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Saturday | January 29, 2011

Egyptian Uprising Sparks Sympathy Protests In Portland, Elsewhere
"The uprising and unrest in Egypt is spawning sympathy protests across the United States." Yup! Even "in cities [like] Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Portland..." About "300 protesters turned out in Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square Saturday, most of them Egyptian-American. They support the protesters in Egypt, and they want Mubarak out." Egyptian-American and Portland resident Doaa Elhaggen "is fed up with 30 years of autocratic rule in her native country. 'Everything is messed up: education, health, transportation....'" Hey wait a second! All that is also "messed up" right her in the good ol' U.S. of A. Time for our own uprising? Perhaps. But some folks here worry that if the Arab world's people free themselves they could disrupt oil flows to fuel-hungry U.S. drivers. Pragmatism at its worst.

Go to story: Portland-area Egyptian-Americans stage protest sympathy rally

Go to story: Unrest in Egypt stirs interest in auto show’s electric cars: Crowds swarm to clean energy cars as Mideast protests spur oil supply concerns

Go to story: Inside Story - Egypt: The youth perspective: Young people are at the forefront of protests in Egypt, but do they believe that they can bring about change?

Friday | January 28, 2011

More 'Eco Friendly' Cars on the Way!
In the past few years, Portland has made a bigger name for itself in the US than what it once had. It has bred many talented fashion designers and people who are generally more eco friendly than our neighbors in California and Nevada. And now, it is possible to mirror that eco friendly attitude you have on your zipcar vehicle! Plug-in Prius Hybrids are not officially coming onto the scene until 2012, but residents Portland, Boston, and California are all lucky enough to experience the full experience today! There are two of these zipcars located in Portland, one in the Portland State University parking garage and the other at Shaver Green. In fact, maybe the grass really is greener on the other side (of the wheel).

Go to story: Zipcar Gets 8 Plug-In Prius Hybrids From Toyota for Real-World Testing

Thursday | January 27, 2011

Environmental Organizations Seek Protection for Klamath River Chinook Salmon
A petition signed by four local and national environmental organizations has been submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service asking for endangered species protection for Klamath River chinook salmon in northern California and southern Oregon. According to the petition, Klamath River chinook salmon, prized by fishers for its taste and economic importance, has declined from 100,000 before dam construction and other habitat changes to now only 7,000 individuals. Environmental organizations hope that being listed as an endangered species under the ESA would allow fish populations to stabilize and recover.

Go to story: Groups seek protection for Klamath Chinook salmon

Go to story: Conservation groups seek Endangered Species Act listing for Klamath River chinook salmon

Go to press release: Endangered Species Act Protection Sought for Klamath River Chinook Salmon

Wednesday | January 26, 2011

The Internet: Just Another Cable TV Box?
This coming Friday, January 28th, you are invited to participate in Portland City Council's Portland Broadband Strategic Plan Kick-Off event - CONNECTING OUR FUTURE - from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in Portland City Council Chambers. Who else is showing up? Public servants from the city and county, a variety of public advocacy representatives, and the usual corporate lobbyists from AT&T Wireless, Comcast and other "industry players." Nationally, it's the industry players, and their handmaidens in Congress and the Supreme Court, who've wreaked the most havoc with public access to free, open, unfettered and affordable access to the Internet. Ten to fifteen years ago, thousands of mostly mom & pop internet service providers (ISPs) provided dial-up internet access to anyone who wanted it. If you didn't like the available ISP choices in your community, you could set up your own with just a small investment and a bit of technical know-how. These days, most of us access the Internet through our cable or DSL connections, or through our mobile devices. Access is controlled by a tiny number of corporate giants who invest millions of dollars each year to buy off your congress person, your senator, as well as any judge or regulator they can get to. The reason? The business rationale for forcefully stuffing the most democratizing communications medium ever imagined into a tightly controlled, commercially restricted "cable box"? Think about it: what could possibly threaten large corporations--essentially private label totalitarian regimes--more than genuine democracy?

Go to announcement: Portland Stategic BroadBand Plan: Connecting Our Future

Go to Personal Telco: Personal Telco

Go to story: U.S. Court Curbs F.C.C. Authority on Web Traffic

Go to history: FAQ: What is Brand X really about?

Tuesday | January 25, 2011

Tobacco sales decline in Oregon
What is going on? Isn't smoking still cool in Oregon? Have those wacko doctors and scientists finally convinced people that it's unhealthy or something? Do some people actually dislike the taste it gives everything they eat? Well then why not respect the tobacco industry's marketing shift towards flavored smokeless tobacco. The additives mostly mask the tobacco flavor with something marginally more pleasant, and there's no law against constantly spitting brown sludge. My friend Phillip Morris says it's really sexy. It's still unhealthy though.

Go to story: Report Finds Tobacco Sales Down In Oregon

Monday | January 24, 2011

Life In The Bike Lane: East Burnside
From BikePortland.org: "It's great to have a wide bike lane on Burnside. It would be even greater to someday have real, world-class bike access on this street with physical separation from motor vehicle traffic. I'd love to enjoy the same level of safe access to this street that other vehicles enjoy. If I did, I'd be able to bike comfortably with my kids to the many interesting businesses in the area." So, uh, when do we install bike lanes on West Burnside?

Go to story: Photo essay: Riding the new Burnside bikeway

Sunday | January 23, 2011

Genuine Prosperity Begins In Community
We live in a world where most of us remain everlastingly duped by a perennial handful of folks who feel an absolute need to maintain power, domination and control. The relentless torrent of obscenities that result are too numerous to recount here. Even so, it's worth noting that in 2009--immediately after Wall Street's rampant criminality triggered the Great Recession--its "top 25 hedge-fund managers made a staggering $1-billion each...."^[1] Meanwhile, on average, "1 person dies every second as a result, either directly or indirectly, of hunger - 4000 every hour - 100,000 each day - 36 million each year - 58% of all deaths (2001-2004 estimates).^[2] At what point to communities of people begin rejecting absurd economic dogmas in favor of real-world initiatives that drive genuine, reasonably equitable prosperity into their communities? What will it take for folks at the grassroots level, working within their communities, to build economic and other social structures that deliver reasonable, healthy livelihoods to everyone in the community?

Go to story: "Growing Wealthier" report shows how smart growth can enhance prosperity

Go to report: Growing Wealthier: Smart Growth, Climate Change and Prosperity

Go to essay: Unequal wealth distribution: Cause and effect

Go to story: Job and Wealth Creation at the Grassroots Level – A Working Model In Cleveland

Go to "Who Rules America?": Wealth, Income, and Power

Go to "The Spirit Level": The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better

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