Google to Fund Offshore Power Project

I just read that Google is going to partner with two other companies,
Good Energies and Marubeni Corp, to begin a project titled the Atlantic
Wind Connection. These companies have committed to build a 350 mile
electricity transmission line 10 - 15 miles off the East Coast of the
United States, from Virginia to New Jersey.

They estimate the cost could reach $20 billion and be completed in 2020.
Construction is due to begin in 2013 due to regulatory hurdles. They
have committed to building the transmission lines only, this is the
basic infrastructure to support offshore wind turbines and the first of
its kind to be built off the East Coast.

I imagine that leases will be sold to wind turbine operators to tap into
the infrastructure. It's a good business model which could create a low
risk, perpetual revenue stream.

Also, I like this new focus on the ocean for energy. We have oil
platforms already, fleets of transporters, etc. I think that the oceans
hold huge potential for our future, it's exciting and adventurous.
Projects like this will give us another reason to live and work on the
seas. With more people depending on it, a meme of consciousness could
build and make our race better stewards of it. It might bring us back to
a time when the oceans were more revered and sacred. Getting us closer
to a childhood dream of mine, adventure on the high seas.

--sushisticks

Homeless in training

I'm remembering a phase of my childhood where I really liked to sleep
outside, in our yard, with a sheet tacked up to our fence. My little
sister, Audrey, camped out with me sometimes. It was an adventure, and
practice homelessness.
--sushisticks

A tell

I'm developing this nervous habit, a tell, where I'll ring my hands and
fingers. It started as an impulse to spin my wedding ring. It's becoming
a bad habit. I hate it. It's an outward expression of inner turmoil that
boils over and out of me.
--sushisticks

Dollars and good sencts

I've always been broke with a broke sort attitude. I'm just now learning
about money. I see that it's a pretty fluid things and a lot depends on
your mindset.

I grew up knowing we had no money. I stood in stores for much of my
youth, hung around malls with nothing in my pockets but my keys.
Eventually, I learned to steal.

--sushisticks

Testing ze photo

My boys Mike and JC. I'm the dork in the middle.

Testing

I wonder how many people want to limit how much they feel and censor
what they experience?

Bill Clinton gives us an action plan

So, along with John Stewart's awesome announcement on Sept. 16th of his Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington DC, he had Bill Clinton on for an interview. I ended up logging on and watching the entire interview and the former President does a great job giving a few examples of what we could do to turn the economy around. The link to watch it is below:

Bill Clinton's Extended Interview with John Stewart

It's frustrating that there are really good steps that we can take, but have such a hard time implementing. Anyway, I like what he says about taking job postings that have been open for more than three weeks and providing the funding for on-the-job training to help applicants close the skill deficit; help bring down the unemployment rate and get people active that collecting unemployment benefits.

Also an interesting note, one that we point out to our investors at work all the time, private corporations and the public have trillions of dollars on the sideline right now, waiting for the green light to invest. A big reason they haven't is because of the political landscape that is causing so much uncertainty; tax rates in limbo, a possible change of leadership ideology and a highly polarized debate.

I hope that we can have a realistic debate about what to do from here. John Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity" sounds like a great attempt to publicize the opinions of the moderate, who I think are the majority in this country, and becoming increasingly disgusted with the polarization and power given to the extremes of our political landscape. 

Anyway, as a pessimist of human nature and having an unhealthy propensity towards a just Apocalypse, I doubt we'll achieve any bi-partisan agreements. However, I am greatly amused by this rift within the GOP. These Tea Party people are a real Godsend.