 | "There's Justice In The Universe" |
| Posted 12/6/2008 11:11 AM CST The human population and our production of CO2 continue to steadily increase. Despite the ocean absorbing most of it, the concentration of atmospheric CO2 has already increased by about 30% (above natural levels) since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Most of this increase comes from using fossil fuels -- coal, oil, natural gas -- for energy. But approximately 25% of the carbon came from changes in land use, such as the clearing of forests and the cultivation of soils for food production. Natural sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide include gases emitted by volcanoes, and respiration of living things. We breathe in oxygen, and breathe out carbon dioxide. Fact: As fossil fuels are burned, oxygen is consumed in the process. Plants use CO2 and release oxygen. But the amount of CO2 being currently released somewhat exceeds the capacity of plants to utilize it (even with an overall increase in the rate of plant growth having occurred). Extreme Worst Case Scenario: Deforestation on land & Dead Zones in the ocean cause loss of oxygen sources. Oxygen-producing phytoplankton concentrations are decreasing. This means we are slowing down one process, oxygen generation, and speeding up another, carbon dioxide production. Note, however, that the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere is so many times greater than CO2 that it is not an immediate concern. But, it should be pointed out that if 'runaway global warming' occurs (and it will if sufficient warming of the oceans brings us to the point that 'generalized methane hydrate gasification' feeds the cycle) -- then we're looking at a precursor situation reminiscent of that class of previous minor and major extinction events where CO2 skyrocketed and oxygen levels then decreased. [Though it should be recognized that these extinctions had already been completed from the 'temperature increases' well before oxygen levels had finished dropping to critical levels.] My point: It's the 'slow-but-steady' temperature increase that is the real concern. Note my 08-23-2008; 09-28-2008; 10-19-2008 blogs. Also: http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/samson/evolution_atm/ http://tinyurl.com/6nool5 |
| Posted 12/5/2008 12:49 PM CST Texas State Board of Education member Cynthia Dunbar, R-Richmond, made news last month when she charged that President-elect Barack Obama “truly sympathizes” with enemies out to destroy America. Now she says the public schools that she helps govern are "unconstitutional... tyrannical... tools of perversion... (that) the Scriptures bear witness to such an institution’s lack of proper authority in the life of the Christian family." http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6148239.html http://tfnblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/dunbar-strikes-again/ |
| Posted 12/4/2008 2:04 PM CST "The U.S. Agriculture Department is looking to fast-track the deregulation of Genetically Engineered (GE) corn for ethanol production, despite growing evidence that GE crops are dangerous for human health and the environment. [Note: GE corn cross pollination can't be controlled. Therefore, you'll be eating it.] Other GE crops have been forced on consumers without mandatory labeling or adequate assessment of negative human health and environmental impacts. A recent study by the Austrian government even demonstrated how a type of GE corn cause infertility in lab rats. The current industrialized processes of creating biofuels, like ethanol, are inherently unsustainable and actually cause more total greenhouse gases and use more petroleum than they replace." Take Action: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26307&key=21894854 New Study Links Genetically Engineered Corn to Infertility http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_15588.cfm Genetically Engineered Food http://www.organicconsumers.org/gelink.cfm |
| Posted 12/3/2008 12:30 PM CST Religion is often not enough about spirituality (to find the god within and without & battle negativity). Religion (a set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices pertaining to supernatural power) is, perhaps necessarily, all too much about 'rules' -- for people who are not able to accept what the 'spirit' truly is => the essential, everlasting and evolving life-force of an organism. Rules that are in line with Spiritual Law are good rules -- but it requires Common Sense to apply them / because words are limited in their meaning. For example, when Christ admonishes us to 'turn the other cheek', he does not mean for us to become a doormat. He means that we should not be vengeful, hateful and quick to anger. To apply this rule, take the example of someone vandalizing your properly -- yes, you call the cops & press charges. Yes, you take them to court and seek restitution. No, you do not go for an eye-to-eye retaliatory strike. No, you do not escalate the situation. Neither do you let them escape the Natural Consequences of their actions. Recognize that the Spirit manifests itself in this physical plane of existence through the Soul. The soul is like a conduit between the spirit and the personality. The spirit is not perfect. It seeks to transform its 'misconceptions' aka 'negativities' through the learning experiences that the Law of Cause and Effect can provide in the physical world. If you too stubbornly adhere to materialistic dictates, you weaken your soul connection and, also, violate Spiritual Law. [Example: If you are in a position of authority and responsibility (e.g., parent, boss, teacher, pet owner, etcetera) and you abuse or neglect your charges, then you are manifesting 'weaknesses'. If you fail to recognize the consequences of your errors (sins of commission / omission), then you will inflict the pain and guilt of such without understanding the 'whys' --> lesson lost / will now be repeated with you as the recipient. Note: Some souls may be so flawed that they might never be redeemed (e.g., possibly Hitler). In short, we are all our own worst enemies when we fail in our ability to empathize with others and when we fail to care enough about ourselves to tend to our souls. Conversely, those who do a good job of obeying spiritual laws strengthen their spirits and make good progress. *Christian theologians will be able to apply biblical quotes to the above. I am simply putting it in more concrete terms.* |
| Posted 12/1/2008 1:46 PM CST "It has two essential ingredients: lots of windswept open spaces, which are good for generating power, and several major cities nearby. The state also has an accommodating regulatory regime. Last year, the Texas Public Utility Commission approved the construction of new transmission lines to handle up to 25,000 megawatts of electricity by 2012, linking wind farms in West Texas and the Panhandle to Dallas, Houston, and other markets. Ranchers compete to have turbines located on their land, earning revenue from wind the way previous generations made money from oil leases. Wind currently produces 3% of the state’s electricity, but Texas officials expect that share to expand significantly." http://www.theweek.com/article/index/89825/3/Briefing_Running_on_wind http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/Green-Energy-Economy.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost |
| Posted 11/27/2008 2:51 PM CST "Fair trade is an approach to empowering developing country producers and promoting sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a fair price as well as social and environmental standards in areas related to the production of a wide variety of goods. Fair trade's strategic intent is to deliberately work with marginalized producers and workers in order to help them move from a position of vulnerability to one of security and economic self-sufficiency. It also aims at empowering them to become stakeholders in their own organizations and actively play a wider role in the global arena to achieve greater equity in international trade." [If you have not been off the farm for too many generations, then you understand why this is important in today's corporate agribiz world of globalized production.] http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/2008-06-01/What-Is-Fair-Trade.aspx?utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade Myths About Fair Trade: http://www.fairtradefederation.org/ht/d/sp/i/198/pid/198 Fair Trade Logos: http://www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels/label.cfm?LabelID=5&searchType=Label%20logo&searchValue=&refpage=labelLogo&refqstr= http://www.fairtrade.net/ http://tinyurl.com/69duol http://fairtrade.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/world-fair-trade-day-to-focus-on-kids/ |
| Posted 11/26/2008 10:18 AM CST "Our new energy economy will be powered largely by electricity from renewable sources. Electricity will light, heat and cool buildings. As we shift to plug-in hybrid cars and light rail transit systems in cities, our transport system will also be powered largely by electricity. "It is historically rare for so many interests to converge at one time and in one place as those now supporting the development of renewable energy resources in the United States .... shifting to renewables increases energy security ... wind, solar, geothermal energy avoids the price volatility that has plagued oil and natural gas. Once a wind farm or a solar thermal power plant is built, the price is stable since there is no fuel cost ... will also dramatically cut carbon emissions, moving us toward climate stability and thus avoiding the most dangerous effects of climate change. " The shift also will staunch the outflow of dollars for oil, keeping that capital at home to invest in the new energy economy, developing national renewable energy resources and creating jobs here. At a time of economic turmoil and rising joblessness, these new industries can generate thousands of new jobs each week. Not only are the wind, solar, and geothermal industries hiring new workers, they are also generating jobs in construction and in basic supply industries such as steel, aluminum, and silicon manufacturing. To build and operate the new energy economy will require huge numbers of electricians, plumbers and roofers. It will also employ countless numbers of high-tech professionals such as wind meteorologists, geothermal geologists and solar engineers. "To ensure that this shift to renewables continues at a rapid rate, national leadership is needed in one key area — building a strong national grid. Although private investors are investing in long-distance high-voltage transmission lines, these need to be incorporated into a carefully planned national grid, the electrical equivalent of President Eisenhower’s interstate highway system, in order to unleash the full potential of renewable energy wealth." http://www.motherearthnews.com/Renewable-Energy/Green-Energy-Economy.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=iPost |
| Posted 11/24/2008 4:23 PM CST "Why drill for fuel when you can grow it instead? On a trek through the rain forests of Patagonia, a plant pathologist Gary Strobel noticed a 'red-colored fungus' he'd never seen before. When he examined the new species, "Gliocladium roseum", he detected a strong smelling gas. He brought the fungus to the lab.... found something entirely unexpected: The fungus was breathing out an array of hydrocarbons -- the same combustible compounds found in oil, gasoline and diesel fuel. When he realized what the fungus was producing, he said that every hair on his arms stood on end. The fungus makes hydrocarbons as a waste product after consuming common cellulose, the stringy plant fiber used to make paper. It's a simple, one-step process, unlike that for most biofuels, which have to be processed and distilled. G. roseum could be utilized on a commercial scale." THE WEEK [Maybe now we can get away from corn kernel ethanol and get to 'cellulosistic ethanol' using switch grass, corn stalks, lumber waste, etcetera. It would allow us to decrease the amount of fossil fuels 'aka new carbon' being pulled out of the ground. This discovery also lends additional credence to preserving wilderness areas because of their yet undiscovered biological resources.] http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/11/04/microbe-fuel.html More: http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=4 |
| Posted 11/23/2008 1:21 PM CST Global Warming is real. It's primary cause is man-made. However, the term 'global warming' doesn't even begin to carry the full weight of its 'implied meaning' vis-a-vis the impact of its 'long-term effects'. The rising temperature of the biosphere is beginning to produce some fluctuating weather extremes (some of which give global warming naysayers false hope). [Even the current politically correct term 'climate change' is a mere token of tribute to what's happening.] What remains to be seen is whether the 'human species' will recognize the peril of Global Warming and respond to it as an "enemy" & band together to fight it with development of renewable energy sources. Whether or not the battle is successful depends on both our willingness to adapt to the coming climate changes that are already too late to avoid & to our ability to intelligently change our 'way of doing business'. [Personally, I think the human race is too shortsighted to effectively respond to something that requires an understanding of 8th grade Earth Science. Regardless, we'll all face the consequences together though.] Note: Before 9/11 distracted our national attention away from debate over our not signing the Kyoto Protocol, etcetera, the U.S. News & World Report published a mainstream look at global warming and the climate changes it will bring-- 2001 issue of U.S. News & World Report: page #1 http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/010205/archive_005736.htm pg 2 http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/010205/archive_005736_2.htm pg 3 Weather Effects: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/010205/archive_005736_3.htm pg4 http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/010205/archive_005736_4.htm pg 5 http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/010205/archive_005736_5.htm pg 6 http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/010205/archive_005736_6.htm |
Posted 11/21/2008 4:05 PM CST
A single cup of home-brewed coffee averages 100 milligrams of caffeine / a single dose of Extra Strength Excedrin has 130 mg. / a Starbucks Grande coffee has 320. A daily intake of under 100 milligrams of caffeine by a pregnant woman significantly increases the chance that the baby will be born under weight / 100-200 mg. increases the odds by 20% / 200+ yields a 50% greater risk. Underweight babies are more likely to develop health problems as they grow older (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems).
Conclusion: No drugs (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, caffeine) for moms-to-be is the safest bet.
Caffeine sources:
http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm
Conclusion: No drugs (e.g., alcohol, nicotine, caffeine) for moms-to-be is the safest bet.
Caffeine sources:
http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm
