Inexpensive Mass Market Solar Power Nears

News from San Jose indicates that most homeowners will be able go the route of being self-powered soon through the use of easy to install inexpensive solar panels that are more than competitive on a cost basis with coal burning electricity generation. That would mean a cost of 5 cents or less per kilowatt hour and without the harmful long term ramifications that fossil fuel burning power plants bear society with. There have been significant improvements and technological breakthroughs in recent years with all kinds of alternative clean power sources, and solar, along with wind, offer the greatest promise. It will be up to consumers to take advantage of these innovative options, as most governments are deeply in bed with the monolithic usually monopolistic power companies of today that are embedded in a mindset of yesteryear and technology of power that is creating more harm than good long term.
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http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2008-04-28-solar-power-sunrgi_N.htm
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*****

Motor Vehicle Traffic Staggers the Mountain States

Growing traffic and all the ramifications associated with this troublesome trend is a vast problem throughout the Mountain time zone and in the Mountain States. Every state in the region is dealing with serious troubles in this area and the problem is not only in metro areas but also in fast growing smaller areas like Rifle, CO, and Butte, MT. The problems in metro areas like Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson, El Paso, Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Billings, Boise, Salt Lake, and Grand Junction are well known. Improvements and expansion of highways and roads as well as construction of new freeways is probably needed, but probably will not occur to the extent required due to high costs of not only construction, but also the legal and environmental costs of even planning a highway or expansion. A universal switch from a cents per gallon based gasoline and fuel tax to a percentage based tax is needed in all states, municipalities, and the federal government; New Jersey is one but of a few states that has this kind of basis of a fuel tax. Increased diesel fuel taxes for the trucking industry are also desparately needed. Clearly the one big answer is mass transit, with light rail; passenger rail; and additional bus service. Employers need to be mandated to require and facilitate car pooling and not just the 8-5 weekdays white collar employers. Distribution traffic such as semis and other trucks need to be eliminated or strongly curtailed from being on roadways from 6:30am to 9am and from 3pm to 7pm. The increasingly high price of fuel will make sprawl less attractive, and property taxes and developer fees must be adjusted to do that even more. Heart of the city property must be redeveloped for greater mixed used and multi-resident purposes. Preservation efforts will need to be minimized and tracts of land with older commercial and industrial property near city cores needs to fast tracked to redevelop for residential and more diverse commercial needs. All commercial developments need to be a minimum of three stories with parking included in the building itself. Finally, surface parking lots need to be taxed at seriously higher rates to force them to be developed. An living environment and neighborhoods like in communities in the Northeast US and Europe is the ideal and public policies that are forward thinking is the way to achieve that goal.
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http://www.newwest.net/magazine/article/the_long_and_crowded_road_traffic_in_the_new_west/C555/L555/
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*****

Reductions in Wheat Farming

We have all noticed the sharp increases in the price of bread and other grains-based products in recent months. Much of these higher costs are due to increased fuel expenses in all stages of the production, manufacturing, and distribution processes. But another factor largely unknown to most consumers is the decline in acreage dedicated to growing wheat over the last one to two decades. Wheat is a difficult crop to grow successfully and quite subject to the environmental hardships that occur fairly regularly such as weather and disease. Now add in the growing pressure to switch to corn for greater profits as an energy fuel as well as expanding warmer climate zones which open up the possibility for growing corn in more places and one can see that wheat production is due to largely stagnate or decrease for the time being which will inevitably result in only further greater price increases. Progressive governmental policies will be needed soon to address the ramifications of these trends before a true crisis occurs with worldwide consequences that would even include Americans.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/28/AR2008042802509.html?hpid=topnews
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat
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http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/topstocks/archive/2008/03/27/new-wheat-crisis-plagues-world-food-supply.aspx
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*****

Talton's Economic Reforms Proposals

Journalist Jon Talton has come out with the start of a list of economic reforms that are needed to correct and reverse the collapse into the abyss that has overtaken the nation. Among his recommendations are strong and serious regulation and oversight of the financial markets and the banking industries; an intense focus on anti-trust efforts; the end of high CEO and corporate boards pay; tax code modifications and improvements; the end of tax havens; campaign finance reforms; the cessation of economic bubbles by the Fed; no bailouts of corporations; and increased shareholder powers and rights. Talton will offer additional ideas shortly, and the tax code is an area that is in need of serious reform. A move towards simplification and progressivism is essential. Corporate taxes need to raised to fund one-third of the federal budget; a progressive income tax that includes at least 8-12 brackets needs to be implimented; policies are needed that penalize corporations who have more than a 17-1 disparity in the pay of executives and workers; and an ineligibility for government contracts and businesses whom pay executives total compensation greater than the President are among my proposals. There should also be zero federal income tax liability on anyone making less than $15,000 per year. Indexing the minimum wage nationally to local prices and costs such as rent, utilities, gasoline, and food is a move that long has been merited. Moving the American economy back towards an economy based on production rather than consumption is essential. and it will require a serious substantial decrease in the decades old addiction of military weapons and equipment being consumed nationally with virtually no benefits to the nation as a whole any longer as has been the case in the last two decades. The price of continuing the decades old regime of Military Keynesianism cannot continue.

http://roguecolumnist.typepad.com/rogue_columnist/2008/03/making-serious.html

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174923/turse_a_pentagon_s_who_s_who_of_your_life

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shahid-buttar/subsidizing-corporate-cri_b_97908.html
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-johnson/bring-back-the-90-top-tax_b_99018.html
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http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article19817.htm
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*****

Cities and Metro Areas Staggering Under Consumer Debt

Here are the 25 cities and metro areas most reeling from consumer debt, including mortgages, second mortgages, home equity loans, and other forms of debt. Having large obligations of these kinds in markets where housing values and prices are in decline - in some cases, a sharp decline -do not bode well for the local economies as there will be less spending on most consumer goods and other goods and services which will mean an increasingly tighter and contracting job market, decreases in sales taxes and property taxes revenues for governments, and increased social problems.

25.--Cleveland
24.--Lexington
23.--San Francisco
22.--Green Bay
21.--Boston
20.--Atlanta
19.--Richmond
18.--Columbus
17.--Portland
16.--Riverside-San Bernardino
15.--Cincinnati
14.--Detroit
13.--Seattle
12.--Boulder
11.--Reno
10.--Madison
9.---Las Vegas
8.---Colorado Springs
7.---Boise
6.---Los Angeles
5.---Washington DC
4.---Minneapolis-St Paul
3.---San Diego
2.---Denver
1.---Sacramento
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http://promo.realestate.yahoo.com/worst-cities-for-homeowner-debt.html
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*****

The Second Gilded Age

We are indeed are in and have been in the Second Gilded Age for the better part of two decades, but this decade has seen the effects and consequences greatly amplified and destructively evident. Unfortunately the activism and anger towards the greedy selfish elitists has been all but missing as the middle class and poor have been stymied by powerful legislation enforced ruthlessly by law enforcement officials; and by agents and elements of distraction such as obsessional celebrity worship, liquor, drugs, fast food, cable television, video games, pornography, spectator sports, and popular culture entities such as rap music. With the end in sight of this long period of American cultural and political malaise due to strongly changing economic circumstances that are increasingly worsening beyond the point of toleration by many, hopefully this replay of the Gilded Age will be history soon. It will be wonderful to see the progressive reactions and changes coming in the next several years to bring the society more into economic balance. They promise to be quite extraordinary if what we saw historically in reaction to the first Gilded Age is any kind of reference.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/04/28/gilded_age/index.html?source=rss

*****

Its the End of the World as We Know It, But Very Few of Us Feel Fine

As the price of oil crosses the $120 per barrel threshold, the price per gallon continues to shock and awe Americans. The price here in Cheyenne, WY, is among the least expensive in the nation at just under $ 3.40 per gallon. The expectation is for another 25 cents to 50 cents increase in the coming six weeks. The absolutely frightening thing is these prices are going to look wonderful two, three, four years down the road as the price per gallon is headed past the $ 6 mark and probably past $ 7 by 2012 for regular unleaded gasoline. Diesel fuel will surpass $ 8 or $ 9 per gallon, perhaps even $ 10 per gallon. The end of the golden age of the automobile is now here and the end of mass public use of the private motor vehicle is clearly in sight. Life is going to be powerfully and tremendously different for most. The link to AAA fuel guage report belowwill allow one to see the prevailing prices everywhere; its likely worse somewhere else than where you are, unless you are in CA or HI.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/gasoline-could-hit-7-oil/story.aspx?guid=%7B824E895C%2DF649%2D4526%2D89F1%2D50C198A8A0D5%7D

http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/CAmetro.asp

*****

John Prine Song from the Past Resurfaces

Hillary Clinton: Absolutely Bad for Americans

Hillary Clinton won the Tuesday Pennsylvania Democratic Primary by about nine percentage points over Barack Obama which means this endless and tired campaign will continue well into May at least. Worst of all, her campaign strategy based on negativity, divisiveness, and out and out meanness will continue, further dividing the Democratic Party and feeding directly into a likely successful election of John McCain in November. Clinton continues to insist that she can be elected and should be nominated: she is dead wrong. If she is the nominee, we are looking at a repeat of 1972 when George McGovern got routed by 20 percentage points by Richard Nixon in the popular vote and the electoral college ended up a 520-17 obliteration. A McCain presidency largely sounds at the moment like an overall replay of the Bush junta, but it will probably be less so once it gets underway. But nevertheless, the progressive social agenda which looks most promising under an Obama presidency will not take place on any kind of level with a McCain presidency. It seems Clinton is guaranteeing that with her selfish impudence.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/opinion/23wed1.html?ref=opinion

*****

An Widescreen Economic Viewpoint

1. Everything that is happening economically was completely foreseeable by any whom were well read and thoughtful.

2. The basis of the American economy for most of the last three decades was gambling and greed, and profiteering from failure and debt.

3. The near future will be very, very bad -- an economic armegeddon.

4. The obsession by policymakers and Corporate American with growth has seen a long series of bubbles which always inevitably burst and cause significant harm to many.

5. Biofuels are strongly contributing to inflation and leading to increasing food shortages.

6. America's economic mismanagement by government and corporations is the worst since the Great Depression with more ineptitude and blundering ahead.

7. Having the Federal Reserve focus on growth will result in no growth.

8. The economic cancer created in the US is spreading across the globe.

9. Lobbyists run America and today's politicians are utterly woeful with zero leadership ability.

10. Absolutist Free Market Capitalism is destroying economies globally both on macro and micro levels.

11. Inflation in the prices of consumer goods is a direct result of Bush Administration foreign and domestic policies.

12. For too long, too many corporations and individuals having been getting handouts and entitlements from others without really needing or meriting them.

13. Global Warming and climate change are enormous variables and a risk to mankind that is unimaginable for most in power but the consequences will be profound.

13. The long era of growth, and having and getting more, is over for most.

*****

Deep Consequential Ideas and Theories

The concepts and rationale in Nassim Nicholas Taleb's, "The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable ", challenge the reader quite intensively and is well worth reading. The fundamental basis of the book is to make one think differently and in a way counter to how we are programmed through most of lives in our educations and environments to think about ideas and events through history. While not in the mainstream of most just yet, the conclusions brought forth give one much to consider and contemplate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassim_Taleb

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Swan_%28book%29

*****

Changes in Plant Hardiness, Climate Zones

The US Department of Agriculture has come out with a new map of the climate zones across the nation. As can be expected, there has been some significant changes from the prior map that was issued in 1990. The map provides a guideline for which plants will be successful in gardens.

The most striking changes are across the Midwest, Southern Plains, and Mountain Time Zone. Some areas have seen marked warming allowing for the growth of plants that were thought to be impossible to grow in those areas for generations.

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It is quite amazing to see how much change occurred in less than 20 years, and it will be quite interesting to see the next edition of this map 15 to 18 years down the road. That next map will be shocking.

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http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2008-04-23-gardening-map_N.htm?csp=34

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*****

Extinctions Now Underway

This article today indicates alarming and troublesome news concerning the numbers of migratory birds being observed, particularly in Europe. The numbers are also bleak for elsewhere on the planet. Most dedicated and even casual bird watchers have noticed a discernable decline in the numbers of songbirds and other small avians. The cliche " canary in a coal mine" is just as apt in this environment as it has been in the past when other serious environmental concerns were evident. Global warming is indeed having an impact on the planet and its ecosystems to an extent already, and the the rest of the flora and fauna on this world are approaching a point where they will be in great peril, as radical and intense changes to the climate around the globe is nearing and will commence in a sudden violent extreme explosion resulting in a shocking new planet evolving climatically and environmentally very quickly. The demise so strongly and suddenly in the number of birds been observed and noted in so many places is indeed a grave omen of what is coming soon on a more significant and profound level.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-great-migration-crisis-812640.html

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/21/8419/

http://oneplanetonelife.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=49#birds

*****

Key Endorsements for Barack Obama

With the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary on the doorstep, Illinois US Senator Barack Obama has picked up two key and respected endorsements for his presidential campaign. Late last week, former US Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, now a professor at Stanford, endorsed Obama over Clinton despite his long friendship and service with Bill Clinton. This endorsement at this point was somewhat surprising, but Reich joins Bill Richardson, another former Bill Clinton cabinet officer, in breaking from the Clinton camp. Monday saw another endorsement with noted social commentator and observer as well as honored and recognized filmmaker Michael Moore giving his endorsement to the Illinois junior senator. Moore has a progressive and extensive vision on how to address the widescale problems nationally, and he believes Obama is the best candidate to tackle the long term and ongoing malaise and demise of the United States. Expect additional and noteworthy endorsements of Obama in the coming weeks, including Al Gore, Madeline Albright, and Jimmy Carter.

Obama also picked a virtual clean sweep of all endorsements by newspapers across Pennsylvania in the days leading up to the primary, capped off by Sunday's endorsement by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2008/04/obama-for-president.html

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?=225

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Barack_Obama_presidential_campaign_endorsements

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080421/cm_thenation/1313364

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspaper_endorsements_in_the_United_States_presidential_primaries%2C_2008

*****

Pennsylvania's Day of Decision Arrives

After six long weeks of waiting, the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary is finally here. Citizens have had to withstand seemingly endless coverage, hype, horse manure, out and out lies, smears, treachery, and blather in the Keystone State and nationally to get to this date at last. The filth and smarminess of the Clinton campaign have been in high gear for a long time and hopefully Tuesday will be their final and last hurrah. The media coverage of the campaign in recent weeks has been entirely vapid and inane for the most part, focusing on items of zero importance and significance. Clinton will probably edge Obama in the primary with about a 3 to 5 percentage points victory, but in the key aspect of delegates, the contest will largely be a wash. There are 158 delegates that will be allocated on a proportional basis depending on the outcome of the vote, and an additional 30 superdelegates will also be making a choice on whom to support and endorse, although that will not entirely happen immediately. Polls open across Pennsylvania at 7am EDT and close at 8pm EDT, so results should start to become known before 9pm EDT. The current estimate of delegates by CNN shows Obama with 1,648 to 1,504 for Clinton. The nomination takes 2,025 delegates, so Obama should be within 275 delegates when all is said and done in PA including the superdelegates whom will commit in the next week. Next up after Pennsylvania are the North Carolina and Indiana primaries in two weeks on Tuesday 6 May with 115 and 72 regular delegates at stake for each, respectively.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Democratic_primary,_2008

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/slg/PA.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)_presidential_primaries,_2008

*****

Great Links to Bookmark

With the price of oil going over $114 per barrel today, and news out of Russia that production has peaked in that nation, this is a good source of information about one of the most critical problems facing the US and elsewhere -- declining oil production, rising prices, and the continued changes and assaults on the quality of life and standard of living throughout the nation. Gasoline prices continue to rise rapidly as the price is up by nearly 20 % since the beginning of 2008 in most places across America. The forecast is for another 25 to 50 cents per gallon increase in the next 45 to 60 days. The frightening thing is the certain probability that these prices will be remarkably low compared to what is coming in the next two to four years as gasoline goes over $6.oo, crippling many American families, communities, and the economy.

http://www.energybulletin.net/

http://www.oildepletionprotocol.org/

*****

Canada Declares a Plastics Ingredient Toxic

News from Canada with their declaration of a common ingredient in most plastics we use as consumers is particularly alarming. The ingredient, Bisphenol A, is a component in four of the seven major plastics in use. The products that are included in these categories include most containers used for foods such as beverages and condiments that are hard and largely inflexible
such as peanut butter and jam/jelly. The toxic substance is also found in cling wrap. plastic dishes, plastic utensils, and in egg cartons. Of particular concern to families is the presence of the substance in baby bottles and juice bottles. Canadian authorities will consider the seriousness of this discovery and may eventually ban these types of plastics within their nation, setting a significant precedence globally.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/business/worldbusiness/16plastic.html

http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/114/bpa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A

*****

The Lies of Reagan, The Truths of Obama

There has been a lot of press in the last week over the comments made by Democratic Presidential Candidate Barrack Obama concerning the mindsets of citizens in small towns and rural areas. Obama said he was not surprised these people had become embittered and were clinging hardfast to their values and traditions in spite of all the economic tragedies and hardships that have ravaged them and their communities in the last 28 years. As expected, the elites in the media, politics, and corporations have made an issue of his statements and tried to smear him on a number of grounds. All these smear attacks are absolutely baseless and without value. The government, mainstream media, and the vast majority of corporations have sold the nation and its future down the river and the folks away from the power centers and the money have paid the harshest costs. They were sold a bill of goods by the GOP starting with Reagan and have lost most of what was theirs as a result. Obama is absolutely right to say what he did, and although it could have been worded better, the point is that most Americans are much, much worse off than they were a generation ago and more recently, and these three greedy, foolish, incompetent entities are at fault for the widespread demise of middle class and working class Americans everywhere. False promises, deceit, and treachery by corporate America and their government henchmen and lackeys have paid a long, hard price on most every American and it will be a challenge that is seemingly insurmountable to reverse.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/editorblog/081

*****

Wind Energy Becoming More Common in Suburbia

Thanks to rising energy prices from traditional sources, wind energy is becoming more utilized in places not associated in the past with its use -- suburbia. Ample tax credits and financial assistance exists to have this exciting new energy source to be installed in homes. Some states are ensuring an easier legal framework for the turbines and generators which supercede restrictive rules by communities and HOAs. The sky is the limit in the future for increased use of wind energy by home owners and communities, and much less expensive and more efficient equipment is sure to continue to increase in numbers resulting in even greater use by consumers wishing to get off the expensive and pollution-ridden electricity grid.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/earth/15wind.html?ex=1365912000&en=ba709cf5a4355c6e&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss

http://www.awea.org/

http://www.awea.org/faq/wwt_basics.html

http://www.nrel.gov/wind/

http://www.windenergynews.com/

http://www.wind-works.org/books/wind_energy_basics.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_energy

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/earth/15sola.html?ref=environment

*****

Back to the Future

We may still yet to be able to restore economic justice, opportunity, and equality across the US in spite of the rising Chinese Dragon. The economic and political mess brought on by 28 years of Republican policies and Free Market Absolutist Fundamentalism seems to have reached a point where the American citizenry will opt to change course and work towards restoring the direction of society and the nation as it was so many years ago before the detour to greed and wastefulness was taken. There will be ups and downs throughout the coming six to seven months before the elections, but barring an October surprise by the Bush junta and their ilk, there will be a new dawn for the poor and middle class across America in 2009 with the chances for optimism and hope the best that has been seen since the early 1960s.

http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/bringng-white-working-class-progressive-majority

*****

The Future is All Chinese

Much as the European dominance of the planet has disappeared, the end of the American dominance of the globe is now here and will continue to be strongly underway for the coming decade. China is rapidly modernizing, faster than any other nation in history, and that includes vast upgrades and increases in military strength and power. The Chinese already dominate the globe in most manufacturing and will soon be the dominant power in technologies development and manufacturing. The extent of this radical change to the economic and political order and balance on the planet is only now in its infancy. The one other concern is the environmental ramifications of China's modernization. It is likely to result in the vast dislocation of people globally and perhaps even a large amount of human deaths due to climate change as a result of global warming over the next one-half to three-quarters of a century.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=559133&in_page_id=1811

*****

A Cancer Cure Nears ?

Tonight on CBS 60 Minutes was a report on a promising possibility for a cancer cure. Over the years, many cures have been offered but ended in failure. The Kanzius Machine utilizes radio waves in conjunction with nanoparticles attached to cancer cells only. So far the process is in the testing phase on lab animals, but results appear good. It is hopeful by the next mid-decade this treatment may be made available to humans. Lets hope the testing is successful and this does become a reality, sparing millions of the torturous treatment and suffering that comes with all kinds of cancer.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/10/60minutes/main4006951.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kanzius

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanzius_RF_Therapy

*****

Remembering the Ludlow Massacre 94 Years Ago

The Ludlow Massacre is a largely unknown and forgotten violent tragedy in American History. The assault on workers and their families by government agents and toughs employed by mining corporations and others is a grim moment. There is a monument to the massacre just off of I-25 at mile marker #27 in southern Colorado. 45 lives, including 32 women and children, were coldly executed on 20 April, 1914. Nearly all the victims were immigrants from Eastern Europe. None of the murderers, their organizers, or corporation sponsors were ever brought to justice. It is sorrowful to think we are moving back into an era like this where corporations can wield extraordinary power, including deciding life and death, and the government and media largely approve, standing by and acting oblivious and without care or interest to the injustices and treachery being done by corporations across the nation.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080410_the_ludlow_legacy_part_i_colombia/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludlow_massacre

*****

Oceans of Oil Beneath North Dakota

The USGS announced Thursday that it estimates between 3 billion and 4.3 billion barrels of oil exist in the Bakken Formation approximately two miles beneath North Dakota and spreading into Montana and Canada. The oil is extractable using present methods, primarily with horizontal drilling. This announcement means an enormous amount of change is on the near horizon for much of western North Dakota and eastern Montana, with an industrialization of the region, population growth, construction of infrastructure, and a marked increase in commercial and business alternatives for the citizenry. State governments in both ND and MT will see a geyser of cash into state coffers in the coming years. Hopefully the wisdom and vision exists in both states to maintain the perspective of environmental balance and responsibility despite the euphoria over this news.

http://blogs.moneycentral.msn.com/topstocks/archive/2008/04/10/north-dakota-oil-discovery-called-biggest-in-u-s.aspx

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/us/11oil.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken_Formation

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/SuperModels/DakotaOilPersiaOnThePlains.aspx

*****

Worst Real Estate Markets Across the USA

The metro areas identified as the worst are somewhat surprising -- Cleveland and Detroit. Other markets in the top ten are the usual suspects: fast growing Sunbelt metro areas like Orlando, Miami, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Denver, Tampa, and Phoenix. St Louis is the fourth worst market. Prospects for much improvement in any of these ten grim real estate markets is significantly poor.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=4592244&page=1


http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/31/homes-risky-property-forbeslife-cx_mw_0331realestate_slide_2.html?partner=abcnews

*****

Another Legacy of the MLK Assassination

EJ Dionne is a respected columnist and observer of the American condition, both past and present, as well as an accomplished author. His conclusions in this piece are poignant and full of importance in America today. I agree that the assassination of King, along with untimely deaths of both Kennedys, played a role in the rise of the conservative movement in the 70s and its ultimate success in the 1980s and overall dominance to present. As of importance as well were the political consequences of the Vietnam War and the changes across the nation a result of the Civil Rights Movement. Perhaps in the next few years Americans can realize the full promise of the New Frontier and Great Society after a forty year detour. It will be an enormous challenge that will not be easy at all, but the rewards of the effort will be great.

http://www.tnr.com/toc/story.html?id=7959d9ca-2dfa-446d-bca0-53d5de0d4189

*****

Finland: Where Things Have Been Gotten Right

It appears from the information provided by the ambassador of Finland to this assembly of Vermont citizens the quality of life and economic and social model that exists in Finland is about the best on the planet and is light years ahead of that of the United States. Finland is all about making lives better and the best for all its citizens, and not leaving anyone behind or without utilizing their potential. An economic model based on justice and equality quite unlike what is the case in the US indicates their nation has great harmony, peace, and tranquility. Of all the 50 states, Vermont perhaps is most closest to Finland in its mindsets and consciousness, but still a long ways off from Finland economically and socially.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?bid=7&pid=306816

*****

Corporations that Could Disappear

The recession we are now in will be no different than any other past economic downturn the nation has experienced in the past in at least one respect: businesses with broad name recognition will either fail or be bought out. Either way, a brand name will disappear and slowly fade from the consciences and memories of citizens. Some of the names in this report have had a long history, but competition and stagnation are pushing them towards extinction. Ford and Sears have been sinking fast over the last two decades so their deaths seem all but inevitable. Qwest is a tiny telecom, relatively speaking, that has been seriously mismanaged for years and is well behind its competition in keeping up with the latest and more demanded technological services and products. Banks always get bought up and made part of mergers no matter what the economy is. WAMU and Citigroup likely are headed for that future before long. A big merger in telecoms may be on the horizon with perhaps a Comcast getting purchased by AT&T or a Sprint bought by a Comcast. Can the end of Wendy's be near ? Perhaps, as there is a glut of fast food competition in an environment of shrinking revenues and profits for the sector. Expect even additional consolidations, buyouts, and bankruptcies of a number of corporations as the current policy thrust of Free Market Absolutist Capitalism compels the consolidation of most business sectors into oligopolies of a minimum of two to three dominant firms to around six or seven dominant firms that control better than 3/4 of the market and provide goods and services in their sector to over 3/4 of the population and demographics. With this occurrence, the consumer is limited in choices and often the reduced competition results in higher prices as the corporations consolidating need to increase profits in order to pay for the financial costs of the acquisitions and mergers. And the consumer and citizen is the usual ultimate loser.

http://www.247wallst.com/2008/03/big-mergers-f-1.html

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Arizona Seeing Notable Success in Ousting, Repelling Illegals

News from Arizona indicates very good success in ending the invasion of illegal aliens into the Grand Canyon State. Evidence shows that many illegals that have been in Arizona are actually returning to Mexico, as the Mexican state of Sonora is noticing a large upswing in population. New Mexico to the east is also showing an increase in illegals. The powerful legislation passed in Arizona is doing what it was intended to do, but the collapse of the Arizona economy which was largely based on housing construction and growth is also playing a significant role. Arizona will probably be in a real down periond economically for quite some time, but in the end the state will come out ahead with decreases in expenses for a variety of government services, particularly in law enforcement, incarcerations, health care, and education. Wages will start to rise with a shortage of workers starting to occur and costs borne by citizens on such things as insurance and consumer goods will be more stable. And maybe even traffic will be ever so slightly less.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizimmig5apr05,0,6857522.story

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The Next Wave of Electronics Looms

Technology is changing, advancing, and evolving ever so rapidly. The products that were the state of the art just very recently are about to become totally passe and obsolete. The new generation of chips discussed in the article will have a profound effect on the technologies used daily by most of us in the coming few years. The internet will be a permanent regular constant companion to all of us, revolutionizing everyday life. With WiMax on the horizon in the year to two years and the universal accessibility of the internet to anyone almost anywhere, the devices to take advantage of this major change are starting to emerge, and what this will all mean will be interesting to follow and understand.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080402194140.u8ohpruq&show_article=1

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Foreclosure Crisis a Tidal Wave Across Front Range

USA Today ran an extensive front page story Wednesday 2 April on the depth of the foreclosure crisis sweeping across the Denver and Front Range region which focused on one neighborhood which was quite alarming. It looks like when it is all said and done that this region will have in excess of 60,000 houses and residences go into foreclosure over a 3-5 year period starting in 2006 and it will probably end up being far more. The devastation to neighborhoods, and eventually municipalities is imposing. Looking at the regional map indicates the crisis is widespread throughout the entire Front Range metro area, although the wealthy enclave of Cherry Hills Village and the center of yuppiedom south and east of downtown Denver apparently have seen far less numbers of foreclosures. If it is this bad in Denver, one can only imagine how bad it is in the metro areas being impacted to a much greater extent, like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and metro areas in California, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and elsewhere. It is very disquieting to see these numbers and very alarming to contemplate future numbers and the ramifications of this crisis. What is additionally frightening is the fact the housing values downturn is just underway in some places and has yet to even commence in such places as Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, and elsewhere. The worst is yet to come, indeed.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2008-04-01-foreclose_N.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/foreclosure_map/foreclose.htm

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_8775576

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