The Green Police Live Inside of My Head….

I thought this ad was both hilarious and scary.  I’m sure the enviros saw this ad as a call to arms. 

(If you don’t get the title of the post, see The Dream Police by Cheap Trick.)

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Poet Al Gore Gets Creepy on The Early Show

This is just a tad creepy.  I think there is a little man-love going on here.

Try to contain yourself Harry Smith.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Steve Doocy Schools Carol Browner

The massive Waxman-Markey Cap and Trade bill that narrowly passed in the House has made it’s way to the Senate.  Hopefully the Senators will have more common sense than their buddies in the House.  We’ll see about that, but I’m always hopeful.

Steve Doocy of Fox and Friends is not known to be a hard interviewer.  He’s a common sense guy and very entertaining.  He recently conducted an interview with Carol Browner, the Energy Czar.  Mr. Doocy asked a simple question – “Did you read the bill.”  Simple enough right?  Not so much.  It seems that Ms. Browner didn’t read the whole bill.  If you are an insomniac and need some rest – here’s the entire 1200+ page bill.  Sweet dreams.

Now correct me if I’m wrong, but if you are the ENERGY CZAR, wouldn’t you take the time to actually read the most important ENERGY legislation in modern times?  If I had this type of careless disregard for my position I would be fired.  The fact is that Ms. Browner doesn’t really care what is in this bill.  As long as she is able to pass sweeping changes to force us all to change our lives and “make the planet cleaner“, then life is good in her mind.  What was the rush?  Why not take a couple days to at least peruse the contents of the legislation?  I’m sure that’s not in her job description – or maybe it’s above her pay grade.

The threat of Climate Change is not a settled matter and should be up for debate, but sadly it is not.  Global Warming skeptics are silenced and ostracised by their colleagues – especially by those in academia.  What happened to looking at the facts and then determining a course of action?  I’m not a climate scientist but I try to use common sense.  Not sure there is any happening in this “debate”.

Good job Mr. Doocy.  Keep up the good work.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

John Boehner – He’s the Republican with a Pair

On Friday evening the House of Representatives passed the massively overreaching Cap and Trade bill.  Again, as has been the custom over the last couple of months, this bill was voted on with very little debate – or actual reading of the bill.  I’m confused on how legislators can vote on something that they haven’t read.  If I did that in my job I would be fired – but I guess I should be a Representative to have this kind of “perk”. 

Fortunately my Representative, Jerry Costello (D) from Illinois, and 44 of his Democratic brethren voted no on the bill.   No thanks to the 8 Republicans that voted yes on the bill. 

John Boehner (R), Minority Leader from Ohio, really says it best in this clip.  This is government at it’s best.  How do they stay awake?

Hmmm…John Boehner 2012.  Hopefully he doesn’t have any skeleton’s in his closet.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

The #1 Cause of Global Warming!

Problem solved.  We’ve found the real culprit causing Global Warming Climate Change.  Mother of pearl, it’s our friend the COW!

I ran across this video on Youtube and just had to post it. 

I want to warn you, it involves cows pooping. 

Those of you from rural areas, this is not a big deal, but you city-folk may be grossed out.  Honestly, I can’t believe someone took the time to film this and produce it, but here you go.

So everyone do your part to fix Global Warming Climate Change….. EAT SOME MORE BEEF!

(After the video, make sure to leave a comment.  I left one and it was promptly removed)

What the Heck is Cap and Trade?

If many of you are like me, you are casual observers (OK, I’m a frequent observer) of the the news.  There seems to be some new term or program out there.  Who can keep it all straight?  To better inform everyone, I thought it would be useful to explain the Cap and Trade issue.  Don’t know what that means?  Well, I’ll try to tackle that in this post.

I found a decent definition from a “Green” looking website – Ecomii.com. 

Cap-and-trade is one method that can be used to regulate the amount of pollution emitted into the atmosphere.  The government sets a cap on pollution, limiting the amount that companies or other groups are allowed to release. The government then issues credits, which allow companies to each pollute a certain amount as long as the aggregate pollution equals less than the set cap.  Since some companies can reduce pollution more cheaply than others, the group engages in trading these permits. Companies that can cheaply reduce pollution sell permits to companies that cannot easily afford to reduce pollution. The companies that sell the permits are rewarded while those that purchase permits must pay for their negative impact. Applied to climate change, this system would theoretically reduce carbon emissions at the lowest total cost.

Co2 Monster - Oooo, Scary!

Confused yet?  As a thinking person ask yourself, “Who does this benefit?”  I can tell you it is not the normal folk in this great country.  This is another boondoggle that is being hoisted on the taxpayers of America to help fund government programs.  How much extra cost will that add to production of a product and ultimately the cost at Wal-Mart? 

It’s so nice that we work hard to institute laws and regulations to tray and tax ourselves into a clean environment.  The fact is that the US is one of the cleanest countries in the world.  Without getting into some nerd-like discussion about the environment, let’s consider things in terms that I can understand.   We can agree that if a country is deemed to be more polluted (lax environment regulations, poor government oversight, third-world / Communist economy, etc.), THEYshould be the ones footing the bill for any supposed problems with the environment.   According to the Associated Press in a story dated from 2006, the most polluted areas in the world are listed below.  Funny, I don’t see the US on that list.   To be fair, I looked at several sources, although many were from sources I didn’t know and didn’t want to list here, but the list was pretty much the same.  

Linfen, China

Haina, Dominican Republic

Ranipet, India

Mayluu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan

La Oroya, Peru

Chernobyl, Ukraine

Kabwe, Zambia

 

What does this have to do with Cap and Trade?  Well, I believe it’s all the same issue – Global WarmingClimate Change.  We as Americans are being asked to correct a problem that is really not a problem.  Cap and Trade is just another way to give up our money, to clean the environment when there is no hard evidence that there is a problem in our country – or anywhere else for that matter.  Climate patterns are cyclical throughout history.  The impact that man has had on these patterns is not conclusive and some evidence has surfaced that we are now in a cooling cycle (same as in 1924 & 1974).   In fact, the wonderful edible Cow is responsible for 65 percent of nitrous oxide – much more powerful than Co2.  (Those of you who don’t know, cows fart a lot – that’s nitrous oxide!)

Bottom line is that I really don’t think it is prudent to further burden our system on theories and suppositions.  I think at this point we’re all in the mood for a little global warming (we’ll wish for global cooling in July and August).

Of course, that’s just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

 

Sources: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Economy/wm1723.cfm, http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20772&Cr=global&Cr1=environment, http://www.dailytech.com/Temperature+Monitors+Report+Widescale+Global+Cooling/article10866.htm, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15320729/

If Green is In, I’m Out

I’m all for conservation. Conserving our parks, making sure we have clean water, reducing pollution – those things are great. I think most rational people agree with my sentiment.

What I am really getting tired of is seeing, hearing and reading about all this “Green” stuff. I’m the type of person who goes the other direction of someone is doing something or suggesting that I do something. If going “Green” means that it will inconvenience me or cost me more money, I’m out.

I don’t buy into all the Global Warming hysteria. There is no credible evidence that Man and our technology has affected the temperature of the planet (minus of course all the sanctimonius Hollywood stars touting the genius of Algore). Many climatologists are actually talking about Global Cooling. Actually, back in the 70’s, this was the hip term. (See Newsweek article from 1974 – http://denisdutton.com/newsweek_coolingworld.pdf). A great history of the warming and cooling from the Business and Media Institute (http://www.businessandmedia.org/specialreports/2006/fireandice/FireandIce.pdf).

Bottom line is that we are very arrogant if we believe we can actually affect the temperature of the planet. This stuff is cyclical. Considering that we are freezing in 10 inches of snow here in the Midwest, a little global warming would be appreciated.

Get the facts and stop bothering me about going Green.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Gore and Global Warming

Where is common sense when you need it? I am very tired of the sanctimonious do-gooders in the world telling me that the planet is warming because of people like me. Shade the facts however you like, but it’s not man’s fault that earth temperatures have increased. It’s a natural occurrence. Actually, according to leading climate scientists, the earth is actually in a cooling cycle. I didn’t see that in any of Gore’s assertions. Obviously he has missed this winter.

I watched the interview on 60 minutes with Al Gore. Leslie Stahl asked no tough questions, didn’t ask about his assertions, she just took his word as gospel. You can see for yourself, but I think I would have asked some more biting questions. Video Link: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/27/60minutes/main3974389.shtml

Something along the lines of, “Mr. Gore, many leading scientists have indicated that we are in a cooling cycle, what say you?” or “Mr. Gore, who is paying for your new $300 Million campaign to stop climate change?” “Mr. Gore, why is this global warming thing a US problem – why are you not going after the third world countries who are really polluting the environment”.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for conservation and not needlessly polluting, but come on. Global warming is natural – a normal cycle of this great planet we live on. Thinking we could actually “wreck” the planet is ludicrous.

Of course, that’s just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant