oniwolf
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SodaFeed
- answered & commented on CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS PUBLICLY GIVEN... March 16, 2009 01:42:16
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+5 raves Ah ha ha! Taitz is getting what she deserves. I sure hope that the-thousand-dollar fine goes th... Ah ha ha! Taitz is getting what she deserves. I sure hope that the-thousand-dollar fine goes through, as well. She's and idiot, and has no business attempting to practice law. Thanks, Star; this was great. (more)
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+8 raves Did he really say it? He must have. Look at his co-anchor's face. I so hope he really did it.
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+2 raves Naw! Really? Gee, when did the republicans start being hypocrites and exercising double standar... Naw! Really? Gee, when did the republicans start being hypocrites and exercising double standards? Buah ha ha! (more)
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The Latest RWNJ Lie: Republicans Will Be Denied Heal... The Latest RWNJ Lie: Republicans Will Be Denied Health Care (more)
+4 raves "...a Democrat-imposed health care rationing system"? They just refuse to understand that ca... "...a Democrat-imposed health care rationing system"?
They just refuse to understand that care will not be rationed. People have repeatedly pointed this out, yet some refuse to stop perpetuating the myth. And now they claim the system will deny republicans care? Can they behave any more absurdly? If they are right, and the current government is as evil as they claim, why must they incessantly create and disseminate lies? (more) -
obama wants to control your thermostat at home. it w... obama wants to control your thermostat at home. it will be done thru your local elect. co. what do you think? (more)
+4 raves Please don't perpetuate lies. Smart meters cannot and do not control one's thermostat. ... Please don't perpetuate lies. Smart meters cannot and do not control one's thermostat. Why must you lie?
Frances Beinecke
Posted December 12, 2008 | 12:21 PM (EST)
Obama's Got It Right on Smart Meters
It used to be that talk of the nation's electricity grid caused most people's eyes to glaze over. Now, thanks to a confluence of volatile energy prices, a green-oriented incoming president, and a cultural fascination with high tech gadgets, that seems to be changing. Something called "smart meters" are leading the charge.
Last week the New York Times ran a piece about President-elect Obama's plans to tie economic stimulus to investments in clean energy. Smart meters were the second solution listed, coming right after weatherizing homes.
What is a smart meter, anyway? It is a device that gives real-time, highly specific information about how much electricity your home or office is using at any given time. It sends that information to your utility--which can then make projections about how much power it needs to generate when. But it can also send the information directly to you, so you can asses your own energy use.
A few weeks ago, I heard Dan Reicher, the director of Google's climate and energy initiatives, tell this story about how smart meters work (See the clip of Dan and Google CEO Eric Schmidt talking about clean energy at my colleague Phil Gutis' blog.)
Dan said that one of Google's engineers installed a smart meter in his house. Very quickly, the engineer noticed that not only did his kitchen refrigerator soak up a lot of electricity, but so did the second, back-up refrigerator--the one he forgot he had most of the time. The engineer went online and found out that the fridges were built more than 20 years ago and were among the biggest energy hogs ever made.
Armed with this information, the engineer replaced both refrigerators with far more efficient models and watched his household electricity use drop by 50 percent. (And because he lived in California, his utility paid to cart those old fridges away and capture the CFCs from the insulation.)
Do you think the engineer--or any of us--would have made the same decision based on that hard-to-interpret utility bill that comes in the mail once a month? Those bills may tell you how much you owe and where to send the check, but they say very little about the opportunities waiting in your home for reducing electricity, cutting global warming pollution, and saving money.
We all could use clearer signals on how to become more efficient. I confess that my daughter has resorted to putting yellow post-it notes around our house to remind me to turn off the lights at the end of the night. I think a smart meter that sends me information to my Blackberry might be more effective.
Dan Reicher gets the updates from his smart meter on his laptop. He was on the road recently and after reviewing the data on his home's electrical use, he called his wife and said, "Honey, you know those two lights in the front hall? I think you left them on."
This is a culture that thrives on information. We get it from all sides--news sites, handheld devices, Twitter accounts. It's time we got information from our own homes as well--information that could help us reduce the single largest source of global warming pollution in our nation: the electricity sector.
And as Obama's initial economic stimulus plans indicate, installing all those smart meters were create a lot of jobs as well.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com... (more) -
+2 raves I think happiness is contagious. People are drawn to happy people, so I don't agree with num... I think happiness is contagious. People are drawn to happy people, so I don't agree with number one. I REALLY don't agree with number four. I think it's a shallow policy. I very much agree with number seven, as helping others makes most people feel really good (unless they're jerks). And since I've spent the majority of my time alone for the past nine months (which explains my obsession with Sodahead), I disagree with number nine. I'm sick of solitude! (more)
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+5 raves Well, Felix was very handsome, Starr, but for your avatar, I LOVE the the big cat with attitude. ... Well, Felix was very handsome, Starr, but for your avatar, I LOVE the the big cat with attitude. It's pretty bad-ass. (more)
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+11 raves I'm proud to say my highest is OhioGirl, in red. I consider that an honor! Next is, Starrga... I'm proud to say my highest is OhioGirl, in red. I consider that an honor! Next is, Starrgazzer, Kudabux, Janice, JColliu, and Artist1963 - all in red. Wow, that's amazing group to match! (more)
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+13 raves What a man! How pathetic that he was denied the award from the Carnegie Hero Fund. So many peop... What a man! How pathetic that he was denied the award from the Carnegie Hero Fund. So many people of color (and poverty, as well) have been denied the fruits of and recognition for their contributions. I would like to know when we are ever going to make each these individual injustices right. (more)
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+3 raves This ability of Obama's to bring people together, and to inspire people to do good, is exactl... This ability of Obama's to bring people together, and to inspire people to do good, is exactly why I voted for him. He is a natural-born leader. (more)
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Ali ~ In ...
Yes, it's a shame - so many funny and bright people who either aren't willing to deal with the...ah...intelligence deficit or who, in dealing with it got the boot.

Thanks! I love my house too! LOL - you'd find lots of other critters in the garden and orchard - in our better Daniel Boone moments there will be deer, a flock of turkeys and the occasional jack rabbit.
Ali ~ In ...
Hey, Oni - just swinging by to say I'm so GLAD you're still here! So many have left (or otherwise)...
medarlin~...
moderated...
Legion™
Love the new Avie!
WILLIAM
Ill support bringing one back.
medarlin~...
moderated...
medarlin~...
moderated...
Twobears ...
Sissy
melly~I'm...
Tee hee hee!
You're awesome.
MOM - LOL...
Please don't let it be Monday!
Disko Pickle
melly~I'm...
Shygirl just blocked Disko and I right when you came on scene! All I can do now is rave you!
Legion™
Thanks for the add. I feel honored. Ask Ranceco about me, she'll want to go to outside email...
melly~I'm...
I'm also a Texan! Thanks for the add!
MickeyRenee~
Thanks for the request to be friends! Those shallow RWNJs suck a big one thats for sure. Whenever they dont have anything productive or intelligent to say they resort to personal attacks...which is most of the time lol Thank you for the compliment and you and your family are all gorgeous!!
ptete in ...
It was my pleasure. The picture was so beautiful I wanted to share it with as many people I could. It was taken on the way to Waynesburg, Pa. A vacation spot we go to every summer. There were several other breathtaking views just before we hit the West Virgina border but weren't able to stop. I 75 North was definitely a very scenic route and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to see some real American beauty!
ptete in ...
You have a beautiful family! Thanks for adding me!
artist196...
Awwwww.......
artist196...
When did YOU get back? I missed you a lot!!!!!!