Merry Christmas Pope Francis

Finally. A reform Pope.

TOPSHOTS-VATICAN-CHRISTMAS-POPE-ITALY

I just love what he’s been doing. 🙂

David Willey – BBC Vatican correspondent:

In the course of 2014 Pope Francis consolidated his position as one of the most popular pontiffs of modern times, more popular even than the recently-sainted Pope John Paul II.

He invented a new easy style of communication at the Vatican, brought in fresh blood, and publicly lambasted power-hungry princes of the church – the cardinals and bishops who run the Catholic Church’s Rome headquarters; he also found time to play an active diplomatic role in helping the US and Cuba bring to an end 50 years of public enmity. …

Popular Pope Francis takes own path in Vatican

Mayday.US fights corporate lobbyists

Mayday.US is a nonpartisan group using the people’s money to challenge big donors and corporate lobbyists.

Click PLAY or watch a promo on YouTube.

https://mayday.us/

world poverty dropping fast

In 1820  the vast majority of people lived in extreme poverty and only a tiny elite enjoyed higher standards of living.

Economic growth over the last 200 years completely transformed our world and poverty fell continuously over the whole 2 last centuries. This is even more remarkable when we consider that the population increased 7-fold over the same time (which in itself is a consequence of increasing living standards and decreasing mortality – especially of infants and children – around the world). …

Even in 1981 more than 50% of the world population lived in absolute poverty – this is now down to about 20%. This is still a large number of people but the change is happening incredibly fast and for our present world the data tells us that poverty is now falling more quickly than ever before in world history. The first of the Millenium Development Goals set by the UN was to halve the population living in absolute poverty between 1990 and 2015. Rapid economic growth meant that this goal  – arguably the most important – was achieved (5 years ahead of time) in 2010.

Our World in Data

ourworldindata_global-poverty-1820-2010-share-of-people-living-in-extreme-poverty-–-max-roser

If you like that good news, click over to their home page for even more positive data. The world is improving in many ways.

ourworldindata.org

my future home?

150 square feet

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The architect stole design elements from ships to make this home as efficient as possible. The kitchen does double duty as a home- and work-station, and it’s naturally lit with a wall full of windows. …

The cottage, designed for year-round use, is small enough to be powered solely by solar panels. A central cast-iron, wood burning stove heats the home. Plus, building costs were relatively low (about $42,000 including all interior furnishings) thanks to the cabin’s small size and smart design.

In fact, you can buy this cottage—or one like it—for about $18,500 …


How to Design the World’s Most Efficient Tiny Home

Think Steve.

Think Different.

apple-logo-steve-jobs-silhouette

Steve Jobs, more than other one person, disrupted and reinvented the personal computer industry, animated motion pictures, music sales, retail stores, mobile phones and tablet computing.

–1976. STEVE JOBS and STEVE WOZNIAK form Apple Computers and build their first personal computer . . . in Jobs’ parents’ garage.

–1977. Apple releases the Apple Two, which becomes the first widely-used personal computer in the world.

–1984. Apple launches the Macintosh, a desktop computer with the screen built in.

–1986. Jobs buys Pixar Animation Studios for $10 MILLION. In 1995 they release “Toy Story”

–1998. Apple releases the iMac. It becomes the fastest-selling personal computer ever.

–2001. Apple introduces their first retail store and releases the iPod.

–2003. Apple launches the iTunes music store. This began the transition away from illegal digital music downloading and toward people LEGALLY listening to music again.

–2007. Apple introduces the iPhone

–2010. Apple introduces the iPad

–2011. Apple . . . the company Jobs started in his parents’ garage . . . is briefly the world’s most valuable company.

Uber disrupting the taxi industry

I hate taxis. 😦

And would love to support ANY alternative.

Uber sounds great. 🙂

Uber is a venture-funded startup and transportation network company based in San Francisco, California, that makes mobile apps that connects passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire and ridesharing services. …

Uber has been accused in several jurisdictions of illegal taxicab operation. …

On 11 June 2014, in a concerted action, taxis blocked roads in major European cities in protest against what they perceive as a threat to their livelihood by companies such as Uber. The cabbies contended that Uber and similar smartphone app-based services have an unfair advantage because they’re not subjected to the same kinds of fees and regulations placed on taxis. …

Uber_Car_Service

Google is one of the biggest investors.

Uber is not always the faster, cheaper option. But it will be, eventually.

Canal Solar Power Project

The Canal Solar Power Project is a project launched in Gujarat, to use 19,000 Kilometre long network of Narmada canals across the state for setting up solar panels to generate electricity. …

The pilot project will generate 1.6 million units of clean energy per annum and also prevent evaporation of 9 million litres of water annually from the canal. The project virtually eliminates the requirement to acquire vast tracts of land and limits evaporation of water from the 750 meter long canal, tackling two challenges simultaneously by providing energy and water security. …

xbl24solar_narmada__1062362f.jpg.pagespeed.ic.uxz5kVluMo

I hope this works.

related –

U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) that seeks to prevent the Department of Defense from using funding to address the national security impacts of climate change.

See who voted YES (not to study climate security risk) and who voted NO (to study the risk).

The GOP must change or die, long term. The voters are moving towards accepting Global Warming as a fact while Republicans cling to denial.

NRA does not fight a gun law!

Historically the National Rifle Association prioritized education, training and regulation of firearms. They were the safety advocates.

By sometime in the 1990s their main story changed to fighting any kind of gun legislation, no matter how minor, no matter how sensible.

Rather than discuss pros and cons, NRA talking headz shouted “Second Amendment” — as if it was Holy Scripture.

They became shills for the corporations who sell weapons.

But here’s a bit of good news.

… a new law in Washington State that will require spouses under domestic abuse orders to surrender their guns to authorities. This is no small matter. Intimate partner homicides account for nearly half the women killed each year, and more than half of these women are murdered with guns, according to federal statistics.

The surprising twist in the enactment of the Washington law was that the N.R.A. traditionally has fought hard against such legislation as a violation of Second Amendment freedom — but not this time. The law was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee last month after unanimous approval by the legislature once the gun lobby backed off from its standard tactic of political retaliation. “This is an election year, and no candidate wants to be portrayed as letting domestic abusers keep their guns,” said the Democratic sponsor, Representative Roger Goodman. …

NY Times

HB-1840-Washington

True gundamentalists should cancel their NRA membership. The NRA has sold out to … reason and common sense. 🙂

Here’s a pro-gun site called Enemy of the State™ railing against this legislation.

related – Michael EnrightAnnie Get Your Gun: Michael’s Essay:

It is awfully hard to say something positive about the National Rifle Association, every mass murderer’s friend. …