favorite, Drink Coors and get laid by twin blondes. In one sense, sex fuels the western economy and sexual sublimation really fuels the energy crisis. Got to have the most is the root cause unregulated capitalism as a goal. To have more, you need to consume more and in the Western World that means energy.

rojo

First thing is why does not the Federal Government renationalize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They were nationalized until 1968, I think. They don't seem to good at making a profit and we have to bail them out. Let's take the profit margin out of it so it again becomes a public service organization. Oh wait, they might not get the best and brightest administrators if there were no profit. They might be run into the ground. Imagine that. I mean with good administration, they would never have to worry about not making profit, and having to be bailed out. A free market economy solves all. Especially when you can completely fuck up, run a billion dollar business into the ground, take your bonuses and ask for a bailout. Thanks, St. Reagan. If it weren't for government help...

I see Ford Motor Company just lost their ass this quarter after banking on big trucks to take them out of the red. Wow! Who could have seen that one coming? Again, did the executives get a bonus for their forward vision? Big Pick Ups + $4.50/gallon gas = one big loss. Man, I want a job where I can make such stupid decisions, keep my job, make millions and get bonuses. Betcha the hourly workers and middle management take the brunt of the cuts. Gotta love the free market. Always someone else to blame.

And don't get me wrong--I have lived in communes, experienced half-assed communism and know that doesn't work either, because of human nature. My dad used to tell me that in my youthful idealism. I was to inexperienced to know he was very right. Guess what, unbridled capitalism doesn't work either, for the same reason. Some aspects of human nature are not necessarily conducive to the betterment of the human community. In fact, when it comes to money and power, much of the motivation is really venal.

One thing is certain is that aspects and need for my job treating water and wastewater will never go away. Here are some things I have come across on the web today. This is from www.waterthinktank.com.

" Commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Water Science and Marketing (WSM) recently completed a study identifying a limited number of commercially available point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices as effective for the removal of Perfluorochemicals (PFCs) from drinking water supplies.

A new class of contaminants, referred to as PFC’s, has now been detected in drinking water supplies in Minnesota, Ohio, West Virginia, and other states. Due to the number of years of widespread, and continued use of products containing PFC’s (Teflon, Scotchgard, etc.), measurable concentrations are likely to be found in drinking water supplies throughout the US and World. While toxicity of various PFC compounds are known, third-party performance data has not been available to determine if the use of commercially available POU devices represent a viable drinking water treatment option for their removal in residential applications.

To secure this information the MDH commissioned WSM to conduct an extensive study to provide data relevant to PFC removal performance/capacity for such POU devices, in addition to, identification of factors affecting reliability, and operational characteristics/limitations. Execution of this $640,000 study required WSM to determine the theoretical bases/mechanics of PFC removal for candidate technologies and associated POU devices, create new test methodologies to ensure reliability of data, design/construct specialized test stations, and conduct both in-lab and field-testing.

WSM has released their final report on this study to the MDH. It will be published and accessible through the following link: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/brochures.html within the next few days/weeks. This study represents the first third-party performance evaluation of its kind, and is considered a groundbreaking effort in the area of performance testing for the removal of emerging health-effect contaminants of concern such as:

• Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs),
• Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs),
• Perfluorochemicals (PFCs)
• Nano-particles from unregulated advances in nanotechnology.

WSM personnel have been directly engaged in research, new product development, performance testing, and regulatory review of these emerging contaminants for the last several years. They are advising public health protection agencies and private corporations on technical and regulatory aspects, including their removal from drinking water sources and public supplies. WSM specializes in technology evaluations and assessments for the removal of contaminants that are weakly addressed by current certification standards, or are extremely expensive to conduct through these agencies. In addition, WSM provides services related to business growth initiatives including market research, new product/technology development, training, business plan development, and identification/procurement of strategic partners. "

This is from the Minnesota Department of Environmental Health.

Let's see, we have solvents still in groundwater, percholates still migrating, high salinity in drinking water in CA, MTBE in groundwater and now we are seeing endocrine disruptors and pharmaceuticals in surface and groundwater. O yeah, I have employment for life if I keep my nose clean and stay up on issues. And here in CA, I am amazed at how many laws there are, how many organizations and government bodies there are to regulate these things and how proud they are of their forward thinking---yet, the basic hydraulic designs used to model the parameters of wastewater effluent are based upon dilution is the solution to pollution. It makes me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There so many lagoons in this state that are there because there is water reuse, using the treated effluent to irrigate fields and return to groundwater. But the ponds do so little for treatment it is ridiculous. High nitrates and phosphorus, no treatment of pharmaceuticals, lower energy costs, much less operator costs (how experienced do you have to be to watch a pond?, therefore, much cheaper labor). Yup, I have employment for life.

rojo

If this report is true, it makes you wonder what elections that have been held in the last ten years are actually true!

It would indeed be the saddest entry into the history of our country since the Gulf of Tonkin resolution.

Lie to get into war. the Amerikan way!

rojo

eating BBQ (what else should one eat when in Texas?) last night, and CNN was on in the restaurant TV. Must not have been any sports. For one hour I heard TV newsmodel after newsmodel (and okay, I am a guy and I have noticed that the morning newsmodel Karin something or other has nice legs and wears cool heels. Tell me this isn't part of the plan. I doubt if there would the female equivalent of Morley Safer or Andy Rooney on TV), state that McCain has backed Obama into a political corner with his recent speeched because the Surge has worked.

For one hour America has been pommeled with how well the surge worked. Wait one damned minute, MSM! The Surge worked? We have had Iraqis leaving their posts and changing sides in the past six months, one of the deadliest years of the conflict, little infrastructure rebuilt, the Iraqis asking us to leave as an invader and occupier and more. Oh, yes, and more troops in Iraq after the Surge has pulled out than before the Surge started. And no one in the media is asking whether or not we need to be there!!!!!! Or if the original policy was so flawed (fast win, no reconstruction plan, not enough troops for a prolonged occupation, no foresight into Iraqi internal political divisions and so on). McCain has backed Obama into a corner?!

McCain has backed an unjust war effort that has cost over 1,000,000 lives, put a country into complete disarray, and brought the US to near bankruptcy (how long after the Soviet foray into Afghanistan did it take for the USSR to collapse in tatters and debt?). Where the hell is the coverage of that!!! How can you be so wrong on the fundamental issue and have backed someone into a corner unless the whole country feels that the war was the right thing to do.

After looking at the latest polls, who says that?This is what needs to be brought out. The country we love is being backed into a corner of debt, stagflation and low morale. and why?backed into a corner my ass!!!!!

rojo

I don't know what to say about this. Somthing needs to be done, and cutting off all the water is not the solution.

rojo

from rawstory.com --
But in a serious blow to the Bush administration's hopes to try all the "war on terror" suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, a Supreme Court decision last month allowed the inmates to challenge their detention in civilian courts.

That decision has "complicated the situation in Guantanamo," Bush told a press conference Tuesday.

"My view all along has been either send them back home, or give them a chance to have a day in court," the president said. "I still believe that makes sense."

From what I am reading, the Supreme Court is allowing them to have a day in court. The only rub I can see is that the Supreme Court is giving the detainees in Gitmo a day in civil court, not the military tribunal where Bush wants them to be tried. I know the field would be more slanted in a military tribunal, but, hey, if SCOTUS says civilian court, then let them have their day in court.

I'll never understand this man's twisted and tortured logic. Is he saying, let them have their day in court, as long it is my court, not just any court, or is he just logically inconsistent all the time?
rojo

Fannie Mae

Originally created by FDR as a government organization, in 1968, Fannie Mae was re-chartered by Congress as a shareholder-owned company, funded solely with private capital raised from investors on Wall Street and around the world.

Fannie Mae has a unique duty to the public it serves -- and the private investors that fuel its service -- to be a model company focused on service, reliability, and value.

From their website.

Freddie Mac

As a government-sponsored enterprise with an important public mission to make housing finance more accessible and affordable, Freddie Mac is unique. We have special responsibilities to the American people.

Chairman and CEO's Top Priorities
· Mission: Our goal is simple: to make homeownership and rental possible for more people than ever before.
· Corporate Governance: Excellence in corporate governance is key to building and retaining the trust of our stakeholders and achieving our mission.
· Affordable Housing: Every day Freddie Mac works hard to ensure that America's families are able to purchase and rent more homes than ever before.
· Financial Management: Transparent and accurate financial information and management are the cornerstones of Freddie Mac's commitment to support and expand America's housing system.
· Public Policy: As a unique corporate entity created by Congress to serve specific housing policy objectives, we think carefully about the impacts of legislation, policies, and industry issues both on our company and the entire system of housing finance. Learn about Freddie Mac's position on current issues.
From their website.

As a government organization and based upon the time it was created Fannie Mae operated off of government funds. It couldn’t make tons of high-risk loans. There was no money for that. Ah, but as a privatized organization, it needed to expand, generate funds, broaden the base. Yes, maybe even make some risky loans. So Americans could own houses. All for the common good. No profit in that. They focused on service, reliability and value.

Freddie Mac had transparent and accurate financial management as one of its five top priorities as a government-sponsored enterprise.

Now they are $5 billion in the hole. $5 Billion and the government has to bail them out. Nice addition to the national debt, eh.

from Bloomberg--
"The government-chartered companies, which own or guarantee about half the $12 trillion of U.S. mortgages, can count on a federal lifeline, said Republican Senator John McCain, of Arizona, and Democratic Senator Charles Schumer, of New York.

The remarks by the presumptive Republican presidential candidate and the head of the congressional Joint Economic Committee followed a slide in the firms' shares to the lowest level since 1991. They indicate Congress would push the administration to use government funds to prevent the companies from failing and threatening a deeper housing recession."

We love to privatize those government organizations. Who the hell made the $5 Billion? I’d like to shake his hand. Got more spunk than the CEO of Exxon-Mobil had. Even Fat Bastard himself could not get a big enough handout from the government.

Ranting aside, what happens if the government has to take over this financial mess. How big can the country debt get? Who can pay it off? That would be like close to $40,000 for every living American over 3 minutes old. Or so. (nice valley girl sentence construction, eh?) Do you have a spare $40,000?

I am tired of the anti-elitist arguments in this country. I want someone who can perform governance at a high function and not blow what is ultimately MY MONEY! I have heard people carp about welfare queens, illegal immigrants and more for years. Combined, they don’t take and piss away $5 BILLION dollars under the cover and goals of good governance. That $5,000,000,000 had to go into someone pockets and sure as hell did not go the lower and middle classes.

It is time to seriously look at reassessing the way taxes are paid in this country. The country is bleeding and it takes money to fix it. It cannot come from the lower classes as they struggle to pay for $5/gallon gas. Or $2.69/dozen eggs. It is time to ask those who have gained power and money at the expense of others to pay back. And lest you think I am a socialist rabble-rouser, I am not. I have lived in a commune and know communism cannot work. But it is apparent that free market economy, Reaganomics and laissez faire principles have bankrupted this country (literally). I believe it was George Carlin (and I could be wrong, it might be Death by Stereo) who stated “Don’t piss on my head and tell me it is raining out.” Citizens, welcome to the benefits of trickle down economy.

I just hope at 60, I do not have to move into a tent so some fat ass cat gets caviar and a Bentley. maybe I will be able to afford aspirin for my arthritis.

rojo

American Auto Industry and Imagination

Just to show how imaginative the marketing and business geniuses are in the US Auto Industry, here is an article from 03-04. And here is one from '08. Yes, Ford pinned all its profit hopes on BIG TRUCKS! The same business plan for 5 years. Has anything changed in 5 years? Maybe gas prices?

and in today's paper the US Auto Industry is pissing and moaning because the new mileage standards can't be met. Maybe if executives salaries were cut and the money placed into R&D, there would be grander products. Or maybe they need a fifty-line strategy, where they go after every market, including understanding how to make money on well-manufactured small fuel-efficient cars. Just imagine if European GM cars made it here. The Opel and the Vaxhaul are nice variations. Or if Ford brought over the European Focus.

If we can make hot rods and soup up cars, we can make wonderful environmental machines. The margins may be a little lower, but you could sell them. How many people buy Hummers nowadays? GM could bring them out, but their hybrid Malibu gets 32 mpg. I looked at one. I get GM discount from my Dad. 32 mpg? and it rattled compared to the Honda Civic Hybrid. I did not let the door hit me on the ass on the way out. It did not help that the GM sales force, instead of internet sales and preapprovals, made me go through teh manager talking to the sales manager talking to the finance manager and here is the best we can do. Meridy and I left immediately. They called later and said, what's wrong? I told them mileage and dinosaur approach.

I will say GM, if their style changes may be in good position for American car manufacturers. They have product that will sell. and has plenty of room for improvement. They have more hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles than anyone else. I am betting they are kicking themselves for not following up on the electric car.

Speaking of which, Honda and VW are the only major firms to have sales rise so far this year. Honda, because it sells many fuel efficient cars (and the Fit is a hoot to drive!!!!--If I had the money, I would buy and trick it out, ne says as he knows his wife is glaring at him). Toyota sales dropped!!!! They guessed the market wrong and have too many big cars and trucks and not enough batteries for the Prius.

rojo

A Warm Fuzzy Feeling

Reading this just makes you want to move there, doesn't it?

What country are they from?

Full 2008 Texas Republican Party Platform (pdf format)

What would the state be like if governed according to the Texas Republican Party’s 2008 platform?

· Calling separation of church and state a “myth,” the party platform would sweep away a key protection that has allowed faith to thrive in this country and permit government to promote favored religious practices over all others.

· Courts would be stripped of their authority to uphold the First Amendment’s prohibition against government officials promoting and endorsing religion.

· Government would become a powerful weapon in renewed attacks on sound science and medical research. Public schools would be required to teach religious doctrine, such as “intelligent design”/creationism, in science classes. Medical research involving embryonic stem cells, which scientists believe offers real promise for treating patients with medical conditions like cancer and Parkinson’s disease, would be criminalized.

· Public schools would be forbidden from teaching medically accurate information about contraception and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. Instruction on only “abstinence until heterosexual marriage” would be required.

· Content in public school textbooks would be based on the personal beliefs of whatever majority controlled the heavily politicized State Board of Education. By removing prudent limits on the board’s authority, the state would reopen the door to censorship.

· The public treasury would be raided to subsidize private and religious schools through vouchers and tax deductions. Even worse, government would be forbidden from requiring that private and religious schools getting taxpayer dollars meet the same oversight and education standards that public schools must meet.

· Government would strip women of their right to make decisions regarding their reproductive health. Abortion services, with no exceptions, would be criminalized. Even access to various forms of contraception would be barred or restricted. In addition, the government would make it harder for women to divorce and escape abusive relationships.

· Legalized discrimination against gay and lesbian Texans would escalate. Government would be empowered to imprison and/or fine adults who engage in even private, consensual sexual intimacy with other adults of the same gender. Moreover, the government would not just bar adoption by gay and lesbian parents. It would also strip them of any right to custody of their own children and would restrict visitation rights.

Nothing like Texas Tolerance.

rojomojo

Almost Fitting

While this tribute to the Preznut is humorous, it is poorly named because the plant actually cleans up shit. But it would be fun to flush on George.

rojo

Jeebus!

So Focus on the Family's Dobson calls Obama the fruitcake for his confused theology. This, coming from the mouth of "I can can cure any homosexual in ten easy lessons" Dobson. Remember, his prize student was then caught in picture going to gay clubs (he was going there to save their souls). Yeah, that James Dobson. And Obama is confused?

I have never understood the link between Christianity and the quotation (and belief) of the Old Testament. Wasn't the Sermon on the Mount Jesus supposed to be the New Covenant? It is like the most repressive believers need to have a vindictive and all-powerful, vindictive, kick ass god to believe. Not a god who loves people like a dirty hippy.

Remember when corner preachers who barked nonsense were shunned. Now they get mega-churches and presidential visits. Try to watch Hagee some day and tell me how uplifting his theology is. I have done that twice and was amazed he has any followers.

rojo

The New Oil?

It is amazing how things just happen to fall into place for Mr. Pickens. Yup, the laws just changed in his favor. So now he gets to draw down sections of the Ogallala aquifer so the thirsty citizens of Dallas will get their water. The Ogallala is huge. Look at the map with the attached article. By law, he can only draw down 50% of the water in his area. The Ogallala is a big area and it is roughly a huge gravel and sand formation under three states. The aquifer is interconnected. So if his straw is in Roberts County, TX, eventually it sucks down water from Nebraska. That state relies on the water for irrigation. A lot. Ever fly over western Nebraska and see all the circles of green from center pivot irrigation over what is essentially semi-arid desert. Yes, all that could be drained. In fact, Colorado farmers, some cities and some trailer courts had to shut down their wells two years ago because the wells were draining the Platte river and tributaries water delivery to Kansas and Nebraska. The river bottoms were gravel and the upper aquifers around the rivers were basically being drained by the wells as they pulled water and chanelized the ground water aquifers, taking basically river water. In Colorado, it was not great water because of high nitrate content. Too much fertilizer (anhydrous ammonia) had been applied over the years and the nitrate content of the water was at times over three times the drinking water standard. (Not that anyone living in a mobile home park could be pregnant or have children under one year old where the drinking water standard was set up to prevent “blue baby syndrome”, where the fetus or young child cannot metabolize oxygen. Nope, never happen. Keep in mind in Colorado these mobile home parks are almost always immigrant farm workers and I am sure the owners will always provide the Hispanic workers with drinking water warnings in Spanish.) Anyhow, basically, T. Boone Pickens can pull water in Texas that actually came from river drainage in Colorado that Coloradoans can’t use because it interferes with water rights in Kansas and Nebraska.

As if an aquifer cannot be pulled down faster than thought. In Douglas County, CO, the aquifer was supposed to a multi-generational water supply. South Denver has grown so much and so many palatial McMansions, with their huge lawns have been built, that the aquifer is dropping almost 50 feet per year. At that rate it will be dry in 50-75 years. Nothing like owning a home and not being able to have water. Now the State is scrambling to find water so homeowners can have water. Just imagine a drought in South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska and maybe Oklahoma. The Ogallala requires recharge from rain. It replenishes 0.1% of its volume per year from rainwater drainage. That’s maybe 100,000,000 gallons per year. With Texas water law, El Paso can buy water from North Texas is they can pump it there. Houston can by water. How long before the aquifer cannot keep up with domestic water supply needs? An average family uses 326,000 gallons per year. You do the math and then consider that agricultural pumping in Nebraska has already lowered the aquifer. When you pit even thousands of farmers against thirsty cities, who can afford the best lawyers? Who will get the water? Eventually state water codes will have to be made standard federally. When that happens, who can best afford lobbyists?

Just wait, in less than 100 years, this will be very significant for the food chain in this country. No water = no corn = no beef. Maybe we can change our eating habits, maybe not. I can’t see the general populace trading burgers for goat or vegetarian diets. Georgia is already trying to get Great Lakes water. Whew!

rojo

In 2006, the Supreme Court withdrew protection for many wetlands in the United States in a sweeping decision that deregulates them under the Clean Water Act which previously had protected them. This was a boon for developers, as wetlands in many cases did not have to be protected as they were not "navigable waters" and therefore could be filled in and built upon. To hell with the wildlife affected. It also deregulates many of the pollution protection that these areas had under the Clean Water Act.

Well, now, in light of that decision, the LA River is not considered a navigable river. Here is a river whose flows have been cut, encased in concrete, had many of its tributary small wastewater plants sent to Hyperion (aka the biggest wastewater plant in the world) so much of possible flows go to the sea, and so on. As an aside, regulators love large wastewater plants because it is easy to regulate one large plant, instead of eight smaller ones. But, it means only one discharge point, often far from where water is captured and treated and used as drinking water allowing streams to dry up. Clear Creek in Denver is good example of this. Six small plants send their water to Denver Metro so the creek now can and does go dry in the summer. It did not used to. That means in places Clear Creek is now not a navigable waterway. For the LA River and its basin in a highly populated area, this means many of its tributaries and seasonal flows are not navigable and therefore are part of the protected waters by the Clean Water Act. That means that pollution can be released down these areas. In the long run, this will pollute what little flow still runs through LA. Makes me proud.

The salmon run is way down in the Sacramento/San Joaquin watershed (like 97%) and salmon fishing is banned. Now researchers are saying that some of the wastewater plants that feed the river discharge ammonia and not only is that toxic to fish, but ammonia releases upset the natural balance and spur the growth of toxic phytoplankton. So zooplankton that eats that dies. Guess what happens to fish that eat zooplankton before they die? The ammonia output was considered acceptable, because there is so much water flowing it dilutes it. This is the rationale that the State used to decide the amount of ammonia acceptable in discharge. Discharge permits in CA (and across the country) do not even consider endocrine disruptors in the discharge. Many hermaphroditic fish or 99.9% female fish downstream from wastewater plants is not unusual. What happens if there is no males, no spawning. of course. But that is another topic for later. What is pertinent is that CA is one of the few states that considers economic growth potential as part of the permitting process. (In CO it is how many lawyers you can muster to keep your permit lenient, so bigger dischargers get much more lenient permits than little guys.) So let me see--if you can prove economic hindrance and discharge to a waterway not protected under the Clean Water Act and I think you have just set the conditions for a toxic stew.

Is this what is really needed in the 21st century?

rojo

“It’s hard, really, to recreate in our minds just how trusting most Democrats were, how most Americans were, how the media was in a patriotic rallying behind the President after 9/11.” Keith Olbermann

Given that most American’s wanted someone to ease his or her pain after the tragedy of 9/11. They were willing to give up some of their free will to believe that a leader was doing something to retaliate for the attacks on 9/11. People wanted to do something. Who can’t remember the cartoon images of the American Eagle sharpening its claws to revenge the death of 3,000 + citizens. Yes, it was important. The whole world was behind America.

How was that trust that desire to be led handled? With kid gloves, surgical strikes, elimination of Al Queda, censure of Saudi Arabia (who provided most of the financing and most of the attackers)? NO—Corner Osama, let him get away, find an enemy no could love (in one very real sense, Saddam Hussein was a puppy killer and worse. He killed thousands of his own citizens because they were the wrong race and religion), attack them, reinvigorate the economy through the military complex, fight two wars (one on a front where we did not understand the enemy and could not define the enemy, Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and others) and in an end game, try to establish 50 permanent military bases in a country that wants us out. And ruining the economy on the way.

A long time ago, Tom Tomorrow made fun of going into the past for the cabinet. Not quite the 1890s, but back to the Iran-Contra boys of Ronald Reagan who dealt arms to the enemy and sold drugs to the impoverished in our own country to fund another war in Central America. And what did we get—the same kind of muddled, confused foreign policy that has led America to the brink that Russia was brought to years ago. Bankruptcy, possibly. Except, I think America’s national emotional make up may be more resilient, hopeful and varied and willing to go through the painful reconstruction process so sorely needed.

But there are loose ends. Bill Clinton, in a conciliatory gesture, did not pursue Iran-Contra fellows, which allows “experts” like Ollie North to continue to speak and sway public opinion instead of castigating them to the shadows, as they should be.

Richard Clarke had something interesting to say on this—

“You (need) to come forward and admit that you were in error or that you lied, admit that you did something and you are forgiven. Otherwise you are censured in some way. I just don’t think we can let these back into polite society and give them jobs on university boards and corporate boards and just pretend nothing ever happened, when there are over 4,000 Americans dead and over 25,000 Americans grievously injured…Someone should have to pay in some way for the decisions they made to mislead the American people.”

I agree!!! But for me, censure or admitting mistakes is not enough. Many of the decision makers have many more dollars in their trust funds than I will ever make in my lifetime. Perhaps they need to share their millions with the survivors of those killed in this horrible, horrible mistake. How well would Dick Cheney or George Bush do on $50,000 per year? Hey, at least they have their significant other. That is more then those surviving the war dead or living with and loving the war injured will have.

I cannot begin to express my rage and sorrow that we were lied into a war, Americans were killed and profits were made on the BLOOD of the willing by people who opted out of Vietnam on “lucky sperm club” deferments. It puts a whole new perspective on the term BLOOD MONEY.

And to think I sat down at my computer to comment on a new ruling on what are navigable waters of the United States and what can be protected by the Clean Water Act. Later today, I guess.

rojo

Environmentally responsible GM is pulling the Hummer and may produce electric cars. That mean they may actually have the technology. I am sure it has nothing to do with profit and the fact that they can't sell Hummers. And that electric cars suddenly are able to be manufactured. Has nothing to do with expected profit.

Move along nothing to see here.

God, why is there such little vision and the ability to accept niche markets among US manufacturers of cars!!!! Mazda seems to have done real well with the Miata, then the protege 5, and the orange motorsports version of the Protege and now the Mazda 3 and 6. And please hold back all the arguments that they are a smaller company and can think in smaller terms. GM Oldsmobile (remember them?) used to have its own R&D and was basically GM R&D, except for many of the classic Pontiac designs. GM used to make 3 350 engines--Olds, Chevy and Buick. I can't recall the Pontiac of about that size. They kind of competed with each other. Then, GM combined their R&D budgets and and lowered R&D everywhere. They produced the Cadillac Cimarron (aka Chevy Cavalier with a leather interior) with those efforts. How did they loose market shares? In the late 1970s, they went to a 4-6-8 electronically controlled engine. Then dropped it. No one wanted better mileage while under cruise control at highway speeds. Yet it is now an option. Their small 2.8 L v-6 was a cut down small block. why design a DOHC 3 or 4 valve engine with better combustion characteristics and better power in a smaller engine with better mileage if people will buy crap!!

ooops, where did my market share go?

rojo