How bout that false economy?

With a blazing head cold and having just repaired the washing machine, I am going to get this out there now as I was really not up to it yesterday. This will be short and to the point with little more than a question and a couple of statements.

Does anyone remember Al Gore saying that gas needed to stay above $4.00 per gallon so that "alternative" energy sources would be developed?

Now, as we see gas prices beginning to rise and tweedledee over at the Interior revoking drill and exploration permits, we will ultimately get to fund all of this development out of our after-tax pocket as well.

Our elected officials continue to make my posterior drowsy. I really need to remember to go and "publicly" comment on this... in the next 179 days.

Do yourself a square.

Existingthing makes a tremendous analogy here. And, it is absolutely worth the time.

At least mine said no, how about yours?

Alabama senators Sessions and Shelby both voted Nay on HR 1 today. While I don't always agree with them e.g. their votes (1 each incorrect, in my humble opinion) on Holder and Geithner, they have gotten it right this time. Thank you gentlemen. Follows is the e-mail that I sent to them regarding today's vote.

Senator, I wish to express my gratitude for your Nay vote today on vote 00059 regarding HR 1. As I have previously expressed, I truly believe this "stimulus" package will do nothing but sink us further into debt while not stimulating much of anything useful. Again, thank you for your vote today.

I can only hope that you are fortunate enough to have had your senators land on the right side of this one. And, how is it that Teddy Kennedy is voting today?

Change de Obama.

Have not yet taken the time to do anything but watch this video. So, I have no idea where the rest of their story goes, but this is worth the watch, as is the video from 16 January 2009 titled Change is Good.

Appreciate it Frank.

High Speed Safety

Direct quote from Chemical Engineering & News, 02 February 2009, p.13, Cover Story - Materials for the Modern Gladiator by Bethany Halford, Northeast News Bureau.

"BUT INNOVATIONS in safety didn't keep pace with innovations in speed. Between May 2000 and February 2001, crashes claimed the lives of four NASCAR drivers. Nineteen-year-old Adam Petty and 30-year-old Kenny Irwin Jr. had eerily similar fatal accidents just eight weeks apart at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Tony Roper, 35, died during a race at the Texas Motor Speedway. The sport's highest profile fatality was that of its star Dale Earnhardt Sr., after a collision in the last lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001."

A decent article about a few of the materials used in automobile safety advances as learned from the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). 

Yes, people do live like this.

Direct quote from Chemical Engineering & News, 02 February 2009, p.18, Business - Leather from Another Era by Jean-Francois Tremblay, C&EN Hong Kong.

"LIFE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE in Hazaribagh, the old tannery district of Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital. Within two years—if the scenario currently envisaged pans out—the district's 206 leather tanneries will either shut their doors or move to a different part of the city. Once relocated, their effluent will be treated and their workers will operate in far safer conditions. Some 30,000 workers and much equipment will move.

A way of life will disappear in Hazaribagh, but no one is complaining. The district's tanneries belong to a long-gone era. They dump their untreated waste into drains and ditches that lead to the Buriganga River, the main river flowing through Dhaka. Workers handle corrosive chemicals without protective gear and walk around the tanneries barefoot."

And yet, the world worries about what the US is doing to the environment. I am NOT an advocate for wasteful use nor do I endorse unsound practices, particularly in regard to the environment. BUT, I am soooo tired of the rest of the world pointing fingers at us. Perhaps they, as well as we, should look to our own and let others do the same. 

Scientific Stimulus, Wee Beasties & Global Climate Change... Oh my.

Image from Chemical Engineering & News, 02 February 2009, p.8, News of the Week - Science Windfall from Legislators by Rochelle Bohaty.

According to this story, the House has passed a $819,000,000,000 stimulus bill (HR 1) last week that contains more than $13,000,000,000 for research & development. And, the Senate is working on an $888,000,000,000 stimulus bill(S 1) that contains more than $12,000,000,000 for research & development.

Again, the only thing happening here is the subsidization of those who cannot productively enter society after graduation. If they are to pile up increasing institutional debt, then let them continue on their postdoctoral path in a more useful fashion. Say, design of modular concrete structures that would suit modern urban conditions... or some such.

Direct quote from Chemical Engineering & News, 02 February 2009, p.10, News of the Week - FDA Clears Stem Cell Clinical Trial by Britt E. Erickson, C&EN Washington.

"THE FOOD & DRUG Administration has given Geron, a small California-based biotech company, the green light to inject living cells manufactured from human embryonic stem cells into a handful of patients with spinal cord injuries.

The trials, set to begin this summer, will be the first in the world to test the safety of a therapy derived from human embryonic stem cells in people.

A lot of hope is riding on the outcome of the trials. If the product, called GRNOPC1, proves safe, it could open the door for other embryonic-stem-cell-based therapies to treat conditions such as juvenile diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and stroke, experts say."

I still don't know where I live on this issue... just thought you ought to know.

Direct quote from Chemical Engineering & News, 02 February 2009, p.10, News of the Week - Making a Toxin by Sarah Everts.

"A quirky lipid that is associated with seafood toxicity has been constructed in a lab for the first time. The work opens the possibility of developing tools to detect and study the molecule."

It would be nice to know if you are about to get food poisoning from your platter of oysters. Of course, this could just be another bit of good science gone bad when we get "gassed" with the stuff. Again, just thought you ought to know.

Direct quote from Chemical Engineering & News, 02 February 2009, p.11, News of the Week - Irreversible Effects by Cheryl Hogue.

"Debates over whether and how to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases should take into account that some effects of climate change are irreversible, according to a new scientific study.

The study, led by Susan Solomon, senior scientist at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), finds that even if emissions of carbon dioxide from human activity stopped, some effects will be largely unalterable for more than 1,000 years (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, DOI:10.1073/pnas.0812721106). These effects include sea-level rise and drying of some already arid regions of the world."

Truly, the just can not help themselves. There is such an abundance of research out there that will let you tell any story that you want. Right now, it is "trendy science" and quite lucrative to be on the "Global Climate Change" bandwagon.

Direct quote from Chemical Engineering & News, 02 February 2009, p.11, News of the Week - Mapping Earth's Carbon Dioxide by Elizabeth Wilson.

"After months of delays, a satellite designed to help generate the first detailed, time-resolved global maps of carbon dioxide sources and sinks is slated for launch on Feb. 23.

The daily detailed measurements from NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) will give vastly more information than the sparse CO₂-monitoring stations that now dot Earth. By knowing where and when CO₂ is being emitted and taken up, scientists may be able to understand how the gas influences climate change and, in particular, global warming."

I can hardly wait to see how this thing is misused.

Finally, Something REAL to Worry About.

No doubt there are any number of things to occupy our day's fright basket. But, the stunning combination of Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel and Eric Holder is sincerely capable of landing in the basket and not leaving... even when we ask it to. Consider the following...

Barack Obama's Urban Policy - While most of it sounds relatively benign, this will open the door to a great deal of regulation implemented because we said they could. The items in the Law Enforcement section are particularly interesting.

Per YouTube, Part I: Congressman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) speaking at DC's annual Stand Up For a Safe America event sponsored by the Brady Center May 15, 2007.

Now, this is a year-and-a-half old, but do you really think this cat has changed his stripes? No? Me neither. Never mind that his closing "statistics" are patently false. Thanks to Breda for this video from YouTube and of course, for giving me something to rant about today. ;)

Eric Holder and his amicus brief games with the Supreme Court concerning the Heller v. DC gun ban issue. This is ably explained on John Lott's Blog. Some notes on Eric Holder, the next Attorney General for the US.

These are just a few recent (or, kind of recent) items to be aware of with all the hopenchange that is around the bend.

Can we ever learn? Probably not...

Direct quote from Rock Products, January 2009, p.6, Public Debate - Lessons from the Auto Industry by Thomas J. Roach.

"For the U.S. auto industry, communication was not used to read and respond to the environment; it was used to oppose it."

This is really a pretty quick read that can be linked to from here. The discussion regards how the aggregate industry can profit from lessons learned (or should have been learned) by Ford, GM and Chrysler. It is, quite simply, a statement of the obvious that many of us can also profit from.

Stimulus Excess & Genetically Engineered Critters

Image from Chemical Engineering & News, 26 January 2009, p.9, News of the Week - Stimulating Science with More R&D Funds by Rochelle Bohaty.

So, buried in HR 1 - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 are all of these funds as well. Obviously, academic spending is important. It is particularly important in areas that increase our self-sufficiency. But, if this funding is to be aimed at things such as cow flatulence and the accompanying greenhouse gas legislation to tax ranchers based on the size of their herd, then it must be eliminated from consideration. In this case, specifically the $400,000,000 for climate change research. The only thing happening here is the subsidization of those who cannot productively enter society after graduation. If they are to pile up increasing institutional debt, then let them continue on their postdoctoral path in a more useful fashion. Say, design of modular concrete structures that would suit modern urban conditions... or some such.

Direct quote from Chemical Engineering & News, 26 January 2009, p.25, Government & Policy - Engineered Animals by Britt E. Erickson, C&EN Washington.

"A Drug that is produced in the milk of a genetically engineered (GE) goat for treating a rare blood disorder is on the verge of approval in the U.S. Although the goat is not supposed to enter the food supply, if the drug gets the green light next month as expected, it could set the stage for the approval of other GE animals, regardless of their intended use."

This just reinforces that we really need to "know" where all of the things that we interact with everyday come from. I do like how the goat is not supposed to enter the food supply. I can hardly wait until people find out they have been consuming genetically engineered meat. Never mind that we have been consuming genetically engineered vegetation for years.

The Rat with First Amendment Rights

From the "Don't Y'all Have Something Better to Do" Files, we have the Rat with First Amendment Rights. Yes, they should be allowed to display it and no, it should not have gone to court. And, no, I just couldn't help myself.

Sent to Senators Sessions & Shelby Today.

I did not realize that the Senate was at it right now (07 February 2009, 11:00 CST) and yes, I am likely too simple and too late anyway.

While the most egregious expenditure of our nation's wealth is about to take place, I am left wondering why should we go along with it. Please allow me to explain my position here. I am flatly stating that when this "stimulus" package is passed and signed, we will have wasted more wealth than most ever thought would be possible. Every time I hear something about this debaucherous plan, I also hear that only about 10 percent of it will be spent in 2009. What, exactly, is this thing stimulating? At 1400+ pages, how is it possible that any one person knows what is in this? Moreover, am I in the minority in thinking that we have elected a petulant ... child to be the "leader" of the free world? My GOD, have you seen the body language that this guy uses to drive his point? Anyway, getting off the soapbox and back on track...

I am tired of hearing about how the federal government is the only entity that is large enough to drag us out of this. I have an idea; the federal government is not large enough to fix it, although certainly large enough to help cause it. However, we the people are the only ones large enough to fix this, when we are done whining, we will figure it out. If everyone would just remember that successful society is built on everyone doing something that they are good at... or at least, doing something that is not deleterious to the greater good, we can drag our own selves back from the edge of this pit. Yes, we are at the edge of the pit, not yet free falling in it... no matter what anyone tells you right now. Also, I really think that the message to America need not be one of fear... I mean let us quit scaring the people with how bad it could be. Side note here - the Oprah's and the Larry King's of the world needed to shut the hell up last September about how bad it could be. It is a little late now, but not too late to bolster the American Spirit. So, y'all just shut the hell up about things that you know nothing about. Go back to being the clean Jerry Springer.

Equally tiring is the speed and greed with which this thing is being pushed through. For goodness sake, take a minute and think on it. Jobs are being shed at an alarming rate. True, but what kind of jobs are they? Are they robust manufacturing jobs that pay well and produce things? Some, but most, I suspect, are service industry jobs. These very jobs that the inventor of the Internet, Mr. Al Gore, claimed would drive the economy back in the '90s. Service jobs will not be the jobs creating more in the future. We need to be making things. Things like groceries, steel, Aluminum, bricks, computing equipment are what will reestablish the US as the superpower that we once were. Not, would you like fries with that.

This group of pocket liberals is going to sell our soul into debt and tell us how good it is for us. Is it just me, or is this the "New" slavery? If not, then what do you call handing the fruit of your toil to those who did nothing to earn it? They will have no choice but to increase our taxes to pay for this. I can hardly wait. But, the good news for us is, with the next round of pay cuts (and by the way, losing your job is the ultimate pay cut), there won't be near as much to tax. The bad news is that with dwindling income, the percentage tax will be dreadfully increased.

Something needs to be done. True. And, spending money is what needs to be done. Unequivocally True. This money must come from the Government. Patently False. If you allow a free people the chance to better themselves... It will happen. Oh, I forgot, a new majority has risen in this country and they don't want anything to do with freedom. All they want is to maintain, be told what to do, be absolved of any fault or blame and, worst, be told how special they are when they are not. But, those of us who now find ourselves in the minority are more than willing to accept the challenge. Per George S. Patton - General, US Army - "Lead me, follow me or get the Hell out of my way." Please, go back to setting the federal budget and doing the important work that you already have to do and let us, have at it with as little of your "help" as we actually need. 

So, I arrive at this point... finally... say no to HR 1 and its ilk. Let us fix this the way that we always have... on our own.

Required Viewing

Pakistan's Gun Market

This is required viewing for anyone who wishes to discuss global affairs and particularly military intervention abroad.

Xavier Thoughts: Mercilessly Plan, Relentlessly Prepare, Violently Execute

I was done for the day until I was cruising around A Keyboard and a .45 and then linked on to the following on Xavier Thoughts. Do yourself right, take the time to read and comprehend.

Xavier Thoughts: Mercilessly Plan, Relentlessly Prepare, Violently Execute