Just Thinking Chronology

From Energy.gov February 2, 2013 via Zero Hedge.

As always, click on the photo for the entire piece.

Super Bowl City Leads on Energy Efficient Forefront

While the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers compete to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy this weekend, eco-friendly fans and city leaders in New Orleans are competing to maximize sustainability practices to the fullest.

To make this the greenest Super Bowl, the New Orleans Host Committee has partnered with fans and the community to offset energy use across the major Super Bowl venues. The exterior of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome features more than 26,000 LED lights on 96 full-color graphic display panels, designed to wash the building in a spectrum of animated colors, patterns and images. The system draws only 10 kilowatts of electricity -- equivalent to the amount of energy used by a small home -- and the lights are expected to last for many years before needing replacement. 

Off the football field, New Orleans is embracing energy efficiency with help from the Energy Department. The city retrofitted four libraries using an integrative design approach -- adding motion sensor lights, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and upgrades to the building envelopes. These improvements helped cut the libraries’ energy costs by 30 percent and serve as a standard for other city-owned buildings. New Orleans streets feature more than 1,200 energy-efficient light fixtures. In addition to saving the city money on energy costs -- an estimated $70,000 annually -- the new lights help the city reduce routine maintenance due to their longer lifespan.

Embracing energy efficiency and renewable energy is having a profound impact on attracting developers and private industry in the New Orleans’ re-building efforts. The push to re-invent this destination city contributes to making Sunday’s game the greenest in Super Bowl history.

Somebody maybe should have told Beyonce' to dial it down a tad.

The Department of Homeland Security suggests that in the event you encounter an "active shooter" in your building, you seek to overpower him/her/it with a pair of scissors.

Which should pretty much guarantee that your headstone will read, 

I'm thinking a Glock 9mm in your desk drawer might be an infinitely better approach.

We get the occasional request for an update on the colt.

We battled EPM most of the year and are finally starting to think we have it controlled.

He's gained about 80 lbs in the last 90 days and is finally starting to look like a horse.

So here he is working one of our new buffalo.  

We're currently pointing him at the Congress and maybe some of the other small futurities.

Apologies on the poor quality of the vid, it was taken with a cell phone, horseback, in the cold.

Not too shabby for a 3 year old in January, especially for a colt that took off 120 or so sick days during his two year old year.

From The Blaze among other places.

IF ‘ASSAULT WEAPONS’ ARE BAD

WHY DOES DHS WANT TO BUY 7,000 OF THEM FOR ‘PERSONAL DEFENSE’?

The Department of Homeland Security is seeking to acquire 7,000 5.56x45mm NATO “personal defense weapons” (PDW) — also known as “assault weapons” when owned by civilians. The solicitation, originally posted on June 7, 2012, comes to light as the Obama administration is calling for a ban on semi-automatic rifles and high capacity magazines.

Citing a General Service Administration (GSA) request for proposal (RFP), Steve McGough of RadioViceOnline.com reports that DHS is asking for the 7,000 “select-fire” firearms because they are “suitable for personal defense use in close quarters.” The term select-fire means the weapon can be both semi-automatic and automatic. Civilians are prohibited from obtaining these kinds of weapons.

The RFP describes the firearm as “Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) – 5.56x45mm NATO, select-fire firearm suitable for personal defense use in close quarters and/or when maximum concealment is required.” Additionally, DHS is asking for 30 round magazines that “have a capacity to hold thirty (30) 5.56x45mm NATO rounds.”

Now who do you suppose it is that "Homeland Security" will be pointing these weapons at?

I'm thinking it'll be the residents of the "Homeland".

We had forgotten about this song until Jesse posted this vid over at his fine site.

Many years ago Rich D. and I passed on a chance to see Leonard Cohen mostly because his music isn't all that danceable.

I came to regret that decision if only for this one song, which as I think about it, might not have been written yet.

So in retrospect, nothing is lost.

Anyway, this is Leonard Cohen on vocals, Bob Metzger on the peddle steel, Javier Mas playing the 12 string guitar, Charlie Webb on guitar, Mattie Webb on the harp, Sharon Robinson singing back up along with the Webb Sisters, Dino Soldo playing the keyboards among other things, Rosco Beck is playing the bass guitar, that's Rafael Gayol on the drums.

Everybody Knows.

Everybody knows that the dice are loaded.  Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed.

Everybody knows that the war is over.  Everybody knows the good guys lost.

Everybody knows the fight was fixed.  The poor stay poor, the rich get rich.

Thats how it goes. 

Everybody knows.

Everybody knows that the boat is leaking.  Everybody knows that the captain lied.

Everybody got this broken feeling.  Like their father or their dog just died.

Everybody talking to their pockets.  Everybody wants a box of chocolates.

And a long stem rose,  

Everybody knows.

Some years ago, I was poking around looking for something when I stumbled across American Rhetoric's list of the top one hundred speeches of Twentieth Century.

I've gone back and over and over and have now sat and listened to about every one.

Since it is Martin Luther King day, it seemed a good idea to post this link to American Rhetoric's opinion on the greatest speech of the Twentieth Century.

Click on the American Rhetoric logo below for the entire list complete with mp3s and transcripts.

Way, super, double, highly recommended.

I'm down with 1 and 2.

After that, differences abound.