What does a girl have to do to get excommunicated? | Salon.com

Good piece from Frances Kessling



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compact fluorescent light bulbs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL's). you know what those are right? The energy saving bulbs that look like this (photo on the right),


and we are all urged to start using them to help save the planet. Basically, they use much less electricity and will reduce carbon emissions significantly. If you saw An Inconvenient Truth, it was on the list of things you can do to help slow global climate change. Now, I always hated the quality of the light from these things, having seen them in hotel rooms in the early 90's, and my dad bought one for his house a while back when they were huge and expensive. However, I was game to give them another shot. We signed up for 'Green' power last year, my wife bought a hybrid Civic, and I thought replacing the incandescent bulbs in our apartment would be a good next step. (Incidentally, when my wife suggested we replace our bulbs right after we saw the movie, I insisted that the light was horrible, and 'vetoed' it.)
I had already replaced the bulbs in our hallway with CFL's. Light quality out there was not so much a concern, and I was tired of having to replace them all the time anyway. I did lots of searching for some bulbs I might like. Maybe if they didn't have that serpentine tubular shape, they would look more 'normal'? I found these at Lowes:

(The one on the left.) It's shaped like a normal bulb, and the package claimed it had a more 'natural' light. Installed them into the ceiling fixtures in our office/workout room, and then in the kitchen. Sadly, a colder, more bluish light than the previous bulbs. Also, they do take a few minutes to warm up and come on at full power. But, I was willing to live with it, to help assuage my guilt about power usage. Interestingly, my wife finds them annoying now.

OK, so I read this goofy article in the Washington Post about the gender issues with CFLs. I tended to agree with the Broadsheet article on Salon that mocked the Post for the fluff piece that threw around lots of gender stereotypes. Interestingly, the Brian Lehrer Show on Thursday had some info that had me second-guessing. Apparently, according to Gary Gordon, biologically, women usually have greater color perception than men, and that may be why we see stories about women allegedly objecting to these light bulbs more than me do.

So, I guess this is further evidence of the fact that I am a sensitive, Alan Alda-type man. I certainly noticed the difference in the quality of the light. I always hated looking at myself in the bathroom mirror where there was only an old fashioned fluorescent lamp above the sink. EVERYone looks bad in those mirrors. Those lamps lack those nice red tones from the warm part of the spectrum that make us look human.

Bottom line, though: Using these new CFL's, which aren't nearly as harsh as those old lamps I remember, is worth it. It cuts way back on the electricity needed to light the room, and that just makes sense environmentally and economically. Perhaps the companies developing these bulbs will come up will bulbs that produce a 'warmer' light eventually. That, I believe, will get more people to use them.
If anyone has come across a brand of CFL's that does that effectively, please let me know.

Here's a helpful guide from environmental defense.org

This guy reviews a bunch of bulbs: http://members.misty.com/don/cfapp.html

What about LEDs? They may be the future: http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/05/11/ap/strange/d8p1ud183.txt

Funny campaign ad for Bill Richardson

Take a look at this new ad from the Bill Richardson campaign. It uses humor to try and drive home his campaign theme that he has the White House-bound resume.

What do you think? I've always be a proponent of ads that cut through the typical campaign ad clutter to get noticed. Back in the '97 NJ Gubernatorial campaign, Michael Murphy got lots of notice for his outside-the-box ads where he zipped around the state in a mini-van with kids asking questions.

Clerics for Justice in South America

Great story this morning on NPR about Catholics in Brazil fighting to save the rainforest from exploitation and agitating for Justice.

"The opposite of poverty is not wealth – it is justice. And the objective of liberation theology is to create a more just society, not necessarily a wealthier one. And the great question is, how do we do this?" - liberation theologian, Leonardo Boff.

"Morality is not just about sex. Morality in Jesus' mind means social morality, solidarity, responsibility, ethics – that is morality. And you cannot go to communion on Sunday, and on Monday destroy the forest. It is against the law of God." -Father Edilberto Sena

What's in a logo?

A discussion on the design of Presidential campaign logos.




I remember an op ed in the Times in 2004 that destroyed the Kerry-Edwards logo and 'predicted' victory based on logo designs in Presidential elections. I took issue with the author's conclusions at the time, but then again, he did predict the "outcome" correctly.

It may seem petty, but I DO think that there is something to be said for good design in politics. Every opportunity to convey a message needs to be utilized, and with two full years to 'brand' a candidate, maybe effective logo design does have impact.

Frivolous? What say you?

Marriage Equality is a Civil Rights Issue

In February of 2006 I sent this email to my friends on the topic of 'Gay' Marriage:

Amici,

I just wanted to share with you a wonderful experience that Nora and I
had on Valentine's Night. We attended a rally sponsored by Garden State
Equality on the eve of New
Jersey's Supreme Court hearing a same-sex marriage case. We heard
powerful witness from Laurel Hester, a terminally ill former
investigator with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office who successfully
fought to have her death and pension benefits go to her domestic
partner. We heard from many: clergy, both straight and gay, parents and
children of all ages, elected officials, -all in support of marriage
equality.

My position on this civil rights issue has evolved over the last several
years. I felt the right wing was using it as a wedge issue in the last
Presidential campaign and I bought into the rhetoric from some national
Democrats that civil unions were enough to protect the rights of our
fellow citizens. Well, a lot of good that did us. Our presidential
candidate was still defeated and national Democrats still didn't stand
up for what was right.

The recent passing of Coretta Scott King serves as a reminder that
"separate but equal" was unacceptable in the days of segregation, and it
is unacceptable today when it comes to the rights of LGBTI Americans.
It is apparent once you hear the many stories of those who have suffered
this discrimination, that there will only be justice when we extend this
basic human right to all.

I know that there are many people of faith in this country that are
unwilling to accept "same-sex marriage." (Luckily here in NJ recent
polls show a majority in favor of marriage equality.) Until the Roberts
Court tells us otherwise, we still have separation of Church and State
in the United States of America. I propose that the state define "civil
marriage" in a way that is fair and just for all our citizens, and that
we leave it up to individual denominations and faith communities to
determine what is appropriate "Holy Matrimony." This seems to be in the
appropriate tradition of America - I don't want to tell the Southern
Baptist Convention who can or can't participate in one of their
religious ceremonies; and I sure don't want them telling me who can or
can't get married at City Hall. This is a civil rights issue, not a
religious one.

(As a side note, some of you would call me out for making no mention of
my Catholic Church. Guilty on that count. That is a topic for another
time. The RC has a long way to go, like full participation of women in
the priesthood. In this case I am drawing a distinction myself between
Church and State and I'm focusing on the civil issue for the here and
now.)


Lastly, most politicians are ducking this issue (like so many) out of
fear.
Well, this is a good opportunity for the
people to show the way. I really think in my home state of NJ, where we
have a progressive track record on rights (first to grant gay couples
adoption rights), this will be a reality very soon.

Keep your eye on NJ, we may be making some history soon (thanks
Massachusetts!).

Thanks for reading.


Peace,


Joe

The Times on Gay Marriage