An editor here at ProPublica received this "Census" form [1] in the mail last week. In big, bold letters at the top it announces, "2010 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CENSUS." The form even has a "Census Tracking Code." But it’s not from the Census Bureau. It’s actually a survey from the Republican National Committee. The mailer [1] […]
Trees give off internal electricity that’s now being tapped
According to the articles, "Electrical Circuit Runs Entirely Off Power in Trees," published Sept. 9, 2009 in ScienceDaily, and "Preventing Forest Fires with Tree Power," published Sept. 23,2008, in M.I.T. news. Plants generate electricity internally. Scientists at the University of Washington have created nano circuits that use such a tiny bit of electrical power that they […]
That’s Not Trash
What did you send to the landfill this week? Did you know that there are literally millions and millions of pounds of product in our landfills that are not even actually trash? Yes, really. There are all sorts of things that are still 100% useful that we throw away just as if there is no […]
Post-Partisanship? No, that’s not it.
I keep encountering or hearing about people encountering those who are cynical. Those who still have no hope, no faith, no optimism. I’ve been one of you. I’ve been ranting and raving, sure that the election would never take place, sure that the cheating would overwhelm the numbers, sure that it would never, ever end. But […]
Spread the Wealth? That’s What Government Does
Hold on a second. Exactly what is wrong with “spreading the wealth”? Are those really dirty words? The desperate McCain campaign is trying to score last-minute points by suggesting that a candidate who would “spread the wealth,” who would take your money and decide how to spend it, is somehow a dangerous radical, possibly […]
Tens of Millions Will Vote for McCain. That’s Terrifying.
It’s looking good for the election: Obama’s up 8 in the polls, and seems to have a lock on the electoral college. So why am I suddenly so depressed? True, a glass that’s 54 percent full will – at last! – get us a thinking president, a decent president, very possibly a great president. (Unless […]