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The place where the world comes together in honesty and mirth.
Windmills Tilted, Scared Cows Butchered, Lies Skewered on the Lance of Reality ... or something to that effect.


Saturday, June 27, 2009

Daily Alamnac

Today is Saturday, June 27, the 178th day of 2009.

There are 187 days left in the year.

Today In History June 27

Rhode Island may change its name

Rhode Island may change its name

America's smallest state could drop part of its official name, which some believe conjures up images of slavery.

Rhode Island may change its name

Also:



What is wrong with "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" anyway?
Besides being a mouthful?

Secrets waiters won't tell you

Secrets waiters won't tell you

Find out which days you should avoid dining out, and why looking at the bill closely is a good idea.

Secrets waiters won't tell you

Also:

North Ireland's Ulster Volunteer Force says it has disarmed

Northern Ireland's oldest paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force, announced its full disarmament Saturday - a long-sought peacemaking move that, if confirmed, would formally end the pro-British group's decades of terror against Irish Catholics.

North Ireland's Ulster Volunteer Force says it has disarmed

Airfare bargains may soon depart

Airfare bargains may soon depart

Rising fuel prices and the approaching July 4 holiday mean now may be the time to buy.

Airfare bargains may soon depart

Also:

America's most expensive house

America's most expensive house

This 45,000-square-foot home has a 50-seat movie theater and a nine-car garage.

America's most expensive house

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And I Quote

I do not think that the real reason why people accept religion is anything to do with argumentation.
They accept religion on emotional grounds.
One is often told that it is a very wrong thing to attack religion, because religion makes men virtuous.
So I am told; I have not noticed it.

~ Bertrand Russell

Unusual Celebrations and Holidays

Today happens to be the Great American Backyard Campout.

House passes climate bill

House passes climate bill

Obama scores a major victory as the House passes a bill to slash industrial pollution blamed for global warming.

House passes climate bill

Also:

Saturday Jam

Today's Saturday Jam includes:

Blow Away
George Harrison

It Don't Come Easy
Ringo Starr

Instant Karma
John Lennon

Waterfalls
Paul Mc Cartney

President Obama's Weekly Address


Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
June 27, 2009

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a historic piece of legislation that will open the door to a clean energy economy and a better future for America.

For more than three decades, we have talked about our dependence on foreign oil. And for more than three decades, we have seen that dependence grow. We have seen our reliance on fossil fuels jeopardize our national security. We have seen it pollute the air we breathe and endanger our planet. And most of all, we have seen other countries realize a critical truth: the nation that leads in the creation of a clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy.

Now is the time for the United States of America to realize this too. Now is the time for us to lead.

The energy bill that passed the House will finally create a set of incentives that will spark a clean energy transformation in our economy. It will spur the development of low carbon sources of energy – everything from wind, solar, and geothermal power to safer nuclear energy and cleaner coal. It will spur new energy savings, like the efficient windows and other materials that reduce heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. And most importantly, it will make possible the creation of millions of new jobs.

Make no mistake: this is a jobs bill. We’re already seeing why this is true in the clean energy investments we’re making through the Recovery Act. In California, 3000 people will be employed to build a new solar plant that will create 1000 permanent jobs. In Michigan, investment in wind turbines and wind technology is expected to create over 2,600 jobs. In Florida, three new solar projects are expected to employ 1400 people.

The list goes on and on, but the point is this: this legislation will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy. That will lead to the creation of new businesses and entire new industries. And that will lead to American jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced. I have often talked about the need to build a new foundation for economic growth so that we do not return to the endless cycle of bubble and bust that led us to this recession. Clean energy and the jobs it creates will be absolutely critical to this new foundation.

This legislation has also been written carefully to address the concerns that many have expressed in the past. Instead of increasing the deficit, it is paid for by the polluters who currently emit dangerous carbon emissions. It provides assistance to businesses and families as they make the gradual transition to clean energy technologies. It gives rural communities and farmers the opportunity to participate in climate solutions and generate new income. And above all, it will protect consumers from the costs of this transition, so that in a decade, the price to the average American will be just about a postage stamp a day.

Because this legislation is so balanced and sensible, it has already attracted a remarkable coalition of consumer and environmental groups; labor and business leaders; Democrats and Republicans. And I want to thank every Member of Congress who put politics aside to support this bill on Friday.

Now my call to every Senator, as well as to every American, is this: We cannot be afraid of the future. And we must not be prisoners of the past. Don’t believe the misinformation out there that suggests there is somehow a contradiction between investing in clean energy and economic growth. It’s just not true.

We have been talking about energy for decades. But there is no longer a disagreement over whether our dependence on foreign oil is endangering our security. It is. There is no longer a debate about whether carbon pollution is placing our planet in jeopardy. It’s happening. And there is no longer a question about whether the jobs and industries of the 21st century will be centered around clean, renewable energy. The question is, which country will create these jobs and these industries? I want that answer to be the United States of America. And I believe that the American people and the men and women they sent to Congress share that view. So I want to congratulate the House for passing this bill, and I want to urge the Senate to take this opportunity to come together and meet our obligations – to our constituents, to our children, to God’s creation, and to future generations.

Thanks for listening.

Our Readers

Some of our readers today have been in:

Athens, Attiki, Greece
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Venice, Veneto, Italy
Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
Seoul, Seoul-T'ukpyolsi, Korea
Quebec, Quebec, Canada
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Orleans, Ontario, Canada
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Kingsville, Ontario, Canada
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Riga, Riga, Latvia
London, England, United Kingdom
Brussels, Brussels-Hoofstedelijk Gewest, Belgium
Eisenach, Thuringen, Germany

as well as Egypt, and the United States

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

By late tonight, you'll be exhibiting some peculiar characteristics: nostalgia, sentimentality and a desire to return to the past.
No, that doesn't sound at all like you, but remember, even you get to express your feelings, unfiltered, every now and then.
It's officially your turn.
Oh, and when your loved ones look a bit troubled, tell them not to worry.
This, too, shall pass.

All things must pass ...