the world turned off

Monday, March 30th, 2009

some pictures from the recent Earth Hour, when an estimated 840,000 pounds of carbon dioxide were kept out of the atmosphere:

Now, has anyone seen satellite imagery from the event? I love that stuff!

it is true, I am to blame

Friday, March 27th, 2009

This crisis was fostered and boosted by irrational behaviour of some people that are white, blue-eyed. Before the crisis they looked like they knew everything about economics, and they have demonstrated they know nothing about economics.

That’s a quote of the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from yesterday during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Another translation records his descriptive phrase of those responsible for the current economic meltdown as “white people with blue eyes”, and as such, yes, I am to blame.

[the guardian reports]

Pop This. F U!

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Republican strategist and campaign consultant to Mitt Romney’s failed 2008 presidential campaign Alex Castellanos published these words today:

The problem with America’s economy is that the last bubble, the “home-mortgage, derivative, credit default swap bubble” popped, as all economic bubbles eventually do. We must never let that happen again.

It is imperative that we re-inflate this bubble immediately.

What? Maybe it’s my semantic nature, but how the hell does one follow up “we must never let” with “we [must] re-inflate”, one sentence following right after the other. This isn’t taken out of context. Those are two complete paragraphs scripted by Castellanos himself.

Don’t re-inflate the bubble. Where do bubbles occur anyways? When the rich get richer. Show me a bubble that popped that was the result of affordable health care or affordable college education. Please, enlighten me. Show me a bubble that resulted from working class families having access to good but affordable food. Show me a bubble pop that was the result of funding social programs like after school art classes, planned parenthood or public transport. All bubbles are the result of the upper eschelon simply advancing their own cause at others’ expense.

[complete biased commentary here]

GOOD! Now BURN.

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

CNN article with video here.

one man’s words versus another

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Obama, today, overturning Bush’s 2001 order that limited funding for stem cell research:

In recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values,

…

In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research — and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.

Bush, 2001, issuing said order that limited stem cell research:

My position on these issues is shaped by deeply held beliefs. I’m a strong supporter of science and technology, and believe they have the potential for incredible good — to improve lives, to save life, to conquer disease.

Research offers hope that millions of our loved ones may be cured of a disease and rid of their suffering. I have friends whose children suffer from juvenile diabetes. Nancy Reagan has written me about President Reagan’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. My own family has confronted the tragedy of childhood leukemia. And like all Americans, I have great hope for cures.

I also believe human life is a sacred gift from our creator. I worry about a culture that devalues life, and believe as your president I have an important obligation to foster and encourage respect for life in America and throughout the world.

And while we’re all hopeful about the potential of this research, no one can be certain that the science will live up to the hope it has generated.

Obama: “I believe” 3 times; Bush: “My position… I have friends… I also believe”

Obama: “rather than furthering discovery”; Bush: “no one can be certain that the science will live up to the hope”

Obama: “our government has forced”; Bush: “I have an important obligation”

read Bush’s 2001 address on stem cell research – read today’s memorandum signed by President Obama

Phelps Wins Olympics

Sunday, August 17th, 2008

from the NYT Online, Michael Phelps takes a photo of Michael Phelps next to Michael Phelps as Michael Phelps celebrates his 8th gold medal in this summer’s Beijing Games. LOL. still not as funny as the real womens’ steeplechase.