Do we need a $135 Million Dollar Fighter?

Who are we going to fight that is so menacing that we need such an expensive fighter? Russia, China, India, Bangladesh? Would China lend us a Trillion dollars a year if they wanted to defeat us? All they have to do is stop lending us money and we are done. Russia, India and others have no means to take over our nation and the funds to even try it. So, why do we need a vertical take off, short range ground attack fighter? Who are we going to attack? Mexico, Canada, Cuba, Trinidad, again? What drives us to such crazy things yet, a growing number of Americans say they do not believe Global Warming is real! The obvious is too painful to admit. MikeSar

Bad News Come in Bunches

We have forever to discuss whether Global Warming is real. Or, do we? What about the Economy. Yes, since January 2009, the predictions of THE END OF THE RECESSION IS VERY NEAR!! And the chorus swells in volume while the number unemployed continues to grow to new record levels. So, what does that have to do with Global Warming? 1. It takes money to design and build Windmill Farms all over the United States and offshore, like they do in Europe. Can we borrow more money? 2. The war in Afghanistan increases in casualties and costs, can we borrow more money? 3. And, the pesky Health Care that is predicted to save money but will require a Trillion to get started. Can we do it and Afghanistan and Global Warming? 4. How about Education? Should that get fixed? Nohh! 5. How about NASA, they want $200 Billion to go to Mars, where are we going to get that money? 6. Health and Mental Care for the Military was ignored and the costs are now much greater, should we pay for un upgrade or should we put that on hold? 7. Then there are those pesky "Derivatives", whatever they are. They are the ones that nobody regulates and the world almost fell into an Economy Abyss. Now, "sober" bald heads want to do nothing because "we learnt our lesson" but, don't ask what was the lesson. Former Bankers, hairless or not, still are sure they did the right thing. 8. There is one industry that still grows, even amidst the poor, homeless and the unemployed: "The Gambling Industry". Gambling "Industry" with all "Accessories" is moving from Nevada to California, it increases crime wherever it goes but nobody cares, not even the Taxpayers that have to pay for the damage by all with the Out of Control Gambling Habit. This industry makes profits by providing many borderline legal services. The working ladies are not officially part of the staff, for example. Except a few. It seems that we side for ideas that are "macho", "cowboy" or "destructive" and ignore those ideas, concepts and practices that are constructive would save the planet, our health, economy and a few other matters, like our moral values. Is this for real? It seems nobocy cares about alternatives that would reduce Police costs, you know, like teaching the Values we all need to respect each others' lives and property.

Unlimite Energy From Ocean Windmills

1. There is far more wind energy over the oceans to produce energy than will be needed for centuries. One problem is to get the energy from the ocean to where it is needed.

2. The initial cost of a windmill group, and loan interest to build them, will produce energy cheaper than any other source, except for geothermal and solar steam engines which rival this idea. Geothermal energy is unavailable for some nations; in Colorado and Russia water injection produced earthquakes. Focused solar heating is used in new powerplants in Mojave Desert.

3. The transfer of energy by a cable is feasible. A powerplant about 50 miles East of San Francisco sends DC electricity, at peak times via underwater cable made in Italy.

4. For longer distances Windemill produced Hydrogen can be used to send energy to shore. Electrolysis uses the windmill electricity and pure water could be brought by the boats that collect the Hydrogen.

5. Security. Boats could patrol groups of barges each barge with it own windmill and Hydrogen producing equipment. Airplanes, Unmanned Air Vehicles and high speed patrol boats may be required. In some areas, patrol costs may be high.

6. The barge, Hydrogen producing equipment, navigation controls with remote capability, living quarters and the windmill developed in an Industral nation but assembly could done in an strategically located underdeveloped countries, to be an incentive to allow windmill-barge farms to supply Hydrogen to nations around their nation. They would supply support and Hydrogen distribution activities. 253 words

The Final Solution: 'Rainmaker" Hybrid Airship

A now type of airship will be designed by Boeing, the JHL-40, that uses Helium to support 40 tons and four large helicopter-type rotors for lift off and flight control -Goodyear may also build one. This Hybrid Airship could provide rain directly on a forest fire and ahead, in the fire direction. It can fly high enough to be safe from large forest fires but slow enough to make accurate water drops. While stationary, it could lower a pipe to suck water from lakes or rivers, A fleet of these large planes could protect Canada, US and Mexico. Forest fires will increase with Global Warming and they ignore borders. It would be wrong to expect 50 states to buy and maintain their own fleet of Hybrid Airships. A share-the-cost arrangement could be made with Canada and Mexico. We rather put out their forest fires overthere, while they are within their forests.

New Realities. Las Vegas had 128 deg Fahrenheit in July 2007 and, if the jet stream pattern continues to move to the East, Chicago and New York will learn the new meaning for a "Heat Wave". After that, everyone will believe in Global Warming, even if the Heat Wave is unrelated to Global Warming. However, there is another possibility, the Presidential Primary of February 5th, 2008, will include California and the candidates are already promoting the "most aggressive" stand on Global Warming. For example, some propose a 50% Carbon reduction by 2050 and others demand an 80% Carbon reduction. None of them specify what will replace the energy source and what will that do to the economy. At this time, it is posturing but by 2011, the issue will be when will sales of gasoline end and what fuel will take its place. Some are already arguing for use of Nuclear Power to produce Hydrogen and support this as being the "cheapest" provided, note, provided "you exclude the construction costs", a typical "political bookeeping ploy" that candidates must find useful since, they seem to think, most voters either don't read, don't care or what?

Now, for the solutions!

1. The New Goal: Totally stop ALL Carbon emission! 2. Implement the Hydrogen Economy Plan adopted by Congressional Democrats. 3. Increase the gasoline/oil tax to the maximum value possible to support mass transportation with Hydrogen fueled busses-like the three busses AC Transit has. 4. Use the gas tax revenues to support Hydrogen made at gasoline stations to support Hydrogen cars. All auto makers have working versions but their cars will not sell unless Hydrogen fuel is available. Gasoline stations will transition from gasoline to Hydrogen, help work out the safety issues and provide the Electric Power companies an economical way to use any excess power under their control, to maximize the efficiency in power production and minimize the use of natural gas or oil. California per capita power consumption has been going down in recent years. No new large powerplants are planned. 5. Support "Rent-a-Car" stations for commuters in low-density housing areas where busses would be impractical. The MetroCenter in Lake Merritt has one with hybrid cars available right on the curb at the entrance. 6. Stop low density or remote housing developments. 7. Start building floating windmills designed by an MIT Professor for use near shores to provide electricity via cable but too far to see or hear. These windmills are designed to survive the stronges storms but can be moved to avoid one, or relocate to avoid low flying bird immigartion routes. 8. Build an unlimited number of floating windmills to make Hydrogen from pure water brought by the ship that collects the Hydrogen.

Now, for the consequences!

The first thing to note is that the poor will suffer the effects of GW first. Wealthy nations will have all the water they want while 1.5 Billion in Central Asia, Bangladesh in particular will be hit on one side by an early rush of water in the spring and declining amounts each year. The early snowmelts will increase storm damage on the shore and bring draughts later in the inland towns. The polar bears that survive will be taken to a zoo, unless food it taken to them. Northern California will get both: On the one hand the Bay Area Water level is expected to go up by about a meter while the early snowmelt will decrease the river flow in the summer by about 20 percent -by 2020. We need to start building dams real soon. Highway congestion, incredibly, has been going down since 2003 and will continue to go down due to the high price of gasoline, which will continue to go up. In earlyApril, the annoucement was made that, for the first time, gasoline consumption for a year, went down in 2006. But, the biggest boost towards a solution is that the California Primary will be in February, 2008, this guarantees that the "green" voice of California, with the largest number of electors, will dominate the political debate. All the non-believers of GW will disappear and we will, finally, stop hearing their mantra: "It is CYCLICAL" or "It has happened before" as if that explained, or solved, anything. And, after their noise dies we will begin a discussion to the next step: Stop, like in Totally Stop, the Emission of Carbon Dioxide. This time, probably end plans to remove carbon from coal, burnt coal, that is. Even Nuclear powerplants, windmills and solar power cells show a greater promise for the future. India and China are already planning to build many Nuclear Powerplants with Russian and American technology. If it is good and safe enough to sell, it should be safe enough to use.