What the Climate Change "Hoax" has Brought to Consumers

It seems one of the most interesting discussions in American society has been lately is whether or not there is such a "thing" as climate change, or as many like to refer to it "global warming."

I believe the whole argument of "is there " or is there not" climate change is actually a red herring used by those who stand in the corner of energy companies and benefit from energy companies profits. The idea of climate change has wrought great news for the average consumer where electrically operated devices for the homeowner now use less electricity and cost the consumer much less money to operate.

The appliance in most homes that uses the most electricity to operate is the air conditioning condenser, the use of which was once a luxury, but has become a necessity in recent years. There was a time when this device was very costly to operate and a huge drain on the local electric grid. The US government recently set standards of efficiency where the least efficient air conditioner a consumer can buy used to be the MOST efficient just 10 years ago (from 10 SEER or less to at LEAST 13 SEER present day) which means the average consumer is able to operate an air conditioner much less expensively than in years past. Efficiency standards for furnaces have also been improved costing the consumer less for natural gas in winter months to heat their homes. The savings are especially realized when the homeowner makes certain their homes are properly insulated. I would strongly advise against setting ones thermostat to higher temperatures when one is not home as it does take more work for the air conditioner to remove heat energy from the home that has accumulated during a summer day, than it takes to keep ones home a constant temperature throughout the day, whether one is at home or not. In winter months, I DO suggest turning the thermostat to cooler temps when one is away as it does not take as much energy to ADD heat energy to a space.

Another way the average consumer is able to save money on energy is by the use of compact florescent light bulbs, or their more expensive cousin the LED light bulb. The homeowner can operate a CFL bulb emitting the light of a 200 Watt "normal" light bulb while using only 55 Watts. The CFL and LED bulbs do not produce as much heat as a "normal" bulb and the CFL and LED'S last longer as well. The CFL light bulbs do contain a small amount of mercury and should be disposed of properly. Many local fire stations and city halls have receptacles for CFL disposal which makes this easier for the consumer as well.

There are many other appliances which have become less expensive to operate from refrigerators to washers and dryers as a result from this "debate" and from government mandates. The consumer has also benefited from rebates and tax credits for purchasing more efficient appliances as well. The wise consumer who chooses energy efficient appliances benefits almost immediately from using energy efficient appliances and light bulbs in their homes.

So, we may not all agree that climate change is "real" or a "man-made" event. We may not all have the same political philosophies or agree on the same ideologies.

But, most people do agree on trying to save money for themselves and their families, and higher efficiency appliances are a smart way to realize great money savings. Some savings one sees over time, but a lot of savings are almost immediate.

Your electric company will miss your hard earned dollars!!

U2 360 Tour News Article

Bono to return to stage in weeks - McGuinness

June 23, 2010

Source: Evening Herald

by Aoife Anderson

BONO will be back on stage in a matter of weeks despite his recent emergency surgery, according to U2's manager Paul McGuinness.

The Irish rocker (50) was operated on after becoming temporarily paralysed -- forcing the band to cancel the start of the US leg of their 360° Tour and their headline slot at Glastonbury.

An optimistic McGuinness told the Diary: "He's making a full recovery. The doctors told me he's going to be fine. It was serious surgery but we expect him to make a full recovery. He's pretty fit."

McGuinness said there was no reason to believe the tour's massive stage production had anything to do with the singer's injury.

"It's a big stage to run around, but no," he said. "I'll be very relieved when I see him running around the stage again. The European leg of the tour starts in Turin on August 6 and that has not been postponed.

"Rescheduling the American leg is quite difficult because it is an outdoor show; we can't do it in the winter because it's the northern hemisphere.

"So what we're doing now is trying to seek availability of the buildings that we had already pretty much sold-out, so we're getting availabilities and routing a coherent tour for next summer in the US and Canada. We've nearly done it so I hope we'll be able to announce that shortly."

McGuinness insisted the rest of the band hasn't been enjoying an impromptu holiday while Bono recovers.

"No not really, they're doing some work and planning to do some recording. It never stops really," he said.

(c) Evening Herald, 2010.

Roosevelt's 4 Freedoms Speech

In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

The first is freedom of speech and expression -- everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way -- everywhere in the world.

The third is freedom from want -- which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants -- everywhere in the world.

The fourth is freedom from fear -- which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor-- anywhere in the world.

That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb.

To that new order we oppose the greater conception -- the moral order. A good society is able to face schemes of world domination and foreign revolutions alike without fear.

Since the beginning of our American history, we have been engaged in change -- in a perpetual peaceful revolution -- a revolution which goes on steadily, quietly adjusting itself to changing conditions -- without the concentration camp or the quick-lime in the ditch. The world order which we seek is the cooperation of free countries, working together in a friendly, civilized society.

This nation has placed its destiny in the hands and heads and hearts of its millions of free men and women; and its faith in freedom under the guidance of God. Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights or keep them. Our strength is our unity of purpose.

To that high concept there can be no end save victory.

From Congressional Record, 1941, Vol. 87, Pt. I.

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RESOURCE: World Civilizations
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A Few Random Birthday Thoughts

Today is my birthday.

It seems that on birthdays or other of life's milestones it is in our nature to wax a bit nostalgic, so please indulge me as I ramble through some random thoughts of my own self serving nostalgia so that I may feel like I am actually sharing things that are relevant to you as well.

If life is about learning and doing better and climbing obstacles, then I consider my life the finest university. I have made good decisions, bad decisions, and decisions that seemingly have been neither good or bad (should I have the turkey or roast beef today?)

I have reveled in the good decisions. Learned sometimes very painful lessons from the bad decisions, and have learned that even the neutral decisions have had consequences, even if I don't realize the neutral decisions directly.

I would have learned nothing in life if I have not realized that anything I decide not only affects myself, but every decision affects others as well.

My life is a part of a grand scheme of your life, and your life is a grand scheme in my life.

We are all connected.

The myths of "rugged individualism" and "pulling yourself up by your boot straps" are myths hoarded by the greedy seemingly perpetuated to the masses so that those needing help would be too ashamed to ask for it. These myths are also the dogma for those who have received help from the time they were young, but have gotten their very large piece of "the pie" but still perpetuate the myth so that their "pie" remains very large.

You are not a "rugged individual" and you have never "pulled yourself up.." you and I have had help every step of the way throughout our lifetimes. By the very fact that you are reading this and I am writing this; the fact that you and I have survived to this age, no matter what age you are, means that someone has fed and clothed you and educated you. You are not here right now by your own merit. We all need each other to continue to exist and survive.

This day, being my birthday, has caused me to remind myself to be less selfish and exclusive, and to be more selfless and inclusive. Less dogmatic and more to seek gnosis and to find whatever the truth is no matter WHAT the truth is and to walk the path that gnosis and truth leads me to no matter what the path is.

So, welcome to my birthday nostalgia. I am hopeful you will find peace and joy and happiness in any path and in any decision you choose to take.