This year, I shall not attack Democratic Candidates. However, when the behavior or a position of a Democratic candidate falls short of what I believe the party needs, I will say so with no attack intended. Joe Biden recently unveiled his climate change plan. It has two problems. First, segments of it appear to be plagiarized. Second, and far more important, the plan reflects the policies of the fossil fuel industry.
Sections of the former vice president’s plan, noted an observant climate campaigner, “looked like the type of thing the coal industry, trade groups, and coal companies themselves say.
Almost immediately after releasing a climate plan Tuesday that green groups slammed as woefully inadequate in part due to its embrace of industry-backed proposals such as “carbon capture,” presumptive 2020 Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden faced accusations of plagiarizing language from a number of sources, including a coalition consisting of major fossil fuel companies…
Josh Nelson, vice president of the progressive organization CREDO Mobile, was the first to highlight possible instances of plagiarism in Biden’s plan, noting on Twitter that the section “about carbon capture and sequestration includes language that is remarkably similar to items published previously by the Blue Green Alliance and the Carbon Capture Coalition”—two organizations backed by major fossil fuel companies and labor unions.
“Membership of the Carbon Capture Coalition, where some of Biden’s language seems to have originated, includes Shell, Peabody Energy, Arch Coal, and Cloud Peak Energy.”
On the issue of plagiarism, I don’t consider it a big deal. In all probability it was prepared by an aide, and Biden didn’t know. He has updated it with proper citations.
Biden’s support for CCS is far more ominous. There is a reason that there are no large scale CCS plants anywhere in the world. Such a facility would require so much extra fuel and energy to operate that to do so would be cost prohibitive, a probable increase of up 60% or more. That makes CCS the pie in the sky for the fossil fuel industry, an excuse to keep on pumping carbon as long as fools believe it’s coming real soon now.
Joe Biden has apparently been taken in, as I do not believe that he would intentionally feed corporate criminal bullshit to American voters. Nevertheless, he is doing so. If he wins the Democratic nomination, I will support him. However, I believe this position disqualifies him as a viable candidate for the Democratic nomination, and urge you support others.
It’s a busy day here at the CatBox. Store to Door will be delivering groceries around Noon, and WWWendy is coming to destink the TomCat this evening. It looks like moving day will be Tuesday or Monday the 17th. Patricia Lasik (Patty Monster) sends her best. Hectic Hump Day Hugs!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:54 (average 10:02). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Amen Don! If they impeach Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten the trial will keep Bought Bitch Mitch and Senate Republicans too busy to keep packing the courts with Nazi judges. RESIST!!
The Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, are just like the Republican Reich. They hate poor homeless people as much as they worship their evil Fuhrer. RESIST!!
From Alternet: Activists reiterated demands for “accountability and justice” for the people of Flint, Michigan following reports Monday that the authorities investigating the city’s water crisis executed search warrants for the state-owned cell phones of former Gov. Rick Snyder and 65 other current and former officials.
“The people of Flint deserve answers,” Mary Grant, public water for all director at Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. “Hopefully this investigation will yield them. And there needs to be accountability for those involved in creating this crisis, including former Governor Snyder.”
If Snyder does not do hard time for poisoning millions, it will be a travesty. RESIST!!
Climate Change is one of those frustrating issues, in which everything we do to fight it doesn’t seem to be enough. Then some wonderful kids stepped in. Four years ago Kelsey Juliana, a young woman here in Oregon, organized 21 kids from eight to nineteen years olds to sue the federal government over climate change. Today’s hearing before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, here in Portland, will determine whether this important case will go to trial.
On June 4, 2019, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in Juliana v. United States to determine whether the case will proceed to trial in district court in Oregon. Nearly 4 years ago, 21 children and adolescents between 8 and 19 years of age, including Kelsey Juliana from Oregon, filed suit against the federal government, charging that the government’s inaction on addressing climate change violated their constitutional right to life, liberty, and property. To date, no such lawsuit against the federal government has succeeded in the United States, despite a sharp increase in the number of similar suits filed by young people, municipalities, and state governments. Indeed, none of these lawsuits has gone to trial.
As the Juliana plaintiffs argue — and we agree — climate change is the greatest public health emergency of our time and is particularly harmful to fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents. The adverse effects of continued emissions of carbon dioxide and fossil-fuel–related pollutants threaten children’s right to a healthy existence in a safe, stable environment. It is for this reason that we, together with nearly 80 scientists and physicians and 15 health organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, submitted an amicus brief to help educate the Ninth Circuit about this extraordinary threat. More frequent and longer heat waves, increasing intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts and wildfires, worsening infectious-disease exposures, food and water insecurity, and air pollution from fossil-fuel burning all threaten to destabilize our public health and health care infrastructure… [emphasis added]
I’m stalled again. An ADA compliant unit just opened at the Madrona Studios, so they gave away my unit and are moving me into that one instead. Unfortunately, that delays my move for at least a week. The frustrating thing is that I’ll have to move out of that ADA unit when my a fair market unit opens up. ARGH!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:43 (average 4:24). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Child Porn Charges For Donald Trump-Tied Mueller Witness Raise Questions (22 min.)
I think we can expect that Broidy and Nader will soon be appointed as Injustices on SCROTUS (Republican Anti-Constitutional VD). Injustice TEABAG Thomas is getting old and Injustice Kava-Nazi would feel lonely, if he was the only pervert on the Court. RESIST!!
Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right. Sadly the Reich on the right, the Republican Reich, has help from some Democrats. Governor Hickenlooper [D?-CO] was just roundly booed in San Francisco for denouncing socialism. RESIST!!
From Daily Kos: Five hugely visible British protest images that probably have Trump fuming in London
Here are the results of our “Impeach Barrf?” Poll. Politics Plus Polls are not scientific, because those who respond are not balanced according to demographic categories. Therefore, we do not accurately reflect the makeup of the US population. Nevertheless, our polls are usually factually accurate, and more often than not, they reflect thinking of the majority of those who actually do think.
And here are your comments.
Showing comments 1–12 of 12.
Posted by Animae ChiJune 1, 2019 at 12:59 pm. From: AU)
YES!
Posted by Pat BMay 18, 2019 at 5:09 am. From: TX (US)
‘Handcuffs’ Barr should be indicted for all the misdeeds he has done so far. He acts like the personal attorney for dt, and he’s supposed to work for the People. Another one who has bent the knee for the poutus. Get him outta there!
Posted by Katie and Bill DresbachMay 14, 2019 at 6:08 pm. From: OH (US)
No One is Above the Law , so many of Trumpy’s Friend’s well where are they now looking at the Bar’s that hold them in
yes he is the very Same, Impeach him!Too Many Liar’s here! They don’t abide by any rules or laws and they are the on;e that should know! But pressure put upon them??!!!
Posted by EvelynMay 6, 2019 at 6:43 am. From: (FR)
I think he should be – but I’m afraid it won’t happen –
I think he should also (a) be heavily fined; and (b) serve prison time for abuse of office.
But, what can one expect when lying before Congress is becoming commonplace? If all those who’ve done so since Jan 2017 were to received any form of punishment for their lies, one might need a complete Bureau to administer the cases 🙁
Posted by Lynn SquanceMay 2, 2019 at 2:28 pm. From: BC (CA)
Impeached absolutely. The law is supposed to be impartial so the top cop, so to speak, should be impartial. Barrf is not impartial and he has lied to Congress.
Posted by SoINeedANameMay 2, 2019 at 4:43 am. From: MO (US)
We can no longer sit on our hands and just say “Wait until 2020 & we can vote them out.”
America is a nation of Laws – it’s (past) time feet are held to the fire for not obeying them!
Posted by Lona GoudswaardMay 1, 2019 at 6:34 pm. From: (AU)
Barrf should be impeached for the same reason Drumpf should be: they can’t be allowed to get away with disregarding, disrespecting and flouting the Constitution. But do I think they will be impeached? Not really, by starting the processes they will be called to take responsibility for their actions.
Posted by Colleen L.May 1, 2019 at 4:44 pm. From: CA (US)
Yes. I also feel that he should be impeached. He’s kissing his leader’s a*s so good that it’s a disgrace to our country.
Posted by Mitch D.May 1, 2019 at 1:00 pm. From: NJ (US)
Impeach the bastard, and when he is no longer our TOP Law officer, indict!
Posted by AnimaeMay 1, 2019 at 12:37 pm. From: (AU)
Voted YES & Tweeted!
Posted by geneMay 1, 2019 at 8:04 am. From: MN (US)
I think he should be. He can be indicted, investigated, whatever later, but based on what he’s done so far and his ridiculous testimony today (5/1), yes, he won’t resign so he should be impeached because this is NOT an Attorney General’s proper role nor behavior. At all.
Posted by Joanne DMay 1, 2019 at 7:22 am. From: CO (US)
The only problem with impeachment, even with conviction, is that it only throws him out on his ear. Whereas he needs to go to prison. That’s what needs to happen, and I’m unsure whether impeachment is the way to make it happen. Or even part of the way to make it happen.
I voted “Unsure”. While I clearly agree that Barrf deserves to be impeached, Senate Republicans will never convict him. Therefore, I prefer an Inherent Contempt charge. The House Sergeant at Arms could arrest Barrf and jail him in the basement until he complies. I think the last time the House jail was used, was 1870, so it’s probably filthy and rat infested. That’s a fit location for Barrf, but the rats may sue us.
It’s a muggy, hectic day here in the CatBox. Moving day is tentatively set for next Monday. I will probably be offline for at least two days, but I’ll give you all a heads up. OGIM!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:54 (average 5:17). To do it, click here. how did you do?
Short Takes:
From USA Today: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at Buckingham Palace Monday just after noon, local time, to meet Queen Elizabeth II and be treated to the kind of royal pomp-and-ceremony the president loves receiving and the British love staging.
During Monday’s visit, the queen greeted President Trump as he ascended the palace stairs with Prince Charles, as Melania walked behind with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The queen wore a big smile as she greeted the president with a handshake, wearing a mint suit and matching hat. She then acknowledged Melania, and the three royals walked inside with the president and first lady.\
The POOR Queen! If I were her, I would have abdicated first! RESIST!!
From NY Times: A move by House Democratic leaders to thwart party members from mounting primary challenges to incumbents, even in safe Democratic districts, could have the unintended consequence of arresting the party’s shift toward a more female and racially diverse caucus, one of its most striking achievements of the last election.
Last week, a Democratic political consultant with longstanding ties to the party’s campaign committees quit a senior-partner position at the firm Deliver Strategies after it, like most dominant campaign outfits, agreed to comply with a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee policy barring it from conducting business with a primary opponent of a sitting Democrat.
Her reason: She feared the policy’s impact on female challengers.
“It is hard enough for challengers, for a lot of reasons,” said the consultant, Amy Pritchard, who worked last year for Representative Ayanna Pressley, Democrat of Massachusetts, in her successful campaign to defeat a 10-term Democratic incumbent. “And this policy is a bridge too far. I’d like to see a majority of women in Congress, and it’s not going to happen with this policy.”
When my party does something wrong, I don’t avoid it. I speak out that we need to fix it. The DCCC is so far off base that they are acting like Republicans. All Democrats must oppose this policy. RESIST!!
From Alternet: Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter, currently under indictment over his misappropriation of roughly a quarter million dollars in campaign funds, continues to go out on a limb in his party’s new defense of American war criminals. First Hunter argued for a pardon of former Navy SEAL team leader Edward Gallagher, accused by his fellow soldiers of repeatedly targeting innocent civilians in Iraq, by dismissively telling a town hall that that he, too, was guilty of “taking a picture of [a] body and saying something stupid.”
This admission of a plain breach of military rules by ex-Marine Hunter did not do much to discredit the more damning accusations against Gallagher, that he so consistently targeted innocent civilians with his sniper rifle that his fellow SEALs tampered with his weapon in order to throw off his aim. So Hunter is now back with a more on-point defense of the intentional targeting of civilians, arguing that why of course he did that too.
“I was an artillery officer, and we fired hundreds of rounds into Fallujah, killed probably hundreds of civilians, if not scores, if not hundreds of civilians,” Hunter said. “Probably killed women and children, if there were any left in the city when we invaded. So do I get judged, too?”
The answer to Hunter’s question is “Yes”. I believe his statement that he is also a war criminal and he should be imprisoned as such. RESIST!!
It’s a muggy day here in the CatBox. WWWendy is coming to destink the rancid TomCat and help with chores and moving prep. This is my only article today.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:35 (average 5:47). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube (MoveOn Channel): Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s Big Idea: Cleaning Up Corruption
Amen, Liz! The more I see and hear, the more I like her. RESIST!!
From YouTube (1960s music): The Byrds – Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – 45 RPM – ORIGINAL MONO MIX
Ah! The memories! RESIST!!
From The New Yorker: Donald J. Trump raised eyebrows on both sides of the Atlantic on Saturday by claiming that he would be a “much better princess” than Meghan Markle.
Calling the Duchess of Sussex “a nasty woman,” Trump said, “If I were a princess, I would not be nasty. People would say, ‘Donald Trump is the nicest princess.’ ”
Trump added that “all a princess has to do is sit on a throne, and I would be very good at that also.”
LOL, Andy! I’m sorry, but if you want a princess for the Republican Reich, try Lindsey Poo! RESIST!!
[I apologize for the late posting. And I’ll add a “Note to Self”: Never EVER again take on a project that has NO ending.]
On April 15th the world collectively gasped as we viewed the devastating Notre Dame Cathedral inferno that lasted for 15 hours and destroyed its iconic spire and most of its wooden roof. Two days later France’s Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced a competition to design a new roof and spire for the iconic structure.
“This is obviously a huge challenge, a historic responsibility. The international competition will allow us to ask the question of whether we should even re-create the spire as it was conceived by Viollet-le-Duc. Or if, as is often the case in the evolution of heritage, we should endow Notre Dame with a new spire.”
There has been no dearth of entries – and they’re still coming in, which has made this project bigger than I had anticipated. Nevertheless, I thought it’d be fun to view some of the designs submitted so far. In my opinion, they range from the ethereal to the ridiculous.
But where to begin? I decided I’d start with what I consider the outliers – ones that are … hmmm … unique. But ones that I strongly doubt will ever (thankfully) come to fruition.
[A]
JETSON THEME
A Cyprus-based firm called Kiss the Architect created a what I would call a Jetson-Themed rendering of a futuristic spire with metal arches, circles and spheres wrapped around a central staircase.
[B]
GOLDEN FLAME
While not the most outlandish proposal (we’ll get there), but apparently the most controversial one is from French designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who wants to recreate the spire as it was the day it burned. Lehanneur has a reputation for transforming solid materials into a seemingly “liquid” state – so he envisions the Cathedral Spire as a massive golden flame.
[C]
QUASIMODO’S PENTHOUSE
A studio called Who Cares Design feels that Victor Hugo’s protagonist in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” deserves an upgrade from his belfry attic – so they proposed building a rooftop villa for Quasimodo. The penthouse, which would stretch across the cathedral’s crossing, is designed to replace Quasimodo’s previous home in Notre-Dame’s attic.
This is not your ordinary urban loft, as Who Cares describes it:
“A modern and light-flooded penthouse with two gigantic patios including a helipad and a spa with an indoor / outdoor pool. The new loft has a living area of 8.000 sq. ft. with two patios of 540 sq. ft. each. One rooftop garden is located on the east and the other on the west of the building.”
In the outlier competition we now move from the sublime to the ridiculous.
[D]
POOL – AND WE’RE NOT TALKING A RIVER CITY TROUBLED BY A BALKLINE GAME OF BILLIARDS
The Swedish firm of Ulf Mejergren Architects proposes a swimming pool on the rooftop, rather than rebuilding the spire. “Instead we are proposing a meditative public space; a complementary spatial experience to the building with unmatched views over Paris.”
[E]
PARKING LOT
The firm of Yung Yonge envisioned the roof of Notre-Dame being turned into a single-level car park as a dig at North America’s car culture. He tweeted the image with the caption: “If North Americans are put in charge of the Notre-Dame reconstruction”.
But the Irish architect Rob Cross (apparently inspired by Joni Mitchell’sBig Yellow Taxi lyrics “They paved paradise And put up a parking lot”) ran with the idea, turning it into a multi-level parking garage.
[F]
ROCKET LAUNCHING PAD
After seeing even more outliers like turning into a Louis Vuitton center, Circus Tent and McDonalds, Chilean-born designer Sebastian Errazuriz cried “ENOUGH!” – and suggested turning Notre-Dame Cathedral into a space-rocket launchpad in an “act of creative one-upmanship” designed to stop architects producing more proposals.
“This is not a serious a proposal for the reconstruction of Notre-Dame. This is an act of creative one-upmanship designed to ridicule every remaining, rapacious architectural firm still circling the carcass of Notre-Dame with an ‘idea’ for a new roof proposal.”
SERIOUS PROPOSALS
But there were also serious proposals, so let’s take a look at a few. And you’ll notice that glass is a popular design element in many of them.
[1]
CRYSTAL
The Italian firm of Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas proposed a contemporary design for the roof and spire made from Baccarat crystal, which would be lit up at night.
[2]
GLASS & STONE with TRADITIONAL SPIRE
Russian architect Alexander Nerovnya also proposes a fully glass roof, but with a traditional spire structure.
[3]
APIARY
Since 2013 Notre Dame has housed three beehives on a roof over the sacristy 100 feet below the main roof, just beneath the celebrated stained-glass Rose window. Each one of the hives has about 60,000 bees – and all 180,000 honeybees made it through the fire unscathed!
The Paris-based firm of Studio NAB wants to celebrate that miracle, so they envision a glass greenhouse roof that would actually house an apiary in the spire for the honeybees. And according to Lonely Planet, their design also includes planters made from burnt oak salvaged from the attic.
[4]
SPIRE OF LIGHT
The Slovakian studio of Vizum Atelier has focused on reimagining the iconic spire of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc as a beam of light. To accomplish this, they propose a tower with a powerful beam to shine a light up into the heavens. Their theory is that in the Gothic era, builders tried to reach the sky, like the Eugène Viollet-le-Duc spire. “Now, it’s possible to make it happen.”
[NOTE: WRT Instagram photo series – when you come to the frame w/ only ONE arrow (either forward or backward), if you click it – it will open in a separate Instagram window.]
The Amsterdam-based design firm studio drift is taking an ecological approach by designing a roof of plastic made from material salvaged from our seas. The collected plastic would be melted down and reformed in tiles to clad the roof. The tiles would be colored blue to relate to the sky above. Drift estimates that using recycled plastic instead of wood the renovation would save thousands of trees.
I’ll close (YEAH!) with the three that are the most fully fleshed out. It’s not that I favor them, but it’s clear that these firms were very serious in proffering their proposals.
[6]
STAINED GLASS
São Paulo-based architect Alexandre Fantozzi firm Aj6 extends Notre Dame’s magnificent stain-glass windows to the roof and spire itself. “In Gothic, there is the connection of the earth to the sky, and inside the Cathedral, the natural illumination multiplies in colors through the filter of the cover in stained glass,” he wrote on Instagram.
Miysis Studio has proposed combining a reconstruction of a replica of the iconic spire from the 19th century by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc with a modern glazed roof to “find the right balance between history and future” for the cathedral.
But the original 13th-century roof would be replaced with a modern structure constructed from a timber and steel frame as a glass-covered roof space, which would replace the timber structure with what would be known as the Forest – a garden for visitors.
[8]
MOST DETAILED – PALINGENESIS
I can’t help but feel that Vincent Callebaut Architectures has proffered the most detailed proposals for the renovation of Notre Dame. Whether they’re the best will be decided by folks much more educated in the full consequences of this undertaking than I would ever hope to be.
And I truly admire their proposal. (And it’s probably my favorite at this point.) But in all honesty (just like when I built my home working w/ my architect), I don’t get why architects insist on talking in this foreign argot/patois that us humans have NO chance of understanding.
Take a gander at how they detail their proposal:
Vincent Callebaut Architecture titled their project “Palingenesis,” which derives from Greek, meaning “rebirth.” The design combines gothic architecture and a biomimetic forest.
The company’s website explains that they “advocate for an exemplary project in ecological engineering that feels true to its time and avoids a pastiche architecture that turns the city into an open-air museum.
“Circular economy, renewable energies, inclusive social innovation, urban agriculture, protection of biodiversity, without forgetting beauty and spiritual elevation: our reconstruction project feeds on such values to deliver a deep, conscious meaning.”
What the HELL does that mean? Translation Please!
At any rate, here are their proposals:
I’m going to try to include a poll in post. NO idea if this will work, but let’s give it a try:
It looks like if you click on the link below in the Polls, you can vote. HOW & WHERE that is recorded I have NO IDEA!
