Sandy Hamilton - Perspectives

Kyoto Protocal or Bust

Our Government made a conscious decision not to adopt the Kyoto Protocol framework through the United Nations for climate control in 1997. While most other leading nations from around the globe quickly moved to adopt policies outlined in the mandate, the U.S. took the position of "voluntary reductions" in CO2 and NO2 emissions. This resulted in an actual increase in the level of emissions throughout the U.S. as our economy and population continues to grow. There's been a lot of rhetoric around the subject of global warming, nay-sayers, doom-sayers, it seems that most everyone has an opinion. WorldWatch Institute has a good, albeit dated synopsis regarding Kyoto and Climate Change. Mounting evidence tells me, we need to at least pay attention to data and leading scientists. Recently I watched the movie "An Inconvenient Truth" which was produced by Al Gores team. If 10% of what is portrayed in this movie is accurate - I think we're in trouble. As a follow up I read Lester Browns book Plan B 2.0 which focuses on how to save our planet. Again, astonished by some of the facts that a truly credible author lays out around energy, climate, population and food.

Today there's a House Oversite Committee inquiry into the White House apparently "stonewalling" a scathing report on climate change. One small positive step was that the President did issue an executive order yesterday mandating all Federal Agencies to reduce carbon emissions. OK ....so that deals with 1/2 of 1% of all energy. What about the other 99.5%? Renewable energy President Bush....renewable energy! I can all but guarantee that Renewable Energy will be the cornerstone of our next Presidents platform.

Yellow Pages Debacle

I came home today to find a plastic bag on my front walk with three huge phone books inside from Qwest. A "residential" directory, a "yellow pages" directory, and a new Qwest Dex "plus" portable yellow pages directory (slightly small than the other books). Probably close to 10 lbs in all. I can't remember the last time I used a phone book. Note to those that buy space in the yellow pages - you are wasting your money on me. So I got on the phone to Qwest and asked them to put me on a DO NOT DELIVER EVER AGAIN list to which I got a response of, and I'm not kidding here, "we do not have a list like that sir and we have to deliver them out to all of our customers. But I don't want them. I'm sorry sir they have to be delivered to you." What a terrible waste of trees.

10 Degrees F, Feels Like 50 F

Most weather stations/sites have a little add to the daily temperatures, namely ..."feels like." The feels like temperature takes into account things like humidity, wind, etc, etc. I never really understood it. To make matters worse, temperature is always measured in the shade, that way the direct sunlight doesn't alter the temperature reading. I don't understand why they do that either. In a Colorado winter like we're having where the temperature is 10 degrees F the last thing I want to do is to be in the shade. On Saturday I was yet again snow blowing the driveway after 4" or so accumulation Friday eve. Saturday was a beautiful day, sunny, bright blue sky and I found myself sweating while maneuvering my snow blower under the sun in 10 degree weather, that is until I went around to the back yard to clear a sidewalk in the shade. I could have literally worn a t-shirt and shorts while in the sun on Saturday - or something close to that. Try to do that in 10 degree weather in Buffalo!