`Cash for clunkers' effect on pollution? A blip - Yahoo! News

`Cash for clunkers' effect on pollution? A blip - Yahoo! News

"As a carbon dioxide policy, this is a terribly wasteful thing to do," said Henry Jacoby, a professor of management and co-director of the Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change at MIT. "The amount of carbon you are saving per federal expenditure is very, very small."

Hmmm, lemme see, we'll be reducing the carbon dioxide emissions by 700,000 tons a year at a cost of $1BILLION when we spewed out 6.4 BILLION tons last year. Geesh, I wonder why it seems wasteful. Imagine what that $1 billion (now looking to be $3 billion total) could have done if it had been spent in alternative energy research. It would have still been a stimulus to the economy, it just wouldn't have bolstered the sales of an industry that has failed to keep up with the needs of the people it serves.

"There's 260 million vehicles on the road and you're talking a quarter-million vehicles. It's not even close. It's just a drop in the bucket," said Bruce Belzowski, a scientist at the University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute. "It's really small numbers. But if you don't start somewhere, where are you going to start? It heads the country in the right direction."

Man, if that wasn't a "political" answer I don't know what is. Can't actually be seen taking a stance and saying that this was/is a complete and utter waste of money.

I'd still like to see where in the constitution it gives the government the right and power to regulate what kind of cars we drive and how much carbon dioxide they are allowed to produce.

The absolute best email I have ever received

I receive well over 100 emails a day. Most of them are from my lovely wife, Suzanne. That's how we keep in contact throughout the day. Those make up probably 80% of the emails that I get throughout the day. Another 10-15% are related to various forums I'm on or various "spam" type emails from vendors trying to convince me to buy something for my bike, truck, computer or house. That leaves about 5-10% of those emails to actual work related emails. That number used to be a lot higher, but with the slow down in the economy, there has also been a corresponding slow down in architecture related work, thus a slowdown in work related emails.

That all being said, I just (not 10 minutes ago) received the absolute best email I have ever received. Below is the important part:

"Dear Mr. Kimberlin:

We have evaluated your NCARB council record and are pleased to report that your application has been approved."


For those not in the Architecture world, NCARB stands for "National Council of Architectural Registration Boards." What this means for me is that I will now begin the actual final part of the process for me to become a registered architect in the state of Texas. Of course, that also means around $1200 in testing fees (assuming I don't have to retake any tests, which I'm quite sure I will). It also means that my anxiety level is going to frigging skyrocket. I absolutely HATE taking tests. I suck at it. I freak out and blank and fail the test. I think I'm going to vomit. And I'm not even signed up for any tests yet. UGH!!!

Call me a freak, but this shit scares me

"The American Community Survey is patently offensive to all Americans who still embody that fundamental American virtue, namely a healthy mistrust of government.” - Rep. Ron Paul

How on earth can anyone look at the ACS and honestly believe that it's not a complete and utter invasion of privacy? It's of no concern to the government how much my mortgage is, how much I pay in utilities or what sort of insurance I have.


Liberty For All » Blog Archive » Down for the count

MA woman accused of killing unborn child, daughter

I have a problem with this story. How can this woman be charged with 2 counts of murder when one of the “victims” is a 7 ½ month old fetus? It’s a horrific story and the woman should definitely be put down faster than they’d put a pit bull down, but as far as I see it, there is only one murder victim in this story. The other is essentially the recipient of a back alley abortion.

I know, I know, there are those that believe abortion is murder and I respect your right to that opinion, but as of right now, abortion is legal. It may be morally dispicable (I disagree), and in the future it may made illegal, but until then I stand by my opinion that this woman should only be charged with one murder. Hell, if you want to charge her for the unborn fetus, charge her for performing a medical procedure without a license or something of the sort.

Just my opinion.


MA woman accused of killing unborn child, daughter

Let's talk....

Alright, there were a couple of things I thought about today that I needed to bit...uh, blog about.

First, slow drivers. I know not everyone is in as much of hurry to get to their destination as I am and I'm perfectly cool with that. However, if you don't want to go at/above the speed limit, get out of the left fucking lane. Move over. Just frigging do it. I remember reading an article a while back that the Highway Patrol in OK was actually pulling people over and ticketing them for staying in the left lane and impeding traffic. Apparently it's actually a state law or some shit. I'm not sure it carries over to city traffic, but it should. And it should be in every damn state. I freaking HATE being stuck behind the bonehead that refuses to go any more than 5 miles under the speed limit. Sure, I'm planning on speeding, if I get caught that's my problem. Get the hell outta my way so I can get on with my business and you can go back to jerking off, just in the RIGHT lane.

Second, dogs in stores. PetSmart, Petland, Petco (generally any store pet related) I'm perfectly fine with dogs in these stores. I don't care to take my dogs into them, but hey if you want to, and you clean up after them, good on ya. Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-mart, ANYWHERE THAT IS NOT PET SPECIFIC, leave the fuckers at home. They don't belong there. They aren't picking up supplies to build themselve a swank dog "crib" to lure the honeys over with. They aren't getting the supplies to make Chicken Cacciatore. They DON'T belong in the freaking store. No, I didn't step in dog crap or piss and no I didn't have a bad episode with a dog attack while I was at one of these stores. It has nothing to do with that. It has to do with common frigging sense people. The stores are not for DOGS. They are for people. Hell, in HD or Lowe's, there are NUMEROUS things that they can get into that will make them quite sick or even dead. Quit being a self important fuckwad and leave little Toto at home so he can spend his afternoon humping your ficus.

That's all for today. I'm sure I can come up with more, just not going to right now.

More US police using gunfire detection system

More US police using gunfire detection system

Wow, I'm a little torn on this one. I think the use of technology to stem the spread of crime is good, but the whole "Big Brother" aspect of it kind of bothers me.

How to start tomorrow with a positive outlook.

How to start tomorrow with a positive outlook.

1. Open a new file in your computer.
2. Name it 'Barack Obama'.
3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin.
5. Your PC will ask you, do you really want to get rid of Barack Obama?
6. Firmly Click yes.
7. Feel better?.
Good!, now tomorrow perform the same procedure with Nancy Pelosi!
Repeat as often as necessary to maintain a positive outlook.

???????

I'm all for the freedom of speech and freedom of the press and making jokes at others expense, but holy crap, even I can't look at this cartoon and not think that the creator meant it to be at least mildly racist.

What will we need to prepare for the "Economic Stimulus Package"