About Me Profile

3rd February 2012

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Building a Better Bulb: Lighting Revolution Advances →

Whether you are for the new light bulb regulations or against them this article has some good information about some of the new light bulbs you should be seeing soon and the projected savings in electricity from the regulations.

I have to say that while I am in general a fan of energy conservation, I have been very skeptical of the new regulations because I find CFLs to be completely unacceptable both in quality of light and cost for lifetime. It may be that some CFLs last for years, but the many ones I have tried in Australia have not lasted significantly longer than a regular lightbulb which is not a good financial deal in my opinion. I am looking forward to LED lights and would be interested in seeing some of the other efficient technologies. I have an LED reading lamp that I am very satisfied with so I have great hope that they can be developed to fill the hole left by incandescents.

Tagged: light bulbsenergy efficiencyYale Environment 360US Legislationconservation

25th November 2011

Link with 13 notes

Congress pushes back on healthier school lunches →

This is a disgrace and shows that lobbyists and special interests are who Congress is watching out for instead of the American people. Obesity is an epic problem in America with childhood obesity on the rise. It is well known that high carb, high fat meals like pizza and french fries are not healthy and are contributing to this problem, but yet Congress assures that these will continue to be staple items on school lunches. How is that in anyone’s best interest other than the producers of these food items. Sure kids love to eat foods that are bad for them, but it is adult guidance that should lead them to healthier food choices. Having healthy food readily available is the logical first step.

Tagged: US LegislationhealthobesityeducationparentingAssociated Press

3rd November 2011

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This is frighteningly prophetic and not from a Congressman I like, but I wish Congress had listened to him in 1999 when he pretty much laid out the financial crisis step by step. People can say that they didn’t see it coming, but some people did and tried to warn others.

Tagged: financial crisisUS dissentUS CongressUS Legislationvideobreak.comJohn Dingell

15th September 2011

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Memphis Rep. Steve Cohen once again goes to bat for legal marijuana →

I wouldn’t really expect this from a Tennessee representative, but I agree 100%. I don’t advocate that people should smoke marijuana, but I don’t think it is significantly more harmful that the current legal drugs of cigarettes and alcohol. The millions spent on the war on drugs have not been effective and reducing the supply or the demand and has created a HUGE black market that is not taxes and is the source of a lot of violent crime. The US incarceration rate is well above any other western country, and the concept of locking people up for possession of marijuana seems insane to me. It is time to admit what is being done is not working and come up with a different strategy. Decriminalizing marijuana would be a good start.  

Tagged: marijuanadrugsWar on drugstennesseeUS dissentUS LegislationCommercial Appeal

22nd July 2011

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The Supreme Court closes the door to justice →

Oh look! A great article that discusses all the stupid Supreme Court cases that made me angry this last session all in one place. I hope that some of these wrongs can be addressed by new federal legislation as the end of the article suggests needs to occur. I even learned about one case I hadn’t known and disagree with as well.

Tagged: supreme courtUS LegalUS Legislationla times

20th July 2011

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162: Number Of Anti-Abortion Laws Passed By The States In 2011 | →

This is depressing and perplexing. I don’t know why abortion is getting so much legislative time in so many states when there are so many more serious issues to be addressed.

Tagged: abortionUS LegislationUS dissentwomen's healthwomen's rightsThink Progress

27th April 2011

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9/11 Responders To Be Warned They Will Be Screened By FBI's Terrorism Watch List →

This is freaking insane. If the US government wants to save some money, it should quit doing FBI background checks on more and more of the population that have no reason for suspicion. I get the feeling than in a not too distant future parts of the US government want to background check everyone.

Tagged: FBI background checkFBIUS dissenthomeland securityUS Legislationhuffington post

24th April 2011

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House Votes to Bar E.P.A. From Regulating Industrial Emissions →

<grumble> The article claims that because the bill could not pass the Senate today this is a largely symbolic legislation, but I fear that just because it can’t pass today’s Senate they won’t try again after the next election. No matter what your feeling on climate change reducing C02 emissions is better for the planet which is better for us. We do need time to develop other alternatives, but industry also needs encouragement to do that development.

Tagged: US Legislationclimate changeUS dissentEPAnew york times

17th April 2011

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Meet the senator blocking Big Content's Web censorship plan →

I think Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) may be my new hero. I hope he is successful with his plan to stop internet censorship.

Tagged: US legislationinternet censorshipSenator Ron Wydenarstechnica

17th April 2011

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Idaho Rejects Rape Exception In Abortion Bill Because ‘The Hand Of The Almighty’ Was At Work →

More rather unbelievable anti abortion rhetoric. What century is this again? Shall we send out the Inquisition too?

Tagged: abortionUS legislationIdahoUS dissentThink Progress

16th April 2011

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Education Trumps Gender in Predicting Support for Abortion →

Historic Gallup Poll data on American opinion on abortions for reference in the current abortion fights.

Some additional polling data from pollingreport.com:

Abortion and Birth Control

Tagged: abortionUS dissentfeminine healthUS legislationGallup

14th April 2011

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10 States With the Most Shocking Anti-Woman Legislation →

A friend of mine said it best when she said she didn’t feel like anyone should be against abortion unless they are willing to take foster children into their homes on a permanent basis. Who is going to care for all the unwanted children that these laws will create?

Tagged: abortionfeminine healthUS legislationUS dissentwomen's rightsalternet

13th April 2011

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House votes no to Internet neutrality →

This seems not good.

Tagged: US legislationUS politicsnet neutralityinternet regulationinternet servicesCommercial Appeal

13th April 2011

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Limits sought to employers' use of credit reports →

I don’t think credit history is relevant for most jobs. Perhaps accounting and finance jobs or jobs where the employee has easy access to corporate funds, but not your average wage worker.

Tagged: employmentcredit reportUS legislationUSA Today

30th March 2011

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Ohio's "Heartbeat" Abortion Bill Moves Forward →

More anti-abortion nonsense- this time in Ohio. Has the world gone mad?

Tagged: abortionfeminine healthUS legislationUSUS dissent