Environmental News

You may or may not be aware that I am the environmental czar for my company's St. Louis office. Here is a copy of the email I sent out in that capacity today:

As you probably know, polar ice caps play a very significant role in models and simulations relating to the effects of global climate change. Ice on the earth’s surface helps the planet reflect solar heat instead of absorb it, the same way wearing a white t-shirt keeps you cool in the summer time. Additionally, this melting changes the salinity of our oceans. The effects of this have been linked to global weather patterns and are thought to contribute to extreme weather conditions, such as the intensity of hurricanes. And all of this is in addition to the fact that melting ice caps mean sea levels rise, resulting in potential catastrophes for coastal cities near sea level.

It is imperative, then, that we take note of any reasonable evidence available regarding changes in the polar ice caps.

The tribulations of polar bears are now well documented, with the United States formally listed the species as threatened in May 2008. Their habitats are in peril, and their food supply shrinking. Today, however, has brought the strongest warning yet, as CNN reports that more and more polar bears are resorting to cannibalism to survive. For many, the endangerment of any species is sufficient cause for concern and action. Even those who don’t place a priority on polar bears have cause for concern, however, as the elimination of a major species, particularly a predator at the top of its food chain, has unpredictable effects on the larger ecosystem around them.

What we must take away from this, however, is that the desperation inherent in a major species’ shift toward cannibalism is indicative of much larger problems. The rate at which the ice caps are melting is now more serious than in many previous scenarios and should resonate as a call for action on the issue of climate change. In the coming weeks the Green Team here will be ratcheting up its efforts to help the office go green and increase awareness of actions we can take to be better stewards of our environment. Please continue the things we’ve already started and keep on generating ideas so that we can combat this problem as swiftly and strongly as possible, so that we can prevent this crisis.

FYI

It is National Emergency Preparedness Month

I will provide some more details for you later.

But for now, just take a look at this. I learned of this program today at a lecture I got to attend about bioterrorism preparedness. Very, very interesting.

The Hits Just Keep on Coming

Dear Joe Biden,

Shut the hell up.

Love,
America

The most comforting face available?

How has the Treasury Department not found a better comforting face in a time of crisis? Paulson always looks defeated, usually seems to be ten seconds from crying, and often says unnerving things that create turmoil around the world. Part of this appearance is that he is trying to be a leader in what appears to be one of the worst recessions in this country's history, but something has to be said for getting a soothing face with fewer worry-lines as the face of the government's efforts to stem the downfall of the economy.

Obama's New Ad (Wishful)

Obama: Hello, this is Barack Obama. There's been a lot of discussion in the last month about John McCain's running mate, Governor Palin. We've seen a lot of angry statements come from both sides, and even accusations of sexism. As I've said in the past, Governor's Palin family and her responsibilities as a mother should not be up for discussion in this campaign.

But the American people do need to question the governor's judgment when it comes to policy. And so I ask you the people, where does Governor Palin differ from the failed policies of the current administration? Is there even one issue on which Sarah Palin and George Bush don't agree? By choosing Sarah Palin to join him on his ticket, John McCain has showed us yet again that he doesn't stand for change, he stands for more of the same.

I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.

Biden Criticizes Obama Ad

Are you kidding me?! Christ, maybe we should withdraw this guy.

Barack's Been Lying

Here's the tough part: I can't decide if I care.

Not That You Need It

But this is a good article on Palin.

Worst State Ever: Alaska quickly narrows South Carolina's lead

Ah, the sweet smell of racism on a summer's day. The tender breeze that flows by calms and soothes. An unspoken understanding amongst neighbors. One of the last places in the country where a hard-working man could take his family to see a neighborhood lynching down at the old oak tree. And of course that glorious banner, the proud symbol a sweet time long past, the Flag of the Confederacy.

Yes, South Carolina is a woeful shame of a state, there is no doubt about it. You know their education system has got to be fantastic, they've got some of the lowest dental premiums in the country (trust me), and in 220 years, they've only given us one thing we were thankful for.

Yet the first seceder's reign as America's worst state is in jeopardy folks, as the keep-to-itself state of Alaska - formerly in the mid-teens of America's worst - has surged forward, threatening the dominance of the Palmetto State (no, I didn't look that up.)

On July 29, 2008, the great state of Alaska felt ashamed when Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican senator, was indicted on corruption charges. With his famous bridge to nowhere quickly becoming more and more infamous, Alaskans were turning. Senator Stevens' bid for re-election would have to come to an end and with the charges announced, polls showed the race was over for Uncle Ted (no relation to Uncle Sam or Uncle Tom).

But things would change. On August 29, 2008, Stevens' good friend and future grandmother Sarah Palin was announced as John McCain's running mate. The time for divisive politics was over. The time for mooseburgers in the White House had come.



And so, just as soon as Stevens' poll numbers had crashed quicker than the 2008 1929 stock market, they rose again with Palin's VP announcement. The Senate race in Alaska is again close. Close as well, is the race for the nation's worst state.

Depressing NYTimes article of the day...

...all about how McCain has basically abandoned his ideals to get elected.

A New McCain on the Campaign Trail

Side note: Reason number seventy-nine million I hope Obama wins is so that I never have to hear the word "maverick" again.

The Day Has Come

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that, as predicted, Barack Obama is now squarely ahead in national numbers. In the RCP Average, not only is Obama ahead, but he's ahead or tied in every component poll, save one. And that poll, which I linked to because I thought it was interesting, is only still McCain because it has week-old data; Obama led by 7% in their Sep. 17 polling.

Another thing I thought was interesting - 70% of the respondents were 45 or older, and 30% were 65 or older. Is this the turnout we should expect? Because I sure didn't think so, and if it's better (younger) than that, this election may be a landslide afterall (though you won't catch me using the "L" word again).

But here's the point: There may be a hiccup here or hiccup there, but I firmly believe that today is the day we take the lead and essentially don't look back, at least in the national polls. The electoral math and election turnout make predicting those much more difficult, but McCain will not have a substantive polling advantage between now and November 4th. (Unless of course there's something major, like Obama saying he doesn't want to lose to an ancient cripple who hates our country)

There's a lot today

Sheesh I'm posting quite a bit, but this could not be passed up.

UPDATE: There I am, trying to find Obama's interview on O'Reilly's website, only to find he's totally stolen Obama's marketing fonts for his site banner.

UPDATE2: OK, here's a couple more:
Fake McCain tape worrying about a Palin presidency
You can't make it up: GOP Minority Outreach rally features 2006's George "Macaca" Allen (p.s. George, thanks for the Senate Majority!)

A Little Levity

Who do you think Barack Obama's most ardent supporter in this country is? Outside of his immediate family, whose life would change the most if Barack Obama is elected president?

The answer? Levi Johnston. I mean, just think about it. If McCain wins, he's got to marry his on-again off-again hookup (whom he apparently isn't head over heels for), but if Obama wins, he's off the hook, free to knock up all the college girls he likes.

Also, I've been trying to turn "John McCain," "Sarah Palin," and "earmarks" into a dirty joke for about 10 minutes now with no luck.

UPDATE: This version corrects an earlier version of the story, in which I used "who's" instead of "whose" and died a little inside.

Water

This is weird. I don't know what to make of it.

He doesn't pay for it, but he sells it, why would we pay for it? Is his just the better option of bottled waters, if I am forced to buy a bottle of water? (me and my nalgene...we don't like buying water.) It is obviously reducing the carbon footprint of someone who just insists on buying bottles of water, so that's a positive. But still, packaging is fundamentally not environmentally friendly- but I suppose people who regularly buy bottles of water probably don't concern themselves with their footprint as much as, say, Nalgene or Klean Kanteen users.

Being An Adult

Way less cool then I was expecting:

Owned

I only wish this had been a TV moment.

It does, though, make your jaw drop in anger over these guys, even when you thought you couldn't be angrier.

Nothing earth-shattering, but an interesting read...

... on GWB's last months in office and the Bush/McCain relationship.


The Final Days

i dunno if you guys are into this stuff, but...

LOLbama is great

I assume you all saw this

But it's worth a post anyway.

Does Google Scare You?

I love Google, but sometimes it seems like they're going too far. Today they're planning on putting data centers offshore, which shields them from taxes and regulation. Maybe this is innocent, but I feel like you've got to be wary of any company becoming as powerful as Google has.

As an aside, I know Drudge Report is a right-wing news source (like Huffington Post is for the left) but I find that they link to more interesting news article (like the one above) than most sites I read.