Big Debate for the Win!

Meg Whitman vs. Jerry Brown for governor of California. A very close race and these next few debates can either win or lose it for twhithese two. Not only will they be debating each other, Gov. Schwarzenegger will also be joining them. This is probably going to be a very interesting debate because each person has very different views on similar subjects. 

California first lady Maria Shriver has put together what probably will be the final face-to-face meeting between gubernatorial candidates Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown - an unscripted conversation between them and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger about governing California.

 Debates at UC Davis and Fresno State shall be fun to watch because being a Californian, we should care who we want to govern our state. Both candidates have very strong back when it comes to people behind them. Jerry Brown who has more experience than Whitman, Whitman being from eBay. Whitman and Brown will be attending the women's conference, which is to known, "The Main Event." This conference will be held on October 24, will have many known figures attending. People like former first lady, Laura Bush, and even singer, Mary J. Blige. This debate should be watched very closely so we can choose the right person suited for our state.

The Monster is the Lake

In North Dakota, townspeople of Devils Lake, are scared for their lives. A lake that slowly eats away at a town, nobody wants to deal with that. But that is what is happening in Devils Lake, about 160 miles from Fargo.

It's been called a slow-growing monster: a huge lake that has steadily expanded over the past 20 years, swallowing up thousands of acres and at least two towns in its rising waters.

 The real question is what are we going to do about this? As a nation we can't take our usual lackadaisical approach to this. We need to figure out new ways to get rid of the overflow of water, by maybe using it to drink because we're always on a shortage? The $330,000 a month to only take an inch off isn't going to cut it. We need to act as one not only to save the homes of many people, but to save a lake that has been attracting people for years. This is a real test for America. We have all of these inventors, so invent something so we can use this water to our advantage. We don't want to wait any longer on this issue because the longer we wait, the more houses and families will be destroyed. All I'm saying is that we need to step up as one.

This Lady as a Senator? Really?

Classic case of America getting ready to celebrate being as dumb as we want to be. Christine, trying to become a Senator of Delaware, has some very odd views. In this video O'Donnell shows exactly how America is as dumb as we want to be, by telling the nation they can't do the thing that rhymes with congratulate, when that is a totally personal thing that one should deal with themselves. How can a person running for Senator tell what people can and cant do on their own time?

Should we make an exception for Richmond?

In Point Richmond, Chevron wants to expand their refinery, but this is not good for our air. Not only is this an issue for our environment, but to see if our state can stand on their rules or our standards can be overruled by the right number of votes. If the refinery expands, Friedman's "code green" will be completely ignored. Our country cannot be "as dumb as we wanna be" and allow this to happen, the state needs to put a foot down and not allow this to happen.

Frustrated by environmental reviews, businesses are employing a new tactic to speed development: asking legislators for exemptions from the rules. The latest example appears to be an expansion of Chevron's Richmond refinery.

 The terms for this debate are kept secret, but why would California allow this? Chevron already has a refinery, they are obviously well off, and if they did expand, we can expect another hole in our ozone. The negative effects aren't only going into the atmosphere, but into the homes of the blue-collar Richmond by tax revenues and jobs. Why would legislation not stand on their morals of their rules? Because we're "as dumb as we wanna be" and we are easily pushed over even though we can already see the negative effects it will bring us in the future.

Watch Your Water

No one wants mercury in their water, so why should the Bay Area have to suffer because of China's coal-fired plants? The theory is that the mercury is coming across the Pacific Ocean from China from the coal-fired plants which is a major source of mercury pollution.

When researchers wanted to test largemouth bass at Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir for mercury levels, the reservoir's managers in San Francisco figured the scientists were simply looking for a clean sample to compare with toxic results at other spots.

We need to resolve this issue because the effects can happen to a wide range of people. Little kids can be damaged in their brain and adults can have lung and kidney problems. Researchers need to get on top of the situation, and get rid of the mercury in the water. If we don't get active about this issue, our country will have an even bigger stamp on our foreheads saying "dumb as we wanna be" which is the last thing we need. Scientists also need to step up quickly and get rid of the mercury, and the country needs to look into if China is really polluting our water or not. If China is indeed polluting our water, we need to figure out how they can stop polluting the water of the Bay Area and even the larger picture, the Pacific. This also relates to Hot, Flat, and Crowded because this could potentially endanger species in the waters and we don't want another species to go extinct like the river dolphin. If so that would be just another tally to the tab for the Chinese and they don't want to have a bad image so they should also be proactive in getting the mercury pollution stopped. 

Climate change gives us a reason to change

How many hints is it going to take the world to realize how we are living isn't good for the environment? Our people need to change the way they live their daily lives. Our planet needs to be able to go on for thousands of years to come so that everybody has a chance to live like we did.

Floods, fires, melting ice and feverish heat: From smoke-choked Moscow to water-soaked Iowa and the High Arctic, the planet seems to be having a midsummer breakdown. It's not just a portent of things to come, scientists say, but a sign of troubling climate change already under way.

Our people need to figure out how to predict these drastic outbursts of violent weather so we are more better prepared for a national disaster. Scientists blame all of this warming due to emissions from power plants, cars, trucks and other fossil fuel burning sources. The carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gasses are all getting stuck in the atmosphere. If we can better our emissions we could easily have not had all of these bad occurrences in our world. This is exactly why Friedman called for a "Code Green" because we don't want to have to deal with our consequences so we might as well fix it now instead of going any further.

South Korea on the right track towards Tom Friedman's "Code Green"?

Hanwha Chemical Corp. may then double its revenue in 2015 by increasing production of components used in solar-power panels and rechargeable batteries. Hanwha is really investing their money into solar, that they even had their first acquisition with an overseas solar company, Solarfun Power Holding Co. of China.

South Korean companies are betting orders for solar-power equipment will rise as governments take steps to cut carbon emissions blamed for global warming. The country's 30 major industrial groups, including Hanwha's parent Hanwha Group, will invest 22.4 trillion won by 2013 in clean-energy development, according to the energy ministry.

I think what South Korea is trying to achieve is great. Our world obviously needs a better energy source because our fossil fuels aren't going to last forever. Hanwha has a great idea by putting most of its money into solar power and not only that they are making rechargeable batteries for cars. Rechargeable batteries are a great idea because we don't need to waste the materials needed to make a car over and over again when we can easily recharge the battery and have the car last much more longer and that also cuts out a lot of the bad emissions with a battery car.

Japan is hot, hot, hot!

Temperatures over the world are increasing, and everyone is looking at global warming for the blame. This summer, Japan has recorded the highest temperatures on record. This ties into Friedman's, Hot, Flat, and Crowded, because the "hot", global warming, is causing Japan's temperatures to raise.

The Asian country joins a large swath of the Northern Hemisphere that has experienced an unusually hot summer. Meteorologists say 17 nations have recorded all-time-high temperatures this year, more than in any other year, and scientists have said that July was the hottest month on record for the world's oceans. 

The heat isn't something to mess around with. It can kill, and it's not a fun death. Its said that around 150 deaths have occurred because of heat stroke. The highest temperatures recorded have been beat by almost three percent, but who is to blame? Of course the obvious finger is going to be pointed at global warming, and most of us would agree, like I am. But these temperature rises aren't just occurring in Japan, they are also occurring in other countries like Saudi Arabia, China, and Kuwait. All of these countries have been hitting high temperatures that they are not used to. On the flip side to all the "hot" drama, there is a good thing about this. The economy is getting a boost, by about three percent, from the consumers buying cool drinks, summer clothes, and cooling products. I'm not really sure what to think, because yes the economy is going up, but on the other side, our world is steadily getting hotter and hotter.