http://www.aolnews.com/story/mass-company-making-diesel-with-sun/1619512/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook

Joule Unlimited is giving me great hope."production of diesel molecules from its cyanobacterium" among other things. I just hope that 1. unlike most energy innovations, they don't sell the patent/technology... because the highest bidder is always big oil. 2. It works as well as they claim. 3. That somehow our country gets behind this. 4. Manufacturers get behind it. People want newer cleaner technology, we're just too busy and strapped for cash to picket outside your factories (and we know the CEOs aren't there anyway!). What's interesting is that they mention ethanol from corn, but not ethanol from switchgrass. Switchgrass is less resource dependant to grow and more efficient a producer of ethanol because unlike corn where the kernels are the "fuel source" while the stalk and cob are waste, a high percentage of the switchgrass is used. A positive for all of them is that they use carbon dioxide and secrete oxygen - something this planet needs either way.

The US Government is now proposing that the EPA should not be enforcing clean water and clean air acts when it comes to manufacturing and current power plants.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/article/3-dems-join-gop-fight-to-block-epa/1631933/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook
Apparently a few hundred jobs is more important for this year than the health and basic basic needs for life of Americans for the next foreseeable decades.
PLEASE, when you come across my blog, find your Congressman AND your Representative's DC office phone numbers and CALL THEM.
If you've never called before all you simply have to say is
"I'm a voter from ____. I'm calling to let the Congressman/woman/Representative know that I feel that since clean water and clean air are necessary for people to live a healthy life, Congress needs to protect these regardless of temporary costs. Please do not vote to block EPA Climate and Clean Water enforcement."

 The person who answers the phone may ask for your name and address, or name and phone number. Some offices do this to track "active areas" in their districts, some do it because the office may want to follow up with a question. Most likely they want to mail you a "thank you for contacting us" letter if you give your address. It's a waste of a stamp on their end usually, but it doesn't hurt you in any way.

Not sure who your Senator is or How to find their number?
The Government finally caved to reason and has made senate.gov easier to navigate.
To find your Senator <
To Contact your Senator <

Why is this important?
20% of the world's surface fresh water is in the 5 Great Lakes. A portion of the lakes are already polluted. A significant portion of New York and Pennsylvania ground water have been contaminated due to "fracking" (drilling using chemically treated water to blast apart the Shale above a pocket of natural gas). So the American water supply has already received a significant blow due to factories prior to the Clean Air Act AND the government exceptions to ALL CLEAN AIR AND WATER ACTS for drilling for natural gas. Since Congress has no bill in action to rescind it's leniency on drilling further non-enforcement will do foreseeable harm to our water supply. Water is not like a rock. It does not stay still. It does not erode slowly. Water is malleable, it moves, it evaporates and travels. In the 1980s the American Northeast was angry at the Midwest industry for having poor standards and causing acid rain in the East. Small lakes and ponds were devastated. Years after the Clean Air Act many small bodies of water have never recovered. Those that have are still not to "pre-industry" condition. Rivers and lakebeds are still being drudged for BCPs dumped directly into the water by some industrial plants. GE is still in the process of drudging the Hudson River in NY state.

But if all of that is too much for you to take in, remember this:
A person may survive a month or two without food,
but less than 2 weeks without water.

News versus Entertainment

So I wanted to do a long discussion about how "News" no longer is easy to find. Even the reliable news sources of just 5 years ago have turned into presentations of Entertainment or "Entertainment news" as the bulk (if not the entirety) of their broadcasts. It's frustrating for me, as both an adult fully interested in the long-lasting happenings of the world and a busy parent who doesn't have the luxury of time.

But alas, my son has awoken from his afternoon nap and it's time for me to uphold my own promises and go outside and play in the snow with him.

But, if you're reading this, please leave me a comment on where you, yourself, get your most newsworthy news. I'm honestly interested. Until recently I myself would have said NPR... Today I think it would have to be BBC who maintains their objectivity most of what I read and listen to. What source are you following for non-entertainment news?