Saturday at Blue Moon

Tomorrow 6/5 at 10 a.m., there will be an Organizing for America Vote 2010 Kick-Off event at Blue Moon Coffeehouse, 1742 W. 99th St.  You can respond here if you're interested in attending.

agree to disagree

I've had political conversations recently with a few out-of-state friends who are on the other side of the fence. One said that Obama is "too mysterious" and possibly a "Muslim threat," that Michelle is a trophy wife (and that Cindy McCain isn't), that the way Shrub has run our country into the ground and made it an international joke is okay, and that McCain represents a "stable, sensible choice." Another quoted Bible verses about prophecies.

We may agree on other issues, but on politics we should simply agree to politely disagree. If we are this far apart on political candidates, nothing either of us says is likely to convert the other.

looking back, looking forward

Right now I'm watching Judy Baar Topinka on Chicago Tonight. In most elections, I'm more likely to vote Democrat than Republican, but my underlying choice is dictated by who I think is the best candidate for each position. I firmly believed back in 2006 that Topinka was the best candidate for governor, and I voted for her. I have to wonder how things would have played out between then and now if she had been elected instead of the clueless Blobhead. *sigh* I lost count long ago of the number of serious errors he's made, including this winner.

If the Rezko trial can take him down, I think we'd all be better off. All we need to make this picture complete and satisfying is saying Blobhead hauled off to the slammer as Patti says "let them eat cake."

solutions to our energy crisis

Someone sent me a link to this video clip - a testament to one legislator's inability to get his head out of his a$$, think outside the box, [or your metaphor here]. Contrary to what this jerk is spouting, riding a bicycle IS one viable solution to our energy crisis. And spending $1M per year on promoting bicycles as sustainable transportation is a drop in the bucket compared to the billions that are spent on highways and parking lots every year.

When I hear so many politicians talking about ways to generate more energy (almost always from non-renewable sources), I keep scratching my head wondering why our nation of energy hogs can't understand that the supply of non-renewable energy sources if NOT infinite and start to think about using LESS energy - turning off a few lights, using a drying rack or clothesline instead of a dryer, driving a smaller car or *GASP* not driving less or not at all, using bikes and public transportation instead.

If you're considering trying your commute by bicycle, there's an Intro to Bicycle Commuting workshop tomorrow afternoon (1:00 p.m.) at Northeastern Illinois University, University Commons (or inside the Student Union if it rains). This is on the Northwest side of Chicago along Bryn Mawr, between Kimball and Pulaski - sponsored by the Green Cycle Group and the NEIU College of Cycling.

BTW, if you feel inspired to write a letter to the jerk in the video telling him what you think about sustainable energy policies and bicycles, here's a link to his web site.

nepotitis

I wish there was a reasonable cure for this insidious disease.

a little less waste

The news about state legislators rejecting their pay raise was a bright spot in this week's news. After this year's failure to again cope with the state budget crisis (for which Gov. Blagojevich earns a greater share of the blame), they certainly haven't earned any raise.