Jan 04

Conservationists vs Photovoltaics

Rambling No Comments »

Only in California right? I have only been living in Texas for six months but I can already feel the high-brow Californian-irritation. hehe.

Seems that conservationists have slammed the door shut on solar power in the Mojave Desert:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/21/feinstein-dont-spoil-desert-solar-panels/

What ever happened to cooperation? Why not work with the power companies to ensure they install the panels in a responsible manner? I mean, heck, they’re installing solar! They are installing large-scale commercial-grade solar power plants! This seems like a no-brainer for me.

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has spent several years working on a ocean-wave power testing facility on the Northern California coast. They have worked with the Surfrider Foundation, local fishermen, divers, swimmers, and the local ocean and shore conservationists. After a lot of careful consideration and studies, they are (as far as I know) moving forward with the project.

Come on you desert conservationists! We are on the same team! The power companies want to install renewable energy power sources and you want to save some desert fauna. So work with them. Doesn’t solar accomplish this somehow? I know some desert life is in need of shelter. Add stipulations that require installing shelters and ways for the desert life to be excluded from the power plants or enter and leave them safely if necessary.

Sad days when we bicker amongst ourselves. Come on people!

Nov 02

Belize Photos

Photos, Rambling No Comments »

We will be adding photos to our trip to Belize here. Enjoy!

Oct 09

Obama Awarded Nobel Peace Prize – Awesome!

Politics, Rambling No Comments »
I’ve enjoyed reading various posts for and against the award – the pro-award and anti-award camps.

One thing this award has done is to cast in stark relief those that do not understand the moment.

We have the two extremes:
- the pro-award crowd who think it’s great but don’t really think about why.
- the anti-award crowd who think it’s a farce but fail to produce any arguments that would garner higher than a C grade in 9th grade English.

Then we have the two middle groups:
- the anti-award crowd who have valid arguments. Sometimes they still stoop to insult tossing.
- the pro-award crowd that have valid arguments. Sometimes they still stoop to glassy-eyed dreaminess.

I fall into the last category and attempt to remain steadfast (i.e. still thinking without the glassy-eyed bit). This is a fantastic development. Obama has worked hard to bring hundreds of thousands of new people into politics who before couldn’t have cared less – they didn’t vote at all. A voting populace is not necessarily and informed populace but it’s a start.

The US is one of (if not THE) most power nation in the world and we set precedents left and right. The fact that a majority our populace had stopped participating in the leadership of the country went mostly unnoticed (because they weren’t participating… lol) until the leadership began warmongering, ignoring fact, ignoring science, and ignoring world peace protests. Suddenly the populace seemed to wake up. Unfortunately, they lacked a cohesive force. Obama is that glue that allowed Americans to hold hands once more.

He uses logical arguments. He uses technology instead of fearing it. He talks to everyone. He uses Youtube instead of the radio. Talk about getting with the times! When criticized, he explains his thinking instead of cowardly reversing his opinion. It is amazing to me that we have a President with the will to do what needs to get done and the courage to back up his viewpoints with pointed arguments. It’s fantastic!

And the Peace Prize folks seem to understand this as well. Obama has gone to great lengths to encourage the US government to talk with its enemies. His use of diplomacy instead of just threatening everyone is so beyond high-school that part of me thinks the country might be starting to grow up.

Now, I would be willing to agree that it may be a little premature but – think of the encouragement it gives the Obama Presidency! It is incredibly difficult to push on against tons of people trying to pull you down. This prize is like a beam of light from on high shining on Obama and encouraging him to push onward.

May the willfully ignorant discover their close-minded ways and weep.
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