Waterless urinals

Ok, Emily and I have discussed this one, after I discovered there are actually waterless regular toilets. She says it sounds gross and I can't help but agree that it couldn't be less than nasty.

The urinals, however, seem like a really cool idea, to me. She still thinks they would be gross. I am delving into this topic because I, for the first time, got to see/use one. When we were on our way back from buying my new/old truck, we stopped at MickeyD's, I dunno, and they had one. It didn't stink actually, surprisingly. Less than the average urinal, actually.

Now, like I said, I can't help but think the regualr toilet would be nasty without water. However, the urinal idea, especially because it would most likely be used in a public facility, where bjillions of people use it everyday (fast food place, parks, rest stops, sporting events, Target, etc.), and is 'supposed' to be cleaned on regular basis, it would be an easy way to save much money and water. Besides, it wouldn't be any harder to clean it.

I don't remember the brand name, but here is one from Kohler:

http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?item=10453302&prod_num=4918&module=Commercial+Urinals

John

Good reading

I finished reading and making notes on a discourse from the Dalai Lama at a conference in Austria. It was a good read and inspired me to write a blog about it. So, here it be:

My notes on this:

Like the USA playing big brother to the world, which I agree with, there is only so much we can do.

It’s possible to make these ‘policies’ and the like, but enforcement would be required to implement them, which would be possible in populated areas, but ridiculous to assume possible in non-populated areas. Gangland areas are a great example. Police and many people have been trying to make these areas at least livable for many years to no avail. That’s only a small portion of the world’s population.

The injustices we have in our country are unfortunate but understandable and unavoidable in a country/system as big as ours. The perfect system that hippies dream of is just impossible, but, this is why, however, I feel that our country is truly the best. The freedoms and abilities we have here far outweigh the negative things or things that could be done better.

His reference to communism failing to provide a perfect system makes his idea of a system, in which there isn’t a huge gap between ‘classes’, more palatable, to me, at least. Other hippie-fied, communist ideas I don’t like, but I am ok with the idea of a system that eliminates the gap between ridiculous wealth and struggling to buy birthday presents for yer damn kids.

He says something undeniable, to me, “As we approach the end of the Twentieth Century, we find that the world is becoming one community.” This, to me, is the truth that faces us, regardless of differences of culture, religion, politics, etc. This is why I love technology and namely the internet, which has allowed people all over the world to network their ideas and resources.

I joke about having my feeling removed when I became a Naval Officer, but, as I have said of myself, I would give my last 5 dollars to help someone in need and, on the other hand, I would gladly choke the life out of someone who seeks to prey on someone else, especially someone weaker. I hate people, but at the same time, I love people. Dudeman said it well, “I believe that one of the principal factors that hinder us from fully appreciating our interdependence is our undue emphasis on material development. We have become so engrossed in its pursuit that, unknowingly, we have neglected the most basic qualities of compassion, caring and cooperation.”

Now, I don’t expect, ever, that everyone will be warm and fuzzy, ain’t gonna happen. However, people who would be and are normally nice to others, become not-so-nice when they get behind the wheel of their plush SUV or luxury car or any car, for that matter, or when they are busy text messaging someone or when they, spoiled by their ‘instant gratification’ life, are forced to wait in a line for something. Therefore, a system that would be more conducive to normally nice people and normally gruff people being at least sociable would really help.*****

John

The following are the Dalai Lama’s words:




Human Rights and Universal Responsibility


Non-Governmental Organizations
The United Nations World Conference
on Human Rights
Vienna, Austria
15 June, 1993

Our world is becoming smaller and ever more interdependent with the rapid growth in population and increasing contact between people and governments. In this light, it is important to reassess the rights and responsibilities of individuals, peoples and nations in relation to each other and to the planet as a whole. This World Conference of organizations and governments concerned about the rights and freedoms of people throughout the world reflects the appreciation of our interdependence.

No matter what country or continent we come from we are all basically the same human beings. We have the common human needs and concerns. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering regardless of our race, religion, sex or political status. Human beings, indeed all sentient beings, have the right to pursue happiness and live in peace and in freedom. As free human beings we can use our unique intelligence to try to understand ourselves and our world. But if we are prevented from using our creative potential, we are deprived of one of the basic characteristics of a human being. It is very often the most gifted, dedicated and creative members of our society who become victims of human rights abuses. Thus the political, social, cultural and economic developments of a society are obstructed by the violations of human rights. Therefore, the protection of these rights and freedoms are of immense importance both for the individuals affected and for the development of the society as a whole.

It is my belief that the lack of understanding of the true cause of happiness is the principal reason why people inflict suffering on others. Some people think that causing pain to others may lead to their own happiness or that their own happiness is of such importance that the pain of others is of no significance. But this is clearly shortsighted. No one truly benefits from causing harm to another being. Whatever immediate advantage is gained at the expense of someone else is short-lived. In the long run causing others misery and infringing upon their peace and happiness creates anxiety, fear and suspicion for oneself.

The key to creating a better and more peaceful world is the development of love and compassion for others. This naturally means we must develop concern for our brothers and sisters who are less fortunate than we are. In this respect, the non-governmental organizations have a key role to play. You not only create awareness for the need to respect the rights of all human beings, but also give the victims of human rights violations hope for a better future.

When I travelled to Europe for the first time in 1973, I talked about the increasing interdependence of the world and the need to develop a sense of universal responsibility. We need to think in global terms because the effects of one nation's actions are felt far beyond its borders. The acceptance of universally binding standards of Human Rights as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the International Covenants of Human Rights is essential in today's shrinking world. Respect for fundamental human rights should not remain an ideal to be achieved but a requisite foundation for every human society.

When we demand the rights and freedoms we so cherish we should also be aware of our responsibilities. If we accept that others have an equal right to peace and happiness as ourselves do we not have a responsibility to help those in need? Respect for fundamental human rights is as important to the people of Africa and Asia as it is to those in Europe or the Americas. All human beings, whatever their cultural or historical background, suffer when they are intimidated, imprisoned or tortured. The question of human rights is so fundamentally important that there should be no difference of views on this. We must therefore insist on a global consensus not only on the need to respect human rights world wide but more importantly on the definition of these rights.

Recently some Asian governments have contended that the standards of human rights laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are those advocated by the West and cannot be applied to Asia and others parts of the Third World because of differences in culture and differences in social and economic development. I do not share this view and I am convinced that the majority of Asian people do not support this view either, for it is the inherent nature of all human beings to yearn for freedom, equality and dignity, and they have an equal to achieve that. I do not see any contradiction between the need for economic development and the need for respect of human rights. The rich diversity of cultures and religions should help to strengthen the fundamental human rights in all communities. Because underlying this diversity are fundamental principles that bind us all as members of the same human family. Diversity and traditions can never justify the violations of human rights. Thus discrimination of persons from a different race, of women, and of weaker sections of society may be traditional in some regions, but if they are inconsistent with universally recognized human rights, these forms of behavior must change. The universal principles of equality of all human beings must take precedence.

It is mainly the authoritarian and totalitarian regimes who are opposed to the universality of human rights. It would be absolutely wrong to concede to this view. On the contrary, such regimes must be made to respect and conform to the universally accepted principles in the larger and long term interests of their own peoples. The dramatic changes in the past few years clearly indicate that the triumph of human rights is inevitable.

There is a growing awareness of peoples' responsibilities to each other and to the planet we share. This is encouraging even though so much suffering continues to be inflicted based on chauvinism, race, religion, ideology and history. A new hope is emerging for the downtrodden, and people everywhere are displaying a willingness to champion and defend the rights and freedoms of their fellow human beings.

Brute force, no matter how strongly applied, can never subdue the basic human desire for freedom and dignity. It is not enough, as communist systems have assumed, merely to provide people with food, shelter and clothing. The deeper human nature needs to breathe the precious air of liberty. However, some governments still consider the fundamental human rights of its citizens an internal matter of the state. They do not accept that the fate of a people in any country is the legitimate concern of the entire human family and that claims to sovereignty are not a license to mistreat one's citizens. It is not only our right as members of the global human family to protest when our brothers and sisters are being treated brutally, but it is also our duty to do whatever we can to help them.

Artificial barriers that have divided nations and peoples have fallen in recent times. With the dismantling of Berlin wall the East - West division which has polarized the whole world for decades has now come to an end. We are experiencing a time filled with hope and expectations. Yet there still remains a major gulf at the heart of the human family. By this I am referring to the North-South divide. If we are serious in our commitment to the fundamental principles of equality, principles which, I believe, lie at the heart of the concept of human rights, today's economic disparity can no longer be ignored. It is not enough to merely state that all human beings must enjoy equal dignity. This must be translated into action. We have a responsibility to find ways to achieve a more equitable distribution of world's resources.

We are witnessing a tremendous popular movement for the advancement of human rights and democratic freedom in the world. This movement must become an even more powerful moral force, so that even the most obstructive governments and armies are incapable of suppressing it. This conference is an occasion for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to this goal. It is natural and just for nations, peoples and individuals to demand respect for their rights and freedoms and to struggle to end repression, racism, economic exploitation, military occupation, and various forms of colonialism and alien domination. Governments should actively support such demands instead of only paying lip service to them.

As we approach the end of the Twentieth Century, we find that the world is becoming one community. We are being drawn together by the grave problems of over population, dwindling natural resources, and an environmental crisis that threaten the very foundation of our existence on this planet. Human rights, environmental protection and great social and economic equality, are all interrelated. I believe that to meet the challenges of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for one self, one's own family or one's nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the best foundation for world peace.

This need for co-operation can only strengthen humankind, because it helps us to recognize that the most secure foundation for a new world order is not simply broader political and economic alliances, but each individual's genuine practice of love and compassion. These qualities are the ultimate source of human happiness, and our need for them lies at the very core of our being. The practice of compassion is not idealistic, but the most effective way to pursue the best interests of others as well as our own. The more we become interdependent the more it is in our own interest to ensure the well-being of others.

I believe that one of the principal factors that hinder us from fully appreciating our interdependence is our undue emphasis on material development. We have become so engrossed in its pursuit that, unknowingly, we have neglected the most basic qualities of compassion, caring and cooperation. When we do not know someone or do not feel connected to an individual or group, we tend to overlook their needs. Yet, the development of human society requires that people help each other.

I, for one, strongly believe that individuals can make a difference in society. Every individual has a responsibility to help move our global family in the right direction and we must each assume that responsibility. As a Buddhist monk, I try to develop compassion within myself, not simply as a religious practice, but on a human level as well. To encourage myself in this altruistic attitude, I sometimes find it helpful to imagine myself standing as a single individual on one side, facing a huge gathering of all other human beings on the other side. Then I ask myself, 'Whose interests are more important?' To me it is quite clear that however important I may feel I am, I am just one individual while others are infinite in number and importance.

Thank you.

Awesome new technology

I just read something in April's Popular Science magazine about Amyris Biotechnologies out there in Emeryville, CA. They are testing a new idea they have come up with that sounds and looks pretty awesome so far. They are making a genetically manipulated bacteria that can be used to produce a good old fashioned gasoline. A carbon-neutral gas at that.

A professor Keasling out there at Berkeley said, so perfectly, in my opinion, "...today's gasoline engines are powerful machines finely tuned by decades of engineering and innovation. Why give them up if we don't have to?"

Jack Newman, the co-founder of Amyris, and his colleagues agree that, as I have said for a while now (glad to hear someone else say it), no single technology is going to solve our energy woes. This cool new technology would still only fuel a fraction of the cars, if mass-produced. However, it would be more worthy, in my opinion, of investing time and money in.

Ethanol, for example, can't be used in existing pipelines because it is so corrosive and, as a few knowledgeable sources have said, if all the corn in the U.S. was used for ethanol, it would still only support a mere 10 or 12% of our appetite for fuel.

Ok, I will stop now before I get to rambling. I'm tired.

Listening to: Crush, by Dave Matthews

John

More political thoughts

I am listening to Bush and it gots me thinking. When I was a Naval Officer, I managed right at 100 people and I was still a speck compared to the Captain of the ship. I had to depend on people that I had no direct control over to get the job done. The Captain had 6,000 or so people to depend on, some people he never even saw. Now, extrapolate that to the level of a Mayor, then a Governor, then a frickin President. Holy crap. If the people that worked for me, honestly/realistically, didn't want to support me, they could easily have made me fail, easily.

That is one of the conveniences that spoiled Americans have. There is a President that can be a figurehead to take the blame for everything that is wrong in their lives and in the country and the world. This Iraq war has been mismanaged in a lot of areas, but I don't think it's fair or very informed to just lay all the responsibility on one man. Like the Guantanamo situation. He was prolly completely unaware that it was even happening. For example, the Captain of my ship had no idea of what I was doing with my troops, unless something exceptionally bad or good happened. Does that mean he's a bad leader.

He's 'responsible' for everyone and everything on and around the ship. So, shouldn't he know what's going on in a small 3-man work center, buried in the belly of the ship, 10 floors down? It's silly to me to blame one man for the mistakes of thousands of others. The war idea was supported, but the mismanagement was/is not. I agree, but I don't think it can all be pinned on one man.

Furthermore, I believe that we have become Big Brother to the world and for damn good reason. When our country was started, we were escaping the oppression of a big, greedy, selfish country. Then, when our Navy was formed, we were helping the rest of the world to be free from the frickin criminals that the big, greedy, selfish country was too self-interested to do anything about, even though they were the only country in the world with a Navy adequate enough to face criminals like the Barbary pirates who kidnapped cruise ships of harmless civilians.

I am glad that we still do this for the world. Sitting back and talking about peace is nice but it's frickin selfish. We can sleep safely, without threat of someone busting down our door to take someone who speaks an opinion that is contrary to the current leader, who happens to be yer frickin brother. We can drive on maintained roads and drink frickin gourmet coffee and stop just about anydamnwhere to use the restroom on the way to a job that protects us from abuse and insures us in the event of harm.

Yes, there are other countries that have something that is better than ours. But, why is it that everyone's not moving to one of them. The money it would take to move there just isn't worth it, is it? And I'm not buying the, 'it's too expensive to go' idea. If someone wants a frickin SUV or a college education or a mortgage, they will find a way to get that down payment and make that monthly payment. Well, not lately, because credit's a bit too readily available, but that's a whole nutha story.

The changes/improvements in Iraq are undeniable. Usable roads, women having rights and businesses even, clean drinking water, development of a working government that will actually support it's people instead of raping them... So, I would rather have more countries enjoy the freedoms that we do than sit back and selfishly enjoy them while criticizing those who believe in the undeniable truth that we have a responsibility to better the world, because we are in a position to do so, but also because of simple self-interest. The world is not so big anymore. Besides helping other countries, we do have to concern ourselves with our freedoms being threatened by strongholds around the world.

Ok, I'm tired.

Listening to: Get Up, Get Out, by Godsmack.

My two cents about politcal stuff

This picture illustrates my feelings on peace. Yeah, it's a nice thought, but no matter how nice you are, someone will smash yer face and take yer stuff.

That is not my two cents, it was just worthy of comment

I was just reading a few articles in The Economist, including the one below, and it just got me thinking about writing my two cents.

An excerpt from an article in The Economist:

Both Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton talk of getting out of Iraq, and Mr Obama makes much of his opposition to those (such as his Democratic rival) who authorised the invasion in the first place. Many voters like his anti-war stance; his broad promise to end the war is popular too. He says that he would get troops out by the end of 2009. But Democratic peaceniks might cheer less heartily at some of the details of his plan. He would withdraw one or two combat brigades from Iraq each month, thus keeping American troops present in large numbers for a long time yet. Even after that, he says he would leave soldiers to protect America’s embassy, to fight al-Qaeda where necessary, and that he would “reserve the right” to re-enter Iraq to stop a genocide.

This spoke to me about the 'change hippie's' inexperience and dreamy ideas that just won't get the job done and could, therefore cost many more lives when he pulls out improperly or his failed attempt just returns troops to a Vietnam-like situation where their only expectation is to die for the country they love, in vain, unfortunately.

I would prefer to have McCain as our Commander in Chief, but my next choice would actually be, a close second, Hillary Clinton. I feel that this Iraq war is very much like the Vietnam war. It lost positive management and subsequently support. I think if it would have been managed properly, it could have been finished successfully and would be in the history books as a positive thing instead of the despised occurrence it has become. The same goes for this Iraq war. I think management has failed.

I, however, don't think the solution is to just drop everything and quit. To me, that would be like someone investing $140,000 in a hot rod and then he passes it on to his son, but his son sends it to the crusher because his dad didn't manage the fuel system properly and it doesn't run right. All the goods are there, they just need to be used properly.


This is why I think McCain would be the best choice. I think he, being a Vietnam veteran and 5-year POW after being in an accident that would allow him to be sent home but he stayed in the fight, will be the best to manage and, subsequently, ensure the troops are taken care of. I also feel he can manage the other areas of the job properly, such as taxes, the budget, employment, etc.

My second choice, Hillary, I feel is best equipped to take care of the troops
because she has a bit of experience and if we were to pull-out, I feel she could do it well and manage it properly so that our troops that are the last to leave are not sitting ducks for retaliation. I also feel pretty good about her managing the economy, with the help of her husband. I saw a good bumper sticker the other day, ' When Clinton lied no one died'. So true. Great men throughout history have done amazing things and, at the same time, were weak and fell to this vice of sexual desire. Yes, it's bad and I don't condone it, but men like Einstein, Jefferson, and Kennedy should not have their positive accomplishments ignored because their little brain may have led them down other roads in their spare time. Bill Clinton, regardless of his sexual improprieties, was a good president, in my opinion.

You can read more here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/bc42.html

In the first paragraph, his achievements are summed up nicely.

I love this quote:

In his inaugural address he declared that:

“	Our democracy must be not only the envy of the world but the engine of our own renewal. There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.

I was in the Navy for most of his terms. I remember a lot of pissing and moaning about how he was horrible for our country, but mostly the Navy, and why did they say this? Because these were the people who had been doing things the same, inneficient, wasteful way for 20 or so years. The idea of downsizing meant more work, waagh! Now, downsizing in some dreamy, hippie way would be a bad thing, but if it was managed properly and engineered for efficiency, it would be a good thing.

These people , are the same type who moaned and groaned when I became a supervisor of a high-tempo, RADAR electronics work center and wanted to re-design things for efficiency. They moaned and groaned when the Navy adopted the same Kaizen ideas that worked so well for companies like Toyota and Boeing, saving them countless dollars and man-hours.

The old ways were mostly gone when I became an Officer and had the power to allow these young, innovative minds to offer and implement new ideas to better the flow and subsequent success of the organization. Anyway, slimming down, admittedly, is hard, the growing pains of learning to do a job once done by 4 people that is now done by one and with more output required. However, it ended up being a good thing, for the Navy and the tax-payers supporting it.

Ok, I'm compootered out now. I believe I will got git my scrub on, yo.

Listening to: Good Directions, by Billy Currington

Another reminder of why I love humanity

I was just watching The History Channel and on came a show about alien stuff. They were talking about these huge 'radio telescopes' that several organizations use to monitor space for possible signals. There are religions that say that this is nonsense because we are a unique miracle made by God and the other planets are just scenery. I am, however, someone who believes in God, but am not arrogant enough to presume to know who and what God is and, furthermore, motivations and intentions.

I also believe God to be a scientist, our own awesome biology is undeniable proof of this. So, my thoughts, prolly heathen-like thoughts, are that, like us humans scurrying around on this planet, Earth is just a speck. This is more reason for me to think that it is silly to be arrogant enough to presume to 'know' anything and be content that God will allow me to know what I should know. This is not an excuse to be lethargic and not try or learn or research. It is simply a lack of interest in being 'puffed up' and aloof.


So, to wander back to my original thought, this is why I love humanity. There are so many different ideas and passions that people devote their lives to; aliens, the environment, alternative energies, religion, politics, drag racing, animals, and on and on. I love our country and am glad that I sacrificed and others, better than me sacrificed and continue to do so, so that everyone with their differing views are free to think and support whatever the hell they want to. However, my lack of interest in being arrogant is the reason why I'm not arrogant enough to think we are the only group of humans on the planet that have and support such ideas. I'm just glad to be in this country. I like it here.

I may not be as 'religious' about some of the ideas I support to varying degrees, such as aliens, green ideas, machines, animals, etc., but I am glad that these differing ideas are someone's passion. The cool thing is that the age of the dictator is long since past and, likely, the best (to most humans) idea is going to settle to the top of the pile. This is why, although I am not quite hippie-fied enough for the 'green' forums I frequent, I like to hear the ideas and exchange with other people who are interested in a lot of the same ideas that are further developed by our support. An ugly, underpowered hybrid is not long for this earth, in my opinion, but the engineering is good and the popularity furthers alternative fuel ideas in general, so we can end up with a widely useful vehicle.

Listening to: It can't rain all the time, by Jane Siberry

It's about damn time

Ok, my writing has been sparse. I have let myself get all distracted by life and haven't kept a log of it the way I intended when I started this damn thing. I blame having a girlfriend to occupy my time and my mind.

A good illustration of this lack of tracking is, I was just up in Jacksonville at NAS Jax for a required exam for my disability, and I looked at the officer homes again. They are not only beautiful homes, but they are on the water AND the Navy provides them for you at no cost, that includes electricity. Damn, I sure do miss the Navy. The sacrifices and challenges are hard, but it's well worth it, to me, at least. Anyway, I didn't take one damn picture. So, nothing for the blog even.

This writing was inspired by my recent reminder of how I hate hippies and the blog I wrote on Myspace shortly after. I wrote it there instead of here because I thought it would be a good insight for my Myspace family and it was right there at my fingertips and didn't feel like posting here, because I knew I'd do what I'm doing no, which is writing about a lot of unrelated items.

So, without further ado, here bees the blog I writed on Myspace:
***
I linked to this guy’s profile from a hippie’s profile, so it is no surprise to me that he spews the same hippie doctrine that people have said along with the word ’change’. All this stuff is nice but dreamy, fairy tale, ’oh, let’s all hold hands’ crap just isn’t gonna happen, in my opinion of course, and just wastes vital resources, such as money, time, and mental energies, which could be much better spent on researching and developing something useful, like a hybrid or electric car that is not grossly underpowered and ugly.

These guys have nice stimulating things to say, but the unfortunate part, for me, is that it’s a lot of frickin fluff. They say crap like ’we have a plan to bring our troops home and stabilize Iraq’, but the details are never forthcoming, just smoke and mirrors. Yeah, it’s nice to dream of magically poofing all the bad guys away, when yer frickin 10.

I don’t believe this war is being handled properly. However, I don’t think the solution is to just quit. I believe that’s what happened in Vietnam. It’s not, in my opinion of course, that we shouldn’t have been there as much as mismanagement. That was due to Kennedy’s assassination and subsequent lack of support for the ongoing war that had been started. The follow-on administrations did what these ’bring our troops home’ people want to do now, just quit, and let the fallen heroes die in vain and furthermore let more soldiers and civilians die and, no shit, public opinion of the war will be negative, hmmm, funny how that works.

Ok, I’m spent.

Check out this guy’s profile. He ran fer president fer a minute, now he’s running for Congress. It, like the other one(s), sounds good until you realize it’s a lot of fat with not much meat.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=156831770


Listening to: Building a Mystery, by Sarah McLachlan

John