rantlust

Posted by bab on December 13th 2007 in Parenting, World
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I just saw this on our local bay area NBC 11 news about a dutch couple giving up their 7-year old adopted daughter because the kid they say doesn’t fit in. They had adopted the South Korean girl when she was four months old after they failed to conceive any children. However after the adoption they did conceive two kids biologically. They have handed over the kid to social workers in Hong Kong where they are currently living (The dutch guy is a diplomat). I am not sure what to say but their actions certainly don’t fit it.

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Posted by Suman on December 12th 2007 in Earth, Environment, Government, Politics, Society, Technology
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As you may know, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an energy bill last week (H.R.6) that among many other things raises mpg standards for cars (to 35 mpg by 2020), extends and raises the tax credits for residential solar energy (thru 2014, and to $4k from $2k), and eliminates tax breaks for oil companies (currently $13.5 billion - that’s $13.5 thousand million, for our readers who speak U.K./European English).

The bill is currently being debated by the Senate, which may reject all or portions of it, and the President may also use his veto powers.  If you are a U.S. voter, please send a quick note to your elected representatives to let them know your views on the matter.

To write in support of H.R.6, click here.

To write in opposition to H.R. 6, click here.

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Posted by anupcs on December 06th 2007 in Cars, Design, Music
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It’s a cold (by CA standards), wet, winter day here in the Bay Area today and it’s as good (huh?) a miserable time than any to go into some of my pet peeves:

1. Driving in the rain

People from around here are so used to sunny weather most of the time that at least 75% of them have no frigging clue about how to drive in the rain. 101, generally a lousy freeway (it’s the main thoroughfare in Silicon Valley), comes to a creepy crawl even after the first drops of rain. Add to that a rush hour that begins in the dark as in winter, and all hell breaks loose. These are the days when we are thankful for being able to work from home once in a while.

2. The Left Lane Slackers

If it were up to me, I’d levy a fine of $281 (the same as for abusing the diamond lane) for the clueless nincompoops who drive on the left lanes as if their fathers-in-law owned the bloody freeway. Nothing gives me road rage as much as the left lane slackers. And in the process of passing them (on the right), if I happen to see them holding a phone in their hands, only soothing music from Metallica can prevent me from cutting them off. Serenity now, serenity now. Of course if it’s raining, then this doesn’t really matter as we have other things to rage about.

3. CD Packaging

I’d like to meet the person who invented the wrapping for CDs (and to a lesser extent DVDs): I have some choice words for him or her. Why do they make it so difficult for us to relieve a brand new CD of its packaging and start enjoying the music? It takes a special sort of skill and incredible patience to do this. There is a clearly marked tab that says “Pull.” But I am certain that this is an inside joke among the packaging people. Out of the hundreds of CDs that I have bought in this country, only a handful have I been able to open cleanly by pulling on the damn tab. For the others, I have had to use industrial strength Gerber knives to do the deed. You’d think that not only does the RIAA not want you to share music that you own but they don’t want you to listen to it yourself. I have similar feelings towards the clamshell packaging found on items such as small electronics goods (and even my shaving blade). I just don’t buy the fact that this really protects these items from theft.

I am going to stop here before I blow off the lid just writing about my pet peeves.

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