The Golden Compass opened in Rochester on December 7. Seems as though, nationally and locally, it’s creating a bit of a stir:

Based on the first volume in the award-winning trilogy His Dark Materials by religious skeptic Philip Pullman, the movie already has been condemned by conservative Roman Catholics and evangelicals. They say it will hook children into Pullman’s books and a dark, individualistic world where all religion is evil.

(snip)

In early October, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in New York launched a boycott of the film, calling it “selling atheism to kids” at Christmastime in stealth fashion.

Parents of children in several religion classes in Rochester have been cautioned to make sure they discuss this film with kids. However, there hasn’t been a loud cry of protest locally.

Wow, I had no idea. And since I haven’t seen the film, consider this an announcement, not an endorsement.

Posted without comment:

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration and China have both undermined efforts to tighten rules designed to ensure that lead paint isn’t used in toys, bibs, jewelry and other children’s products.

Both have fought efforts to better police imported toys from China.

[snip]

The Bush administration has hindered regulation on two fronts, consumer advocates say. It stalled efforts to press for greater inspections of imported children’s products, and it altered the focus of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), moving it from aggressive protection of consumers to a more manufacturer-friendly approach.

To fight lead here at home, check out the local Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning, and join with their “Lead Safe by 2010″ campaign.

From the New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof:

I ran into Al Gore at a climate/energy conference this month, and he vibrates with passion about this issue — recognizing that we should confront mortal threats even when they don’t emanate from Al Qaeda.

“We are now treating the Earth’s atmosphere as an open sewer,” he said, and (perhaps because my teenage son was beside me) he encouraged young people to engage in peaceful protests to block major new carbon sources.

“I can’t understand why there aren’t rings of young people blocking bulldozers,” Mr. Gore said, “and preventing them from constructing coal-fired power plants.”

Gristmill calls it Al Gore’s Gandhi moment.

I don’t know about that. But maybe Rochestarians should take his words to heart.

Learn more here.

Alarming news.

Law enforcement officials, from the FBI down to the local sheriff, will be able to use military satellites to spy on American citizens. We’re supposed to trust that they won’t abuse that power.

Amygdala wrote quite lot about this. It’s very scary.

Fortunately, this system is incapable of being abused, because of magical incantations that will be placed upon it. Also, our officials can never be corrupted by power, because they are as gods.

[snip]

Because “largely uncharted territory” and “unclear about the legal boundaries” and “little if any policy, guidance or procedures” are always the way to go when we’re considering mere civil liberties.

Anyone remember being brought up on rhetoric about how America stood for freedom and liberty?

What do those words mean any more?

[snip]

It’s the threshold-crossing here that’s revolutionary, and crucial. All this stuff was never supposed to be used against Americans. Now it’s suddenly okay. Trust the government!

This is arguably worse than the Bush/Gonzalez illegal wiretapping. Our military satellites are frightfully impressive. And they were never, never, never supposed to be turned on the American people.

What is it about the 1990s? Apparently, back then both Dick Cheney and Rudy Guiliani used to make eloquent argument about how we couldn’t, for example, invade Iraq or how immigration is essential for a vibrant economy. Nowadays, they’re stuck in the September 12, 2001 mentality.

Take a look at Rudy Guiliani, then and now:
[ev type=”youtube” data=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boTZVP0ZywQ”][/ev]
Hat tip to TAP, TPM. Headline with apologies to Josh Marshall

Riffing off’ve the Starbucks store locator, some people on the internet have created the Delocalator, a store locator for non-corporate bookstores, coffee shops, and movie theatres.

It’s pretty handy. I’m going to start using it to explore coffeeshops and bookstores in Waltham, as well as Rochester.

The site uses crowdsourcing to identify locations, so if you know of an independently-owned bookstore around Rochester, for example*, feel free to add it to the database if it isn’t there already. Adding locations is very easy.

When you buy local, you support independent, unique businesses that make up the cultural character of Rochester. Here’s what buylocalday.org has to say on the matter:

Why buy local? Local businesses produce more income, jobs, and tax receipts for local communities than big box stores do; Local businesses are more likely to utilize local ads, banks and other services; Supporting local businesses preserves the economic diversity of our communities and the unique character of our neighborhoods.

Explore the site with me under the fold…

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Robert Harding at Tom Reynolds Watch takes a look at Reynolds’ voting history since the 110th congress began.

Here’s a sampler:

If you’re a local resident and hate the high gas prices, thank Tom Reynolds. After all, he did vote against a bill that would’ve repealed tax cuts that oil and gas companies started receiving in 2004. It would also help fund renewable energy programs.

That’s interesting. Reynolds is willing to vote against a bill that included renewable energy funding and also would repeal tax cuts for oil and gas companies but he doesn’t mind getting his picture taken ”delivering funds” — in front of an ethanol plant.

The Buffalo News has a new editorial up. According to them, local congressmen Reynolds and Kuhl have promised to sustain a Bush veto of this year’s domestic appropriations bill.

The editorial:

The House passed an appropriations bill in July containing essential funding increases for programs critical to caring for our children, training workers and protecting the health of the most vulnerable people in our communities. And the 276-140 vote was on a bipartisan basis, with 53 Republicans aligning with the Democratic congressional leadership.

[snip]

Three members of New York’s congressional delegation, including Reps. Thomas Reynolds, RClarence, Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport, and Peter King, R-Long Island, have pledged to vote to sustain a presidential veto, and they appear to have enough support to prevail.

According to a new Fiscal Policy Institute analysis, a budget based on the president’s proposal would mean a $1 billion cut in federal aid other than Medicaid to New York State and its local governments in 2008. New York’s funding for vocational and adult education would be cut by 40 percent, clean and safe drinking water by 22 percent, low-income energy assistance by 19 percent and community development block grants by 21 percent.

It’s not just the war. Pistol Packin’ Randy and Tom “I covered for Foley” Reynolds vote with Bush 85% and 91% of the time, respectively. Just saying.

More lovely wind turbines

Speaking of Wind Power, the Town of Gorham is probably going to ban the useful sort of wind turbines through zoning regulations.

From the Messenger Post newspapers:

As it stands, Gorham is poised to effectively ban large-scale wind farms, the type that generate power for sale to the grid, by setting a lower-than-standard height restriction.

The current draft would allow turbines of 300 feet or lower; typical commercial turbines are about 400 feet tall.

Empire State Wind Energy CEO Keith Pitman confirmed that the height restriction of 300 would eliminate most commercial interest in Gorham.

Why?

Why shoot yourselves in the foot? If you let ordinary citizens set up turbines, they could make money by selling it back to the grid. If you’d let enterprising entrepreneurs set up rows of turbines, (”wind farms”) you’d have green collar jobs as windmills spring up around the town. Personally, I find Wind Turbines aesthetically beautiful. They’re also beautiful in the hope and promise they represent.

By the way, Itchy found an interesting brief paper by Cornell regarding Wind Power in Western New York. I know there are concerns about corporate control. What if the towns set up incentives to help local rural folks set up their towers for a “winter harvest”?

Meanwhile, the town of Hamlin commissioned a study: it recommends capping any wind towers at 400 feet. As far as I can tell, that’s about right for industrial production. Good for them.

The town of Benton already has some sort of wind turbine law. The town of Potter wants to copy it. Does anyone know what this Benton law is all about?

Are we witnessing the return of NIMBYism?
Wind Turbines are so lovely and graceful, it seems a shame.

Last sunday, Seneca Park Zoo hosted a “Go Green! Recycling Rally”

They took in

Ink cartridges, cell phones, bottles and cans, sneakers, clothing, purses, linen, drapes, bedding and electronics, including televisions, computers, monitors, video game systems and microwaves.

According to their website:

People who make a recycling donation will receive a free child admission with a paid adult on Sunday, Aug. 12. In addition, ZooTeen volunteers who be on hand to teach people about composting and the three R’s — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Too bad. I have quite a few old computers* I need to tosss. Looks like I’ll have to wait until November 11, when they’ll be having the next rally. Perhaps I’ll see some of you readers there? This seems like a cool project and hopefully it turned out well.

Did anyone go? What were your impressions?

*Seriously, people. Computers are full of “bad toxic things”. Get them recycled, or reuse them. Thanks.

Wind Turbines are lovely

In light of this interview on OpenLeft.com with Congresswoman Hilda Solis, I started thinking about the environment. First off, it’s interesting how she is tackling the idea of saving the world:

By turning global warming into a jobs issue, Solis is working to reframe the often depressing and disempowering rhetoric of the environmental movement into language that different groups can get behind.

Language and framing is very important. Remember Carbon (Dioxide) is a form of pollution. We should remember that. Also, don’t forget about “traditional pollutants”. Mercury may not heat up our air, but it does poison our fish, and our brians.

Solis’ idea of getting environmentalists and city (development) planners together in the same room is another good one. To what extent do we do this in our area? Sure, we have token green buildings and so on, but to what extent are the green initiatives in Brighton and Irondequoit well-thought out plans, and to what extent are they shallow gimmicks? What, in other words, ever happened to those “task forces?”

In any case, this quote really stuck out for me:

A few weeks ago, I accompanied a Sierra Club lobbyist to a visit with freshman Tim Walz, and he’s using the same strategy in his rural Minnesota district - sustainable energy means jobs. Conservative rural residents are now proud of wind turbines, because it means economic growth.

(Emphasis mine)

This isn’t a Rochester issue per se, but we’re surrounded by prime wind-land, lots of open space, and rural folks as well. Where are their wind farms? Where is their economic growth?

More on this later.

Actual Quote:

I was at ground zero as often, if not more, than most of the workers. … I was there working with them. I was exposed to exactly the same things they were exposed to. So in that sense, I’m one of them.

Rudy Giuliani, 2007

This is, of course, untrue.

“He is such a liar, because the only time he was down there was for photo ops with celebrities, with politicians, with diplomats,” said deputy fire chief Jimmy Riches, who spent months digging for his firefighter son.

“On 9/11 all he did was run. He got that soot on him, and I don’t think he’s taken a shower since.”

And now, for your special viewing pleasure, Rudy Giuliani’s Top Five lies about 9/11.
Update: Looks like MyDD beat me to it.

Update update: Even one of the Repubican bloggers at the D&C is outraged by this (it’s Lee, the best informed of the group).

Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking committee,* has proposed some interesting legislation. Free community college for everyone! And other stuff, besides.

Dodd estimates the cost of providing free tuition to all students in the 50 states as $54 billion over eight years, while he believes eliminating the federal subsidies for banks writing college loans and making them bid to provide the service would save $48 billion.

The $6 billion difference amounts to “about two-and-a-half days in Iraq,” Dodd said, adding “making college affordable, I can’t think of anything more important.”

What’s this, a radical plan to make banks compete on a level playing field? That’s almost, no, it can’t be the free market! How will they survive without huge handouts from the federal government?

On a related matter, Congressional Democrats want to fully fund the GI bill. “Pro-Military” Bush does not.

*also known as Chris Dodd, presidential candidate.

Actual Quote:

Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do.

-Rudy Guiliani, 1984 1994

h/t to TAP

Update- What he said next:

You have free speech so I can be heard.

In less than a month, I’m heading off to Brandeis University. Brandeis University was named after Louis Brandeis, a really cool Supreme Court judge.*
Ever since I decided to go there, I’ve been seeing his name pop up everywhere.

The latest:

sunlight-quote.JPG

Speaking of the Sunlight Foundation, WaterBuffaloPress seems to have a new co-blogger, colonelrustyshacklefordii. His latest post highlights a new initiative by the Sunlight Foundation:

Though no law requires them to do so, members of Congress maintain official Web sites at taxpayer expense to provide their constituents and the general public with relevant information about their work in Washington on our behalf.Do these Web sites cut through the bewildering array of information available online about the Legislative Branch, making it easier for you to find relevant information about a member’s official acts and publicly required disclosures? Do they contribute to government transparency?

So without further ado, a table of how well your elected representatives are using their official government websites to contribute to government transparency :

The Sunlight Foundation considers 40% a passing grade. Grade school teachers require 60%. Voters should demand even more.

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