The Midterm Elections

FiveThirtyEight has a great analysis of current political play in House and Senate midterm races.  Nate Silver has outlined what the Democrats need in terms of numbers to feel that the midterms are successful for them and, yes, a loss for the Democrats doesn't necessarily mean the loss of their majorities in either Congressional body.  Democrats could still maintain majorities, but have the ideological bent of the chambers as a whole changed in such a way that their ability to govern is compromised.  (And, of course, by "compromised," I mean more than by Democrats simply being Democrats!)  It is a good read and really spells out how progressives must stem the "enthusiasm gap" before it is too late.

7 April 2010

We Don't Need No Stinking Yankees!

Five year-old Joshua Sacco is called upon to channel Herb Brooks on opening day at Fenway this year.  ROFL

6 April 2010

Save the Monarch Butterfly

I posted earlier about the current plight of the Monarch butterfly.  Today, I sent an e-mail to friends and family as a "call to arms."  I thought I'd repost it here.  Can't hurt.

I've been reading about the current -- and sadly on-going -- plight of the monarch butterfly.  While habitat decimation and pesticide use has greatly reduced their numbers over the past two decades, this year weather is the chief threat.  Their wintering grounds in Mexico have received overly-large shares of both snow and rain, killing up to 50% of the insect.  Many scientists believe that this massive calamity, mixed with the already-poor conditions with which humans have left them, may create a danger from which the species cannot come back.  However, those of you who live in the American Southwest, American South, and American Midwest can do your part to help save this marvelous creature... and it's easy to do.  Plant milkweed in your garden.

http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/

Monarch butterfly eggs are hatched on milkweed and it provides both food and, by absorbing natural toxins through eating the milkweed, the butterflies are provided a natural defense from predators.  There are a vast number of species of milkweed that are hardy enough to survive North American winters, coming back year-after-year, so that you only have to plant them once.  Plus, these plants seem quite pretty, so it is win-win.  So if you live in one of the areas mentioned above, consider planting a small area of milkweed at home and help save the Monarch butterfly.

http://www.butterflyencounters.com/milkweed/index.html
http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/index.htm

For those of you who, like me, live in the Northeast part of the US, don't worry, you can do your part too... and those of you in the Midwest, South, and Southwest can take part in this as well.  Monarch butterflies spend their summers far to the Northeast and need to bulk up to make their amazing circle-of-life migration of thousands of miles each year.  Thus, they need food, which mean nectar-rich flowers on which to feed.  (They need these along their migration route in the Midwest, South, and Southwest, too.  Flying is hard work!)

http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/seed_kit.html
http://www.monarchwatch.org/garden/index.htm

One more thing, those of you who live in California, Colorado, and other Western states, don't feel left out.  There is a variety of Monarch that winters in California, summers in the Rocky Mountains, and that faces many of the same man-made dangers that its Eastern relative does.  Thus, you can help with milkweed and nectar way-stations in your gardens, too!

http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/spring.htm

Whether you love to garden yourself, want a "learning project" for your children, or just want to help out a beautiful little critter, this is a fun, easy way to play a role in saving an icon of our natural world. 

Thanks!

5 April 2010

Save the Monarch!

Monarch butterflies have been facing longer odds for a while now.  This year, harsh weather has further kicked them when humanity already had them down.  From Melissa Breyer of Care2 on Yahoo Green:

This year may be one of the worst for the monarch butterfly, experts are reporting.

Severe hailstorms in Mexico (one of the monarch’s winter homes) followed by 15 inches of rain has left the population decimated by up to 50 percent this year. Add to that the ongoing issue of habitat destruction, and the future of the monarch begins to look a little shaky.

Unlike most other insects in temperate climates, monarch butterflies cannot survive a long cold winter, according to MonarchWatch.org. Instead, they spend the winter in roosting spots.

Monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains travel to small groves of trees along the California coast, while those east of the Rocky Mountains fly farther south to the forests high in the mountains of Mexico.

No other butterflies migrate like North American monarchs. They are the only butterflies to make such a long, round-trip migration of up to three thousand miles every year. It’s like "The Odyssey" of the insect world.

Amazingly, they fly in masses to the same winter roosts, often to the exact same trees. Part of the problem monarchs face is the longevity of the trees within which they roost: Illegal logging in Mexico has destroyed the butterflies’ mountain habitats, while property development in California threatens the eucalyptus trees where they roost there.

It is suggested that folks interested in helping to save the monarch butterfly plant milkweed, the plant in which the insect lays its eggs to reproduce.  Again, humanity is standing in the way of the circle of life.  Says Breyer:

In addition to habitat issues and the increasingly severe weather, there has also been a significant increase in the Midwest of planting corn and soybeans that are genetically engineered to be herbicide-resistant. That allows farmers to spray weed killer without hurting the crops, but it has meant almost no milkweed survive in the fields. No milkweed means no place for the butterflies to breed along the way, a crucial step, obviously, in the survival of the species.

That's where we can help. An advocacy group is encouraging the public to create monarch habitats by planting milkweed in home gardens. They're also encouraging schools, zoos, farmers, and anyone else with access to unused land to grow the perennial plants.

Visit Monarchwatch.org to find out what else you can do. For more ways to help butterflies see First Aid for Butterflies and How to Make Butterfly Food.

Tips on growing milkweed can be found on-line, including at this link.

5 April 2010

Chinese Housing Materials

It would appear that materials made in China for the housing trade, much of them installed during the most recent building boom, are now being found to be not only defective, but dangerous.  Drywall, electrical systems, fire alarm systems, gas pipes, and other items are suspect.  From Cain Burdeau of the AP, via The Huffington Post:

Thousands of U.S. homes tainted by Chinese drywall should be gutted, according to new guidelines released Friday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.


The guidelines say electrical wiring, outlets, circuit breakers, fire alarm systems, carbon monoxide alarms, fire sprinklers, gas pipes and drywall need to be removed.
...
The drywall has been linked to corrosion of wiring, air conditioning units, computers, doorknobs and jewelry, along with possible health effects. Tenenbaum said some samples of the Chinese-made product emit 100 times as much hydrogen sulfide as drywall made elsewhere.

The agency continues to investigate possible health effects, but preliminary studies have found a possible link between throat, nose and lung irritation and high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas emitted from the wallboard, coupled with formaldehyde, which is commonly found in new houses.

 I know several folks who built homes during that period, myself included, so be aware.

2 April 2010

President Johnson Indeed

Also via my sister, although I've seen references made to this elsewhere of late, is new historical audio tape from the LBJ years.  In this audio clip, the president is ordering pants from the Haggar clothing company, using the vernacular I call "Coarse Texan" as only Johnson could.  It is sort of Mark Twain meets Beavis.  It is not to be missed.

The part of this exchange that really makes me laugh is that there was some poor staffer sitting with Johnson who had to listen to this and then follow through on the details of the purchase.  It is said that those who stand too near the sun should expect to get burned.  It is true of bungholes as well.

2 April 2010

"Teabonics"

My sister sent me a link to a Flickr.com site known as "Teabonics."  Classic.  Unsurprising and very telling, but classic.

2 April 2010