Finally, Treehugger Has Their Annual Eco-cred Swimsuit Issue

By William Teach April 12, 2012 – 6:07 pm

We’ve all been waiting with bated breath!

(Treehugger) Searching for the perfect swimwear can be a headache in and of itself. Add eco cred to the mix and it’s a migraine.

Fortunately, we’ve done the work for you, and the result is a sizzling mix of the hottest sustainable swimsuits on the market.

From sultry pin-up girl style full-coverage to a saucy double frill bikini to a rocker-style Ramon’s-themed suit you can DIY yourself, our fourth-annual TreeHugger Swimsuit issue is overflowing with bikinis and one-pieces that will have you planning your next beach-side activity now.

Yeah, but going to the beach is bad for Gaia. First, one has to get in the fossil fueled vehicle to get there. And walking on the beaches messes up nature. And, don’t get me started on suntan oil, many of which are decidedly non-environmentally friendly, and can even leave an oily sheen on the water and despoil the sand!

Interestingly, after taking one for the team and researching all the bikini’s (yes, I’m selfless), it doesn’t seem like most of the companies are really interested in environmental concerns. Consider the first picture

First up: a sexy and sultry Le Chic Keyhole bikini from Vitamin A by Amahlia Stevens. Made in the USA with 100% recycled nylon fiber, this barely-there suit is not for the body shy. (Le Chic Keyhole String Halter Top, $88; Le Chic Keyhole Tie Side Bottom, $88)

I can’t find anywhere on the Vitamin A’s website any notion about the bikini being….you’re not reading this yet, are you?….environmentally awesome. In fact, the top is made from 83% nylon, which is made from “petrochemicals, these synthetics are non-biodegradable as well, so they are inherently unsustainable on two counts. Nylon manufacture creates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 310 times more potent than carbon dioxide.” The other 17% is spandex, which can also bad for the environment, depending upon the manufacturer.

Honestly, most of the other bikini photos are, well, boring. And, most of the suits are not environmentally friendly, even if the companies are using recycled materials, and “donating” to environmental causes.

The most eco-friendly materials are cotton, bamboo, and soy. You can also use hemp. Here are 3 sites that provide some examples. And, yes, I am serious. Nothing wrong with being environmentally friendly when you can.

Read: Finally, Treehugger Has Their Annual Eco-cred Swimsuit Issue »

Posted in Environment, Midday Cute | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach April 12, 2012 – 1:00 pm

…is an evil refrigerator with an icemaker that is bad for Gaia, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Grist. (yes, really. I like some of their real environmental stuff)

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 5 Comments | Trackback URL

Bummer: Renewable Energy Investment Plunges

By William Teach April 12, 2012 – 12:09 pm

Actually, this is kind of a bummer: we do need to use more alternative energy sources. Most conservatives would agree. What we don’t agree with is how they have been pushed by liberal governments

(Bloomberg) Global investment in clean energy dropped to its lowest since the depths of the financial crisis three years ago as the U.S. and European nations cut support for wind and solar projects, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said.

Spending on new wind farms, solar parks and other renewable projects fell to $27 billion in the first quarter, a 28 percent slump from the last three months of 2011 and a 22 percent drop from the same quarter a year earlier, New Energy Finance said today in a statement. That’s the lowest quarterly total since the $20 billion recorded in the first three months of 2009.

The quarterly decline follows a record year in which an estimated $263 billion was poured into renewable energy, according to the London-based research company. The clean-energy industry has been hurt by subsidy cuts in European nations including Spain, Germany and the U.K., and expiring tax credits in the U.S., the biggest market in 2011 for renewables.

“The weak first-quarter number reflects the destabilizing uncertainty over future clean-energy support in both the European Union, driven by the financial crisis, and the U.S., driven by the expiry of stimulus programs,” New Energy Finance Chief Executive Officer Michael Liebreich said in the statement. “There is no sign of a rapid turnaround in either of these regions.”

Part of the problem is that the money was simply poured into renewable energy projects, with little in the way of a return ever appearing. In fact, most of these projects lost money, which cost taxpayers and raised their energy prices. Renewable energy companies, along with politicians, made promises that could never be kept. And much of the money was simply poured into the bank accounts of campaign donors. The companies went out of business. Their solar panels didn’t work. They were extremely expensive. Wind farms provided no power when it was cold and/or too windy, and many caught on fire or simply collapsed. People complained about the noise wind turbines made.

And the upshot of the idiotic way Government “invested” in alternative energy is that people have been turned off from what should be a smart decision to move towards these other energy sources. As usual, the Left over-reached, and damaged their cause.

Read: Bummer: Renewable Energy Investment Plunges »

Posted in Energy, Enviroweenies, Liberal World | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Now That Zimmerman Has Been Charged, Can He Even Get A Trial With An Impartial Jury?

By William Teach April 12, 2012 – 8:46 am

Zimmerman has pretty much already been convicted within the media, community agitator activist and race baiting sectors, and by elected Democrats. Many seem to have taken up the Trayvon Martin cause simply as a way to raise the specter of racism and push for gun control. But, what does the Constitution say?

(Amendment VI) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law,….

Can George Zimmerman obtain a trial with an impartial jury anywhere within the district where he resides? How about in Florida? Any other state? That’s not to presume the guilt or innocence of Zimmerman, because a person is guilty till proven innocent….wait, sorry, I’ve been reading way too many liberal outlets, and hearing people like the New Black Panthers and Al Sharpton determine that Zimmerman is guilty, and should simply be dragged from the courthouse and strung up one his horse in the public square, then the horse should be smacked in the hindquarters, leaving Zimmerman dangling.

Perhaps there is evidence that Zimmerman is guilty. It seems a pretty big stretch for the prosecutor to charge him with 2nd Degree Murder

After an extraordinary public campaign to make an arrest in the shooting of an unarmed black teen, a Florida prosecutor came back with a murder charge in the case that has galvanized the nation for weeks.

But prosecutors face steep hurdles to win a second-degree murder conviction against neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin, experts say. They will have to prove Zimmerman intentionally went after Martin instead of shooting him in self-defense, refute arguments that a Florida law empowered him to use deadly force and get past a judge’s ruling at a pretrial hearing.

2nd degree murder is often defined as

a non-premeditated killing, resulting from an assault in which death of the victim was a distinct possibility. Second degree murder is different from First Degree Murder which is a premeditated, intentional killing, or results from a vicious crime such as arson, rape, or armed robbery. Exact distinctions on degree vary by state.

Was the death of the victim a distinct possibility, and did Zimmerman assault Martin first? The Sanford PD and prosecutors office dropped the ball in not investigating this in the first place, even when some were recommending Zimmerman be charged.

“(Zimmerman) is concerned about getting a fair trial and a fair presentation,” his attorney, Mark O’Mara said. “He is a client who has a lot of hatred focused on him. I’m hoping the hatred settles down … he has the right to his own safety and the case being tried before a judge and jury.”

Expect Zimmerman’s lawyers to make a big deal over this issue, particularly during jury seating. But, it may not even get that far

The prosecutors must prove Zimmerman’s shooting of Martin was rooted in hatred or ill will and counter his claims that he shot Martin to protect himself while patrolling his gated community in the Orlando suburb of Sanford. Zimmerman’s lawyers would only have to prove by a preponderance of evidence – a relatively low legal standard – that he acted in self-defense at a pretrial hearing to prevent the case from going to trial.

There’s a “high likelihood it could be dismissed by the judge even before the jury gets to hear the case,” Florida defense attorney Richard Hornsby said.

And, if the case is dissmissed, or Zimmerman is found “not guilty” after a trial, what then? Will everyone be appeased that justice was served, or will we see riots similar to the aftermath of the Rodney King affair?

Congressional Democrats have weighed in, and were “thrilled” that Zimmerman was charged with 2nd degree murder. And some have seemed to already convict him

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), who sponsored a resolution to memorialize Martin and that seeks a reexamination of “stand your ground” laws, said in an interview that the charge being brought against Zimmerman was proof that “justice is blind.”

“This is going [to] ensure most Americans that justice is in fact blind and it doesn’t matter who you are — if you believe that you are exempt from justice, this is an example that you’re not,” Cleaver said.

Many will not be pacified that Zimmerman has been charged and will be arrested: they want Justice. Not law.

If there is evidence that Zimmerman is guilty, yes, he should be found guilty. But, getting his fair trial will be virtually impossible.

Read: Now That Zimmerman Has Been Charged, Can He Even Get A Trial With An Impartial Jury? »

Posted in Constitution, Current Affairs | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

DNC Advisor Hilary Rosen Insults Ann Romney, Freaks Out When Confronted

By William Teach April 12, 2012 – 8:11 am

Democrats keep beating the drum of their faux “GOP war on women” by…..insulting stay at home moms

(ABC News) Ann Romney’s debut on Twitter couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

Ann’s first tweet came just moments after Democratic strategist and DNC adviser Hilary Rosen lobbed an insult at Ann Romney, suggesting that the 64-year-old mother of five and grandmother of 16 had never held a job.

“Guess what, his wife has actually never worked a day in her life,” said Rosen, who was being interviewed by CNN’s Anderson Cooper about the “war on women.”

And then, just like that, a familiar name popped up on Twitter: @AnnDRomney.

“I made a choice to stay home and raise five boys. Believe me, it was hard work,” Ann tweeted.

Both Jim Messina and David Axelrod tweeted their disapproval over Rosen’s comments, saying families should be off limits. We’re still waiting for Obama to chime in. But, Rosen decided to keep going.

Following the interview, Rosen herself tweeted, “I’ve nothing against @AnnRomney. I just don’t want Mitt using her as an expert on women struggling $ to support their family. She isn’t.”

Rosen kept tweeting, not appearing to back off of her comments.

“@AnnDRomney Please know, I admire you. But your husband shouldn’t say you are his expert on women and the economy,” said Rosen.

Right, because a stay at home mom, who would typically deal with all the costs of running a household, such maintenance, clothes for the kids, supplies, and food costs. Even a rich mom like Ann would understand what happens with costs in the economy. Probably better than Rosen.

And this is a direct insult to all the women who chose to stay at home and raise their families rather than enter the workforce. And Hilary decides to have a little freakout at the HuffPo

Spare me the faux anger from the right who view the issue of women’s rights and advancement as a way to score political points. When it comes to supporting policies that would actually help women, their silence has been deafening. I don’t need lectures from the RNC on supporting women and fighting to increase opportunities for women; I’ve been doing it my whole career. If they want to attack me and distract the public’s attention away from their nominee’s woeful record, it just demonstrates how much they just don’t get it.

Yet, despite her claim in fighting for women, she attacks all stay at home mom’s while attacking Ann Romney. As one ABC article commenter writes “Raising 5 kids while battling multiple sclerosis AND cancer isn’t “work”?”

@IrishSpy (blog here) tweeted: Will Ann Romney be getting a phone call from Barack Obama now?

Michelle Malkin points out that Democrats have pulled the same stunt on Laura Bush and attacked Sarah Palin for being a working mom.

I wonder what Rosen thinks about women who work at the White House getting paid 18% less than the men?

The Lonely Conservative notes: “(Rearing the next generation is) only under appreciated on the left, so let them keep trashing traditional families and see how that plays out in November.”

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: DNC Advisor Hilary Rosen Insults Ann Romney, Freaks Out When Confronted »

Posted in Barking Moonbats, Democrats | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

Two Anti-Gay Marriage Supporters Say NC Amendment Goes Too Far

By William Teach April 11, 2012 – 2:59 pm

This is similar to what I wrote before regarding the NC amendment. One of the writers campaigned for California’s Prop 8, and the other has been a vocal opponent of gay marriage. But…

(Raleigh N&O) But as marriage advocates, we oppose the state marriage amendment now being debated in North Carolina. We hope that when North Carolinians go to the polls on May 8 they will defeat this measure. Let us explain.

The proposed amendment states that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”

That’s a big mouthful, and it goes well beyond the issue of same-sex marriage. For one thing, it means that North Carolina could not, now or ever, take any step or devise any policy to extend legal recognition and protection to same-sex couples. No domestic partnership laws. No civil unions. Nothing.

The comments section at the N&O is getting pretty heated, but, the authors have some good points, some others, not so much. I’d like to see this amendment defeated, then brought back up without the civil union piece.

In reality, I’d like to see the whole issue left to religious organizations, alas, government has become too involved in marriage to start with. Seriously, one actually needs a license to get married?

Be that as it may, North Carolinians support the Amendment by 58%.

Read: Two Anti-Gay Marriage Supporters Say NC Amendment Goes Too Far »

Posted in NC News | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach April 11, 2012 – 1:00 pm

…are dishes being prewashed, which is bad for Gaia, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is DaTechGuy.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 5 Comments | Trackback URL

Top NASA Scientists, Astronauts, and Engineers Slam Hansen And Globull Warming

By William Teach April 11, 2012 – 11:00 am

Via Real Science, we get this letter from back in the end of March

March 28, 2012
The Honorable Charles Bolden, Jr.
NASA Administrator
NASA Headquarters
Washington, D.C. 20546-0001
Dear Charlie,

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that NASA and the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) refrain from including unproven remarks in public releases and websites. We believe the claims by NASA and GISS, that man-made carbon dioxide is having a catastrophic impact on global climate change are not substantiated, especially when considering thousands of years of empirical data. With hundreds of well-known climate scientists and tens of thousands of other scientists publicly declaring their disbelief in the catastrophic forecasts, coming particularly from the GISS leadership, it is clear that the science is NOT settled.

The unbridled advocacy of CO2 being the major cause of climate change is unbecoming of NASA’s history of making an objective assessment of all available scientific data prior to making decisions or public statements.

As former NASA employees, we feel that NASA’s advocacy of an extreme position, prior to a thorough study of the possible overwhelming impact of natural climate drivers is inappropriate. We request that NASA refrain from including unproven and unsupported remarks in its future releases and websites on this subject. At risk is damage to the exemplary reputation of NASA, NASA’s current or former scientists and employees, and even the reputation of science itself.

For additional information regarding the science behind our concern, we recommend that you contact Harrison Schmitt or Walter Cunningham, or others they can recommend to you.

Thank you for considering this request.

Sincerely,

Head over to Real Science to see all those who signed on to this letter.

The point of the letter seems to be “hey, we just don’t have the knowledge yet, so, stop using the good name of NASA to push your political meme.” They aren’t necessarily saying it is all a load of mule fritters, just that Hansen should stop besmirching NASA and GIS with his unhinged and unscientific view.

Looks like there is a Memeorandum thread as of the time of writing (setting up to post later in the day), featuring Anthony Watts , who points out “When Chris Kraft, the man who presided over NASA’s finest hour, and the engineering miracle of saving Apollo 13 speaks, people listen.“

Powerline has more, as does Questions and Observations, JustOneMinute, Samizdata.net, The Daily Caller and Tim Blair.

Read: Top NASA Scientists, Astronauts, and Engineers Slam Hansen And Globull Warming »

Posted in Collapsing Science, Global Warming | Comments Off on Top NASA Scientists, Astronauts, and Engineers Slam Hansen And Globull Warming | Trackback URL

Romney Turns Dems “War On Women” Meme Right Back At Obama

By William Teach April 11, 2012 – 8:27 am

The Democrats started their little meme of a Republican war on women a few months ago with their Sandra “I want tons of free contraception” Fluke fake Congressional hearing, and have ginned up more outrage since. Though, I’d think women would be a little ticked off that Democrats have essentially been stating that women aren’t capable of earning the small amounts necessary to purchase condoms, birth control pills, etc, on their own. Rather patronizing, eh? And Mitt Romney takes the meme and turns it back at Obama in an economic way, both on a conference call and a speech

(Washington Post) In a conference call with reporters Tuesday afternoon, Bay Buchanan, the former treasurer of the United States and a top Romney backer, contended that the Obama administration’s policies have had a detrimental effect on the country – and that the economic downturn has overwhelmingly affected women.

“The number of unemployed women have increased by nearly a million under Barack Obama,” Buchanan said, citing a Bureau of Labor Statistics report. “Ninety-two percent of the jobs lost since he took office are women.”

Bay Buchanan, for those who aren’t familiar with the name, is a woman.

(CNN) Speaking at a Delaware structural steel factory, Romney responded to Democratic claims his party had waged a “war on women” and alienated female voters. Romney turned the argument around, accusing President Barack Obama’s administration of failing working women.

“The real war on women has been the job losses as the result of the Obama economy,” he told an audience in Wilmington, saying women had lost 92.3% of jobs lost under the Obama administration.

Romney said his private sector career had helped him understand what women worry about: jobs and the economy.

Team Mitt provides this handy dandy graphic

Women And The Obama Economy [Infographic]

Team Obama provided some whiny comebacks, particularly about “women’s health” and contraception, because, in Obama World, women need the ever-present guiding hand of the male dominated government when it comes to sex.

Read: Romney Turns Dems “War On Women” Meme Right Back At Obama »

Posted in Barry Obama, Democrats, Economy, Elections, Romney | 2 Comments | Trackback URL

Latest Cybersecurity Bill Even More Of A Concern Than Last Attempt

By William Teach April 11, 2012 – 8:10 am

If you thought SOPA/PIPA were bad, wait till you see CISPA

(ABC News) Congress is set to act on cybersecurity legislation that has been making its way through committees in both chambers for several years. The House is set to vote on these bills during the week of April 23, dubbed “Cybersecurity Week.” The Senate will take action soon after.

A lot of important work has gone into these bills that are intended to strengthen both the government and civilian response to cyber threats. Yet parts of these bills are alarming because, if passed, any information we put online—work, play, personal and sensitive—could be put at risk.

Thoughtful policy can help harden critical infrastructure targets—such as the electric grid, nuclear power plants, and communication networks—against unauthorized intrusions, making the Internet a safer place for all. But if Congress does not step up to make important changes in these bills, we may face an epic loss of our civil liberties.

What is this bill?

(RT) H.R. 3523, a piece of legislation dubbed the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (or CISPA for short), has been created under the guise of being a necessary implement in America’s war against cyberattacks. But the vague verbiage contained within the pages of the paper could allow Congress to circumvent existing exemptions to online privacy laws and essentially monitor, censor and stop any online communication that it considers disruptive to the government or private parties. Critics have already come after CISPA for the capabilities that it will give to seemingly any federal entity that claims it is threatened by online interactions, but unlike the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Acts that were discarded on the Capitol Building floor after incredibly successful online campaigns to crush them, widespread recognition of what the latest would-be law will do has yet to surface to the same degree.

The main purpose of CISPA is to protect American intellectual property from state-sponsored digital theft of intellectual property, a worthy notion. And, we learn from PC Magazine

….. the broad language means there is no explicit restriction about the type of information being shared between government and companies, so long as it could somehow be linked to cyber-threats. That’s very worrisome on privacy grounds, since it makes it easier for companies to hand over any information the government asks for and not worry about getting sued by irate users.

Back to the ABC article

Why should companies participate in the “voluntary sharing” the Rogers bill authorizes? The quid pro quo may be irresistible: more useful cybersecurity information from the government and other companies and broad immunity from lawsuits in exchange for sharing. In contrast to the Lungren bill, there are no data restrictions to stumble over and few discernable brakes on the system. When the NSA comes calling with its Easter basket full of goodies, in the form of needed expertise and knowledge of global cyber threats, there will be powerful incentives for industry to return the favor.

Which is why, unlike with SOPA/PIPA, companies are not jumping on the bandwagon in opposing CISPA.

And under Rogers, once your personal information is in the hands of the government, all bets are off. It can be used for any national security purpose, including to track patterns of communications to decide whether to seek authorization to wiretap you. In can be used to prosecute you for any crime, provided an intelligence agency also finds at least a significant national security or cyber security purpose for the information. Lungren by contrast limits sharing to cybersecurity purposes including related law enforcement.

All the Central Government has to due is proclaim that you might possibly sorta maybe just wondering if you could be a threat, and they can get all your online personal information easy peasy. To wrap up, the Center For Democracy and Technology describes it thusly

  • The bill has a very broad, almost unlimited definition of the information that can be shared with government agencies notwithstanding privacy and other laws;
  • The bill is likely to lead to expansion of the government’s role in the monitoring of private communications as a result of this sharing;
  • It is likely to shift control of government cybersecurity efforts from civilian agencies to the military;
  • Once the information is shared with the government, it wouldn’t have to be used for cybesecurity, but could instead be used for any purpose that is not specifically prohibited.

See the full list of CISPA co-sponsors here. See a complete list of companies and groups that support CISPA here, which includes IBM, AT&T, Facebook, and Verizon. Contact your Congress critter and tell them “hell no!” Tweet it. This short little law, only 13 pages, is too vague, and, will certainly interfere even more with our civil liberties and privacy. It’s not a Democrat/Republican issue, nor a Liberal/Conservative issue, it is a people vs the government issue.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: Latest Cybersecurity Bill Even More Of A Concern Than Last Attempt »

Posted in Web/Tech | 1 Comment | Trackback URL
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