Back in my college days, I remember a bunch of ads for speed reading classes. Pay some money and learn speed reading.
It seems like one doesn't hear much about speed reading classes, these days. Maybe it's because folks are less likely to be reading books than before.
I had difficulty getting through big reading assignments, in college, due to my lack of speed reading skills, I guess. I tend to work more slowly and I tend to favor more interactive learning than just absorbing tons of information. Shorter readings and things like NPR podcasts of round table discussions are more my speed.
Sound bytes and debates on X don't appeal to me. I tend to go for the middle ground when it comes to consuming information; modest sized, but more nuanced than things on X. I also seem to need to express my own feelings and ideas along the way.
Friday, January 31, 2025
Many good years without an airliner crash in USA until this year.
One thing that is shocking about the recent plane crash in Washington, DC is how, in recent times, it's rare for an airline to crash in the USA.
I read that the last major crash was back in 2009. This has been a very good safety record, compared to the so called "good old days" of the 1800s when catastrophes, in factories, transportation and so forth, were more like just "another day at the office." Safety standards have evolved, toward safety, over the past century.
I read that the last major crash was back in 2009. This has been a very good safety record, compared to the so called "good old days" of the 1800s when catastrophes, in factories, transportation and so forth, were more like just "another day at the office." Safety standards have evolved, toward safety, over the past century.
Thursday, January 30, 2025
A vindicative president.
Trump accusing Washington DC aviation disaster on DEI policies, Biden and so forth.
A less vindictive president would wait till the investigation provided a clearer explanation of why this disaster happened. The investigation is in progress; assuming the investigators have not been laid off from the government.
A less vindictive president would wait till the investigation provided a clearer explanation of why this disaster happened. The investigation is in progress; assuming the investigators have not been laid off from the government.
Turning the inflation clock back to 2019.
It wasn't enough to satisfy some right wingers that inflation went down to around 3% under Joe Biden's watch after it had risen to around 9% a year after the pandemic.
The overall inflation rate went to around 9% after the Fed dumped lots of money into the economy to pay for keeping things solvent during the pandemic. This propped up businesses and people, while rents and mortgages were still due, but businesses had to reduce indoor gathering. This also had the effect of propping up high property values as rents and mortgages could still be paid while many people were not working. It paid for unemployment and things like The Cares Act.
Under Biden's watch, inflation went up due, in part, to that extra money sloshing around in the economy. Biden ask to have more money put in to pay for things like the so called "Inflation Reduction Act;" infrastructure bill.
Right wingers bitched due to the higher inflation, though, later in Biden's term, the Fed was scaling back and inflation was going down rapidly.
This wasn't enough to satisfy right wingers who noticed higher grocery prices, gasoline prices and so forth. They wanted something more. They said, "bring prices back down to the 2019 "before pandemic," levels. Food prices go up with wages, passing added costs to consumers. During the pandemic, some workers were more highly regarded than usual and people were calling them "essential workers."
Now, well after the pandemic, the talk about essential workers has subsided and people are bitching about inflation.
Okay, I noticed that home values went up faster, during that period after the pandemic, than the overall inflation rate. In some cases home values went up around 20%!
Let's bring home values back down to 2019 levels. This could reduce the cost of living. Lets bring rents back down to 2019 levels. How about stock values? Let's crash the stock market so stock values can drop to 2019 levels as well.
Do the right wingers wish for that?
I say, "be careful what you ask for as you might get it."
As for gas prices, right wingers want to bring gas prices back down to when Trump was in office for his first term.
I say, when, during Trump's first term? Are you talking about around March of 2020 when oil was at the record low of $0 per barrel? That was when oil demand plummeted, around 95% of airlines were grounded, cars were sitting in the driveway and people were staying home. Biden accused of hiding in the basement.
It cost more money to store the toxic substance called "oil" at the wellhead, than it could be sold on the market for. Oil drillers started turning off the wells.
The global warming carbon footprint went down, the polluted skies got clearer and life became more mellow. Some people thought that period of quiet was almost like being in heaven.
Okay, after 2021, the economy is basically back to normal again, so prices are higher due to demand. In spite of Joe Biden, oil production, in USA, have hit record levels even before Trump took office for his second term. Carbon footprint is back up to normal again, and some folks are denying that global warming even needs to be addressed.
The overall inflation rate went to around 9% after the Fed dumped lots of money into the economy to pay for keeping things solvent during the pandemic. This propped up businesses and people, while rents and mortgages were still due, but businesses had to reduce indoor gathering. This also had the effect of propping up high property values as rents and mortgages could still be paid while many people were not working. It paid for unemployment and things like The Cares Act.
Under Biden's watch, inflation went up due, in part, to that extra money sloshing around in the economy. Biden ask to have more money put in to pay for things like the so called "Inflation Reduction Act;" infrastructure bill.
Right wingers bitched due to the higher inflation, though, later in Biden's term, the Fed was scaling back and inflation was going down rapidly.
This wasn't enough to satisfy right wingers who noticed higher grocery prices, gasoline prices and so forth. They wanted something more. They said, "bring prices back down to the 2019 "before pandemic," levels. Food prices go up with wages, passing added costs to consumers. During the pandemic, some workers were more highly regarded than usual and people were calling them "essential workers."
Now, well after the pandemic, the talk about essential workers has subsided and people are bitching about inflation.
Okay, I noticed that home values went up faster, during that period after the pandemic, than the overall inflation rate. In some cases home values went up around 20%!
Let's bring home values back down to 2019 levels. This could reduce the cost of living. Lets bring rents back down to 2019 levels. How about stock values? Let's crash the stock market so stock values can drop to 2019 levels as well.
Do the right wingers wish for that?
I say, "be careful what you ask for as you might get it."
As for gas prices, right wingers want to bring gas prices back down to when Trump was in office for his first term.
I say, when, during Trump's first term? Are you talking about around March of 2020 when oil was at the record low of $0 per barrel? That was when oil demand plummeted, around 95% of airlines were grounded, cars were sitting in the driveway and people were staying home. Biden accused of hiding in the basement.
It cost more money to store the toxic substance called "oil" at the wellhead, than it could be sold on the market for. Oil drillers started turning off the wells.
The global warming carbon footprint went down, the polluted skies got clearer and life became more mellow. Some people thought that period of quiet was almost like being in heaven.
Okay, after 2021, the economy is basically back to normal again, so prices are higher due to demand. In spite of Joe Biden, oil production, in USA, have hit record levels even before Trump took office for his second term. Carbon footprint is back up to normal again, and some folks are denying that global warming even needs to be addressed.
Who is more immoral, the Palestinians or the Israelis?
On my moral scale, both are equal.
So why have the Israelis killed so many more people than the Palestinians?
In my opinion, only because the Israelis have more powerful weapons.
The violence and hatred is similar on both sides, but larger weapons will only amplify the violence.
Folks on both sides who wish for peace are of higher moral character than those who wish for war.
I say the best way to liberate people from oppression of a powerful ruler is to subvert the ruler's system in some none violent and creative way.
Innovation tends to works better than violence.
If one is going to fight fire with fire, one needs to have equal firepower.
So why have the Israelis killed so many more people than the Palestinians?
In my opinion, only because the Israelis have more powerful weapons.
The violence and hatred is similar on both sides, but larger weapons will only amplify the violence.
Folks on both sides who wish for peace are of higher moral character than those who wish for war.
I say the best way to liberate people from oppression of a powerful ruler is to subvert the ruler's system in some none violent and creative way.
Innovation tends to works better than violence.
If one is going to fight fire with fire, one needs to have equal firepower.
Monday, January 27, 2025
What happens if government stops keeping reliable economic statistics?
Potential cuts in government agencies that collect statistics on the economy could bring interesting results. What would Wall Street due without a reliable measure of inflation?
So much of the news and business decisions rely on accurate measures of things like unemployment levels, inflation and so forth.
Without these numbers, maybe more economic chaos? Would it be a blessing in disguise to be less mindful of money. Would people sing, "don't worry, be happy?"
So much of the news and business decisions rely on accurate measures of things like unemployment levels, inflation and so forth.
Without these numbers, maybe more economic chaos? Would it be a blessing in disguise to be less mindful of money. Would people sing, "don't worry, be happy?"
Are Washington State's carbon limits actually reducing the state's carbon footprint?
Some Republicans in Washington State Legislature want quicker access to results for lower carbon emissions from the state to measure if things like Cap and Trade are actually working.
Personally, I have a different measure. What do we get in return from the money collected? It could be bringing us less traffic, expanded bus service, more trains to Spokane, than only one train that arrives after midnight, and so forth. Worth it.
As for emissions from this state, I think it's working, somewhat. Not always an easy measure, due to other factors clouding the results; such as state population, continued car addiction and economic growth. In spite of these other factors, clouding the measurement of results, are carbon emissions, from our state, actually going, down?
Personally, I have a different measure. What do we get in return from the money collected? It could be bringing us less traffic, expanded bus service, more trains to Spokane, than only one train that arrives after midnight, and so forth. Worth it.
As for emissions from this state, I think it's working, somewhat. Not always an easy measure, due to other factors clouding the results; such as state population, continued car addiction and economic growth. In spite of these other factors, clouding the measurement of results, are carbon emissions, from our state, actually going, down?
Selfi taken at a dance.
Being a minimalist has some virtues and drawbacks.
One drawback was I have no backup pair of shoes, or laces when one of my shoelaces turned into a big granny knot that I had to cut off. Then I used the pieces of lace to tie shoe as best I could to get to a store to buy new laces.
A virtue, about minimalism, is not worrying that much about my material possessions. A radio show about LA fires talked about the grieving over keepsakes lost.
I thought about what things matter most to me. What material possessions would I take with me if I was evacuating my home. Top of the list might be my sculpture made out of dried Elmer's Glue. Pretty unique and irreplaceable. I made it during college. I could survive without it however.
Other unique keepsakes would come next. Small things with their own stories. One piece of furniture high on the list I made from particleboard and glue in the 1980s, it turned out well. I would try and save that, but it wouldn't be easy to carry.
As for photographs and writings, the important stuff is scanned to digital. The most important stuff is in the cloud, on my website, Flickr, or blog. If the paper burned, it wouldn't be that big a deal, though I don't plan to throw out the paper.
I would likely grab my external hard drive with the scans I have done and organized. As for my computers, I have 6 old ones, counting smartphones. I could sell all of them for less than one month's rent of my apartment and buy new more up to date electronics.
I have several radios that could be replaced. Clothing and other items could be replaced.
My bicycle is well used and not not top of the line bicycle, but still works fine. It could be replaced.
A front wheel of the bicycle that took me across America, years ago, would be missed however.
Sunday, January 26, 2025
Debate over Los Angeles fires. Land management or climate change the cause? It's both.
I'll admit that land management might have the upper hand, but climate change may be a close second in the debate over why the fires were so bad.
I call myself a liberal, but it seems like most liberals have forgotten a good talking point for environmentalism that I learned in my 1970s city planning classes from college.
I learned that sprawl is bad. Building at the urban / rural fringe is problematic; especially if homes are spread out among fire prone natural landscapes. Good city planning tends to favor more compact development within "urban growth areas" versus so much encroachment into rural areas.
If houses are sprawling out into nature, it's likely that populism and anti government regulation, will take the side of the houses meaning a win for removing natural vegetation if the vegetation is fire prone. Populism will want to "pave paradise and put up a parking lot," as the old song goes; especially an empty parking lot as a fire break. Of course a full parking lot could mean car fires spreading from gas tank to gas tank. Good firebreaks are needed around development.
Still, climate change is an issue as the environment is likely to become dryer, do to persistence of drought as well as becoming warmer. Longer fire seasons in the forests and scrub lands, for instance.
Image I found on the net
I call myself a liberal, but it seems like most liberals have forgotten a good talking point for environmentalism that I learned in my 1970s city planning classes from college.
I learned that sprawl is bad. Building at the urban / rural fringe is problematic; especially if homes are spread out among fire prone natural landscapes. Good city planning tends to favor more compact development within "urban growth areas" versus so much encroachment into rural areas.
If houses are sprawling out into nature, it's likely that populism and anti government regulation, will take the side of the houses meaning a win for removing natural vegetation if the vegetation is fire prone. Populism will want to "pave paradise and put up a parking lot," as the old song goes; especially an empty parking lot as a fire break. Of course a full parking lot could mean car fires spreading from gas tank to gas tank. Good firebreaks are needed around development.
Still, climate change is an issue as the environment is likely to become dryer, do to persistence of drought as well as becoming warmer. Longer fire seasons in the forests and scrub lands, for instance.
Friday, January 24, 2025
Poem by me. The Trump Comeback.
Is it the second coming of Donald Trump?
Some evangelicals think he’s anointed by God.
Then there is another meaning of the word come, or do I mean cum as in the stormy waters of Stormy Daniels?
How many evangelicals will stay on that ship or will they fall off to the ocean of soul searching?
Some hang on tight because of traditional marriage and commitment to money and power.
Glad I can still write this in USA, but who knows what the future could bring.
I couldn’t write stuff like this in the Christian nation of Russia, now at war with it’s former colony Ukraine.
I couldn’t write this in Afghanistan or Iran, noted for their hatred of “difference” and their war on women.
Some evangelicals think he’s anointed by God.
Then there is another meaning of the word come, or do I mean cum as in the stormy waters of Stormy Daniels?
How many evangelicals will stay on that ship or will they fall off to the ocean of soul searching?
Some hang on tight because of traditional marriage and commitment to money and power.
Glad I can still write this in USA, but who knows what the future could bring.
I couldn’t write stuff like this in the Christian nation of Russia, now at war with it’s former colony Ukraine.
I couldn’t write this in Afghanistan or Iran, noted for their hatred of “difference” and their war on women.
Cartoon of my fears.
Personal to the left on the chart.
Communal, about the state of the country and the world, to the right on the chart.
Poem by me. Immigration.
Is it too many families, children and individual adults flooding our borders looking for safety from trouble overseas? Overpopulation?
Is it too much foreign money, flooding into our country and using it as a safe haven for money inflating property prices so Americans can no longer afford to live in our own country?
Vancouver, BC, in Canada has something called an empty condos tax. Discouraging foreign investors from buying condos to keep locked and empty as better investments than low interest at the bank.
Is it too much money, seeking our safe haven, making our dollar too strong so our products cost too much for the products to immigrate to cheaper countries?
Maybe we can solve this problem by crashing our own dollar, then we can export our products. We can be like a third world country and let the foreigners drill, baby drill our natural resources for export markets.
Yes, maybe not a bad idea, as our natural gas can help Europe get by until it reaches the utopia of green energy. This because the so called good Christians, in Russia, are being boycotted by Europe after Russia invades it’s former colony; Ukraine.
Is it too much foreign money, flooding into our country and using it as a safe haven for money inflating property prices so Americans can no longer afford to live in our own country?
Vancouver, BC, in Canada has something called an empty condos tax. Discouraging foreign investors from buying condos to keep locked and empty as better investments than low interest at the bank.
Is it too much money, seeking our safe haven, making our dollar too strong so our products cost too much for the products to immigrate to cheaper countries?
Maybe we can solve this problem by crashing our own dollar, then we can export our products. We can be like a third world country and let the foreigners drill, baby drill our natural resources for export markets.
Yes, maybe not a bad idea, as our natural gas can help Europe get by until it reaches the utopia of green energy. This because the so called good Christians, in Russia, are being boycotted by Europe after Russia invades it’s former colony; Ukraine.
Thursday, January 23, 2025
New attorney general, in my home state of Washington, plays a role in the news about birthright citizenship today. Sometimes known, by rightwingers, as the anchor baby topic.
President Trump issued an executive order that attempted to end automatic citizenship to babies born in USA, whether the parents are US citizens or not.
This could be called the "anchor baby" issue as many of Trump's right wing supporters seem to be tired of all the anchor babies born in USA. Over population? But many of these Trump supporters call themselves pro birth.
Anchor baby is kind of a derogatory term used to describe the situation of having a child in the US; like placing an anchor toward better life in America.
Birthright citizenship is in the constitution so Trump's executive order is on shaky grounds. A Federal Judge ruled, today, to suspend that order for the next 14 days while there are more briefings in the legal challenge.
Our new attorney general, here in the state of Washington, played an important role in that case now making national news.
One of my friends has a situation not often heard, related to this issue. He was born, in USA, to Latin American parents. A child born to a a family drawn to USA for a professional job. Being of US citizenship and growing up here, he was very American.
Later in life, he moved to the Latin American country where his parents lived because he was having trouble finding professional level work, in this part of USA.
Maybe he could have stayed here if he had aspired to be a janitor with interesting hobbies, like me.
This friend has a BA degree from college in the humanities and has career interest in film production and teaching.
Try getting a job at a university, or some other institutions in USA, without more credentials.
No PHD? Little work experience in the field? A catch 22. No Ivy League degree? No way.
Back in his parents home country, a college education is worth more than a dime a dozen. He moved to a Latin American country and to a world less flooded with over qualified humanities graduates. His professional career took off; teaching, writing and so forth.
He still misses many things about life in USA, but moving overseas was a good career move, in his case.
Often it does seem like, in USA, there's no room at the inn.
This could be called the "anchor baby" issue as many of Trump's right wing supporters seem to be tired of all the anchor babies born in USA. Over population? But many of these Trump supporters call themselves pro birth.
Anchor baby is kind of a derogatory term used to describe the situation of having a child in the US; like placing an anchor toward better life in America.
Birthright citizenship is in the constitution so Trump's executive order is on shaky grounds. A Federal Judge ruled, today, to suspend that order for the next 14 days while there are more briefings in the legal challenge.
Our new attorney general, here in the state of Washington, played an important role in that case now making national news.
One of my friends has a situation not often heard, related to this issue. He was born, in USA, to Latin American parents. A child born to a a family drawn to USA for a professional job. Being of US citizenship and growing up here, he was very American.
Later in life, he moved to the Latin American country where his parents lived because he was having trouble finding professional level work, in this part of USA.
Maybe he could have stayed here if he had aspired to be a janitor with interesting hobbies, like me.
This friend has a BA degree from college in the humanities and has career interest in film production and teaching.
Try getting a job at a university, or some other institutions in USA, without more credentials.
No PHD? Little work experience in the field? A catch 22. No Ivy League degree? No way.
Back in his parents home country, a college education is worth more than a dime a dozen. He moved to a Latin American country and to a world less flooded with over qualified humanities graduates. His professional career took off; teaching, writing and so forth.
He still misses many things about life in USA, but moving overseas was a good career move, in his case.
Often it does seem like, in USA, there's no room at the inn.
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
About getting the momentum started on a new social networking platform.
I think the Blue Sky platform will have better luck competing with Facebook than attempts to compete with Facebook in the past. Granted, it's not quite the same, it's more like Twitter (now X).
In the past some attempts to compete with Facebook couldn't get the momentum going due to platforms playing lip service to privacy.
Privacy is kind of the antithesis of social networking. If folks are on a new network, privacy will mean little content can be seen until one builds up a network of friends. Getting this momentum started can be difficult.
Facebook got going early so the friend networks are established. Other platforms have trouble breaking that momentum unless they are more like the open web where content can be searched in Google and so forth.
Where content can be found without having to be friended in friend networks. In a more open environment, friend networks can still develop over time.
I think the wish for privacy may have made Ello, an alternative social network launched in 2014 never really got off the ground. It closed in 2023.
Content on Blue Sky seems to be more available to newcomers who haven't yet established friend networks there. Reddit is similar in being more open as are platforms like Flickr.
In the past some attempts to compete with Facebook couldn't get the momentum going due to platforms playing lip service to privacy.
Privacy is kind of the antithesis of social networking. If folks are on a new network, privacy will mean little content can be seen until one builds up a network of friends. Getting this momentum started can be difficult.
Facebook got going early so the friend networks are established. Other platforms have trouble breaking that momentum unless they are more like the open web where content can be searched in Google and so forth.
Where content can be found without having to be friended in friend networks. In a more open environment, friend networks can still develop over time.
I think the wish for privacy may have made Ello, an alternative social network launched in 2014 never really got off the ground. It closed in 2023.
Content on Blue Sky seems to be more available to newcomers who haven't yet established friend networks there. Reddit is similar in being more open as are platforms like Flickr.
When do we call USA an oligarchy instead of a democracy?
There is a shade of gray between oligarchy and democracy. Where the line is drawn depends on who one is talking to.
According to some folks on the left, we've already been an oligarchy for a long time. A nation run by the rich and the corporations. Little or no difference between the major political parties; the Democrats behold-ant to corporate power as much as the Republicans. Some might say it's been there all along so it's nothing new.
Others, like me, would say it has been more of a democracy during my lifetime. I tend to believe the people, in mass, determine the outcomes. Personal behavior in the marketplace, voting booth and so forth.
It's been most likely a product of both undue influence from the wealthy and "the people have spoken." Of course not all people think the same, but the summation of all creates the culture.
The future is undecided. Will future historians point to January 20 2025 as the date democracy turned to oligarchy? That's the date of the second inauguration of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Ops, I mean Trump and JD Vance; Freudian slip.
The pendulum could swing back the other way in the future. Who knows what the future will bring.
Another question is, if folks believe we have been in an oligarchy, has that been a self fulfilling prophecy? Only time will tell.
According to some folks on the left, we've already been an oligarchy for a long time. A nation run by the rich and the corporations. Little or no difference between the major political parties; the Democrats behold-ant to corporate power as much as the Republicans. Some might say it's been there all along so it's nothing new.
Others, like me, would say it has been more of a democracy during my lifetime. I tend to believe the people, in mass, determine the outcomes. Personal behavior in the marketplace, voting booth and so forth.
It's been most likely a product of both undue influence from the wealthy and "the people have spoken." Of course not all people think the same, but the summation of all creates the culture.
The future is undecided. Will future historians point to January 20 2025 as the date democracy turned to oligarchy? That's the date of the second inauguration of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Ops, I mean Trump and JD Vance; Freudian slip.
The pendulum could swing back the other way in the future. Who knows what the future will bring.
Another question is, if folks believe we have been in an oligarchy, has that been a self fulfilling prophecy? Only time will tell.
Standardized modular housing construction. A way to reduce insurance costs.
The standard American home and nature often don't mix; especially in urban / rural fringe areas such as where many of the recent Los Angeles Fires occurred. Future insurance policies could be written to only replace the building with a basic minimum dwelling, such as like a FEMA trailer. For households of more people, maybe several of these units could be installed together for more space.
This type of policy would likely be more affordable than one that tries to rebuild what was on the lot before.
This type of policy would likely be more affordable than one that tries to rebuild what was on the lot before.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Insurance and or government should just pay for FEMA type trailers to rebuild, after LA fires and call it good.
My quirky idea for rebuilding homes that have burned due to the recent LA wildfires. This idea also addresses the lack of coverage / insurance crisis as well as the government funding burden.
Provide cheap modular structures; like FEMA Trailers, so people have a place to live and call it good.
If folks wish to rebuild something larger, or different, they can pay for it out of their own pockets; if their private insurance coverage doesn't cover rebuilding the home.
This solution can work for all people living in high risk areas; such as floodplains or the coast of Florida.
If folks wish to rebuild something larger, or different, they can pay for it out of their own pockets; if their private insurance coverage doesn't cover rebuilding the home.
This solution can work for all people living in high risk areas; such as floodplains or the coast of Florida.
Monday, January 20, 2025
Can USA get along with tarriffs on Canadian fossil fuels?
A recent speech by Trump said, we don't need Canadian energy, "we can produce our own."
I realize that northern parts of USA get much of our natural gas, for heating, from Canada. How fast can we ween ourselves from Canadian fossil fuel and build heat pumps for heating? I don't think that's what Trump has in mind.
I can elaborate more. Much of the US natural gas production is in different areas than the customers with no currently operating pipelines to connect. Pipelines can not be "built in a day", unlike Rome; as the old story goes. This takes time and patience, if it's a good idea anyway, in the era of climate change. I assume that climate change can't be waved away by a magic wand either.
I would guess that makes lots of sense as a campus is already used to underground utilities so they should know how to install a system of "Earth to heat pump" technology.
Still it can't be built in one day.
Natural gas burns somewhat cleaner than gasoline that's made from oil. It burns cleaner than coal, but it's still a fossil fuel. Water is it's main "smoke" because it has more "hydrogen" and less "carbon" than other hydrocarbons; like oil.
I do find science interesting.
A poem I just wrote. Things that have been thought of as pipe dreams.
Total US energy disentanglement from Canada, in short order. Can we build pipelines quickly from our natural gas to our own customers?
Another thing called a pipe dream. Mass markets adopting my own minimalist lifestyle.
Yet another thing thought of as a pipe dream. Converting to green energy on short order.
Yes, it all does take patience.
I partially thought up this post because of the pun about pipe dreams and pipe lines.
Another thing called a pipe dream. Mass markets adopting my own minimalist lifestyle.
Yet another thing thought of as a pipe dream. Converting to green energy on short order.
Yes, it all does take patience.
I partially thought up this post because of the pun about pipe dreams and pipe lines.
Like it or not. Adapting to a changing world.
I can think of two aspects of addressing climate change. One aspect is reducing carbon emissions. The other aspect is community resiliency. Thinking about the fires in Los Angeles, resiliency comes to mind. Something similar can be said about Florida and many other localities. As the natural environment is changing the need for things like better fire breaks is needed to protect people's homes from wildfires. This could mean altering the natural environment; such as introducing invasive species that are less flammable than the natural species of plants in an area. This may have to be done if people's residences are, basically invading that same natural area. Modern American homes and the natural environment, in an area, don't mix. Modifying the natural environment, since the residential areas are already nearby, protects the homes from wildfire.
This can be done carefully by thinking about what plants to put in an area to better suite that area for the "American lifestyle and neighborhood planning" that has already invaded the area; for instance single family homes scattered out among a forest or area of naturally flammable brush.
Another idea related to resiliency that is more compatible to not altering the natural environment is to alter our city planning and lifestyles. More compact and denser city planning can be another form of resiliency which creates less sprawl of homes and buildings into formerly natural areas. Less use of the automobile and more alternative transportation can help reduce congestion in denser development. Changes in lifestyles and expectations, to more urban and less consumptive living, can make urban life work and even thrive.
Similar thinking can apply to places like Florida where rising sea levels and storms can mean too much water, rather than too little. Retreating from the coast is one strategy as the ocean starts to reclaim low lying areas.
Making buildings and houses more resilient to fire, flood and wind is also a strategy. These are strategies of resilience given the other strategy of curbing worldwide carbon emissions is slow in coming or could be difficult to achieve. Reducing worldwide carbon emissions is said to be the best strategy of all, however. How is that done?
Similar to community resiliency on the local level, it requires changes in planning, lifestyles and technology. Changing the plant mix in an environment, such as altering things for better firebreaks is a form of change also, though it's less popular with environmentalists. That type of practice, building the fire breaks, removing the flammable forest, for instance may end up being what will be done; especially in the era of Donald Trump. Problem is, Trump is not noted for careful planning. Thinking carefully about how to alter an environment works better than just saying "nuke em and bring in the bulldozers."
Similar situations exist in places like Florida where rising sea levels are likely to change the map of Florida.
A graphic I found on the web. This indicating the potential flooding of Florida. Graphic: Green Policy 360
This can be done carefully by thinking about what plants to put in an area to better suite that area for the "American lifestyle and neighborhood planning" that has already invaded the area; for instance single family homes scattered out among a forest or area of naturally flammable brush.
Another idea related to resiliency that is more compatible to not altering the natural environment is to alter our city planning and lifestyles. More compact and denser city planning can be another form of resiliency which creates less sprawl of homes and buildings into formerly natural areas. Less use of the automobile and more alternative transportation can help reduce congestion in denser development. Changes in lifestyles and expectations, to more urban and less consumptive living, can make urban life work and even thrive.
Similar thinking can apply to places like Florida where rising sea levels and storms can mean too much water, rather than too little. Retreating from the coast is one strategy as the ocean starts to reclaim low lying areas.
Making buildings and houses more resilient to fire, flood and wind is also a strategy. These are strategies of resilience given the other strategy of curbing worldwide carbon emissions is slow in coming or could be difficult to achieve. Reducing worldwide carbon emissions is said to be the best strategy of all, however. How is that done?
Similar to community resiliency on the local level, it requires changes in planning, lifestyles and technology. Changing the plant mix in an environment, such as altering things for better firebreaks is a form of change also, though it's less popular with environmentalists. That type of practice, building the fire breaks, removing the flammable forest, for instance may end up being what will be done; especially in the era of Donald Trump. Problem is, Trump is not noted for careful planning. Thinking carefully about how to alter an environment works better than just saying "nuke em and bring in the bulldozers."
Similar situations exist in places like Florida where rising sea levels are likely to change the map of Florida.
Friday, January 17, 2025
Starting to learn my way around Blue Sky Social Media.
I now have a presence on Blue Sky, but I may end up still liking Facebook more. Blue Sky limits the size of posts so it is more of a realm of sound bytes, rather than in depth discussion.
I plan to link, from Blue Sky, to my blog where there is room for the nuance. Readers may be less apt to follow links than to click the "read more" link in a Facebook post. Still maybe not, it's a link. I think Blue Sky is more like Twitter (now X) only much better and not owned by Elon Musk.
I haven't used Twitter for writing, but I have used it some to follow things like space missions; linking out to NASA and other ongoing news sources.
A link to my presence on Blue Sky Social. It's mostly links back to this blog.
For more things, not already posted on this blog, Facebook users can find my Facebook wall.
I plan to link, from Blue Sky, to my blog where there is room for the nuance. Readers may be less apt to follow links than to click the "read more" link in a Facebook post. Still maybe not, it's a link. I think Blue Sky is more like Twitter (now X) only much better and not owned by Elon Musk.
I haven't used Twitter for writing, but I have used it some to follow things like space missions; linking out to NASA and other ongoing news sources.
A link to my presence on Blue Sky Social. It's mostly links back to this blog.
For more things, not already posted on this blog, Facebook users can find my Facebook wall.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
An idea for reducing conflict between landowners when siting wind turbines.
Here is an idea I thought of today. Financial proceeds from leases for wind turbans could be paid to a special district, rather than individual land owners. Then all the landowners in the district could divvy up the proceeds.
Reason I think of this is I can guess that some of the opposition to wind energy comes from property owners who's land is less desirable for wind energy. Maybe they resent neighbors who's land is more desirable. Financial benefits could be shared with all in the area; even those with no wind farms on their land.
Wind farms do have some impact on the view, wildlife and so forth. I've heard the phrase, "there ain't no free lunch." At the same time, there are things that may need to be done for the greater good; such as energy production.
I've also heard that one turbine in one of the Snake River hydroelectric dams can produce as much power as over 200 wind mills.
Still, I sometimes think of windmills as being like modern art sculptures. As long as we are using energy, there is some price to pay, though wind farms may not be the best alternative. They do dot large portions of the landscape. Solar may be the best alternative energy in many cases.
There is now lots of arguing over the potential siting of another wind farm in the Palouse Region of Washington near where I grew up.
Eastern Washington has many wind turbines. It seems like there are very few in more densely populated Western Washington.
With my interest in geography, I realize that much of Washington State's power comes the eastern part of the state. Big power lines cross the Cascade Mountains.
Much of the power comes from dams on the Columbia and other rivers. Some of the power comes from a nuclear reactor in the Hanford Reservation. Solar is a growing source also. Here in Bellingham, many homes have rooftop solar panels.
My photos from various bicycle tours over the years.
Wind turbine in distance near Ellensburg, WA. Power line near Snoqualmie Tunnel. Generators at Lower Monumental Dam. Palouse wheatfields near Colfax, WA. Solar panels on restaurant in Palouse, WA.
Reason I think of this is I can guess that some of the opposition to wind energy comes from property owners who's land is less desirable for wind energy. Maybe they resent neighbors who's land is more desirable. Financial benefits could be shared with all in the area; even those with no wind farms on their land.
Wind farms do have some impact on the view, wildlife and so forth. I've heard the phrase, "there ain't no free lunch." At the same time, there are things that may need to be done for the greater good; such as energy production.
I've also heard that one turbine in one of the Snake River hydroelectric dams can produce as much power as over 200 wind mills.
Still, I sometimes think of windmills as being like modern art sculptures. As long as we are using energy, there is some price to pay, though wind farms may not be the best alternative. They do dot large portions of the landscape. Solar may be the best alternative energy in many cases.
There is now lots of arguing over the potential siting of another wind farm in the Palouse Region of Washington near where I grew up.
Eastern Washington has many wind turbines. It seems like there are very few in more densely populated Western Washington.
With my interest in geography, I realize that much of Washington State's power comes the eastern part of the state. Big power lines cross the Cascade Mountains.
Much of the power comes from dams on the Columbia and other rivers. Some of the power comes from a nuclear reactor in the Hanford Reservation. Solar is a growing source also. Here in Bellingham, many homes have rooftop solar panels.
My photos from various bicycle tours over the years.
Reconcilling trasgender issues and sports.
I've never been into competitive sports and I'm not that worried about the so called problem of transgender athletes creating unfair competition in women's sports.
I can see how some folks might be worried as we live in an age when the difference between winning and losing a race is measured by laser beams. In the old days, they used to say "measured by a micrometer." In sports, a tiny difference seems trivial to me, but I'm more into fitness and recreation than competition. In science, accuracy is important.
Lasers are a part of the most accurate measurements ever made in history. It's the distance between two mirrors that could be less than 1/1000th of the width of a proton. Those measurements are made at the LIGO Gravity Wave Detectors including one at Hanford.
Below photos from my 2023 summer bicycle and transit trip to LIGO Visitors Center at Hanford, near Richland, WA. from Bellingham, WA.
I can see how some folks might be worried as we live in an age when the difference between winning and losing a race is measured by laser beams. In the old days, they used to say "measured by a micrometer." In sports, a tiny difference seems trivial to me, but I'm more into fitness and recreation than competition. In science, accuracy is important.
Lasers are a part of the most accurate measurements ever made in history. It's the distance between two mirrors that could be less than 1/1000th of the width of a proton. Those measurements are made at the LIGO Gravity Wave Detectors including one at Hanford.
Below photos from my 2023 summer bicycle and transit trip to LIGO Visitors Center at Hanford, near Richland, WA. from Bellingham, WA.
I am now on Blue Sky Social Media as well.
I've been fairly prolific on Facebook which is more interactive than this blog. I plan to keep my Facebook wall, but now opening up a new outlet on Blue Sky. This, in part, due to friends and followers leaving Facebook. They can now find me on Blue Sky.
It's like opening up a new transmitter, if one were in the radio business.
Problem is, Blue Sky limits the size of posts so many of my posts, there, will be links to this blog for more nuance.
I also use Flickr for sharing many photos. Reditt is kind of a learning curve for me, but I use it some. Pretty much my whole online presence is at my website which mostly serves as bookmarks to my archive of things across several platforms.
Scroll down to more of this blog, or visit above link to website.
It's like opening up a new transmitter, if one were in the radio business.
Problem is, Blue Sky limits the size of posts so many of my posts, there, will be links to this blog for more nuance.
I also use Flickr for sharing many photos. Reditt is kind of a learning curve for me, but I use it some. Pretty much my whole online presence is at my website which mostly serves as bookmarks to my archive of things across several platforms.
Scroll down to more of this blog, or visit above link to website.
Be careful not to jump to conclusions when hearing the headlines.
The man behind the incident known as Pizzagate was recently in the news again. On first glance, I was afraid Trump was appointing him to high office.
Turns out he was shot by police during a traffic stop as he was pointing a gun at the police. He died soon after.
This was the man who, in 2016, followed bizarre rumors that began with a leaked email referencing Hillary Clinton and pizza parties. It morphed into fake online news stories about a child sex trafficking ring run by prominent Democrats operating out of a Washington, D.C., pizza joint. Back then he showed up at the pizza parlor armed.
His demise came after a confrontation with police during a traffic stop in 2025.
Many years ago, I was listening to a late night talk show on the old KGO in San Francisco. Some elderly lady called in and was very upset that all the former presidents supported NAMBLA (National Man Boy Love Association). THe talk show host thought she was a kooky caller and hung up.
I realized she had heard a headline about all the former presidents supporting NAFTA (North American Free Trade Act). She thought NAFTA was NAMBLA due to poor radio reception and / or bad hearing.
Turns out he was shot by police during a traffic stop as he was pointing a gun at the police. He died soon after.
This was the man who, in 2016, followed bizarre rumors that began with a leaked email referencing Hillary Clinton and pizza parties. It morphed into fake online news stories about a child sex trafficking ring run by prominent Democrats operating out of a Washington, D.C., pizza joint. Back then he showed up at the pizza parlor armed.
His demise came after a confrontation with police during a traffic stop in 2025.
Many years ago, I was listening to a late night talk show on the old KGO in San Francisco. Some elderly lady called in and was very upset that all the former presidents supported NAMBLA (National Man Boy Love Association). THe talk show host thought she was a kooky caller and hung up.
I realized she had heard a headline about all the former presidents supporting NAFTA (North American Free Trade Act). She thought NAFTA was NAMBLA due to poor radio reception and / or bad hearing.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Is having gratitude an option only for the privileged? Well, those who are privileged don't have enough gratitude either.
Some people think promoting the concept of gratitude is a bias enjoyed by folks with privilege. Not everyone has lots of things to be thankful for.
Still gratitude is important as even folks with privilege often don't have gratitude either. They are complaining about taxes, crime, their neighborhoods changing and so forth.
Gratitude is also pretty important for folks trying to improve their situations as people, who aren't that happy with their situations, often quarrel among themselves in a sea of complaint. The perfect can be the enemy of the good.
Quarreling often opens the door to "divide and conquer;" a tactic used by folks in power to stay in power.
Still gratitude is important as even folks with privilege often don't have gratitude either. They are complaining about taxes, crime, their neighborhoods changing and so forth.
Gratitude is also pretty important for folks trying to improve their situations as people, who aren't that happy with their situations, often quarrel among themselves in a sea of complaint. The perfect can be the enemy of the good.
Quarreling often opens the door to "divide and conquer;" a tactic used by folks in power to stay in power.
2002's mini 911 that hardly phased a building in Tampa Florida.
Violence and even anger tends to not be a good agent for positive change. In recent news, there have been some acts of individual violence; for instance the cyber truck blowup in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. This said to be a wake up call, but from a former person said to have favored Trump.
I'm remembering 2002 when a mini 911 happened in Tampa Florida. Someone flew a small plane into an office building causing only light damage to a few offices. Building is still standing, I think, with this memory only a blip in history.
I'm remembering 2002 when a mini 911 happened in Tampa Florida. Someone flew a small plane into an office building causing only light damage to a few offices. Building is still standing, I think, with this memory only a blip in history.
DEI has gotten a bad rap.
DEI stands for diversity equity and inclusion and it's getting lots of push back these days. It's not new. Dating back many decades there have been efforts to improve fairness and inclusion in society. I remember the days when there was sensitivity training and other things under different labels.
My first memories of the DEI acronym was around the time of the angry push back against police in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. I personally did not attend those protests, for several reasons including covid.
It's not that simple, but I guess just change a few buzzwords and strategies to continue efforts toward a more inclusive world.
My first memories of the DEI acronym was around the time of the angry push back against police in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. I personally did not attend those protests, for several reasons including covid.
It's not that simple, but I guess just change a few buzzwords and strategies to continue efforts toward a more inclusive world.
Is the US an oligarchy or a democracy? It's a spectrum.
Some people think USA is already an oligarchy instead of a democracy. Basically run by the rich with their lobbyists, corporate power and so forth. The line between democracy and oligarchy is blurry. It's like a scale depending on where one draws the line, to some extent.
I wouldn't say we are an oligarchy, yet at least. Ironically, populism may be pushing us that way, however. Populism seems to follow celebrities ranging from Donald Trump and Elon Musk to Hollywood celebrities. There are celebrities influencing thinking on both the left and the right. Many conspiracy theories are based on Hollywood movies. I'm not into movies that much, but I remember seeing China Syndrome.
Many callers to radio talk shows seem to get the plots for their conspiracy theories from the movies. They often say, "this is happening like, you know, in the movie (fill in the blank)."
I wouldn't say we are an oligarchy, yet at least. Ironically, populism may be pushing us that way, however. Populism seems to follow celebrities ranging from Donald Trump and Elon Musk to Hollywood celebrities. There are celebrities influencing thinking on both the left and the right. Many conspiracy theories are based on Hollywood movies. I'm not into movies that much, but I remember seeing China Syndrome.
Many callers to radio talk shows seem to get the plots for their conspiracy theories from the movies. They often say, "this is happening like, you know, in the movie (fill in the blank)."
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Culture needs to evolve before ideals on the left become viable.
I have thought that many of the ideals of us leaning to the left have run counter to consumptive culture. Dependency on cars versus climate change, single family homes versus attempts to curb sprawl, population growth versus the dream of a limited growth economy.
With the fires raging in California, I've read that Governor Newsome has issued an emergency order lifting some of the burdensome environmental red tape, which has been quite a thicket in California. This move to allow for rebuilding of burned areas at a more affordable rate.
Myself, rather than being a radical on "stick it to business" red tape, I understand the need for society to work. At the same time, I am somewhat of a critic of much of our culture ranging from population growth to over dependency on private automobiles to basing one's self esteem on one's wealth and career status.
I think, maybe, the best we can do toward a more sustainable world is incremental changes; a bike path here, transit there, incremental decrease in the size of homes and awareness of what kind of society we should have to be in more harmony with the natural environment.
Bellingham has recently taken a good step to reduce parking requirements for new developments in order to try and allow for more affordable housing. I notice some people, on the left, think this is a sellout to big developers who want to build and reap profits from less requirements. Some people say we have to have cars as it's "reality."
Less regulation, such as less parking requirements can, however, make it easier for mom and pop landlords to incrementally build. This might make it easier for smaller business to compete against the bigger developers who have more money for lawyers to navigate them through tickets of regulation. As for the never ending need for more parking, Bellingham's infrastructure is admittedly getting more cluttered with cars. On street parking is getting fuller, unless people are willing to walk farther from where they have parked than they are use to. This requires a cultural change.
To accommodate more cars, I doubt we will ever be able to afford widening I-5 through Bellingham. We could go to six, or maybe even 8 lanes to try and reduce the chock point. Self driving technology might help us add more cars to the existing 4 lanes, however.
Anyway, without cultural change, it looks like many environmental regulations will need to go.
With the fires raging in California, I've read that Governor Newsome has issued an emergency order lifting some of the burdensome environmental red tape, which has been quite a thicket in California. This move to allow for rebuilding of burned areas at a more affordable rate.
Myself, rather than being a radical on "stick it to business" red tape, I understand the need for society to work. At the same time, I am somewhat of a critic of much of our culture ranging from population growth to over dependency on private automobiles to basing one's self esteem on one's wealth and career status.
I think, maybe, the best we can do toward a more sustainable world is incremental changes; a bike path here, transit there, incremental decrease in the size of homes and awareness of what kind of society we should have to be in more harmony with the natural environment.
Bellingham has recently taken a good step to reduce parking requirements for new developments in order to try and allow for more affordable housing. I notice some people, on the left, think this is a sellout to big developers who want to build and reap profits from less requirements. Some people say we have to have cars as it's "reality."
Less regulation, such as less parking requirements can, however, make it easier for mom and pop landlords to incrementally build. This might make it easier for smaller business to compete against the bigger developers who have more money for lawyers to navigate them through tickets of regulation. As for the never ending need for more parking, Bellingham's infrastructure is admittedly getting more cluttered with cars. On street parking is getting fuller, unless people are willing to walk farther from where they have parked than they are use to. This requires a cultural change.
To accommodate more cars, I doubt we will ever be able to afford widening I-5 through Bellingham. We could go to six, or maybe even 8 lanes to try and reduce the chock point. Self driving technology might help us add more cars to the existing 4 lanes, however.
Anyway, without cultural change, it looks like many environmental regulations will need to go.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)