McPain

Governor McPain Please Kill The Polar Bears!

After a long week I'm a bit tired, so I'll relax a bit this evening with the wife. In the mean time watch this video on "George" McSame's pick for V.P. - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Governor Palin seems like your average conservative nutcase from Alaska.

Kill the Whales and Polar Bears Dudes! Oh yes, and like McCain she's owned lock stock and oil barrel by the oil industry.

Obama's Acceptance Speech

Wow, where do I begin. Barack Obama gave a stirring acceptance speech tonight. I've seen many political speeches, and this one was one of the best I have ever witnessed.

I do, and have believed that now is the time for America to take a different direction, and I honestly believe that Barack Obama is the man that can take us there.

Will we win the upcoming election?

I don't know. The rich in the United States are used to controlling who gets all the cookies, and they aren't going to be happy having to share. But we as a nation are at a crossroads as to what type of nation we shall be.

Is the U.S. just a large third world dictatorship similar to those seen throughout the developing world, or is it an advanced nation like those in Europe, or Japan?

Only time will tell, but I'm sure hoping if enough voters come out and support Barack that it will be harder for the Republicans to steal the upcoming election like they did the 2000 election.

Republicans Fear The Truth

True Story

Today I emailed a person I know is a "conservative". Actually she is a "Christian" and believes that true Christians are always Republicans.

I sent her an email in which I asked if it made good sense to spend $7,000,000,000,000 on imported oil from the Middle East over the next ten years (actually closer to Ten Trillion).

I asked her if that is what a true patriotic American would support.

I came by her place of business, and with her permission I leaned over to check for my email in her inbox.

She had deleted the email.

That's right. She had immediately deleted it.

She was afraid of even considering such an issue as it might create doubt that the only choice she has is to support a Republican candidate in the upcoming Presidential election.

It is like a form of mental insanity.

I felt as if I were a character in a B grade movie in which I suddenly find myself surrounded by pod people.

I then spoke with another Republican.

I told her I was so excited about watching Barack Obama tonight.

She told me that she would never watch the convention tonight.

I asked her why, and she responded,

You mean watch Osama Bin Laden speak tonight?

This was the best she could do.

She had no other rational reason to provide, just some crazy response that one would expect from a grade school child.

The nation is filled with two types of people.

Those whose eyes are open, and those whose eyes are shut.

The nation has been run by the most corrupt regime in history, and those who put the evil regime in power live in fear of ever learning the truth.

For if they did - they would have to live with the guilt of what they have done to this nation, and the world.

God Bless The Real America

Wonder why 35,000 people show up in a city the size of Springfield, Illinois to see Barack Obama?

Wonder why 80,000 people show up in Denver to see Barack Obama?*

It's called the real America.

There's something odd about the polls, and how close this election is.

Something odd again.

Something hard to figure.

Are American elections fixed?
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*The line to the stadium stretched six miles - per CNN.

It Will Survive Us

We live with the truth buried deep inside us all.
We tell ourselves that it doesn't really matter.
That the truth is for someone else to grapple with.
That it is for another time and place, but not now.

We spend our lives scraping an existence along the surface.
The surface of what we think little of day to day.
But down inside deep within - it is there waiting
Waiting for that moment to express itself - to take flight

Our crude bodies demand food water sustenance
The things we seek the things we hunt we then worship
And as we age as we rot we close our eyes and try to forget
That which has awaited within us from the very start

On that day that final day that final moment after which
We shall be no more we believe we shall find our escape
Perhaps in our devotion to some higher power or some greater good
We seek this form of immortality and hope and pray

And after we are gone it exist another day within another
And when we are forgot it continues beyond us awaiting
And it leads us to ask - when will there be union?
When will there be oneness?

When will there be ecstasy of purpose and truth?

Barack Obama In Springfield, Illinois

Springfield, Illinois - Crowd of Thirty Five Thousand Line Up For Blocks To See Obama

The photo above was taken on 9th Street in Springfield, Illinois. The view looks north toward the intersection of 9th and Adams Street. The line of attendees snakes west on Adams past 7th Street and then reverses to the east returning to 9th Street. The line then continued north toward Washington Street.

Everyone seemed to be following a set of informal rules of not sneaking into line. Black, brown, white, young, old, male, female, rich, poor, middle class, gay, straight, east side, west side - everyone seemed to be in positive mood. We were all headed to the same place together.


Springfield, Illinois - Looking West On Adams - Line To Barack Obama and Joe Biden Speech

Something to scare of Republicans - who have always ruled by inspiring fear among the people in an attempt to divide us against each other - divided we have fallen - to the powerful, and corrupt, over and over again.

Not this time McCain fans.

Obama & Biden Crowd Springfield, Illinois

Barack Obama Announced His Choice For Running Mate In Springfield, Illinois

Click here for the larger version of the Obama Rally Photograph.

The photograph above was taken in the middle of Route 66 in downtown Springfield, Illinois. Just in front of the oldest bank in Illinois, Marine Bank. Looking back toward the corner of Sixth and Washington many in the crowd begin to lower their heads in prayer - just before Barack Obama came on stage to make his VP choice announcement.

A Letter To Michelle Obama

I know, She'll Never Read The Message I Sent Via The Obama Website


Michelle:

It was such a privilege having you back in Springfield, Illinois for Barack's announcement that he chose Senator Biden as his running mate.

I proudly stood in arctic cold weather in February 2007 to see Barack, and then again to stand with thirty five thousand others the day Barack introduced us to Joe.

There is, however, something I must mention to you, something important because I know you'd want to know about it, and it affects your supporters, and the campaign.

For days now, since you left our community there's been an ongoing online expression of concern, some of it very angry and partisan, some of it not, about the numbers of people who physically collapsed, and the hundreds of others who nearly did, from heat exhaustion during Barack's speech.

I myself barely made it through the speech without passing out, and became sick afterward.

The Secret Service would not allow anyone to bring in bottled water, and the local media promised that there would be water available inside the event area.

However, once inside it became painfully obvious that it was nearly impossible to reach the few areas where water was being distributed.

Now Barack's detractors are suggesting that he, as the leader of his campaign, has shown a lack of leadership by not making certain that his campaign look out for his supporters under such dangerous conditions.

Quite frankly I doubt if you'll ever read this, but I hope that somehow you'll be made aware that many people I have spoken to have expressed their concern over just how close we came to having a major incident take place.

I hope that some of the money I donate, and will continue to donate, will go toward the purchase of provisions which volunteers can distribute to your supporters so as to help avoid anything like what happened here in Springfield.

Best of Luck, and God Bless!

A Letter To Michelle Obama From A Supporter In Springfield, Illinois

My Incredible Barack Obama Photograph

Incredible Only Because It Was Taken On A Cell Phone

From dozens of meters away.

I have several others of this type. I abandoned my real cameras so as to stay as light as possible for the event. Lesson learned, and I'll never do it again. I also have one, or two of Biden - pretty much like this. Kind of funny that I'd even write a post on this photo, but it's about all I have.

Obama Crowd Cheered A Cloud!

Actual Cloud Which Crowd Attending Obama Speech Cheered

Mike Davlin: How hot was it?
JeromeProphet: It was so hot that the crowd attending Obama's speech cheered for cloud.

That's right folks it was that hot and humid in downtown Springfield, Illinois on August 23, 2008, the day that Barack Obama came to Springfield with Joe Biden to announce his VP pick.

Confused McCain Supporter At Obama Speech

Springfield, Illinois 08.23.08 - A Confused McCain Supporter Drove Miles Just To See Obama

Seemed like a nice enough fella, hair dye and all, but Dave and I ditched him. He seemed fascinated with our cell phones. Don't they sell cell phones in Mason City?

Joe Biden To Obama Supporters

Here's Joe Biden Introducing Himself To Obama Supporters

I was expecting Senator Obama to pick Hillary Clinton, but I guess Joe Biden could be a better pick. Joe Biden probably doesn't arouse the same hateful knee jerk response that both Bill, and Hillary Clinton have. Joe Biden also has more than three decades of experience in the Senate, with his strong point being foreign policy.

And while I'm not expecting the upcoming Vice President to be anywhere near as powerful as the current puppet master, Dick Cheney, I do believe that a VP pick should consider how good of a President that VP would make in case the President couldn't finish the term out. In that regard it looks like Obama made a safe choice.

Springfield, Illinois Obama VP Announcement

Our Obama Line Began In Front of Saputos In Springfield, Illinois

Much More to come for this post - text will go here

Next photo will go here, here, here, here, here, here and here

Packing Lite For Obama Speech

Look for me in the crowd. I'll be wearing a black pull over (with collar), and maroon sweat pants, and brown New Balance sneakers. And maybe, just maybe a very small camera bag. Oh yes, and sunglasses.

I'll be using my cellphone as my camera this time, and so if you're interested you can go to:

www.sureyouare.blogspot.com to check out my semi-live uploads of both video, and photos. I won't bother with text.

I'll be out there with Dave of The11thhour blog. We both decided that waiting three hours while standing completely surrounded by hot sweaty people half a football field away from Mr. Obama was not really worth it - so we're going to arrive a bit after eleven, but before noon.

So I better go now, and hope it doesn't rain - because I'm not taking an umbrella.

Obama Website Down For Second Day

Obama Site Is Down For The Second Day In A Row - But Has Been Updated

Don't really know why they are "updating" the site in a way that demands it be brought down. Notice the DONATE button is still active (oops, that's off to the right, and can't be seen on the image I included for this post), and also note the brand spanking new Obama & Biden Logo.

Now it is off to the Obama & Biden Speech.

Springfield, Illinois Prepares For Obama

A Giant American Flag Already In Place For Barack Obama Speech In Springfield, Illinois

Barack Obama is returning to Springfield, Illinois tomorrow. All indications suggest that Mr. Obama will be announcing his Vice Presidential running mate's identity Saturday afternoon.



Workers Prepare VIP Stands At Springfield, Illinois' Old State Capitol

Senator Obama started his Presidential campaign, in February 2007, in the shadows of Illinois' Old State Capitol. Nearly twenty thousand well wishers came, and withstood subfreezing temperatures to watch Senator Obama announce his bid for the highest office. I was one of those people.


Stacks Of Blue Crowd Control Barriers Ready For Obama Speech

Now with the nomination at hand the Illinois Senator will be speaking as the leader of the Democratic Party. Much speculation surrounds who will be named as Mr. Obama's running mate. Joe Biden has been named by CNN, while I still hope for Senator Clinton. This time tomorrow, and the speculation will be over.


Workers Assemble Stands For Media In Preparation Of Barack Obama VP Announcement

I'll be going to tomorrow's speech, and will take my cameras. Last time I took photos of Mr. Obama temperatures were so cold that my camera was malfunctioning.


Obama Speech - Statues of Abe Lincoln Family Surrounded By CNN and Media Equipment

Tomorrow should be a sweltering humid Illinois day, with the possibility for showers.


CNN Truck Parked Next To Illinois' Old State Capitol Plaza Prior To Obama VP Speech

All the media, big and small are setting up for covering the announcement. Senator Obama plans to visit a few states after leaving Springfield, and then next week the Democratic Convention will be held in Denver.


CNN Satellite Truck Door - August 23, 2008 - Springfield, Illinois

I'll be making another donation to Barack's Obama's campaign - my August contribution. I hope to increase my payment once again. As the fight gets tighter our side will need every dollar, and so I encourage all those reading this to chip in. Surf to www.barackobama.com

See you tomorrow!

McCain At His Best - I Guess

John McCain Either Has Alzheimer's or He's Just Too Rich For My Taste

When asked during an interview how many homes he, and his spouse own, John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee (apparent), was unable to answer.

His staff later answered - at least four (probably seven).

Call me a classist, but just how the hell is this guy ever going to represent me?

I don't want another elder president - we had Reagan develop Alzheimer's during his presidency, and everyone tried to lie and say otherwise, but it was embarrassingly, and frighteningly obvious that he was no longer in control.

Then we had the buffoon king Bush who came right out and said his constituency was the rich, and he never tried to lie about that. Greed, and corruption in every form, war, and massive public debt are the hallmarks and legacy of his presidency.

We don't need some old rich dishonest incompetent codger President with a freakish looking mega millionaire wife pulling his strings. It's quite frightening really - she actually looks like an android. I'd venture the marriage is the unholy result of some pact with the devil.

Make me president, and I will serve you Satan!

Yes, John, I shall give you riches, and an earthly cohort to assist you in my bidding.

Maybe I'm being a bit too harsh? Then again have you seen her eyes - like the kind you see on a lizard, very creepy.

No Energy Crisis - Just Corrupt Government

There Is No Energy Crisis - Just A Corrupt Government

Big Oil owns the corrupt government of the United States. Oil is the justification used for maintaining a large military, and for starting war profiteering schemes like the Iraq war.
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What Oil Addiction Has Driven A Good Nation To Do

Raiding the treasury, saddling our children, and grandchildren with debt, destabilizing the Middle East, funding Islamic Extremist, polluting the environment, changing global climate, promoting anti-American hatred around the world, promoting fragility in a world economy which is dependent upon a finite source of energy, starting wars on false pretenses, and sending 700,000,000 dollars per year to oil producing nations (including some which detest the U.S.).


Algae Can Produce Clean Domestically Produced "Oil"

Oil, and natural gas came from algae, and it seems fitting that algae will one day produce clean, renewable, carbon neutral fuel which can be run in any flex fuel diesel engine.

The U.S. could easily produce its own clean carbon neutral fuel within a decade. It's that simple.
The problem isn't a matter of technology, it is one of will. The government of the United States is so corrupt that it no longer functions to protect, and promote the best interest of the people of the United States, but instead promotes, and protects the interest of Saudi Arabia, and other oil producing nations.

Being patriotic isn't wrong, but believing that keeping our U.S. troops tied down in a foreign country in the name of big oil is. Let's bring the troops home, and fund alternative domestically produced energy. Let's end our addiction to oil once and for all.

Start by learning about alternative energy, and support candidates that don't take money from Big Oil.

14,000,000 Exajoules!

There Is No Energy Crisis - U.S. Government Owned & Controlled By Oil Companies

The U.S. uses 100 Exajoules of energy each year - almost all of that energy is produced by the burning of oil, coal, and natural gas - all finite, polluting, and linked to war, and global warming.

Yet beneath our feet is a vast sea of energy - geothermal energy.

What does the corrupt government of the U.S. do?

Nothing - oil wars are fun and profitable, and can be used to further justify empire building.

While the U.S. government is wasting billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars on Iraq it is not funding geothermal technology.

It takes other nation's governments to do so, and it takes companies like Google to make small investments in developing the technologies, and techniques which will one day form an entire industry capable of providing vast amounts of clean, cheap energy for the world.

The Bush abomination has stolen billions from future generations in its Iraq war profiteering scheme, at the behest of the oil industry - an industry sending hundreds of billions of dollars to our enemies overseas.

It is time to take back the government for the people, for the future. It is time to keep our money here in the U.S., and use it to develop our economy, and raise our standard of living.

What can you do?

Learn more, and contact your congress person. Then support the presidential candidate that isn't taking money from Big Oil - and who would that be? Barack Obama, that's who.

Big oil jacked the price of gasoline up, earning record profits. Big oil then used some of that profit to saturate the television bands with commercials filled with lies they want you to believe. Big oil will now bring the oil prices down just before the election to convince you everything is o.k.

We've seen it before. War, and Oil - it's an old story.

Commander Wing and Other Adventurers

A Blog can be many things to many people. Some use their blog for political purposes. Some blog just to be nasty cranks. Other bloggers like to write poems. Some like to post photographs. I've tried to use my blog in just about every way possible. It's my soap box, my diary, and my scrap book.


This one is of an old friend, Dave "De Wing". Dave was an old buddy of mine way back in the 1970s - when this photo was taken. Dave was a strange lad who liked to climb TV antenna towers as high as he could and then jump. We used to call him "The Wing" because of his obsession. This photograph was taken north west of Springfield, Illinois.

Re-Vision

O.K., I must have remembered this part incorrectly - Dave never jumped off antennas {pause} he flew off them. Ka Ching!

O.K., O.K., that's a lie too, but it would have made for a better story if he had. He'd have some pretty bad knee problems about now, but still - interesting blogging material.

By the way, me, and my friends used to jump off the roof of our house when I was a kid. Single story, but it still smarted. Wonder I ever survived my youth.

Springfield Clinic In Living Colors

Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic

I believe the new Springfield Clinic overpass is something you either grow to hate, or love. It certainly changes the character of the neighborhood.



Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic Blood Red

I am confused about my feelings, because I started off hating it.


Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic Feeling Blue

But on a beautiful blue sky day the structure actually looks good.


Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic Night Orange

In fact I believe I see what the architects were hoping for.


Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic Vampire Purple

A mix of sky and blue tinted glass. And an arch which is classical, and functional built within the modern minimal glass extension.

Odd, but neat.

Old Springfield, Illinois' Hardee's Demolished

Demolished Vine Street Clinic (left) & Hardee's (right)

Out with the old and run down rat traps, and up with the soon to come CVS.


View Of Demolished Hardees From The Drive Through

I could never really understand how it is that the Hardee's at the corner of Sixth and South Grand closed. The place was always busy when I'd drive by, and it was always busy when I'd frequent it. In the wee hours of the night it was a very busy place. Oh well, hasn't been open for years so its demolition is for the best.

Springfield, Illinois welcomes yet another CVS - "coincidentally" just one block from the new Walgreen's at Seventh and South Grand. There is also development going on across the street.

And get this - the owners of the Pizza Hut along Sixth near South Grand are doing some roofing work - hope they modernized the entire pizza place, as it needs an update badly!

Springfield, Illinois' Vine Street Clinic Demolished

What Was Left Of The Old Vine Street Clinic Is Now Demolished

Another Springfield, Illinois eyesore has now been demolished. Vine Street Clinic, an outpatient Psychiatric center, was located on the south side of Vine Street between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

The lots which housed Vine Street Clinic, and the now demolished Hardee's just south of the clinic, will be developed into a CVS pharmacy. The project is part of an ongoing series of business developments in the area.

I drive by the area often, and am happy to see the older vacant buildings torn down, and replaced by brand new businesses.

I once went to Vine Street Clinic for a meeting with my undergraduate adviser, who was a practicing clinical Psychologist. Not much to say there.

Striped Clouds Over Abraham Lincoln Museum

Striped Clouds Over Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

I took the photograph, above, earlier this week. I've already written a post, which included other photographs of the strange striped cloud formation over Springfield, Illinois. One comment the earlier post received stated that the formation was entirely natural. Maybe, but looks rather unusual.

Psycho Butterfly

JeromeProphet Digital Art - Psycho Butterfly

Real men like butterflies. I snapped some photographs of a beautiful yellow and black butterfly fluttering upon a patch of pink flowers. It was a remarkable sight as nearby was a Monarch butterfly - one of the largest, and most beautiful I had ever seen.

I digitally modified one photo, and present it here as Psyho Butterfly - a play on the word Psychedelic.

The butterfly dominates the foreground while a modern high rise office building lends its pattern to the background. The photograph was taken in August of 2008 in downtown Springfield, Illinois.

The photograph below was take of a Monarch butterfly using my camera phone at two mega pixels. Both the yellow and black butterfly above, and the Monarch were taking advantage of the flowers in Horace Mann Plaza.


Monarch Butterfly - August 2008 - Downtown Springfield, Illinois

Oddly Striated Clouds Over Springfield, Illinois

August 11th, 2008 Downtown Springfield, Illinois 7:00 P.M.

I shot these photos in black and white from downtown Springfield, Illinois. The north and western sky over Springfield, Illinois was covered with an unusual cloud formation. It looked as if some great cloud weaver had stitched the clouds together.

While I took several photographs I spoke with an associate about of all subjects - covert weather modification. Believe it or n0t - I wasn't the one to start the subject. Soon this individual, who is a former law enforcement officer, was sharing his beliefs about secret government programs to change the weather by creating overcast with jet aircraft contrails.

I had never even once spoken with this gentleman about the subject - it was kind of funny.


Oddly Striated Clouds Over Springfield, Illinois - High Contrast

The photograph included in this post is reproduced several time. The first image is pretty much what the photo looks like at 640 by 480. I haven't enhanced it in any way.

In the second photo we see the same image, but I have increased contrast to show the striations. These striations were highly visible with the naked eye, and several people noticed them.

The photograph below is a close up of the right hand side of the image above. You'll notice an almost mathematically precise striation affect within the cloud.

These striations appear to be due to a pile up of contrails from hundreds, perhaps thousands of jet aircraft contrails. I'm not quite certain what the process is which allows a mass of contrails to slowly merge forming clouds, however, this photo is an excellent illustration of the process.



Close Up - Odd Stripes In Clouds Over Springfield, Illinois

Link To Original Photo Of Odd Striped Clouds Over Springfield, Illinois photographed from the corner of 7th, and Jefferson (Downtown) at 7:00 P.M. Looking West.

Thank You For Your Kind Comments

To those of you who have sent me supportive emails, or have made kind comments, relating to my recent post regarding my estranged sisters - I say thanks. From Sweden to the Gulf Coast of America Hugs.

This Was Me - Years Ago

This Youtuber's Rant Sounds So Much Like Me - Years Ago

Now I'm just too tired at the end of the day for such rants. I just don't have the fire burning inside me anymore. Maybe that's maturity, or maybe I've given up, or maybe I'm just too old.

I doubt this guy is married, or has children. Sometimes just getting to the end of the day, or end of the week is a "win". Sometimes just avoiding another knock down drag out fight over money, or the lack of it is a big victory. Sometimes just avoiding being sucked into another fight about curfew is all that I hope to achieve.

The world has this evil way of sucking the idealism right out of a person. I'm sure the rich and powerful laugh their assess off at how that works to their advantage. Everyone is so pressed and stressed just struggling to survive that they're too exhausted, depressed, or just plain poor to challenge the status quo - to take on the all the wind mills that need tilting.

I guess that's how it works, then again maybe I'm just a fat lazy apathetic American who is just barely comfortable enough not to complain - not until it becomes too late to complain?

Whatever the situation, I'll let this "young" idealistic Youtuber do his rant for me. I don't believe in everything he says, but that's beside the point - it's the conviction he seems to have - that his beliefs are worth communicating - that I like.

Here's a link to The Amazing Atheist.

Did Sir Paul McCartney Visit Springfield, Illinois?

Sire, may I call you Paul?

Photo (used w/o permission) Paul McCartney in Springfield, Illinois?

The State Journal-Register ran a story today based upon a alleged encounter with Sir Paul McCartney - get this, right here in Springfield, Illinois.

Dave of the11thhour has aired his doubts, asking why anyone with Paul McCartney's money would bother to drive when he could fly instead. Good question, however, if Paul McCartney had a reason he might take an automobile.

One possible reason is that Sir Paul simply wanted to drive across the great expanse which is Illinois. Certainly, Paul McCartney has the right to get away from all the airports, and major cities, and make a break for it - to what many call "the real America".

Paul chose to do so when he purchased property in Arizona, and might wish to experience a little "normal life" by taking an average sized vehicle and simply getting behind the wheel and driving across country.

Certainly Paul McCartney has earned a little normalcy in compensation for putting up with all the crazed fans, the globe trotting stalker type photographers, and even us normal folk who would simply slow him down at every turn asking for autographs, and photo ops.

Could the photograph allegedly taken of Sir Paul be a fake? Why yes it very well could be.

Could we be looking at a photograph of an incredible wax dummy seconds from collapse in the upper ninety degree heat - less likely.

Could we be looking at a celebrity double - maybe, but he'd be a darned good one.

I'm just not sure.

In any case I sure wish it was Paul McCartney, and that I had been out there and met him. Now that would be totally FAB.

Dallman Unit Four

JeromeProphet - Dallman Unit Four

Dallman Unit Four is based upon a photograph which I took during a slide presentation on Dallman Unit 4. Dallman Unit 4 is a yet to be completed coal fired power plant in Springfield, Illinois. The slide presentation was given during the Spring of 2008 by City Water Light and Power - a municipally owned power company serving Springfield, Illinois and surounding communities.

I shifted colors to red to represent fire and industry, and employed a ribbon effect to create a flag like and blue print like banner.

Target Greatland Sign Springfield Illinois

Target Greatland Sign Springfield, Illinois

Sometimes commercial images, and commercial icons are truly beautiful. We live in a world that is increasingly based upon commerce, and commercial images surround us. An entire industry churns out commercial images, and icons to assist companies in their goal of making sales.

Growing up in free market society has obvious effects upon the psyche of all those living within it. From early childhood to death itself those living within commerce based societies are exposed to, and influenced by commercial art.

Many who consider themselves above, and beyond the influence of such art condemn it for being crass, and shallow, and these criticism are for the most part valid, however, on their own level commercial art is profound in the way it captures, or seeks to capture and then present what it is that people seek.

The Target Greatland sign is simple, and beautiful in its simplicity. That may be what the retail chain seeks to convey though their branding.

Looking out from a parking lot in Springfield, Illinois, one summer evening I saw a beautiful blue sky, and a beautifully colored, and designed sign, and I felt like I had to capture it in a photo.

The sign on the front of this store has since been changes, and thus this image is both art, and history.

Time To Talk About MRSA

I live in the Springfield, Illinois area, and can report that there is a silent epidemic that no one seems to be talking about - not the local press, and not the local health industry. I'm talking about MRSA.

Several decades ago as a small child I caught a antibiotic resistant form of Staph - today it would be called MRSA, but back then the doctors treating it had never seen it before.

It started as an innocent scratch on my outer right ankle.

I was only three years old.

My mother who worked in the pediatric ward at St. John's Hospital most likely transmitted an antibiotic resistant form of Staph - probably by not washing her hands properly before treating my wound. This is what I believe, although this is not the story told to me by my mother.

My mother insisted that it was another nurse at the hospital that infected me, but I find it hard to believe that my scratch was so badly infected that she felt I had to be placed into the hospital BEFORE being infected with Staph.

Thus, years after her death, I blame my mother - doesn't really matter anyway.

MRSA was EXTREMELY RARE in those days, there was only one place a person could get it - either in a health care facility, or coming into contact with a "colonized" health care worker, or recently released patient.

I recall to this day having my pedestrian clothing removed by candy stripers and soon being taken to my hospital room. It was a frightening place for me.

I was assured by my mother that I'd be in the hospital for a few days at most, but it turned out that I was not to be released for months - that's right - months.

They tried every antibiotic, and hot wrap treatment, but the infection only spread.

Soon they decided to amputate my leg.

A NOTE: If only they had used maggots on my wound I would have healed quickly.

My mother decided to push aside her Munchhausen Syndrome long enough to make the moral decision and bring me home.

There were two conditions for my being brought home, the first was that we purchase an air conditioner, the second was my home treatment.

My home treatment consisted of the following.

My mother would take a large pot of water and bring it to a roiling boil on the stove.

She would then add Epsom salts, actual salt, and baking soda, and with the water still steaming hot I would plunge my entire little boy leg into the pot of scalding hot water.

My mother and father would stand next to me, and give me a towel to squeeze as I writhed in agony from the boiling water.

I did this several times a day, each day for weeks.

And eventually my body won, the infection died out, and I kept my leg.

I bring up this story as a way of warning people about the power of MRSA, which is an antibiotic resistant form of Staph.

It's out there folks. In the subsequent decades it has spread to the greater community, and is in schools, gyms, fitness centers, and nursing homes.

It spreads innocently, and a large percentage of the population is "colonized" by MRSA - one in three.

It waits until an individual's immune system is weakend, and then it strikes.

It appears usually as boils, or a small patch of redness, but it gets much worse, and it needs to be treated quickly because it spreads - as it eats flesh.

And right now as I write this it's an epidemic - and few have even heard of it.

A relative of mine has had it for over a week, and the doctor totally missed the diagnosis. Many older general practicioners have no clue what it looks like, and so it is important to learn as much as you can about the symptoms of MRSA.

MRSA does respond to some antibiotics, but not others, which is why it is so important to become knowlegible about this disease. Delay in proper treatment can lead to amputation, and even death.

Meanwhile pharmaceutical companies have little invested in developing new antibiotics, and the few remaining antibiotics that treat MRSA may not remain effective for much longer. This will lead to a future in which amputations for infections will once again become common.

Why is big pharma holding off - money, antibiotics just aren't as profitable as another antacid.

You can catch MRSA from contact with people, and objects. It's highly contagious.

JeromeProphet - 250,000 Hits And Counting!

JeromeProphet

A Quarter Of A Million Hits And Counting!

Of course some blogs get a quarter of a million hits in just a day - still I'm happy to have reached this mini-milestone.
I've seen a better daily hit count in the past, but it fluctuates over time so I'm not too concerned.
General rule of thumb - keep posting if you want a good hit count. Stop, or slow your postings, and for some reason your hit count goes down.
One last thing - it doesn't matter. I wish these hits were coming in from people reading what I had to say, but most are just searching for photographs.

U.S. Using Magic To Prevent Hurricanes

It's National Steer The Hurricanes Prayer Month!

Oh Thank You, Oh Mighty All Powerful Magic Creature
You Have Protected My Nation's Oil Rigs and Oil Refineries

Praise You!

Deploying Your Dark Angels
To Glide Through Our Night Skies
Leaving Their Sooty Trails Of Darkness
Within Your Clouds So Blue
Yet Never Seen Are Your Angels
Upon Our Radar Screens
But They Are There So True

Praise Be Upon You

You Have Cooled And Made Dense
The Atmosphere
Which Rest Above Our Continent
You Have Laid Your Mighty Shield To Deflect
Away The Evil Twisters Which Veer Instead
Toward Mexico, Central America, and Bermuda
For They Deserve Punishment More Than We
For They Are Poor

Oh Thank You Oh Mighty Magical Creature
For You Are Kind And Good To Those Who
Can Afford The Cost Of Praising You

May You Lend Your Protection To
This Land And Keep Our Oil Prices Relatively Low
So That The People Of This Land May Remain
Asleep Forever, and Ever, and Ever
As To The Cost Of Global Warming

So That Our Leaders May Continue
To Be Controlled By The Oil Companies
And Plunge The World Into An Irreversible
Climate Crisis Which Will Lead To Massive
Famine, Floods, Droughts, and Mega Storms

Praise You Oh Omnipotent Creature
For This Quick Fix During Another Political Season
One Which Must Have Low Oil Prices
So As To Sedate The Masses

Praise You Oh Omniscient Creature
For Using Global Dimming To Protect Our Mainland
Even Though This Will Trap Even Greater Amounts
Of Heat Within The Atmosphere Which Will Lead To
Even More And Larger Hurricanes Which Must Be
Covertly Directed Into Neighboring Countries

We Humbly Understand Why You Chose Historic
Flooding In The Midwest This Year
For You Wisely Chose The Greater Cause
Flooding Rains Would Drain Heat
From Continental Air Masses
And Thus Raise Your Hurricane Shield
Over Our Lands - Thy Will Be Done.

We fervently Beseech Thee To Guide and Protect
Those Who Fund, Build, Maintain, Program, Launch, Control,
and Retrieve The Covert Airforce Of Stealth RPVs
Which Your Earthly Servants Use To Disperse Your
Carbon Black Within Your Clouds So Blue

Praise You Magical Creature
Praise You Great Big Invisible
Magic Creature
Your Will Be Done


Why A Magic Prayer?

Since the general public of the U.S. is scientifically illiterate, and therefore predictably as religious as say - Saudi Arabia or Iran, I felt a prayer would be in order. So Please Pray Along To The Great Big Invisible Magic Creature Who Controls Our Weather.


All Hogwash, Right?

Let's look at the following article which places what is already being done covertly as something which may someday be done in the FUTURE (I always love these type of articles. Remember there's a huge difference between steering a hurricane and stopping one):

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1566898/Scientists-a-step-closer-to-steering-hurricanes.html

How to halt a hurricane: Click to enlarge

Scientists have made a breakthrough in man's desire to control the forces of nature – unveiling plans to weaken hurricanes and steer them off course, to prevent tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina.

• Is the US heading for an environmental 9/11?
• James Lovelock's plan to pump ocean water to stop climate change

The damage done to New Orleans in 2005 has spurred two rival teams of climate experts, in America and Israel, to redouble their efforts to enable people to play God with the weather.

Under one scheme, aircraft would drop soot into the near-freezing cloud at the top of a hurricane, causing it to warm up and so reduce wind speeds. Computer simulations of the forces at work in the most violent storms have shown that even small changes can affect their paths – enabling them to be diverted from major cities..

MY COMMENT: But aircraft could not do this already to storms approaching metropolitan areas to prevent flooding, and tornadoes? No, that's way into the future - like in the time of Star Wars.

But the hurricane modifiers are fighting more than the weather. Lawyers warn that diverting a hurricane from one city to save life and property could result in multi-billion dollar lawsuits from towns that bear the brunt instead. Hurricane Katrina caused about $41 billion in damage to New Orleans.

MY COMMENT: Which is one reason why the program remains covert in the U.S.

Hurricanes form when air warmed over the ocean rises to meet the cool upper atmosphere. The heat turns to kinetic energy, producing a spiral of wind and rain. The greater the temperature differences between top and bottom, and the narrower the eye of the hurricane, the faster it blows.

Moshe Alamaro, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), told The Sunday Telegraph of his plans to "paint" the tops of hurricanes black by scattering carbon particles – either soot or black particles from the manufacture of tyres – from aircraft flying above the storms. The particles would absorb heat from the sun, leading to changes in the airflows within the storm. Satellites could also heat the cloud tops by beaming microwaves from space.

MY COMMENT: Or maybe even using artificially generated lightning bolts? Never!

"If they're done in the right place at the right time they can affect the strength of the hurricane," Mr Alamaro said.

The theory has so far been tested only in computer simulation by Mr Alamaro's colleague, Ross Hoffman. Mr Alamaro said: "With small changes to this side or that side of the hurricane we can nudge it and change its track. We're starting with computer simulations, then will hopefully experiment on a small weather system."

Last month scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem announced that they had simulated the effect of sowing clouds with microscopic dust to cool the hurricane's base, also weakening it. The dust would attract water but would form droplets too small to fall as rain. Instead, they would rise and evaporate, cooling hot air at the hurricane base.

• Space diving to be next extreme sport
• Acidic oceans threaten marine life
• 1987 Great Storm: Terrible blow, not a knockout

In findings presented at a conference in Trieste, Italy, the team led by Daniel Rosenfeld demonstrated that dust dropped into the lower part of Hurricane Katrina would have reduced wind speeds and diverted its course.

MY COMMENT: So by doping clouds with carbon dust (soot) at various levels we can break up clouds, force precipitation, change direction of weather fronts? This is crazy talk I tell you! Crazy talk! Soon enough these experts are going to sound like me! All they'll have to do is throw in some artificial lightning, and they'll be paranoid insaniacs too.

The MIT team has now hired a professor of risk management to advise on steps necessary to protect themselves from legal action by communities affected if a hurricane is diverted. It is pressing for changes to US law and for an international treaty to settle possible disputes between neighbouring countries.

Mr Alamaro said: "The social and legal issues are daunting. If a hurricane were coming towards Miami with the potential to cause damage and kill people, and we diverted it, another town or village hit by it would sue us. They'll say the hurricane is no longer an act of God, but that we caused it."

Scheduled Blogger Outage In Three Minutes

So Much To Share So Little Time

So this is blogging under pressure!

Hmm...

Well I better post now.



One minute left, and I had so much to share

That's life I guess.

You're doing your own thing, minding your own business, and along comes Mr. Death and

ShopNSave Repackages Old Meat With New?

Photo: Old Ground Beef Mixed With New - Fresh From A Springfield Illinois Shop-N-Save

Don't forget shoppers to run down to your local Shop N Save to take advantage of Shop-N-Save's every day low prices. Check out ShopnSaves prices on fresh quality meats, and their fresh produce too.

Of course, once you make your purchase, and get it home, make sure to inspect it very carefully.

Start off by taking a deep smell!

Another!
Another!
Another!

That ground beef sure smells fresh, and it looks fresh too!


Good purchase right?

Now take a large knife, and cut the Shop-N-Save ground beef in half and look very carefully.

Look closely.
Look again.
Look closer.

Now smell again.
Take another smell.
And another.

Something wrong?


What's that you say?

The Shop-N-Save ground beef looks and smells fresh on the outside, but in the middle looks and smells old!

How could that be you ask?

How could a lump of old smelly ground beef come to be covered in a veneer of fresh ground beef?

Why that's a very good question.

Welcome to Shop-N-Save at the corner of Wabash, and Chatham road in Springfield, Illinois.

Look At My Cat's Nose Please

Koshi Kat's Nose Seemed Discolored - But Only Temporarily

Occassionally my cat Koshi's nose seems to look bruised. During these times he seems sort of depressed, and a bit less social. I don't believe it is Feline Upper Respiratory Disease as I've seen that before, and Koshi has none of the nasal drip, nasality in breathing, or general flu-like symptoms associated with that feline disorder.

If you look at the photo of Koshi Kat {above} you'll notice a set of dark bands lower on his nose. I took this photo three to four days ago, and these dark areas are already completely gone.

They almost make me believe that Koshi has run into something while chasing one of our other cats, and that he has a bruised nasal area. This might explain it, but I wonder if anyone else has seen this.

Koshi has gone through this before, and he almost always wants to stay away from the other cats when this happens. Perhaps he lost a fight? I doubt that since he's the dominant male cat - but maybe as I've seen him with scratches on his nose before.

Koshi is mostly white, and my other cats are darker so I have no other cats to compare with.

Any cat experts out there?

A Lecture From BP - Take Notes

Oil Company BP Doesn't Deny Global Warming

British Petroleum, or Beyond Petroleum if you wish, has gone beyond "global warming denial", and has begun to invest in renewable energy sources. While BP doesn't accept that peak oil conditions will hit any time soon they do admit the need to address climate change - and soon.

The Youtube video which is included in this post presents a real university lecture. The lecture is an hour and twenty five minutes long so start up another browser window and keep surfing while you listen to the lecture - if you don't mind missing out on the interesting slide show.

Consider this - when oil companies stop pretending that there's no relationship between human activity, increasing carbon dioxide levels, and global warming (thus a climate crisis) it's time to give it up - you global warming deniers - you know who you are.

Now I am not as informed on the myriad of subjects which are touched upon in this factoid intense lecture, however, I suspect that BP is playing it pretty conservative with their figures. Despite this concern it is remarkible that an oil company can be vastly more open, and honest that the Bush-Exxon Administration has been about America's oil addiction, and the ill effects that addiction has brought about.

Lecture Information

Steve Koonin - Energy Trends and Technologies for the Coming Decades

In his talk organized by UCSD's Center for Energy Research as part of its Distinguished Lecture Series, co-sponsored by General Atomics with support from Calit2, BP chief scientist Steve Koonin will talk about the company's push into biofuels and the role universities can play. As chief scientist, Koonin is responsible for BP's long-range technology plans and activities, particularly those "beyond petroleum." He also has purview over BP's major university research programs around the world and provides technical advice to the company's senior executives.

URGENT MESSAGE FROM 2008 TO 1999!

"THE S.O.B. IS GOING TO START A NEEDLESS WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND RUIN THE ECONOMY!"

END MESSAGE

Al Gore Can Be Funny Too

Al Gore Gave This Speech Two Years Ago At TEDTalks

Former Vice President Al Gore comes off in a very entertaining, even funny, manner.
Naturally when Mr. Gore begins to talk about global warming it takes a greater level of concentration to follow along, but it's an important message - one we all need to learn.


Al Gore's (July 2008) WeCanSolveIt Speech

Interested in putting your name with over one million others who have signed up for membership in a non-partisan organization committed to addressing the issue of global climate change? Go here: wecansolveit.org

You might be amazed at who you see joining in the fight against climate change.

Here's the transcript of Mr. Gore's speech - thanks to WeCanSolveIt.Org

Ladies and gentlemen:

There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old habits and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of big changes. Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do their part must either be persuaded to join the effort or asked to step aside. This is such a moment. The survival of the United States of America as we know it is at risk. And even more - if more should be required - the future of human civilization is at stake.

I don't remember a time in our country when so many things seemed to be going so wrong simultaneously. Our economy is in terrible shape and getting worse, gasoline prices are increasing dramatically, and so are electricity rates. Jobs are being outsourced. Home mortgages are in trouble. Banks, automobile companies and other institutions we depend upon are under growing pressure. Distinguished senior business leaders are telling us that this is just the beginning unless we find the courage to make some major changes quickly.

The climate crisis, in particular, is getting a lot worse - much more quickly than predicted. Scientists with access to data from Navy submarines traversing underneath the North polar ice cap have warned that there is now a 75 percent chance that within five years the entire ice cap will completely disappear during the summer months. This will further increase the melting pressure on Greenland. According to experts, the Jakobshavn glacier, one of Greenland's largest, is moving at a faster rate than ever before, losing 20 million tons of ice every day, equivalent to the amount of water used every year by the residents of New York City.

Two major studies from military intelligence experts have warned our leaders about the dangerous national security implications of the climate crisis, including the possibility of hundreds of millions of climate refugees destabilizing nations around the world.

Just two days ago, 27 senior statesmen and retired military leaders warned of the national security threat from an "energy tsunami" that would be triggered by a loss of our access to foreign oil. Meanwhile, the war in Iraq continues, and now the war in Afghanistan appears to be getting worse.

And by the way, our weather sure is getting strange, isn't it? There seem to be more tornadoes than in living memory, longer droughts, bigger downpours and record floods. Unprecedented fires are burning in California and elsewhere in the American West. Higher temperatures lead to drier vegetation that makes kindling for mega-fires of the kind that have been raging in Canada, Greece, Russia, China, South America, Australia and Africa. Scientists in the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Science at Tel Aviv University tell us that for every one degree increase in temperature, lightning strikes will go up another 10 percent. And it is lightning, after all, that is principally responsible for igniting the conflagration in California today.

Like a lot of people, it seems to me that all these problems are bigger than any of the solutions that have thus far been proposed for them, and that's been worrying me.

I'm convinced that one reason we've seemed paralyzed in the face of these crises is our tendency to offer old solutions to each crisis separately - without taking the others into account. And these outdated proposals have not only been ineffective - they almost always make the other crises even worse.

Yet when we look at all three of these seemingly intractable challenges at the same time, we can see the common thread running through them, deeply ironic in its simplicity: our dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels is at the core of all three of these challenges - the economic, environmental and national security crises.

We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that's got to change.

But if we grab hold of that common thread and pull it hard, all of these complex problems begin to unravel and we will find that we're holding the answer to all of them right in our hand.
The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels.

In my search for genuinely effective answers to the climate crisis, I have held a series of "solutions summits" with engineers, scientists, and CEOs. In those discussions, one thing has become abundantly clear: when you connect the dots, it turns out that the real solutions to the climate crisis are the very same measures needed to renew our economy and escape the trap of ever-rising energy prices. Moreover, they are also the very same solutions we need to guarantee our national security without having to go to war in the Persian Gulf.

What if we could use fuels that are not expensive, don't cause pollution and are abundantly available right here at home?

We have such fuels. Scientists have confirmed that enough solar energy falls on the surface of the earth every 40 minutes to meet 100 percent of the entire world's energy needs for a full year. Tapping just a small portion of this solar energy could provide all of the electricity America uses.

And enough wind power blows through the Midwest corridor every day to also meet 100 percent of US electricity demand. Geothermal energy, similarly, is capable of providing enormous supplies of electricity for America.

The quickest, cheapest and best way to start using all this renewable energy is in the production of electricity. In fact, we can start right now using solar power, wind power and geothermal power to make electricity for our homes and businesses.

But to make this exciting potential a reality, and truly solve our nation's problems, we need a new start.

That's why I'm proposing today a strategic initiative designed to free us from the crises that are holding us down and to regain control of our own destiny. It's not the only thing we need to do. But this strategic challenge is the lynchpin of a bold new strategy needed to re-power America.

Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.

This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative. It represents a challenge to all Americans - in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen.

A few years ago, it would not have been possible to issue such a challenge. But here's what's changed: the sharp cost reductions now beginning to take place in solar, wind, and geothermal power - coupled with the recent dramatic price increases for oil and coal - have radically changed the economics of energy.

When I first went to Congress 32 years ago, I listened to experts testify that if oil ever got to $35 a barrel, then renewable sources of energy would become competitive. Well, today, the price of oil is over $135 per barrel. And sure enough, billions of dollars of new investment are flowing into the development of concentrated solar thermal, photovoltaics, windmills, geothermal plants, and a variety of ingenious new ways to improve our efficiency and conserve presently wasted energy.

And as the demand for renewable energy grows, the costs will continue to fall. Let me give you one revealing example: the price of the specialized silicon used to make solar cells was recently as high as $300 per kilogram. But the newest contracts have prices as low as $50 a kilogram.

You know, the same thing happened with computer chips - also made out of silicon. The price paid for the same performance came down by 50 percent every 18 months - year after year, and that's what's happened for 40 years in a row.

To those who argue that we do not yet have the technology to accomplish these results with renewable energy: I ask them to come with me to meet the entrepreneurs who will drive this revolution. I've seen what they are doing and I have no doubt that we can meet this challenge.

To those who say the costs are still too high: I ask them to consider whether the costs of oil and coal will ever stop increasing if we keep relying on quickly depleting energy sources to feed a rapidly growing demand all around the world. When demand for oil and coal increases, their price goes up. When demand for solar cells increases, the price often comes down.

When we send money to foreign countries to buy nearly 70 percent of the oil we use every day, they build new skyscrapers and we lose jobs. When we spend that money building solar arrays and windmills, we build competitive industries and gain jobs here at home.

Of course there are those who will tell us this can't be done. Some of the voices we hear are the defenders of the status quo - the ones with a vested interest in perpetuating the current system, no matter how high a price the rest of us will have to pay. But even those who reap the profits of the carbon age have to recognize the inevitability of its demise. As one OPEC oil minister observed, "The Stone Age didn't end because of a shortage of stones."

To those who say 10 years is not enough time, I respectfully ask them to consider what the world's scientists are telling us about the risks we face if we don't act in 10 years. The leading experts predict that we have less than 10 years to make dramatic changes in our global warming pollution lest we lose our ability to ever recover from this environmental crisis. When the use of oil and coal goes up, pollution goes up. When the use of solar, wind and geothermal increases, pollution comes down.

To those who say the challenge is not politically viable: I suggest they go before the American people and try to defend the status quo. Then bear witness to the people's appetite for change.

I for one do not believe our country can withstand 10 more years of the status quo. Our families cannot stand 10 more years of gas price increases. Our workers cannot stand 10 more years of job losses and outsourcing of factories. Our economy cannot stand 10 more years of sending $2 billion every 24 hours to foreign countries for oil. And our soldiers and their families cannot take another 10 years of repeated troop deployments to dangerous regions that just happen to have large oil supplies.

What could we do instead for the next 10 years? What should we do during the next 10 years? Some of our greatest accomplishments as a nation have resulted from commitments to reach a goal that fell well beyond the next election: the Marshall Plan, Social Security, the interstate highway system. But a political promise to do something 40 years from now is universally ignored because everyone knows that it's meaningless. Ten years is about the maximum time that we as a nation can hold a steady aim and hit our target.

When President John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to land a man on the moon and bring him back safely in 10 years, many people doubted we could accomplish that goal. But 8 years and 2 months later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the surface of the moon.

To be sure, reaching the goal of 100 percent renewable and truly clean electricity within 10 years will require us to overcome many obstacles. At present, for example, we do not have a unified national grid that is sufficiently advanced to link the areas where the sun shines and the wind blows to the cities in the East and the West that need the electricity. Our national electric grid is critical infrastructure, as vital to the health and security of our economy as our highways and telecommunication networks. Today, our grids are antiquated, fragile, and vulnerable to cascading failure. Power outages and defects in the current grid system cost US businesses more than $120 billion dollars a year. It has to be upgraded anyway.

We could further increase the value and efficiency of a Unified National Grid by helping our struggling auto giants switch to the manufacture of plug-in electric cars. An electric vehicle fleet would sharply reduce the cost of driving a car, reduce pollution, and increase the flexibility of our electricity grid.

At the same time, of course, we need to greatly improve our commitment to efficiency and conservation. That's the best investment we can make.

America's transition to renewable energy sources must also include adequate provisions to assist those Americans who would unfairly face hardship. For example, we must recognize those who have toiled in dangerous conditions to bring us our present energy supply. We should guarantee good jobs in the fresh air and sunshine for any coal miner displaced by impacts on the coal industry. Every single one of them.

Of course, we could and should speed up this transition by insisting that the price of carbon-based energy include the costs of the environmental damage it causes. I have long supported a sharp reduction in payroll taxes with the difference made up in CO2 taxes. We should tax what we burn, not what we earn. This is the single most important policy change we can make.

In order to foster international cooperation, it is also essential that the United States rejoin the global community and lead efforts to secure an international treaty at Copenhagen in December of next year that includes a cap on CO2 emissions and a global partnership that recognizes the necessity of addressing the threats of extreme poverty and disease as part of the world's agenda for solving the climate crisis.

Of course the greatest obstacle to meeting the challenge of 100 percent renewable electricity in 10 years may be the deep dysfunction of our politics and our self-governing system as it exists today. In recent years, our politics has tended toward incremental proposals made up of small policies designed to avoid offending special interests, alternating with occasional baby steps in the right direction. Our democracy has become sclerotic at a time when these crises require boldness.

It is only a truly dysfunctional system that would buy into the perverse logic that the short-term answer to high gasoline prices is drilling for more oil ten years from now.

Am I the only one who finds it strange that our government so often adopts a so-called solution that has absolutely nothing to do with the problem it is supposed to address? When people rightly complain about higher gasoline prices, we propose to give more money to the oil companies and pretend that they're going to bring gasoline prices down. It will do nothing of the sort, and everyone knows it. If we keep going back to the same policies that have never ever worked in the past and have served only to produce the highest gasoline prices in history alongside the greatest oil company profits in history, nobody should be surprised if we get the same result over and over again. But the Congress may be poised to move in that direction anyway because some of them are being stampeded by lobbyists for special interests that know how to make the system work for them instead of the American people.

If you want to know the truth about gasoline prices, here it is: the exploding demand for oil, especially in places like China, is overwhelming the rate of new discoveries by so much that oil prices are almost certain to continue upward over time no matter what the oil companies promise. And politicians cannot bring gasoline prices down in the short term.

However, there actually is one extremely effective way to bring the costs of driving a car way down within a few short years. The way to bring gas prices down is to end our dependence on oil and use the renewable sources that can give us the equivalent of $1 per gallon gasoline.

Many Americans have begun to wonder whether or not we've simply lost our appetite for bold policy solutions. And folks who claim to know how our system works these days have told us we might as well forget about our political system doing anything bold, especially if it is contrary to the wishes of special interests. And I've got to admit, that sure seems to be the way things have been going. But I've begun to hear different voices in this country from people who are not only tired of baby steps and special interest politics, but are hungry for a new, different and bold approach.

We are on the eve of a presidential election. We are in the midst of an international climate treaty process that will conclude its work before the end of the first year of the new president's term. It is a great error to say that the United States must wait for others to join us in this matter. In fact, we must move first, because that is the key to getting others to follow; and because moving first is in our own national interest.

So I ask you to join with me to call on every candidate, at every level, to accept this challenge - for America to be running on 100 percent zero-carbon electricity in 10 years. It's time for us to move beyond empty rhetoric. We need to act now.

This is a generational moment. A moment when we decide our own path and our collective fate. I'm asking you - each of you - to join me and build this future. Please join the WE campaign at wecansolveit.org.We need you. And we need you now. We're committed to changing not just light bulbs, but laws. And laws will only change with leadership.

On July 16, 1969, the United States of America was finally ready to meet President Kennedy's challenge of landing Americans on the moon. I will never forget standing beside my father a few miles from the launch site, waiting for the giant Saturn 5 rocket to lift Apollo 11 into the sky. I was a young man, 21 years old, who had graduated from college a month before and was enlisting in the United States Army three weeks later.

I will never forget the inspiration of those minutes. The power and the vibration of the giant rocket's engines shook my entire body. As I watched the rocket rise, slowly at first and then with great speed, the sound was deafening. We craned our necks to follow its path until we were looking straight up into the air. And then four days later, I watched along with hundreds of millions of others around the world as Neil Armstrong took one small step to the surface of the moon and changed the history of the human race.

We must now lift our nation to reach another goal that will change history. Our entire civilization depends upon us now embarking on a new journey of exploration and discovery. Our success depends on our willingness as a people to undertake this journey and to complete it within 10 years. Once again, we have an opportunity to take a giant leap for humankind.