by Eddie C
Hello and welcome to Friday Evening Photo Blogging. Tonight's Memorial Day weekend diary was intended to be a dedication to the Navy and Marine personnel that are enjoying my city this week but the weather in Manhattan hasn't been good enough to get good shots. So I took a trip to the African veldt today instead. You guessed it, I never made it out of the Bronx. Today I went to see the three new lion cubs that were born on January 27th and made their public début this week. So give a roaring welcome to Nala, Adamma and Shani as they get used to their new digs. Their big sister Moxie is a very good baby sitter for these 25 pound kittens.
continued at Daily Kos....
Friday, May 28, 2010
Phytoplankton are Phun! eKos Earthship Friday
by eKos
Welcome to the eKos Earthship, your one-stop-shop for green diaries and series. Beneath the fold you will find announcements, today's eco-diary roundup, news, and of course phun with phytoplankton! Be sure to follow us on Twitter! Today's editor: Hopeful Skeptic
continued at Daily Kos....
Welcome to the eKos Earthship, your one-stop-shop for green diaries and series. Beneath the fold you will find announcements, today's eco-diary roundup, news, and of course phun with phytoplankton! Be sure to follow us on Twitter! Today's editor: Hopeful Skeptic
continued at Daily Kos....
Dr. Soos on the Oil Spill
by chadlupkes
Dear Mr. President, I know this is tough, but for the Gulf Coast, the future promises to be rough. What you will see will most likely make you want to flee. The questions from the GOP make me wonder how hard on BP you should actually be. Should the government take over the oil spill response through eminent domain, or should you direct the DOD and Homeland Security to take things over with a military campaign?
continued at Daily Kos....
Dear Mr. President, I know this is tough, but for the Gulf Coast, the future promises to be rough. What you will see will most likely make you want to flee. The questions from the GOP make me wonder how hard on BP you should actually be. Should the government take over the oil spill response through eminent domain, or should you direct the DOD and Homeland Security to take things over with a military campaign?
continued at Daily Kos....
How To Share A [REDACTED] Sandwich
by Stranded Wind
Th Gulf gusher has, as the experts of The Oil Drum feared and predicted well in advance, not been capped from the top side. The solution has always been relief wells, reaching 13,000' beneath the seabed to interdict and fill the leaker with cement. These take two or three months and are subject to the exact same hazards that killed eleven men and sank the Deepwater Horizon. There's been a lot of media orchestrated sniveling about Barack Obama not swimming a mile down into the Gulf of Mexico completely nude with a pipe wrench in his teeth to personally stopper the well. And Kossacks have gone along with the doubly foolish framing. I'm not here to criticize my President, I'm here to help him. And I'm not talking about just stoppering the leak, which is merely a symptom; we're going to go right to the source of a couple of problems.
continued at Daily Kos....
Th Gulf gusher has, as the experts of The Oil Drum feared and predicted well in advance, not been capped from the top side. The solution has always been relief wells, reaching 13,000' beneath the seabed to interdict and fill the leaker with cement. These take two or three months and are subject to the exact same hazards that killed eleven men and sank the Deepwater Horizon. There's been a lot of media orchestrated sniveling about Barack Obama not swimming a mile down into the Gulf of Mexico completely nude with a pipe wrench in his teeth to personally stopper the well. And Kossacks have gone along with the doubly foolish framing. I'm not here to criticize my President, I'm here to help him. And I'm not talking about just stoppering the leak, which is merely a symptom; we're going to go right to the source of a couple of problems.
continued at Daily Kos....
Dear Mr. President, The Time is NOW
by whoknu
Right now, I sit here completely uninspired and I am angry! I feel helpless. I want to change. I want to break my addiction but I can't do it alone. You are our Leader and you need to start acting the part. You speak for us and you need to start saying the right words. You were elected to lead us, and you need to start NOW. That's right LEAD. You are our Leader. If not now, when? The Gulf of Mexico oil volcano is a NATIONAL EMERGENCY! We need to start acting as if our lives depend on solving this problem, because the truth is, they do. We have had our Crude Awakening. The time is now to show the country what we must do. You know what we have to do. We need to take this disaster, this National Emergency, and use it to make a bold turn towards changing the paradigm. You see, this ship is headed for an ice berg and we need you to pull the wheel hard to the left or we are all doomed.
continued at Daily Kos....
Right now, I sit here completely uninspired and I am angry! I feel helpless. I want to change. I want to break my addiction but I can't do it alone. You are our Leader and you need to start acting the part. You speak for us and you need to start saying the right words. You were elected to lead us, and you need to start NOW. That's right LEAD. You are our Leader. If not now, when? The Gulf of Mexico oil volcano is a NATIONAL EMERGENCY! We need to start acting as if our lives depend on solving this problem, because the truth is, they do. We have had our Crude Awakening. The time is now to show the country what we must do. You know what we have to do. We need to take this disaster, this National Emergency, and use it to make a bold turn towards changing the paradigm. You see, this ship is headed for an ice berg and we need you to pull the wheel hard to the left or we are all doomed.
continued at Daily Kos....
DE-AL: In-depth interview on energy, environment w/John Carney
by Cpt Robespierre
On May 20th, I interviewed U.S. House candidate John Carney on energy and the environment, for my internet radio show at the University of Delaware. You can listen to the full show here (mp3). Full Disclosure: I worked as an intern on John Carney's House campaign from February through May this year. This interview was conducted through my show at the university, and the campaign and Mr. Carney were only told the overall topic in advance. Since John Carney has been vocally opposing offshore oil drilling off Delaware (and the other areas the President plans to open), I feel this interview somewhat qualifies as "earned media" attention, especially in light of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. The campaign has authorized me to publicize the interview here, although I no longer work there and they have not read this ahead of time.
continued at Daily Kos....
On May 20th, I interviewed U.S. House candidate John Carney on energy and the environment, for my internet radio show at the University of Delaware. You can listen to the full show here (mp3). Full Disclosure: I worked as an intern on John Carney's House campaign from February through May this year. This interview was conducted through my show at the university, and the campaign and Mr. Carney were only told the overall topic in advance. Since John Carney has been vocally opposing offshore oil drilling off Delaware (and the other areas the President plans to open), I feel this interview somewhat qualifies as "earned media" attention, especially in light of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. The campaign has authorized me to publicize the interview here, although I no longer work there and they have not read this ahead of time.
continued at Daily Kos....
We Need A Dept of Cleaning Up
by J Orygun
The gulf oil crisis raises several distinct problems. There's clearly a problem with regulating the drilling, that the government has to solve before another well gets drilled. There's clearly a problem of an out-of-control wellhead that only a few drilling professionals have the tools and knowledge to plug. But there's one more problem, which is NOT a "never seen before" problem: a massive oil spill. We had one in Valdez. There was one in the gulf 30 years ago. There was a small one a few years ago in SF bay. Oil spills in water are not rare. And they obviously don't just come from mismanaged drilling. They come from mismanaged ships. They come from collisions. And they could even come from an act of terrorism. The only thing different about this one is the size. So what do we do when the oil hits the water? We need treat it like the invasion of a foreign enemy, 'cuz that's what it is. We need a government agency that is ready to go to work the day the next spill happens. We need a fire department for oil spills. We clearly don't have one.
continued at Daily Kos....
The gulf oil crisis raises several distinct problems. There's clearly a problem with regulating the drilling, that the government has to solve before another well gets drilled. There's clearly a problem of an out-of-control wellhead that only a few drilling professionals have the tools and knowledge to plug. But there's one more problem, which is NOT a "never seen before" problem: a massive oil spill. We had one in Valdez. There was one in the gulf 30 years ago. There was a small one a few years ago in SF bay. Oil spills in water are not rare. And they obviously don't just come from mismanaged drilling. They come from mismanaged ships. They come from collisions. And they could even come from an act of terrorism. The only thing different about this one is the size. So what do we do when the oil hits the water? We need treat it like the invasion of a foreign enemy, 'cuz that's what it is. We need a government agency that is ready to go to work the day the next spill happens. We need a fire department for oil spills. We clearly don't have one.
continued at Daily Kos....
Fishgrease: Booming The News Media
by Fishgrease
Hey Boomers. Not feeling well right now, Ol Fishgrease isn't. We're being lied to, consistently, by BP, Our Government and in the most damaging fashion, by Our News Media. Before any of you jump my ass about making such an accusatory claim, irresponsibly, please let me admit that "Lie" is a relative term. WMDs in Iraq was such a relative lie. Some of you will claim that Bush-Cheney's use of the WMD lie to get us into a useless, probably-illegal war was in no way a relative lie. Maybe so. But Colin Powell didn't think it was a lie -- I remain convinced that he did not think it was a lie. I think there's a chance, however slim, that George W. Bush himself thought there were really Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. What makes it a lie is that there weren't fucking Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and somebody had a pretty god damned good idea that there weren't. Take the hop with me here and we'll continue. Or not, if you wish. This diary won't be as entertaining or light hearted as my previous ones because this isn't funny. OH AND PLEASE KEEP THE MOTHERSHIP TK JS DIARY REC'D UP!!!! HERE!!!!!!
continued at Daily Kos....
Hey Boomers. Not feeling well right now, Ol Fishgrease isn't. We're being lied to, consistently, by BP, Our Government and in the most damaging fashion, by Our News Media. Before any of you jump my ass about making such an accusatory claim, irresponsibly, please let me admit that "Lie" is a relative term. WMDs in Iraq was such a relative lie. Some of you will claim that Bush-Cheney's use of the WMD lie to get us into a useless, probably-illegal war was in no way a relative lie. Maybe so. But Colin Powell didn't think it was a lie -- I remain convinced that he did not think it was a lie. I think there's a chance, however slim, that George W. Bush himself thought there were really Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. What makes it a lie is that there weren't fucking Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq and somebody had a pretty god damned good idea that there weren't. Take the hop with me here and we'll continue. Or not, if you wish. This diary won't be as entertaining or light hearted as my previous ones because this isn't funny. OH AND PLEASE KEEP THE MOTHERSHIP TK JS DIARY REC'D UP!!!! HERE!!!!!!
continued at Daily Kos....
Renewable Energy Round-Up
by mark louis
Someone made the suggestion in the previous installment of this series that I consider changing the title, and I decided to take their advice. I hope this change does not create any unrealistic expectations for future installments of the series. Unfortunately, there are no poo-related stories in today's installment.
continued at Daily Kos....
Someone made the suggestion in the previous installment of this series that I consider changing the title, and I decided to take their advice. I hope this change does not create any unrealistic expectations for future installments of the series. Unfortunately, there are no poo-related stories in today's installment.
continued at Daily Kos....
(Video) President Obama's News Conference Today in Southern Louisiana
by icebergslim
First off, this was a good news conference. President Obama was concise, on point, he had the Gulf Coast Governors beside him, with exception of Haley Barbour. What he said was vitally important to the residents of that area, "We will not abandon you." That is what they needed to hear. As many of you know, I have been critical of the communication coming from this White House and it does need to be fixed. But the people down there was beginning to think this was another treatment like "Katrina" and this perception needed to be fixed ASAP. This is good first step, because the people of this region do not trust BP nor the slowness response of the government, thus far.
continued at Daily Kos....
First off, this was a good news conference. President Obama was concise, on point, he had the Gulf Coast Governors beside him, with exception of Haley Barbour. What he said was vitally important to the residents of that area, "We will not abandon you." That is what they needed to hear. As many of you know, I have been critical of the communication coming from this White House and it does need to be fixed. But the people down there was beginning to think this was another treatment like "Katrina" and this perception needed to be fixed ASAP. This is good first step, because the people of this region do not trust BP nor the slowness response of the government, thus far.
continued at Daily Kos....
No Text. Just Photos. You May Wish to Avert Your Eyes
by Meteor Blades
[The following photos of the collision between oil and land in the Gulf of Mexico are from Greenpeace.] Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace Sean Gardner Sean Gardner/Greenpeace Sean Gardner/Greenpeace
continued at Daily Kos....
[The following photos of the collision between oil and land in the Gulf of Mexico are from Greenpeace.] Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace Sean Gardner Sean Gardner/Greenpeace Sean Gardner/Greenpeace
continued at Daily Kos....
Protesting the Palomar LNG Pipeline - Next Steps
by Cedwyn
I blathered a bit about this proposed LNG pipeline in attempts to get the word out about the protest planned for the NW Natural shareholders' meeting yesterday. I am very happy to report today that the protest was a resounding success, if you ask me. We were definitely seen by a lot of people and since one of the organizers was inside the meeting and asked questions, I know NW Natural noticed us. Video, etc. below the fold.
continued at Daily Kos....
I blathered a bit about this proposed LNG pipeline in attempts to get the word out about the protest planned for the NW Natural shareholders' meeting yesterday. I am very happy to report today that the protest was a resounding success, if you ask me. We were definitely seen by a lot of people and since one of the organizers was inside the meeting and asked questions, I know NW Natural noticed us. Video, etc. below the fold.
continued at Daily Kos....
Obama's Press Conference: You Can't Negotiate With Disaster
by RJ Eskow
There's a lot to admire about the President's consensus-seeking style, however frustrating it can be to activists. But his press conference yesterday, and the management problems that led up to it, show the limits of that style in times of crisis. Hopefully the oil tragedy - let's not call it a "spill" when it's more like a sustained explosion - will help the Administration understand something that seems to elude them at times: You can't negotiate with disaster or compromise with danger. The President's tendency to see and sometimes embrace both sides of an issue was in full view yesterday. One example: "You never heard me say 'drill, baby, drill'," he said about offshore drilling. True enough - but he did say "drill," most famously a few short weeks before the BP disaster. "I don't agree with the notion that we shouldn't do (any drilling)," he said. "It turns out, by the way, that oil rigs today generally don't cause spills. They are technologically very advanced."
continued at Daily Kos....
There's a lot to admire about the President's consensus-seeking style, however frustrating it can be to activists. But his press conference yesterday, and the management problems that led up to it, show the limits of that style in times of crisis. Hopefully the oil tragedy - let's not call it a "spill" when it's more like a sustained explosion - will help the Administration understand something that seems to elude them at times: You can't negotiate with disaster or compromise with danger. The President's tendency to see and sometimes embrace both sides of an issue was in full view yesterday. One example: "You never heard me say 'drill, baby, drill'," he said about offshore drilling. True enough - but he did say "drill," most famously a few short weeks before the BP disaster. "I don't agree with the notion that we shouldn't do (any drilling)," he said. "It turns out, by the way, that oil rigs today generally don't cause spills. They are technologically very advanced."
continued at Daily Kos....
Senator Sanders Takes Action On The Oil Spill!
by slinkerwink
This is why Senator Sanders is one of our best progressive leaders in Congress. He's decided to take action by introducing legislation that bans offshore drilling: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced legislation that goes far beyond temporary bans on additional offshore drilling permits. The Vermont Independent-Socialist is calling for the reinstatement of bans that expired in 2008, which would fully prohibit permits for "exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas" on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts as well as sections of the Gulf. In short, the bill would have the effect of essentially forcing the country to go cold turkey on offshore oil consumption. "[Obama] wants a moratorium for six months. We want a permanent ban," Sanders said, in a call announcing his legislation. "I think the president is probably seriously regretting the fact that he lifted the moratorium... he is right to re-impose the moratorium as a time out." And for those who worry about the effect this would have on "oil junkies," here's a provision Senator Sanders has added to the bill that would help with oil addiction:
continued at Daily Kos....
This is why Senator Sanders is one of our best progressive leaders in Congress. He's decided to take action by introducing legislation that bans offshore drilling: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced legislation that goes far beyond temporary bans on additional offshore drilling permits. The Vermont Independent-Socialist is calling for the reinstatement of bans that expired in 2008, which would fully prohibit permits for "exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas" on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts as well as sections of the Gulf. In short, the bill would have the effect of essentially forcing the country to go cold turkey on offshore oil consumption. "[Obama] wants a moratorium for six months. We want a permanent ban," Sanders said, in a call announcing his legislation. "I think the president is probably seriously regretting the fact that he lifted the moratorium... he is right to re-impose the moratorium as a time out." And for those who worry about the effect this would have on "oil junkies," here's a provision Senator Sanders has added to the bill that would help with oil addiction:
continued at Daily Kos....
What's next for coal ash?
by Sue Sturgis
Disaster has pushed Washington to call for new standards for handling waste from coal-fired power plants. It's invited citizens to weigh in, but will their voices carry above lobbyists fighting tough regulations?
continued at Daily Kos....
Disaster has pushed Washington to call for new standards for handling waste from coal-fired power plants. It's invited citizens to weigh in, but will their voices carry above lobbyists fighting tough regulations?
continued at Daily Kos....
Scientists on the trail of some New Plumes of Unknown Origin
by jamess
Here we go again. Those Scientists are back out there, taking samples, plotting data, and Kicking Uncertainty's Butt! Underwater Oil Plume Discovered Near Mobile Bay By Bobbie O'Brien -- May 27, 2010 TAMPA -- New tests show what appears to be a massive, second underwater plume in previously untested waters northeast of the leaking BP wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine scientists have discovered a new, wide area of "dissolved hydrocarbons" in that Gulf. It is six miles wide and goes as deep as 3,300 feet. More tests are being run, but researchers from the University of South Florida suspect the plume may be from chemical dispersants used to break up the gushing oil leak a mile below the surface. They suspect the gunk to be Disperants, But HOW can you be sure -- you can't even see it! Because for most of America, those Underwater Plumes won't really exist, until they SEE them on the Evening News!
continued at Daily Kos....
Here we go again. Those Scientists are back out there, taking samples, plotting data, and Kicking Uncertainty's Butt! Underwater Oil Plume Discovered Near Mobile Bay By Bobbie O'Brien -- May 27, 2010 TAMPA -- New tests show what appears to be a massive, second underwater plume in previously untested waters northeast of the leaking BP wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine scientists have discovered a new, wide area of "dissolved hydrocarbons" in that Gulf. It is six miles wide and goes as deep as 3,300 feet. More tests are being run, but researchers from the University of South Florida suspect the plume may be from chemical dispersants used to break up the gushing oil leak a mile below the surface. They suspect the gunk to be Disperants, But HOW can you be sure -- you can't even see it! Because for most of America, those Underwater Plumes won't really exist, until they SEE them on the Evening News!
continued at Daily Kos....
Gulf Oil Rig Victims Anger Should be Shared by All
by RDemocrat
Crossposted from Hillbilly Report. In testimony about the Gulf Oil rig disaster on Thursday some victims got to air their anger on the Congressional record. Some have lost loved ones that can never be replaced, and others were encouraged to sign away their rights as victims. This did not even include the millions who will lose their livelihoods. Their rage should be felt by us all.
continued at Daily Kos....
Crossposted from Hillbilly Report. In testimony about the Gulf Oil rig disaster on Thursday some victims got to air their anger on the Congressional record. Some have lost loved ones that can never be replaced, and others were encouraged to sign away their rights as victims. This did not even include the millions who will lose their livelihoods. Their rage should be felt by us all.
continued at Daily Kos....
Great News: Indonesia Ends Its Deforestation
by LaughingPlanet
We have been getting hammered with too much bad news these days. It is time to celebrate something huge and wonderful. Indonesia Agrees to Curb Commercial Deforestation By AUBREY BELFORD Published: May 27, 2010 The deal, signed Wednesday at a climate conference in Oslo, is open to other countries and would tie the $1 billion in funding to "verified emissions reductions" as part of the United Nations-backed effort known as Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, or REDD. Under the plan, rich countries help pay for the preservation of forests in developing countries.
continued at Daily Kos....
We have been getting hammered with too much bad news these days. It is time to celebrate something huge and wonderful. Indonesia Agrees to Curb Commercial Deforestation By AUBREY BELFORD Published: May 27, 2010 The deal, signed Wednesday at a climate conference in Oslo, is open to other countries and would tie the $1 billion in funding to "verified emissions reductions" as part of the United Nations-backed effort known as Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, or REDD. Under the plan, rich countries help pay for the preservation of forests in developing countries.
continued at Daily Kos....
Mr. President, Let Us In
by Crashing Vor
Dear Mr. President: First, thank you for returning to Louisiana today to inspect the effects of the ongoing oil catastrophe and for your strong words of support to the people of the Gulf Coast. Thanks as well for your efforts to speed resources to combat this mess. Your pledge to reform the corrupt Minerals Management Service is extremely welcome. This message is not to excoriate you for failing to do things you cannot or blame you for the failings of others. It is a simple request: lower the barriers to the coast so that those who want to help can do so.
continued at Daily Kos....
Dear Mr. President: First, thank you for returning to Louisiana today to inspect the effects of the ongoing oil catastrophe and for your strong words of support to the people of the Gulf Coast. Thanks as well for your efforts to speed resources to combat this mess. Your pledge to reform the corrupt Minerals Management Service is extremely welcome. This message is not to excoriate you for failing to do things you cannot or blame you for the failings of others. It is a simple request: lower the barriers to the coast so that those who want to help can do so.
continued at Daily Kos....
No Words. Only Tears & Heartbreaking Images
by ridemybike
Today, during a House subcommittee meeting on the BP oil spill, Representative Charlie Melancon, a Democrat from Louisiana representing much of the coastal area being directly affected by the spill, broke down in tears while delivering his remarks. He started to quiver, and was unable to finish. He asked that his remarks be submitted for the record, and walked out of the hearing. His tears belong to all of us.
continued at Daily Kos....
Today, during a House subcommittee meeting on the BP oil spill, Representative Charlie Melancon, a Democrat from Louisiana representing much of the coastal area being directly affected by the spill, broke down in tears while delivering his remarks. He started to quiver, and was unable to finish. He asked that his remarks be submitted for the record, and walked out of the hearing. His tears belong to all of us.
continued at Daily Kos....
BP Top Kill Diary # 7 as of 10 pm MDT appx
by Miep
Hope i'm doing this right. This should be a subset of teh Mother Ship the Second. Don't rec this, rec the Mothership diary so that we keep this solidly on the rec list with ONE pointer only. So this is where you go to continue to comment and look at the link and read the news and tell us when people are lying and otherwise be helpful and really, really appreciated.
continued at Daily Kos....
Hope i'm doing this right. This should be a subset of teh Mother Ship the Second. Don't rec this, rec the Mothership diary so that we keep this solidly on the rec list with ONE pointer only. So this is where you go to continue to comment and look at the link and read the news and tell us when people are lying and otherwise be helpful and really, really appreciated.
continued at Daily Kos....
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