AliveAndKickN

Horsehockey!

Taco Bell Diet, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Cheerios - what a bunch of horsecrap.  Think about it - eat 1250 calories/day of anything and you'll lose weight, even Taco Bell.  At least Taco Bell is willing to say the words "these results are not typical" whereas the Cancer Treatment Centers rely on the tiny words in the corner of the page, perfectly willing to parade hope in front of those who seek it.  A colleague of mine went to their Philadelphia location with pancreatic cancer.  After getting an initial boost of hope, he soon died.   Once again, Center for Science in the Public Interest is at the forefront of getting policy changed.  Companies may someday actually have to tell the truth, or at least be limited on the nonsense they can spew. 

The talking heads can't help but talk about the underwear bomber.  What went wrong and who's to blame?  Seriously, once again, in a world of a gazillion people, there's bound to be a few morons at any given time trying to blow someone else up.  In reaction to this, we'll invade Yemen next, and revise the entire airline security program, costing billions, and truly doing little to alleviate the problem. 

What are we supposed to believe in?

Back from visiting my side of the family in Flalala.  After two days of Biblical rain, I was able to get out fishing with my father and the boys, including my twenty-something cousin and even my seventy-something aunt.  We managed to catch a dozen or so, but we threw back half as they were too small.  Also took the boys to the Loggerhead Marinelife sanctuary, the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Miami MetroZoo.  All of these places had one thing in common - their necessity due to humans.  The Metrozoo had over 40 endangered species, and the sanctuaries get 90% of their "patients" due to fishing nets, gunshots and/or cars.  Fortunately/unfortunately, the Biblical rain traveled up the coast and turned into Biblical snow, keeping us in Florida an extra day and a half.  At least my wife got to enjoy a house without testosterone for a while.  While the younger two were in the car sleeping, I had "the talk" with eldest.  I gave him several rules - never talk about your sex life (true or made up) with your friends, be open with us about underage drug and alcohol use and abuse among your friends, and always wear a condom.  Boy was that weird, but I think he can handle it. 

With the downtime, I was able to finish my second Freakonomics book, Super Freakonomics.  Obviously it's a book, but I do find the concept intriguing.  It does make you think about things.  One component is the issue of climate change.  If human nature is any indication, we're not going to stop any potential climate change with altruistic behavior anytime soon.  Bringing colder ocean water to the surface where hurricanes form might mitigate major storms.  Will the oceans be the answer be the answer to climate change overall?  I'm not sure, but on the plane home, the Discovery Channel was showing an episode about colder water being pumped to the surface to increase phytoplankton, absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.  Will pumping huge amounts of cold water to the surface be a good thing or have unintended consequences?  Once again, the question is priority of spending.  Should we spend $6billion/year on NASA and less than 10% of that budget on our oceans?  I still think we'll need our oceans much sooner than we'll need a space station. 

In North Carolina, an atheistic councilman refused to take an oath of office by swearing on the Bible.  Apparently, the constitution in North Carolina, as well as several other states, offer opportunities for religious conservatives to try and oust him, although the US Supreme Count in 1961 barred states from requiring religious beliefs to serve in office.  The fact that he built his own house with solar panels and rainwater collectors isn't enough.  Doesn't Mother Nature count as almighty? 

It's been four full months since my shoulder surgery and it still hurts too much to sleep without painkillers. 

Somehow They Can Afford It

How is it that a bankrupt company can manage to pay $1.8billion in fines for environmental infractions?  I guess we should be happy about the Asarco deal, but it goes to wonder how Exxon can't manage to pay for their infraction in Alaska.  Chevron won't pay for 30 years of abuse in the Amazon.  In Ecuador, they've created a unique proposal - charge the world NOT to produce oil.  By keeping the rainforest pristine instead of drilling, a huge swath of biodiversity is preserved.

I took a tour of the Community Blood Services operation locally.  Starting in high school, and going up to tumor #1, I gave blood frequently.  After being tumor-free for five years, I started donating again.  While trying to donate, I found out about tumor #2, since my iron count was so low that they wanted to give me a transfusion instead of taking.  Anyway, the operation is amazing, and unfortunately a symbol of what can go wrong in government.  Every year, new mandates are given for blood testing, and each time, the technology upgrades cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.  When the number of donors (both in blood and money) doesn't offset the amount spent, it becomes a deficit (sorry, I'm not the MBA in the room, but you get my point).  So how do you offset the additional costs?  Hospitals can't afford to pay extra for the blood services, as blood is a commodity, and the hospitals are in bad shape.  This leaves the fine art of fundraising, and guys like me are in short supply, pun intended.  But how many non-paying projects can a guy afford?  As I've said previously, life sometimes gets in the way of making a difference. 

An article came out this week, indicating that fast food was safer than school food.  While the article may seem persuasive, I think the title is misleading.  If school food is tested, and deemed safe, it should be ok.  Just like putting 10 foot fences on every overpass to keep one idiot from tossing a frozen turkey onto traffic is wasteful, going to umpteen lenghts unnecessarily is just that.  If we really wanted to make the food safer, we'd de-centralize the processing of food.  By consolidating the entire country into only 30 or so meat processing plants, the chances of widespread outbreaks are considerably higher.  Of course centralizing is the key to profits at ConAgra and Cargil.  And no one seems to be paying for the negative effects industrial farming is having on the environment (see paragraph 1).  

Wrong Fish, Wrong Time

First snow came today, so like any good parent, I rushed to the supermarket.  You can never be too prepared.  As I unpacked my half-price frozen shrimp, my neighbor stopped by with a gift from her trip to Atlanta, and the Georgia Aquarium.  Most people get a t-shirt or maybe a bottle of liquor.  No, I get a brochure on sustainable seafood and the best ways to keep our oceans clean.  Well apparently, I didn't do a good job of checking the label, as my frozen shrimp was from Malaysia, which falls under the category of seafood to avoid (along with common seafood such as Chilean sea bass, Atlantic cod, shark, grouper, red snapper, and imported swordfish).  US swordfish is listed as "good," along with canned albacore tuna, wild clams and oysters, Pacific cod, and US shrimp.  "Best" seafood includes US farmed or wild caught catfish, Alaskan salmon, rainbow trout, spiny lobster, and my Louisiana favorite, crawfish.  So, besides shopping for the right seafood, we can do some steps to keep the oceans clean - less cleaners, fertilizers, and pesticides used in and around your home.  All that stuff runs down the drains, and into our tribtaries, and into our oceans.  I'm going to try some of the homegrown cleaners instead of the store-bought stuff. 

19 years after the Exxon Valdez ran aground, and spilled several million gallons of oil into Pugeot Sound, no money has been paid, and oil is still prevalent in and around the various bays affected.  Seeking a break, I watched Food Inc, which mainly discusses meat and agriculture.  Ironically, fish are eating corn now, which explains why certain farm-raised fish don't make the list as well.  It's a modern-day "jungle" by Upton Sinclair.  Is industrial food the example of using technology for the wrong reason?  And without the subsidies, what's the true cost of cheap food?    

At the craft fair today, my in-laws bought my kids Smencils, one of those items like snuggies and chia pets, that people buy just as a joke.  I can't sell energy efficiency when electricity prices and incentives are at their highest points ever, and these companies make money.  Go figure.    

I Agree with Rick Warren (sort of)

On Meet the Press (or as I call it, Be Depressed), Pastor Rick Warren talked about service, giving back to the community, and of course life.  As he put it, there are millions of villages accross the globe where the only building is a church.  I agree with almost all he had to say, except the concept of abortion being akin to genocide.  The number he threw out was 47 million since Roe v Wade.  If being spiritual means caring for life throughout the course of life, not just as a fetus, we need to understand the implications.  How many of those 47 million would have been a ward of the state or federal government, either in prison or on some sort of assistance/welfare?  Again, in a world of 4 billion, do we need 47 million more that were unwanted, even in the cases of rape?  After Rick Warren, Bill Gates and his wife came on, talking about their foundation, and the good that has come from it.  Cell phones can tell people when to take their meds, remind them of when meds are available for distribution (especially where there is no electricity to keep meds cold).  Capitalism works.  It brings innovation, and cures, and more.  It also brings things like the Congo, where blood diamonds have now become blood gold and more.  When the value of a mineral outstrips the value of human life, there's a problem.  Everyone agreed that government needs to lead. 

Started reading Super Freakonomics, the sequel to Freakenomics.  So far it has explained that pre-marital sex is the reason why prostitution isn't more prevalent.  Apparently, a hundred years ago, when people waited to have sex after marriage, prostitution was bigger.  Still, prostitutes have a greater chance of having sex with a cop than get arrested by one. 

Played 2 hours of soccer for the first time since the summer.  Feels good but going to be sore.     

Work and Life Sometime Get in the Way

For the last few weeks, the business has been working on the new product line launch.  As with anything new, it's time-consuming.  Throw in an election, and I haven't had time to spend on my favorite sites.  Being a Saturday afternoon, and not having a soccer game to coach during the day, I was able to check a few of my faves.  Dot Earth had the video from two EPA lawyers talking about stuff elected officials can't - Cap and Trade only hits the edges, and in the end. won't really do anything except create new "shock doctrine" industries.  Sustainable is Good had the article about Energy Star products tending to be misleading, especially for companies that self-verify.  Re-Nest presented a Pew survey results showing what people think they need now, as opposed to years ago.  The Center for Science in the Public Interest applauded the new FDA for appearing to follow-through on threats to companies with either misleading advertisements or unsafe practices, including a potential ban on alcoholic-energy "drinks."  Tonic launched the end of the decade salvo with a 7-minute abridged video of the past 10 years. 

The bottom line - people still act in the own self-interest.  Leaders need to be the change and voices of reason. 

Waterwise Finally?

The other day, the Wall Street Journal showed up at the house again.  I still didn't order it, and obviously I don't pay for it, but hey, reading material is reading material.  Amongst all of the teaparty healthcare nonsense articles, I found article about desert and sunbelt states finally getting water conscious.  As someone who doesn't water the lawn ever, I still find it unfathomable to have grass in the desert, but it's obviously there.  Of course, as in any scenario, when one industry is faced with looming cuts in profits, they fight it, regardless of the virtuosity, in this case Scott's.  Is it true that the financial industry really hasn't changed much since last year's meltdown?  Amazing. 

The Obama administration is finishing a project initialized during the Bush administration creating a federal oversight of ocean conservation.  Recently, I posted that I thought the amount spent on space exploration should be spent on our oceans.  Considering 50% or more of the global population lives on a coastline, it might be important to preserve it.  Of course, just like the healthcare debate, the water debate is hinged on big food as well.  Our drinking water will continue to take a hit from the factory farms producing more "material" that can safely be applied as fertilizer or even turned into energy.  And with the amount of usable water going towads big food farming, it will continue to be an issue unless changed.    

 I've been asked to present to this year's leadership group on local politics.  I'm not sure why I was asked, but I'll see what I can do.  Realistically, I don't live in a town with a lot of controversy or issues.  Maybe that should be the topic.  Maintain order and everyone's happy, sort of.   

Mullett? Yah fer sure!!

The family and I took a 10-day holiday to Vancouver, mostly Vancouver Island, spending time in Victoria, Tofino and Campbell River.  Whales, salmon, mountains, beaches, seals, eagles, bears, surfing.  I was hoping to get to Alaska, but apparently the distance from Vancouver to Alaska is like Jersey to Florida.  My states visited count remains at 45.  Aside from the usual joy of taking three boys on a 6-hour flight and 5 hotels, I of course had to take in the surroundings.  Lots (dare I say oodles) of old growth and new growth trees, biodiversity, and wildlife blended within the population.  Everything was clean.  Most of the cars and houses were smaller, and the 5-year old couldn't keep up with the amount of buses.  You saw more recycling containers than individual pieces of litter, and there was definitely potential for abuse.  With all of the fried food/coffee house/donut shoppes, Vancouver could easily be as polluted and overweight as anywhere USA.  Cigarettes were prevalent however, as was beer (more expensive, but higher alcohol content).

So how was it like the USofA?  Although my media following was minimal, it appears their political and economic issues are similar.  Revenue and therefore tax collections are down, so it's easy to blame the other guys, whoever they may be.  Mills, car dealers, retailers closing as overspending stops.  Soldiers overseas.  Hockey all over the sports, even in August.

On the flight back, we had 6 hours of clear daylight to see the earth below.  I skipped 17Again and Confessions of a Shopaholic and read The Family and more of Atlas Shrugged.  The story in The Family flat out scares me.  American politics as a holy war for several decades?  I hope not.  The view was amazing - Great Lakes and Rockies still inspire.  Forests and lakes of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota are impressive.  Plains states look like jigsaw puzzles of crops separated by highway.

Came home to Jersey and rotator cuff surgery and a guvernatorial election with two qualified men reduced to mud-sligging.           

Is it ever simple?

I apologize for being away.  I was interviewing to be part of the Obama administration death squads who would be the ones deciding euthanasia.  Based upon the nonsense coming out in the media, I can think of a few good places to start if I get the job.  As always, who wins and who loses in these types of debates, and are they even debates if the goal is to simply make the other guy lose, regardless of the outcome?  Anyway, for a change of pace, Mrs. Semicolon decided to have her appendix out at the last minute, and 24 hours later, after laporoscopic surgery, she was home resting uncomfortably.  I somehow managed to switch gears and cook and clean, filling my husbandly role.  Speaking of simple, I made what turned into an awesome vegetarian chili - 2 cans of red beans, leftover corn kernals, can of crushed tomatoes, chili powder/sugar/salt to taste, herbs from the garden to taste and slow cooker for as long as you want.  Tres bien!!

Shark Week is in full tilt on Discovery.  As always, use terror to attract viewers and show the plight of the shark.  Eco-tourism for shark viewing is now impeding on surfers.  Chum is being used to attract sharks for the tourists, drawing sharks off Africa into waters with people.  People occasionally lose.  This still doesn't make up for the gazillions killed annually for shark fin soup.  What a waste, and burden on our ecosystem.  Thankfully, I had the Joan Rivers roast on Comedy Central to switch to.  It's amazing how much humor can be achieved from one person's face.  With any luck the Michael Jackson funeral will continue to hold court as well.  I miss the headlines.  

I couldn't help but notice that the Birther Movement has the same initials as another movement.  But after a bowel movement, at least one feel's relieved instead of having more anxiety.  Maybe Fox and Lou Dobbs will pick up this movement?  The product placement tie-ins would certainly be better financially.  Think of all of the cereal advertisers who'd jump on the opportunity.  Someday, I hope Coney Island counts as part of the United States.  If I ever become important, I don't need the controversy.  

Is America stupid, as Bill Maher says?  Do we really not know a lot - branches of government, what are the Bill of Rights, belief in snopes such as Bush knowing about 9-11 beforehand,  Amazing.      

Tanks, no thanks, and tanning beds

Did you ever look at something and instantly feel that it simply makes no sense.  I feel that way every time I pass a tanning "salon".  I don't think I've ever seen anyone going in or out, but unless they are laundering money, they must get customers.  Well recent articles may change that, but if cigarette usage is any indication, it will survive anyway.  Tanning beds have been compared to arsenic and mustard gas.  Since younger people are the typical audience, it's doubtful that it will be banned.  The other night, I caught a show on TV regarding oil exploration in ANWR in Alaska.  I honestly can't remember the show or cite the info, but a few things stuck in my head.  First, our military is the single biggest entity by far in petroleum usage, roughly 2 1/2% of the daily usage globally.  And second, supposedly the heat created to get to the oil in ANWR is enough BTUs to heat every household in the US.  Call me crazy, but it seems that by trying to save the world, the military is potentially screwing up the world (in more ways than one sometimes).  And in trying to fuel the world, the oil companies could be fueling the world, sort of.  For the past 20+ years, annual fuel creation has been outstripped by fuel usage.  Think this is sustainable?  No sense diversifying, right. 

Even after all of the food scares with peanuts, lettuce and more, further oversight by the FDA barely passed the House of Representatives.  I have to assume my representative was against it, as with everything.  We'll see what happens in the Senate.  This week, my wife was the patient for a change.  After being jealous of my surgeries and the attention I've received over the years, she decided to get rid of her appendix.  It went smoothe, and after a day, she was out and on her way.  While we were there, an orthodox rabbi from the local Chabad came into our room uninvited and proceeded to perform a prayer for her recovery with us.  Should it have bothered me as much as it did?  We didn't ask for it, he was not someone we knew, and he didn't ask if we wanted it.  Or do well wishes trump common courtesy?