Clipmarks | deb2012's clips

10 reasons to avoid nuclear energy

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:58:46 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: This issue is also related to water shortage and drought-read the article on this relationship.

Already, wind energy can produce electricity for less than five cents per kWh, and concentrated solar power can produce energy for 11-12 cents per kWh—even at night—and these costs are decreasing. Alternatives do not produce nuclear waste, and they do not face the same extensive safety, regulatory, and construction costs and delays that nuclear does.

Clip Source: www.americanprogress.org

capital costs

4. Unresolved problems regarding the availability and security of waste storage.

5. Nuclear faces concerns about uranium supplies and importation issues.

6. Nuclear reactors require water use amid shortages.

Large areas of the United States already face water shortages, and the effects of global warming are expected to exacerbate this problem. “Elec tricity generation accounts for nearly half of all water withdrawals in the nation,” and nuclear power stations require more water than fossil fuel use does. The only alternative to the water usage associated with nuclear energy is less efficient (and more expensive) dry cooling systems.

7. Safety concerns

mature technology—it will not get cheaper

9. Other clean energy technologies are cheaper, cleaner, and faster to build

10. Nuclear subsidies take money away from more effective alternative energy subsidies.

Read more

The Self-Limiting Future of Nuclear Power

Tags: nuclear, energy

2009 Depression?

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:18:46 GMT

clipped by: deb2012

Clip Source: www.opednews.com

There are more than 18-million vacant homes in the U.S. now, according to the Commerce Department and the figure will only increase as foreclosures rise.

Credit card and car loan companies are already seeing increased delinquencies and the delinquencies on mortgages are almost hitting 7%, an all time high. The number of foreclosures have already hit record highs and have doubled alone in the last year.

The crisis has developed into America’s worst financial disaster since the Great Depression, and experts say the majority of Americans don’t understand its depth.

Tags: economy, depression

Tax cut 2 step

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:03:54 GMT

clipped by: deb2012

Clip Source: www.republicansforobama.org

Obama wants to cut taxes for families earning under 150k a year. To help pay for this, he wants to raise taxes on those in higher tax brackets, and on capital gains.

McCain is already trying to confuse the issue and convince nervous middle-income voters that the Democrats are coming for their money, saying that Obama will raise taxes on "hard-working families." Yes, this is partially true-- hard working families in the top 5% of earners would have to pay more under Obama's plan, but you'll never hear McCain admit to this. Instead, he'd prefer to lie to lower and middle-income earners and make them think that the government is going to take even more of their money now.

My party always lies like this-- they convince lower-income people that Democrats are proposing to raise their taxes, when they're just not.

Tags: politics

Cancer Sniffing dogs

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:06:51 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: cloned ones, that is
ISTHISFORREAL?

Clip Source: english.people.com.cn

A South Korean biotech firm announced it has successfully cloned four dogs capable of sniffing out human cancers by using tissue from a Labrador retriever in Japan, media reported Wednesday.

The cloning, requested by the Japanese stemcell company Seems, was conducted by a team led by Seoul National University professor Lee Byeong-Chun and has been verified by the medical school.

Researchers in several countries are investigating whether dogs have the ability to detect lung, breast, prostate and skin cancer at an early and treatable stage.

They believe cancer cells create a scent not present in healthy cells, which can theoretically be picked up by dogs in breath or urine samples.

Tags: science, cancer, cloning

U.S. occupation

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 23:26:35 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: "Now those that hate the US can condemn the US for its brutal success in defending its interests and those of other free nations around the world. But to instantly brand “Occupation” a dirty word belies the truth of history. The better economic and social system always wins...."

Clip Source: tech.groups.yahoo.com

In these days of transition in Iraq it is important to traverse the mine field of rhetoric on both the Left and the Right and find a reasonable balance. Not a balance that equalizes the rhetoric, but one that accurately predicts the future.

This is not the first time the US has invaded and “Occupied” a country

The three areas the US abandoned – Cuba, North Korea and Vietnam are all Communist states. The only remaining Communists states in the world.

Even Vietnam that has a firm economic footing today lags behind the place it probably would have been had the US developed better and more effective anti-insurgent techniques.

Germany, Japan and Korea were all occupied countries. Each one still has US troops providing protection. Each was criticized as a failure at the time. And each one drew internal protest.

The US occupied Cuba, Puerto Rico, Gram, The Philippines and Hawaii after the Spanish American War.

Tags: history, politics, war

Here's where your money is going!

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:03:24 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: oil profits

Clip Source: www.globalconstructionwatch.com

Dubai Will Be Home To The World’s Largest Fountain

Tags: economy, oil, construction, dubai

nuclear Eurobarometer

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:35:39 GMT

clipped by: deb2012

Clip Source: www.maltamedia.com

Italy registered an increase to 43% of Italians in favour of nuclear energy since the previous 30% registered in winter 2005. Around 46% are “quite or definitely against” nuclear energy.

The most fervid nuclear energy supporters are the Czech Republic and Lithuania with 64% followed by Hungary and Bulgaria with 63%. Sweden and Finland follow closely with 62% and 61% respectively.

Malta registered one of the lowest percentages of interest with regards support of nuclear energy according to a Eurobarometer survey with just 15%. Other low percentages were registered in Cyprus (only 7% in favour), Austria (14%) and Greece (18%).

Tags: nuclear, energy

How Congress spends your money

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:27:16 GMT

clipped by: deb2012

Clip Source: investorshub.advfn.com

Tags: government, taxes, politics

International Energy Agency Urges Energy Revolution

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 12:24:36 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: The image at the bottom shows lines in China for gas. Gas stations in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou were busy after rumors that fuel price were going to be increased.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

The International Energy Agency, a group that advises industrialized countries, said Friday in a report that investments of at least $45 trillion might be needed over the next half-century to prevent energy shortages

Countries will have to overcome objections to building nuclear power plants and to storing large amounts of carbon dioxide underground or beneath the ocean floor.

current policies are unsustainable with carbon dioxide emissions expected to rise 130 percent and demand for oil expected to rise 70 percent by 2050. Tanaka warned that oil demand could be five times the current production of Saudi Arabia by that time

rising cost of oil and gas is prompting a switch to coal

contributing to the accelerating growth in emissions of carbon dioxide

need for 32 new nuclear plants each year

wind turbines

increase by 17,500 a year

solar electricity

few technologies

exist to limit those emissions

Tags: energy, oil, coal, nuclear, solar, wind

Solving Health Care in America

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:03:01 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: The blend of private insurance and medical services coupled with government standards is a low cost flexible and competitive approach to universal coverage. The use of a two tiered system along with a co pay for visits both gives incentive to the patient to be compliant and helps eliminate unnecessary use of medical services. An escalating co-pay for repeat offenders could also be an incentive to keep costs down. The US under such a system would continue to remain the leader in health care. Giving grants to research centers and training hospitals allows for on going research as well as giving an upward path to those with strange diseases or the need for specialized care. The system in place is a good system. By eliminating the abuses of Medicare and encouraging preventive care the system could operate in a superior fashion at or below what we are currently paying in taxes today.
(All elected officials have to be in the system. They cannot have special treatment. )

Clip Source: tech.groups.yahoo.com

Spending the majority of Medicare funds on the end of life is stupid. There has to be a reasonable approach to dying.

If they want extraordinary measures then they have to assume the financial burden that comes with it.

We have to re-invert the pyramid and put money into prevention and not long term maintenance

Taxing the parts of society that produce disease along with education is very cost effective

Outlawing preexisting exclusions and up rating is a must

Insurance has to be owned by the customer and be non- cancelable with no rate bumps. Age should be the only determining rate factor in rates

reward system for those who take care of themselves

when rates are low enough with mandatory coverage of the young and the step down to the basic coverage there is an incentive to remain insured and to make periodic visits to the doctor. The threat of a step down gets the patient an incentive to take care of themselves and follow advice of the physician.

Tags: healthcare

Suggested items for a go-bag

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:41:46 GMT

clipped by: willhelm
clipper's remarks: emergency preparedness.

Clip Source: www.google.com

What would you do if you lost power for a day? What about a nasty storm knocking out transport to your area for a week? What if you had to evacuate your home because of a wild fire?

A little emergency preparedness can go a long way. Spending an hour or two today, along with a few dollars, can make sure that you have less to worry about in the event of an emergency. And if you’re worrying about a bad storm or a wild fire, I think that any peace of mind that being prepared can bring you is worth the effort.

So what do I think is important in an evacuation bag?

A basic first aid kit

A map

A flashlight with spare batteries

A blanket

change of clothing, with extra underwear and socks

Soap and a few other basic hygiene supplies

A coat

Medication

A recent back up of important computer files

Copies of important documents, such as birth certificates and Social Security cards

An inventory (for insurance purposes)

A list of important phone numbers

Snacks

A deck of cards or other entertainment

Bill Richardson on foreign policy

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:09:24 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: since he may be Obama's VP, and this guy has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 5 times, here's his bio http://www.governor.state.nm.us/governor.php

Clip Source: www.ontheissues.org

Al Qaida gets stronger while Musharraf governs Pakistan

Set conditions on foreign aid assistance to Musharraf

Make $10B in aid to Pakistan conditional on democracy

No conditions on aid to Pakistan, but push for democracy

2001-2: Worked on energy strategy for Kissinger Association

At UN,embraced Clinton's vision of international cooperation

US can inspire world with sacrifice instead of arrogance

US is isolated; need vision to rejoin world

Jaw-boning is a non-military way to get things done

Alliance with Latin America on microlending & human needs

Be tougher on China; it's a strategic competitor

UN troops in Darfur, & UN-enforced no-fly zone

We always forget about Africa; I will care

Pressure China & Europe to enforce no-fly zone in Darfur

Talking to your enemies can produce results, like N. Korea

Israel is less safe with Bush's policies

Strategic interests in Russia: loose nukes & Chechnya

Re-evaluate embargo for post-Castro Cuba

US military force only when US territory attacked

Tags: politics

Anti-statist societal styles

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:46:05 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: willhelm made me curious

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

General:

Tags: politics

McCain on Economy

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:11:48 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm

Clip Source: www.ontheissues.org

Bailing out Bear Stearns necessary to protect economy

Key is to not to bail out homeowners who speculated

Things are tough now, but we're better off than in 2000

Impose some fiscal discipline to revive the economy

Will be able to reduce war costs & have a stable Middle East

Reform insurance to cover violent weather patterns

Republicans have forgotten how to control spending

Veto all pork-barrel bills and announce pork spenders

May have to go further to fix the subprime lending situation

Recession is partly psychological and not inevitable

I'm well-versed in economics; I was at the Reagan Revolution

FactCheck: Said--then denied--he needed economics education

To avoid recession, stop out-of-control spending

Loss of economic strength leads to losing military strength

Congress spends money like a drunken sailor

AdWatch: Outrageous to spend $233M for bridge to nowhere

FactCheck:Bridge-to-Nowhere never built; would serve 200,000

FactCheck: Criticized "Woodstock museum," but skipped vote

Tags: politics

Obama on Economy

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:07:23 GMT

clipped by: deb2012
clipper's remarks: http://www.ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm

Clip Source: www.ontheissues.org

Can't do anything at home with $12 billion a month on Iraq

Protect consumers with Credit Card Bill of Rights

More accountability in subprime mortgages

Bush stimulus plan leaves out seniors & unemployed

Voted against limiting credit to 30%, because 30% too high

Account for every single dollar for new proposed programs

Help the homeowners actually living in their homes

Lack of an energy policy is a financial burden

Bush & GOP dug budget hole; need years to dig out

Save $150 billion in tax cuts for people who don't need them

Take China "to the mat" about currency manipulation

Rejects free market vision of government

Regulate financial instruments to protect home mortgages

Government regulation needed for when markets fail

Return to PayGo: compensate for all new spending

Supports federal programs to protect rural economy

Voted NO on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness

Require full disclosure about subprime mortgages

Tags: politics