Uri's Blog Notes from 44.483N, -92.261W, planet Earth

Greed and Cowardice win the day,

the Earth and its inhabitants lose.
If you're wondering why the climate-change legislation didn't get through the Senate, Paul Krugman provides a concise answer. One of the culprits is John McCain, a former friend of the environment who is "willing to sacrifice his principles, and humanity’s future, for the sake of a few years added to his political career."  But the reasons reach far beyond the spinelessness of one Senator (or two, or several dozen).  Read the New York Times editorial today to read how Obama took his place at the loom that is weaving four coordinated threads into a shroud of inaction.

Oh yeah, it’s working all right!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

R.I.P.

40% of our wetlands in peril due to oil spill

This is a disaster. But we're more concerned about the 6 miles of I94 closure this weekend or keeping "illegal" immigrants from taking away our jobs or Sandra Bullock's marriage problems. Where is the perspective? Where is the outrage? Where are the questions? I ask this one: Why are we drilling for oil right next to 40% of the nation's wetlands?! See the graphic and read the 4/29 update

A quick history of the health care reform debate.

Don't believe the hyped up stories in Huffpost and other tabloid "papers," where today they claim that Obama is against the public option and Harry Reid is for it. This is a twisted interpretation of the facts. If you want them, read this piece by Peter Dreier.
UPDATE MON. OCT. 26: The White House issued a statement Sunday evening reaffirming its commitment to a public option for insurance coverage and called reports that the president and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid were pursuing different strategies, "absolutely false."

“The Answer My Friend Is Blowin’ in the Wind”

A link to the website about "Drying for Freedom," the movement for freedom to dry our clothes outdoors.

More reason to boycott Whole Foods

The Twin Cities has a large and thriving food coop network, not to mention  Kowalski's, the Farmers Market, and other emporiums of superior foodstuffs. There is no reason on Earth to cross the threshold of a store whose management has fought labor unions, and now...NOW...well, read on:

Last Wednesday, John Mackey, the chief executive of Whole Foods, took to the pages of The Wall Street Journal to opine that “we clearly need health care reform,” but arguing against the solutions being put forward by the administration: “The last thing our country needs is a massive new health care entitlement that will create hundreds of billions of dollars of new unfunded deficits and move us much closer to a government takeover of our health care system.”

R.I.P. Magnificent Creature

"I have looked upon those brilliant creatures, And now my heart is sore." - from a poem by William Butler Yeats