Thursday, February 01, 2007

A Brilliant Idea

I started writing a novel, as some of you know, and am participating in a writers group to help me along technically and motivationally. After five thousand words of a single chapter (that seems like a lot, doesn't it?) I stumbled a bit. Not a dead stop; rather a moment of reorganization.

One of those, "Hey, wait... What if...?"

So I wrote my Indian spirit guide. And wow did he ever give me a great idea to go forward with. I guess he didn't get published on accident.

For the first time since I started this endeavor, I feel like I really have something going.

Change of subject: Global Warming.

Still here? Excellent. I thought I would share with you an article my wife found in the Lowell Sun. Check out this excerpt:
With glaciers melting, lakes drying, species vanishing, the oceans acidifying, corals bleaching, hurricanes intensifying, diseases spreading, sea levels rising, insurance companies balking and with 928 peer-reviewed scientific studies dealing with climate change in the past 10 years with zero, as in not a single one, disputing the theory that greenhouse gas emissions have caused most of the warming of the past 50 years (according to a study in Science magazine), can we answer the right question with, "Yes, global warming is occurring right now and its consequences are already being felt."

Check this out. Oil companies have been spending money in a deliberate attempt to confuse people about global warming, to keep us going to the pumps, and not, heaven forbid, get behind the idea of alternative fuel sources. Here's the quote:
The Union of Concerned Scientists recently reported that Exxon Mobil had spent $16 million on different organizations that would spread doubt as to the existence of global warming.

Want to do something about it? Check out this web site.

16 comments:

Natalie said...

I know this is going to come as a HUGE surprise to you, but I'm actually a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists. I know, shocking that I should be a member of an organization whose mission is to straighten out the facts that the administration gets wrong, intentionally or otherwise. I'm not surprised at all about the oil companies, those bastards. What's funnier is that while they're confusing people to keep them oil dependent, they're also putting some of their own money into funding alternative energy research. Because when the shit hits the fan they don't want to be left without a leg to stand on.

Scott said...

Then keep up the good work Natalie. And no, it didn't come a big surprise, but a mild and pleasant one. Despite their reasons not being altruistic ones, I am happy all the same that the oil companies are putting forth the effort to invest in alternatives.

mr. schprock said...

"I know, shocking that I should be a member of an organization whose mission is to straighten out the facts that the administration gets wrong, intentionally or otherwise."

I called President Bush on that and this is what he told me: "You tell Magnetbabe global warming is because of the rotation of the earth. You know how moving parts need to be lubricated or else there's too much friction, and friction causes heat? I have ordered NASA to launch a huge can of WD40 into outer space, programmed to give both the north and south poles a good spray. That oughta fix her."

I'm no scientist, but that makes sense to me.

Natalie said...

mr. schprock, you crack me up! I've missed you!!
Can you see the oil companies making a commercial with the Earth talking out of a rigid, crooked mouth saying, "Oil can!"

Scott said...

Man, you both are on a major roll today. You wacky liberals!

Shesawriter said...

The oil company big wigs are all going to burn in hell--AFTER they go up like a torch here from the suns rays!

Ultra Toast Mosha God said...

This doesn't surprise me.

Ever the cynic, that's me.

Bernita said...

It's all a plot, I tell you.

Beth said...

I'm not surpised as well and I'm saddened by not being surprised.

Bailey Stewart said...

Nope, not surprised.

And of course the oil companies are looking at alternatives - any way they can keep making HUGE profits.

Scott said...

I want to be clear about my thinking here. I don't have a problem whatsoever with any company making the maximum profit they can make, as long as it isn't at the expense of our environment, on the backs of slave labor, or any kind of illegality. But I'm very Ayn Randish on this point. Our economy is based on, and relies on, companies acting in their self interest.

Toni Anderson said...

I couldn't get your link to work but none of this is news to me. This conference they are having in Paris--they FINALLY agree to make a statement that humans have impacted the earth in a negative way and global warming is real.

WHY are these people so far behind the average human being?

WHY do they need a hundred people to define that statement?

I believe in profit too--and I believe in paying for the consequences of your actions.

Scott you're getting me all fired up LOL and I have to go write some big emotional love scene--Jeez!

Anonymous said...

I want to be clear about my thinking here. I don't have a problem whatsoever with any company making the maximum profit they can make, as long as it isn't at the expense of our environment, on the backs of slave labor, or any kind of illegality. But I'm very Ayn Randish on this point. Our economy is based on, and relies on, companies acting in their self interest.

And here is the problem. Maximum profit at what price to workers and the environment. For me this is where it all goes stupid. I don't believe that Exxon cares and they have made way too much money.
No good democracy or economy can sustain itself in an environment where the gap between the rich and the poor is too big a burden for society. And when the environment is not stable, then things really go bad. That's where we are.

Great post. But you can throw Atlas Shrugged in the garbage. SMILING.

Scott said...

Toni - I believe in paying for the consequences, and for being rewarded for making tough and unpopular decisions.

Janie - Well, I clearly said that I believe in max profit as long as it isn't harming the environment. I believe in capitalism as long as the rules aren't being broken. Then the offender needs to be taken down. When companies make "too much" money, then theoretically they, in the due course of self aggrandizement, are re-circulating money into the economy, by hiring more employees, who in turn contribute tax monies to the government.

There is always going to be a gap between the rich and the poor. Always has been that way. In this country, however, the poor can rise up. Like the author you had me read a while back, whose name I'm embarrassed not to remember. I was poor once myself, and know just what I'm talking about. This is a great country and I'm proud of the opportunity that it presents to anybody that cares to try. The only chance I have for escape from the lower classes of some countries is to strap up an exploding vest.

As for Atlas Shrugged, bah humbug. I'll take the Fountainhead any day of the week. Ayn Rand can not be taken too seriously. At the heart of her philosophy is an iron clad work ethic, and a responsibility for ones self.

Oh, and welcome back. I really missed you.

Scott said...

Rick Bragg! As poor as they came.

Kathleen said...

I'm so tempted to send that quote to my brother, a former environmental studies major who is now Born Again and therefore does not believe in global warming. "God has a plan."