AliveAndKickN

Truth, Nonsense, Divisiveness, and Hooey

I refused to watch the "debate" that took place at the chuch in California last weekend.  The location and content seemed in opposition to the concept of separation of church and state.  Like everyone else, I heard the scorecard afterward, and the straight talk express apparently did very well, especially on the pro-life stance.  So once again, I raise the question - Do leaders actually care about some of the stuff they throw?  Abortion, gun control, same-sex marriage - as long as the issue remains out there, division occurs and single-issue voters can be swayed.  The Bush administration is proposing changes that could withhold government money by essentially lumping contraception as a form of abortion.  In the off-chance anyone wasn't aware, Presidential nominee Senator McCain was divorced previously.  Circumstances occurred obviously - his POW time and her car accident, and obviously it took place before the Internet, but still.  According to the church, marriage is above all circumstances, just as the right to life, even to the point of conception.  And what about same-sex marriage?  Is this somehow worse than infidelity?  According to Freakonomics, serious crime rates dropped dramatically about 17 years after Roe V Wade (and more people are hurt in swimming pool accidents than by guns).  With roughly a gazillion people in the world, and a lack of infrastructure to accommodate them, do we really want to add unwanted children to the mix?  Theoretically, if seas rise a few feet, and hundreds of millions of people are displaced from their coastal homes, will anyone really give a hoot about this conversation?      

For the record, I have no issue with divorce, abortion or same-sex unions.  I am not pro-divorce nor pro-abortion, and it's unfortunate that it happens or that there is a need.  However, there is.  More importantly, I question why would the evangelicals approve of someone who admittedly destroyed his own marriage?  How can anything of significance get done when so much time is spent on these types of divisive issues?  Again, does it really matter, or is it simply a further example of dividing and doing anything it takes to win?

      

Now I have worms!

Just kidding.  This morning, in pulling out parsley for the organic rice select brown rice jambalaya I was preparing (great for leftovers), i noticed a green and yellow striped caterpillar, and then I noticed about six more.  In an initial panic, I checked the web, and sure enough, I have parsley worms.  Since I have plenty of parsley in the garden, I don't mind sharing with the parsley worms as they eventually become black swallowtail butterflies, which are very good for pollenation.  I guess you can call me pro-life after all.   

Bathroom Talk

Ever trying to increase my knowledge of the unimportant, I picked up the book "Medical Myths that can Kill You, and 101 Truths, etc."  So far, I've learned that you don't need to drink 8 glasses of water a day, and that the caffeine in drinks doesn't outweigh the fluid you gain from drinking things like coffee, etc.  Sorry bottled water guys.  As long as your pee isn't dark, you're doing ok.  More importantly, I learned that the bathroom is no place to keep medicine, and that toothbrushes are the biggest source of germs.  Although you can't catch a sexual disease from sitting on the toilet, you should keep the seat down when flushing, as apparently the spray can go as far as twenty feet, getting on the toothbrushes bunched on the counter, and anything else in its path.  So, clean the medicines out of the medicine cabinet as the temperature fluctuations are no good for maintaining potency, and put the toothbrushes in the cabinet in their place.  Just remember to store the meds away from the monsters. 

#1 and #2 came home from sleepaway camp today, so summer is getting close to being over.  #2 was very proud of his tan man-nipples and man-gina.  Money well spent.

It should be about the bike

:As someone who went through cancer, and has had family see me through some tough days, I felt compelled to read Lance Armstrong's book "It's not about the bike."  Without ruining it for those who did not read it, the book essentially talks lovingly about how Lance Armstrong's wife got him through his testicular cancer.  Obviously since the book came out, he and his wife separated, and based upon the media, it appears to have been his choice.  Fine.  He does good work with the wristbands and raises money for cancer and other various charities so we can let it go.  I think within the last year or so, he launched a line of bottled sports drinks and bars, etc.  The ads say that if you are tired, consume his stuff, and you will somehow no longer be tired.  Fortunately or unfortunately, since this is America, you are allowed to say whatever you want, as long as it doesn't claim to cure anything.  So, at a time when bottled water is taking a beating in the press for it's impact on the environment, and the cost per ounce, Lance and his financial backers come out with this.  Today's headline was the last straw for me.  Apparently, at a time of drought and hundred degree weather in Texas, 330,000 gallons of water was used at his house, and he wasn't even there.  I guess it was for the grounds. 

I'm constantly telling my kids "just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should."  Again, this is America.   

   

Two Sides to Every Coin

As I delve more and more into the public realm, I realize that every issue has a point and a counterpoint (remember the Jane Curtin/Dan Akroyd skit?).  To misquote/paraphrase from the Dark Knight, eventually you are the hero long enough to become the goat.  As I listen to the rhetoric, it has become apparent that this is a serious generational issue facing us in November.  America First vs Global Equality; Drilling More vs Renewable Energy; Not Stopping for Directions vs GPS Systems; Debt vs Balanced Budgets; Ensure vs Organic.  It seems like the last two generations of power is fighting tooth and nail to retain it.  At what cost?   

I sat in on several conference calls with my congressman and local constituents.  Each caller who participated identified themselves as not having kids in school anymore, and many of which were retired.  They were concerned about energy prices, housing prices, and property taxes.  Not one of them was concerned about the greater global good or even the local good.  It's understandable for someone on a fixed income to be concerned.  However, in return, my congressman responded by blaming the other party for blocking legislation that would theoretically have solved their problems.  He left out the parts about potentially planning for the future, either by purchasing a more fuel-efficient car, living in a smaller house, or by saving more.  When things are good, no one complains.  Few seem to plan ahead.  Anyone saying that they can lower taxes should be forced to take a lie-detector test.  There's too much infrastructure in need of repair.       

We have freedom in the United States.  One of my favorite quotes comes from Matt Taibbi's book "The Great Derangement," regarding President Bush's famous "They hate us for our freedom" quote.  We are not hated for our freedom, we are scoffed at because of what we do with it.  We invade and occupy a sovereign nation and then threaten other countries that do similar.  We pollute the environment and then won't sign environmental treaties with other developing countries following similar paths.  We complain about our kids not getting into Ivy league schools when some kids don't even have schools to attend.  We spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year to not let Americans die, yet elsewhere, life seems disposable.  We serve more food at a kid's birthday party than many families eat in a year.  

Recently, my wife and I were out to dinner with friends.  One of the topics was how an acquaintance, who had a stroke, was divorcing his wife, after so many years of taking care of him (Hey, Lance Armstrong did it).  It seemed ironic, and the usual sarcastic quips flew.  Trying not to squash the fun, I did bring up the concept that maybe the husband didn't want his family to see him in such a light.  As someone who had been through months of physical tribulation, I can tell you first hand that if I were to have a setback once again, I would not want my family to see me deteriorate.  That's not how I want to be remembered.

Again, two sides to every coin.               

It's that *!*! simple

If you watch the TV commercials, it's easy to get confused.  My daily charity focus email simplified it pretty well:  put a price on carbon; ban the bulb; net metering; localize economies; shift subsidies; grow trees; tax credits on renewables; profits for efficiency; livable communities; fuel from waste; more plug-ins, trains, and bikes; smart grids and more efficiency.  Also, less coal plants, fuel from food, and nuclear "guarantees."  So, for those living in a shell lately, this means using less, and what you use being more efficient.  Make the places you live into areas where everything can get done so you don't need to import or go elsewheree.  And in order to accomplish these goals, offer financial incentives to get it done.  If we can all agree on this, we can focus on truly important stuff, like sex scandals, and watching the mighty fall again and again. 

Interestingly enough, the other day I was working from home, and I had a deposit for the bank.  I had some calls to make, so I grabbed my cell and walked the less than 2 mile stroll to the bank.  A half a dozen cars (friends thankfully) slowed down to ask me if my car had broken down and if I needed a lift.  They couldn't quite understand the concept of walking to the bank when I explained.  Someday we'll get there.     

And then, he/she/it was gone..

Yesterday morning, we had what has become our typical rainstorm.  Whatever happened to plain-old rain?  It seems like we go from drought to biblical in a matter of seconds, then back again.  Plenty of damage and lots of quick accumulation.  Anyway, I found something in my yard that I can't remember seeing in my adult life, a frog.  Growing up, I remember frogs being everywhere.  Now?  Not being a frogologist, I didn't know what kind it was, so I tried to take a picture, but my wife's camera was fighting me.  If I was cool, I would have at least had a camera phone.  No luck, just a Blackberry for business.  Sorry.  You're just going to have to take my word for it.   

Hudson River Therapy

After listening to the nonsense with the Presidential race this week (he pulled the race card, his wife sells beer to Cuba), my frustration mounted further than usual (thank goodness for Jack Cafferty).  Combined with the too long time spent in meetings, I felt the need to give the pedometer a good workout.  But with one of my associates on vacation, I had to stay close to the home office.  One day, I did the Alpine boat basin hike down to the Hudson River.  Thankfully my mother-in-law reminded me to bring water, as the 2.2 miles each way was pretty hot.  She forgot to remind me to drive carefully however, so I recklessly drove behind a Bentley convertible afterward towards A&P (Jones natural soda and Stonyfield yogurts were on sale, plus I had coupons), then home.  Today, for a change, my wife joined me.  After getting past work obligations, we decided to have a business meeting and cross the George Washington Bridge, walk from 179th street to 191st, and grab a bite (see, there was a catch) at The New Leaf Cafe in Fort Tryon Park.  New Leaf is part of the NY Restoration Project, headed by Bette Midler.  NYRP is working to create a healthier NY City by reclaiming and restoring under-resourced parks, gardens and open spaces, often in disadvantaged neighborhoods. 

I noticed a seeming lack of boating both days.  Could be the energy prices?  30,000 hiking steps in 2 days isn't bad.  By the way, I'm picking green beans and cucumbers daily.  Tomatoes are close.  Broccoli leaves are getting eaten by rabbits, but we'll see if they survive.  Recent seedlings spinach, lettuce, pole beans, and marigolds are starting nicely.               

Anyone can be a predator, can't they?

CNN ran an ad this evening from the Darkness to Light organization, essentially targeting youth coaches as potential sexual predators.  As a coach and administrator of multiple soccer teams and programs, I initially took offense.  All of our coaches take necessary certification courses and do background checks.  But then I went to the web site.  The percentages are there.  But what do the hard numbers point to?  Are we talking about coaches, clergy, teachers, relatives?  My off-the-cuff memory has a greater percentage of clergy being in the media as predators, as opposed to coaches.  Check the video and the numbers for yourself.  For a change, I'm still at a loss for words.

Somebody Tell Me it's too Simple

If you've never read my stuff before, know that I try to keep things simple and solve multiple issues with single ideas.  On Monday, America2050 project.  Just imagine southern DC through Boston working together.  With 38 million people there already, and another 20 million more expected by 2050, we better start.  Public engagement is necessary, there's no place for "I" in policy, and there is no place for political immediacy.  Results are going to be long term.  Property taxes can only go up.  Get used to high energy costs.

According to the panel, there is currently no national or state master transportation plan (not that important I guess).  Only $570million has been earmarked by the federal government (in loans, not grants) for billions of needed infrastructure.  NJ is on the hook for the rest.  The Environmental Infrastructure Trust fund is almost empty.  In the 1940's, that generation was proud of its belt-tightening.  In the 50's, the growth of roads and power.  The '60's was proud of space exploration.  I don't think anything good happened in the '70's (maybe tube tops).  The fall of communism took place in the '80's.  The Internet came along in the '90's.  What will this decade be proud of?  We still have a few years, but we might considering picking up the pace. 

The water people were concerned about the infrastructure of aging wood and lead piping, combined with additional growth needs, such as new high-rises in the inner cities.  The electricity people were concerned about additional needed capacity, combined with the need for clean technology.  Clean coal still doesn't exist and nuclear is (as it should be) a tough sell.  Deep sea drilling?  Again, my thought is to have the utility companies, who are flush with cash currently, lease space on the rooftops of every flat unimpeded box store, warehouse, plant, etc.  Setup rainwater capturing to use for non-potable purposes and setup solar panels to increase capacity right at the source, instead of losing 65% of the energy during transmission from West Virginia.  Setup net meters, so power can be sold back to the grid during peak demand.  The building owner gets some rent money or a discount.  The utility company gets more capacity.  The NIMBYs don't have to get in an uproar about additional generators in their backyard. 

P3s, or Public Private Partnerships were discussed in length as well.  Apparently, this is what Governor Corzine was trying to sell to raise money via asset monetization.  Being the simpleton, I asked if it was like using a home equity loan to buy new shoes, or to pay down expensive credit card loans.  I was told it was latter.  Unfortunately, either Governor Corzine's office couldn't sell it or New Jerseyans weren't interested in buying.  My idea would be to cut snow plow usage to save money.  If the roads are that bad, stay home.  Otherwise, you're on your own. 

Supposedly the environment in Trenton and Washington is so partisan, it's impossible to get anything done.  If I was President or Governor, I wouldn't sign a bill that wasn't approved by both sides.  There's no sense in approving something once, only to have it rescinded when the other party gets in power.    

I took a tour of a wastewater treatment facility.  The water supposedly supercedes EPA clean standards after getting through the process, and the solid waste is shipped via rail to Virginia to use as fertilizer.  A methane capturing cogeneration plant is almost finished so most of the energy needed to run the plant will be self-sustaining.  The plant manager was very proud of his for-profit mentality, but he also said something interesting - Environmentalists aren't scientific.  Think it's true?