What is this?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Did I censor this blog?
Feeding the Beast
"'REVENUE generating bills' — I have repeated this phrase about a thousand times since inauguration day in January 2008. I have asked repeatedly that each legislator should come up with a revenue generating bill that creates a new source of revenue, even if it is just a small amount. If we had done our job we would not have the present budget short fall.”
Issue 1: Energy and natural resourcesIt takes more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag as it does to manufacture a plastic bag.ENERGY TO PRODUCE BAG ORIGINALLY (BTUs)Safeway Plastic Bags: 594 BTUsSafeway Paper Bags: 2511 BTUs(Source: 1989 Plastic Recycling Directory, Society of Plastics Industry.)Of course, most paper comes from tree pulp, so the impact of paper bag production on forests is enormous. In 1999, 14 million trees were cut to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags used by Americans that year alone. Paper bag production delivers a global warming double-whammy forests (major absorbers of greenhouse gases) have to be cut down, and then the subsequent manufacturing of bags produces greenhouse gases.Issue 2: PollutionThe majority of kraft paper is made by heating wood chips under pressure at high temperatures in a chemical solution. As evidenced by the unmistakable stench commonly associated with paper mills, the use of these toxic chemicals contributes to both air pollution, such as acid rain, and water pollution. Millions of gallons of these chemicals pour into our waterways each year; the toxicity of the chemicals is long-term and settles into the sediments, working its way through the food chain. Further toxicity is generated as both plastic and paper bags degrade.POLLUTANTS PAPER V.S. PLASTICPaper sacks generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.Source: "Comparison of the Effects on the Environment of Polyethylene and Paper Carrier Bags," Federal Office of the Environment, August 1988Issue 3: RecyclingIt takes 91% less energy to recycle a pound of plastic than it takes to recycle a pound of paper. But recycling rates of either type of disposable bag are extremely low, with only 10 to 15% of paper bags and 1 to 3% of plastic bags being recycled, according to the Wall Street Journal.ENERGY TO RECYCLE PACKAGE ONCE (BTUs)Safeway Plastic Bags: 17 BTUsSafeway Paper Bags: 1444 BTUsSource: 1989 Plastic Recycling Directory, Society of Plastics Industry.Although paper bags have a higher recycling rate than plastic, each new paper grocery bag you use is made from mostly virgin pulp for better strength and elasticity.Issue 4: DegradabilityCurrent research demonstrates that paper in today's landfills does not degrade or break down at a substantially faster rate than plastic does. In fact, nothing completely degrades in modern landfills because of the lack of water, light, oxygen and other important elements that are necessary for the degradation process to be completed. A paper bags takes up more space than a plastic bag in a landfill, but because paper is recycled at a higher rate, saving space in landfills is less of an issue.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Call Has Been Heard
Tina Sablan wrote a letter to the editor today detailing the start of what appears to be the formation of a coalition or new political party. This type of grassroots movement is long overdue.
We have been subject over the years to voting into office the least of the evils as listed on the ballot. The names on the ballot placed there by political parties and large families in the CNMI with the majority of them solely representing limited personal and party interests.
In the recent elections however it appears the party dominance has begun to crumble as has the large family influences. Kilili ran as an independent and won. Tina getting into office herself is also a sign of a departure from the norm. The Republicans are torn, the Teno family is ripped apart, the Villagomez family is at each other’s throats, etc. Now is an opportune time to take advantage of these factors and get individuals into office that care about the betterment of the CNMI as a whole and not just their individual well-being and personally profiting.
Things have gotten pretty bad in the CNMI and this will factor into the 2009 elections. I think the bulk of the populace is crying out for change. The only way we will truly see any type of change in government is to get a large number of forward thinking individuals on the ballot and then to work as a massive unit to get them into office.
This will not be easy but it will be far from impossible.
I have started a list of individuals that to me and some of this site’s visitors, epitomize a break from the status quo. Individuals that put the CNMI first and that I believe can make a change in the CNMI. The list I comprised contains people that can be instrumental in a coalition or party. Some perhaps would be great candidates to run for an office. Some would fit well in providing marketing support or rallying the troops at a grassroots level. Some can assist with fundraising efforts. Some can register voters. And ALL of them would be instrumental in constructing a platform and setting an agenda. It has been stated that the list of people have different views and opinions on various issues in the CNMI. This is true and thankfully so. There is nothing wrong with having your own opinions and your own views --- this is a strength. When the Declaration of Independence was drafted it was done so by a group of independent thinkers who all shared one fundamental belief – the betterment of the whole. The same can be said of constitutions of the world, our covenant and many other groups of independent thinkers that have come together in the past to alter the directions taken in the future.
I have emailed the list of minds to Representative Sablan. I do hope that the people on this list and those I have overlooked email her as well, meet with her and form a group that will influence the direction the CNMI is headed starting with the 2009 election.
It can and will be done.
See Representative Sablan's Call Here
Quote from her website:
"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead
Monday, February 16, 2009
I AM LIL' HAMMERHEAD!
Just In Time For Spring!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Can you smell what the greek guy is cookin'?
- Double Sided Juan Pan Tuba Open Faced Sandwich stuffed with Camacho Kelaguin
- Nekkai Belt Busting Pork Fat Fry w a side of Young Spring Galvanized Onions (will make you tear up)
- De-Shelled and De-Spined Crab w/ Heinz Dressing stuffed in an Arnold Crepe
- Lights Out Kumoi Anago with Froilan Fungus wrapped in Pork Belly and Charred
- Diego Dumplings floating listlessly in your choice of Reyes Consommé or Soup D'Jour
- Fritada ala Fitial aged 4 years in airtight climate controlled closet stirred gently every 6 months by Chef Chucky