Terzo's GOTG

Icnoclasts & CAFE

2008-10-27T07:19:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder & recommendation to all that you must watch Iconoclasts on the Sundance Channel Thursdays @ 10PM ET/PT. This show is by far the most intelligent and inspiring on television. Its fourth season lineup includes the following pairings:

Desmond Tutu + Richard Branson
Stella McCartney + Edward Ruscha
Tony Hawk + my buddy Jon Favreau
Bill Maher + Clive Davis
Venus Williams + Wyclef Jean
Cameron Diaz + Cameron Sinclair

T Boone Pickens appeared on 60 Minutes last evening. He seems to really get the fact that fossil fuels is a dying business. At times it is hard to understand if his Pickens Plan is pure altruism or just plain greed. Whichever it turns out there is no denying his impact on educating and furthering the alternative energy discussion. I certainly wasn’t impressed to learn that he funded the 2004 swift boat campaign against John Kerry and remains adamant that it was the correct thing to do.

Interesting story in Sunday’s NY Times about the death of the SUV. Production at the plant in Wisconsin has been reduced from 1000 vehicles a day to 100 and the plant is scheduled to close on December 31st. In light of this, here are the top 10 fuel-efficient vehicles for 2009, based on EPA fuel economy data for combined city and highway driving:

Vehicle City/Hwy/Combined

1. Toyota Prius
48/45/46
2. Honda Civic Hybrid
40/45/42
3. smart fortwo
33/41/36
4. Volkswagen Jetta Sedan/Jetta SportWagen
30/41/34
5. Toyota Camry Hybrid
33/34/34
6. Nissan Altima Hybrid
35/33/34
7. MINI Cooper/Cooper Clubman
28/37/32
8. Toyota Yaris
29/36/32
9. Ford Escape Hybrid/Mercury Mariner Hybrid/Mazda Tribute Hybrid (tie)
34/31/32
10. Honda Fit
28/35/31
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agenc

HedgeFunder Says F**k You

2008-10-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

Saw mention of this letter in the Los Angeles Time last weekend. Hedgefunder Andrew Lahde, who delivered a 866% return last year betting against the mortgage markets, bid goodbye to clients and colleagues with the below farewell letter. Note the last paragraph which addresses alternative food sources and energy:

Today I write not to gloat. Given the pain that nearly everyone is experiencing, that would be entirely inappropriate. Nor am I writing to make further predictions, as most of my forecasts in previous letters have unfolded or are in the process of unfolding. Instead, I am writing to say goodbye.

Recently, on the front page of Section C of the Wall Street Journal, a hedge fund manager who was also closing up shop (a $300 million fund), was quoted as saying, "What I have learned about the hedge fund business is that I hate it." I could not agree more with that statement. I was in this game for the money. The low hanging fruit, i.e. idiots whose parents paid for prep school, Yale, and then the Harvard MBA, was there for the taking. These people who were (often) truly not worthy of the education they received (or supposedly received) rose to the top of companies such as AIG, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers and all levels of our government. All of this behavior supporting the Aristocracy, only ended up making it easier for me to find people stupid enough to take the other side of my trades. God bless America.

There are far too many people for me to sincerely thank for my success. However, I do not want to sound like a Hollywood actor accepting an award. The money was reward enough. Furthermore, the endless list those deserving thanks know who they are.

I will no longer manage money for other people or institutions. I have enough of my own wealth to manage. Some people, who think they have arrived at a reasonable estimate of my net worth, might be surprised that I would call it quits with such a small war chest. That is fine; I am content with my rewards. Moreover, I will let others try to amass nine, ten or eleven figure net worths. Meanwhile, their lives suck. Appointments back to back, booked solid for the next three months, they look forward to their two week vacation in January during which they will likely be glued to their Blackberries or other such devices. What is the point? They will all be forgotten in fifty years anyway. Steve Balmer, Steven Cohen, and Larry Ellison will all be forgotten. I do not understand the legacy thing. Nearly everyone will be forgotten. Give up on leaving your mark. Throw the Blackberry away and enjoy life.
So this is it. With all due respect, I am dropping out. Please do not expect any type of reply to emails or voicemails within normal time frames or at all. Andy Springer and his company will be handling the dissolution of the fund. And don't worry about my employees, they were always employed by Mr. Springer's company and only one (who has been well-rewarded) will lose his job.

I have no interest in any deals in which anyone would like me to participate. I truly do not have a strong opinion about any market right now, other than to say that things will continue to get worse for some time, probably years. I am content sitting on the sidelines and waiting. After all, sitting and waiting is how we made money from the subprime debacle. I now have time to repair my health, which was destroyed by the stress I layered onto myself over the past two years, as well as my entire life -- where I had to compete for spaces in universities and graduate schools, jobs and assets under management -- with those who had all the advantages (rich parents) that I did not. May meritocracy be part of a new form of government, which needs to be established.

On the issue of the U.S. Government, I would like to make a modest proposal. First, I point out the obvious flaws, whereby legislation was repeatedly brought forth to Congress over the past eight years, which would have reigned in the predatory lending practices of now mostly defunct institutions. These institutions regularly filled the coffers of both parties in return for voting down all of this legislation designed to protect the common citizen. This is an outrage, yet no one seems to know or care about it. Since Thomas Jefferson and Adam Smith passed, I would argue that there has been a dearth of worthy philosophers in this country, at least ones focused on improving government. Capitalism worked for two hundred years, but times change, and systems become corrupt. George Soros, a man of staggering wealth, has stated that he would like to be remembered as a philosopher. My suggestion is that this great man start and sponsor a forum for great minds to come together to create a new system of government that truly represents the common man's interest, while at the same time creating rewards great enough to attract the best and brightest minds to serve in government roles without having to rely on corruption to further their interests or lifestyles. This forum could be similar to the one used to create the operating system, Linux, which competes with Microsoft's near monopoly. I believe there is an answer, but for now the system is clearly broken.

Lastly, while I still have an audience, I would like to bring attention to an alternative food and energy source. You won't see it included in BP's, "Feel good. We are working on sustainable solutions," television commercials, nor is it mentioned in ADM's similar commercials. But hemp has been used for at least 5,000 years for cloth and food, as well as just about everything that is produced from petroleum products. Hemp is not marijuana and vice versa. Hemp is the male plant and it grows like a weed, hence the slang term. The original American flag was made of hemp fiber and our Constitution was printed on paper made of hemp. It was used as recently as World War II by the U.S. Government, and then promptly made illegal after the war was won. At a time when rhetoric is flying about becoming more self-sufficient in terms of energy, why is it illegal to grow this plant in this country? Ah, the female. The evil female plant -- marijuana. It gets you high, it makes you laugh, it does not produce a hangover. Unlike alcohol, it does not result in bar fights or wife beating. So, why is this innocuous plant illegal? Is it a gateway drug? No, that would be alcohol, which is so heavily advertised in this country. My only conclusion as to why it is illegal, is that Corporate America, which owns Congress, would rather sell you Paxil, Zoloft, Xanax and other additive drugs, than allow you to grow a plant in your home without some of the profits going into their coffers. This policy is ludicrous. It has surely contributed to our dependency on foreign energy sources. Our policies have other countries literally laughing at our stupidity, most notably Canada, as well as several European nations (both Eastern and Western). You would not know this by paying attention to U.S. media sources though, as they tend not to elaborate on who is laughing at the United States this week. Please people, let's stop the rhetoric and start thinking about how we can truly become self-sufficient.
With that I say good-bye and good luck.

All the best, - Andrew Lahde

California

2008-10-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

I am heading to California early in the morning for a few days of client meetings. I am attempting to travel sans laptop and with only the crackberry, so no new blog posts until mid-week. Had a really great time attending The Feast yesterday. Plenty of aspiring entrepreneurs making remarkable progress in the social-ecology space. I will share more of this with all next week. Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend.

Feast

2008-10-16T03:51:00.000-07:00

I am taking another day off from blogging to attend The Feast Conference here in NYC. The focus of this is to use creativity for social good. I am seriously looking forward to spending time with these innovators today. Synopsis and link below:

On October 16th in New York City, alldaybuffet and our closest friends are coming to dinner. "The Feast" will gather 150 of the world's leading creative mavericks, entrepreneurs, revolutionaries, radicals, and innovators together to inspire action to change the world.  Our mothers always told us "there's good in everything" so we've curated a series of inspiring, mind-expanding, and innovative talks that will showcase a look at social innovation from all angles. From design to business to science, and everything between, our speakers will share insights on the power of creativity to propel social change within and across industries. 

Anchored in innovative ideas with a focus on action, The Feast will take a cross-disciplinary look at executions, strategies and concepts - digital answers to global problems, social design solutions and successful triple-bottom line business models. And more than just watching, The Feast will connect this remarkable network through "matchmaking" networking breaks, group projects, and one legendary after-party! Our hope is to leave you high on possibilities with a new menu of connections to get it all done.

Whether you're a social entrepreneur or socially conscious at heart, The Feast will provide you with an excellent platform for inspiration, connection, and action. We hope you will support us and join us in bringing the best and brightest minds together to make the world a better place.

Pittsburgh & Hollywood

2008-10-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

Pittsburgh Highmark- I ask for forgiveness in advance as I proceed to laud a healthcare provider. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is unveiling a 22,000 square foot green roof on its facility in downtown Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh has a soiled reputation (pun intended) and a major problem with sewage overflow. Highmark’s green roof will reduce the company’s energy consumption by 12% and will absorb most of the 37 annual inches of rain instead of it ending in the local storm water system. According to John Schombert, Executive Director of 3 Rivers Wet Weather, a local non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of the region’s water quality, from May to September the areas waterways are contaminated. The roof contains over 25,000 plants in varied depths of between 6 to 18 inches. Highmark is involved in a variety of other environmental-friendly initiatives such as a Silver LEED certified Data Center in Hershey, PA, paper and utilities conservation measures and use of certified green seal cleaning products. I think it’s fascinating to see this type of project in a very unlikely place, it continues to demonstrate that every city is beginning to understand the benefits of ecology and science.

Only In LA- Fortunately for Hollywood hipsters another club is about to open. This one, Ecco, is claiming to be the first “ecco friendly ultra lounge”. Can someone please explain this term to me? It may even receive a LEED certification. Flushless toilets, free valet parking for hybrids and green energy provided by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power are just some of the features. Sounds like the perfect place to hang for all those Dodger fans that require wearing sunglasses at night ballgames.

Punch Drunk- It has been an abnormally long election cycle and the candidates are definitely getting spendy with taxpayer’s and Asia’s money. Obamessiah yesterday just couldn’t help himself and proposed an incentive of $50 billion to US automakers doubling the $25 billion already approved by Congress. I need to start a failing manufacturing or financial business quick, so I can get mine.

Mercedes Blue

2008-10-13T06:34:00.001-07:00

Clean Diesel- Mercedes Benz is making available its new BlueTec clean diesel models to dealers this week. This technology which provides 20-30 percent higher fuel economy than gasoline engines and provides up to a 600-mile driving range, will be introduced first through the company’s SUV line: the 2009 ML320, GL320 and R320. If anyone has money left after last week’s dismal market then get down to your Mercedes dealer. This BlueTec technology is being designated by the IRS as “Advance Lean Burn Technology” therefore to ease your woes buyers can apply for up to $1800 in tax credits. Unfortunately, these SUV models are still pretty large vehicles, so this is not so forward-thinking, but BlueTec does reduce nitrogen oxide, a main cause of smog, by 80 percent. The models emissions are so clean that even states like California and New York are allowing them to be sold after a decade old ban on diesel passenger autos.

Food Chain- Filmmaker Robert Kenner new film, Food, Inc. casts a disturbing eye on our nation’s food industry and the FDA and USDA’s complicit ness. In this film Kenner focuses on how only a handful of corporations control the food chain and pretty much have put profit over the consumer causing harm to consumer health, the safety of workers and the economic well being of farmers. The film just debuted last month at the Toronto Film Festival, so look for it in theatres soon.

Alice & Edibles

2008-10-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

Alice Is Wonderland- I attended a talk last evening as part of the NY Food & Wine Festival featuring chef and activist Alice Waters at the NY Times. Waters is truly a remarkable gift and has been a leader in sustainability regarding nutrition. Through her Chez Panisse Foundation which funds projects like The Edible Schoolyard and SlowFood Nation she is continuing to make a major impact on how we all view food, nutrition and ecology. Waters reiterated once again last evening that we (consumers) must have relationships with local farmers and that stewardship of the land is paramount. Additionally, budgeting for our food choices should be prioritized over other frivolous items (she pointed to basketball shoes and cell phones). In her opinion if food costs more, but we know it comes from a local organic farm source than it’s well worth the investment. Water’s work with school children through The Edible Schoolyard and its affiliate programs is groundbreaking. So many in last night’s audience were school teachers from outer boroughs of Manhattan desperately attempting to find ways to adopt this “edible education” into their own classrooms. The Edible Schoolyard consists of one-acre organic garden and kitchen classroom at the Martin Luther King Jr. public middle school in Berkeley, CA. This program has helped over 3,000 students in making lifelong, healthy food choices and each carry these very ideas back to their own homes. The act of eating locally would have a far greater impact on the environment then all the hybrids autos in the world. I urge you to visit the Chez Panisse Foundation site and read more about this vital eco-gastronomical education program. Now if I could only get a reservation to eat at Chez Panisse!

Prius Its Own Brand- There is talk that Toyota may actually set the Prius up as a stand-alone sub brand. There is no denying the success of Prius and Toyota would like to take advantage of this good brand-will to perhaps fashion this like there Scion brand. According to a new article in Reuters, Toyota’s North American sales chief, Jim Lentz, has disclosed that there is a “definite desire” to market “a series of derivatives under the Prius brand name that would allow you to market product at a much lower cost.” This lends further reports that Toyota is planning a family of Prius hybrids, including models like a wagon and a convertible. An all-new Prius is expected to debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show this January in Detroit, and a smaller, less-expensive hybrid is also rumored to be in the cards. According to Lentz, dealerships are already being constructed with a multi-zone theme, including space earmarked for the Prius, Scion, and the Toyota’s trucks. Underscoring all of this, a Toyota dealership in Conway, Arkansas was just awarded a LEED certification as part of Toyota’s efforts to make their dealers more environmentally friendly.

Pickens & Palin

2008-10-09T07:09:00.001-07:00

That One- I managed to catch portions of Senator Obama’s stump speech yesterday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. I was once again pleasantly surprised to hear Obama stress the correlation between renewables and job creation. Regarding investment in clean energy sources Obama said “I will invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create 5 million new green jobs over the next decade -- jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced . . . jobs that will help us end our dependence on oil from Middle East dictators." His campaign in the current economic crisis sees the reality in energy technology and how this will guide all of our futures.

Picken Palin- Didn’t know if anyone caught the fact that “energy expert” Sarah Palin and Boone Pickens had a sit down in Dallas last week. The very disturbing thing is now Pickens is endorsing Palin as a real deal energy expert. According to Picken’s blog posting last Friday:
Met with Sarah Palin the day after her debate with Joe Biden. She came to our Dallas offices with her husband, Todd, to talk about energy and the Pickens Plan ...
Governor Palin comes from an energy state, and I'll tell you, she gets this energy situation. We talked about it like two oil and gas professionals.
When we sat down in our conference room, we talked about the debate and then, because I knew she was short on time, we got right into the business at hand -- energy, and the danger of continuing to import 70% of our oil requirements.

We spent some time talking about ANWR -- the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We didn't agree on how much oil is up there, but I told her I was all for drilling. You know what I say about this: I'm for anything American.

Her husband Todd sat in on the meeting. You know that he's a steelworker in the oil fields during the Alaskan summers, so he understands a good bit of this, too. He was interested in the concept of filling your vehicle in your garage overnight using the same gas line that goes to your kitchen range and hot water heater.

Governor Palin wanted to understand the idea that the federal government should lead the way in moving to vehicles fueled by natural gas. We also talked about how to make the biggest impact quickly: Moving over-the-road trucks away from diesel and onto natural gas. I told her that if we had one million trucks running on natural gas, we could cut our imports of foreign diesel by 40%.

These candidates travel with a big entourage of advance people, staff, press, and Secret Service, and after nearly an hour one of them came into the conference room to tell her they needed to get going. But Gov. Palin took the time to take a group photo with Todd and me sitting in front of my staff, which was very thoughtful of her.

I don't know who is going to win this election, but I do know whichever team wins they'll know about the Pickens Plan.

 Boone

I was totally suspicious of this guy’s motives, but now with him elevating Palin and basically degrading his knowledge of dirty fossil fuels to Palin’s level, seemingly Pickens is just another horny, doddering old man.

Hybrid Taxis Bad?- Auto manufacturers are running like mad away from certifying their hybrid models as safe for commercial taxi usage. Concerns like, when buckled in passengers may sustain major injury due to the divider between front and back cabin and whether these dividers impede the side air bags from deploying properly. The NYC TLC( Taxi & Limousine Commission) continues to list models without manufacturer certification like the Prius, Camry and Highlander. Somewhat disturbing news for us eco-friendly New Yorkers.

Debate, Sunshine & Wine

2008-10-08T07:13:00.003-07:00

Debate Debate II- In my humble opinion it seems we were provided another snorefest last evening. I was happy to see Senator Obama at least show a bit of aggression. Foreign Policy, oddly, seemed to make up the largest portion of questions asked last evening. I was really happy to hear Obama rate energy as the number one priority for this country. Watching Senator McCain stammer around while discussing nuclear energy as viable, clean and safe, while not being able to explain how to dispose of it’s waste was kind of funny. McCain was quoted as “feeling safe aboard nuclear-powered naval ships”, but then trailed off in his thought as to where any of this spent fuel is to be disposed. Additionally, addressing national security, McCain would do anything to keep foreign oil channels open. Hardly seems like a strong national security position. The winner last evening was clearly Senator Obama.

Sunshine & Wine- Constellation Wines announced yesterday the world’s largest solar installation for a winery. The Gonzales, CA-based company stated the one megawatt solar system will cover 170,000 square feet of the main winery warehouse roof and produce more than 1.7 million kilowatt hours per year, which is 50% of the winery’s total energy consumption. During the summer when the winery is not crushing grapes the extra energy will power 25% of the roughly 1695 households in Gonzales. This conservation provides a reduced carbon footprint that would be similar to planting 2,500 acres of trees or taking 2,000 automobiles off the road. Some of the brands under Constellation’s portfolio include; Robert Mondavi, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Clos du Bois, Woodbridge, Simi and Estancia.

Six Debate Questions for The Candidates

2008-10-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Please Debate- As John McCain and Barack Obama each prepare for tonight’s town hall style debate format, one can only hope that some of the 100 undecided voters in the room ask questions about energy policy, clean technology and conservation. Let us hope that the discussion is actually substantive and not all sideshow politics. Below are some questions I would like to see put forth to both candidates:

1) Energy efficiency seems to receive very little attention in this race. What policies would your administrations put forth to exploit this nation’s energy-efficiency reserves and create jobs in the expanding green economy?

2) If you are so serious that nuclear energy is the way forward, could you explain both how you will finance such expensive plants and additionally how you would dispose of the corresponding waste?

3) The U.S. produces a quarter of all our pollution from automobiles and trucks. What measures would your administration take to reduce this global-warming pollution beyond current levels?

4) Where do each of you stand on reducing CO2 emissions by 20% in 2020 and 50% by 2050? How do your policies get us there or better?

5) How do each of you respond to the fact that the U.S. automobile industry was just allowed $25 billion in U.S. taxpayer subsidies, when a company like Ford already has the ability to produce a automobile that gets 65 mpg?

6) As a voter I am confused. How can you both claim to support alternative energy, but the Obama campaign claims Senator McCain, you have voted against renewable energy 23 times in your Senate career. Please correct this fact if it is indeed false.

Soprano Sings In New Jersey

2008-10-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

Jersey Clean- New Jersey regulators awarded the rights yesterday for Garden State Offshore Energy to construct a $1 billion wind farm in the southern portion of the state. New Jersey now joins both Delaware and Rhode Island each having granted rights to construct wind farms. The New Jersey Energy Master Plan has goals of 20% of the state’s energy coming from renewable sources by 2020. The plan calls for 96 wind turbines to be placed 16-20 miles offshore. These turbines are expected to produce enough electricity to power tens of thousands of homes by 2013. Can New York be far behind in approving such a project?

Bailout- It turns out the $700 billion bailout…errrr, I mean rescue legislation indeed contained the extension of tax credits for renewable energy going forward 8 years. So I suppose this is good news, that under the most ridiculous of circumstances these credits were finally passed and extended. Now the real question becomes how many Goldman Sachs bankers will become intimately involved in the dispersion of this taxpayer (I mean China's) money.

Insight, Plymouth Rock and more Drill Baby Drill

2008-10-03T06:03:00.000-07:00

Honda Insight- Honda introduced the new 5-door 2009 Insight at the Paris Auto Show yesterday. The car is expected to get fuel economy similar to the Honda Civic hybrid which gets 45 mpg highway. So it doesn’t quite enter Prius territory. Honda continues to say this will be one of the more affordable hybrids, but pricing has not been announced. The first models are expected to be on lots (I am sure they will be back-ordered) sometime in the first half of 2009.

Proud Pilgrims- Plymouth Rock Studios to be built on 240 acres in Plymouth, MA announced it was registering the entire development project with the United States Green Building Council in order to register to receive certification under LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). When completed the $422 million project is expected to be the world’s first “green” studio complex. Plymouth Rock Studios will contain 14 sound stages, a multi-purpose theatre, hotel, office buildings and educational components. Slated to open in 2010, the development is expected to contain many state of the art sustainable practices and materials such as low impact design strategy, high performance building design, renewable energy systems, alternate transportation, geo-thermal systems, day lighting capture and water reuse systems. Hollywood we found your answer and it’s 3000 miles east.

Debate- Once again hardly a great debate providing for many details. Gwen Ifill definitely was lobbing softballs and was like ghost moderator. No follow-up and she just allowed meandering and evasion. Barely touched on energy policy and alternative energy. The most detail provided was “energy expert” Governor Sarah Palin correcting Joe Biden over properly pronouncing the McCain-Palin mantra “Drill Baby Drill”. This was hardly a look forward to our nation becoming energy independent.

Jobs In The Bag

2008-10-02T06:15:00.001-07:00

Bag The Bag- Ikea, with the overwhelming support of its customers, has stopped providing plastic bags in their stores as of yesterday. Up until this announcement Ikea had been charging customers 5 cents a bag and donating the proceeds to American Forests to plant trees (728,000 to date) to restore forests. The EPA claims US consumers consume over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps each year. Big kudos to both Ikea and its customers.

Jobs for Everyone- A report released today by The US Conference of Mayors, Mayors Climate Protection Center estimates that by 2038, 4.2 million jobs will be created in the clean-green sector. Jobs will grow in segments like renewable electricity production 1.23 million jobs; alternative transportation fuels 1.5 million; engineering, research, legal and consulting 1.4 million. 85% of these jobs will be in large metropolitan areas. The reports also assumes and reports the following: by 2038, 40% of all electricity generated will come from alternative resources, residential and commercial retrofitting will cause a 35% decrease in energy consumption and 30% of gasoline and diesel demand for autos and light trucks will be satisfied by alternative fuels.

Bailout- Aside from some crazy pork being slipped into the bailout bill passed by the Senate 74-25 last evening, it also included pushing forward the tax credits for alternative energy. Still haven’t had a chance to read the details, but at least some good may still come from this bill.

Debate- Curious to see the leader of energy policy in the Republican party, Sarah Palin lay forth her plans and thoughts for the new et economy. Let’s hope she doesn’t spend 90 minutes continuing to sidestep and being vague.

McCain Lies & Pope Goes Green

2008-09-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

No Renewable Energy- As I have written in the past it seems that Congress will not pass incentives for renewable energies due to a stalemate. After yesterday’s debacle of missing leadership with the financial bailout it is no wonder something requiring long- term innovative thinking is stalled. Groups as disparate as the National Association of Home Builders, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Sierra Club have come together to urge Congress to pass and expand these clean energy incentives. Unfortunately, in this case the peril lies in the fact that these tax credits are lumped into basket full of unrelated tax incentives that overlap between business and personal. Of course, Republicans (our favorite Drill Baby Drill party) are concerned the incentives offer to much in offsets to these solar and wind companies. Now if only it were oil they would have no objections. It is imperative that these incentives for clean energy be extended and expanded asap. I ask all of you to monitor this and contact your own representatives in Congress.

McCain, Palin & Energy Flubs

In an interview with ABC Channel 6 in Columbus, Ohio, last night, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, said that "the world’s largest oil reserves are in the United States of America.”
The correct order: Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Venezuela, Russia, Libya, Nigeria, Angola, and THEN the U.S. The McCain campaign says that the candidate meant to say that the world's largest COAL reserves are in the U.S.
And that's true -- the Energy Information Administration says that the U.S. "has the world's largest known coal reserves, about 263.8 billion short tons. This is enough coal to last approximately 225 years at today's level of use. "
What's odd about this, though, is that McCain has made energy independence the domestic centerpiece of his campaign ("Drill, baby, drill!") not to mention a major reason for picking Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. (McCain said Palin “knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America.”)
And yet, even with these credentials, the McCain-Palin team has been criticized for getting some basic facts about energy wrong.
Palin told ABC News' Charlie Gibson that "a credential that I do bring to this table" deal "with the energy independence that I've been working on for these years as the governor of this state that produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy…"
McCain in a separate interview told Gibson that Palin has "been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply."
As Factcheck.org has pointed out, Alaska produces closer to 3.5 percent of the U.S. domestic energy supply.
What about oil? Maybe they meant the U.S. domestic supply of oil?
Actually, Alaskan production accounts for less than 5 percent of the crude oil and petroleum products supplied to the U.S. in 2007 -- including imports from other nations.
The only way this makes sense is if McCain and Palin meant to say that Alaska produces 14 percent (instead of 20) of the oil (not energy) produced entirely in the U.S. (not the entire supply), and that excludes all oil imports and any other form of power.
People make mistakes, but when the McCain-Palin team makes gaffes about their No. 1 domestic issue, they risk stepping on their message.

-Jake Tapper ABC News’ senior national correspondent on Politico.com

Pope Goes Green- 2700 solar panels were installed today on the Paul VI auditorium roof in Vatican City. These panels will provide enough power to light, heat or cool the 6,000 -seat hall. To Pope Benedict XVI’s credit he has been an advocate of alternative power and the unbalanced use of energy in the world. The panels valued at $1.5 million were donated by Solar World of Bonn, Germany.

Largest LEED Platinum-certified Building

2008-09-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

California Academy of Sciences Museum- The Renzo Piano designed science museum located in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, opened to the public this past weekend. This structure supposedly becomes the largest LEED Platinum certified building in the US. It houses many of its past exhibits along with an updated planetarium and sustainable dining from chefs like Charles Phan and Loretta Keller.

The structure has a living roof covered with 1.7 million native plants. Piano took great effort to design the roof to be representative of San Francisco’s rolling hills. In addition to the roofs natural habitat this design actually reduces by 10 degrees the buildings temperature. The roof’s cistern system captures 90-98 percent of the rainwater, with nearly 3.5 million gallons of rainwater being captured. I can not wait to visit this museum, read more here.

Redirect the Bailout to the Green Economy

2008-09-28T10:11:00.000-07:00

“In my experience, never before in the history of capitalism has so much money been asked from so many people, to help so few that screwed up so badly”. – Robert Reich

ET- Thomas Friedman’s column in today’s NY Times ponders what results would be reaped if a similar $1 trillion bailout was directed toward the new clean economy versus the old school broken financial segment. In redirecting this money to the green economy, we could expect it to return benefits and jobs to this economy in extraordinary numbers. Definitely a must read.

Sanyo Salem- As proof of the above Sanyo announced it has chosen Salem, Oregon to construct a solar plant. The $80 million plant will employ 200 and be online by 2010. The State of Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Program will provide credits and subsidies for 50% of the plants costs.

Green Jobs Now! A Day To Build The New Economy

2008-09-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

With a reeling economy, soaring gas prices and rising fears of a global climate crisis, more than 100,000 people rallied at events across the country to urge leaders to jump start the clean energy economy. The events, "Green Jobs Now: A Day to Build the New Economy," urged policy makers to think beyond the short-sighted distraction of drilling and, instead, create real energy solutions that build a new green economy strong enough to create millions of green jobs and lift people out of poverty.
"We can't drill and burn our way out of this economic crisis. We can -- and must -- invest and invent our way out," said Van Jones, founder and president of Green For All. "600,000 jobs have been lost this year alone. We need to free ourselves from our dependence on foreign oil, and instead invest in jobs in sustainable industries -- wind and solar, among others. Only then will we be able to fight poverty and pollution at the same time."
With over 650 events and well over 100,000 participants in all 50 states, the events represented one of the largest and most diverse days of citizen action focused on economic issues and global warming in American history.
"With over 650 communities, spanning every state in this country, rising up to say they are ready for bold solutions to the economic, energy and climate crises, it's time for our leaders to step up to the plate and tackle these challenges head on," said Gillian Caldwell campaign director of 1Sky.
"America is ready for the green jobs that a commitment to 100% clean electricity within 10 years will bring -- jobs that can't be outsourced, jobs that reassert America's commitment to opportunity, innovation, and environmental protection for all," said Alliance for Climate Protection CEO Cathy Zoi. "This is what it means to Repower America."
Rally participants from across the country were urged to sign the Green Jobs Now (www.greenjobsnow.org) petition to send the message to political leaders. The petition states:
I'm ready for green jobs now. I urge our elected officials to invest in creating millions of green jobs and a Clean Energy Corps. We can't drill and burn our way out of the current crisis. We can invest and invent our way out. We can create new pathways out of poverty and curb global warming at the same time. We will do this by retooling our factories, rebuilding our communities, and repowering America with 100% clean and renewable electricity. It's time to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.
Source: PR Newswire

Who Really Won The Debate? Ralph Nader

2008-09-27T08:16:00.001-07:00

The Not So Great Debate- Today I hope some of my friends here share their comments on last night’s debate in Oxford. Overall the entire event was a snorefest and Jim Lehrer, for whom I have enormous respect, was beyond annoying. Any one that reads this knows I am hardly a fan of John McCain, but it seems like he more than held his own and dare I say won this first debate. Mind you, I have not listened or read even one pundit or critic’s view of what occurred last night. Senator Obama just seemed so flat. Even a novice could see the many times he could have held John McCain accountable and let them slide by. McCain proved more passionate and even more specific. Believe me I am no fan of his energy thesis, “solar, wind, biofuels and other alternative energy sources, but what we really need is more offshore drilling and nuclear plants”. It feels, in contrast to Obama, that we are back in 1978 with the McCain energy plan, which is hardly alternative or clean. At least Obama last night made the strong point of what this new clean technology means to the economy. All McCain could say was that his new drilling and nuclear policy would add 700,000 new jobs. Doing precisely what-- mopping up oil spills and trying to figure out what to do with the barrels of nuclear waste? I read just yesterday that hospitals in the country cannot even figure how to dispose of their current small quantities of nuclear waste that are rapidly piling up. So, I say the spoils go to that great debate avoider McCain and Obama better draw some blood the next time the two meet. After eight years of this administration how hard can it be to tar and feather their candidate? Time to pin the tail on the donkey or as the case may be, the elephant.

Go Republicans!- Yes, again I commit treason as I applaud the House Republicans for actually finding a spine to oppose a blank check bailout to these Wall Street financial institutions. I admit they acted kind of in the 11th hour, which opened suspicions as to the timing and the introduction of John McCain as savior, but overall this group is right. Something of this size and scope cannot be slammed down our throats like many of Bush’s past crisis, without a thorough vetting and debate. John Boehner claiming he “wouldn’t be rolled” by the White House was classic. Once again, this proves that the checks and balances system still works on occasion. Call me the libertarian of the week!

Nader- I caught a brief glimpse of Ralph Nader last night on Bill Maher’s show and have to say other than his flailing delivery this guy makes excellent arguments. Including that capitalism has basically eaten itself much like Karl Marx had written. Nader made the point that “true capitalism” is only practiced by small businesses and entrepreneurs and not large corporations, which have become subsidized socialism for the rich. Additionally, he insisted both parties have become so beholden to these corporations that no one, not even Obamessiah, stand for peace and real homeland security. Additionally, he went after Obama for insisting he would go into Pakistan and accused Obama of being “insensitive” to Third World nations where he was raised. I am definitely paying closer attention to Nader’s speeches the rest of this election cycle.

RESPECT-Legendary Humanitarian Paul Newman(1925-2008)

Decline of Empire

2008-09-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

“Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of. We have trade missions back and forth. We — we do — it’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America,
where — where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border.”- Governor & Genius Sarah Palin on CBS News

The Real End of Empire?- Two wars draining the coffers and now this financial meltdown accompanied with the largest bank failure in history, Washington Mutual. The President cannot even direct & control his own party’s House Republicans. Despair is at the door as we witness the near end of Empire. The President just uttered a whole 6-7 sentences in an attempt to calm the markets, beyond surreal. Folks the time has come to roll up the carpets as we are through being the world’s dominant player. In a mere 8 years all has been squandered. The Republican mantra that government is “not the answer” has now been fully manifested. The only possible silver lining is now all attention needs to be paid on domestic policy and infrastructure; this will allow the US to suspend our dominance on sovereign nations throughout the world.

Less Baggage- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc today committed to reduce its global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33 percent per store by 2013. This is expected to eliminate more than 135 million pounds of plastic waste globally. To help reach this goal, Wal-Mart will reduce the number of bags given out by its stores, encourage the use of reusable bags and give customers the ability to continue recycling plastic shopping bags. The announcement was made at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting.
"By reducing the number of plastic bags our customers use, increasing the availability and affordability of reusable bags and providing recycling solutions, we think we can eliminate plastic waste equivalent to 9 billion plastic bags per year from our existing stores alone," said Matt Kistler, senior vice president for sustainability of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. "If we can encourage consumers to change their behavior, just one bag at a time, we believe real progress can be made toward our goal of creating zero waste."
Wal-Mart's comprehensive bag reduction strategy is being developed in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). This goal could have far-reaching environmental and economic benefits. It is estimated that roughly 60-80 percent of all marine debris is plastic. Reducing plastic shopping bag waste could also help reduce government expenditures. For example, the state of California spends approximately $25 million per year to discard plastic bags into landfills. (PR Newswire)

Peril & Hope

2008-09-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

Wall Street Scam- The financial sector bailout soap opera kicked into high gear yesterday. Some highlights: McShame taking his ball and going home after suspending his campaign…House Republicans doing in their own President’s plan…Comrade Bernanke stating we can not pay “fire sale prices” for Wall Street’s toxic junk being purchased by taxpayers, meanwhile Warren Buffet gets Grade A shares of Goldman Sachs and a 10% dividend on his investments.

Green Economy & Jobs- The United Nations Environment Programme in association with The Worldwatch Institute and Cornell University Global Labour Institute issued a report on “green” jobs in a new clean energy world. I will render my comments once I have had the time to read thoroughly, but you can read for yourself here:

The report “Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World” produced in the framework of the UNEP/ILO/IOE/ITUC Green Jobs Initiative assembles evidence - quantitative and conceptual - on existing green jobs.

The report Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World is the first comprehensive and authoritative report which provides an overview of the complexity and policy relevance of global environmental challenges —climate change— and employment.

It gathers data on employment on different sectors —renewable energy, energy efficiency in buildings, sustainable transportation, and organic agriculture— and draws conclusions and recommendations for policy makers, business and industry, workers and trade unions in the context of the transition towards a low-carbon economy, which may yield a real potential, and yet is faced with formidable challenges

The pace of green job creation is likely to accelerate in the years ahead. A global transition to a low-carbon and sustainable economy can create large numbers of green jobs across many sectors of the economy, and indeed can become an engine of development. Current green job creation is taking place in both the rich countries and in some of the major developing economies.

The report emphasizes the need for increased investment to create green jobs, facilitate the just transition from traditional to low-carbon economy, and further analyses the major shifts in employments and skills patterns

The Report makes an important contribution to the wider economic, social and environmental research communities and NGOs and others, including local authorities interested in these issues.

Green Gym- A new gym in Portland, Oregon has some of it's cardio equipment, which includes remanufactured machines hooked up to a generator so you create your own energy in powering a LCD TV, laptop and the gym's stereo. Entreprenuer Adam Boesel opened the Green Microgym last month. Additionally, the club will be installing wall-mounted solar panels and claims its best feature is being a neighborhood gym where none of its customers drive.
Source: NY Times

Clean, Green Ink

2008-09-24T06:54:00.001-07:00

Clarity- Nice story by Jad Mouawad exploring the future of hydrogen-powered vehicles in today’s NY Times. Looks as though big oil is once again hardly cooperating. The cluster concept for rolling out hydrogen fuel stations near high-density cities definitely has merit.

Green Business- The NY Times seems to have embraced clean energy technologies as it rolls out a Business of Green section and blog. There were as many as 10 stories alone today regarding the environment and new clean technologies. Included were stories on solar, electricity generated from cow manure, a possible wind farm proposal to be located 10 miles of the coast of Long Island. Reading all of these stories as a compiled work clearly makes the case for clean energy as leading our future economy.

Ebay Green- Auction giant Ebay has created a sister site, WorldofGood.com to sell goods produced with social and environmental goals in mind. Ebay is looking to create “ethical supply chains” and the prices on this site will be fixed as opposed to auction. Ebay knows good business when it sees it. The Natural Marketing Institute estimates that by 2010, the environmentally friendly goods market, will grow to $420 billion.

Portland rules

2008-09-23T06:13:00.001-07:00

Most Sustainable City- Portland, Oregon has captured the top spot for the fourth year in a row as most sustainable of the top 50 largest US cities. The rankings by Sustainlane.com take 16 factors into consideration, which the organization summarizes as “ which cities are most self sufficient, prepared for the unexpected, and taking steps toward preserving and enhancing their quality of life”. Here’s the top 10:

1. Portland
2. San Francisco
3. Seattle
4. Chicago
5. New York City
6. Boston
7. Minneapolis
8. Philadelphia
9. Oakland
10. Baltimore

I was happy to see so many East coast cities slugging it out with the West. Bottom of the list went to cities like: Mesa, Las Vegas, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis and Nashville.

Podcar City: Ithaca- Ithaca, NY is by all means a small bucolic college town (Cornell, Ithaca College, etc) so, traffic congestion should be low on its priority list, but just last week it hosted the Sustainable Transportation Conference. Sponsored by Swedish Institute for Sustainable Transportation the conference focused on something called the Podcar. The Podcar model is cool as it runs on an elevated track and for the most part you have a more private car versus the subway model. The efficiency is built into the notion that there is no idling in traffic and it provides a direct path to common points in a city. Basically, a commuter can summon the car to their stop, program in their destination and all for the cost of anywhere from 50 cents to $1.50 per trip. Ithaca is being considered as a test market in America due to the size of the Cornell College population estimated at 30,000 students, professors and staff. Additionally, it has a well-educated population and the developers are curious how well the system would work in snow. Curious idea that also includes a serious price tag, but forward thinking requires some risk.

Rocking the Casbah with Komissar Paulson

2008-09-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

Words Of The Week- Treasury Commissar Hank Paulson unleashed the term of the week “illiquid assets”. Illiquid is defined by Merriam-Webster as 1 : not being cash or readily convertible to cash 2 ; deficient in liquid assets. Another interesting term attributed to the bailout program is “clawback-provision” which ascertains that the Commissar would have the powers to force companies to recoup previous payments to executives of the companies involved in the government bailout. It is definitely proving to be a Safire week as we try to comprehend the “official speak” and word choices of this latest bailout. Commissar Paulson insisting on a “clean” bill being passed by Congress; “clean” in this context pretty much meaning no strings attached. What is beginning to happen to this 3-page bailout bill, is full on lobbying by the finance industry. Initially, it was to bailout only bad mortgage debts, but somewhere during the weekend “all financial instruments” were added. Additionally, this program was to only rescue US firms since it is funded by taxpayer dollars, but now any financial firm can be added. So American taxpayers could very well be bailing out foreign-owned firms. I ask all of you to pay close attention as Commissar Paulson continues to consolidate the means of production into the government’s hands while trying to jam through this 3-page document with no provisos for oversight of how he intends to spend nearly a trillion dollars of taxpayer’s monies.

F**k Ford & Chicago Plan

2008-09-19T08:14:00.001-07:00

No Fiesta In USA- Our fine friends at Ford have no plans to sell the 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic model here in the US. The sporty subcompact only gets an astounding 65 miles to the gallon. The model is to be sold beginning this November and will only be available in Europe and priced at USD$25,700. The problem my friends is this car runs on diesel and Americans still have a notion that diesel fuel is too dirty. Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Honda all plan to introduce diesel models in 2010, so get used to it. So while Ford refuses to the market this car in the US, they are proudly trumpeting their new Ford F-150 pickup that gets a whole….get ready for this, 21 miles a gallon in highway driving, 15 miles in city driving! Wow! Lucky American consumers! The new Ford F-150 SFE (Superior Fuel Economy), yes you read that right, will be 8% more fuel efficient than the last model. Good luck to the American consumer in trying to find a fuel-efficient auto manufactured by an American company on our soil.
Source: BusinessWeek, NY Times Additional reporting: David Wray

Windy Green City- Mayor Richard M. Daley announced yesterday an aggressive plan to reduce heat-trapping gases in Chicago. The plan would include changes in the city’s building codes to promote energy efficiency and installing huge solar panel systems on municipal buildings. The plan received guidance from the Union of Concerned Scientists. It calls for reducing emissions by 25% by the year 2020. Included in the plan were models that actually presented how Chicago’s climate could change with global warming. It concluded by the end of the century Chicago would enjoy the same climate as East Texas. Congrats to Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago for putting forth such a serious effort that we hope will be a model for other cities.
Source: NY Times

Live Earth- Al Gore announced the next Live Earth concert will be headlined by Bon Jovi and be held in Mumbai, India on December 7, 2008. I am still trying to understand these concerts, as after expenses there is little to donate to environmental groups. Seems like a mistaken notion to stage such large events, use so much energy without a clear mission.

Republicans Abandon Free Market In Droves: Principles Disappear Quicker Than Investment Banks

2008-09-18T05:31:00.000-07:00

“I fear the government has passed the point of no return, we have the irony of a free-market administration doing things that the most liberal Democratic administration would never have been doing in its wildest dreams.”- Ron Chernow, financial historian-New York Times 9/18/08

Bailout Bonanza Detroit- Seems like Mssr. Wagoner, Mulally and Nardelli have been charming the pants of members of Congress the past two days. Lawmakers seem to be swayed into agreeing to $25 billion in subsidies for automakers. Nancy Pelosi gushed: “We see this as a way to strengthen the technological base of America,” “We consider this a major investment in innovation”. Allen Mulally, the chief executive of Ford, had this to say: “It was a great day.” When asked about the perception of the bailout Mulally replied gleefully, “I would characterize it as an enabler.” Wow, he got that right. He is the enablee of the enabler. Presidential election years continue to prove just too grand.
Source: New York Times

344:1- This is the current ration of CEO pay to worker pay. Nick Kristoff’s column in today’s NY Times perfectly lays out the reason any new government regulation after this weeks mess, needs to begin with CEO compensation. This is a must read column for all us worker bees.

Respect- Phillip E. Clapp 1954-2008

Bailout Bonanza

2008-09-17T08:01:00.001-07:00

Help Us Build Stupid Vehicles- Bailout fever has hit all industries not just finance. Our good friends, Rick Wagoner of GM and Bill Ford of Ford descended on Washington yesterday to play the Taxpayers Please Subsidize Us game. Unlike, 1979 when Chrysler received a mere $1.2 billion, these guys are hoping for at least $25 billion upwards to maybe $50 billion. First off, it can be very much argued that ultimately the Chrysler bailout of 29 years ago hardly set the industry on the correct course. Now these pigs (in Wagoner’s case a $15.5 billion dollar loss in one quarter this year) come gleefully to the trough to plead how green they have become. I don’t mean to sound like a Heritage Foundation member, but these companies should receive zero subsidies. Each knowingly has a Euro division that builds small, fuel-efficient autos; these divisions remain quite profitable. They continued to sucker the American public in marketing SUV’s with bigger profit margins. To now claim that they need this money to retrofit plants and bring new green technology is a bit much, a bit too late. When the Japanese companies like Toyota have an entire seven-story building staffed with employees working solely on powertrain and battery technology, how will these clowns ever catch up. I realize just yesterday I was trumpeting the new Chevy Volt but at what cost to American consumers and taxpayers. These guys have fought higher mileage standards with every lobbyist penny available and now they demand money to produce higher mileage vehicles from taxpayers? Throw these bums out of DC and Detroit and turn car manufacturing over to the Silicon Valley. No taxpayer subsidies for old dirty fossil fuel technology losers.

Drill Baby Drill- The House yesterday approved the Democrats' sponsored bill to lift the longtime ban on offshore drilling 236-189. The Bill now goes to the Senate for deliberation, though Congress is in short session in order to be home for the elections, so one shouldn’t expect any progress. This Bill, though sad, as politics remains the cause for the offshore drilling backslide, does encompass some new alternative energy benefits. Oil companies would lose some tax benefits and utilities would be required to 15% of their electricity from renewable resources by 2020. The Grand Oil Party (GOP) is still unhappy (176 GOP congressman voted against it) that this plan didn’t go far enough in providing more dirty fossil fuels. In reality the whole thing is a political sham to get voters off Congress-peoples asses for still developing no formal cohesive energy policy.

OZONE- Scientists reported this week that the Stratospheric Ozone layer continues to show signs of depletion. Additionally, it was reported the Artic ice shelf has the second least coverage since tracking began in 1979. So, not a exceptionally good week for Planet Earth.

Holy Crap, Wall Street is burning!

2008-09-16T05:37:00.000-07:00

Electric Car- GM will reveal the new Chevy Volt this morning and with it, perhaps its own future. The Volt, which is a bit of a hybrid-electric car can travel 40 miles on only an electric charge. The Volt’s design, at least in concept form, was receiving many accolades. Unauthorized pictures of the production version however, have been very disappointing, showing a boxy typically ugly American sedan. GM claims this unauthorized photos are not the actual production version of Volt. Another concern is pricing with rumors this car will cost upwards of $40,000. Why can Honda price the new Insight hybrid at under $20,000 and American manufacturers need to price their model at twice as much? New picture of production version just posted. Have to say it actually looks kind of cool.

RGGI- The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is to launch in less than 10 days. Ten states from Maryland to Maine in the Northeast are members in this program to tackle climate change by putting limits on carbon emissions of utilities and making them pay for each ton of pollutants. 233 plants will fall under this program that in a sense rewards them financially to reduce such emissions. The shear number of states participating, ten, indicates this is most ambitious attempt at capping these emissions in the U.S. It will also create a carbon cap and trade market that will auction off carbon futures. Emissions in the Northeast have already seen somewhat of a decline, but RGGI will be am interesting experiment in trying to reward cleaner energy production.
Source: New York Times

Oh, the French- According to Le Figaro, France is considering taxing any non-recyclable throwaway plates and cutlery, in a move to encourage consumers to purchase more environmentally favorable products. Le Figaro also announced a list of other products the government was considering adding to this program including; refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, batteries and wooden furniture. Viva Le France!

Fraud Environmentalists

2008-09-12T06:32:00.001-07:00

Palinocrity Environmentalist- Once again Sarah Palin is caught editing her past. Palin in an interview with ABC News Charlie Gibson now concurs that humans have contributed to climate change. Reminded of her earlier comments such as, “A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. ... I'm not one, though, who would attribute it to being man-made." and this ditty, "I'm not an Al Gore, doom-and-gloom environmentalist blaming the changes in our climate on human activity." In the current interview she challenges Gibson to “Show me where I have ever said that there is absolute proof that nothing that man has ever conducted or engaged in has had an effect on climate change. I have not said that.” This one is turning into one slippery character. The media needs to come out of its trance like state and start researching this woman’s past statements and actions. In my opinion there is no way to paint her as anything near concerned with the environment. She should take a trip up to the North Slope of Alaska and watch as her state continues to collapse into the ocean.

Pelosi’s Gamble- Nancy Pelosi is taking a risk in scheduling a vote that in exchange for allowing offshore oil drilling 50 miles off the US coastline will be coupled with Democratic supported energy initiatives. In allowing for this initiative to come to a vote, Pelosi is seeking such things as renewable tax incentives to be paid for by repealing the federal oil industry subsidies, new alternative fuel requirements for utility companies, new natural gas programs and home and office energy efficiency measures. Democrats claim that the 50 mile barrier is better than what oil companies and Republicans want which would put oil rigs within 3 miles of the coastline. The Republicans are so far up oils ass indications are they will not support the bill due to the 50 mile ban and wanting more dirty fossil fuels explored. The Republicans continue to impede any progress on clean energy initiatives. I hope everyone keeps this in mind as the Republican ticket continues to trumpet its green friendliness.

Back In the Saddle- Honda is revamping the Insight which was the first hybrid on the road back in 1999. The new 2010 model Insight is much improved and has a Prius-like design profile. This hybrid rides on an all new platform and will be available on Earth Day, April 22nd. Pricing starts at $19,000 which seems like a lot of value. Honda plans to expand several other model lines to hybrid versions and has hopes of selling 500,000 annually by 2015.

Drill, Baby, Drill-Part 2

2008-09-11T05:29:00.000-07:00

Sex, Drugs & Oil- The timing could not be more perfect as Congress considers lifting the ban on off shore drilling and the Interior Department displays total malfeasance. Something deemed “a culture of ethical failure” has overridden the Minerals Management Service, which oversees $10 billion in collected royalties. Supposedly, there has been a total free-for-all in both the Denver office and DC with gift taking, drugs and sex. The reports portray a dysfunctional organization riddled with conflicts of interest during the entirety of the Bush administration. The reports also site “a culture of substance abuse and promiscuity”. Who knew if you wanted hedonism in the workplace that the Interior Department would beat out rock n’ roll?

In light of the above, find below letter from Albert Gore:

I need your help. Will you make a call?

  Congress will consider energy legislation this week. Of course, the oil industry is pushing its "drill, drill" slogan with all its might -- and some are hoping to use this for political advantage.   

Meanwhile, tax credits for investments in renewables have not been extended, and the growing renewables business that just made America the largest producer of wind power in the world, is on the verge of shutting down huge planned projects all over the country.

  Billions in private investment, thousands of megawatts of new, clean energy, and more than 100,000 new jobs expected for 2009 will be lost.

We face a stark choice: subsidize old, dirty energy or invest in new, clean energy. This should be easy, but the influence of the oil lobby is deep -- they've already spent more than $100 million in lobbying and advertising this year. Please call your members of Congress now and tell them to pass legislation that will Repower America. 

Washington is being diverted by all the political noise around "drill, drill" away from what really will make a difference -- building a new, clean energy future. Projects in the pipeline that will power millions of homes will be canceled, setting us back for years, if Congress doesn't do the right thing now. Congress needs to hear from all of us.  Click here to make a quick call today. 

 Thank you so much,  Al Gore 

Predicting Sea Change- A new draft report from the United States' top intelligence analyst forecasts future security threats to the U.S. and other nations from climate change, as well as declining influence of the U.S. on world affairs. The report is intended to brief the new U.S. president early next year on the security outlook for the next 15 years, and parts of the assessment may sound familiar to environmentalists and other climate watchers since the U.S. intelligence community is apparently up on its climate science. The report predicts that climate change will cause drought and food shortages and exacerbate freshwater supplies around the globe; it will also likely cause dustbowl conditions in the U.S. Southwest making the area hostile to agriculture. For developing countries, climate change "could be the straw that breaks the camel's back," leading to political and humanitarian crises and spurring mass migrations, said report author Thomas Fingar.- Washington Post & Grist.org

Matthew Timothy O’Mahoney (1962-2001)- It’s been seven years since my friend Matthew was murdered while at work at Cantor Fitzgerald located at 1 World Trade Center. On this day I even do the cornball thing and watch as his name is read at the memorial service. Matt was always the guiding light and social leader. When I was being a recluse up in the country Matt would bring the city to the small town of Hudson. Nights out on the town, dinner parties with the locals, Matt was like the mayor. We were not friends for many years, but it felt like forever and his memory will always remain with me.

Drill, Baby, Drill! Pleasuredome St.Paul

2008-09-05T05:29:00.001-07:00

Shock and Awe or Shuck and Jive and the Kitchen Sunk- Wow, what a spectacle the Pleasuredome in St. Paul turned out to be. Rudy Giuliani leading the audience in mantras of “drill, baby, drill” while speaking afloat on imagery of the Hudson River? Rudy walking on water? Convention organizers should have just superimposed oil derricks onto the image of the Hudson with NYC in the background, as this was their stated energy goal all evening. Governor Palinocrity in her speech continued to keep all things energy in the fossil fuel category, “offshore drilling, nuclear (well this is one clean idea, with lots of waste), clean-coal” (really?) only as a small footnote is wind & solar mentioned. Think about it, this convention did nothing to really address new clean technologies as being the future. Additionally, Palinocrity even made the bold statement that when the McShame ticket arrives in Washington (hasn’t one of them lived there for 30 years?) they would pass an energy policy for the future. If this is the case, then why was the Senator at the top of the ticket absent from 8 votes on the investment tax credit extension for clean energy investments? Think about it, have you ever witnessed a more shameless attempt of saying one thing and doing another. At times I am naïve, as one must realize shameless is the key adjective that defines one a politician.

New York Wind- In New York State, the Public Service Commission granted permission, in a unanimous vote to allow Spanish energy company Iberdrola, S.A. to acquire Energy East which has operations in 5 states. Iberdrola claims to want to invest as much as $2 billion in wind turbines across upstate New York. Some of the commissions own regulators were opposed due to putting too much energy production in one company’s hands. But the commission still voted for the merger based on Iberdrola obeying strict rules that would mitigate any potential price manipulation. This plan would double New York’s wind power output to 2000 megawatts in a few years time.

Peter Gabriel-Humanitarian

2008-09-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

Peter Gabriel, Humanitarian- Twenty Years ago today the Human Rights Now!Tour played its first gig with Peter Gabriel leading the charge along with Bruce Springsteen and Sting. So it's quite fitting today that Art for Amnesty announced that Peter Gabriel is the recipient of the Amnesty International ‘Ambassador of Conscience Award’ 2008. The presentation to Peter Gabriel will take place during a ceremony at the Hard Rock Cafe in London, on September 10th, 2008.

Peter Gabriel is a long time campaigner for human rights around the world, having first worked with Amnesty during the Conspiracy of Hope Tour in 1986 and then on the ground breaking Human Rights Now! Tour in 1988. Gabriel went on to found Witness, a video community campaigning for Human Rights and more recently The Elders a private alliance of senior global figures to launch diplomatic assaults on the globe's most intractable problems.

"Peter has been at the vanguard of the struggle for human rights and justice around the world for nearly a quarter of a century" said Bill Shipsey of Art for Amnesty, “all of his wonderful work, not just with Amnesty, could justify his selection as an 'Ambassador of Conscience”.

The Ambassador of Conscience Award, now in its sixth year, recognizes exceptional individual leadership and witness in the fight to protect and promote human rights. The award, inspired by a poem written for Amnesty International by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, aims to promote the work of Amnesty International by association with the life, work and example of its 'Ambassadors' who have done so much to inspire and uplift. Former recipients include: Nelson Mandela, U2, Mary Robinson and Vaclav Havel.

The Ambassador of Conscience Award will be presented to Peter Gabriel by The Edge (guitarist with U2). A previous recipient of the award, The Edge (along with band mate Bono) has been credited by Peter Gabriel with recruiting him to Amnesty International.

The event will also mark the launch of Amnesty International's global Small Places Tour 2008 the organization’s most ambitious global music and human rights project since the Human Rights Now!
Tour in 1988. Details of the tour and the artists participating will be announced following the award presentation to Peter Gabriel.

Green Vote- Thomas Friedman’s column in today’s New York Times makes the case that voters, especially first time college students, have only one choice in this election. He basically points out that at this juncture and with all the science you would think both candidates would embrace the green movement and issues. As it turns out this is disappointingly not the reality of the upcoming election. In my mind, this is the issue of our time and I ask all of you to seriously examine the candidate’s positions on clean technologies and innovations.

Green Tennis Balls

2008-09-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

US Open – Attended the US Open yesterday and was able to view first hand more of what hasn’t been done, then done in the tournament’s attempt to “green” practices. The only real green here seemed to be the tennis balls. First off, there were more plastic beverage bottles available than a Coca Cola plant. Evian, which turns out is a tournament sponsor, did strategically locate a couple dozen recycle bins throughout the grounds. Additionally, all food items served seemed to be in plastic and more plastic that all went straight into trash bins. One piece of good news I did experience, was the fight over one squeezable bottle of mustard that the waitress in one food court kept needing for other tables (guess this is better than tons of plastic mustard containers or whatever those packets are made from). Lexus is another official sponsor of the tournament and their contribution to touting their hybrid vehicles was to pass out thousands of plastic hand fans with the Lexus logo. These pieces of crap had to end up scattered everywhere in the facility by the end of the day as no one would cart these home. I think the best thing the US Open could provide in the future is shade. The grounds have way too much exposed surface (Yes, I realize it’s a tennis center) and the common spaces and food court could use a serious planting of trees. I suggest the USTA contact Mayor Bloomberg’s office which should be able to direct them to trees. It’s like a vicious cycle at this facility as the lack of any shade or coverage feeds into the need for drinks coming in plastic vessels. So I guess overall, I was hardly impressed. I appreciate the fact the USTA bought some wind offsets, but it seems they could do a hell of a lot more in their immediate zone of influence.

Kids & Tennis- When Flavia Pennetta, who is ranked 19th in women’s tennis, continually needed to glare at the stands in Louis Armstrong Stadium in annoyance to the crying, screaming babies throughout her match yesterday, then something should be done about this. I am convinced some important game serves were blown due to this issue. What parent in his/her right mind would bring mere infants to a game like tennis, where silent spectators are the norm? Additionally, it was 85 degrees with zero shelter I was bummed by that, let alone a 12 month old kid. Parents please use common sense and enjoy a day out as a couple and leave the kids behind.

Green Campuses: According to Princeton Review’s green rating in ranking of the best colleges the below colleges scored 99 out of 100, base on how “environmental friendly, responsible and committed the universities are”:

Arizona State University, Tempe (Really? In a desert?)
Bates College
Binghamton University
College of the Atlantic
Emory University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Harvard University
University of New Hampshire
University of Oregon
University of Washington
Yale University

London, Alice & Tennis

2008-09-01T05:30:00.001-07:00

Green Boris- London Mayor Boris Johnson unveiled a plan last week to help deal with the challenge of climate change in his city. It’s estimated that 15% of London is susceptible to flooding due to global warming. At stake is the protection of $293 billion in assets in London proper and all along the Thames. The goal is to cut carbon emissions by 60% by 2025. Included in the plan is urban planning to incorporate more planting of trees and attempts at urban design for a city thats temperatures are increasing. Additionally, improvements on London’s ancient drainage system and compulsory water metering are part of the plan. It’s encouraging that local governments continue to lead the way in preparation and actions in dealing with this crisis.

Alice Rules- The ever great Alice Waters has formed an organization called FoodDeclaration.org. They are calling for a radical approach in food and agriculture. Below find the main principles:

We believe that the following twelve principles should frame food and agriculture policy, to ensure that it will contribute to the health and wealth of the nation and the world. A healthy food and agriculture policy:
1) Forms the foundation of secure and prosperous societies, healthy communities, and healthy people.
2) Provides access to affordable, nutritious food to everyone.
3) Prevents the exploitation of farmers, workers, and natural resources; the domination of genomes and markets; and the cruel treatment of animals, by any nation, corporation or individual.
4) Upholds the dignity, safety, and quality of life for all who work to feed us.
5) Commits resources to teach children the skills and knowledge essential to food production, preparation, nutrition, and enjoyment.
6) Protects the finite resources of productive soils, fresh water, and biological diversity.
7) Strives to remove fossil fuel from every link in the food chain and replace it with renewable resources and energy.
8) Originates from a biological rather than an industrial framework.
9) Fosters diversity in all its relevant forms: diversity of domestic and wild species; diversity of foods, flavors and traditions; diversity of ownership.
10) Requires a national dialog concerning technologies used in production, and allows regions to adopt their own respective guidelines on such matters.
11) Enforces transparency so that citizens know how their food is produced, where it comes from, and what it contains.
12) Promotes economic structures and supports programs to nurture the development of just and sustainable regional farm and food networks.

US Open- I am fortunate enough to be attending some sessions of the US Open Tennis Tournament today in Flushing, Queens. I am looking forward to personally observing the efforts of the USTA and the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in lowering their carbon footprint. Some of these efforts include: increased recycling, environmentally-sustainable product sourcing, green outreach to fans and purchasing carbon offset wind credits. Also, the more tennis-orientated efforts include recycling tennis ball cans and donating used tennis balls to youth tennis programs. I will be considerably disappointed if all I see is plastic water bottles everywhere though. Having player transport provided by Lexus with a fleet only 20% hybrid is a huge disappointment too. I will be taking mass transit of course.

Pleasuredome 2-St.Paul

2008-08-31T07:57:00.000-07:00

Pleasuredome 2- St.Paul- Looks as though Gustav is going to make more of a direct hit on the GOP convention than New Orleans. Now, President Bush is using it as a convenient excuse not to attend this convention. Oh, the irony of having a hurricane saving him from further damaging the GOP ticket, when Hurricane Katrina destroyed his political standing.

Palinocrity- “I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major party ticket in modern history,” said presidential historian Matthew Dallek. Sarah Palin seems to have been foisted on McShame by the extreme right in his party. Certainly, the McShame campaign will continue to spin this choice as her being a reformer and outsider. What is shocking is they dare say Obama is less qualified than Palin. Governor Palin’s own mother has been quoted saying “ I am not really sure what she brings to the ticket other than being a woman and a conservative” and Mother Heath is also undecided for which ticket she will vote.

Energy Tax Credits- Once again the temporary tax credits for renewable energies expires on December 31st. The Republican Congress has let these expire 3 times already in the past 7 years so this would be the fourth. There is no way new clean energy technologies will ever get footing if the risk of investment is constantly being toyed with by Congress. Meanwhile, windfall profits taxes on the dirty fossil-fuel industry remain off the table as a possible way to fund these investment tax credits. The Republicans in the Senate remain the obstacle to these tax credits being renewed. These credits ultimately should be made permanent so confidence is again regained by investors and innovation can continue without all these fits and starts. I ask all of you to write to your congressional reps and insist these credits not only get temporarily renewed, but made permanent.

Palinocrity and Pdiddy Ignorance

2008-08-30T07:35:00.000-07:00

McCain’s Palinocrity- I have to give to old McShame. Looks like he is taking his plays directly from the Bush-Cheney governance manual. Who would choose a VP based on one phone call? This choice fits into McShame’s destructive nature in choosing Palin, a governor who governs a state smaller than 16 American cities and 47 of US States. So when we are spoon fed this notion of her executive experience do not buy it. Alaska is the cesspool of pork barrel, graft Republican politics. It will yet be proven, if indeed Palinocrity is a real reformer. For many years I fantasized what would happen if a Presidential candidate chose a regular citizen as VP, well now I get to watch it play out for real.

Schweitzer Rules- Now to another small state governor, Brian Schweitzer of Montana. Schweitzer came out the clear up and comer from the Demo Convention. He fired up the crowd tying energy development to national security. Back home in Montana, his policies have drastically increased the health insurance coverage for kids. He is a leader on alternative clean energy and someone we should all keep an eye on.

Go, Utes- The state where I graduated high school, Utah (Uh no, I am not a Mormon) has developed the use of natural gas cars faster than any other state. At 87 cents a gallon who could resist? Add in the state tax exemption for alternative fuel vehicles and it’s a total win-win. I know from having lived in the Kingdom of God on Earth for 4 long years how the word of mouth works there. At least in this case it’s propelling along conservation and clean energy.

P Diddy Idiot, Flies Commerical- You have to view this video on YouTube of Sean Combs complaining because he can no longer afford to fly private coast to coast due to gas prices. It is beyond lame and he certainly makes an unintelligent and uninformed plea for lower prices. The irony for me is the one time I met Diddy was in first class on an American flight to LA. To someone that much is given apparently shameless ignorance is expected.

Facebook the Movie- Believe it or not, coming to a theater near you, Facebook The Movie. Columbia Pictures has optioned the story which has Aaron Sorkin attached to write the screenplay and is being produced by heavyweight producer Scott Rudin. What’s unusual is it will be a silent film with people just approving each other as friends and having no real interaction. This film should do wonders in sharing the inspiring story of isolation and continued false connectivity wrought on society by Facebook.

Oh, Sweet Crude

2008-08-29T10:40:00.000-07:00

McCain announces his VP pick today in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Props to the old guy on a bold choice. However, his senility would be showing if the McCain campaign really believes this choice will attract Hillary's Pumas. It does add the much needed youth and outsider tag. I also give Governor Palin thumbs up for at least claiming to oppose and destroy the chances of Senator Ted Stevens $400 million 'bridge to nowhere', though Stevens endorsed her for governor in the end. I also suppose McCain expects the keys to ANWR and opening up more oil drilling can be located somewhere in the Governor's purse. Who would of thought at the beginning of this campaign that the 49th and 50th states would play such a huge role (personally I am distrustful of both as they are not part of the contiguous 48 states). Looks like 2008 is certainly the year of the blue collar worker as both campaigns try to stress both VP candidates blue collar cred.

Pleasuredome Denver, GM & Biomass

2008-08-29T08:12:00.001-07:00

Pleasuredome 1 Ends- Well, I am always happy taking the contrarian’s point of view, but I have to admit the Dems seemed to have sold it in the last 48 hours of their convention (I even got the pyro I was predicting, but no Eddie monster). In my humble opinion it seems they presented the notion that we are all worst off after the last eight years very convincingly. I was definitely a naysayer on the idea of the stadium event, but even this went off without a hitch and demonstrated McShame has got a mighty mountain to climb. As Pleauredome-Part 2, St Paul, opens on Monday just in time for Hurricane Gustav to make land on the Gulf Coast. It’s funny how nature has a way of things coming full circle.

Microsoft trickery- Supposedly it is heavily rumored the new beta version of Microsoft Explorer has some kind of privacy setting for users. Advertisers are all in a huff that this privacy button will keep advertising from reaching the browser. Also known as the “porn button”, its supposed main function is to block “over the shoulder viewers” and will not leave a trail of past sites visited or leave cookies on your computer. With the continued like a privacy of viewing thanks to the Googlization of the web this could prove a terrific feature.

GM Whines- It seems the US auto industry is pushing for $50 billion in loan guarantees from the US Government. Led by GM vice-chairman Robert Lutz bemoans there is no other possible way they could retool their plants to manufacture the low mileage cars consumers are craving. What a load of bs. These same guys that show up in Washington every time there is an attempt to increase mileage standards, in order to beat down any upward change. This is such a joke and I hope US taxpayers will not fall for it. In the same breath these GM guys are trumpeting the improvement in large SUV/pickup sales in the last month. Who do they think they are conning? Even the efficient Toyota misread the consumer market in the US and it dove head first into the large pickup truck market. Now Toyota’s sales are painfully anemic based on their disastrous decision. US automakers need to reap what they have sown. No bailouts!

Biomass- Seems the expansion of Biomass plants that are powered by straw, woodchips and wood remnants is taking hold. Supposedly, there is a plant being designed in Austin, Texas that is large enough to power 75,000 homes. It is believed there is a total of 100 biomass plants already feeding into the nations power grid. Not ultimately the cleanest technology, but much better than dirty coal.

Al Gore's Speech to the 2008 Democratic Convention

2008-08-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest gifts of our democracy is the opportunity it offers us every four years to change course. It's not a guarantee; it's only an opportunity. The question facing us is, simply put, will we seize this opportunity for change? That's why I came here tonight: to tell you why I feel so strongly that we must seize this opportunity to elect Barack Obama President of the United States.

Eight years ago, some said there was not much difference between the nominees of the two major parties and it didn't really matter who became president. Our nation was enjoying peace and prosperity. Some assumed we would continue both, no matter the outcome. But here we all are in 2008, and I doubt anyone would argue now that election didn't matter.

Take it from me, if it had ended differently, we would not be bogged down in Iraq, we would have pursued bin Laden until we captured him. We would not be facing a self-inflicted economic crisis; we would be fighting for middle-income families. We would not be showing contempt for the Constitution; we'd be protecting the rights of every American regardless of race, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation. And we would not be denying the climate crisis; we'd be solving it.

Today, we face essentially the same choice we faced in 2000, though it may be even more obvious now, because John McCain, a man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them. The same policies all over again?

Hey, I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous. With John McCain's support, President Bush and Vice President Cheney have led our nation into one calamity after another because of their indifference to fact; their readiness to sacrifice the long term to the short term, subordinate the general good to the benefit of the few and short-circuit the rule of law.

If you like the Bush-Cheney approach, John McCain's your man. If you want change, then vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Barack Obama is telling us exactly what he will do: launch a bold new economic plan to restore America's greatness; fight for smarter government that trusts the market, but protects us against its excesses; enact policies that are pro-choice, pro-education and pro-family, establish a foreign policy that is smart as well as strong; provide health care for all and solutions for the climate crisis.

So why is this election so close? Well, I know something about close elections, so let me offer you my opinion. I believe this election is close today mainly because the forces of the status quo are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama represents.

There is no better example than the climate crisis. As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization. Every bit of that has to change. Oil company profits have soared to record levels, gasoline prices have gone through the roof and we are more dependent than ever on dirty and dangerous fossil fuels.

Many scientists predict that the entire north polar ice cap may be completely gone during summer months in the first term of the next president. Sea levels are rising, fires are raging, storms are stronger. Military experts warn us our national security is threatened by massive waves of climate refugees destabilizing countries around the world, and scientists tell us the very web of life is endangered by unprecedented extinctions.

We are facing a planetary emergency which, if not solved, would exceed anything we've ever experienced in the history of humankind. In spite of John McCain's past record of open mindedness on the climate crisis, he has apparently now allowed his party to browbeat him into abandoning his support of mandatory caps on global warming pollution.

And it just so happens that the climate crisis is intertwined with the other two great challenges facing our nation: reviving our economy and strengthening our national security. The solutions to all three require us to end our dependence on carbon-based fuels.

Instead of letting lobbyists and polluters control our destiny, we need to invest in American innovation. Almost a hundred years ago, Thomas Edison said, "I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." We already have everything we need to use the sun, the wind, geothermal power, conservation and efficiency to solve the climate crisis--everything, that is, except a president who inspires us to believe, "Yes we can."

So how did this no-brainer become a brain-twister? Because the carbon fuels industry--big oil and coal--have a 50-year lease on the Republican Party and they are drilling it for everything it's worth. And this same industry has spent a half a billion dollars this year alone trying to convince the public they are actually solving the problem, when they are in fact making it worse every single day.

This administration and the special interests who control it lock, stock and barrel after barrel, have performed this same sleight-of-hand on issue after issue. Some of the best marketers have the worst products; and this is certainly true of today's Republican Party. The party itself has on its rolls men and women of great quality. But the last eight years demonstrate that the special interests who have come to control the Republican Party are so powerful that serving them and serving the national well-being are now irreconcilable choices.

So what can we do about it? We can carry Barack Obama's message of hope and change to every family in America. And pledge that we will be there for Barack Obama--not only in the heat of this election, but in the aftermath as we put his agenda to work for our country.

We can tell Republicans and Independents, as well as Democrats, why our nation needs a change from the approach of Bush, Cheney and McCain. After they wrecked our economy, it is time for a change. After they abandoned the search for the terrorists who attacked us and redeployed the troops to invade a nation that did not attack us, it's time for a change. After they abandoned the American principle first laid down by General George Washington, when he prohibited the torture of captives because it would bring, in his words, "shame, disgrace and ruin" to our nation, it's time for a change.

When as many as three Supreme Court justices could be appointed in the first term of the next president, and John McCain promises to appoint more Scalias and Thomases and end a woman's right to choose, it's time for a change.

Many people have been waiting for some sign that our country is ready for such change. How will we know when it's beginning to take hold? I think we might recognize it as a sign of such change, if we saw millions of young people getting involved for the first time in the political process. This election is actually not close at all among younger voters - you are responding in unprecedented numbers to Barack Obama's message of change and hope.

You recognize that he represents a clean break from the politics of partisanship and bitter division. You understand that the politics of the past are exhausted, and you're tired of appeals based on fear. You know that America is capable of better than what you have seen in recent years. You are hungry for a new politics based on bipartisan respect for the ageless principles embodied in the United States Constitution.

There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon awakening to the challenge of a present danger, shaking off complacency to rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of embracing change.

A century and a half ago, when America faced our greatest trial, the end of one era gave way to the birth of another. The candidate who emerged victorious in that election is now regarded by most historians as our greatest president. Before he entered the White House, Abraham Lincoln's experience in elective office consisted of eight years in his state legislature in Springfield, Illinois, and one term in Congress - during which he showed the courage and wisdom to oppose the invasion of another country that was popular when it started but later condemned by history.

The experience Lincoln's supporters valued most in that race was his powerful ability to inspire hope in the future at a time of impasse. He was known chiefly as a clear thinker and a great orator, with a passion for justice and a determination to heal the deep divisions of our land. He insisted on reaching past partisan and regional divides to exalt our common humanity. In 2008, once again, we find ourselves at the end of an era with a mandate from history to launch another new beginning. And once again, we have a candidate whose experience perfectly matches an extraordinary moment of transition.

Barack Obama had the experience and wisdom to oppose a popular war based on faulty premises. His leadership experience has given him a unique capacity to inspire hope, in the promise of the American dream of a boundless future. His experience has also given him genuine respect for different views and humility, in the face of complex realities that cannot be squeezed into the narrow compartments of ideology. His experience has taught him something that career politicians often overlook: that inconvenient truths must be acknowledged if we are to have wise governance.

The extraordinary strength of his personal character - and that of his wonderful wife, Michelle - is grounded in the strengths of the American community. His vision and his voice represent the best of America. His life experience embodies the essence of our motto - e pluribus unum - out of many, one. That is the linking identity at the other end of all the hyphens that pervade our modern political culture. It is that common American identity - which Barack Obama exemplifies, heart and soul - that enables us as Americans to speak with moral authority to all of the peoples of the world, to inspire hope that we as human beings can transcend our limitations and to redeem the promise of human freedom.

Late this evening, our convention will end with a benediction. As we bow in reverence, remember the words of the old proverb: "when you pray, move your feet." Then let us leave here tonight and take the message of hope from Denver to every corner of our land, and do everything we can to serve our nation, our world--and most importantly, our children and their future--by electing Barack Obama President of the United States.

The Diaphragm or Acropolis

2008-08-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

I just got a glimpse of the stage set for the Obama rally at Invesco Stadium in Denver. Holy Shit! Did Iron Maiden have a clearance sale of past concert stages? Is Eddie going to pop up from behind everytime Obama mentions the name McCain? Will there be pyrotechnics? This is beginning to resemble a Spinal Tap moment. Bad enough that Invesco is also known as the Diaphragm. I can only hope Obama's speech is stellar because this stage set makes the one the Dems have at Pepsi Arena look classy.

Reflection

2008-08-28T09:42:00.001-07:00

45 years ago, I was merely six months old when Dr. King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington. Today in the span of only half a lifetime I shall bare witness to the nomination acceptance speech of the first African-American major party nominee for President of the United States. I don’t want to get overly sappy or emotional here, but I am already choked up as I write this. I own that I have been a bit hard on Barack Obama, but I know he has such potential in redirecting this country, if he doesn’t allow himself to become caught up in this cult of personality thing. I am in incredible awe of being able to watch this transpire in a relatively short, if overdue period of time. Barack, unlike past presidential candidates, shoulders the entire burden of civil rights history and descends the direct path from Africa. Obama is not a son of privilege or nepotism; and only through his hard work as a student and by using his unique gifts was he able to launch himself into elite institutions. At these universities he eventually came into contact with this nations privileged sons and daughters. An outsider attending an insiders game. He had no powerful family connections (unless you consider his Father having studied at Harvard for a brief time) and his ascension has thus been self-generated. So, today on the 45th anniversary of Dr.King’s historic speech I hope that this finds all of you reflective, grateful and celebrating this incredible moment.

Still No Energy Policy- The Denver Pleasuredome, at least the televised version, hasn’t demonstrated or devoted any real noticeable time to energy policy and cleaner technologies. Mark Warner speaking of cell phones isn’t exactly forward thinking technology-speak. Biden and WJC rehashed a lot of old Demo policies and issues. I found their speeches dated and old school. Both could have been told to steer clear of the topic, in anticipation of tonight’s address by Al Gore. My hopes are that Gore’s speech will become the highlight of the convention. Certainly, Gore will at the very least make the case for a cohesive energy policy and future green technologies. Trust me, Viva Gore!

Green Roofs- Congratulations to New York Governor David Paterson who approved tax abatements for developers and builders that install green roofs. These roofs are constructed of vegetation and rocks that absorb rainwater; they can therefore insulate buildings and extend the lives of roofs. Additionally, the since rainwater is absorbed it limits the amount of runoff that would eventually drain into the Hudson or East Rivers. A roof’s longevity can be easily doubled using this technique. Click here to read more regarding this incentive in the NY Times.

Cali Oil Rigs- It’s been nice to hear such a prominent California citizen as Nancy Pelosi back-peddle on offshore oil drilling. Since Pelosi has this newfound enthusiasm I suggest the California coastline becomes dotted with oil derricks. Maybe San Francisco Bay is the perfect spot to test a pilot program. It seems the good commissioners in Santa Barbara County also voted this week 3-2 to encourage lifting the ban on offshore drilling on their coastline. As usual the short term, quick fix solution is always the path elected officials chose to take. I hope all my friends in California enjoy returning to being nothing but a huge oil refinery as in the days of Standard Oil.

Denver & the Grid

2008-08-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

Denver Pleasuredome,Day 2- I am already beyond bored with the Demo Convention. So expect a lot less writing. This Convention can be summarized in one word, lame. The whole thing lacks any energy. What a bomb! Mark Warner may want to shelve his national ambitions a bit longer. Did he think he was speaking to the Young Entrepreneurs Club? The talking heads did an immediate hatchet job on Warner. The only thing even remotely interesting last evening was, no not HRC, but Chris Mathews going totally ballistic on Keith Olberman. Seems Mathews is a little tired of Olberman the Great and the ascension of can do no wrong, her greatness Rachel Maddow. Chris Matthews was trying to emphasis a theory of sorts when Olberman chimed in that Maddow was the first to introduce the theory. At that point Matthews lost it and went after Olberman and refused to break and let the next guest speak until he had spoke his mind. Now this feud may be the only interesting thing in primetime. I have to thank the MLB for scheduling the Red Sox into my city to play the Yankees at least I will be entertained the next couple nights.

Wind And No Grid- I have been writing a lot the past few weeks about the positive future for wind power. Now surprisingly, there is a snag. It seems the power grid in this country, which was planned and developed about 100 years ago, does not have the capacity to transmit the power throughout the country. There is now a movement for a ‘super highway grid’ to be built to facilitate this capacity issue. Of course, this requires Congressional action, which is most unlikely. Why should we build any infrastructure in this nation while we can continue to rebuild countries like Iran and Afghanistan? Check out the story in today’s NY Times.

Speaking of infrastructure, Thomas Friedman’s column in today’s NY Times is a must read. Friedman discusses the difference when a nation like China can direct all its national resources toward building out infrastructure in 7 years leading up to the Olympics. Meanwhile, he points out that America squandered these years only investing in more bombs, armored humvees and unmanned drones. Friedman totally hits a home run and suggests if Obamessiah wants to win this election he should build his campaign around building out and improving the US infrastructure.

More Denver Pleasuredome

2008-08-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

New York, New York- To hell with all the Senator Hillary Clinton drama, according to David Mixner's blog the real dust up is between Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor David Paterson. Seems the Guv feels as though Schumer is attempting sideline him, when indeed he, as governor, should be the titular head of the NY delegation. More to come.

CNN Applause Meters- What's with those crazy digital decibel meters CNN has superimposed over the left side of the television feed of the Demo convention? Besides using more and more of the screens for feeds and rolls, is CNN turning passive TV viewing into a video game? Those decibel level meters are totally annoying, back to MSNBC.

The Denver Militia managed to arrest around 100 demonstrators last night. Some strange exercise in democracy going on at these conventions. I will give props to some pretty decent police work in apprehending those three white supremacists. Seems these knuckleheads were well armed and had threatened to shoot Barack Obama.

PUMAs & Fits

2008-08-26T06:17:00.000-07:00

Rocky Mountain High- Beware convention delegates the mountain lions have come down from the hills and are prowling the green zone around the Pepsi Center in Denver. These so-called PUMAs (Party Unity, My Ass) can not give it up and accept that their idol leader Senator Hillary Clinton has lost the nomination. They have been planning their own convention meetings and are in constant presence, at least on MSNBC. I saw this quote today in the NY Times from one of Hillary’s big supporters, Susie Tompkins Buell who nearly passed up the convention, but decided she needed her idol:
“ I’m going to the convention because I want to see Hillary, I want to be inspired by her, encouraged by her to do what’s going to be the best thing for all of our futures. She’s trying to help us all get through this”
Wow, poor Hillary. Having to deal with this crap. The sad part is Ms.Tompkins Buell is the intelligent and successful founder of the clothing giant Esprit. If she is under this cultdom then imagine the less educated fanatics they may have fallen prey. Considering the fantastic speech by Michelle Obama last evening that addressed both Hillary’s accomplishment at garnering 18 million votes (who’s counting) and the 88th anniversary of the sufferage movement, one could only hope PUMAs see a new role model. Michelle Obama is the living definition of an accomplished woman. I am definitely more impressed with Michelle most times over her husband. Women should acknowledge this historic moment for Michelle while they are also celebrating the progress made by HRC. It has been beyond a remarkable political season for women please rejoice in your accomplishments!

Honda Fit- Honda’s sale figures and profits are quite fit in 2008. Honda North America reports a 3% increase in sales this year while its competitors continue to eat dirt. The Honda Fit has enjoyed a 79% sales increase this year. By sticking to their guns and building fuel efficient cars and for the most part avoiding the SUV/truck segment they bested even Toyota (too many full size pick ups). The company enjoys the highest mileage efficiency across all its lines than any other automobile manufacturer. Additionally, Honda plans to revamp their hybrid lines with new 5-door model and a hybrid Fit. Plus, there is the model everyone is jawing about, the hydrogen-fueled FCX Clarity. I can’t wait to own a car again, and when I make that purchase I am quite sure it will be a Honda.

Welcome to the Pleasuredome, Part 1 Denver

2008-08-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

The Democrats kick off their orgy of corporate sponsorship in Denver today. Between the Democratic and Republican conventions corporate sponsorship is estimated to top $110 million. To lead off my service provider AT&T is the official “wireless carrier” of this convention. At least the Bush administration now know which mobile carriers transmitter signals to spy on. AT&T is probably still celebrating the July decision of retroactive immunity from prosecution of civil-rights violations under FISA. So is Qwest, who is the largest sponsor to this convention to the tune of $6 million. That other telecom Verizon is also a sponsor. The Pharmas are well represented by Pfizer, Dow,Merck, Amgen and Lilly. Insurance companies as well represented with sponsors including United Health Group, Travelers, Allstate, Aflac, State Farm and Prudential. Our good friends from the energy sectors are in full force with Xcel Energy, Southern Company and Conoco Phillips. And would you believe that some actual companies from the military industrial sector are sponsors, such as Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace & Technologies. It has become very difficult to tell the two parties apart with this list of the usual suspects. One was to believe that the election reform bill of a couple years ago would have stopped some of this influence peddling, but since this is a convention and not a candidate it is still basically a free for all for those that can throw down. Supposedly, a total of 1200 parties are planned for the week sponsored by everyone under the moon and stars. Maybe we should insist that the paramilitary security officials escort out all these corporate suck ups and lay off the protesters.

Speaking of protests. Denver County judges have cleared their dockets in order to set up two courtrooms to handle arraignments of protesters. These courtrooms will operate between 8a.m. thru midnight all week. In order to accommodate these courts the paramilitary security measures have been funded with a $50 million grant from the U.S. Government. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the City of Denver claiming by refusing to disclose how this money is being spent is a violation of the Colorado Open Records Act. We have learned that the Denver Police Department did stock up on 88 Mark IV launchers and projectiles. These weapons fire a pepper-spray type substance instead of bullets (real or rubber) to disperse crowds. Security With Advanced Technologies, which is based in Louisville confirmed the delivery and estimated costs in the low six-figure range. It is really sad what has become of these national coronations. The average citizen does not stand a chance to influence or express their views.

Also, what’s with this riff between the Obamessiah campaign and President William Jefferson Clinton? Why in the world would the Obama campaign try to keep Clinton from trumpeting his economic successes during his two terms. Being I am no fan of WJC, I would still give Clinton an entire day of the convention to remind people precisely how good we all had it financially under his stewardship.

Water, Sun, Robinette and Yankees

2008-08-24T07:28:00.001-07:00

East River Power- As I look out my window upon the mighty East River, which in fact is a tidal straight, not a actually river, connecting the New York Bay to the Long Island Sound; I am surprised to learn that power is being generated beneath its surface. Verdant Power has installed turbines on the river’s bottom to capture the currents and generate electricity. Apparently, six turbines are currently installed and due to the strong and changing currents, have had to be retooled to handle the East River’s strength. These six turbines are to produce 1000 kilowatts per day. Verdant hopes this technology will become successful enough to plant 100’s of turbines around New York City’s ample waterways. This is a great step in the future of hydro-kinetic power generation and it’s personally exciting for me to be so proximate to the action.

Redeemable Nevada- Interesting article in the Christian Science Monitor by Mark Clayton discussing concentrating solar power (CSP) and his visit to the Nevada Solar One plant. Solar thermal energy could be well on its way if the United States Senate Republicans stop blocking (8 times and counting) the extension of the investment tax credits. These investment tax credits help recover 30% of a company’s initial investment in such CSP facilities. The Bureau of Land Management has millions of acres of desert land under its direct management. The one downside I can see of these plants is their needs for huge amounts of water. Still what better way to utilize this desolate land than producing energy? Certainly beats developing it with homes and trying to grow grass all over the Nevada desert.

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr- Finally, everyone can stop spinning as Obamessiah picks Joe Biden to join his ticket as VP. Overall, it’s a great choice that continues the practice of upside down tickets like Bush-Cheney. It gives one pause as to why a man of Biden’s credentials isn’t on the top of this ticket. Branding and marketing is more and more trumping substance. It will be curious to see if Biden persists in his Senate bid for reelection and how attempting to hand this seat to his son Beau, Delaware’s Attorney
General plays out.

Parents Back to School- Plenty of stories appearing these days on parenting and the continued practice of parents over-indulging their children. I have heard some amazing stories like one from a friend in a Fortune 500 company’s human resources department. Seems a younger employee’s boss would not grant this entry-level employee the vacation time she requested. The employee’s parents then called human resources to complain and demand they let their daughter be given this time off! The latest trend I have read about are these parents buying homes or condos near the university their child is attending so they can frequently visit. What is going on with this generation? Who the hell wants their parents interfering in this first notion of young adults independence? I need to get a degree in psychotherapy cause business is going to be remarkable amongst this entitled and coddled genration.

Yankees- Carl Pavano returned to the Yankees last night after extended injuries have sidelined him for the duration of his contract. After 501 days away from a major league mound his pitching started beyond unsure and miserable. Pavano certainly did better a few innings in. Overall, unimpressive and it has only cost the Yankees $39.95 million for his 19 games of pitching. Basically, this guy has gotten $2,102,632 per game and is probably on par with stadium paydays for popstars like Billy Joel and Bon Jovi. Nice work if you can find it. The Yanks managed to put away Baltimore 5-3.

Water,Money & Religion

2008-08-22T05:51:00.000-07:00

Aqua Dolce- I have written quite a bit of one precious resource that is pumped from the ground, oil. Today let’s discuss something we take for granted water. This precious resource is also at great risk as consumption; bottled water, manufacturing, farming continues to escalate at a brisk pace. I know my friends in California are intimately familiar with water conservation (though I assume few practice it religiously), now even the very wet Northeast has to develop a long-term plan to deal with precious water. Lance Armstrong’s excessive water use becoming public this week heightens awareness. In one month Armstrong’s house consumed 229,000 gallons of water. At this rate, every minute five gallons of water is flowing through Armstrong’s taps, toilets and sprinklers. This country has truly reached the point of becoming over-consumptive pigs. If everyone believes the lack of oil will cause terrorizing pandemonium worldwide, think what lack of a necessity like water would create. The bottled water craze alone has had irreparable consequences as large beverage companies like PepsiCo continue to drain lakes in India and other less fortunate countries in order to provide our cannot live without bottled water lifestyles. Particularly in the Northeast, where in New England alone 40% of the water supply comes from wells and underground tables, do we need a conservation plan? Maybe charging huge users some kind of ‘pig tax’ on water would help put a dent in consumption. Some thought for today’s water cooler (if only individual bottled water hadn’t killed this antique off) conversations.

Campaign Obscenity- Just released figures for July show that the Obamessiah and McShame campaigns spent a combined total of nearly $90 million! The total spending thus far of both camps? $485.5 million. This is beyond obscene. When you compile the total primary figures this spending will easily top $1 billion for this election cycle. I quit. Can you imagine if instead all these truly patriotic and altruistic contributors had directed this money toward education, conservation or healthcare. I think it is truly time for publicly funded campaigns. I am thoroughly disgusted and no candidate will ever receive another dollar from me.

Campaign Religion- A poll by Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found a major increase amongst conservatives to 50% who believe churches and houses of worship should steer clear of politics. The total has reached a majority of 52% of the respondents stating church should stay out of politics. This is a 7% increase from 2000 and an encouraging trend. I have another tool for keeping religion clear of politics, how about revoking their tax exempt status.

RESPECT- Gene Upshaw (1945-2008)

EPA, FBI & Cash

2008-08-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

Bushwacked EPA- The courts again came to the rescue of the States versus the Environmental Protection Agency. An appeals court in a 2-1 ruling stated that individual States can indeed set their own emission standards. The courts have continually ruled against the Bush EPA’s dismantling of Clean Air Act provisions amongst other environmental rules the Bush administration has tried to soften. It’s been like an all out assault the past seven months to rack up as much damage as possible before leaving office.

Scared yet?- Apparently there is a Justice Department plan to loosen restrictions on the FBI to allow agents to open and pursue a criminal or national security investigation against US citizens without any basis of suspicion. As reported in today’s New York Times some staffers on the Hill have received glimpses of the plan; a letter of protest was sent to Attorney General Michael Mukasey and signed by Senators Richard Durban, Russ Feingold and Ted Kennedy. This is incredibly creepy stuff. (Will Americans continue to live in fear and ignorance as their rights continue to be destroyed?).

China, China- Nick Kristoff’s column in today’s NYT sheds some light on China’s influence and significance in the 21st century and the need of Americans and Europeans to accept this shift. China’s lead in Olympic gold medals certainly carries over into politics and business.

Cash Smackdown- Rosanne Cash gave a major smackdown yesterday to Big & Rich’s John Rich. John apparently made reference at a McShame rally that if Johnny Cash were alive today he certainly would be walking the line with John McShame. Well, Rosanne did the righteous thing and demanded her father’s name not be used by either political party or in assuming after death just what Johnny might approve or disapprove. John Rich just can’t seem to keep his trap shut. While I am a fan of his show “Gone Country” and think he is talented musically, I am a bit concerned about his thought patterns both socially and politically. You go Rosanne!

Gorbachev Oil & Wind

2008-08-20T05:45:00.001-07:00

Mikhail Speaks- Interesting Op-Ed piece in today’s NYT by Mikhail Gorbachev defending Russia’s use of force against Georgia. I have to say the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili is a piece of work whom seems to have learned how to govern from his patrons Bush-Cheney. The guy initiatives an offensive on South Ossetia and kills Russian “peacekeepers” and then expects zero retaliation. Additionally, he thinks his keepers in the US will come to his rescue. What’s interesting is all of this leads back to the misguided policies of Clinton-Bush over the past 12 years in their efforts to franchise NATO like it was Starbucks. It never ceases to amaze me how our government has somehow meddled and settled on a flawed policy and this in turn makes us implicit in the cause of these “crisis”.

Oil Spoils- Looks like the Western oil companies have finally come to the conclusion that current geopolitical realities will not allow them to expand in finding more of this evaporating resource. Western oil companies used to produce 50% of the worlds oil demand in the 70’s. This figure is now down to half as much. Additionally these companies are investing a much less portion of their profits into exploration/r&d then in the 70’s. Seeing that they can no longer imperialistically find new nations to exploit they are at a loss of where to spend this money. Ever heard of clean technologies? Investing heavily in these new technologies just might give your companies the purpose to survive into the next century.

Bloomberg Wind- NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg again introduces a bold policy of building wind turbines in and near the City to help get NYC OTG. The proposal includes turbines out on the shoreline and these mini turbines that could be placed on bridges and the tops of skyscrapers. Will see who will line up to derail this forward thinking plan. Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan was total genius and defeated by the numbnuts that occupy Albany.

FSOT Failure- I received results that I did not indeed pass the Foreign Service Officers Test last month. In the future, I may have to discontinue rendering my opinions on international affairs. At least I can speak more freely knowing that the State Department will now never check this blog.

Tibet- Students for a Free Tibet have been making their presence known in Beijing during these Olympics. So far, 37 of their protesters have been detained or deported. I appreciate their dedication, but not really sure they have made much of an impact on the world stage. Torch extinguishing seemed like a much better exercise.

Cheney, Pervez & Phelps

2008-08-18T11:06:00.001-07:00

It’s Cheney- In reading through the deeper coverage of the stand off in the Caucasus I found it interesting that this provocation has been going on for quite some time and Georgia was even warned by the US to “not provoke” Russia. What’s truly fascinating is our good Vice President, Mr. Cheney and his hawks have been intentionally arming Georgia with Stinger missiles and such. Now imagine Russia, arming an enemy of ours located on our direct border, and the reaction that would ensue. Dick Cheney must have one hell of a death-wish, as he seems to want to provoke WWIII wherever possible. What is further curious is this nation of 4 million people would like to join NATO and has enjoyed incredible access to the top levels of US government and its diplomatic corps. How can this be tiny, little Georgia? Could it be that amazing oil pipeline that runs from Georgia clear to the Mediterranean that bypasses Russia all together? Yes, indeed, oil again. To add to all of this, it seems the breakaway province of South Ossetia is nothing but a criminal enterprise in both drugs and counterfeiting. So American citizens and taxpayers, enjoy as your government spends money arming and protecting a rogue area of a supposed democracy.

See Ya Pervez- Another genius US ally leaves the scene. Pervez Musharaff finally resigns today. Never has a man so committed to the ‘War on Terror’ created a bigger nest of terrorists in human history. Pervez was the man with the plan in taking Pakistan into modernity. Instead the tribal areas continued to thumb their noses and harbor more terrorists. Who knows how many offshore bank accounts this guy possesses loaded with US greenbacks. Enjoy your retirement, dedicated friend and al-lie.

No To Nunn- I am begging the Obamessiah camp to not put Sam Nunn on the ticket as their vice president. Nunn has exhibited many times in his past the 2 “H’s”: Hawk & Homophobe. Seems the progressive Senator from Illinois is looking to toughen up the ticket with a nice conservative Southerner. I encourage all to email the Obama campaign and protest the notion of a Nunn vice presidency.

Phelps The Great- I am really confused. I read somewhere that Michael Phelp’s daily routine in Beijing includes getting to sleep every night with Ambien. Is Ambien really not a substance considered in athlete drug testing? Seems kind of strange to me. I have heard stories of plenty of my Ambien-induced friends performing strange acts when supposedly at sleep. Very strange.

Georgia & Bikes

2008-08-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

Midnite Train to Georgia- Mr. “Looked into his eyes” Bush seemed to have missed the opportunity to look beyond and a little deeper into Putin. With all the rhetoric circulating this week regarding Russia’s incursion into Georgia, I feel like a 5 year old kid reliving the Cold War. Americans running around saying this isn’t 1968 and trying to take the high ground on invading a sovereign state! I am sorry to report Mr.Bush that you lost the moral high ground 5 years ago when you decided to invade another sovereign state. So, to make an argument using this basis is not going to get you very far in the eyes of the world. Additionally, it is unhelpful to have the hawks in this administration clamoring for a return to the good old days. McShame seems to be just as interested in reliving past history. In my humble opinion it seems not worth trading all the cooperation we need from Russia, to just return to our Cold War pasts. What is fascinating to me though, is how the adoption of capitalism has in turn made these communist (former) countries on the brink, morph into significant powers. Russia and China have managed to retain most of their authoritarian dogma while enriching themselves. Looks like democratic-capitalism has major rivals in authoritarian-capitalism.

Seeing Green- After returning from my media-absent week, I have been floored by the proliferation of stories being reported about the environment. In the past 48 hours I have seen stories about the two huge solar power plants being built in California, SUV sales plummeting and how geothermal manufacturers can’t keep up with demand. This awareness will hopefully have a positive impact and not be perceived as hype. Clean energies are so the future of this nation.

Bike Capital- Looks as though Washington, DC has launched the first bike-sharing program in the country. Clear Channel Outdoor is sponsoring this program that will begin with 10 stations and 120 bikes. This program while not exactly grand on scale, and not even in the realm of Paris’ 20,000 bicycles, remains a starting point. Membership is pegged at $40 annually and you need to provide your own lock and helmet. Check it out here.

Goodbye, Bernie- While I was away I learned that Bernie Brillstein died last Thursday. Bernie was a legend and innovator as a talent manager. Additionally, he was a gentleman and mentor. As a sycophantic manager, I was fortunate to have met Bernie and was always thrilled to see him at the Palm restaurant on occasions. He brought us the genius of Jim Henson and a myriad of SNL greats. Bernie became a mentor and a aspiration to many of us. One of the good ones who always remembered his humble origins and didn’t let the Hollywood bullshit define him. From ‘Hee Haw to ‘Dangerous Liasons’. Rest is peace Bernie.

RESPECT- Jerry Wexler (1917-2008)

Alive in Upstate

2008-08-09T16:45:00.000-07:00

Alls very good here in the wilds of the Hudson Valley. The Omega Institute is pretty special and I find it really remarkable that I have been so ignorant for so long to its existence. Richard Leider has been facilitating a fantastic workshop. I highly recommend you purchase and read his new book Something To Live For from which the workshop is based. I participated in a fantastic one hour meditation session this evening. Feels so good to be unplugged from the world, short of this wifi spot I discovered. Off deeper into upstate New York as I leave tomorrow for the great Mohawk Valley, yes that Last of the Mohicans place. Really was just such a beautiful day today and I wish all of you were here with me.

Respect- Bernie Mac (1958-2008)

Into The Wild

2008-08-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

Bits and Pieces- Nice sentencing of Bin Laden's driver yesterday. I guess the tribunals in Gitmo can be somewhat fair. It's only interesting that you are convicted and sentenced five years after being detained...McShame and the Republicans only want to drill our way out of the ongoing energy shortage. The word "crisis" really doesn't do justice and sounds too temporary, as energy becomes less and less available as a resource...The Olympics open and I guarantee the Chinese put on quite a show. Maybe we should give more thought to authoritarian rule as democracy has become awfully tired...In contrast Amnesty International Small Places Tour is close to announcing artists at a launch in London in September. Also, check out Amnesty's channel on YouTube as it was in the top 100 channels this week.

Retreat- I am heading to the Omega Institute for a workshop lead by Richard Leider. I am looking forward to being on this campus, I have heard many great things. Due to my attempt at gaining intrinsic wisdom, expect a little less posting over the next few days. I am hoping I can find some wifi there.

Premature Obamajaculation

2008-08-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Barack Obama presumption of presidency syndrome must be contained immediately. The Obama campaign continues to lightly slap back at McShame's negative and mocking personal assaults. We really don't need to be witness to John Kerry campaign the sequel. The Obama camp better not become to lofty and airy or they will have their testicles handed to them in November. My advice is to get the Veep selection over, make peace with the crazy Clintons, define yourself well in Denver and come out swinging a chainsaw right after, if not during the Republican convention. I will give some credence to the possibility the polling is off in McShame's favor, but if Obamessiah were truly connecting his lead should be much bigger in the timeline. McShame is executing a totally professional Republican strategy of making the opponent insignificant and effete. You guys in Chicago need to start eating more hot dogs and drinking beer coupled with regular work outs at the gym to toughen up for what's coming.

AVoight- Why is everyone so upset about Jon Voight's op ed piece in the Washington Times? Look the guy has the right to his opinions. This doesn't mean bloggers should be planning a career boycott in Hollywood. Give the guy a break as virtually no one listens to celebs (maybe short of the big O) on who to vote for in November. Also, remember his genes are 50% responsible for creating the most beautiful woman in the world. This alone should guarantee him many free passes.

Favre- Just what we don't need in NY is Brett Favre the drama queen. Chelsea is full of many more distingushed drama queens than Favre. Hopefully, he will set up residence in New Jersey and be little heard from.

Desert,Ice & Homer

2008-08-06T05:43:00.000-07:00

Iraq Riches- Now we learn from the GAO that it looks like Iraq will have a $79 billion budget surplus by years end. It’s just so incredibly awesome that our government continues to underwrite all the rebuilding and security costs in Iraq while they experience oil profit windfalls. Wasn’t this the money that the Bushies promised would pay for our activities in Iraq? Even more we learn today that the Iraqi military is still unprepared and ill equipped to protect their borders. This debacle is becoming so surreal that it’s difficult to properly comment on it. $10 billion of this money is parked at the Federal Reserve of New York and the US is paying Iraq $435 million a year in interest! You couldn’t possibly make this stuff up. I think I may head down to the Federal Reserve today with my tax returns and ask for reimbursement.

McNuke- McShame’s energy policy is aimed at building 2 nuclear power plants a year until 2030. He must be a huge Simpson's fan. There are already 34 new plants in line according to the Energy Department. I think nuclear in smaller quantities and the ability to dispose of the waste may be something to consider. The only problem is that the Energy Department now anticipates the Yucca Mountain facility in Nevada to cost $97 billion over its lifetime. This is $37 billion more than budgeted. So if you add 45 more nuclear plants; where are the funds coming to pay for the waste disposal?

Ice Melts- I am continuing to advocate for conservation as part of the immediate problems confronting energy and its scarcity. In today’s NYT columnist Thomas Friedman shares his travels to Greenland and observing the ice sheets melting away. As suggested in his column the climate crisis will not be delivered to the world via disaster, but by the mailman, as we all start receiving astounding increases in our electric, gas and water bills.

Freddie, Fannie & Mary Kate

2008-08-05T05:31:00.001-07:00

Freddie & Fannie Again- Today we learn that chief executive Richard Syron of Freddie Mac was ignoring warnings from his internal risk management officer of the pending mortgage crisis. Syron was warned as far back as 2004 to start cutting risk and ignored these pleas. On top of this he was compensated with $38 million over the past 5 years. His peer at Fannie Mae, Daniel Mudd who shockingly is a Ph.D. wielding economist claims that they are victims of circumstance. Meanwhile, Mudd collected $42 million in pay. Additionally, these two quasi public organizations are so damaged that it’s impossible to find candidates interested in replacing these two knuckleheads. So they will continue to be well compensated, with I assume taxpayer monies, for their ignorance in driving Freddie & Fannie to the verge of collapse. If this doesn't cause people to take to the streets, I really don't know what would. I suppose since 80% of the people should not have qualified to own homes and benefited under this scam, that there is little reason for these people to protest.

GOP Redeployment- Voter registration rolls in 26 States so far this year show an increase in Democratic registrations by a net total of nearly 215,000 and a decline in Republican registrants to the tune of 1,400,000. Wow, this is only half the States and the Dems have a 1.2 net advantage. Increasing registrations to Independent have made this basically a third party in many states with each splitting the registrants 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. I can only hope that some of these gains go to the Green Party.

More EcObama- I wanted to add to yesterday’s post that conservation and efficiency alone could help this country toward energy independence. Both these tools we already have available to us, and applied with any cohesion would provide enormous savings. Check out Bob Herbert’s NYT column today.

What’s with this Mary-Kate Olsen refusing to speak to federal investigators and demanding immunity before she does? Seems to me if one of my “good friends” died of some kind of overdose with some of the drugs being prescribed illegally that I would cooperate with zero conditions. This definitely makes one further wonder of what Olsen’s afraid of in sitting with investigators. Doesn’t seem like natural behavior to me.

EcObama

2008-08-04T18:59:00.000-07:00

I know I am a bit tardy with today's post. I have a perfectly good excuse as I was awaiting for the Obama energy policy speech. It took me awhile to digest the speech and then of course I had work, clients, dinner etc. I will go beyond all the expedient political fluff like strategic petroleum reserve, off shore drilling and lower per gallon prices offered by Senator at the speech's beginning. On to the meat which is the weening of this country from it's destructive energy dependence. First, Obama proposes to put money into each voter's pocket with a tax credit for hybrid vehicle purchases ($7000) and a energy rebate for families of $1000 paid through the windfall profits tax. Obama should have stayed on message with the rebate and knock off all this windfall profits minutiae which the average American does not care to understand.

The Obama plan goes on to propose putting 1,000,000, 150 mile per gallon hybrid vehicles on the road in six years. Also, he proposes mileage standards to rise at 4% a year. On an average 25 mile per gallon car this is only adding 1 mile per gallon per year. Not too very ambitious. The plan also claims to produce 10% of all energy from renewable sources by the end of Obama's first term. This proposal will also extend the Production Tax Credit for five years which ensures that new green technologies will receive inducements to continue research and development. Building energy efficiency is to improve by 50% over four years. The plan also, supposedly reduces all carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050.

The less ambitious parts of this energy policy includes a modest conservation goal of only 15% over the next decade and continues to advocate biofuels. These coupled with the political expedient details certainly dumb down this proposal. One of the exciting figures cited is the fact that Michigan alone has developed 300 companies and 50,000 jobs in the new green economy. This is the green revolution that really could spark remarkable economic growth, coupled with a cleaner planet. So overall, the Obama plan has some ambition, but he is definitely walking the middle path. It certainly is more sensible and forward thinking then anything McShame has offered.

Scientist McShame- McShame for his part today could only manage to chide Obama for advocating keeping proper tire pressure as improving gas mileage. For many years now the idea of proper tire inflation has proven to improve gas mileage by 3.5%. If you drive 15,000 miles a year by my calculations this is about an extra 525 miles. I am a math dummy but this seems to amount to about 21 gallons in a average vehicle or a savings of nearly $95. McShame is such a joker he even handed out tire pressure gauges to the press. The senator clearly needs to spend more time around his NASCAR fans to understand this concept.

Greenspan & Girls Gone Child

2008-08-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Greenspan Speaks – Wow, Alan Greenspan speaking of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac labeled both as “unstable”. The former Fed Chief actually admitted that having Fannie & Freddie structured as private/public entities, whereas “profit is privatized and loss is socialized” as a poor idea. Looks as though these two organizations could be heading toward being obsolete or at the very least reorganized. When someone of Greenspan’s supposed stature admits this, we can count on something thankfully changing.

Girls Gone Child- I was reading Maureen Dowd’s column in today’s NYT and she was mentioning how Obamania was still meeting with disgruntled Hillraisers. The senator has got to stop wasting his time in these meetings. Hillaryites are damn near insane. So either, just put Hillary on the ticket or get beyond it and start ignoring these lunatics. I dare these nuts, once in the voting booth, to cast a vote for McShame.

McShame Music- As a follow up to my earlier post regarding the McShame campaigns inability to license any pop music, along comes the talented John Rich. It seems John, who is just coming off his anti-gay marriage and somewhat homophobic remarks last year, has penned a song for McShame titled “Raising McCain”. John is so talented, but it seems as though he needs some life lessons from his less offensive and lovely partner, Big Kenny.

It’s Local Stupid- With the continuing increase in the cost of energy, the notion of the global economy may be hitting a roadblock in growth. This notion of products traveling thousands of miles just for our convenience is becoming both antiquated and too costly. If I need to go without Kiwi in the winter due to my residing in the Northeast, so be it. We all need to adjust our consumption in purchasing and eating more locally produced goods.

Yankees Slide- The Yankees finally won a game yesterday against the Anaheim Los Angeles Orange County Disneyland California Angels after faltering the past week. Mike “Moose” Mussina threw a near perfect game. I can’t believe that I now look forward to Mike starting again. He is hot as lava. I never realized he has a degree in economics from Stanford too. Too my relief (pun intended) I will never have to look at Kyle Farnsworth is pinstripes again. I am so relieved he was traded away as he was a bullpen waste of space.

Labels & TM

2008-08-02T07:42:00.001-07:00

I Hate Labels- I think I must be the most naïve human living on the planet when it comes to this race crap that is now being injected into this presidential campaign. Shouldn’t it be—who cares? I am going to attempt to articulate my thoughts on this, but admit I have some sort of disconnect between my inner gray matter and my tongue regarding race. With the myriad of serious issues at hand, this is becoming a distraction that will sadly play to McShame’s benefit. Barack Obama is a person of multi cultural origin. Like this is some breaking news and does this have some relevant bearing on competence? I can guarantee that somewhere in my 100% Italian origin past, my background has some other cultural mix…how can it not? Let’s stop giving attention to this sideshow and move on to the issues that truly matter. Further more, allowing this to become a campaign of personality over policy is beyond frustrating. Obamessiah’s victory lap in the EU and his allowing McCain to define this campaign only on his personality could cause big problems for Obama this fall.

Obamortal- Looks like Senator Obama has given up the messiah title in joining the masses to further promulgate cheaper gas and some limited form of off shore oil exploration. Is anyone going to man up and provide a bold policy with long term goals in mind? Seems as though the good senator from Illinois is falling into the same trap in telling Americans what they want to hear. This is an evolution folks, adapt or be forgotten.

Lynch’s TM- The David Lynch Foundation is providing funds for “Quiet Time” in schools using the principals of Transcendental Meditation techniques. I think this is a real worthwhile program so visit the Foundations website here.

Pumps, Pimps & Police

2008-08-01T05:46:00.000-07:00

Exxonirvana- The genius of ExxonMobil pocketing a cool $11.68 billion in quarterly profit—the largest profit in US history—has to make someone angry. Our nations crack dealer continues to role on and keep everyone addicted to crude. Many more of these types of quarterly profit will hopefully jolt consumers to increasingly find alternatives to autos and gas. As odd as this sounds, gas needs to continue to rise in order for the new technologies to gather the mass they need to come into the market and reasonable price levels. It’s definitely time for this government, though not this administration, to set a cohesive energy policy that further continues to reward new technologies. Taxes on gasoline need to be raised immediately in order to fund this research and encourage conservation (apologies to all my friends in Cali). If not the US taking the lead, then it seems China’s continued ambitions are now including breakthroughs in clean technology. One company there has set a cool of a plug-in car being in production by the end of this year. How is it that the Chinese are better at retooling to anticipate needs than US companies. What a slovenly, hog-like business culture has become the US. As the old colloquialism goes- pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.

McShame Whitey- I am trying to resist from writing about this presidential campaign on a daily basis. I have just as much criticism of Obamessiah, but the McShame campaign is so purely deluded and incompetent that I just cannot stop writing about it. Yesterday, they really swung for the fence in accusing Obamessiah of “playing the race card”. You have got to be kidding me. In addressing the fact “that he may not look like all those other presidents on dollar bills” Obama was attempting to proactively address these fears before the phone messages and mailers start arriving in people’s homes south of the Mason-Dixon line this fall. The McShame campaign has now established their new low benchmark and they clearly think it is still 1950. I really can’t decide if I should feel incredulous or just sad for these guys. I really think they would stand a better chance of winning if McShame closed up shop and just went on the dl in Sedona until November 5th.

Bratton Bi-zerk- Hell, William Bratton, LA’s police chief has really gone of the rails since leaving NYC. His comments yesterday in explaining that paparazzi laws were nonsense, went so far out as to accuse Lindsey Lohan for “gone gay”. What year is this that someone still thinks as though someone can just go gay? Well, maybe though in Lindsey’s case he is correct.

Goodbye Empire

2008-07-31T05:45:00.001-07:00

Bushployment- The Republicans are so effective in their “no big government mantra” but, it seems as usual they talk it not walk it. Seems there is quite a line forming for all these free enterprise entrepreneurs craving jobs in government. Hmmmm, I was told by these party patriots that government is very bad; and I think in their minds should be reduced to only the Executive branch being allowed to exist. A NY Times story today cited one memo from the White House Political Office that listed 108 candidates that needed jobs and was circulated to all departments, due to “ their loyalty shown to President Bush”. This “no big government” thing has got to be an act. You can’t employ every political hack you owe in government and additionally spend $10 billion a month in Iraq and tell me you want to reduce government spending. Add into this the subsidization of Freddie & Fannie and the huge bonuses paid to their executives and this now just becomes the hugest shakedown on taxpayers ever devised. Apparently there is good government and bad government.
Good Government= Political cronies, military contractors, oil companies & any corporation needing a bail out.
Bad Government= the middle class, health insurance, small business & new energy technologies.

WTO Shambles- After, seven long years, trade talks held by the World Trade Organization broke down this week. Emerging nations are enjoying new found power and are seemingly happy to exercise it, especially when trying to protect the poorer folk like farmers. The US role of Empire is being challenged by these emerging nations, who now have built economies to compete without the war machine sucking up their currency. America is going to need to figure out a way forward in dealing with emerging nations like Brazil and India. Fortunately, a few of these nations are supposed allies and will hopefully give the US the benefit of the doubt. As our Empire wanes from having significance a new power sharing policy will need to soon be developed.

McShame Blues- Seems the good senator can’t even receive permissions to license any music for his campaign and its advertising. According to Advertising Age, McShame’s campaign received no license from Frankie Valli for “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” used in a anti-Obama ad. Additionally, his favorite group ABBA had a total meltdown when he was using “Take A Chance On Me” at his rallies. John Mellencamp passed and Chuck Berry let him use “Johnny B. Goode” (guess he needs the ducats), though he personally endorsed Obamessiah.

Prince, Gentleman & Friend

2008-07-29T05:16:00.000-07:00

RESPECT- Michael Berniker (1935-2008) I just learned that a friend and mentor of mine, Michael Berniker passed away last Friday. I don't know where to begin in telling of Mike's influence on me, both professionally and as a human. We worked together at Columbia Records and Mike was one of those true old school record men. He was nearly thirty years my senior, but he made me feel a peer, though for my lacking anywhere near his accomplishments in music. He taught me pretty much all I know about songwriting and what makes a song great. He worked with everyone from Johnny Mathis to Barbra Streisand, in addition to producing a ton of successful Broadway show albums. I cherished the time he would make with me to go off to lunches, just so I could pick his brain and gain his wisdom. I think Mike could have equally been a successful comedian. Never have I laughed and learned so much from one man. I was able to take all that Mike imparted on me and become a better A&R executive. I haven't been much in touch with Mike the past 7-8 years and this I hugely regret. To Heather, Mark & Judy my deepest condolences. Michael, gentleman & genius, today's news devastates me and I wish you much peace and beautiful music.

Thoughts of Condolences can be sent to Mike's wife, Heather:

Heather Berniker
52 Connelly Road
Hillsdale, NY 12529

Forward

2008-07-28T05:33:00.000-07:00

Focus Group- After two weeks of writing daily on this blog I am still trying to find my voice regarding the topics I would like to share and discuss. Originally, I intended to provide a cultural cross section of opinions with the core theme being sustainability. My interests in life are so varied, that it’s difficult for me to focus on one topic. It seems most successful blogs have a main theme and tend to stay in this ballpark. With my many years of entertainment & media experience I am leaning towards focusing this blog more on this segment. I feel due to the nature of my personal contacts and experiences, I can provide more challenging analysis and relevant opinions. To the few of you that read this regularly, I ask you to comment and appreciate any thoughts or guidance you may have to offer.

I should have posted this over the weekend as it's a bit lengthy. It is well worth your time as an educated voter and taxpayer to watch this video. This is a video of Lawrence Lessig's keynote to Netroots Nation. Has some pretty disturbing facts about Fannie Mae and our government's subsidizing these institutions amongst other scams being foisted upon us. Socialized Risk and Privatized benefit!

More Baseball

2008-07-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

The Yankees did it again, beating down Boston 10-3 yesterday. The big news of the day was the favorable trade between Pittsburgh and the Yankees; the Bombers acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hander Damaso Marte, who each made their debuts yesterday. The Yankees continue to ascend in the AL East and that jerk Joe Buck can’t stop them. In a tip to Buck, I have seldom heard him broadcast as impartially as he did yesterday, but that may have been only due to the Yankees thumping Boston. Both teams play again this evening at 8pm ET on ESPN.

Baseball Green- The National’s new stadium which opened in March received a LEED ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)rating, it is now provoking protest due to a sponsorship relationship with ExxonMobil. A group of fans and civic groups have formed a group called Strike Out Exxon. Baseball fans always did qualify as the most thoughtful.

Campus Green- Colleges are now being ranked on their sustainability and environmental policies by many standards the latest from the Princeton Review. College students now can now make their decision on attending based on these “green rankings”. Accordingly, this has become a very important issued to incoming students. In my view, the problem with all of this is that colleges can just purchase carbon offset credits to be rated well. These well-funded and endowed schools should be walking the walk and actually going for “real” carbon neutrality.

Weekend Lite

2008-07-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

A little too much politics here at GOTG this week, so it’s time to lighten up for the weekend.

First, I would like to congratulate the NY Yankees for their fine win over the Red Sox last night. This puts the Yankees only 2 games behind Boston for the wildcard spot in the AL East and gives them a perfect record since the All Star break. Both teams play again this afternoon at 3:30pm ET on Fox which means I have to tolerate that New York-hating Joe Buck. Fox continues to ruin the broadcasts of these important ballgames. I HATE Joe Buck!

I also, want to congratulate my pal Vince Vaughn on being named by Forbes the star with the biggest return for the buck. Vince returns an astounding $14.73 in box office for each dollar he's paid in salary. So Vince, you clearly owe me a meal and maybe you should consider a new agent since you seem to be leaving bags o money in the studio coffers. Come on Jimmy Miller get my man paid. The guys listed below know how to take the money off the table:

Tom Cruise 3.99:1.00
Will Ferrell 4.67:1.00
Adam Sandler 5.08:1.00
Will Smith 5.64:1.00

Sirius XM Merge- The merger of Sirius and Xm was approved yesterday by the FCC in a vote of 3-2. Mel Karmazin always wins. I think the root word of his name Karma really propels success in Mel’s life. Now with all these gizillion channels can you at least give this poor shameless blogger a show?

Follow the Leader- Huge props to California in following New York City’s lead in banning transfats. It’s nice to see that the healthy citizens of California are gaining wisdom from us pizza eating New Yorkers on eating healthy.

iPhone Fun- I think this video of director David Lynch discussing the iPhone is priceless.

Berlin & Bats

2008-07-25T05:40:00.001-07:00

Willkommen, Obamessiah- Despite the cool reception of German politicians it seems Obamania has reached Germany. The common folk turned out to hear the Senator in a crowd estimated at 200,000 plus. As is the norm, Obama laid out another inspirational ditty. It’s too bad the commentators only want to discuss why there is not more beef to Obama’s speech. Has anyone in history given a detailed policy speech ( short maybe of Fidel) to audiences close to a half million people? I highly doubt it, as it would likely be received like McShame speaking to a crowd ( I use this descriptive loosely) of 50…Zzzzzzz.

Bad Bats- Major League Baseball has hired a wood research institute at the University of Wisconsin to evaluate why so far this season has produced 257 broken baseball bats. Theories run from inferior wood to players actually shaving the bats to make them lighter. Will this sport please return to its uncomplicated past. All this trying to cheat the system is indeed getting old, especially when done by multi-millionaire spoiled players.

I am hoping the Yankees take their winning streak to 9 in a row as they head to Boston. Looks as though I will be spending upwards of 12 hours in front of my TV watching the greatest rivalry in sport this weekend.

Uccisione Papparazzi- Apparently, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s security had to literally fight off photographers in camouflage clothing who managed to get onto the grounds of the couples chateau in France. These photographers have become menaces and should be dealt with more harshly. A dignified field has been relegated to parasitic; and authorities must find ways to deter this behavior. Seldom, do I ever side with indulged celebs, but with children involved this practice of bounty hunting photography must end.

What a McShame

2008-07-24T05:31:00.001-07:00

McShame Campaign Meltdown- What is going on with the McShame braintrust? What an incredible week of meltdown for his campaign. I almost feel bad for the Senator who reminds me of like some crazy uncle. Yesterday he actually equated the $10 drop in oil per barrel to President Bush’s announcement of lifting the ban on offshore drilling. Really? Wow, let’s hope President Bush rubs his genie lamp and next asks for free health care for all Americans. Additionally, his team is in absolute hysterics regarding Obamessiah’s trip abroad. McShame's campaign team are seriously like weeping little girls. Maybe Team McShame or McSame should just concede the election now, I fear for his staff's collective mental health in continuing to endure the remaining 3.5 months of this campaign.

Pickens Are Slim- Poor, McSame. Even a good Republican like T. Boone Pickens is making life miserable for the good Senator. Pickens is the same guy that happily installed W into the White House and supported the Swift Boaters. McSame has no such luck, as Picken’s unleashes his $58 million television campaign against foreign oil and supporting alternative energy, which clearly plays right into the Democrat’s wheelhouse.

Dancing In Darfur- Looks like I might have found competition for the You Tube Dance Battle. From my eyes can hardly believe it category, this grave dancing thug al-Bashir actually toured the Darfur region and held a rally in which he danced. What's the murder of 200,000 of the regions citizens to a dance maniac like al-Bashir. I have to find & post this video on here. It's so amazingly sick. Watch out Miley Cyrus and Chris Brown, you got a real killer competitor on your hands.

Billionaire Blessings- Have to send props to Bill Gates and Michael Bloomburg who pledged in total $500 million to a campaign to battle smoking in poorer countries. I have to say I have never been a big fan of either gentleman, but their actions continue to make me a convert. That Warren Buffet has been a remarkable influence on Mr. Gates.

Evil & Glue Addict

2008-07-23T05:39:00.001-07:00

Tick, Tock Ratko- Radovan Karadzic was captured yesterday in Serbia and had undergone a crazy transformation. This man responsible for the deaths of 8000 men & boys, managed to disguise himself and pretty freely associate in public places the past 10 years or so. Check out this video and watch the transformation. Two down and one more to go, the International Criminal Court in The Hague is having a pretty productive week.

Sticky Situation- In the totally odd category. It seems an environmental protester in the UK plastered his hand with superglue and during a meeting at 10 Downing Street attached his hand to Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s polyester suit. Seems this bloke was protesting a new third runway at Heathrow that would destroy another neighborhood. The funny part is that the protest group Plane Stupid is claiming the protester is still glued to Brown at his residence. I hope the protester at least used VOC glue. Gots to love the Brits.

American Express CIA- James Colliton, an attorney who pleaded guilty to statutory rape is now suing Amex for giving up his location to authorities in their search. Not that I condone Mr. Colliton’s actions, but once again, it seems as though privacy is eroding its way out of our lives as Americans.

Cars & Crops

2008-07-22T06:31:00.001-07:00

Ford Forward- Seems as though Ford is going to make a major announcement this Thursday regarding its way forward. All speculation is about Ford truck plants being converted to manufacture additional small lines of autos. Look for more adoptions of their smaller class vehicles sold outside the US? I must give Ford some credit, though their moves seem out of dire necessity. To his credit, William Ford has been a leading advocate of sustainability, so I imagine it must be similar to turning an ocean liner on a dime to try to get Ford more competitive in this area. Now let’s hope that finally American car consumers contribute their part to this equation of a healthy small auto market.

Local Eating Trend- Curious story in today’s NYT written by Kim Severson about people trending toward eating local; it seems businesses have sprung up that will plant, grow and maintain an organic garden for those people too busy or short of green thumbs. It all comes full circle, as I can remember as a kid only eating fresh produce all summer from my grandfather’s garden.

MOMA House- A very cool show just opened at the Museum of Modern Art here in New York City exhibiting prefab architecturally significant homes on land adjacent to the museum on mid-town. Go to this blog to experience what these architects went through to design, transport and assemble one of these homes.

RESPECT- Jerome Holtzman 1926-2008

Happy Monday

2008-07-21T06:05:00.001-07:00

Higher Education?- Today’s NYT has a story by Tamar Lewin which addresses university endowments and the true mission of universities. It highlights Berea College in Kentucky that uses its $1 billion endowment to provide free educations to all poor students. The Berea model is curious in that it requires 10 hours of work per week from each student and has a sustainable system on campus.

Empire State- Relevant to the above story here in New York state a commission just recommended that poorer students receive low interest loans as opposed to private loans. Additionally, former john & governor Elliot Spitzer had proposed a $4 billion endowment to fund education for poorer students. This commission also noted the decline in the State University of New York and City College of New York systems. These systems are actually the largest state and urban systems in our country and once leaders, have now fallen behind. Capital improvements alone are needed to the tune of $5 billion. Much like health care, education needs a serious reevaluation in both funding and responsibility to student.

Obamessiah- I like that Barack Obama has been paling around on his trip to the Mid East with Senator Chuck Hagel. This guy, in my humble opinion, is a no brainer for Veep. Solid military credentials, DC experience, Republican, Midwest sensibilities. I am all in.

Timelines

2008-07-20T07:27:00.001-07:00

Iraks Premier- Iraqi Premier Nuri al-Maliki in an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel (If your German is up to speed) basically agreed with Barack Obama on a 16-month timeline for beginning US troop withdrawals from his country. If Iraqis feel it is now time to lay this out, one has to wonder what McSame and companies logic or motive is for this need of endless occupation?

Brooklyn- My home borough has become so successful in reinventing itself that it is driving out the very drivers of this gentrification. My neighborhood of Williamsburg is the focus of this NYT story, Billyburg seems hellbent at becoming Tribeca East. Hopefully with all the growth, the City of New York will start thinking through more public transport.

Nerdvana- Comic Con kicks off tomorrow, in San Diego with 140,000 attendees expected. This event is a true cultural phenomenon

Good luck to Greg Norman as he attempts today to become the oldest champ of a British Open.

More China

2008-07-19T08:31:00.001-07:00

China, again- I wanted to have a light weekend of blogging so find these pictures of some of the architecture being realized in Beijing for the coming Olympic games. Clockwise from bottom: The Opera House designed by Paul Andreu, National Aquatics Center or the Water Cube designed by PTW Architecture, Olympic Stadium or the Birdnest designed by Herzog & de Meuron, . These buildings convey so much hope, aspiration and innovation. If only the Chinese government would apply the same principles to its peoples and Tibet.

Tesla- Interesting story in today’s NYT by Joe Nocera discussing the development of the Tesla, amongst other ideas for electric vehicles. It’s fascinating that perhaps the Silicon Valley may become the Detroit of the future.

FSOT, goodbye- I took the Foreign Service Test yesterday. Due to the onerous document I signed, I do not feel compelled to discuss the test in any detail. I can say writing a substantive essay on environmental policy in thirty minutes is nearly impossible.

No To Coal & Gays Don't Count

2008-07-18T04:26:00.000-07:00

Gore Green- Al Gore once again being out front in proposing total carbon free electricity production in the US by 2018. Bold yes, but that is precisely what it will take to solve this enormous homeland security issue. The NYT Green Blog has the full deal here.

McShameful- The good Senator remains quite a contradiction to me. This man who has spent his entire career on the government payroll seems to never have a kind word for any government programs, though he remain a beneficiary. He rails against Social Security and yet received $23,157 of it last year. This is in addition to his $169,300 Senate salary. You would think a man that had a major sugar mama might declde to decline this money if he truly were outraged by government social programs. He has lived off such programs the past 50 years.

Electric Iraq- President Bush who has so much concern for the troops and in keeping them in harms way, has even more compassion for Cheney’s colleagues at KBR and keeping them in contracts. It’s reported that KBR military construction projects recorded 283 fires within last 6 months of 2006. This includes a soldier electrocuted and killed while showering.

HeteroCensus- It seems the United States 2010 Census will not count gay marriages that are now legal in Massachusetts and California. Mr. Bill Clinton’s 1996 Federal Defense of Marriage act doesn’t allow the census to count gay marriages. Maybe we should be happy that his wife didn’t receive the nomination.

Test Time- I am off this morning to try my hand at the Foreign Service Officers Test at some ACT test center in Manhattan. Wish me luck as I haven't seen a standardized test in more than 20 years.

Conservation, Sudan & A-Rod

2008-07-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

1% Conservation- Americans are learning that conservation has a direct effect on oil prices. Americans have reduced consumption this year by a whole 1% over the same period last year. Last week alone consumption was reduced 5.2%. The green technology movement is the industrial revolution of our times. Take a look at these two stories regarding automobiles and planes from the NYT.

China & Darfur- Nick Kristof's column in today's NYT regarding the ramifications of the International Criminal Court’s decision regarding the Sudan is a must read.

Guy O & A-Rod- I have to say I am a little pissed off at my good friend and former colleague Guy Oseary for not extending an invite to me to attend A-Rod’s All Star party. Never will you find a bigger Yankee fan than me. I have to give Guy and Madonna – full disclosure I once occupied an office in between each of their offices at Maverick-- big credit for causing this media sensation. Madonna’s stadium tour was already blowing out tickets and selling out in the matter of minutes of going up on sale. Guy, Madonna and LiveNation have got to be very happy campers.

Thug Of Sudan

2008-07-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

Al-Basher- Very curious, indeed what is or isn’t happening in the Sudan. This chess game could play out in many different ways. Retaliation from al-Bashir’s thugs or more serious negotiations (harder to do when you are charged as a war criminal) or the notion of the opposition treating you as illegitimate and taking your government out on their own. My feeling is this is going to get very ugly before it resolves itself.

Gitmo Weeps- Amazing story and footage of the interrogation of a 16 year old Canadian terror suspect. I have got to hand it to the US government for allowing the Canadians to handle this piece of dirty work themselves. I understand the seriousness of what this boy is charged with, but the legitimacy of any charges comes into question with how this entire campaign and internment process has been executed. Makes me so sad that this is how our government believes it should operate.

In The District- It’s becoming clear that our Representatives need to spend more time in their districts. After heading home for their July 4th break it seems, most Congresspeople walked into a maelstrom of heat from their constituents regarding the Medicare bill. Seems once doctors stopped receiving patients that the citizenry finally awoke. When in the past 7.5 years have we ever seen a Presidential veto overridden by such a large margin as 383-41? Put one on the board for the common folk against this tone-deaf administration.

Come to Term- I must add that an acquaintance of mine Lawrence Lessig has launched the Change Congress initiative. The initiative is built to inform and attempt to change the influence of money on the city by the Potomac.

Allstar- The American League does it again for the 12th time, as the league wins 4-3 in 15 innings. Needless to say, I was in bed by the 10th. Congrats to my arch enemies from Boston in securing another win for the AL.

NYC All Star

2008-07-15T05:29:00.001-07:00

Allstar NYC- The MLB All Star game is tonight at Yankee Stadium. There is also a parade of Hall of Famers heading up Sixth Avenue to Central Park this afternoon. Wish I could attend either.

Blogger Assault- Read an interesting article in today’s NY Times by Jonathan Glater regarding a political blog here in NYC, Room 8. What happened in this case will definitely put a chill into any blogger, as it seems just about anyone with little reason can slap a subpoena on you and then you are instructed it is illegal to reveal you have been served. Thank heavens for the Public Citizen Litigation Group that came to blog owners Ben Smith and Gur Tsaber’s defense. So much for trying to remain anonymous online.

Parting Gift- President Bush yesterday lifted the executive order on off shore drilling giving his former wildcatters another gift. Fortunately, it is incumbent that Congress not lift its ban on off shore drilling. Definitely plan to contact your local representative to register your views on this.

Opening Weekend- Apple sells over 1,000,000 iPhone units this past weekend. Any movie studio would be in awe of this opening. On the personal front they have switched my mac.com account to a mobile me account. Considering I don’t even own an iPhone ( I do own a iTouch) I found this sort of curious.

Music & Senape

2008-07-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

Clearasil Music- The good news for all the teenage aspiring musicians is that the man who marketed Clearasil is now in charge of your music career—no more “breaking out” for you in every sense of the word. Handjob has now installed Elio Leoni-Sceti as the chief of EMI Music. Other than being an Italian (this is molto buon) let’s review his prior history:

Leoni-Sceti was exec vp of Reckitt Benckiser, maker of skin care product Clearasil, French's mustard, Nurofen pain reliever amongst other products. Leoni-Sceti, a Rome native, was a brand manager at Procter & Gamble before moving to Reckitt Benckiser, rising to head of this company's European division in 2005.

This is the nightmare that has been haunting me since the early 90’s when the word MBA and “product” (even prior to the word c-o-n-t-e-n-t) was becoming so prevalent in the music companies, my nightmare has now fully materialized. Just what EMI needs is a signore that understands marketing physical product (product was once called music) when such product in the music space is on the way out and declining at a rate of 18-20% annually. The MBA’s finally have cannibalized a creative business in whole. I really am looking forward to music being distributed in squeezable form. The EMI announcement has made me give up any hope for a business I was so proud to participate in. I only hope someone will come up with the innovative solutions for the music industry to return to some form of health (gaming & Idol are at least innovative). I can stomach downsizing, if it was ever accompanied with strategy and introduction of innovation in the way these companies conduct future business. Music companies have in large managed to; push out most creative types worth their salt, continued to punish their customers and now feel they need to own an artist’s entire business. One can only hope and support the continued health and growth of the indie music companies. As a former label exec with over $2+ million in royalties on account with one of my former employers, I may have to encourage anyone to freely download 2,000,000 songs and put them on my tab. On a side note, I am really excited to be starting my new job as the CEO of Countrywide Financial. I think you will all agree my credentials for this position are impeccable.

Apple Byte- Apple continues to pick up market share in their personal computer unit. It’s reported that Apple now has a 14% market share last month and the retail stores hold a 19% share of all pc’s sold at retail. Apple continues to pick up about 1% more in market share each year. All of us early Mac adapters are rejoicing this news, short of all the lines these new customers create at the Genius bar with their Ipods!

Ninja

2008-07-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

Dumb and Stupider- A little advice for Iran. Doctoring photographs of missile capability and bluffing is playing into the wrong hands. Does the Ayatollah forget this Administration has 6 more months in power and they prefer their intelligence to be of the fantasy variety?

McLame- Smoke them all!

Award Season- Amnesty International’s Small Places Tour has been nominated in July for a MySpace Impact Award which carries a $10,000 prize. Please follow this link and vote (allowed once a day).

Respect- He joins his good friend Thurman- Bobby Murcer 1946-2008

Touring & Oil

2008-07-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

20 Years Later- Becoming an Amnesty International member twenty years ago after witnessing the Human Rights Now concerts-- I now find myself helping lead the charge as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2008. Amnesty International developed a tour this year themed Small Places (name derived from one of Eleanor Roosevelt’s speeches on human rights). Much smaller in concept, thanks to the thinking of Peter Gabriel and Bill Shipsey (Art For Amnesty), this “tour” will leave a smaller footprint (no 757’s and semis). Read the brief interview I did with the College Music Journal , which will provide more details here. We have had a very decent level of interest from artists and their reps in participating. I am most grateful to receive calls from younger musicians that are currently riding the wave of success that would like to contribute to Small Places. Please join and spread the word.

Petro Pickens & The Pope- I never thought I would witness the day when oilman T.Boone Pickens and The Pope align and support reducing oil consumption and embrace solutions to climate change. Maybe you have DVR’d past the TV ads that T. Boone has been blanketing across the networks. I was suspect, but went to his site and viewed his 4-minute tutorial, and it actually seems like he is sincere in at least lessening our dependence on foreign oil imports, which given his primary objective may indeed be self interest. Check out the Pickens Plan and let me know your thoughts. People are learning Sustainability=Profits.

Small Step, Big Step- Seems Toyota has decided to convert a new plant to open in Mississippi from small SUV production to the first US plant to manufacture the Prius. Well Michigan, looks like we have found a solution for your shuttered factories...bring on the Japanese.

Respect- Dr.Michael DeBakey 1909-2008

Senator Dumbass

2008-07-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

So, I am reading this article in the July 6th NY Times regarding the lameness and lack of a cogent US energy policy. After a few paragraphs of the obvious I come upon this quote from Senator Dumbass- “Much of what we’re seeing today could have been prevented or ameliorated had we chosen to act differently,” says Pete V. Domenici, the ranking Republican member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a 36-year veteran of the Senate. “It was a bipartisan failure to act.”-NY Times 7/06/08. So this distingushed Senator who has been in DC over 36 years didn't see this coming? I am totally floored that someone like myself, with less information at my fingertips could see this problem coming 10 or 15 years ago. Come on Domenici. I then go on to read that Representative John "Dingleberry" Dingell (D)-Michigan who has served in Congress for 52 YEARS (much longer than I have been on this planet), seems all he has done is obstruct any increase in CAFE standards! What a brilliant record of achievement. In one article I have encountered way too many dumbasses. I am beginning to believe term limits are definitely the answer. If you can serve in the House over half a century and still be beholden to interests, then the seniority system is complete and utter BS. Do yourself a favor and read this article by Nelson Schwartz, it makes this weeks FISA bill look like kids play. Try not to let your tears destroy your keyboard.

I have arrived

2008-07-11T12:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my ballpark. At the urging of my friend Victor Caballero I enter this blog realm. I hope with this blog to share thoughts, ideas and opinions on topics such as: creativity, ecology, politics and technology. These are the topics of our time, so add the millionth blogger to the pile. Cradle to Cradle (William McDonough & Michael Braungart) and Creativity (as opposed to CONTENT) will be my guiding lights here. In my past 20 years I have worked as a campaign staffer, concert promoter, a&r executive, talent manager, bon vivant, self-employed S Corp owner and currently concerned world citizen. As Blogger prepares for it's 10th Anniversary, I prepare for my first blog. I like to think I am somewhat visionary, but I certainly have been unfortunately late in regard to blogging. I am truly looking forward to this and in finding some readers and hopefully new friends.