Cash For Clunkers. Bad.
There are plenty of good ways to save fuel and electricity.
Buying a brand new car isn't one of them.
Sure, you could argue that higher mileage will "save the world". A more compelling argument is that newer vehicles tend to have lower tailpipe emissions, so even if they were on par with mileage, the exhaust gas is cleaner and "better".
But... that ignores two key sources of pollution.
1) You gotta make the new car. Yep. Believe it or not, auto manufacturing requires inputs of petroleum, electricity, and (gasp) toxins.
2) You gotta get rid of the "clunker". Recycling absorbs a portion of the wastes, but much of the old cars are bound for landfills or rust-heaps somewhere. Catch this: is is illegal to re-use the drivetrain!! Are you kidding? So the wreckers can't even pull parts off to keep them out of the landfill/smelter?
I don't have figures (yet?) on the embodied energy that is present in the average new car, but I'd love to know how many gallons of fuel/tons of CO2 are used/produced to make a new car.
Finally: the mileage figures are absurd. Under the current rules, someone driving a 19mpg sedan is NOT eligible to trade it in on a 30mpg economy car (at least, they get no voucher). But someone who drives a gas-guzzling 14mpg SUV can merrily purchase a new 18mpg SUV and get $3,500 in their pocket. Does that make sense?
I would be much more sympathetic to the legislation if it had some real gas-savings built in. How about: You can only earn the voucher if the car you are buying gets higher than the national average for new-car mileage? ie: you are part of the solution, not part of the problem. Or... how about an even better idea: If you buy a car that gets higher than 35mpg (combined), and trade in any other car, you get a voucher. Period. Then the dealer can scrap "old" cars for parts, and resell "efficient" vehicles.
Much easier legislation, and better for everyone.
Buying a brand new car isn't one of them.
Sure, you could argue that higher mileage will "save the world". A more compelling argument is that newer vehicles tend to have lower tailpipe emissions, so even if they were on par with mileage, the exhaust gas is cleaner and "better".
But... that ignores two key sources of pollution.
1) You gotta make the new car. Yep. Believe it or not, auto manufacturing requires inputs of petroleum, electricity, and (gasp) toxins.
2) You gotta get rid of the "clunker". Recycling absorbs a portion of the wastes, but much of the old cars are bound for landfills or rust-heaps somewhere. Catch this: is is illegal to re-use the drivetrain!! Are you kidding? So the wreckers can't even pull parts off to keep them out of the landfill/smelter?
I don't have figures (yet?) on the embodied energy that is present in the average new car, but I'd love to know how many gallons of fuel/tons of CO2 are used/produced to make a new car.
Finally: the mileage figures are absurd. Under the current rules, someone driving a 19mpg sedan is NOT eligible to trade it in on a 30mpg economy car (at least, they get no voucher). But someone who drives a gas-guzzling 14mpg SUV can merrily purchase a new 18mpg SUV and get $3,500 in their pocket. Does that make sense?
I would be much more sympathetic to the legislation if it had some real gas-savings built in. How about: You can only earn the voucher if the car you are buying gets higher than the national average for new-car mileage? ie: you are part of the solution, not part of the problem. Or... how about an even better idea: If you buy a car that gets higher than 35mpg (combined), and trade in any other car, you get a voucher. Period. Then the dealer can scrap "old" cars for parts, and resell "efficient" vehicles.
Much easier legislation, and better for everyone.
Labels: 4wd, 4x4, news, sustainability
New Alternative Fuel Vehicle
Start measuring your mileage in grazing acres instead of gallons...
Labels: 4wd, 4x4, land cruiser, news, photo
The Night the Music Died (again)
On the night of his death it would be a travesty to ignore the importance of Michael Jackson's contribution to modern pop music.
My earliest memory of his sound was "Beat It". It defined an important part of my introduction to popular music and brought out the dancer in a half-dozen of my pre-pubescent peer group. Never one to pine over fashion, I was not entirely immune to wanting my own (how many zippers?) leather jacket and single white glove.
Billie Jean is still on my "Top Music" playlists (though I now prefer a cover by Chris Cornell, live in Sweden. Just awesome.)
So long, Michael. Your music lives on.
My earliest memory of his sound was "Beat It". It defined an important part of my introduction to popular music and brought out the dancer in a half-dozen of my pre-pubescent peer group. Never one to pine over fashion, I was not entirely immune to wanting my own (how many zippers?) leather jacket and single white glove.
Billie Jean is still on my "Top Music" playlists (though I now prefer a cover by Chris Cornell, live in Sweden. Just awesome.)
So long, Michael. Your music lives on.
Labels: news
Justice Denied
Went to Santa Cruz yesterday for the prelim hearing for the thief that I caught red-handed in my car about 2 months ago.
Surprise, surprise: it turns out that he doesn't live at the address that he have upon his release. So when the deputies went to fetch him, he wasn't there.
If they had checked on that a little earlier, it would have saved a few hours out of my day. Oh, well. I suppose that if they ever find him, he'll be less likely to skate on the eventual trial as he effectively skipped bail. But for now I'm feeling some legal frustration- more for the time/energy wasted and the lack of resolution.
So if you see this guy walking around. Call the cops. There is a warrant out for his arrest.
Surprise, surprise: it turns out that he doesn't live at the address that he have upon his release. So when the deputies went to fetch him, he wasn't there.
If they had checked on that a little earlier, it would have saved a few hours out of my day. Oh, well. I suppose that if they ever find him, he'll be less likely to skate on the eventual trial as he effectively skipped bail. But for now I'm feeling some legal frustration- more for the time/energy wasted and the lack of resolution.
So if you see this guy walking around. Call the cops. There is a warrant out for his arrest.Labels: news
Media Panic Merited?
I'm all for an informed public.
I support efforts to improve public health.
But this swine flu stuff has me a little puzzled. Okay, as many as 200 people in Mexico may have died from Swine Flu. Some people in the USA have it, some people in Costa Rica. Is the media putting a little more emphasis on this than it merits?
Let's compare the death toll/infection numbers to some other diseases that weren't mentioned on the front page of the newspaper today:
HIV/AIDS: According to the CIA Factbook, in 2007 there were about 1.2 million people in the USA alone who were infected. Also 2007, about 22,000 deaths. That's over 60 deaths per day, on average. Go try to find an article that was published in a major newspaper this week that addresses the AIDS/HIV pandemic. Good luck.
From 1991 to 1998 in the USA alone 1,465 people died from varicella infection*. I'm sure you heard about it. I don't recall seeing much in the news of this deadly virus, despite the fact that 95% of adults are believed to have been exposed. That's because it is more commonly known as.... chicken pox. Yup, that's right folks, from '91 to '98 more people died in the USA every year than the total number of Mexican Swine Flu deaths to date. And we can all agree that chicken pox is a pandemic. But where is the massive media blitz?
*source
Finally- the good old flu. The CDC estimates that 36,000 people die every year from influenza (worldwide the number may be as high as 500,000). Not this hyped up swine type, but regular old flu. That's over 100/day.
I'm not trying to convince people to take a cavalier approach to personal hygiene or to jump on the next plane to Mexico City, hugging every stranger they come across. I'm not trying to suggest that the folks infected with Swine Flu aren't suffering. I'm merely trying to offer a little rational counterpoint to the headlines and remind everyone that there are plenty of wretched diseases out there and it makes sense to think a little bit before getting all worked up over the "news".
I support efforts to improve public health.
But this swine flu stuff has me a little puzzled. Okay, as many as 200 people in Mexico may have died from Swine Flu. Some people in the USA have it, some people in Costa Rica. Is the media putting a little more emphasis on this than it merits?
Let's compare the death toll/infection numbers to some other diseases that weren't mentioned on the front page of the newspaper today:
HIV/AIDS: According to the CIA Factbook, in 2007 there were about 1.2 million people in the USA alone who were infected. Also 2007, about 22,000 deaths. That's over 60 deaths per day, on average. Go try to find an article that was published in a major newspaper this week that addresses the AIDS/HIV pandemic. Good luck.
From 1991 to 1998 in the USA alone 1,465 people died from varicella infection*. I'm sure you heard about it. I don't recall seeing much in the news of this deadly virus, despite the fact that 95% of adults are believed to have been exposed. That's because it is more commonly known as.... chicken pox. Yup, that's right folks, from '91 to '98 more people died in the USA every year than the total number of Mexican Swine Flu deaths to date. And we can all agree that chicken pox is a pandemic. But where is the massive media blitz?
*source
Finally- the good old flu. The CDC estimates that 36,000 people die every year from influenza (worldwide the number may be as high as 500,000). Not this hyped up swine type, but regular old flu. That's over 100/day.
I'm not trying to convince people to take a cavalier approach to personal hygiene or to jump on the next plane to Mexico City, hugging every stranger they come across. I'm not trying to suggest that the folks infected with Swine Flu aren't suffering. I'm merely trying to offer a little rational counterpoint to the headlines and remind everyone that there are plenty of wretched diseases out there and it makes sense to think a little bit before getting all worked up over the "news".
Labels: news
Predicting a blip.
I predict we see a jump of not less than 1.5% in the Dow and/or S&P on the 3rd of March (today, technically).
Just throwing it out there.
Don't come back at me if I'm wrong. Don't feel *too* obliged to buy me a lavish dinner in an attractive beachfront eatery of my choice if you decide to invest heavily based on my half-wit recommendation. I'll settle for a cold beverage and a a high five.
Labels: news
White House Garden
It may seem hokey, but I'm a big fan of the idea that the Obamas could plant an organic garden on some of the 18 acres surrounding the White House.
It isn't my idea, I heard someone advocate it on NPR. You can read more about the idea here.
Just think, instead of an ongoing cost to maintain the grass, some of that land could actually save the government a little money. A very, very little money, true, but something is better than nothing!
It isn't my idea, I heard someone advocate it on NPR. You can read more about the idea here.
Just think, instead of an ongoing cost to maintain the grass, some of that land could actually save the government a little money. A very, very little money, true, but something is better than nothing!
quake
image from www.scienceclarified.com
it has come to our attention that folks might wonder if we felt the big earthquake in san jose last week and/or if we were are okay. we didn't, and we're fine. we are generally blissfully unaware of earthquakes and other natural disasters that hit san jose, as we're about 150 miles west and two mountain ranges away.
Labels: Costa Rica, news
Followup to an interesting comment...
"Anonymous" posted the following:
Below is my response, I put it on the main page because I think that the question was interesting and know that most folks don't go back to read comments much.
Fair question!
Our goal is to someday enjoy spending as many as three to six months/year back in California.
We love the USA and still refer to northern California as "home" when speaking to each other.
Our decision to move to Costa Rica was partly born of a sense of trying something new and different, partly due to enjoying the weather in the tropics (usually) and partly due to knowing that there is a great big world out there and that restricting ourselves to living in just one little part of it wasn't enough to satisfy us.
Beyond that- we also recognize that the US political scene has far-reaching effects upon the economies and lives of millions of people who live outside of the USA. Just look at the economic situation in the news today if you need more evidence. Or try telling an Iraqi that the US presidential elections only affect people living in the USA.
As for Costa Rica- we are legal residents but have no intention of becoming citizens largely because the USA doesn't recognize dual-citizenship, but partly because we still consider ourselves guests in this country and *from* California. I do, however, participate in politics at a very local level in an attempt to help steer towards more sustainable development and increase infrastructure. It may not be much, but I think I help out.
I'm just wondering why a couple who has chosen to leave their country has taken the trouble to get involved with its politics? Shouldn't you be trying to gain citizenship in Costa Rica and vote there?
Fri Oct 24, 01:55:00 AM CST
Below is my response, I put it on the main page because I think that the question was interesting and know that most folks don't go back to read comments much.
Fair question!
Our goal is to someday enjoy spending as many as three to six months/year back in California.
We love the USA and still refer to northern California as "home" when speaking to each other.
Our decision to move to Costa Rica was partly born of a sense of trying something new and different, partly due to enjoying the weather in the tropics (usually) and partly due to knowing that there is a great big world out there and that restricting ourselves to living in just one little part of it wasn't enough to satisfy us.
Beyond that- we also recognize that the US political scene has far-reaching effects upon the economies and lives of millions of people who live outside of the USA. Just look at the economic situation in the news today if you need more evidence. Or try telling an Iraqi that the US presidential elections only affect people living in the USA.
As for Costa Rica- we are legal residents but have no intention of becoming citizens largely because the USA doesn't recognize dual-citizenship, but partly because we still consider ourselves guests in this country and *from* California. I do, however, participate in politics at a very local level in an attempt to help steer towards more sustainable development and increase infrastructure. It may not be much, but I think I help out.
Labels: california, Costa Rica, news
Google Sketchup is interesting
Remember when this whole site was about travel? The good old days...
At least I can promise no more politics for a while, I voted. I'm done. From here on out I'm avoiding the news about the candidates: it can't affect my vote, just my blood pressure. Ok, one last comment- please go vote. Please.
On to software!! (whoo, hoo, the fun never stops around here).
I've been fiddling with Google Sketchup 6 recently and I'm having a blast. It is like a video game, but actually serves a purpose. Ok, if it were a game it wouldn't probably sell very well.
Here are some snaps from a model I've made of our house. This was a learning project for me, and took about 12 hours of "work". Much of that was taking and confirming measurements, then forgetting them, then taking them again. Tip: draw a very rough sketch on paper and write your measurements there. Tip #2: decide how you are going to handle door openings, then be consistent (I choose to measure to the inner edge of the jamb, if I decide to actually model the jambs later, I'll have to make some changes). Tip #3: Use a mouse, not your laptop touch pad. It goes much faster with a mouse and the added scroll-wheel makes life a whole lot easier.
You can click (on mouse or scroll pad) here and here for two slightly different perspectives.
If you've got Sketchup installed, you can actually load this skp file and take a look around our house. If you haven't installed Sketchup yet, you can get it for free at http://sketchup.google.com.
Obviously, I've got a long ways to go before this is done. My next challenge is to build the staircase to the upstairs area, and remember to keep the 2nd floor in it's own layer so that I can still see/make changes to the downstairs. I'd also like to figure out how to apply textures to surfaces such that I can import a photo to apply as texture. Among various other things I need to learn still.
I sure hope that the rains let up soon so I can go surf.
At least I can promise no more politics for a while, I voted. I'm done. From here on out I'm avoiding the news about the candidates: it can't affect my vote, just my blood pressure. Ok, one last comment- please go vote. Please.
On to software!! (whoo, hoo, the fun never stops around here).
I've been fiddling with Google Sketchup 6 recently and I'm having a blast. It is like a video game, but actually serves a purpose. Ok, if it were a game it wouldn't probably sell very well.
Here are some snaps from a model I've made of our house. This was a learning project for me, and took about 12 hours of "work". Much of that was taking and confirming measurements, then forgetting them, then taking them again. Tip: draw a very rough sketch on paper and write your measurements there. Tip #2: decide how you are going to handle door openings, then be consistent (I choose to measure to the inner edge of the jamb, if I decide to actually model the jambs later, I'll have to make some changes). Tip #3: Use a mouse, not your laptop touch pad. It goes much faster with a mouse and the added scroll-wheel makes life a whole lot easier. You can click (on mouse or scroll pad) here and here for two slightly different perspectives.
If you've got Sketchup installed, you can actually load this skp file and take a look around our house. If you haven't installed Sketchup yet, you can get it for free at http://sketchup.google.com.
Obviously, I've got a long ways to go before this is done. My next challenge is to build the staircase to the upstairs area, and remember to keep the 2nd floor in it's own layer so that I can still see/make changes to the downstairs. I'd also like to figure out how to apply textures to surfaces such that I can import a photo to apply as texture. Among various other things I need to learn still.
I sure hope that the rains let up soon so I can go surf.
Labels: news, software, weather
...with apologies...
...more politics. On this one, I don't know if I can avoid commentary.
While doing a little research on the previous posts, I spent a lot of time chatting with Jocelyn about various topics. These chats help form my opinions and positions. I think that it is safe to say that for most people, their spouse is both an influence and an indication of what they consider to be good and important in the world. At the very least it says something about the person with whom they have committed to spending an awful lot of time.
Without further ado, I present to you an absurdly reduced summary of the 2008 "First-Spouses". My only metric is their current occupation and their education.
Quick thoughts: Michelle Obama has been observed to be on the board of a company that profits from WalMart. Cindy McCain has invested massive time and money on very respectable humanitarian foundation work. Jill Biden is president of an NPO related to cancer education, and also works with military families. Todd Palin is a champion snow mobile racer.
Quick conclusion: Democratic ticket spouses have a law degree and a Ph.D. Republican ticket spouses have a Master's and a diploma.
Potential conflicts from Spousal Occupation: Biden might vote for more education. McCain could encourage more beer consumption (or tax breaks for folks earning $6 million/year). Obama may favor big-health or Pickle Producers. Palin will continue to push for more oil extraction, but will likely keep wild spaces open to off-road vehicle use.
Trying hard not to sound like a broken record here.... but doesn't it seem, yet again, that one of the four is a bit of an outlying data point? Who would *you* want advising the most powerful decision maker in the free world? A snow mobile racer?
While doing a little research on the previous posts, I spent a lot of time chatting with Jocelyn about various topics. These chats help form my opinions and positions. I think that it is safe to say that for most people, their spouse is both an influence and an indication of what they consider to be good and important in the world. At the very least it says something about the person with whom they have committed to spending an awful lot of time.
Without further ado, I present to you an absurdly reduced summary of the 2008 "First-Spouses". My only metric is their current occupation and their education.
Candidate | Spouse's Name | Occupation | Education |
John McCain | Cindy McCain | Chair of Hensley & Co (beer distributor) | B.A. University of Southern California, M.A. University of Southern California |
Barrack Obama | Michelle Obama | VP External Relations, University of Chicago Hospitals | B.A. cum laude Princeton University/ J.D. Harvard Law |
Joe Biden | Jill Biden | Community College Professor | B.A. University of Delaware/ M.A. Villanova University/ M.Ed. West Chester University/ |
Sarah Palin | Todd Palin | BP employee (formerly management), Commercial Fisherman | Wasilla High School (and some college courses!) |
Quick thoughts: Michelle Obama has been observed to be on the board of a company that profits from WalMart. Cindy McCain has invested massive time and money on very respectable humanitarian foundation work. Jill Biden is president of an NPO related to cancer education, and also works with military families. Todd Palin is a champion snow mobile racer.
Quick conclusion: Democratic ticket spouses have a law degree and a Ph.D. Republican ticket spouses have a Master's and a diploma.
Potential conflicts from Spousal Occupation: Biden might vote for more education. McCain could encourage more beer consumption (or tax breaks for folks earning $6 million/year). Obama may favor big-health or Pickle Producers. Palin will continue to push for more oil extraction, but will likely keep wild spaces open to off-road vehicle use.
Trying hard not to sound like a broken record here.... but doesn't it seem, yet again, that one of the four is a bit of an outlying data point? Who would *you* want advising the most powerful decision maker in the free world? A snow mobile racer?
Labels: news
OH NO. More political posting.
Seriously. This has got to stop. We did a fun driving trip last week, I'll post photos shortly. I promise. But until then, a little more political info. Again, trying to present information, not analysis. I hope that everyone out there who reads this will make their own, informed opinion, and Vote!! in November.
Mean time. Here is a look at the different ways in which the two presidential candidates plan to adjust taxes. I don't have a source for the information on this chart, but found it at Stefen Hayden's Blog. There is bunch of good stuff there (much is not political), go take a look. But for now, take a look at the tax adjustments.
Personally, I don't want to pay more taxes. But if I some day find myself in the million-dollar plus group, I suspect that it'll hurt me a lot less to pay more taxes than if I find myself in the under-$20,000 group. Frankly, I don't think that people who make less than $25K/year should pay income tax at all. Oh, shoot, now I'm talking taxes.... the *real* truth is that I think income tax is a faulty solution to governmental revenue. I like the Fair Tax best of all.
Mean time. Here is a look at the different ways in which the two presidential candidates plan to adjust taxes. I don't have a source for the information on this chart, but found it at Stefen Hayden's Blog. There is bunch of good stuff there (much is not political), go take a look. But for now, take a look at the tax adjustments.
Personally, I don't want to pay more taxes. But if I some day find myself in the million-dollar plus group, I suspect that it'll hurt me a lot less to pay more taxes than if I find myself in the under-$20,000 group. Frankly, I don't think that people who make less than $25K/year should pay income tax at all. Oh, shoot, now I'm talking taxes.... the *real* truth is that I think income tax is a faulty solution to governmental revenue. I like the Fair Tax best of all.
Labels: news
Academic Records
Ugh. More political commentary. I'll try to curtail this new obsession with the 2008 Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates' portrayal by the media, but I feel a real lack of objective information vs. analysis and commentary.
I took a few minutes to compile a summary of the candidates' academic records. For the record, I have a B.S. Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from the University of California, San Diego 1992-1996. I don't actually remember my GPA (seemed so important back then...) but I'm pretty sure it was around 3.3 or thereabouts. I was a B+ / A- student for the most part.
Also, for the record, I don't think that academic performance is necessarily a great indicator of future potential as a leader, businessperson, or anything else. I *do* think that a willingness and/or ability to perform well in an academic setting is a pretty solid indicator of a person's drive or innate ability. I also believe that there is some merit to the notion that people who attend prestigious institutions of higher learning have accomplished something good and important. Something that is not necessarily within the ability of everyone to accomplish. That is: getting into and graduating from a top-tier school means that some combination of intelligence, hard work, family connections, and perseverance have come together in sufficient quantities that the person who has graduated from said school is someone of value.
OK. Enough commentary, on to some facts culled primarily from Wikipedia (so take it with a grain of salt) and a handful of other blogs/news sites/postings on the web (so use an entire salt lick).
In brief: The two candidates for President both attended prestigious institutions of higher learning. The two democrats both hold degrees in Law. The two elder candidates both ranked low amongst their peers. One of the four candidates has a very small portion of the academic distinction of the other three candidates.
Once again I find myself thinking: "Who the hell decided that Palin was fit to run for Vice President?". I'd vote for her as President of my home-owners association any day of the week, even State Governor (ignoring politics, just looking at experience), but for higher office I generally assume that the candidate has a stronger academic background than my own, and Palin simply doesn't cut it.
I took a few minutes to compile a summary of the candidates' academic records. For the record, I have a B.S. Ecology, Behavior and Evolution from the University of California, San Diego 1992-1996. I don't actually remember my GPA (seemed so important back then...) but I'm pretty sure it was around 3.3 or thereabouts. I was a B+ / A- student for the most part.
Also, for the record, I don't think that academic performance is necessarily a great indicator of future potential as a leader, businessperson, or anything else. I *do* think that a willingness and/or ability to perform well in an academic setting is a pretty solid indicator of a person's drive or innate ability. I also believe that there is some merit to the notion that people who attend prestigious institutions of higher learning have accomplished something good and important. Something that is not necessarily within the ability of everyone to accomplish. That is: getting into and graduating from a top-tier school means that some combination of intelligence, hard work, family connections, and perseverance have come together in sufficient quantities that the person who has graduated from said school is someone of value.
OK. Enough commentary, on to some facts culled primarily from Wikipedia (so take it with a grain of salt) and a handful of other blogs/news sites/postings on the web (so use an entire salt lick).
| Candidate | Undergraduate | Graduate | Comment |
| Barrack Obama | Occidental College (two years) then B.A. Political Science at Columbia University 1981-1983 | J.D. Magna Cum Laude, Harvard Law 1988-1991, President Harvard Law Review | lackluster early academics, very strong later academics |
John McCain | U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis 1954-1958. (ranked 894 of 899) | Naval War College | 16 Naval Awards & Commendations including a Silver Star(3rd highest military decoration) |
| Joe Biden | B.A. History & Political Science University of Delaware, Newark 1961-1965 (ranked 506 of 688) | J.D. Syracuse University College of Law 1965-1968 (76th of 85) |
|
Sarah Palin | Hawaii Pacific College 1982, North Idaho Community College (2 semesters), University of Idaho (2 semesters), Matanuska-Susitna Community College (1 term), B.S. Communications-Journalism, University of Idaho 1987 | none | Participated with success in pageants during college years, won a scholarship |
In brief: The two candidates for President both attended prestigious institutions of higher learning. The two democrats both hold degrees in Law. The two elder candidates both ranked low amongst their peers. One of the four candidates has a very small portion of the academic distinction of the other three candidates.
Once again I find myself thinking: "Who the hell decided that Palin was fit to run for Vice President?". I'd vote for her as President of my home-owners association any day of the week, even State Governor (ignoring politics, just looking at experience), but for higher office I generally assume that the candidate has a stronger academic background than my own, and Palin simply doesn't cut it.
Labels: news
2008 Election
I spent some time today catching up on speeches and punditry for the Presidential elections in November. Wow. Another tempest in a teapot. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I am a little bit at A) some of the things that candidates have said (or not said) and B) many of the things that other people have said about the candidates.
I plan to vote for the democratic candidates this year- not so much because they embody everything that I want in a leader of the USA, but because they seem like the lesser of two evils.
With the exception of his opinions on a few important topics, I think that McCain is actually an interesting choice of Republican candidates. He is certainly less right-leaning than many people in the party and has shown a laudable willingness to work with people in his time in Congress. I am dumbfounded at his choice of running-mates, especially in light of his age. I'm not trying to be age-ist here, but we've got to accept that he is rapidly approaching the age at which the average American man stops living. His history does not suggest to me that he is particularly likely to outlive the average, which could mean Palin as President. Despite her strong presence at the VP debate (very telegenic!), I'm left with the overwhelming impression that Palin is a mere spokesperson with no political clout, and an apparent complete lack of comprehension of policy. Matt Damon offer a good summary of my concerns about Palin.
With that said, I don't like the way that Obama has vacillated on some key issues (such as campaign funding) and I do have some concerns about his relatively low level of experience. Having said that, I do believe that he has demonstrated a good ability to form strong advisers and hope that he will perform well in the Oval Office. I think Biden could be one of the best VPs in a long time- he has experience and political history to make up for Obama's lack, and he obviously has a solid understanding of how things do or don't work in Washington.
Please feel free to add your comments to this discussion. I'm interested in fact/figures/voting records that support one candidate vs. another. I'm not interested in religious arguments- I understand that they matter a lot to many people, but I'm sure that religious considerations aren't going to be swayed one way nor the other by this little blog!
The fact that I will be voting for a candidate in whom I don't believe 100% is a little depressing to me. The growing discontent of the American public with regards to our political system has been hashed and rehashed too much for me to add anything meaningful here.
I remember the first time I voted in a Presidential election. I really thought it was thrilling and felt a sense of empowerment. Now, I look at it as a duty to complete so that I buy a license to comment in the future, but otherwise as a fairly futile undertaking- I'm certain that Obama will carry California (where I'm registered) so the reality is that my vote is unlikely to actually matter at all. Then again, I suppose that if all of us felt that way then CA might go "red" and I'd really feel like a heel.
Monday is the last day to register to vote. If you haven't registered yet.... GO REGISTER. Even if you are going to vote for the team that I don't support, I hope you do register and do vote. Maybe if everyone started thinking about politics the way that I did when I voted in college... maybe then things would start to turn around a little.
Here's a quick summary, by the way, of my understanding of candidates views on some topics that I consider important (in no particular order):
There are other issues, of course. On health care I don't understand their positions. It seems like neither is truly advocating radical reform of the deeply flawed US health care system. Too bad, big opportunity there to help people.
I'm also unimpressed by immigration policy for either candidate. It seems like a lot of wasted money what we do now, same goes for the "war on drugs" which is inexorably linked to immigration and also a huge waste of tax dollars.
Finally, one of the things that I found most un-believable: Palin has traveled to a grand total of five countries in her life. Canada (on her way to Alaska, perhaps?), Mexico, Kuwait, Germany and the USA. For me, travel is one of the most important things that we do. It expands our horizons and shows us the reality of how different people have different perspectives. While there are certainly people who lack the economic ability to travel extensively, Palin isn't one them. Her lack of international curiosity worries me. Deeply. It suggests to me (or perhaps I interpret from it) that she lacks intellectual vigor and is closed to new ideas/concepts and might be unwilling and/or unable to accommodate the vast diversity of thoughts, experiences, and beliefs of the people of America.
I plan to vote for the democratic candidates this year- not so much because they embody everything that I want in a leader of the USA, but because they seem like the lesser of two evils.
With the exception of his opinions on a few important topics, I think that McCain is actually an interesting choice of Republican candidates. He is certainly less right-leaning than many people in the party and has shown a laudable willingness to work with people in his time in Congress. I am dumbfounded at his choice of running-mates, especially in light of his age. I'm not trying to be age-ist here, but we've got to accept that he is rapidly approaching the age at which the average American man stops living. His history does not suggest to me that he is particularly likely to outlive the average, which could mean Palin as President. Despite her strong presence at the VP debate (very telegenic!), I'm left with the overwhelming impression that Palin is a mere spokesperson with no political clout, and an apparent complete lack of comprehension of policy. Matt Damon offer a good summary of my concerns about Palin.
With that said, I don't like the way that Obama has vacillated on some key issues (such as campaign funding) and I do have some concerns about his relatively low level of experience. Having said that, I do believe that he has demonstrated a good ability to form strong advisers and hope that he will perform well in the Oval Office. I think Biden could be one of the best VPs in a long time- he has experience and political history to make up for Obama's lack, and he obviously has a solid understanding of how things do or don't work in Washington.
Please feel free to add your comments to this discussion. I'm interested in fact/figures/voting records that support one candidate vs. another. I'm not interested in religious arguments- I understand that they matter a lot to many people, but I'm sure that religious considerations aren't going to be swayed one way nor the other by this little blog!
The fact that I will be voting for a candidate in whom I don't believe 100% is a little depressing to me. The growing discontent of the American public with regards to our political system has been hashed and rehashed too much for me to add anything meaningful here.
I remember the first time I voted in a Presidential election. I really thought it was thrilling and felt a sense of empowerment. Now, I look at it as a duty to complete so that I buy a license to comment in the future, but otherwise as a fairly futile undertaking- I'm certain that Obama will carry California (where I'm registered) so the reality is that my vote is unlikely to actually matter at all. Then again, I suppose that if all of us felt that way then CA might go "red" and I'd really feel like a heel.
Monday is the last day to register to vote. If you haven't registered yet.... GO REGISTER. Even if you are going to vote for the team that I don't support, I hope you do register and do vote. Maybe if everyone started thinking about politics the way that I did when I voted in college... maybe then things would start to turn around a little.
Here's a quick summary, by the way, of my understanding of candidates views on some topics that I consider important (in no particular order):
| Issue | Obama | McCain |
| Evolution vs. ID | "I believe in evolution, and I believe there’s a difference between science and faith. That doesn’t make faith any less important than science. It just means they’re two different things. And I think it’s a mistake to try to cloud the teaching of science with theories that frankly don’t hold up to scientific inquiry." | "I happen to believe in evolution. ... I respect those who think the world was created in seven days. Should it be taught as a science class? Probably not." |
| Woman's Right to Choose Abortion | Keep it as it is now | Overturn Roe v. Wade (note: Palin opposes abortion even for rape victims.) |
| War in Iraq | end it soon | Spend more, kill more |
| Pork-Barrel Politics | Says he opposes, but it appears that "Bacon tastes good" | Lifelong opponent |
| Campaign finance Limits | great fundraiser (now beholden?) | less is more (but lots of help) |
| Global Warming | Man-made. Must limit emissions. Will fund renewable energy progress. | Man-Made, Limit emissions by 2050 (that's well after his death. C'mon.) |
| Education | Make community college free, make public colleges very affordable, invest heavily in youth programs | Invest in internet education resources (read: Corporations make $ on education), supports vouchers |
| Energy Policy | Make 10% of US energy renewable in 1 year, 25% by 2025. Supports stupid flex-fuel car idea. Supports "clean coal" and mild support of nuclear. Opponent of bad "gas tax holiday" concept. Suspend buying oil for strategic reserves. | Supports stupid flex-fuel car idea. Strong proponent of nuclear. Supports coal and offshore drilling. Vague support of renewable energy. Proponent of bad "gas tax holiday" concept. Suspend buying oil for strategic reserves. |
There are other issues, of course. On health care I don't understand their positions. It seems like neither is truly advocating radical reform of the deeply flawed US health care system. Too bad, big opportunity there to help people.
I'm also unimpressed by immigration policy for either candidate. It seems like a lot of wasted money what we do now, same goes for the "war on drugs" which is inexorably linked to immigration and also a huge waste of tax dollars.
Finally, one of the things that I found most un-believable: Palin has traveled to a grand total of five countries in her life. Canada (on her way to Alaska, perhaps?), Mexico, Kuwait, Germany and the USA. For me, travel is one of the most important things that we do. It expands our horizons and shows us the reality of how different people have different perspectives. While there are certainly people who lack the economic ability to travel extensively, Palin isn't one them. Her lack of international curiosity worries me. Deeply. It suggests to me (or perhaps I interpret from it) that she lacks intellectual vigor and is closed to new ideas/concepts and might be unwilling and/or unable to accommodate the vast diversity of thoughts, experiences, and beliefs of the people of America.
14 rivers Flooded
As of now, there are 14 major rivers in Guanacaste that have flooded their banks. That's an awful lot of rivers for a province that is only 10,140 km2 (3,915 square miles- about half the size of the San Francisco Bay Area).
Spanish speakers can read more at La Nacion. But the short version is: Gustav soaked us down, Hanna is overwhelming us a little. We should be thankful we aren't suffering the way that they are in Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, etc... but we sure are getting a lot of rain!
Spanish speakers can read more at La Nacion. But the short version is: Gustav soaked us down, Hanna is overwhelming us a little. We should be thankful we aren't suffering the way that they are in Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, etc... but we sure are getting a lot of rain!
Good News, police efficiency low.
Found out that our buddy had some good news when the Stanford Police dept found his heretofore stolen Landcruiser! (see original post)
Apparently it spent enough time sitting in a student parking lot that it had six parking tickets piled up. I guess it is good fortune that they finally checked the plates and noticed it was was a stolen vehicle. Can you imagine the frustration that the owner would have felt if he had gotten a letter "You have six unpaid parking tickets...." on a car that had already been reported stolen!?!?
And speaking of inefficient police behavior:
This morning a motorcycle was sitting in our driveway honking his horn intermittently, for about 15 minutes we heard "beep"... "beeeeeeep beep".... "beep beep beep" with a couple minutes in between. I finally went out to see what was going on and there was a police officer there, on a motorcycle, who told me that someone had reported a robbery nearby. He didn't have the house number nor did he know the name of the person (and seemed a little surprised that I had asked). He asked me if I could call the station to ask them about the house number and/or name but I couldn't get through (line was busy). I suggested he look at the other houses in our area as the ones on our small circle (of five houses) didn't seem to be showing signs of people expecting the police. He seemed to think that was a pretty good idea, and off he went. Hope he found the folks who had called.
Apparently it spent enough time sitting in a student parking lot that it had six parking tickets piled up. I guess it is good fortune that they finally checked the plates and noticed it was was a stolen vehicle. Can you imagine the frustration that the owner would have felt if he had gotten a letter "You have six unpaid parking tickets...." on a car that had already been reported stolen!?!?
And speaking of inefficient police behavior:
This morning a motorcycle was sitting in our driveway honking his horn intermittently, for about 15 minutes we heard "beep"... "beeeeeeep beep".... "beep beep beep" with a couple minutes in between. I finally went out to see what was going on and there was a police officer there, on a motorcycle, who told me that someone had reported a robbery nearby. He didn't have the house number nor did he know the name of the person (and seemed a little surprised that I had asked). He asked me if I could call the station to ask them about the house number and/or name but I couldn't get through (line was busy). I suggested he look at the other houses in our area as the ones on our small circle (of five houses) didn't seem to be showing signs of people expecting the police. He seemed to think that was a pretty good idea, and off he went. Hope he found the folks who had called.
Labels: news
40 Years!
Steve's parents (Bill & Bonnie) just celebrated 40 years of marriage.We wish we could have been there to celebrate with them.
Congratulations!!
Labels: news
Fuel Prices
There's a lot of talk about gas prices in the USA. And more than a little bit of whining about how expensive it has become to operate absurdly oversized on-highway vehicles.
If it helps you feel any better, we're paying 710 colones per liter for diesel right now.... that's about $4.94/gallon. Not a low price.
And operating a small, efficient vehicle down here has some legitimate pitfalls- there are ruts here into which you could drive a Honda Civic.
There is talk of the government slashing taxes on diesel and applying extra taxes to gasoline under the theory that the working vehicles of Costa Rica operate on diesel (I'd guess at least 90% of the commercial vehicles use diesel). There may even be some justification to the notion that many gasoline vehicles are inefficient luxury cars, but it seems to me that it would be sensible to tax vehicles directly based on their specifications vs. taxing them based on their fuel. I don't envy the politicians trying to work this out.
The good news? Costa Rica is working hard to make biofuels a significant percentage of our national energy mix, which gives some hope.
If it helps you feel any better, we're paying 710 colones per liter for diesel right now.... that's about $4.94/gallon. Not a low price.
And operating a small, efficient vehicle down here has some legitimate pitfalls- there are ruts here into which you could drive a Honda Civic.
There is talk of the government slashing taxes on diesel and applying extra taxes to gasoline under the theory that the working vehicles of Costa Rica operate on diesel (I'd guess at least 90% of the commercial vehicles use diesel). There may even be some justification to the notion that many gasoline vehicles are inefficient luxury cars, but it seems to me that it would be sensible to tax vehicles directly based on their specifications vs. taxing them based on their fuel. I don't envy the politicians trying to work this out.
The good news? Costa Rica is working hard to make biofuels a significant percentage of our national energy mix, which gives some hope.
Fair and Balanced
Lest readers think that I'm endorsing the Pope without reservation, I thought I'd include a link to the essay Losing Sight of Progress which includes a persuasive lay argument against that absurd philosophy "Intelligent Design".
In essence, the author uses the case of blind salamanders to underscore some of the shortcomings in creationist theory that should be obvious to... even a blind salamander.
Please, please, don't comment in favor of ID. I won't approve the comment anyway as I don't want to get embroiled in a debate about it here. Your chances of convincing me that evolution doesn't happen are right up there with my chances of mastering transcendent meditation while eating dinner tonight.
Don't comment about the Flying Spaghetti Monster either, I won't approve it and it'll only make me hungry.
In essence, the author uses the case of blind salamanders to underscore some of the shortcomings in creationist theory that should be obvious to... even a blind salamander.
Please, please, don't comment in favor of ID. I won't approve the comment anyway as I don't want to get embroiled in a debate about it here. Your chances of convincing me that evolution doesn't happen are right up there with my chances of mastering transcendent meditation while eating dinner tonight.
Don't comment about the Flying Spaghetti Monster either, I won't approve it and it'll only make me hungry.
Labels: news
# posted by Steve Broyles @ 7/21/2008 02:52:00 PM 
The Pope Speaks Wisely
It isn't very often that I find myself saying, "I sure do agree with what the Pope said". In fact, this is probably the first time I've had that notion.
But he recently gave a speech in which he did make a great point:
Sustainable development and environmentalism aren't topics that I usually associate with organized religions, but if Catholicism is going to push that agenda forward, I welcome the shift in ideology with open arms.
But he recently gave a speech in which he did make a great point:
The concerns for nonviolence, sustainable development, justice and peace, and care for our environment are of vital importance for humanity - Pope Benedict XVI
Sustainable development and environmentalism aren't topics that I usually associate with organized religions, but if Catholicism is going to push that agenda forward, I welcome the shift in ideology with open arms.
Labels: news, sustainability
Message from the Tourist Police
Costa Rica has an interesting police division called the Tourist Police. They are specifically trained to help tourists, speak multiple languages (at least a little bit) and they are concentrated in Costa Rica's tourist destinations, but are moved about frequently to avoid potential corruption or habituation. Being the number one tourist destination in Guanacaste (northwestern province of Costa Rica)* Tamarindo is fortunate enough to have a handful of these tourist police present. They are easy to spot- usually on bicycles, wearing yellow shirts.
*Tamarindo is occasionally called the number 1 tourist destination in Costa Rica, but that is hard to quantify. The "in Guanacaste" part is easy.
Anyway, I'm a big fan. They seem to have made a noticeable difference in our crime rate and I often see them stopping to ask distressed-looking tourists if "everything is ok?". Nice.
They sent out a flyer recently with some travel safety tips. These are pretty basic and apply to many areas, but it never hurts to remind people.
*Tamarindo is occasionally called the number 1 tourist destination in Costa Rica, but that is hard to quantify. The "in Guanacaste" part is easy.
Anyway, I'm a big fan. They seem to have made a noticeable difference in our crime rate and I often see them stopping to ask distressed-looking tourists if "everything is ok?". Nice.
They sent out a flyer recently with some travel safety tips. These are pretty basic and apply to many areas, but it never hurts to remind people.
Labels: news
Oreos and The Federal Budget
Oreos and The Federal Budget - TrueMajorityACTION
Funny little flash animation that points out some interesting aspects of the federal budget funds allocation. Created by one of the founders of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, so it must be good, right?
Funny little flash animation that points out some interesting aspects of the federal budget funds allocation. Created by one of the founders of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, so it must be good, right?Labels: news
My tax dollars at work
Usually a post regarding my tax dollars would be more than likely a complaint. Not today. I'm pleased as punch to report that our friends David and Jennifer (they whose backpack was stolen last week) obtained temporary passports at the US embassy in San Jose in just three hours. Wow. I'm amazed. Astonished. Astounded.... and just a little curious how it is that someone in a foreign country, having only a poorly faxed copy of their driver's license, can get a passport in three hours, while it took me, with all sorts of identification (including an old passport!), nearly SIX WEEKS to get a new passport in California!! Ok, see, the very thought of taxes reminded me of the horror of getting public services. And it reminds me that while living in Costa Rica is full of government-related difficulty, occasionally people here manage to get things done quickly and efficiently. Maybe even more so than back in the USA.
Politics...
Feeling a little out of touch with US politics, Steve checked out the Department of Homeland Security web page for the first time today. Other similarly themed websites can be found here and here.
There are also more than a few websites that address the political and security changes made in the USA in the last few years. Hermes-Press.com makes some comparisons between modern US politics and those found in Germany in the Thirties. These posters reference Homeland Security's role in our society. The Homeland Security Institute contains several essays on current event topics and terrorism in general.
Finally, this site contains a long list of news items in a reverse chronological order. It has numerous links to what they claim are "opinions of the Arab street" as well as links to some of the horrors that are being faced by members of the military and civilians in the Middle East.
Interesting stuff. While I'm trying pretty hard to avoid infusing this with my own opinions, I am curious to hear other's opinions, so please feel free to leave a comment. If you aren't into commenting, no worries, poke through the links above if you like, or come back later to read more about surfing, landcruisers, our dog and the rest of the regularly scheduled program.
And speaking of our regularly scheduled program: We are now taking advantage of the puppy's need to pee at 4:30a.m. every day. As dawn um... dawned... we drove our landcruiser down to the beach for an early morning session. Frequent sets of chest high waves (with some overhead sets) for over two hours with a total of seven surfers in the water made for a nice, exhausting workout. Breakfast at Gil's place (amazingly delicious burritos) didn't do much to perk us up, but it did fill us up. Eating too much after early morning exercise is just the sort of thing to make one want to sit in front of their computer and read a bunch of rhetoric online....
There are also more than a few websites that address the political and security changes made in the USA in the last few years. Hermes-Press.com makes some comparisons between modern US politics and those found in Germany in the Thirties. These posters reference Homeland Security's role in our society. The Homeland Security Institute contains several essays on current event topics and terrorism in general.
Finally, this site contains a long list of news items in a reverse chronological order. It has numerous links to what they claim are "opinions of the Arab street" as well as links to some of the horrors that are being faced by members of the military and civilians in the Middle East.
Interesting stuff. While I'm trying pretty hard to avoid infusing this with my own opinions, I am curious to hear other's opinions, so please feel free to leave a comment. If you aren't into commenting, no worries, poke through the links above if you like, or come back later to read more about surfing, landcruisers, our dog and the rest of the regularly scheduled program.
And speaking of our regularly scheduled program: We are now taking advantage of the puppy's need to pee at 4:30a.m. every day. As dawn um... dawned... we drove our landcruiser down to the beach for an early morning session. Frequent sets of chest high waves (with some overhead sets) for over two hours with a total of seven surfers in the water made for a nice, exhausting workout. Breakfast at Gil's place (amazingly delicious burritos) didn't do much to perk us up, but it did fill us up. Eating too much after early morning exercise is just the sort of thing to make one want to sit in front of their computer and read a bunch of rhetoric online....
Labels: beach, blog, food, news, surf
Swim for the Reef
We consider ourselves environmentalists. Really. We take it pretty seriously most of the time. This guy, on the other hand, is taking it really seriously. 61 years old and he's going to swim 35 miles through jellyfish infested waters to help draw awareness to the plight of the worlds reefs and oceans.
So go check out the site and spend a little time thinking of ways that you can help, even if it is just a little bit. Every little bit helps.
So go check out the site and spend a little time thinking of ways that you can help, even if it is just a little bit. Every little bit helps.
Labels: news
SpaceShipOne
About 15 minutes ago, Burt Rutan and his team launched the world's first privately funded spaceship. Amazing. This is the sort of thing that we love to hear about- all over the world there are people dreaming of going places that everyone told them they shouldn't/couldn't go...
Labels: news
Save Endangered Wild Places
Go help Save Endangered Wild Places. It only takes a few minutes to do something that might help offset all the lousy things that all of us do to the environment every day. It may not change the world, but then again, it may.
Labels: news
Archives Fixed
The archive links on the left are working now. They weren't before.
Working, that is. Not on the left. They've always been on the left.
Right down there below the picture of us and the links to our other
sites. Which also work. Just in case you were worried.
Working, that is. Not on the left. They've always been on the left.
Right down there below the picture of us and the links to our other
sites. Which also work. Just in case you were worried.
Labels: news
Rain News
Just found out that it wasn't just our imagination that May was a tad
rainy--- reports say that we had nearly twice the 'normal' amount of
rain for the month of May. Yet it only rained about one week. When all
was said and done, it appears that we had a little over an inch per day
for the week Kate was here. That's more than half the
annual precipitation for San Diego county. One of the
local golf courses reports that in one day they had nearlythree
inches of rain!
rainy--- reports say that we had nearly twice the 'normal' amount of
rain for the month of May. Yet it only rained about one week. When all
was said and done, it appears that we had a little over an inch per day
for the week Kate was here. That's more than half the
local golf courses reports that in one day they had nearly
inches
Labels: news, tamarindo, weather
Land Mines
Who Knew?
Gambian Rats are now helping rid the world of some of the 100 million land mines that are out there. Pretty nifty.
Speaking of rats, it appears that under the Bush administration the US will not sign a comprehensive ban on land mines. Costa Rica, in comparison, has "never produced, imported, stockpiled, or used antipersonnel mines" according to the International Campaign To Ban Landmines website. In fact, this article states that we've been landmine free since December of 2002. Which is nice, especially if you like having legs, which we do.
Here is another link regarding banning land mines.
Gambian Rats are now helping rid the world of some of the 100 million land mines that are out there. Pretty nifty.
Speaking of rats, it appears that under the Bush administration the US will not sign a comprehensive ban on land mines. Costa Rica, in comparison, has "never produced, imported, stockpiled, or used antipersonnel mines" according to the International Campaign To Ban Landmines website. In fact, this article states that we've been landmine free since December of 2002. Which is nice, especially if you like having legs, which we do.
Here is another link regarding banning land mines.
Labels: news
# posted by Steve Broyles @ 5/28/2004 11:42:00 AM
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