Posted by Bill McGonigle
Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:10:00 GMT
Here's a video from the US GAO showing some unpatrolled areas of the Canadian-US Border. The implication of the reporting around this video is that we're not doing enough to secure our borders. That's crazy, we can't secure 6,000 miles of land border - plus patrol the oceanic borders - it's an insurmountable task for humans.
We need to treat our country more like a house. Everybody knows that a home's #1 enemy is water. Yet, we don't wrap our homes in plastic bubbles, we build our homes so that when water is put upon it or in it, that water can be effectively removed, without additional worry. Any water that does get in drains away and dries up quickly. If there are areas which are likely to hold standing water without being noticed, we put in a water alarm ($15 at Home Depot - good investment!)
Similarly, the US needs to have a method for fast and efficient removal of aliens. The current excuse for not doing this is that the house is currently flooded due to neglect. Sorry, but we can't ask an insurance company to declare the country a total loss - we're going to have to effect repairs, and that starts with drying out the carpets.
It should go without saying that none of us could live without lots of water in our homes - but we need it to be properly piped into the correct place, filtered perhaps, and delivered with appropriate pressure.
Posted by Bill McGonigle
Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:57:00 GMT
Thomas Lifson points out that after Al Gore's green refit of his Tennessee mansion, a deserving target of prior scorn, his home is now using 10% more electricity than before the refit and that this might be seen as a demonstration that energy conservation isn't a viable national policy goal. The thought is, "if Al Gore can't do it, how the heck is everybody else supposed to do better?"
Good point, but there's one small problem - the data is incomplete. From the source press release:
Since the release of An Inconvenient Truth, Gore’s energy consumption has increased from an average of 16,200 kWh per month in 2005, to 18,400 kWh per month in 2006.
Gore’s extravagant energy use does not stop at his electric bill. Natural gas bills for Gore’s mansion and guest house averaged $1,080 per month last year.
OK, so his electricity has increased 10% but what of his total energy usage? How have his natural gas bills changed over the same time period, if at all? If he was getting all of his energy via electricity via safe, necessary nuclear energy then his carbon load would be close to zero, even if his electricity was up by 10%.
So, if Al Gore's gas bills have gone up or stayed consistent then the truth belies his agenda. However, if they've fallen dramatically (we can calculate BTU's from kilowatts and cubic feet of gas) then the Tennessee Center loses credibility. I've sent them an e-mail for clarification.
Posted by Bill McGonigle
Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:23:00 GMT
I've seen/heard ads for DirectBuy on CNN and local radio. I figured I'd check out who these guys are, and came across this website.
Apparently the membership fee is $4950, they use high-pressure sales tactics, and their deals of are questionable value. Some write that it's a good deal if you're looking to buy more than $50K in product and enjoy their selection, but others write you can't look at the selection before you sign up. Sounds like a scam. I've written the producers of a couple shows I listen to who promote the company, passing along this URL.
Here's an older piece by WCBS in NYC for those more impressed by big media. They quote an NYU business professor describing their do-or-die technique as characteristic of disreputable companies.
I know all of my readers wouldn't succumb to high-pressure sales tactics, but there are less savvy folk out there.
