Tao’s 2 Cents

This is phenomenal. Put a price on carbon!

Gore is passionate, convincing and inspiring. Now I understand what he’s going to do with his new ad campaign. I’m going carbon neutral. I want a footprint so light you can’t make it out in the sand. I want to be a part of the hero generation. Let’s save this planet people!

By the way, you should definitely check out more of the TED talks. They have amazing speakers that give really interesting presentations, performances, etc.

I’ve been following the Tibet protests with interest and especially now that they’re following the Olympic torch. One thing that I’ve noticed that China and it’s supporters are saying is that this about sports not politics. Essentially, they say this is not the time or place to discuss human rights.

It’s so incredibly hypocritical for China to say that the Olympics have nothing to do with politics. Does anyone really believe that China isn’t trying to show itself off as a world power with these Olympics? What they really mean to say is no one can use the Olympics for politics except them.

So I say, yes, the Olympics are sporting event AND they are a political event. To say they are merely a sporting event is simply wishful thinking. When sports teams are divided up by nation states, political entities, and then pitted against each other, how can than not be political?

I went out to my car this afternoon to take a quick trip to the grocery store only to find someone had vandalized my Obama bumper sticker. They had written “Clinton” over the word “Obama” although I had to take a closer look to tell. The Obama text is white on a dark blue background so the black on a dark blue background doesn’t show up too well thank god.

It’s pretty sad that a Clinton supporter tried to squelch my right to my own opinion. I think that says something about both where the campaign is at and the attitude of it in general. It seems like Hillary has been trying her damnedest to disenfranchise people who don’t agree with her while at the same time spouting off about the disenfranchisement of people who probably would have supported her. I’m looking at you Florida.

Anyway, that’s all I had. I’m pissed.

I believe that this guy, Richard Heinberg, is absolutely 100% right on the money. I haven’t seen someone sum up everything I’ve read this well yet and I’m so glad I found it. This is why I’d like to start an organic permaculture farm and live a sustainable lifestyle. After I get myself taken care of I want to start working on a local level around the farm to teach others and help the community work on larger community projects that can’t be done by individuals.

Anyway, watch these videos. They’re important. You may not want to hear it, but it may be the most important thing you’ve ever watched.

Click to continue reading this entry and view the other 5 parts to this talk.

Three main things happened that made my decision to support Obama and it’s not because he won Iowa, it’s HOW he won Iowa. I like him before, but wasn’t sure.

The first thing that happened chronologically was Dennis Kucinich, the smart man’s candidate, told the caucuses that if he wasn’t viable, i.e. he didn’t get the 15% necessary, to support Obama instead. That made me take a better look at his stand on the issues and I liked what I saw.

The second thing that made me believe was the turnout. Something like twice as many people showed up to vote in democratic primaries in Iowa than did last year. Those are people who are inspired.

The third thing which occurred to me last night was why the polls were so wrong about Obama in Iowa. It was supposed to be a 3 way tie with 30% all around, so where did Obama’s extra 7% come from?

I’ll tell you where. It came from the people that aren’t being included in polls. People with cell phones. So, who are people with cell phones? Young people. If he’s getting that kind of turnout among young people I think he has a real chance.

I don’t like Hillary because I think she’s sold out too much. I think she thought she had to do it to make it this far, and maybe she did. The other reason I don’t like her is that I think she wants to be president for the wrong reasons. I have no doubt she would be far better than any Republican, but is that really saying very much? She seems like she just wants the history of being the first woman president. Not to mention I just plain don’t believe her when she talks.

I believe Edwards more than Clinton, but he still just doesn’t have as much passion or believability as Obama does to me. There’s also the fact that I feel like he’s already has his shot and he blew it. Granted it wasn’t entirely his fault, but I want something completely different.

Obama does seem like he steals some plays from Martin Luther King’s play book. The way he talks in the souther preacher way, but I have to say, that’s a good play. It’s inspiring and the things he says seem timeless. I don’t get the feeling that most politicians speeches will be remembered through history, but I get that feeling with Obama’s speeches.

Anyway, I’m supporting him. I donated $50 last night and I’ll probably give more. Next week a group from Baltimore is driving down to South Carolina next week to canvassing and just helping out and I think I’m going to join them. I’m excited to finely know where I stand and have a direction to push.