July 9, 2010
Greets and Huggers. Posted the evening of July 9, 2010. Triple digit temperatures on the East Coast this week. Folks being told to limit their power use to avoid “brown outs”. Washington D.C. – Outages continue: Thousands in D.C. area without power as firms work on repairs. “The oppressive heat — and now humidity — that descended on the Washington region has spurred near-record demands for electricity. Power companies are working to repair outages caused by the spike in demand as area residents reach for thermostats. Shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday, PEPCO was working to repair 60 power outages throughout the District and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, affecting about 1,600 customers.” It is readily apparent, we are operating at peak generating capacities. Read that to mean, we will have to build more power plants. KCP&L seeks Missouri rate increase. “Kansas City Power & Light Co. said Friday it was seeking a 14-percent electric rate increase in Missouri which if granted would mean a nearly 50 percent rise in power prices over the last five years and more increases are expected in the future. The utility said the recent request is due to completing its coal-fired power plant near Weston and other expenses including increased freight costs for coal and improvements to its network of electric lines.” At the same time, yesterday, President Obama paid an official to Smith Electric Vehicles in Kansas City, Missouri, (the company recieved 32 million dollars in stimulus funds and just hired 50 more employees … hmmm … isn’t that $640,000.00 per employee?) – Obama points to jobs potential in electric vehicles. “President Obama defended his administration�s investment in the clean energy economy yesterday, as he visited an electric truck factory in Kansas City, Missouri. After touring Smith Electric Vehicles, which produces Smith Newton trucks for the likes of AT&T, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and Staples, the President said 700,000 jobs would be created by energy investments alone over the next few years.” No doubt, the future lies with electric vehicles. Every automobile manufacturer is focused on bringing hybrid or all electric vehicles to market. But share with me … where will the electricity to charge these vehicles come from … when we already suffer “brownouts” during heat waves? Shouldn’t our focus be on building and repairing our energy generating infrastructure? Shouldn’t our focus be on making better use of the energy we currently generate?
Here, at Ft Timmerman, we have cut our electric bill by 20% after installing a TED 5000 energy monitor, to actually see what each appliance we have costs to run on a per hour basis. There is a real incentive to turn off the garage lights, once you see they cost $.06 cents per hour to leave on. On average, we use $.16 - $.28/hour of electricity during the day and $.05 - $.11/hour at night. The “Smart Strips” we purchased and installed, have already paid for themselves after a month and a half of use. Point being? With a projected 50% increase in your electric bill over the next 5 years, doesn’t it just make sense to conserve energy? Go green and keep the green in your wallet??!!
(CNN) — Legalizing marijuana is civil rights issue, California NAACP says. “Legalizing marijuana is a civil rights issue, according to one of California’s most prominent African-American advocacy groups. The California State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, led by President Alice Huffman, recently announced its “unconditional endorsement” for Proposition 19, a legislative initiative on the November ballot that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in California. Huffman said African-Americans are disproportionately affected by the criminalization of marijuana which makes passing the law a civil rights issue … although blacks and Latinos make up less than 44 percent of the state’s population, together both ethnic groups constitute up to 56 percent of arrests that are made for marijuana possession in California, according to the study. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has found that African-Americans use marijuana at lower rates than white Americans across the country.” Interesting argument. Legalize marijuana because African Americans are more likely to get busted for smoking it, even though they are less likely to abuse it than white Americans? Although I favor regulating and taxing marijuana instead of criminalizing it’s use, on this issue, wouldn’t it make more sense to teach our African American brothers and sisters better ways of smoking dope without getting busted? Wait! A non-starter: ACORN has been disbanded.
Washington (CNN) – Gates tightens control over military interaction with reporters. “Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday ordered a tightening of controls over military interaction with reporters … Before interviews, “all component leaders or their public affairs officers must notify OSD (Office of Secretary of Defense) Public Affairs which, in turn and as appropriate, will ensure that senior department officials with the relevant overall knowledge and situational awareness have been consulted.” The troops call this the McCrystal Rule. Fact remains, the war in Afghanistan is not going well. Given our current policy, I see no way of winning this war, if winning is defined as eliminating a safe haven for Islamic terrorists. Setting a troop withdrawal timetable was a mistake, although I understand the rational for doing so. An attempt to hold the current Afghanistan political leadership’s feet to the fire. It fails to take into account the leadership’s rampant corruption and the back doors out of Afghanistan they have in place and the billions of dollars they have stockpiled once they do. Open discussion, criticism and reviews of policy, public and private, should be fostered … not limited.
(Health.com) – How bad are your past sins really? “Let’s be honest: Many of us — OK, most of us — weren’t exactly paragons of health in our youth. And we can’t help wondering: Will those margaritas, junk-food binges, forgotten condoms, or even that one bong hit eventually come back to haunt us? “I cringe when I think of the abuse I heaped on my body when I was younger –smoking, drinking, using tanning beds,” says Stephanie Marchant, 43, a marketing consultant in Woodstock, Georgia. “I’d like to try to repair the damage, but I wonder how much I can do at this point. Is the damage already done?” Her Doctor, being a Georgia NASCAR fan and treating her for lung cancer, cirrhoses of the liver and melanoma could only respond by pointing out that an engine can run at 50 mph for 100,000 miles … or … 20,000 miles at 200 mph, without breaking down/wearing out. A driver has the freedom to chose how they drive. However, there are no warrantees, once you leave the Dealers Lot.
And the good news and bad news – the bad: New York (CNN) – Bedbugs, on the rise, close pair of New York clothing stores . “A bedbug outbreak at two trendy New York retail shops has sounded the alarm among city residents and businesses, prompting calls for the city to examine how it deals with the prickly pests. Hollister, a popular clothing store owned by Abercrombie & Fitch in the fashionable Soho neighborhood, remained closed Friday after a bedbug infestation was found earlier in the week, according to company spokeswoman Iska Hain. And an Abercrombie & Fitch store in South Street Seaport also has been closed by an infestation … According to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, it issued 4,811 violation notices to residential landlords for bedbug infestations in 2009, compared with 82 in the 2003-2004 fiscal year. For the first half of 2010, 1,976 bedbug violation notices have already been written.” Really makes you want to go shopping in New York, doesn’t it? Makes you wonder how bedbugs get into a clothing store. Do they rent the dressing rooms out on an hourly basis?
The good news, (for those of us who remain slobs): (BBC NEWS) – Untidy beds may keep us healthy. “Failing to make your bed in the morning may actually help keep you healthy, scientists believe. Research suggests that while an unmade bed may look scruffy it is also unappealing to house dust mites thought to cause asthma and other allergies. A Kingston University study discovered the bugs cannot survive in the warm, dry conditions found in an unmade bed.” Kinda supports what I have always suspected … you seldom see slobs with asthma or allergies!
On the evening news, Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mocking Bird”. Ms. Lee is 84 years old this week and on “November 5, 2007, Lee was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush at a White House Ceremony. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the United States and recognizes individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” Well deserved. I wonder how many people decided to become lawyers, (me included), after seeing the movie or reading the book. To me, the words from the movie, burned in my memory: Rev Sykes … “Jean Louise. Jean Louise, stand up. Your father’s passing.” I hope some day to garner such respect. I am what I have worked all my life to become … a small town lawyer representing real people with real problems. A member of a profession based on service.
Sitting here editing these Ramblings, the “Editorial Staff” snoozing in the chair next to me. I’m looking forward to a quiet evening at home, surrounded by all I hold dear … and hearing Susan’s heart beating in the next room. Funny how, over the years, we can finish each other’s sentences. Answer questions before they are asked. Have conversations where nothing is spoken. How a look can convey all that needs to be said. There are times in life, where your heart sings with joy and gratitude … like today, finding out a Dear Friend’s daughter does not have lymphoma … but an acute case of mononucleosis. Prayer does indeed work. Time to post these Ramblings and watch a couple of “You Tube” videos on how to stretch canvas. I have several larger canvas prints I need to do that with. Amazing how you now can pretty much learn how to do anything watching “You Tube” videos: just search for it. That’s how I learned to use my cell phone, (from a 16 year old kids “You Tube” video!!) Later, when I drift off to sleep saying my “Thank You’s”, I will also say a prayer for the safe and soon return of our men and women in uniform: care to join me? Be and sleep well, the best we have is on watch so you can. If my post offends, I apologize … that is not my intent. As always …
A Warm Brotherly Hug
KarlT (the dumb old country lawyer from Holden, Missouri … and the Editorial Staff, Willie, Dinker, Karlie, my L’il Buddy … and Floydious Irritatus … the copy boy.)