Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Global Weirding...


This just in:  The United States has experienced 8 weather related events this year that have each caused over a billion dollars in damage.
Climatology Bill Patzert of NASA gets credit for the "global weirding" term.  The record, by the way, is 9 such events in a year.  We still have 6+ months to go.  The next one may be the result of "Be careful what you ask for."  California's drought is over.  There are record snow packs in the Sierras. This is raising fears of flooding in the San Joaquin valley later this year.  I'm sure there are more than a few farmers down there that are saying, "Bring it on!"
Elsewhere...
China has an aircraft carrier.  It was an old Soviet Union thing.  The Chinese bought it saying it would make a great casino.  Then one day, it turned back into an aircraft carrier.See, this is just the type of thing we have to be ready for if we start making weapons treaties with this country.  One day you have a pizza parlor; then the next, it becomes a nuclear missile silo.
OPEC is meeting to discuss production.  It doesn't feel right that here in the United States, we wait from them to tell us what we will be paying for gas.  A full 20% of the current price of oil is due to the Arab Spring (unrest in the Middle East).  Another 20% is due to oil speculators.  These speculators live in the nice houses in the expensive neighborhoods...in your town.
Oil supply is an issue of course; just not as much as you might think.  As long as there is uncertainty, there will be panic (reminds me once again of the GOP's intent with stalling on raising the debt ceiling).
By the way, oil demand dropped over the last year by 5% in modern nations.  Emerging economies, however, increased their demand by 14%.  By "emerging economies," I am referring to China and India.
Green is the way to go.  The thing is, we can't be the only players or we will simply price our way out of the world's economy.  We need to say, "We will go green and only green products will be allowed into our country."  That will level the playing field while creating an industry that will be bursting at the seams with jobs.
But everyone has to play.  In California, we have hot tubs and government regulation. Since we are the only ones regulating, companies simply go elsewhere to conduct business.
Its been 175 days since the GOP extended the tax cut to those making over $250K per year.  They insisted this would create jobs.  So my question is: "Where are the jobs?"
What everyone misses is the fact that the congress is in a much better position to create jobs than the president.  They introduce bills, not him.  He can suggest but in the end, he can either go along with congress or not.  The GOP would have you think it works the other way around.
If you want a job, fire the people most responsible for the lack thereof.  By the way, you get a bonus because in doing so, you will also fire those most responsible for the national debt - the GOP.
The giant particle accelerator, CERN has managed to capture anti-matter atoms and hold them for 1,000 seconds.  I'm assuming this is pretty impressive although I have no idea why.
Speaking of Green, in Copenhagen, commuting by bicycle is a way of life.  When asked, they say the minor reasons are: exercise, cost and the environment.  The major reason isthe convenience.  They can get anywhere quickly by bicycle.  My office is 8 miles from my house.  To get there, I have to take my life in my own hands.  I can't help but wonder about the cost of building a bike trail compared to the cost of adding an additional lane to a highway.  Where I live, there are miles of old, unused, train track.  Pull up the track and lay down a trail. They've done this is D.C. with great success.
Pierce Morgan is the replacement for Larry King on CNN.  I like how this guy asks the very toughest of questions.  If you try to skirt an issue, he catches you.  Romney and wife were on the hot seat yesterday.  Here is how I remember it:
PM: How is Romney care different from Obamacare
Romney: Obama care is 2,000 pages long, while my plan is only 75 pages long.
PM: But specifically, what is different?
Romney: Toaster
And so it continued.  PM: Is homosexuality a sin - MR:skateboard.  PM:You seem to be just like George Bush.  How are you different - MR: It's all about jobs.
It felt like he was talking to someone else.
In honor of the latest spat of men struggling to explain themselves, I bring you today's quote by Groucho Marx: "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?"
As for me, I seem to have gotten that e.coli thing under control.  However, there is always more saving to do.
Up, up and away...
jim
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