Have you been reading my mind Al?

Today’s article is the continuation of yesterday’s write and the subject is just that: This huge monstrosity of plastic debris twice the size of Texas that is created from six million tonnes of discarded plastic! When I read the article I was flabbergasted. How could we have such a major disruption in our ecosystem and not have it be on the news every night.  Thankfully, it was on Oprah, which I didn’t see, but everyone needs to be aware just how bad plastic is, and in my mind, taking over our beloved planet. More has to be done to stop this ever growing plastic island that is floating in the middle of the North Pacific.

And you’re right Al. Not only about the food that we consume, but about our medical system. Every time I give blood, I look around at all of the plastic being used and many of it just once and thrown away. I always have visions of that movie ‘Sex, Lives and Videotapes’, where the actor Andie McDowell is talking to her therapist and her biggest concern is where all of the garbage is going. I’m like her. I think about that same thing all of the time.

Anyways, back to subject: The floating isle of debris….

The toxic soup of refuse was discovered in 1997 when Charles Moore, an oceanographer, decided to travel through the centre of the North Pacific gyre (a vortex or circular ocean current). Navigators usually avoid oceanic gyres because persistent high-pressure systems — also known as the doldrums — lack the winds and currents to benefit sailors.

Mr Moore found bottle caps, plastic bags and polystyrene floating with tiny plastic chips. Worn down by sunlight and waves, discarded plastic disintegrates into smaller pieces. Suspended under the surface, these tiny fragments are invisible to ships and satellites trying to map the plastic continent, but in subsequent trawls Mr Moore discovered that the chips outnumbered plankton by six to one.

Is your jaw dropping? Are your eyes welling up with tears? Mine are. Read on…there’s more that will break your heart.

The damage caused by these tiny fragments is more insidious than strangulation, entrapment and choking by larger plastic refuse. The fragments act as sponges for heavy metals and pollutants until mistaken for food by small fish. The toxins then become more concentrated as they move up the food chain through larger fish, birds and marine mammals.

“You can buy certified organic farm produce, but no fishmonger on earth can sell you a certified organic wild-caught fish. This is our legacy,” said Mr Moore.

Because of their tiny size and the scale of the problem, he believes that nothing can be solved at sea. “Trying to clean up the Pacific gyre would bankrupt any country and kill wildlife in the nets as it went.”

We’ve been told to eat wild caught fish and that farmed fish is not as good because the farmed fish don’t have or build up the natural resistances to the environment that wild fish have. But what wild fish can stave off the toxic soup they’re swimming in and the heavy metals and pollutants that they are mistakenly eating? This saddens me to no end.

This month 151ft brigantine Kaisei (Japanese for Planet Ocean) will unfurl its sails in San Francisco to try to prove Mr Moore wrong. Project Kaisei’s flagship will be joined by a decommissioned fishing trawler armed with specialised nets. The goal is for the scientists and conservationists on the expedition to retrieve and recycle this plastic disaster. Is it possible and will retrieval do any good? Once again, we are dealing with the problem and not much is being done to prevent an even bigger island from being created from our throw-away plastic bottles and containers.

Here is the rest of the article:

“The trick is collecting the plastic while minimising the catch of sea life. We can’t catch the tiny pieces. But the net benefit of getting the rest out is very likely to be better than leaving it in,” says Doug Woodring, the leader of the project.

With a crew of 30, the expedition, supported by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Brita, the water company, will use unmanned aircraft and robotic surface explorers to map the extent and depth of the plastic continent while collecting 40 tonnes of the refuse for trial recycling.

“We have a few technologies that can turn thin plastics into diesel fuel. Other technologies are much more hardcore, to deal with the hard plastics,” says Mr Woodring, who hopes to run his vessels on the recycled fuel.

Plastics bags, food wrappers and containers are the second and third most common items in marine debris around the world, according to the Ocean Conservancy, which is based in Washington. The proportion of tiny fragments, known as mermaid’s tears, are less easily quantified.

The UN’s environmental programme estimates that 18,000 pieces of plastic have ended up in every square kilometre of the sea, totalling more than 100 million tonnes. The North Pacific gyre — officially called the northern subtropical convergence zone — is thought to contain the biggest concentration. Ideal conditions for shifting slicks of plastic also exist in the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the North and South Atlantic, but no research vessel has investigated those areas. If this exploratory mission is successful, a bigger fleet will depart in 2010.

Mr Woodring admits that Project Kaisei has limitations. “We won’t be able to clean up the entire ocean. The solution really lies on land. We have to treat plastics in a totally different way, and stop them ever reaching the ocean.”

Did you learn something about plastics? Is it not apparent that something major needs to be done?

I wish them luck. And I wish for everyone to consider what they buy when they go shopping and use less plastic. Or even better, If you love a product and know that the plastics they are using are not recyclable, e-mail them linking the article or write them and send them a print out of it. Their bottom line is no excuse anymore.

Thanks for reading.

Please do something.

We only have One Planet, One Earth.

~~~~~~~

Hi ZL:  How are you? Sorry that I have not called. I am up to my eyeballs in paperwork these days. We’ll catch up soon.

Anna: I had to laugh at your comment to your Chamorros friends: “I do this out of love. It is not my job.” Oh, how many times I have said those same words in my mind to myself when I have felt that I have not been putting enough time into my morning blog. But then oops, I realize no one is demanding anything of me except myself.  That’s when I tell myself to shut up and carry on. I’m doing what I can. By the way, you’re doing a great job committing yourself to writing here everyday too.  Hafa Adai.

Curious Minds:  That question came to my mind too. Hey TAO: Did you and/or Maddie  ‘borrow’ that Brazilian plane and try to fool us with some phony debris? (Added 9:15am: Note: This is in no disrespect to those lives that were lost, nor to the families who have lost their loved ones.)

Hello Alexander:  How are you? Thank you for the very interesting history lesson. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I bet my readers did too. Please tell us more. It is a welcoming break from all that is being discussed on my blog.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009on

al, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

I don’t know about you but I drink a lot of water. And I used to be a big bottled water drinker until I found out how much plastic is on this planet and just what it is doing to our environment. (more on that at a later date) I have been filtering water for years and if I need to take some with me where ever I am going, I put it in a stainless steel thermos. 

If you’re still drinking out of little plastic water bottles, first of all bad, bad, bad! Get over that nasty habit. It is doing the environment no good.  Not to mention your one and only temple of a bod. It has been reported that bottled water in your car is very dangerous. Check this out from John Hopkins.  My little two are inserted in (parenthesis).

Bottled water in your car is very dangerous!

On the Ellen show,  Sheryl Crow said this is what caused her breast cancer.  It has been identified as the most common cause of the high levels of dioxin in breast cancer tissue.

Sheryl Crow ‘s oncologist told her:

Women should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car. The heat reacts with the chemicals in the plastic of the bottle which releases dioxin into the water. Dioxin is a toxin increasingly found in breast cancer tissue. So please be careful and do not drink bottled water that has been left in a car.  

Pass this on to all the women in your life. (And men too – they are not immune to breast cancer.) 

This information is the kind we need to know that just might  save us!  Use a stainless steel canteen or a glass bottle instead of plastic!

This information is also being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center:

• No plastic containers in microwave.
• No water bottles in freezer
• No plastic wrap in microwave.

A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don’t freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. (Oops I learned something here. I used to freeze our water bottles before we went to Burning Man so that we always had cold water available. A big no-no)  Recently, Edward Fujimoto , Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard.

He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.

He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers…

This especially applies to foods that contain fat.

He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastic releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body…

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as  Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. (I love my Pyrex and I use it for everything – and some even come with lids. Although the lids are still plastic, and they say they are microwaveable, I don’t use them in the microwave – why risk it? On a side note: There is a reason that chemists use and have been using Pyrex for years).  You get the same results, only without the dioxin. Such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. (C’mon peeps, you shouldn’t be putting these types of foods into your beautiful bod anyways.) 

Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. ( So true.)

It’s just safer to use tempered glass,  Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons…

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran wrap, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. (This is scary. I never use saran wrap in the microwave. In fact I rarely use the stuff. I don’t like it. To cover food, I actually really like those elasticized plastic covers – you know the ones that look like cheap shower caps? Yep those are the ones – I use them over and over again. And, of course NOT in the microwave) Cover food with a paper towel instead. (But again, you don’t know what is in the paper)

**************

Lastly, like many of you I always ‘snope it’, just to see if it truly is an urban legend or something I need to be aware of. I bet many of you are snoping this as you read. You will, as I did, be told that what I just wrote is a mixture of truth and false information. But I will tell you what a friend of mine told me and I think he has a good point:

“It really depends on which scientist you believe. Google dangerous plastic containers and you will get a list of numbers that show some plastic containers that do leak dioxin. Remember when you were assured that cigarettes didn’t cause cancer?  And Scambusters pooh-poohed the suggestion that it was better to gas up at night that during the heat of the day. Now scientists have backed up the fact with data that fueling up in the heat of the day gives you less gas.” 

“If I am to error, I would do it in my favor.  Have you noticed that the plastic bottles are not as substantial as they used to be?”

He’s got a good point, yes? I only have one bod and as much as I like to have a little fun and indulge in foods and drink that aren’t necessarily great for me – it is all in the balance of life…those risks are worth taking – there is a reward: Pleasure and enjoyment. But putting unnecessary dioxins in my body when there are easy ways to avoid it, is not. There is no fun factor attached. Don’t be lazy. Treat your body as if it were the only temple to house you – Actually it really is, unless you’ve got an extra ‘suit’ hanging around like our alien friends or earthling girlz :)

Hi Carol, Sandy, Viola: I’m delighted that my write yesterday was helpful to you and your families. My parents are not in their 80′s and are both good drivers but you can be sure that I will keep all of this in mind when it does come to that point where I might have to have a little chat. 

Hi AL: I know public transportation can be a bitch. I can not imagine not being with car. Although I love my bike; Only in the summertime and in good weather. 

See ya on the flip…

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009on

al, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

….no matter who you are a mother to, and no matter where you are in this world. Mothers come in all forms from the traditional sense of birthing children, to caring for our pets: Lucy is my little four-legged girl, to mothering the wildlife in your garden,  to mothering husbands: not my kind of mothering :)

Whichever kind of mother you are, it is your day…really it is your day EVERY day, because without the constant mothering of our children, the animals, the environment, (and yes sometimes our husbands) …just what type of shape would our planet be in? I dare not go there.

Instead, I will just say to all of the mothers out there, and in my mind all women are mothers in some way….how grateful I am for your constant mothering….your endless love and care. Being a mother can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging. It is certainly not any easy role in life, especially in the traditional way….so I applaud all of you mothers out there for all that you do.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Hi Milske:  Welcome. I would like to respond to your needs but I am not clear on exactly what form you are looking to bargain for. Carbon comes in the form of our precious diamonds but in impure form it is charcoal, soot, and coal. I have a feeling that you are in search of the pure form or maybe not? And in regards to the Hydrogen. I thought that Hydrogen was a common element in the universe? Earth is not abundant with pure Hydrogen. Our Hydrogen is mixed with Oxygen creating our water. We need our water to survive. Unless I am not correct about pure hydrogen availability on earth (I am no scientist, and have no area of expertise here at all), I would not think that we would be willing to bargain our Hydrogen if it would affect and deplete our water source. Please clarify your intentions – Thank you. I look forward to your response.

Readers: Do you have anything to say to Milske about his request?

Got to run…off to see my mother. I hope that you have fun celebrating with yours!

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good Morning!

Speaking of ‘evolution’….this one is for you Anna & Peter…

Creatures living on violent undersea volcano give climate change survival clue

By Clare Bates/ Dailymail.co.uk

An active underwater volcano which spews torrents of lava and noxious gas has become a surprising hotspot for sea critters, scientists revealed today.

Studying them may provide answers to how sea life could adapt to the world’s increasingly acidic oceans, they said.

The unique volcano near the island of Guam erupts so frequently that it has built a new cone 131ft high and 984ft wide in just three years.

‘That’s as tall as a 12-story building and as wide as a full city block,’ said expedition leader Bill Chadwick, a volcanologist at Oregon State University.

But despite the tumultuous conditions a large number of creatures including shrimp, crab, limpets and barnacles, have thrived at the volcano called NW Rota-1.

‘They’re specially adapted to their environment and are thriving in harsh chemical conditions that would be toxic to normal marine life,’ said Chadwick.

‘Life here is actually nourished by the erupting volcano.’

Sea water is slightly alkaline, but the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been mirrored by an increase of CO2 dissolving in the oceans and forming carbonic acid.

Ocean acidification is a serious concern because it can be fatal to some fish eggs and larvae and interferes with the formation of shells. 

‘Submarine volcanoes are places where we can study how animals have adapted to very acidic conditions,’ Chadwick said.

‘Volcanic gases make the eruption cloud extremely acidic – worse than stomach acid.’

Verena Tunnicliffe, a biologist from the University of Victoria, said that two species of shrimp had revealed intriguing adaptations to volcano living. 

‘The ‘Loihi’ shrimp has adapted to grazing the bacterial filaments with tiny claws like garden shears,’ said Tunnicliffe.

‘The second shrimp is a new species – they also graze as juveniles, but as they grow to adult stage, their front claws enlarge and they become predators.’

The new species attacks the Loihi shrimp and preys on marine life that wanders too close to the volcanic plumes and dies. 

‘We saw dying fish, squid, and so on, raining down onto the seamount, where they were jumped on by the volcano shrimp – a lovely adaptation to exploiting the noxious effects of the volcano,’ Tunnicliffe said.

The international science team had previously visited the hydrothermal site in 2004 and 2006, but this was the first time they studies the volcano in detail and close up.

The latest mission took place during April 2009 and the team captured dramatic new images of the volcano’s eruptive behaviour with the remotely operated vehicle Jason.

‘It was amazing how close Jason can get to the eruptive vent because the pressure at a depth of 1,700 feet in the ocean keeps the energy released from the volcano from becoming too explosive,’ Chadwick added.

Some of the most intriguing observations came when the volcano slowly pushed lava up and out of the erupting vent.

‘As this was happening, the ground in front of us shuddered and quaked, and huge blocks were bulldozed out of the way to make room for new lava emerging from the vent,’ Chadwick said.

NW Rota-1 provides a one-of-a-kind natural laboratory for the investigation of undersea volcanic activity and its relation to chemical-based ecosystems at hydrothermal vents, where life on Earth may have originated.

‘It is unusual for a volcano to be continuously active, even on land,’ Chadwick pointed out.

‘This presents us with a fantastic opportunity to learn about processes we’ve never been able to directly observe before,’ he said.

Part of the evidence that the volcano is in a constant state of eruption comes from an underwater microphone – or hydrophone – that was deployed a year ago at NW Rota-1 by OSU geologist Bob Dziak.

The hydrophone ‘listened’ for the sounds of volcanic activity. Another hydrophone and other instruments will monitor the volcano in the coming year.

The international team included scientists from OSU, the University of Washington, University of Victoria, University of Oregon, NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, New Zealand and Japan. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation.

********

Hmm…creatures….they do affect our lives…and we affect theirs. Yesterday we had quite a few comments about some of the little creatures and how they affect our lives, ranging from raccoons to bedbugs – the latter I can live without.

And now these little new species of shrimp. I thought this would be interesting to all of you science readers out there – yes? Does it make you feel differently about global warming? Share your thoughts and  comments. You know what to do. 

Ruth:  Thank you for telling us about Rear Admiral Michelle Howard. I had no idea of her position in regards to the Somalia pirates. She is definitely a girlz :) All we ever heard was news on the success of the sharp shooters. I had to smile reading her recalling moments. Only a woman would think such thoughts. 

Daniel: No it doesn’t make sense to me but as Zen Lill pointed out ‘Common sense is not that common.’

Hey Zen Lill: I thought about Lily when I was reading the article. And I thought of my dear friend Cat who lives in Texas and I know she would be totally against this.  Yep…I would give Arnie my two too if I were you. 

Hi Pearl: Thanks for the warning. I love the little raccoons but I don’t love them in my garden. Dogs have a tendency to eat cat feces; Lucy indulges when she can.  And until you had mentioned children eating it raccoon feces, I didn’t even think our backyard having anything but cat feces. I hope she’s not chowing on that too.  Thankfully, Doug just went into our backyard and picked it up – he just informed me that he didn’t eat any so no worries there :)

And now bedbugs Donna? The thought of them gives me the creeps. And 5-star hotels are not immune. I will confess, living in LA going to college, I woke up twice with squashed roaches in my bed – Ug! Yuk! I can’t tell you how disturbing that was for me. 

Trish:  Ok…that is quite a story. I know men have done some horrible things to women but leading this guy on that you love him and want to have his baby when all you want to do is pass on his sperm and implant it in your love, is just a bit wacky to me. The guy seems decent except for the fact that he won’t let you see his dick and he puts on this rubber extension to please you – which it doesn’t since you have no interest in men. So how do you expect to marry him and have this other life?  Okay so he has money – so what? Is it really worth marry him when you could be living a happy life with the woman you really love?

Since your story is so wacky, how about a wacky suggestion? Tell the guy you really like him and want to marry him, but that you are gay and you want him to impregnate your girlfriend. Maybe all of you can live together and raise the kid and live happily ever after. 

Lelia: You can assure your cousin that I am no closet dike. Men just love to call me that because I call them out. I do love women and yes I will admit, I am attracted to some. In fact right now, I have a small crush on a lesbian acquaintance, but I definitely prefer men and only see myself in long term relationships with men. I hope that makes it clear to anyone who thinks differently of my sexual preferences. If not, I really doesn’t bother me. People will believe what they want to believe. 

Samuel: Ah…it is the differences in all of us that makes the world so interesting and beautiful to me. No one will be edited out.   

Anonymous: I think that president Obama is doing an excellent job of managing our country too,  and yes he does have his challenges. But I believe he will prevail.

DNSR!: I hope that you and BNMV! Have a great weekend! Any travel plans coming up?

Teri: I think Melinda answered your question so I’ll leave it at that. Unless of course any of the men want to chime in :)

I am off to enjoy this beautiful day – I hope it will be for you too where ever you are. 

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

So congrats to our president Obama for what I feel is an amazing first 100 days. Did you watch him last night?  I don’t know about you but I just love listening to him. I love his logic, his humor, his realness, and his get-down-to business.  He has accomplished a lot for a president that has at least twice as much on his plate to handle than the past presidents.

We all know of his accomplishments that have been in our face, daily…but what about the ones that have gotten little press time? Because there has been so much going on…so many priorities, stories that once could or would get front page coverage have faded fast.  And because we are challenged in so many ways, stories affecting our nation’s health care system, infrastructure, urban and foreign policy – have received hardly any coverage at all….and if they have been discussed they are not getting the appreciation they deserve, or they are reported but not in great depth to make an impact with the public. One has to spend a lot of time watching the news or perusing the net to get the full scope of Obama’s achievements. 

I am grateful to say that the Huffington Post decided to take some action and recognize our president for all that he has accomplished. They asked administration officials as well as Democrats inside and out of government for their picks of under-appreciated stories during Obama’s first 100 days. Here are ten of those stories.  Thanks Huff!

1. Health Care: The Obama White House cleared an important hurdle in the health care reform debate when it appropriated $19 billion in the stimulus package to help implement an electronic medical record system. The money is paltry compared to the hundreds of billions set aside for an overhaul of the health care system in the budget. But officials inside and out of the White House say its significance is hard to overstate.

“We need to have health IT so we have a better idea both of what works but also… so people can share information,” Zeke Emanuel, Obama’s health care adviser told the Huffington Post in mid-March. “We are on our way in a way that we have never committed ourselves before.”

2. Communications: A presidential campaign built on innovative messaging and advanced technology has, naturally, become a White House defined by similar characteristics. As such, the reach of the administration’s new media efforts – from hosting online question-and-answer sessions with the president to publishing the first White House blog – has been as expected as appreciated. It’s unfortunate, said one tech savvy Democrat, because the new policies have had tangible impacts. “The White House streams every event with the president on its website, even press events,” he said. “It’s remarkable because, this Sunday they held a swine flu press conference that ordinary people [including many who may have been personally nervous about the topic] were able to watch online… Before you had to wait for a readout or hope that CSPAN would cover it. This is one of those things that people don’t quite understand the significance of.”

3. Transportation: Since the passage of the economic stimulus package in mid-February, the Obama Department of Transportation has approved 2,500 highway projects. The movement of stimulus money out the door has been as swift as it has been effective: $9.3 billion has been spent in all 50 states. Touting its impact, DOT officials say 260,000 jobs are expected from this investment. And with competition for contracts fierce, the department is set to approve even more projects than previously envisioned. “There will be more money for additional transportation projects,” said the official.

4. Education: Maligned for its handling of the financial and banking crises, the Obama Treasury Department has nevertheless implemented policies with real qualitative and quantitative impact on debt-burdened families. Chief among those was a $2,500 tax credit to help offset the cost of tuition (among other expenses) for those seeking a college education. Nearly five million families are expected to save $9 billion, according to Treasury officials.

5. Cars: The automobile industry at the White House and Congress’s behest has undergone seismic structural changes, managerial reorganization, and massive cuts in employment. But for all the tough love, the president has put in place the framework for an industry recovery. Perhaps the most significant of steps was to allocate $2 billion in stimulus cash for advanced batteries systems. One high-ranking Hill aide called battery technology “the next big frontier” in the automotive world, adding that if the U.S. could dominate this market it would reclaim its perch as the world’s premier car manufacturer.

6. Pakistan: Cognizant of a destabilizing situation in Pakistan, the administration’s diplomatic team, with a major assist from Japan, secured $5 billion in aid commitments “to bolster the country’s economy and help it fight terror and Islamic radicalism” within the country. The money, as Pakistan observers — notably Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry – note, will prove instrumental in bringing the nation away from the brink of failure and increased Taliban control.

7. Cities: More than any prior president, Obama has put a spotlight on America’s struggling cities, even creating an office of Urban Policy in the White House. It is the Justice Department, however, that lays claim to one of the most consequential of urban affairs achievements. Through the Recovery Act, DOJ secured $2 billion for Byrne Grants, which funds anti-gang and anti-gun task forces. The money, cut during the Bush years, is expected to have massive ramifications on inner-city crime and violence.

8. Engaging the Muslim World: While certainly discussed, foreign affairs experts insist that Obama’s engagement with the Muslim world has been at once remarkable and under-appreciated. From the first interview with Al Arabiya to his Nowruz address to the Iranian people, to his proclamation that “American is not at war with Islam” during an appearance in Turkey, seasoned observers have been routinely impressed. “Through these [statements and interviews],” said one Democratic foreign policy hand, “He has been able to dramatically change America’s image in that region.”

9. Forests: Since taking office, the White House has put under federal protection more than two million acres of wilderness, thousands of miles of river and a host of national trails and parks. The conservation effort – the largest in the last 15 years – came with the stroke of a pen when Obama signed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 in late March.

10. Tone: Leaving a meeting at the White House on Tuesday a progressive member of the House of Representatives commented to the Huffington Post just how impressed she was with the president’s manner. “He is so calm,” said the member, “and has a great ability to make you feel like you’re being respected and listened to.”

It is not, necessarily, a unique observation. But among many Democrats and even casual observers, Obama’s tone is cited as one of the chief catalysts for his outstanding early poll numbers. “Despite record job loss,” said one Democratic aide, “there’s still hope in America.” Indeed, from the beginning of his presidency the percentage of people who believe the nation is headed in the right direction has risen from 19 percent to 42 percent, according to a recent ABC News-Washington Post Poll. Minus that calming influence, these numbers don’t exist and neither does the Obama agenda as we know it.

-Sam Stein/Huffington Post

Readers: Well…were you surprised by any of these? I was. Learn anything new? I did.  Are you even more impressed with Obama now? I certainly am.

Thoughts? Comments? Do the usual….Blog me.  

***********

Al:  So much for the true definition of ‘forever’. Welcome back. Your comments yesterday and the day before are filled with contradictions. You say that my blog and aliens are phony ( and yes, I will admit that I do color my hair back to its naturally black color – so what?! :) And like ZL, if I ever feel the need I will do what ever I please with this bod. My point being….You say that I am an instrument in destroying what little health you have.  Ah…you give such power to me and to the one who forbids you, who ever that is. And I believe that when you use the word ‘y’all’, you are also referring to the aliens – yes? You know….those aliens that you claim are phony. 

And you are call me a chameleon. Al, get real. Be honest. You know why you’re fucked up.  Take responsibility for your actions.  

I will say no more. I know how messed up you are and that saying anything such as this will do you no good. I have already wished you the best and no matter what you say to me, that will always be my thoughts. It is ridiculous of me to try and reason with someone who is not of sane mind so I will leave it at that. Feel free to come back again. However, do not expect me to carry on a crazy conversation with you such as this one. 

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2009

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"