Biden Regime To Spend Lots Of Taxpayer Money On “Green Macaroni”

First, why can’t these companies spend their own money if they’re so hot to trot to Do Something? Second, get a load of who one of the recipients is (via Green Jihad)

From the screed

The Biden administration plans to spend up to $6 billion on new technologies to cut carbon dioxide emissions from heavy industries like steel, cement, chemicals and aluminum, which are all enormous contributors to global warming but which have so far been incredibly difficult to clean up.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Monday that her agency would partially fund 33 different projects in 20 states to test methods for curbing emissions from a wide variety of factories and industrial plants, calling it “the single largest industrial decarbonization investment in American history.” (snip)

Kraft Heinz, a food manufacturer, would get up to $170.9 million to install electric boilers and heat pumps at 10 facilities across the country, where they would be used to generate the large amounts of heat needed for things like drying macaroni without directly burning fossil fuels.

Hmm, this couldn’t have anything to do with John Kerry, could it? The guy who was Brandon’s climate czar? Or that Kerry is now working for Biden’s re-election? Seems rather shady, does it not?Kraft Heinz had gross revenue of $26.64 billion in 2023, so, why is it necessary to give them $171 million in taxpayer money?

Read: Biden Regime To Spend Lots Of Taxpayer Money On “Green Macaroni” »

If All You See…

…is a horrible wall blocking climate refugees, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Jo Nova, with a post on “misinformation” experts.

Read: If All You See… »

Politico: Oregon’s Decriminalization Of Drugs Law Failed Because They Didn’t Give It Enough Time

This is one of those stories from the Credentialed Media which makes you go “why? Why was it necessary to write this? To what point? This was weeks ago? What prompted you to bother giving this article a whirl? Don’t you have better subjects to write on?”

Why Portland failed where Portugal succeeded in decriminalizing drugs

America’s first experiment in treating hard drugs as a public health problem, rather than one for the police, looks like it’s about to end.

The Oregon Legislature has voted to repeal the state’s three-year-old law decriminalizing drug possession for personal use this month, joining cities from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., that are adopting new tough-on-drugs policies. Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek is expected to sign the bill, passed after a surge in fatal overdoses and public drug use, in the coming days.

But public health advocates behind the law say the repeal is coming before decriminalization had a chance to work. They point to Portugal, which saw a 75 percent drop in drug deaths since it adopted the same strategy in 2001 through 2022, as evidence that Oregon is giving up too quickly. Portugal’s success, they point out, wasn’t achieved overnight or even in three years.

Oregon’s experiment “was not given the time that it needed,” said Tera Hurst, the executive director of Oregon’s Health Justice Recovery Alliance. “This is a political response to a serious problem,” she said of the measure’s likely repeal. “This is life and death.”

Yeah, well, Portugal doesn’t have a fentanyl issue and massive homelessness like Oregon, particularly Portland and other Democrats run cities. They did have a big heroin issue, and worked hard to get those people into programs to help. It also didn’t have a problem with meth, though the use of meth is spreading across Europe. Portugal also did not go soft on crime simply because people were on drugs. Portugal didn’t simply say “hey, all drugs are legal, have at it”, they worked to make the drug use safe and then worked to get people off of them with treatment, which didn’t seem to be happening in Oregon.

It should be noted that Portugal was having a big problem with opioids in the 1990s, which led to their decriminalization law. They didn’t end up having a massive homeless problem after passing it nor a spike in crime.

Oregon’s lawmakers voted to once again impose criminal sentences for drug possession because of a surge in fatal overdoses and public drug use.

But Hurst and other decriminalization advocates said the law didn’t succeed because of problems with implementationa failure to fund new treatment services for 18 months after the law passed, a failure to train police on their new role in addressing addiction, and a failure to direct drug users to treatment.

Well, who runs Oregon? That would be Democrats. And what works well in one place doesn’t necessarily work well somewhere else. Just because you and I buy the same guitar doesn’t mean we get the same results. Oh, and since Democrats were hamstringing cops and hating on them, why did they think the cops would go out of their way to handle drug users? But, hey, it’s easy for “advocates” to say to give it time and Credentialed Media writers to write in support when they are probably do not have to deal with the fallout themselves.

Read: Politico: Oregon’s Decriminalization Of Drugs Law Failed Because They Didn’t Give It Enough Time »

Your Fault: Earth Is Maybe Spinning Faster Or Slower From Climate Crisis (scam)

I warned you. I did. Many times. You didn’t listen

Human-driven climate change has ‘slowed the Earth’s rotation’ and could affect how we measure time, study suggests

The melting of polar ice due to human-driven climate change has slightly slowed the Earth’s rotation – and it could affect how we measure time, according to a study.

Although the disappearance of the ice has reduced the speed of the planet’s rotation, the Earth is still spinning a bit faster than it used to.

The overall increase in speed means that for the first time in history, world timekeepers may have to consider subtracting a second from our clocks.

This means clocks may have to skip a second – called a “negative leap second” – around 2029 to keep universal time in sync with the Earth’s rotation, according to the study published in the Nature journal.

Suggests isn’t exactly a scientific measurement. It either has or hasn’t. May have to consider. May have to skip a second. Does it or does it not? Perhaps it would have been better to wait for all the facts before rushing to publish this cult propaganda.

As far as the speed, what made the Earth speed up in the first place? And why is it simply your fault that it might slow a bit? Do we have any scientific comparisons with previous Holocene warm periods, as well as what happened during Holocene cool periods? That’s science.

Read: Your Fault: Earth Is Maybe Spinning Faster Or Slower From Climate Crisis (scam) »

LGB Promises Los Federales Will Pay Everything To Replace Baltimore Bridge

Will it have a choo choo train on it?

Joe Biden: Government Will Pay ‘Entire Cost’ of Rebuilding Baltimore Bridge

Biden Brain SlugPresident Joe Biden said the government would pay the “entire cost” of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, after a cargo ship hit the bridge and caused it to collapse early Tuesday morning.

“It’s my intention that we will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge. I expect the Congress to support my effort,” Biden said in a White House press conference. “It’s gonna take some time. And the people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with that every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt. We’re not leaving until this job is done.”

Asked if the company behind the ship should be held responsible and pay for the repairs, Biden responded, “We’re going to pay to get the bridge rebuilt and open.”

He did not say how much it would cost.

He said he spoke with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and “told him, ‘We’re going to spend all the federal resources they need as we respond to this emergency. I mean all the federal resources, and we’re going to rebuild that port together.’”

Um, it’s laudable, but, why should the taxpayers foot the bill, when it should be the responsibility of the shipping company, which doesn’t exactly have a stellar safety record, and their insurance company? It should be something like “hey, we’ll front the money now so we can get the destroyed bridge out of the way then get construction going to replace it, but, they will ultimately pay.”

As far as rebuilding the port, well, nothing’s wrong with the port. It’s the bridge that’s the issue. Is this just Brandon in lala land, not really understanding what’s actually going on? But, in fairness, the port is going to wither away unless they can get the destroyed portion of the bridge out of the water and out of the way ASAP.

“It’s also the top port in America for both imports and exports of automobiles and light trucks. Around 850,000 vehicles go through that port every single year, and we’re going to get it up and running again as soon as possible,” Biden said. “Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port, and we’re going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers.”

Yeah, they do. It’s mostly highline vehicles coming through, but, there are some regular lines that are built in Mexico and shipped to many east coast ports, including Baltimore. And most ports are not set up to move them through.

Meanhile

Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before it collided with Baltimore bridge, officials say

The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent “routine engine maintenance” in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday, as divers recovered the bodies of two of six workers who plunged into the water when it collapsed. The others were presumed dead, and officials said search efforts had been exhausted. (big snip)

U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said authorities had been informed that the ship was going to undergo the maintenance.

“As far as the engine goes, we were not informed of any problems with the vessel,” he said. “We were informed that they were going to conduct routine engine maintenance on it while it was in port. And that’s the only thing we were informed about the vessel in that regard.”

The National Transportation Safety Board now has the “black box” of the ship, we’ll have to wait to find out what it says.

Read: LGB Promises Los Federales Will Pay Everything To Replace Baltimore Bridge »

Philly Inquirer Shocked That Temperatures Are Different In Florida Than Pa., Blame ‘Climate Change’

There are doomsday cult hot takes, and then there are Hot Takes. Seriously, someone wrote this, and decided to make it about climate doom

Phillies and Braves are experiencing climate change firsthand, and it may affect their play
Such a radical change in air masses, said one expert, is more than just a matter of comfort for the players: It can be hazardous.

The Phillies and the Atlanta Braves reputedly are among the elite teams of major-league baseball, but if the quality of play at Citizens Bank Park during their season-opening series doesn’t quite measure up to expectations, go gentle on the booing.

These players are experiencing a form of abrupt climate change, says Struan Coleman, a sports medicine specialist who practices in New York and Philly.

When the Phillies left Clearwater, Fla., after their final spring training game Monday, the high was 83 degrees, and daily highs since the team began playing their practice games in Florida on Feb. 25 have averaged about 80.

When the Braves ended their exhibition season Tuesday, the high was 86 in North Port, Fla., home of CoolToday Park (seriously, that’s what it’s called), their spring training home.

Perhaps more significant is that the air masses in both Clearwater and North Port have been considerably steamier at times the last several weeks than around here, at levels we more commonly associate with summer heat.

Wait, it’s warm and steamy in *checks map* Florida? The hell you say!

By contrast, when the teams take the field Thursday — or Friday, if the Thursday weather is balky — the air temperatures will be between 50 and 55, with air holding about 40% less moisture.

Philly is a thousand miles north of Clearwater. Of course they are different climates, and, really, the rest of the article is legit in terms of the issues with playing in different climates and the issues that can cause to muscles, bones, tendons, and with hydration. But, to try and mention ‘climate change’ is just nuts. Is there some sort of requirement at the paper to mention climate doom a certain number of times in each writer’s articles monthly? It was simply unnecessary.

Read: Philly Inquirer Shocked That Temperatures Are Different In Florida Than Pa., Blame ‘Climate Change’ »

If All You See…

…is an area that is being flooded from carbon pollution bad weather, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The Political Hat, with a post on that wage gap.

Read: If All You See… »

Surprise: California Fast Food Pay Law Causing Layoffs

I know, I know, you’re shocked

We already know that Pizza Hut and others were planning on laying off drivers and using 3rd party delivery services. Now

(NY Post) California restaurants are reportedly laying off staff and reducing hours for other team members in an effort to cut costs ahead of a California state law taking effect on April 1 that will raise fast-food workers’ hourly wage to $20.

In the months leading up to the wage mandate, California eateries, particularly pizza joints, have established a plan to cut jobs, according to state records obtained by The Wall Street Journal.

Pizza Hut and Round Table Pizza — a Menlo Park, Calif.-founded chain of 400 pizza parlors, mostly on the West Coast — have said they plan to lay off around 1,280 delivery drivers this year, according to records that major employers must submit to the state before large layoffs, The Journal reported.

What’s fun is all these people on social media, including elected officials, who are demonizing these companies yet have no stake in running them. They do not have to deal with the higher costs and look for solutions. They don’t have to deal with payroll and food costs.

In San Jose, Calif., Brian Hom, the owner of two locations of Vitality Bowls, has dealt with impending increased labor costs by running his Açaí bowl joints with two employees instead of his typical four, according to The Journal.

As a result, it takes longer for customers to receive their order, which has also increased in price by around 10% to offset higher wages.

Even little places are feeling the hit.

Other popular chains like McDonald’s and Chipotle have also said that they will be lifting menu prices in California to pay for the minimum wage hikes the Golden State passed in September.

Well, hey, no complaining, Californians, you voted for this.

At some fast-food locations, the April 1 minimum-wage increase for California fast-food workers represents as much as a 25% increase from the state’s broader $16 minimum wage.

Where do they find the offset? It’s either lay people off or raise prices.

(had this set up to post Tuesday, so I thought. Typed wrong date)

Read: Surprise: California Fast Food Pay Law Causing Layoffs »

Baltimore Bridge Collapse Reignites Calls For Infrastructure Repair

I’m surprised they haven’t linked it to ‘climate change’, but, surprisingly, the typical Warmists are silent

Baltimore bridge collapse reignites calls for fixes to America’s aging bridges

Bridge experts and U.S. presidents have decried the nation’s aging bridges and lack of maintenance for decades.

Calls for sorely needed bridge infrastructure fixes resurfaced Tuesday after a Singapore-flagged cargo ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. And while the circumstances of Tuesday morning’s disaster – a massive cargo ship charging into a support beam for the bridge – is an unpredictable event, experts still say the nation’s maintenance and repair record on bridges is an important factor that needs to be addressed. (snip)

Rick Geddes, an infrastructure policy expert and director of Cornell University’s infrastructure policy program, said the bridge collapse highlights several critical issues.

“This disaster reveals how exposed America’s critical infrastructure is to sudden and devastating accidents as well as intentional destruction,” Geddes said. “Improved resilience should be on everyone’s mind as aging infrastructure is rebuilt. Enhanced protection against ship-bridge collisions will certainly become more salient.”

Still, it’s unlikely Baltimore’s bridge stood a chance against the 984-foot Singapore-flagged Dali cargo ship crash that led to its collapse despite the quality of its build. Because the ship collided with one of the bridge’s main support columns, there wasn’t enough support to hold its load, bridge experts told USA TODAY.

While there’s certainly no doubt that many bridges need repair or replacement – many are old and/or carrying way more traffic than built for – haven’t we already passed lots of legislation on fixing bridges? Obama’s Stimulus contained a lot of money for this, and, wasn’t some guy named Joe Biden in charge of the infrastructure projects? Many of the smaller stimulus bills also dealt with infrastructure. Was the Inflation Reduction Act supposed to deal with this, as well?

Trump tried to pass an infrastructure bill throughout his presidency, and Democrats refused to play ball and pass one.

Here’s an idea: if a bridge on a federal highway needs repair or replacement, have a bill that specifically allocates money to do that. Otherwise, states should deal with this. Otherwise, the money simply gets pissed away on graft and idiocy, rather than repair/replace.

As for the Baltimore bridge, that area is in big trouble. The Maryland DOT says 34,000 vehicles cross it a day. Now they all have to go elsewhere. The Baltimore Harbor Tunnel is the next closest crossing. That’s a lot of traffic to add, and 18 wheelers just barely fit in the tunnel. One bad bump over something that fell off a vehicle and they hit the ceiling. If they are carrying hazardous material they have to go to a different crossing.

Then there’s the shipping. As long as the bridge is in the water ships cannot make it into the port of Baltimore, meaning no goods coming in. Meaning there’s no work for a lot of people. The shipping will have to go to other ports, but, some might not be able to handle all that extra traffic, and may not have the infrastructure to move the goods where it needs to go. Baltimore is set up to move vehicles from the ships to the trains to elsewhere. Is the Norfolk area? How about the ports in NC and SC? I know there’s one in Georgia which does, and up in Newark, NJ area. How about the Delaware ports on the Delaware, primarily Newark, Delaware?

All the truckers will have to move elsewhere. Jobs involving the Baltimore port will dry up. This will be a mess.

I’m not going to jump into conspiracy theories. This is either just a tragic occurrence, where everything bad just came together, or an intentional act

Read More »

Read: Baltimore Bridge Collapse Reignites Calls For Infrastructure Repair »

Doom Today: British Pints And Columbian Coffee

So, things that people drink in the morning are in trouble

Fears for the future of the great British pint of beer

Climate change threatens to “call time” on the great British pint.

But scientists are working with the brewing industry to help save it.

Hops give bitter its taste but the plant doesn’t like the hotter, drier conditions we’ve experienced in recent decades and production has plummeted.

Researchers in Kent are isolating hop genes in the hope of producing more climate-change resilient varieties.

They also want to produce more intense flavours that are now becoming popular.

“Without it, the British pint is going to die off,” Danielle Whelan of the Shepherd Neame brewery said of the work.

Yeah, well, things change. Wine was grown in England during the Medieval Warm Period. They could barely grow wheat in France during the Little Ice Age. Mankind adapts

Climate change ‘putting future of Colombian coffee production in danger’

A multitude of challenges including climate change is putting coffee production “in danger”, according to farmers in Colombia, which is a major exporter to the UK.

Coffee farmers in the South American country’s Sierra Nevada mountain range say warming temperatures are forcing them to plant their crops on higher ground, while increasingly unpredictable rainfall cycles are affecting growth and harvesting logistics.

The region used to be free of coffee plant diseases but farmers say climate change means their plants are increasingly vulnerable to rust, brown eye spot or borer insects, further hitting their yields.

Production in the area has shrunk by 35% in the last five years, according to the Latin American and Caribbean Fairtrade Network (CLAC).

Well, move production. Things will not stay the same on Earth, no matter what the Warmists think. Many of those Colombian highlands used to be essentially farmland, bushland, but, over time they turned into jungles all the way up to the top.

Read: Doom Today: British Pints And Columbian Coffee »

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