Realm of the Wombat

I spent my lunch checking out the announced 2008 presidential candidate’s campaign websites to see what they had to say about solar energy as a solution to the energy crisis. Here’s what I found:

• Barack Obama: There is no specific mention of solar on his “Meeting Energy Needs” page. Presumably it’s incorporated into “renewables,” but the emphasis of Obama’s plans are conservation and bio-fuel/ethanol.
• Hillary Clinton: There is no specific mention of solar on her “Promoting Energy Independence and Fighting Global Warming” page, and again I presume solar is included as a “renewable energy” source. Clinton’s plans to spend $50 billion to attack the energy problem, virtually from every direction, but there are no details on how this money would be divided.
• John Edwards: Edwards has a very detailed plan entitled “Achieving Energy Independence & Stopping Global Warming Through A New Energy Economy.” Part of this plan is a $13 billion per year commitment to the energy problem, including increased investment in development and implementation of solar technology. On a local level, Edwards wants to offer tax credits for homes and businesses that generate electricity on-site from solar panels. He also proposes starting a “GreenCorps,” an environmentally directed service program, which would install solar panels among other things.
• Bill Richardson: Solar is not mentioned specifically on his energy page. Richardson wants an increased use of “renewables” (presumably including solar) and a carbon offset scheme established.
• Joe Biden: There is only a cursory, two-paragraph description of Biden’s energy plans on his issues page.
• Chris Dodd: Dodd has a very detailed policy for energy independence. Included is investment of upto $50 billion per year in renewable technology, including solar, paid for by a carbon offset tax. He also proposes tax credits for solar generation of electricity.
• Dennis Kucinich: Kucinich wants to invest in development and implementation of renewable technology by means of a $50 billion “Global Green Deal.”
• John McCain: There is no specific page or section describing McCain’s plans for the energy crisis, let alone solar. There is a transcript of an interview with the National Review where he states, “I’m for solar,” but prefers expansion of nuclear energy.
• Rudy Giuliani: Energy is not mentioned on his issues page.
• Mitt Romney: Romney briefly outlines his thoughts on his energy page, but solar is not mentioned specifically. His proposed policies are aimed at ending the US dependence on foreign oil as a security concern, not an environmental issue.

Winners: Edwards and Dodd have the most detailed proposals for dealing with the energy crisis and climate change with solar as a key component.
Losers: McCain and Giuliani don’t think energy is even worth having on their sites in any capacity.

How Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign came to an end

In honor of this site’s title, I present a happy wombat

The open source revolution takes a big step forward: How to make OpenCola

Mel and I were discussing the Mets series against Brewers and Cubs, the powerhouses of the NL Central. She concluded,

“That’s not even a competition,”

proving yet again why she’s a dandy.

Lyrics to Super Mario Brothers theme song

5) The one wearing the Piniella jersey. I’ve never seen anyone with a custom manager’s jersey before.
4) The one wearing the Kyle Farnsworth jersey. Look, Ambiorix Burgos can throw 100 mph too. That doesn’t mean I’d get a custom Mets jersey of his.
3) The one wearing the Yankees Soriano shirt and Cubs hat. The only explanation is that this guy has been following Soriano around since he left New York.
2) The one wearing the Cubs jersey and Red Sox hat. This guy has no soul but doesn’t realize it, thus thinks he’s better than #3.
1) The one wearing the Cubs jersey and White Sox 2005 World Series hat. No comment.

Bonus: The most vocal heckler in our section who decided not to stay for extra innings.

Super Bonus!: The one who took a picture of first base coach Ivan DeJesus. Do you think she (A) thought he was a player (B) collects pictures of first base coaches or (C) wanted a picture of the man the Cubs traded away to get Ryne Sandberg?

Best thing on the internet ever

Yet another place to not take Jim Dandy: Incan Suspension Bridges

I got of CTA at 6:45 pm to meet Odie before Pirates/Cubs game at Wrigley.

Five hours, four errors, 27 runners left on base, 41 players used, one stolen base by a catcher, one catcher caught stealing, two starting pitchers used as pinch hitters, three plays at the plate, two double plays with the bases loaded, an ejection, a blown save, two singings of “Take Me Out To the Ball Game,” two hot dogs, a few hecklers, 15 innings, and four scoresheets later, this was the scene:

Mercifully, after all that, Aramis Ramirez (former Pirate) struck out to end the game.

Give the game ball to Jonah Bayliss, who pitched the 12th, 13th, and 14th innings for the Bucs, only allowing one baserunner and notching four strikeouts. This was a welcome bit of sanity in an otherwise ridiculous exposition of NL Central baseball.

Coming soon: Top Five Cubs fans of the night!

I knew the plot of Harry Potter seemed familiar…

Found in the physical sciences library:

I know that chemists are generally good cooks, but do we really need lessons from a comic?