chuck kottke

Like the super-bee?:thinking: ...When fuel was 10 cents a gallon, driving was reckless, and seatbelts were optional!:laugh3: >It's good to keep one's options open. I found it interesting, here's an inventor working on a motorcycle and future car that can run on almost any type of fuel - hybrid design makes it possible, and sterling cycle engines. Dean Kamen developing eco hybrid that will run on anything that burns > And an all-electric back-to-the-future motorcycle! All-electric Tron Lightcycle hits the streets - Image 1 of 6 retro sci-fi :cool:

It is the excess of money coming from a few that is corrupting our democracy. When legislation is written by and for interest groups, often consortiums of industry, and then pushed through congress, one has only to connect the dots to see who wants what, who's campaigns they paid for, and what lobbying jobs will they dole out when those elected to office "retire" to the big money as lobbyists. So it is with these acts as well - they're fronts for a particular set of big interests. They should get no better or worse billing than the average citizen when it comes to asking for a redress of grievances with our elected government. There is a legitimate problem, but first the government needs to be equally representative of all constituents, of all citizens. Then it will better play the role of fair arbiter and sensible promoter of the general good as it was intended to do. And those wars before the big bucks rolled in - corruption is as old as humanity. US sugar in Cuba, big rubber companies in SE Asia, control of shipping through Panama, and the list goes on.. It's time we clamp a lid on the influence of greed in government, and return our government to we, the citizens. Indeed it is lucrative for those elected to keep taking the legalized bribes, but it isn't beyond the realm of possibilities to replace much of their earnings with legitimate earnings; it would be far more practical than allowing the unchecked system of corruption which allows the wealthiest and least ethical to use our government as a battering ram for their own means against the common good.

Wangari Maathai Xavier Rudd

Just a fascinating thought: >We throw out 2.25 million tons of electronics in the US alone, 82% ends up in landfills. :sunny: >9% of all the gold produced in the US goes into electronics :sunny: >230 metric tons of gold were produced in the US in 2010, and probably a little more in 2011 :sunny: >>> Therefore, we toss out roughly 17 metric tons of gold each year into landfills, just in discarded electronics. :sunny: >>> In other words, we toss about 600,000 ounces of gold each year into landfills. In today's money, that's roughly 1 billion dollars worth of gold, each year. :sunny: Now we've all seen the images of ceremonial offerings to the gods, being buried along with the dead in ancient tombs, but just imagine a tomb being built each year, housing 17 metric tons of gold! :laugh3: Are we nuts, or what??:sunny:

Whether or not schools allow it as an official source, it is nonetheless a pretty good reference tool and jumping off point, and offers a discussion over any differences of opinion between authors, so I don't see why not. ..And call tomorrow to communicate with your beloved Senator or Representative, if you favor saving the open internet and all the smaller sites within it. ;) Operators at the capitol switchboard are standing by!

:laugh3: I would imagine the "via twitter" was just referring to the announcement, thought I'd have some fun with it though.. Dazzle them all Chris and Rhianna!! :sunny::sunny::sunny::sunny::sunny::sunny:

Sounds good to me, I'm looking forward to their duet! :hat: ======================== wait, she's sharing the stage via twitter, as in 'virtual Rhianna'? That would be interesting!:inquisitive:

:rolleyes::thinking: Dare I wonder what that is in reference to?:) >Nice to see the student group at Osaka Sangyo University succeed in producing a small, light EV powered by hydrogen - oxygen fuel cells!! The future is coming fast, and hydrogen as an energy carrier is a viable contender, good to see them honing their skills at using fuel cells in vehicles! I took a gander at the CODA website, linked for all to see: CODA Electric Vehicle, Electric Cars, Zero Emissions EV Car, Electric Vehicles | CODA Automotive This car was named best green vehicle at a San Diego auto show! Achieving from 125-150 miles per charge, it sounds like a good option with enough extra energy to spare in case your commute it a little longer than expected, the weather is cold, there's a lot of traffic, hills to climb, and the like.

Del Capo! > Xinyan, China

Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones. A Coldplay story about funeral rituals on the river Ganges in India. :thinking: (in other words, I haven't a clue!:laugh3:)

We will stand by the great Wikipedia, and be faithful to the cause!! :wink2::scholar: (And appreciate all the good work they do, with a staff of volunteers the world over. ) Hail Wikipedia, the Encyclopedia Galactica of it's day!

Cagayan, Phillipines

Xavier Rudd

Changing things is like pulling back the bow, and taking a shot in the dark. The aim may be in the right direction, but whether or not the arrow is on target can only be seen by daybreak. >>>>>--------------------------------------------->

:rolleyes::laugh3: It is a bit ridiculous in the extreme, when one considers it, but I agree there needs to be more protection of intellectual property rights, probably though by other means. But also, after a certain period of time, the rights ought to end, since the whole idea of copyright as such is to foster creativity, innovation, and productivity of artistic matters i.e. music and literature. Since copyright infringement is already illegal, maybe that should be made more a matter of international law and international courts, if suits are filed, rather than some censorship of the internet?

1.) Our rights will only be protected if those elected are beholden to we, the people. For financially, those representing us will truly only do so when their bases of support are very broad, in essence when the majority of citizens are the foundation upon which their candidacy is based, then they will do the will of we, the people when elected. 2.) Limiting contributions is an effective way of ensuring a more even support base, where all contributors count, and no small group of super-wealthy contributors getting preferential control over what that candidate does when in office. 3.) Placing a citizen's panel in charge of debates ensures no horse-trading away of tough questions, and opens the debates to questions more in tune with what the public's interests are. 4.) Opening up the debates to all qualifying candidates ensures that a wide range of choices and ideas are represented; this opens up new possibilities to voters. 5.) Term limits prevents a monopolization of power in any branch of government. 6.) Equality of airtime for candidate messages is essential, since we are selecting representation, not soap. By honesty, merit, ideas, record, ability to work well with others, and real character shall we determine our representatives, not by dissing opponents, advertised familiarity, emotional appeal, or ability to dominate the airwaves. >> All candidate messages then must meet the approval of a citizen's panel before airing, to determine their honesty and accuracy.

I've heard that old saw before, and it's a dull one. If labor got paid more, then the economy would pick up and grow, because laborers could then afford to purchase the goods and services they make. Henry Ford realized this, and he was about as businesses oriented as it gets. And if the uber-wealthy would pay their fair share of taxes, then our government would function well enough again to act as the arbiter of fair play and improve social goods that help lift people up. And we could cut the defense budget in the area of our nuclear warheads, since this is one thing all of humanity would be better off without, especially us, since it's sucking so much money out of the productive economy and may actually lessen our security. I would instead rather have a peace investment, a true means to produce greater global security though improving economies the world over.

:laugh3: On a more practical note. Hmmm... How do you Debs, or the band members proper deal with jet lag? I've been wondering this for a while, unless somehow they "simulate" day and night in some fashion to fool their natural circadian rhythms?

Instead of looking at it from the perspective of markets, let's look at minimum wage from the perspective of social justice. It would make sense to raise the minimum wage, since workers are typically at a disadvantage when it comes to getting higher wages, since one group of workers is pitted against another, it is more often the case that there is downward pressure on worker's wages, while profits and productivity soar. Is that a just arrangement? Trade agreements could be set to support higher wages in all nations, to raise the bar evenly. And if workers get paid a little more, they can then afford to buy the goods they help make, and then stimulate the slow economy, improving profits as well as improving their lives.

Welcome to Coldplaying! :sunny::sunny: =========================

I have to wonder, what was the decision maker at the company that owned the gravel thinking? :thinking:

Peter Gabriel and MC Hammer are against PIPA and SOPA! Tomorrow’s anti-SOPA/PIPA blackout will be an unprecedented event – NPI Advocate But the undercurrent which is pushing for laws such as these is the real issue - if our democracy is really all about representative government, why does it take mass protests to get those elected who represent us to do what we the electorate want? I think this is one more example of why we must become root strikers, getting the buying of elections to end, and no more revolving doors from Washington to lobbying firms.

In some ways, things did get a little better since the 50's and 60's - there's no more lynchings, no more fire hoses and dogs turned loose on demonstrators, no separate signs and separate drinking fountains, schools are desegregated, anyone can sit where there's an open seat on the bus, but sadly, the incarceration of so many young men of color is appalling, mostly from minor drug possession, and then the opportunities aren't there, which is a serious issue. 50% unemployment for young American men of African ancestry in cities like Baltimore, that alone shows that poverty and access to employment is an enormous problem. Coupled with the loss of voting rights for those who are released from prison after serving sentences for possession, it's a steep uphill battle just to survive, and it seems that corrections isn't supposed to be excessive nor to deny a person the right to vote. ======================================================= *The US Constitution clearly states, "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted." It also states in the 13th amendment that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." and then in the 15th amendment, it says "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." So it seems clear that the intent of the Constitution isn't being followed, which is why we occupy. Which is why we need to make office seekers accountable to our will, for otherwise, they do what the biggest power-brokers want, and that can often hurt freedom, justice, and economic fairness in this sweet land of liberty.*

Please, give this interview a listen: Michelle Alexander: Jim Crow Still Exists In America : NPR

What will change the patterns of injustice, to end the subtle and not-so-subtle discrimination, to bring about greater economic prosperity and dignity for all? Because this is still a land of the two Americas, one where there is both extreme poverty and extreme wealth, and little has changed to bridge that gap, to open up opportunities to those in poverty, or to compensate fairly those who work the land. Some background, still as pertinent as ever today: Bryan Stevenson and Michelle Alexander on Injustice | BillMoyers.com