This man needs to be hired for off... Good job Vermont. Although I would like to see his funding and lobbyists (that he accepted). He did go on a show that actually included a journalist (Rhodes Scholar isn't some worthless award).

/Yes, I know she is lesbian. But, if that changes your latitude and ability to give a damn about what is on her show... I'm sure I could find something fitting (there will be no_picture) crankmfinger.gif .

The manufacture of solar panels requires the use of toxic elements such as cadmium, lead, mercury, et al... The productive lifespan of a solar cell is 20 to 25 years. Over a 20 year time frame, 1 square foot of solar panelling will generate about 360kWh of electricity.

The average household uses 1,000kWh a month. This would require 666 sq ft of solar paneling. There were 105 million households in the US in 2000. This means to supply only the residential needs of the U.S. we would need 70 BILLION square feet of solar paneling every 20 years. Those facile with math will note this is 2,590 square miles – enough to cover the entire state of Rhode Island. Twice. This doesn’t include the batteries and inverters each system will require… It also doesn't account for each household taking on the potential additional electrical load of charging up an EV every day...

The cost? $50,000 per household. Given average household utility costs, it will take the full 20 year lifespan of the system for the investment to accomplished nothing more than to have paid for its own 'cost' in household utility savings. And at that time you'll have to buy it all over again...

Solar power is currently a pipe dream. We do not have the technology either in solar cells or batteries to make it efficient or cost effective. Even the kindest estimate puts viable solar power for residential use a full 30 years down the road. Now is not the time. Fossil and Nuclear for the win.

>> ^saber2x:
They have found a better low tech solution, Human hair, it typically soak up around four to six times its weight in oil. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jlLeX2Yu-e3M9dqXSTXCdjLB9OxA


"Better" solution? You have any idea how many tons of hair they will need? Also, if all 6 billion people donated their hair, that would cover only like 43 square miles. The slick is currently 4000+ sq miles and growing.

A lot of people don't understand just how massive the planet is, and just how small we are. Everyone on the planet alive today could stand, 10+ feet from each other, and never leave the state of Rhode Island.

When Maddow refers to the completely neutral and disinterested California attorney general Jerry Brown, is she referring to prominent liberal activist and former "Governor Moonbeam" Jerry Brown? No, he's not liberal at all. A+ detective work, Maddow. It's not like it's your job to know these things.

What an outrage that the fake-pimp refuses to release his raw footage, lest it give ammunition to his opponents... Maddow must be similarly outraged that liberal scientists like those in this video refuse to release their raw data, lest it give ammunition to their opponents. A+ job as a self-reflective intellectual, Maddow.

I understand human intelligence naturally falls along a bell curve, and you can't blame people for existing within that bell curve, but Maddow is a former Rhodes scholar who lives in the lap of luxury... she could at least try to exhibit complex cognition beyond primitive tribalism.

1% may be on the high side, but a somewhat reliable source estimates 0.5% which is still pretty freakin' high:
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=760&cat=1

The higher figure may include people on parole - as this page suggests: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incarceration_in_the_United_States
"As of 2004, the three states with the lowest ratio of imprisoned to civilian population are Maine (148 per 100,000), Minnesota (171 per 100,000), and Rhode Island (175 per 100,000). The three states with the highest ratio are Louisiana (816 per 100,000), Texas (694 per 100,000), and Mississippi (669 per 100,000).[17]"

Interesting.

Same article points out that although China's official rate is lower, regime critics' estimates place China's prison per-capita ratio closer to the American #.

Still, one would hope that it'd be a case of China defenders trying to make themselves look better than the US in this regard than the opposite scenario you find occuring. Sad.

^Now that's a moronic fucking statement. Ever been to Rhode Island??

Seriously, the same type of sophomoric generalizations, over and over and over and over again. There are a few users here on VS from Texas. This one in particular believes that the insipid argument for or against creationism vs. evolution relative to public education in the states, is only engaged in by morons who somehow conclude that to simply have this argument settled once and for all would somehow detract from the fact that public "education" in the US is cranking out developmentally disabled robots....suited for upon completion of 12 years of the shit, food service, government employment, or highway construction work. Improve the quality?? Ban idiocy and burn them to the ground!
Public schools have become total shit, as have the majority of universities in this continent. Evolution VS Creationism??? Another on a series of goddamn diversions.

You're republican, I get it.

No - you don't because I'm not. Haven't voted 'Republican' in the last 5 elections.

You're most likely well off, middle to upperclass, and want to keep it that way.

Partly. I don't want to 'keep it that way'. I'd like to move to the upper-upper class some day.

Working class problems don't concern you.

As a working professional I beg to differ. I'm not 'blue collar' if that's what you mean by 'working class', but I am a salaried employee and thus subject to the same issues that effect the bulk of Americans.

The healthcare reform was redundant in your eyes

Redundant? The Obama version of health care reform, yes. Reform of the health care system should take place at a regulatory level - not a 'government involvement' level. In that sense, yes, 'Democrat defined' health care reform very much is redundant (and a whole lot of other negative adjectives).

Given her local and national mishaps, the burden of proof is on people like you to prove she is not stupid.

Given that she had a rather successful gubernatorial term, I'd propose that as evidence that she is not 'stupid' as the neolib left wants to define her. Her roster of actual accomplishments is more robust than Barak Obama's was when he began his presidential run. I'm not saying she's a Rhode scholar, but there is no evidence that she's the brain-dead idiot the hard left wing likes to portray her as. As far as 'papers'? She's not in academia that I know of. She's had a think piece she published on health care in the NY Times. She's written a book. I know that liberals will just pooh-pooh and say that someone wrote them for her - so why even bother talking about them?

Again - I'm not a Palin booster or anything. I just find that the radical left wing is exhibiting a rather large degree of 'Derangement Syndrome' regarding her and those who like her. I also find that such hyperbolic claims are devoid of any substantive evidence and oozing with opinion and misinformation.

That sounds like a different story/video. This is about a reporter who was taken hostage at what was supposed to be an interview.

In reply to this comment by EndAll:
Saw this on reddit.. the title there summed up my feelings about it pretty accurately: The fucking weird and creepy world of Predator drone pilots who drive to work, kill people thousands of miles away and then go home and play with the kids.

did a presentation in my high school law on this so here's a lil breakdown for ya'll-

Prostitution is a legitimate business and it needs to be legalized to stop unnecessary crime and spread of disease in the community and to enforce the human right of fornication to its extent.

Why Legalize?

When you make something illegal, whether it is drugs, guns or Prostitution, it goes into the underground. Circuits of black market trade and illegal activity are formed. Plainly, when something is illegal, it becomes dangerous instantly for anyone in contact with it. The reason that prostitution does spread disease and murder is only because it illegal.

1. When prostitution is illegal, there is no way of controlling the spread of HIV, AIDS and STDS. Prostitution only accounts for the spreading of 3-5% of STDs while 30-35% is teen-related. Making Prostitution illegal increases the number of the disease’s victims. If a prostitute is infected with AIDS, and she does have 868 partners that year, without a condom that is 868 new cases of AIDS, only further to be spread. Although this is very unlikely since most prostitutes use condoms. The issue of pregnancy also occurs, since AIDS will be passed on directly. With the legalization of prostitution this problem will be wiped out entirely and the number of HIV, AIDS and STDS will go down significantly. All brothels mandatory check their clients monthly, sometimes weekly, and mandate the use of condoms.

2. Again, making prostitution illegal makes it extremely dangerous for prostitutes to work. Prostitutes are the most targeted female group for violence. If a prostitute is raped or violently abused, she cannot go to the police. Prostitution fatality rates are extremely high and the homicide rate for female prostitutes was estimated to be 204 per 100,000. Perpetrators include violent clients, pimps, and corrupt law-enforcement officers. Serial killers also target prostitutes since the authorities will show less effort to solve the case as apposed to the murder of a schoolteacher or secretary. Jack the Ripper is said to have killed at least five prostitutes in London in 1888. In a recent US study of almost 2000 prostitutes followed over a 30-year period, by far the most common causes of death were homicide. The homicide rate among active female prostitutes was 17 times higher than that of the age-matched general female population.

3.Will eliminate all other illegal infusion such as drugs, gun crime and violence.

4. Will eliminate pimping completely

5. Will help stop the underground child sex slave trade and sex trafficking.

6. The fear of being prosecuted will not exist. This will not prevent prostitutes to go to authorities when needed. Men whose intention is violence or a combination of sex and violence can then be stopped.

7. Most women who prostitute have no previous work experience and live in poverty. Legalizing prostitution will provide prostitutes with a safe work environment and a legal, beneficial job. In result, poverty rates will drop.

8. Less accidental pregnancies causing women to go onto further poverty taking that child down with them.

9.”It costs $2,000 per case to arrest, court, and jail a prostitute. Cities spend from $1 million to $23 million dollars, for an average of $7.5 million dollars, on prostitution-control. Despite the expenses made trying to prevent prostitution, it hasn't been prevented, but only driven underground to places where prostitutes are in the greatest danger of having their rights violated by pimps, clients, and cops. Instead of spending an average of $7.5 million trying to prevent prostitution and arresting prostitutes, cities should spend that money preventing rights-violations against prostitutes, and punishing those who commit crimes against prostitutes.

History

Prostitutes have existed in every human civilization knows to date. It is only recently that a 180 was done in its regard. Throughout 1910 and 1915 the Woman’s Christian Temptation Union strongly influenced the ban of Prostitution. This was the same time as the alcohol prohibition. In 1949 The United Nation released an act that stated that prostitution is against human morals and should be abolished. Since then it has been, in many countries, especially the U.S, which is supposed to be the land of the free.
Prostitution is said to be the oldest female profession. It was one of the only way for females to do gain money throughout most of history, since they were greatly oppressed by men. Mind you male prostitutes did exist and still exist. In Greek and Japanese societies, prostitutes were held on a higher level then most other women. They had an excellent income, were respected and influential figures and admired throughout the community. They were called Hetaeras and Geishas. Although Religion is the main reason prostitution is currently illegal, it was actually a main supplier and benefited of prostitution throughout history. Cyprus and Corinth temples were in charge on thousands of prostitutes. The bible also contains prostitution. King David’s grandmother was one. In the middle ages, the Catholic Church was the main supporter of brothels and gained more wealth and power from it. Augustine of Hippo claimed that Prostitution is a necessary thing, in order to stop greater sins such as masturbation, rape and sodomy.


World Prostitution and Criminal Code

Muslim Countries- Death Penalty
Thailand-prostitution is illegal
New South Wales, Australia- any person over the age of 18 may offer to provide sexual services in return for money.
Victoria, Australia- a person who wishes to run a prostitution business must have a license. Prostitutes working for themselves in their own business, as prostitutes in the business, must be registered. Individual sex workers are not required to be registered.
Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, Netherlands- prostitutes are tax-paying and unionized professionals and brothels are legal
Bulgaria and Sweden- outlawed pimping, legal prostitution
Japan- vaginal prostitution is against the law and fellatio prostitution is legal
Turkey- street prostitution is illegal. There are government-run brothels in most cities, which house sex workers. Private brothels must have a license.
Brazil and Costa Rica- prostitution per se is legal, but taking advantage or profit from others' prostitution is illegal
United Kingdom-prostitution is not formally illegal, but several activities surrounding it are outlawed such as pimping, brothels, street and car prostitution
America- Nevada and Rhode Island have legalized prostitution. In all other states it is illegal. A Prostitute can be sentenced up to 15 years in prison.
Canada-prostitution itself is legal, but most other activities around it are not. Pimping is illegal and it is illegal to negotiate a sex-for-money deal in a public place. Section 213 of the Criminal Code states that communicating for the purpose of prostitution is a summary conviction offence. Summary offenses are considered "less serious", carrying a maximum six-month jail term, a $2,000 fine, or both.


Statistics

One prostitute may have 868 partners a year. This is knows as a under reported number.
16% of 18-59 year old men have paid for sex (arguably also under reported)
Per a hundred thousand people, 23% are Prostitutes.
1 in 3 women in jails re arrested for prostitution
15% of all suicide victims are prostitutes, 59% of prostitutes have thought of committing suicide, compared to 61% of non-prostitutes.
77.8% of arrests are women, 22.2% men. In larger cities, 20-30% of prostitutes are male


Hypocrisy
There is a president place for the US constitution to support prostitution.

In 1965 the Supreme Court in Griswold vs. Connecticut found a right of privacy that covered the right for couples to use birth control.
1973 that right of privacy was extended to abortion in Roe vs. Wade, which later extended to Laurence very Texas to same sex conduct.

Based on this principle Prostitution should therefore logically extend to encompass the right of consenting adult to procure fornication part of a monetary transaction. The hidden agenda is social control.

It is a human right to have sexual intercourse whether it is free or paid for
Prostitution is said to victimize. If a woman willingly provides sexual services to a man who is willing to pay money for it, there is no violation of human rights.
Catholic and Christian group’s word cannot hold a strong meaning since their religions have been the top benefactors of prostitution throughout history
It is hypocritical for the government to say they are banning prostitution with people’s well being in mind when it is the ban that provokes thousands of deaths related to prostitution.



If Legalized

Brothels would be completely legal with guidelines of monthly health checks and security.

Private prostitution would be legalized with a license. A mandatory course would be required for education on health risks, contraception, prostitute rights, smart and careful choice of customers and advertising recommendations.

Street prostitution would not be made legal because 80% of prostitutes are killed on the street and although with legalization this number will improve, I consider it still dangerous. A 1500$ penalty and community hours will be enforced instead of imprisonment.

Apparently it is real.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/fitness_exercise_health/2009/08/double-down-chicken-sandwich-kfc-cardiac-special-of-the-day.html

But it's only being marketed in parts of Rhode Island and Omaha, Nebraska.

858 Calories; 62.4 grams of fat.

^I don't think so. We've already had one dunce president in the chair, and Palin makes Bush look like a Rhodes scholar.

I shudder at the thought.

According to Gawker, someone posted some anti-pot BS on Cooper's blog. You'd think they'd do a better job at vetting that kind of malarkey.

Kevlar, where's your comment!? Rhode Island FTW.

>> ^Throbbin:
Rachel Maddow FTW!
She has gone after Democrats hard in the past. Like Olbermann she is a lefty who is willing to go after democrats when they do something she thinks is dumb.
She is a Rhodes Scholar and a bright woman.
And one day, I'm just hoping her and Ana Marie Cox can kiss...just once.


Nuts to Ana Marie Cox, if you want an educational yet a sexy news two way. Get your facts and get Laura Logan =) *drool & glee*

Rachel Maddow FTW!

She has gone after Democrats hard in the past. Like Olbermann she is a lefty who is willing to go after democrats when they do something she thinks is dumb.

She is a Rhodes Scholar and a bright woman.

And one day, I'm just hoping her and Ana Marie Cox can kiss...just once.