Every candidate should support rational measures to protect and improve our environment, but it makes no sense at all to back expensive programs that divert resources from real needs and are based on alarming but untenable claims of "incontrovertible" evidence.

Dream of the 90s - Portlandia on IFC

So I spend some time in Portland and it is just a cool city to visit.  There is lots to see and do and there is a feeling that just begged to be captured.  Sure enough Portlandia does just that.

Then I spend time in Eugene and there really is no way you could ever think of cool.  It is more of a mess.

Obama the liar TV Ad.

Foreign oil imports below 50 percent - do you want to know why? Massive economic downturn.

The impression here is Obama is promoted domestic drilling and refining when he is obstructing it.

Welcome to Obama running for office, lets make up stuff.

America's clean energy industry, 2.7 million jobs and expanding rapidly. What is America's clean energy industry? It stands undefined. Where does he get this 2.7 million jobs figure?

Even FactCheck calls this misleading:

■ The spot uses outdated quotes from groups that said his record on ethics is “unprecedented” and that he “kept a promise to toughen ethics rules.” Those same groups said later that he “has let down millions of Americans who accepted his word” and rated his promise as “broken.”

■ The 30-second TV spot also trumpets a claim of “2.7 million jobs” in “America’s clean-energy industry.” That mostly counts jobs put in place long before Obama took office.

■ Finally, it boasts that U.S. dependence on foreign oil has declined to below 50 percent, as a net share of total demand, for the first time in more than a decade. That’s true, and increasing U.S. oil production is a factor (despite Republican criticisms that Obama is anti-drilling). But economists say the chief factor is reduced oil consumption, brought on by the recent economic recession.

I find it sadly ironic that it was primarily woman's groups who faught for the right for abortion and now women are opting for abortion so as to terminate female births.


Canada abortion issues.  The sentence I find sadly misinformed: "Call it the unintended consequence of Canada's open abortion policy and increasingly multicultural demographic."  


Its a Girl! (the three deadliest words in the world)

Never simple.

It was one of those warm snuggle mornings.  The bed was ever so comfortable.  I was pondering how long I could stay under the warm layers, in-between cat napping quick dreams.

"The shower is not getting hot" came the klaxon call from the bathroom. My wife has work, I have the day off of work.  Well, I had the day off from my job.  Work was about to be my day...

I slogged out the door, slipped my work tennies on and proceeded down the half flight of concrete steps that leads to under-the-house.  To my dismay there was lots of standing water... a flood.  Great...

Living on a hill and having a flooded basement is not something considered.  But, there it was, a good six inches of water.  Curiously it was still below the access panel to the gas water heater.

First order of business was to get the water out of my basement.  My contemplation started with bailing or using a garden hose as a siphon.  Slipping on my trusty rubber boots, my brain had devised the next step and a shovel was soon in hand.  Heading to the downhill side of the house I started with a hole then a furrow.  This effectively destroyed a planter.  I got a trickle of water and increased the furrow to match.  Then headed inside and connected the tunnels.  My mind went back to kindergarten and sand box tunnels of yore.  As the water started flowing I had a smile of satisfaction until the grim task of troubleshooting the water heater came.

When we first moved into our house, the water heater was an electric model that sat in the kitchen disguised as a work-space.  My pop and I installed a much more affordable gas heater a few years back. This was a direct vent water heater that could be safely vented out a side wall.

The access panel was dry and I was perplexed at why the flame had gone out.  I used the igniter and the pilot lit!  HUZZAH! Hot water abounds...  Then it went out and would not re-light.

There was a note on the side saying that after a flood you need to replace the unit.  Great, just what I need a new water heater.  How do I find another direct vent?  How far would I have to drive  to find one.  My day was quickly becoming the suck.

Tina boiled some water and got ready for work.  Trevor was mopping out the remaining water.  I called the smartest plumber on the planet, my Pop.  Pop quizzed me about several aspects and finally told me to call the "gas guy"  As they are more familiar with current gas water heaters then he was.  Avista is our gas utility and I placed an order for someone to come out.

Next up I called my brother-in-law, Doug.  Doug is a plumber by trade who was tutored by my Pop.  He thought the gas line might have some water or debris and had thoughts on clearing (something the Gas guy would do later).  He also cautioned that some units have a fail safe that burns itself out when it overheats.  He could not figure out how a flood would make it overheat, but provided the caution.

Tony from Avista arrived and set about checking the water heater.  This was not the fail-safe style unit and with out much effort he got the pilot to light and the burner to work!  HUZZAH! Hot water abounds...  Then As he started putting the screws of the burner back it went out and would not re-light.

No air was getting to the flame...  A direct draft Gas water heater has an air intake and exhaust nested inside one another they start and stop at the top of the tank.  It was perplexing.  Tony took out the burner again and we saw the reflection of standing water UNDER the burner below a plate.  This corresponded with the air intake pipes that run down the backside of the unit.

Now with a battle plan I sent Tony Avista on his way.  Headed to lowes to buy a small water pump (the kind powered by a drill. and some hose. Pumped out the water then used sponge and paper towels until the bottom was all but dry.

This time the flame burned happily and began the task of heating my water.  Which I just now tested and... dare I say it? HUZZAH! Hot water abounds!

The best the GOP has to offer?

I am thinking that its hold your nose and vote time.  At least any of them will be a huge improvement!

Fr. Barron comments on Why I Loved to Listen to Christopher Hitchens

Work discussion...

Some variation of this discussion happens every so often.  This is a compilation that is not too far from an actual conversation"

Member: Why are you so expensive?  I can buy this same set across town for half the price.

Sales: Really, that is a huge value.  They have this exact model with the same warranty?

Member: Yup, I have the flyer right here.

Sales: (reading over the flyer).  Well they are a bit different,  our set is a Samsung and this flyer shows a Colby. Further, our Samsung has true high definition resolution at 1080progressive lines this Colby is a 720.

Member: What does that mean?

Sales: The resolution is the number of lines the set uses to make a picture.  The higher the number the sharper the image.  Think of thread counts in sheets, the higher the count the better the quality.  Also, this Colby has a 60hz refresh rate, while our Samsung is 240hz.  That refers to the number of times the TV redraws the image.  The higher the rate the more fluid the motion.

Member: So the higher number is better?

Sales: More-so on larger sets.  Anything over 37  inch diagonal you want a higher refresh rate.  For a 46" set like this 240hz is highly desirable.  Especially for action films and sports or video games.

Member:  I don't play video games, so that really is not that important.

Sales: Do you watch football?

Member: Yeah, all the time.

Sales: A higher refresh rate would be better for football.  I see here that the Colby is not LED back-lit.

Member: The Samsung says it is LCD and LED, so which is it?

Sales: Both sets are LCD or liquid crystal displays.  Like an old 35mm slide they need light behind them for you to see the picture.  An LCD does not produce its own light.  A standard LCD, like the Colby, has some light bulbs behind the screen across the back.  Those produce light and heat, so the sets are thicker to allow for cooling.

Sales (cont.): The Samsung has LED or Light Emitting Diodes, to light the screen.  They look similer to those old light bright crystals, but they are solid state and only produce light.  So you get a brighter picture and a thinner set that uses less electricity.

Member:  I see, but why are your prices for a 46" set so much higher...

Sales: ...........................Gosh, I don't know, you should go buy the cheaper one.....