Colorado: More fracking coming to the Pawnee National Grasslands

Each day I become more convinced this drilling is indeed A Great American Ponzi scheme. In order to succeed, drilling must increase at completely unsustainable levels. And when the bubble bursts, states like Colorado will get the job of trying to restore the land.

Summit County Citizens Voice

Feds finalizing oil and gas development plan for 100,000 acres of public land

Oil and gas drilling is spreading northeastward into the Pawnee National Grasslands. Map courtesy WildEarth Guardians.

Staff Report

FRISCO — If it sometimes feels like fracking is closing in wherever you look, it’s because it is. One of the latest arenas for fossil fuel exploitation is on the Pawnee National Grasslands, in northeastern Colorado, described by the U.S. Forest Service as the country’s last remaining shortgrass prairie.

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Bill Moyers Finally Retires–For Real This Time

Bill Moyers says he’s retiring for real this time. I hope he’s not, after all, he’s only 80.

In case he is indeed serious, I hope everyone will read this interview:

“Bill Moyers: Grassroots Pro-Democracy Movement Must Rise to Challenge Corporate Control”

If that’s asking too much, at least read my favorite line:

We have to figure out how to have a morally-based conversation about politics and economics. If it’s all about money and return on investment and stock shares and all that, instead of what kind of society works best for those who don’t have such “goods”, we’re finished as a democracy, because some people will be able to buy anything they want and vast numbers of others will be unable to afford what they need.

Moyers has been and remains an American treasure.

Cassandra

As Years Pass, So Do Some Ideas–or Not

Interesting story about how a few years, lots of reading, and the application of critical thinking affect the brain.

“CPAC’s Boy Wonder Swings Left”

The process described here used to be called growing up and becoming educated.

In contrast, some people–way too many people–fail to grow up and examine their positions. They maintain their positions by refusing to investigate, read, think, reflect, or even exercise a bit of curiosity: “Abbott among Climate Change Skeptics”

Cassandra

Peer Review: “The Dueling Ground for Experts”

For decades now, I’ve tried to explain the peer review process to college students. Some understand immediately. Some venerate any peer-reviewed article. Some fail to grasp the concept entirely. And a few just don’t care.

That said, academic publishing, what these authors call “the dueling ground for experts,” continues to provide the cutting edge arguments on topics most people never hear about. I once heard–or more likely read–that once the layman finally accepts the truth of some hot academic topic, for example, penis envy in women, academics who’d been arguing the topic for years had long resolved the argument, often rejecting it, and moved on to something else.

From what I’m currently reading, this article included, the climate change skeptics look to be losing their duel quite dramatically.

“Another Global Warming Contrarian Paper Found to Be Unrealistic and Inaccurate”

Frankly, I wish they were winning. Unfortunately, I’m finding more and more articles, both peer reviewed and from high end magazines, that say things like this: “How the IPCC Underestimated Climate Change.”

The good news–for me–is that I’m old.

Cassandra

Auction American Style

“Purchase of Election by Chevron Shows We Have ‘Oligarchy, Not Democracy’: Sanders”

I really liked America better when it at least allowed the illusion of a representative government.

Cassandra

Celebrity Opinions: When the Affect Mars?

Is anyone surprised that celebrities–even brighter than average celebrities–get things wrong when they debate? Or do they? Listen and judge if you wish: “Real Time with Bill Maher: Ben Affleck, Sam Harris and Bill Maher Debate Radical Islam (HBO)”

The WaPo just ran this article rich in stats showing a more complicated reality: “Ben Affleck and Bill Maher Are Both Wrong about Islamic Fundamentalism”

For the record, Harris is no fan of ANY of the Abrahamic religions. He’s an equal opportunity critic.

Cassandra

Drip, Drip, Drip, and Not a Drop

Exports are a sign of changing times.

“Oil Panic Puts Export Debate Back on The Table”

Yes, indeed exports tell us something.

So do the forty-five wells within a mile of us. So does the fact that our natural gas bill went up again.

Cassandra