Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Protest Walmarts sick day policy
http://www.demeritwalmart.com Protest Walmarts sick day policy of giving demerits to employees that call in sick.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Book review- "Eric" by Doris Lund.
Eric by Doris Lund 267 pages. "Eric" is a mothers account of her son Eric's battle with Leukemia in the late 1960s. Leukemia is a blood disorder sometimes thought to be a type of cancer in which the body produces massive amounts of diseased, white blood cells. The diseased white cells do not fight infection like healthy white cells and the large number of the diseased cells block the production of red blood cells and platelets which are necessary for clotting. Leukemia patients often need tranfusions of healthy blood.
Eric Lund was about to enter college when he was diagnosed. Eric was quickly able to achieve his first remission through chemotherapy. "Remission" is a stabilization of the disease. Eric managed to reach remission several times, but each time, it became more difficult to bring about and harder to maintain. Eric Lund struggled bravely with Leukemia for five long years, until it took his life.The other hero of the story is Eric Lund's family who did everything they could to help him get well and be happy with the time that he had.
Eric Lund was about to enter college when he was diagnosed. Eric was quickly able to achieve his first remission through chemotherapy. "Remission" is a stabilization of the disease. Eric managed to reach remission several times, but each time, it became more difficult to bring about and harder to maintain. Eric Lund struggled bravely with Leukemia for five long years, until it took his life.The other hero of the story is Eric Lund's family who did everything they could to help him get well and be happy with the time that he had.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Invasive Species
Today, I spent the morning removing Scotch Broom from a patch of forest near my home. Scotch Broom is a small brush that is native to Western Europe and North Africa that was imported to the U.S. to beautify the sides of highways. Unfortunately, The Scotch Broom did not remain on the sides of roads and now infests large areas of the country. Scotch Broom is one of thousands of invasive plants and animals that that beeen imported intentionally or accidentally from other areas of the world or even other regions of North America. Invasive species can crowd out and even replace native species. Once an invasive species gets established in its new environment, it is often very difficult to distinguish it as an invasive species and to remove or control it.
Book Review- Pioneer Germ Fighters by Navin Sullivan
Pioneer Germ Fighters
"Pioneer Germ Fighters" by Navin Sullivan. A little more than 300 years ago, a resident of Holland-Anton van Leeuwehoek, discovered that tiny "animals", too small to be seen by the naked eye live nearly everywhere. It took many more years before humanity discovered that microscopic animals could cause disease. It has only been a little more then a century that humans have created medicines to treat infectious diseases. We all take it for granted that when we are sick and go to a doctor there will be medicine to help us, but it took an enormous amount of work on the part of many dedicated scientists to create those medicines. The antibiotic "Penicillin" has saved millions of lives, and the story of its discovery by Alexander Fleming is amazing. Most of the scientists profiled in "Pioneer Germ Fighters" are unknown to the general public and that's a shame because they are some of humanitys greatest heroes.
"Pioneer Germ Fighters" by Navin Sullivan. A little more than 300 years ago, a resident of Holland-Anton van Leeuwehoek, discovered that tiny "animals", too small to be seen by the naked eye live nearly everywhere. It took many more years before humanity discovered that microscopic animals could cause disease. It has only been a little more then a century that humans have created medicines to treat infectious diseases. We all take it for granted that when we are sick and go to a doctor there will be medicine to help us, but it took an enormous amount of work on the part of many dedicated scientists to create those medicines. The antibiotic "Penicillin" has saved millions of lives, and the story of its discovery by Alexander Fleming is amazing. Most of the scientists profiled in "Pioneer Germ Fighters" are unknown to the general public and that's a shame because they are some of humanitys greatest heroes.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Book Reviewi The Wounded Planet edited by Roger Ellwood and Virginia Kidd
THE WOUNDED PLANET [originally published as SAVING WORLDS]
"The Wounded Planet" Edited by Roger Elwood and Virginia Kidd is a collection of science fiction stories that addresses the problem of pollution and the effects of man -made pollution on the natural world.The Wounded Planet was first published in the early 1970s when pollution was much more obvious.In the 1960s and 70s, many large cities like Los Angeles had regular smog alerts, and rivers and lakes across America were badly polluted.
New federal and state regulations such as the "clean air act"and clean water act, have helped to alleviate some of these problems. Modern pollution is not as easily recognizable as a smokestack belching out black smoke. Today, we have chemicals from plastics and other materials that can cause numerous physical disorders. Thousands of wildlife species are at risk of extinction mainly because of human encroachment. And then there is climate change. My favorite story in The Wounded Planet is "Beautyland" By Gene Wolfe. Sometime in the distant future, a man owns some of the last unspoiled land left in the world.Unfortunately, the owner of the land needs money and has to sell it. Even though "Beautyland" was written several decades ago, the ending is an accurate commentary on todays youtube and reality tv obsessed culture. I recommend The Wounded Planet for science fiction fans that also care about the Earth.
"The Wounded Planet" Edited by Roger Elwood and Virginia Kidd is a collection of science fiction stories that addresses the problem of pollution and the effects of man -made pollution on the natural world.The Wounded Planet was first published in the early 1970s when pollution was much more obvious.In the 1960s and 70s, many large cities like Los Angeles had regular smog alerts, and rivers and lakes across America were badly polluted. New federal and state regulations such as the "clean air act"and clean water act, have helped to alleviate some of these problems. Modern pollution is not as easily recognizable as a smokestack belching out black smoke. Today, we have chemicals from plastics and other materials that can cause numerous physical disorders. Thousands of wildlife species are at risk of extinction mainly because of human encroachment. And then there is climate change. My favorite story in The Wounded Planet is "Beautyland" By Gene Wolfe. Sometime in the distant future, a man owns some of the last unspoiled land left in the world.Unfortunately, the owner of the land needs money and has to sell it. Even though "Beautyland" was written several decades ago, the ending is an accurate commentary on todays youtube and reality tv obsessed culture. I recommend The Wounded Planet for science fiction fans that also care about the Earth.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Book Review False Dawn by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
"False Dawn" by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro is one of my favorite science fiction novels. False Dawn is set in a future America devastated by pollution. Food is scarce and ruthless gangs and mutated monsters roam the land.Evan Montague, a former leader of one of the gangs is thrown together with a mutant woman named Thea. Together Thea and Evan try to survive as they search for a possible sanctuary called Gold Lake. False Dawn is a very exciting novel with interesting and unique characters.
Book Review
Hurricanes and Twisters
I am currently reading the non-fiction book "Hurricanes and Twisters" by Robert Irving. Hurricanes and Twisters tells the reader in easy to understand, non- technical language how hurricanes and tornadoes are formed, their "life" cycle, their impact on history and how hurricanes are named.
I am currently reading the non-fiction book "Hurricanes and Twisters" by Robert Irving. Hurricanes and Twisters tells the reader in easy to understand, non- technical language how hurricanes and tornadoes are formed, their "life" cycle, their impact on history and how hurricanes are named.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Squirrel in a dead tree
I was riding my bike one afternoon and I saw this Squirrel looking down at me, so I took his picture.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
February 23 is national spay and neuter your pet day. Every year millions of cats, dogs and other pets are euathanized mainly because of overpopulation. http://www.hsus.org
http://www.soannoying.com/ Soannoying.com is a website where you can vent whatever bugs you the most and comment on other people's posts.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Book Review Dear Dr. Bell... Your friend, Helen Keller
I recently finished reading the non-fiction book: "Dear Dr. Bell ... Your friend, Helen Keller."by Judith St. George. This book is a biography of two amazing people and their friendship. Alexander Graham Bell is known by most people as the inventor of the Telephone, but Mr. Bell's first profession was as a teacher to the deaf, and that is how he came to know Helen Keller. Helen Keller lost her hearing and sight from a disease when she was a child. Ms. Keller eventually learned to read (Braille), write ,and speak. Learning to speak for most deaf people is very difficult. Ms. Keller eventually became an international celebrity as an activist for the disabled. "Dear Dr. Bell ..." is a fascinating look at two people who literally changed the world.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Endangered Species Condoms
The Center For Biological Diversity has created "Endangered Species Condoms" to call attention to the problem of human over- population and the effect it has on wildlife. Each condom has a picture of an endangered species. http://www.EndangeredSpeciesCondoms.com
Feed the Hungry
An easy ,fun ,and educational way to feed hungry people is by answering quiz questions on the website: http://www.freerice.org/. For every correct answer to one of the quiz questions the sponsors of the website will donate 10 grains of rice to the UN world food program. The subjects of the quizzes include, Art, vocabulary, and grammar, geography, and math. The math quiz is one of my favorites. I have re-learned many of the techniques from elementary school that I had long forgotten.
Tax on financial transactions
There is a proposal from Great Britain that would place a small tax on most financial transactions and use the proceeds to fight poverty and climate change. I think it is an excellent idea. http://www.robinhoodtax.org.uk/
Monday, February 15, 2010
U.S. National debt crisis
The following article appeared in the February 15, 2010 edition of The Tacoma News Tribune. The author is Tom Raum of The Associated Press. : "It's bad enough that Greece's debt problems have rattled global financial markets. In the world's largest economic and military power, there's a far more serious debt dilemma.
For the U.S., the crushing weight of its debt threatens to overwhelm everything the federal government does, even in the short-term, best-case financial scenario- a full recovery and a return to prerecession employment levels.
The government already has made so many promises to so many expanding "mandatory" programs. Just keeping these commitments, without major changes in taxing and spending, will lead to deficits that cannot be sustained.
Take social security, Medicare and other benefits. Add in interest payments on a national debt that now exceeds $12.3 trillion. It all will gobble up 80 percent of all federal revenues by 2020, government economists project.
That doesn't leave room for much else. What's left is the entire rest of the government, including military and homeland security spending, which has been protected and nurtured by the White House and Congress, regardless of the party in power.
Moody's Investors Service recently warned that Washington's credit rating could be in jeopardy, if the nation's finances didn't improve.
Despite election-year political pressure from voters for lawmakers to restrain spending, some recent votes suggests that Congress, left to its devices, probably isn't up to the task of trimming deficits. Both the Obama administration and Democratic leaders have put job creation ahead og deficit reduction for now.
The Senate faces an important vote after it returns Feb. 22 from its Presidents Day recess on a bill intended to stimulate job growth. The legislation offers a $13 billion payroll tax credit for companies that hire unemployed workers, including an additional $1,000 tax credit for workers retained for a full year.
Proposed belt-tightening steps by President Obama, including a freeze on some nondefense, nonentitlement spending, would make only a small dent in the mountain of debt.
The budget he submitted to Congress this month proposes record spending of $3.8 trillion for 2011. Taxes in next year's budget will support only $2.5 trillion of that spending, leaving 1.3 trillion to be borrowed.
The president's budget is a best-case outlook, from the administration's vantage point.
It doesn't take into account future liabilities from the growth of entitlement benefits and is based on projected economic growth that depends on a solid recovery. It assumes Congress will pass all of Obama's initiatives, including spending cuts and tax increases previously rejected by Congress
Congress already has rejected a bi-partisan deficit commision that could have forced some painful steps on tax increases and entitlements."
My Comment: For decades, politicians in both partys have used government spending and tax cuts to maintain power. The federal deficit and the national debt are the legacy of these political decisions. There is no will to cut programs or raise taxes to help balance the budget because it will hurt a polticians chance for re-election. At the present time, with our current political system. I see very little chance for a balanced federal budget.
For the U.S., the crushing weight of its debt threatens to overwhelm everything the federal government does, even in the short-term, best-case financial scenario- a full recovery and a return to prerecession employment levels.
The government already has made so many promises to so many expanding "mandatory" programs. Just keeping these commitments, without major changes in taxing and spending, will lead to deficits that cannot be sustained.
Take social security, Medicare and other benefits. Add in interest payments on a national debt that now exceeds $12.3 trillion. It all will gobble up 80 percent of all federal revenues by 2020, government economists project.
That doesn't leave room for much else. What's left is the entire rest of the government, including military and homeland security spending, which has been protected and nurtured by the White House and Congress, regardless of the party in power.
Moody's Investors Service recently warned that Washington's credit rating could be in jeopardy, if the nation's finances didn't improve.
Despite election-year political pressure from voters for lawmakers to restrain spending, some recent votes suggests that Congress, left to its devices, probably isn't up to the task of trimming deficits. Both the Obama administration and Democratic leaders have put job creation ahead og deficit reduction for now.
The Senate faces an important vote after it returns Feb. 22 from its Presidents Day recess on a bill intended to stimulate job growth. The legislation offers a $13 billion payroll tax credit for companies that hire unemployed workers, including an additional $1,000 tax credit for workers retained for a full year.
Proposed belt-tightening steps by President Obama, including a freeze on some nondefense, nonentitlement spending, would make only a small dent in the mountain of debt.
The budget he submitted to Congress this month proposes record spending of $3.8 trillion for 2011. Taxes in next year's budget will support only $2.5 trillion of that spending, leaving 1.3 trillion to be borrowed.
The president's budget is a best-case outlook, from the administration's vantage point.
It doesn't take into account future liabilities from the growth of entitlement benefits and is based on projected economic growth that depends on a solid recovery. It assumes Congress will pass all of Obama's initiatives, including spending cuts and tax increases previously rejected by Congress
Congress already has rejected a bi-partisan deficit commision that could have forced some painful steps on tax increases and entitlements."
My Comment: For decades, politicians in both partys have used government spending and tax cuts to maintain power. The federal deficit and the national debt are the legacy of these political decisions. There is no will to cut programs or raise taxes to help balance the budget because it will hurt a polticians chance for re-election. At the present time, with our current political system. I see very little chance for a balanced federal budget.
Goodsearch Donate to charity
An easy way to give to charity is to use "Goodsearch.com" as your main search engine. Goodsearch will donate 50% of the amount of money generated by your searches to the charity of your choice. http://www.goodsearch.com/
Health insurance rate hike
http://www.moveon.org/ This is a link to a petition that requests Blue Cross health insurance company to explain why they are raising rates as much as 39% for individuals. Even though the company made record profits last year.
The Knack
Doug Fieger, lead singer of the rock group "The Knack" died on sunday of cancer. He was 57. Mr. Fieger's death brought back so many memories from my high school days in the late 1970s. The Knack and their hit "My Sharona" were huge at the time. Mr. Fiegers death makes those days seem even more distant.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Third Party
http://gp.org/ As I see it, one of the reasons that our current political system is so often in gridlock is because two political parties dominate most of the governing bodies at the state and federal levels. The United States desperately needs other political parties to be part of the governing process. My personal choice is the Green Party. The Green Party believes in stronger environmental protections, less miltary spending, healthcare for all citizens. and removing corporate influence from the governing process.
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