Wood & Coal--Back In Vogue

Environmentalists have been very happy lately because rising gas prices have meant less cars on the road and more conservation. Yay momma Gaea! I'd like to be the first to wreck their happiness, by telling the filthy tree huggers, rising gas prices has led to an increase in the average Joe six-pack raping momma Gaea. Yay earth rapists!

More area residents will be heating their homes with wood pellets, coal and fireplaces next winter than anytime in the recent past, as they seek alternatives to skyrocketing fuel oil and natural gas costs.

Sales of pellet stoves and related equipment nationwide is estimated to have increased more than 50 percent in the first half of 2008, according to one industry source.

The cost for a home totally heated by pellets and using three tons of wood pellets per season is expected to be in the vicinity of $750 to $1,000 this winter, she said.

An Attleboro area home using 500 gallons of fuel oil that cost $1,275 to heat last year with fuel at $2.55 per gallon could well cost its owner $2,170 this year at the current average price of $4.34.

Either by hook or by crook, I will not live in a world where I can't rape its natural resources.

When faced with financial ruin, people will explore any avenue to cut their costs. If this means burning coal, so be it. If this means chopping down a few trees, so be it. If this means filling up their stoves with the eyeballs of puppy dogs, so be it. Sure, the environment is important to people, but do you know what is far more important? Not dying of starvation. And that's where environmentalism ends with most people. If you're making money hand over fist, then sure, you don't mind shelling out a few nickles for the environment. However, if the choice is between steak or giving away hard earned loot to some jackass who wears a jean jacket with a stupid button with an even dumber slogan about the environment on the stupid button, well, the environment can burn to the ground for all the average schmuck cares. I know this to be true, for I am a schmuck like you. Schmuck.

It's a disco inferno

It's official. Summer no longer exists in England

Is global warming or global cooling the culprit? I guess it's best to just blame it on climate change and board the ark to salvation.

The Met Office issued severe weather warnings across parts of northern and south eastern England, warning that up to 40mm of rain could fall in some northern areas today.

With the thundery showers expected to continue, forecasters predicted that the country may have seen the last of any lengthy periods of sunshine.

[..] Dave Elliot, forecaster at the Met Office said: "Rainfall is looking at above average of similar to average for the rest of the summer, with temperatures nearly average or a touch below.

"Last year was a pretty bad summer as well - a lovely April and September but fairly unsettled in between.

"You have to go back to 2006 for a glorious summer, hot dry and sunny."

Warning of a "severe weather event", the Met Office said as much as 40mm of rain could fall in parts of northern England this morning. Heavy rain was also predicted across the south east before lunchtime. (The Telegraph)

Global Warming Can Do It All!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the all purpose and ever-flexible cause: global warming! It can easily fit into any problem, tragedy, nuisance, catastrophe or disaster. Simply apply the term "global warming" to any negative event or issue you wish and you too can over hype the importance of global warming!

The Guardian (UK): Surge in fatal shark attacks blamed on global warming by Richard Luscombe

~ Sisyphus, cross-posted at The Sisyphus Files.

A New Global Warming Tax For The Lucky Citizens Of Los Angeles

Under the guise of global warming, a bill has been introduced in Sacramento that would enable Los Angeles County transit officials to increase taxes on motorists.

Remember what I said the other day, if any bill going through legislature has the word GREEN in it, prepare to open your wallet. And have a look at what this new tax, tribute, rate, duty, support and contribution bill is called:

A "climate change mitigation and adaptation fee,".

I nearly lol'd there for a second.

This new bill is being introduced because

"the people of the Los Angeles region have just had it when it comes to traffic and air quality," claimed Assemblyman Mike Feuer, a Los Angeles Democrat and author of Assembly Bill 2558."

And how much will be raised through his "climate change mitigation and adaptation fee?"

$400 million

A small price for better air quality.

And what does that mean to the average Los Angeles shmuck car driver?

"the measure would cost motorists either an additional 3 percent motor fuel tax, or up to a $90 annual flat fee, based on vehicle emissions.

Peanuts. Especially when you consider that there is only one earth and we are the guardians of it.

I support this tax and now I feel better. I feel as if I did my part, now it’s up to the citizens of Los Angeles to do theirs.

I do have one small question though: What exactly is this new toolbox of extra revenues going to fix? As in, what the fuck are they going to do with this money?

Inquiring minds and all...

**I urge you to read the article, the writer of said article does a masterful job putting the councilman in his place.

Another Kick In The Bag--Courtesy Of Seattle

Seattle City Council is proposing a *green tax* on paper and plastic bags, that if implemented, will be the harshest and most expensive bag tax any American city has ever seen:

Seattle would impose a 20-cent-per-bag "green fee" and outlaw foam food containers next year under a proposal announced Wednesday.

If adopted by the council, the fee would apply to disposable bags distributed at grocery, convenience and drug stores. The polystyrene foam ban would force restaurants and stores to find alternative egg cartons, meat trays, plates, "clamshells" and cups.

"It's a big symbolic step, but it's also a very concerted step in the right direction," Conlin said.

It's a *symbolic* step. That word generally has two meanings when bandied about by socialists. Symbolic is usually another term for bullshit, but that doesn't sell. No council-person in the world would say, 'It's a bullshit step". Secondly, and most importantly though, symbolic, when used by bottom feeders like these thieves, means, *the first of many steps*. And of course, steps=taxes.

What The Mayor of Leningrad Seattle really means is--"This is the first tax of many. Every tax from here on in will be accepted because we will have the word GREEN before the words fee, tax, tribute, rate, duty, support and contribution. And if you don't agree, then you are five million times worse than Hitler...who was a vegetarian BTW."

What will Seattle do with this monetary contribution from Joe Q Public?

The grocery bag fees would generate about $10 million a year, according to Seattle Public Utilities. The money would be used to administer and enforce the rules, to buy and promote reusable bags, and to expand recycling, environmental education and waste prevention programs.

In other words, they are going to take your money and hire teachers, administrators, assistants, trainers, inspectors, managers, superintendents, candlestick makers, you name it, as long as they are union and as long as they are sucking like a Hoover on the gov't teat.

What a mess this whole green scam is. Everyone with a pulse knows that plastic bags are one of the few things that get re-used more than any other product. I thought one of the 10 commandments 3 R's of environmentalism is re-use? Isn't that part of the mighty green tenets? Now we're told that a product that continually gets re-used is choking momma earth? If plastic bags are choking momma earth, then maybe momma earth needs to cowboy the fuck up a bit then.

Let's recycle the recyclers

The Road to Hell is Paved With...

The androids at Google decided to engage in pointless environmental gestures when they blackened their normally white webpage in commemoration of Earth Hour. The global event encouraged people around the world to turn off their lights at 8:00P to 9:00P on March 29th.



"Unfortunately, on LCD monitors sized 22 inches or less, Google's new black actually consumes more energy than its usual white one."

~ Sisyphus, cross-posted at The Sisyphus Files.

Earth Hour: Going That Extra Mile, Making A Difference

A lot of the discussion about Earth Hour participation has focussed on directly using more energy. This is indeed a very important effort. But please, everyone, don't forget to waste food too! Remember, you can always buy more food than you need, and put the extra stuff straight into the trash.

In our affluent capitalist society, we often like to forget that food has its own carbon footprint. And, unlike an unnecessary hour-long empty-dishwasher session, it takes up space in a landfill if you just go ahead and trash fresh food without eating a bite. You can make a difference that will be felt for millennia. Simultaneously turning on your air conditioning and your space heaters may feel good now, but you can change the world forever with a few simple gestures like this.

If you are worried about your contribution just rotting away and not making a difference, then the easy solution is to make sure you store it in imperishable containers and throw the entire package into the garbage. For example, Big Mac-style styrofoam or microwave-safe plastic lunch containers will ensure that space is forever taken up in landfill sites. Remember, it takes energy to make those containers too! The rule of thumb for preventing hungry dumpster-divers from interdicting your contribution is to fill the remaining space in the plastic container with laundry detergent.

And don't forget to throw out the food's original packaging! Why not use an extra plastic container to keep it safe on its journey into the garbage?

This earth hour, think inside the box.

Psychologically Teabagged By Alex Trebek

Please phrase your answer in the form of loud, hurtful laughter:

So here I am, calling out questions and watching the scores increase as these incredibly smart young women rally to get into the semis. They cleared the board and waited eagerly as the categories for Double Jeopardy were announced. While I can only remember one in retrospect (and you’ll see why it’s the impetus for this article), the line-up featured the typical topics, and the announcing went something like this: Potpourri, Famous Americans, Starts With ‘S’, Balls, Abbreviations… Wait, what? Balls? Yes, Balls. Balls. Balls was one of the categories in Double Jeopardy for a panel of three female contestants during the 2008 Teen Tournament.

As many feminists, anti-racists, and other –ists may tell you, our Western world is one in which outrageous situations/comments/behaviours/etc. can and do get our backs up around every corner. For this reason, it’s always beneficial to pause, take a breath, and then ask, Did that really happen? Is this as upsetting as I think it is? At least that’s something I do to try and keep from flying off the handle for only the must justifiable of reasons. In this case, I paused, took a breath, and thought, Wtf? Yes, this is that upsetting.

This London IndyMedia post said "Mitchieville" in so many ways. Read the whole thing and resolve never to give one more inch to a bluenose feminist when it comes to entertaining such hysterical fantasies.