Is Happiness Overrated?

I love the Wall Street Journal! The other day I came across this article...

Is Happiness Overrated?

~ Shirley S. Wang

"The relentless pursuit of happiness may be doing us more harm than good."

Right from the first sentence...it's an interesting read.

Make it a good Sunday!

sending love,

Suchie

No Power!

So yesterday while celebrating St. Patty's day my phone died!

I felt powerless... figuratively and literally.

In a city with poor public transportation and not knowing the cab number...I came to the stark realization that I also do not know many of my friends phone numbers. Seriously, how many of your friends numbers do you know?

What do we do to make a call today? Do we dial a number? I think not:-) Most of us simply search through our directories and click on a name. I feel that as a society we are putting ourselves in a very vulnerable position. Are we in control of where our energy comes from? Nope...and with out energy, where is our information?

Something to thing about on a Sunday....

Make it a great day,

Suchie,

ps...I find this is an interesting write considering our recent dialogue over energy.

Why do we celebrate St. Patty's day?

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Do you know why we celbrate St. Patty's day? Seriously...I feel I could ask that question to pretty much every one in North America and very few would know the correct answer.

I received the following message from an amazing friend 2 days ago. Regardless of how near or far a friend is...it is nice to be loved!

As I celebrate St. Patrick's day this year…

My goal is to keep up with all my green gear…

Including my camera, and my dignity- no fear!

There will be plenty of Car bombs and yummy green beer!

I will cheer on my gators, while rocking my Green,

I will try not to flash my panties or play the tambourine.

As I am older and wiser, though I am still learning to fly,

I would love to remember these moments as time seems to be flying by.

So come out and drink with your old buddy SAM,

I will dye your beer green and we won't give a damn!

We can all be Irish for a day,

So put on your green drinking pants and LET's PLAY!

We will start with car bombs at our favorite place,

Finnhenry's, then wall st, cus I do like your face!

With your favorite Irish pals, this night will be merry.

Or in the words of Barney-LEGEND-ARY!

Make it a great St. Patty's day!

Suchie

Lets talk Nuclear! Read to end

Lets talk Nuclear...

On March 14th I wrote:

"Yes, I am a proponent for safe nuclear power generation...Yes, I am an even larger proponent for clean/sustainable power generation and energy efficiency measures...and YES, I believe that from it's extraction, to burning, to burial ~ COAL IS DIRTY AND FINITE!"

If you have yet to read the last 2 post...5 minutes now will set the background.

March 14th ~ Nuclear Power

March 15th ~ Anonymous Comment #2

Before jumping into key issues raised in the Anonymous Comment, I would like to take a second to clarify...when I said "I am an even larger proponent for clean/sustainable power generation and energy efficiency measures" one can derive the following...

I want sustainable energy and energy efficient technologies to be implemented on a global scale. I would welcome the end of nuclear and coal fired energy generation.

My present nuclear position is simply based on the following:

1. our glutenous societal energy consumption

2. the finite and dirty nature of coal

3. political ineptness to implement stewarding policy

Ultimately, my question for you all is ~ Would you welcome the end of nuclear and coal fired energy generation knowing your energy costs will increase?

Sadly, we already know the answer. I am rolling the dice here, but I highly doubt the majority of you live in a home with SolarPV, Wind, a battery bank, Geothermal, and sustainable standards of energy efficiency....

Now moving onto our Anonymous Commenter(AC)...

Our AC states: "There is no room for an "oops factor" at a nuclear plant" and I absolutely agree with that! Quention ~ are you prepared to tell future generations "Yes, we knew we were pumping tons coal fired CO2 into the atmosphere but didn't care enough to stop...oops/sorry"...?

AC states: "coal is dirty but nuclear is down right toxic" & "The waste that nuclear energy produces will damage Mother Earth beyond repair..." Well until the government steps up, we the people demand change on a massive level, or the consumer puts their money where their mouth is...we are left with a situation where you have to pick your poison.

1. Yes nuclear waste is extremely dangerous!

2. Nuclear waste treatment is possible, however the technology has been suppressed.

2. The total amount of nuclear waste created from all the energy I would consume in my entire lifetime, would fit in a Coke/Pepsi can.

3. In the last 150 years our Atmospheric CO2 has gone from 280ppm to 391.76ppm! A direct and measurable result of burning fossil fuels. (talk about almost beyond repair!)

CO2now ~ present atmospheric CO2

Real Climate ~ Measurability of CO2

AC states: "Nuclear energy for this area...If this plan ever becomes a reality, I would move my family far away without a doubt. It only takes one tiny mistake to make cause a catastrophe disaster to occur." Yes, I agree that one tiny mistake can lead to a catastrophic event. However, I also feel we are making a little mistake everyday, a mistake that will keep adding up everyday we continue to burn coal/oil/fossil fuels. Yes AC...both coal and nuclear are used like you said: "So that we can have power so that we can have modern conveniences." How sad is that eh!?!

Now the semi-personal attack from AC: "If or when you become responsible for another human life, other than your own, you may in fact change your tune. With age comes experience and wisdom. Before you make such statements here on your blog or anywhere else, do you homework." The audacity of that statement amazes, for I would imagine(not being a parent myself) that a parent would want to steward a world for their child/children. However, many are purely teaching glutenous consumption, I dare not say most without sourcing and therefor giving legitimate grounds for the comment "do you homework". Lastly, regardless of age, if nothing is learned from an experience...can you really draw a correlation to wisdom? Frankly it is parental inactivity that saddens me most...if we could be Chain for a day..maybe it would get asses in gear! READ THIS ~ Not Homework

So lets talk alternatives...

Wind, Solar PV, Geothermal, Hydro-electric(Tidal, Current) or the largest energy saver...ENERGY EFFICIENCY! For these to really scale, you need consumer demand or a government to say enough is enough and PASS LONG LASTING POLICY! Businesses are in the game to make money and will adapt to policy! If a government says: "By 2020 all energy in our country will be generated via green/sustainable systems, we will pay fairly, not to mention provide a long term contract." BUSINESS WILL RESPOND! If you the consumer, whether parent, child or "normal dude," unitedly demand different product...BUSINESS WILL RESPOND! But are we willing to put our money where our mouths are?

If actions are any reflection...for many it seems the answer is "No."

Now how could I forget the EBM machine!?! If anyone knows someone with an extra 25million and a Local Distribution Company willing to issue a power of purchase agreement...this is a sustainable energy solution! Actually...if you just know someone willing to put up the money...we can battle to obtain a power of purchase agreement. Let me know!

In closing I want to reiterate what I wrote above:

I want sustainable energy and energy efficient technologies to be implemented on a global scale. I would welcome the end of nuclear and coal fired energy generation.

As we are all seeing in Japan...building reactors in areas prone to natural geo movement is dangerous.

So do we get green and clean...or continue with business as usual?

Guys and Gals...we have the choice! We choose what we buy and who we elect!

Thanks, make it a great day and lets choose love and stewardship!

Suchie

ps...my quotes of AC were direct quotes, errors included.

Anonymous Comment #2

Another Anonymous Comment...

I love this and want to hear your opinions please.

I will respond to this and other pertaining comments tomorrow.

Thank you and make it a great day!

Suchie :-)

Stephen, I hate to break to you my friend, but there is no such thing as "SAFE" nuclear energy! Bottom line, whether human error or natural disaster there is always the potential for error. There is no room for an "oops factor" at a nuclear plant. It makes me shutter to think that some people believe that it's a good idea to put a nuclear power plant at Nanticoke to replace Coal Fired Power Generation Plant. I agree, coal is dirty but nuclear is down right toxic! You say your a proponent of sustainable energy and want to do something to make a difference for our environment, so think outside the box and come up with a solution that doesn't involve creating radioactive waste that we need to bury deep inside the earth, only to leak into our environment and cause God only knows what kind of undiagnosed disease for our children and our children's children! The waste that nuclear energy produces will damage Mother Earth beyond repair and for what? So that we can have power so that we can have modern conveniences? Is it really worth the risk? We should take a page from our native ancentors and be stewards of the land, not it’s mortal enemy. Try telling the people of Japan and Chernobyl, as they die of radiation poisoning and cancer that nuclear was a good energy choice! Why not renewable energy source, wind, water, sun? Now the technology is expensive, just like anything that is new. However, the costs to Japan and Chernobyl have and will be astronomical for 100's of years to come! Do we really want to continue to poison our earth? Nuclear energy for this area, the most populated area of North America, or any other area is just crazy! If this plan ever becomes a reality, I would move my family far away without a doubt. It only takes one tiny mistake to make cause a catastrophe disaster to occur. If or when you become responsible for another human life, other than your own, you may in fact change your tune. With age comes experience and wisdom. Before you make such statements here on your blog or anywhere else, do you homework. Understand both sides of the issue and make an informed decision. Also, remember, Duncan Hawthorne, is paid (handsomely, I would assume) to have the belief system that he does. Look at all the other studies worldwide that refute the safety of nuclear power.