Comments for Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org We're all in this together. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:18:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Think Again: Drugs by Zane Selvans http://amateurearthling.org/2012/01/24/think-again-drugs/#comment-1772 Zane Selvans Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:18:06 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3337#comment-1772 Wow, I actually didn't see the date. That's sobering. Obama (once again) nixed a top moderated question from the public after the SOTU address, related to the legalization of marijuana. The issue is still apparently not up for discussion. I suspect the mess will have to cross the border wholesale before anyone gives a crap. Either that, or states will have to openly confront the federal government with state legalization measures. Wow, I actually didn’t see the date. That’s sobering. Obama (once again) nixed a top moderated question from the public after the SOTU address, related to the legalization of marijuana. The issue is still apparently not up for discussion. I suspect the mess will have to cross the border wholesale before anyone gives a crap. Either that, or states will have to openly confront the federal government with state legalization measures.

]]> Comment on Think Again: Drugs by Bryan Keith http://amateurearthling.org/2012/01/24/think-again-drugs/#comment-1771 Bryan Keith Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:01:45 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3337#comment-1771 But that article is over four years old, and nothing has happened. Years ago I read Judge James Gray's indictment on the Ware on Drugs: http://www.amazon.com/Why-Drug-Laws-Have-Failed/dp/1566398606 and you can see from the Amazon link that there are numerous other books touting the same ideas. This "War on Drugs" has gone on since before I was born with disastrous consequences. When will it change? The violence has moved north from Colombia to Mexico, right near our border. Will it have to spill over into the US before our politicians care? But that article is over four years old, and nothing has happened. Years ago I read Judge James Gray’s indictment on the Ware on Drugs:

http://www.amazon.com/Why-Drug-Laws-Have-Failed/dp/1566398606

and you can see from the Amazon link that there are numerous other books touting the same ideas. This “War on Drugs” has gone on since before I was born with disastrous consequences. When will it change? The violence has moved north from Colombia to Mexico, right near our border. Will it have to spill over into the US before our politicians care?

]]> Comment on Boulder’s Energy Future Is Bright by Coal Finance for Climate Activists | Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org/2011/07/14/boulders-energy-future-is-bright/#comment-1752 Coal Finance for Climate Activists | Amateur Earthling Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:54:12 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3121#comment-1752 [...] producers (IPPs or “merchant” producers).  The regulated utilities on the other hand often have perverse incentives, which encourage them to spend as much as possible on up-front capital expenses, since that’s [...] [...] producers (IPPs or “merchant” producers).  The regulated utilities on the other hand often have perverse incentives, which encourage them to spend as much as possible on up-front capital expenses, since that’s [...]

]]> Comment on Straight Talk on Climate Progress in California by Hanna http://amateurearthling.org/2011/11/29/straight-talk-on-climate-progress-in-california/#comment-1672 Hanna Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:35:31 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3301#comment-1672 What I think is unfortunate is that, with exception of Al Gore, we don't have national political figures advocating either approach. Everyone in Washington has their heads in the sand as far as meaningfully addressing sustainability. I've been watching Ken Burns' WWII documentary, and it is incredible to see what Americans gladly gave up in their collective effort to win the war. But they had Roosevelt on the radio all the time, reminding them that that didn't need new shoes, that they surely had some scrap metal to donate, that kitchen grease could be saved for other uses, and that patches of lawn could be dug up to grow vegetables. For the species, climate change is every bit as big an external threat as the Axis was to the US. Somehow, no one has used that threat to generate political unity or a national sense of common purpose. We need common purpose -- some collective acknowledgment of imminent threat and necessary action -- to implement Revkin's vision or yours. What I think is unfortunate is that, with exception of Al Gore, we don’t have national political figures advocating either approach. Everyone in Washington has their heads in the sand as far as meaningfully addressing sustainability. I’ve been watching Ken Burns’ WWII documentary, and it is incredible to see what Americans gladly gave up in their collective effort to win the war. But they had Roosevelt on the radio all the time, reminding them that that didn’t need new shoes, that they surely had some scrap metal to donate, that kitchen grease could be saved for other uses, and that patches of lawn could be dug up to grow vegetables. For the species, climate change is every bit as big an external threat as the Axis was to the US. Somehow, no one has used that threat to generate political unity or a national sense of common purpose. We need common purpose — some collective acknowledgment of imminent threat and necessary action — to implement Revkin’s vision or yours.

]]> Comment on Obama Delays Keystone XL Pipeline by Coal Exports a Bigger Threat Than Tar Sands | Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org/2011/11/11/obama-delays-keystone-xl-pipeline/#comment-1574 Coal Exports a Bigger Threat Than Tar Sands | Amateur Earthling Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:44:58 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3289#comment-1574 [...] coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest will be a larger climate catastrophe than the temporarily delayed Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry Alberta tar sands bitumen to the Gulf of Mexico for refining.  A sobering [...] [...] coal export terminals in the Pacific Northwest will be a larger climate catastrophe than the temporarily delayed Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry Alberta tar sands bitumen to the Gulf of Mexico for refining.  A sobering [...]

]]> Comment on Is an Energy Transformation Afoot? by A Power Company President Ties His Future to Green Energy | Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org/2011/11/09/is-an-energy-transformation-afoot/#comment-1561 A Power Company President Ties His Future to Green Energy | Amateur Earthling Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:19:18 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3279#comment-1561 [...] vehicle batteries.  Net metering policies and pricing will be key to broad adoption.  Given the lack of forecast energy demand increase, he sees different sources of energy (esp. coal, gas, solar, wind) having to compete for market [...] [...] vehicle batteries.  Net metering policies and pricing will be key to broad adoption.  Given the lack of forecast energy demand increase, he sees different sources of energy (esp. coal, gas, solar, wind) having to compete for market [...]

]]> Comment on Boulder’s Energy Future Is Bright by Is An Energy Transformation Afoot? | The Blue Line http://amateurearthling.org/2011/07/14/boulders-energy-future-is-bright/#comment-1523 Is An Energy Transformation Afoot? | The Blue Line Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:46:26 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3121#comment-1523 [...] — seems plausible, and I hope that it’s true. Certainly it’s the one that the Boulder Light and Power effort is going to be built around. It’s comforting to see that we’re not alone on the [...] [...] — seems plausible, and I hope that it’s true. Certainly it’s the one that the Boulder Light and Power effort is going to be built around. It’s comforting to see that we’re not alone on the [...]

]]> Comment on Xcel backing away from solar-thermal enabling San Luis Valley transmission by Is An Energy Transformation Afoot? | The Blue Line http://amateurearthling.org/2011/11/01/xcel-backing-away-from-solar-thermal-enabling-san-luis-valley-transmission/#comment-1522 Is An Energy Transformation Afoot? | The Blue Line Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:34:36 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3266#comment-1522 [...] generation to its grid last year, and this lack of demand for more energy means the company is now walking away from the transmission lines that would have enabled large-scale solar-thermal with storage in the San Luis Valley. This means [...] [...] generation to its grid last year, and this lack of demand for more energy means the company is now walking away from the transmission lines that would have enabled large-scale solar-thermal with storage in the San Luis Valley. This means [...]

]]> Comment on Boulder’s Energy Future Is Bright by Is an Energy Transformation Afoot? | Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org/2011/07/14/boulders-energy-future-is-bright/#comment-1521 Is an Energy Transformation Afoot? | Amateur Earthling Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:41:57 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3121#comment-1521 [...] — seems plausible, and I hope that it’s true.  Certainly it’s the one that the Boulder Light and Power effort is going to be built around.  It’s comforting to see that we’re not alone on [...] [...] — seems plausible, and I hope that it’s true.  Certainly it’s the one that the Boulder Light and Power effort is going to be built around.  It’s comforting to see that we’re not alone on [...]

]]> Comment on Xcel backing away from solar-thermal enabling San Luis Valley transmission by Is an Energy Transformation Afoot? | Amateur Earthling http://amateurearthling.org/2011/11/01/xcel-backing-away-from-solar-thermal-enabling-san-luis-valley-transmission/#comment-1520 Is an Energy Transformation Afoot? | Amateur Earthling Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:37:08 +0000 http://amateurearthling.org/?p=3266#comment-1520 [...] generation to its grid last year, and this lack of demand for more energy means the company is now walking away from the transmission lines that would have enabled large-scale solar-thermal with storage in the San Luis Valley.  This means [...] [...] generation to its grid last year, and this lack of demand for more energy means the company is now walking away from the transmission lines that would have enabled large-scale solar-thermal with storage in the San Luis Valley.  This means [...]

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