American Clean Energy and Security Act, House Bill HR 2454 – National Heat Stroke

House Bill HR 2454 passed by a squeaking seven votes, 219 to 212. In the midst of news blitz on Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawsett, the most important news was on page 10 and hardly noticed; that was the weak Climate Change bill passed by the House of Representatives. Does anyone know what the temperature has to be to cause heat stroke? Only 100 degrees Fahrenheit for a human who isn’t sweating or who is not drinking enough water to cause sweat. Yesterday it was 104 degrees in Castro Valley, California, a city with a history of relatively moderate temperature – until lately that is. In a few years, probably less than ten, it will get up to 115 to 120 degrees on the hottest days in Castro Valley, a very dangerous level. Heat Stroke will be a common occurrence. Livermore, a few miles east in the hotter valley, temperatures are usually 10 to 15 degrees hotter, so it will see 125 to 130 degree weather; IN ONLY TEN YEARS FROM TODAY! Thousands will die, perhaps including my children and grandchildren who live in the valley cities. So, anyone who voted against the bill is simply in denial. And, those who spoke against the bill because they don’t believe that Climate Change is coming, rather they choose NOT to believe, are attempting murder – murder of my children. I hold them in great contempt for that reason. Click here for a voting record of the Bill. Even though you can find your Representative in the list, these are the ones who voted “No” from California, Georgia and Indiana, states and their city of residence in locales where I have a particular family interest in; my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews who may die because these Representatives didn’t do their job:

The number is the district, Republicans are in italics.

California:

2 Wally Herger ................................................ Chico

3 Daniel E. Lungren ....................................... Gold River

4 Tom McClintock .......................................... Roseville

13 Fortney Pete Stark ...................................... Fremont

19 George Radanovich ..................................... Mariposa

20 Jim Costa ..................................................... Fresno

21 Devin Nunes ................................................ Tulare

22 Kevin McCarthy .......................................... Bakersfield

24 Elton Gallegly ............................................. Simi Valley

25 Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon ...................... Santa Clarita

26 David Dreier ............................................... San Dimas

40 Edward R. Royce ......................................... Fullerton

41 Jerry Lewis .................................................. Redlands

42 Gary G. Miller ............................................. Diamond Bar

44 Ken Calvert .................................................. Corona

45 Mary Bono Mack ......................................... Palm Springs

46 Dana Rohrabacher ...................................... Huntington Beach

48 John Campbell ............................................ Irvine

49 Darrell E. Issa ............................................ Vista

50 Brian P. Bilbray .......................................... Carlsbad

Georgia:

1 Jack Kingston .............................................. Savannah

3 Lynn A. Westmoreland ................................ Grantville

6 Tom Price ..................................................... Roswell

7 John Linder ................................................. Duluth

8 Jim Marshall ............................................... Macon

9 Nathan Deal ................................................ Gainesville

10 Paul C. Broun .............................................. Athens

11 Phil Gingrey ................................................ Marietta

12 John Barrow ................................................ Savannah

Indiana:

1 Peter J. Visclosky ........................................ Merrillville

2 Joe Donnelly ............................................... Granger

3 Mark E. Souder ........................................... Fort Wayne

4 Steve Buyer .................................................. Monticello

5 Dan Burton .................................................. Indianapolis

6 Mike Pence .................................................. Columbus

8 Brad Ellsworth ............................................ Evansville

These are the traitors, some voting No because the Bill was too weak, but most voting No because they deny that Climate Change is coming.

Black Women Depression – My Daughter’s Report

My daughter is mixed race, Japanese and Caucasian, and she has some credibility in writing a college report on Black Women depression. She’s been having problems finishing the report and it’s late. So, I offered to read what she has to date. So far, she has recapped a number of research articles and books on the subject and it’s good.

What popped out to me, though, was how much of the research done into Black Women depression was the idea that inability fitting into the white culture/environment was the source of the problem. The solution inferred appeared to me to say that the depression would be lessened or even cured if black women could, somehow, fit into that white environment. But, in order to do that, the social support of their own making, such as their families, their friends and their church would have to be sacrificed, or at least modified. Self esteem would be restored, self value would grow and seeing oneself as equal to the Caucasian would resolve itself. I wonder about an idea that suggests fitting into an environment that is generally hostile would lift a person out of depression generally caused by that environment. That seems counter-intuitive to me.

It seems more likely that her own supportive environment would be a better place to build successful programs for self improvement and build those characteristics that grow self esteem and self worth. Breaking the suppressive poverty in the most depressed communities doesn’t mean moving out of the community; it means building mechanisms to boost the economy in the community. I can imagine small business loans for businesses in the community owned by people in the community that raises the income of the community. Success is the difference between oppressive poverty and self-fulfillment. Local markets owned by local people serving the local population and using the local support groups would do wonders for those who are treated less favorably in a hostile, external environment. Can this idea be extended and expounded on to finish the report? Probably.

Allied Irish Banks (AIB)

AIB is about as cheap as they come with a PE of 2.23 with earnings per share at $2.31. Even if the share price moved up to $10.00, the PE would still be less than 5.0. AIB share price would have to move above $50.00 per share to have a PE equal to the industry average. Sheesh, this is a great stock buy.

Disclosure: I own this stock, as if there was any question about that.

A Discouraging Word

I’m finding that I’m waking up discouraged more and more each morning now days. Needed reform, it appears, just won’t happen. There is no political will in this country. Two reforms, in particular, are taking a bad turn.

Climate change is looming like the darkest storm we’ve ever seen over our heads. We need to, starting today; reduce CO² by 50% over the next forty years and all new energy production must be clean energy between now, today, and 2050. Where in our Congress or Obama’s Administration do you see the will to do that? Nowhere. Instead, “they,” our Congress and the President bow once again to industry lobbyist and meekly suggest a 4% decrease in CO². What a copout!

My son and daughter will be alive in 2050 when, by all scientific estimates, CO² parts per million (ppm) will double to 560 ppm from the measure before the industrial revolution. That will be a terrible world. My grandchildren will be alive, too, but their survival will be doubtful. I suggested a week or so ago to a friend, in my wife's presence, that my efforts to create wealth through my stock trading is to help pay for solar photoelectric installation on our house. “Oh no,” she and my wife said, “it’s much too expensive for so little gain.” Actually, I wasn’t thinking about “how long” it would take to pay off the investment or “gaining” anything; I was thinking about my children and grandchildren. But, her response revealed the prevalent attitude. Light colored, reflective roofs, solar panels, efficient windows, tankless water heaters, energy efficient appliances; all should be on our list to improve conservation in our homes. But, it’s not my house; it’s my wife’s house, so I won’t install what’s needed. When I look around in my family, both close and extended, and to people I know, it is the “easy” conservation that is prevalent and sometimes even the “easy” way is dismissed as inconvenient. My only conclusion is that the human race is an endangered species. We won’t make it.

Healthcare reform is the other “biggie” that won’t happen, and my children and grandchildren need it desperately, today. But, as I watch President Obama plead our case to the American Medical Association and to Congress, his pleas are watered down with pro-industry language. So, healthcare reform won’t happen, either. BIG change is needed. Change that hurts; change that makes the industry and “the norm” angry and loud. Socialized payment plans are needed. Otherwise, we’re just going to continue the status quo, expensive, non-care healthcare. We won’t make it.

Talking Stocks

Disclaimer first: Let’s be clear about this. When I talk specific stocks on this blog you can bet that I own the stocks, ready to buy the stocks or I’m ready to sell them. I’ll try to put this disclaimer at the top of each article I write here, so you can take whatever I say with a grain of salt or you can look into my methods and see value in what I say. My gain since February 2009: 70.21%.

Are you in for a little gambling? If you are, then there is no better place to do it than in the stock market. I don’t do Options, Futures or Commodities. I don’t really understand them, so I do my gambling on the stock market. And, if you feel that the stock market is not gambling or shouldn’t be approached as gambling; then you’ve either got a screw lose or you’ve been sold the bill of goods spouted on CNBC. It is gambling.

But, it can be gambling with a lot less risk than taking the next card off the deck at Tahoe, or thinking that the next throw of the dice is going to turn to your numbers and with much higher returns. The real question is when to buy and when to sell and what stock to do that with. If you’re waiting on the so-called “Analysts” to put a buy rating on a stock, you’re about 30 to 180 days too late. The analysts are always late. By the time you buy it, the same analysts are drafting up their reasons to put a hold or sell rating on it. You buy, and then find the stock going down and you’re stuck holding the stock until it comes back up to your buy price. Then you hold some more hoping the stock goes higher so you can sell it for a profit.

A good example of analysts-head-in-their-ass (AHITA) disease is GE, General Electric. Eight of eleven analysts say “hold” while only two indicate a “strong buy.” It’s been that way since July 2008. Are you kidding? I agree with the two. GE, even after its stock price has risen by $5.00 since March 2009, is still a bargain at $13.42 (just a second ago). Its P/E (Price to Earnings ratio) is 8.34, very low. Furthermore, it is poised to be a major “green” company. It makes wind turbines and smart electronic appliances and everything in between. It is a good buy and long-term keeper for dividends, 9.21%, and it is being depressed by the AHITA disease. Buy it.

Some stocks were severely beaten down since last July. ARM, ArvinMeritor Inc, is a good example of a beaten stocks that analyst rate as “moderate sell;” only one of six analysts indicates a moderate buy. Today ARM is selling for $3.81. Well, it has had big revenue hits since July 2008 because it makes parts for trucks and light vehicles, but, it is a global company and parts demand for existing trucks is going to increase since truck owners are resorting to repairs rather than new trucks. ARM is also entering the green, environmental zone. It is joining others in testing hybrid trucks and that’s a coming thing. ARM has no place to go but up. I may take advantage of this stock several times while it’s on its way up. Analysts are way behind on this one.

So, if you find yourself with a few extra bucks for a long-term investment; buy GE and hold it. If you have several thousand dollars, watch ARM on a chart with Bollinger Bands and a separate Fast Stochastic chart to give you Overbought and Oversold conditions. When a 30 or 60 day chart of ARM indicates it’s oversold, buy 1,000 shares. When the chart indicates it’s overbought, sell it. Keep in mind how much commission you’re paying. (If you’re paying over $10.00, you’ve got the wrong brokerage.) If in the overbought condition you’re only going to make $20.00 and your commission is $10.00, then hold on a little longer until you can make $100.00. If the general market is in a good mood, indicated by good news, then keep holding until it goes up more. But, don’t get too greedy and don’t let fear be your guide. If you’re making 20% on it and your chart indicates an overbought condition, sell it then forget it or watch it for the next down period.

All stocks have short term cyclic behavior, down-up-down-up, even when the longer trend is up or down (use more caution or take up short selling in a downward trend – I don’t short sell). Take advantage of the down periods by buying and the up periods by selling. Watch your charts daily.

Other considerations: Buy stocks that have high average transaction volumes, i.e., over 1 million per day. That way they won’t be hard to sell. Read the latest news on the company; judge “seriously bad” (don’t touch it) from just temporary bad news (will be forgotten soon, so buy). Keep track of your tax liability. Short term gains pay more taxes… but, you get to keep the rest.

More to come…

It is confirmed – Limbaugh is Crazy

Did I hear Limbaugh correctly? Did I hear him say that Jimmy von Brunn is a “liberal extremist?” Aw, comon’ Rush, you’ve got to be kidding. You really can’t mean that. Ever since the first neo-Nazi thought up his hate scheme, he based his ultra-right extremist beliefs on the ideology preached by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and the extremes of Christian fundamentalism. If that’s not the extremes of the Right-wing conservatism, I don’t know what is. So, Rush, admit that you were kidding.

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is ultra left liberal and 10 is ultra right conservative, you, Rush, are about an eight and one-half, Glen Beck is a nine, and von Brunn is a ten. Of course, you and Beck could move up a notch or two without much provocation; I’ve heard your ranting along those levels. The thing is that your ranting encourages your fans to be even more extreme and you trigger ideas of violence. That’s the danger of listening to you. The best defense against you is the “OFF” switch. That’s the only way for your fans to get their brains back.

DWOG – Deep Well Oil & Gas Inc

What’s going on with this company? Its stock is 16 cents! It should be at least $1.00 and maybe more. It has good holdings and good claims and its drilling in oil rich Alberta, Canada. Isn’t that what everyone wants? Drill, baby, drill!

Disclosure: I own DWOG for Christ’s sake! Didn’t you guess that? Doesn’t matter; it should still be higher.

The Bank Bailout Scam – Again

Have you noticed the primary reason that banks are in such a hurry to payback the government? It isn’t that the banks are healthy, it isn’t that the toxic assets are gone and it isn’t that they have their bank depositors' and creditors' financial security at heart. It is to rid themselves of the “bonus” restrictions. They, the top executives, want their big bonuses and they can’t have them until they rid themselves of government restrictions. So, they’re in a rush to payback the bailout money.

The only way a bank can afford to pay big bonuses to its executives is to scam its depositors and creditors through transaction and membership fees, high credit interest rates and low savings rates. Those fees and interest manipulation is also the source, the only source, banks use to pay dividends to stock holders. Depositors and creditors, the primary source of money for banks, are the last people these banks think of. In other words; it’s all a scam.

If I were doing business with these banks, I would take my money someplace else. There are honest banks out there and the more honest they are the more you will make on your savings account and the less interest you will pay on your credit card. Any bank that gives its executives big bonuses, bigger than the salary they make, is being dishonest with you and your money.

It is interesting that CitiBank cannot yet return its bailout and, since it can’t pay big bonuses, it finds itself at a disadvantage in its ability to hire top-notch executives. The truth is that the playing field should be leveled by restricting compensation across the industry whether the bank received bailout or not. That would remove the crooks from the banking industry. But, that won’t happen, so the alternative is that “people,” you and me, need to be more selective in the banks we choose to do business with. Don’t do business with a bank that’s ripping you off with big bonuses and compensation packages.

There it is again, The Republican Mantra

The big, bad “government is taking over healthcare.” There it is again; the Republican mantra. Don’t they ever get tired of saying it? I certainly get tired of hearing it. I’ve been thinking that what makes the government so bad in many cases is the fact that Republicans who spout the mantra are part of it. I’ve come to the point where I don’t care anymore whether the health insurers make money or not. Usually, I’m in favor of corporations making a self-sustaining profit, but I’m fed up with the insurance companies. It is clear to me that patients, their customers, are not going to get a fair shake until they are beaten down until they say, “uncle.”

It used to be, at least so I thought, that companies were constantly striving for efficiency to keep costs down, for both profit and the competitive edge to lower costs to the customer. That’s no longer true with regard to insurance companies. They don’t have to be efficient. All they have to do is pay lobbyist to keep taxes and regulation to a minimum, deny insurance coverage to costly customers when their health problems become too expensive, and conspire with government and industry personalities to keep drug, equipment and medical procedures costs high for the good of their own pocket.

I have a bad feeling about the coming, so-called healthcare reform. I have a feeling that it won’t be reform at all, but just more watered down, industry favoring duplicity that sucks the people of this country dry; just more transferring wealth from the poorest to the richest. The rich, it seems, are determined not to support their own country, and I think I can stereotype the rich when I say that. They whine, to a man and woman, constantly about how they are being mistreated or controlled, and about the so-called deliberately poor and homeless who, they say, choose to be that way to get welfare relief. It’s the Reagan myth perpetuated specifically to pull the wool over our eyes. It isn’t true; it has never been true.

Less government does not mean more freedom. Freedom is not dependent on more or less government. Good governance should be the goal we seek, not more or less government. If there is anything to be learned from the collapse of the economy and the huge transfer of wealth to the wealthiest people it is that less government regulation has been more oppressive on the general public than any form of oppressive government. Opportunity has diminished to a point where only a few who chose to play unethical games make it to the top of industry. There rest of us, who chose not to play popularity games and who only wanted a reasonably good life, were disposed of along the way. The depressed were disadvantaged or used for the benefit of those willing to use others, whether it is using our labor, our retirement accounts, our bank deposits or our health condition; it never the less lead to the benefit of those who would take advantage of others.

Attention to “the public good” is long overdue. The next time you hear a Republican say “no government,” “less government” or “the government is taking over,” take a good look at who is saying it. You can bet your last dollar that what’s really happening is that he or she is a person raising a flag to industry special interests that says, “Here I am. I’m waiting for you to offer me high paying position in industry after my political career. I’m waiting for your huge donation to my campaign. I’m waiting for a ride in your corporate jet to a tropical get-a-way. I do favors for money.” That’s what the real message is, and nothing more. It is certainly not for the good of the public.

A Pleasant Dinner, Discussion and Obama

I was pleasantly surprised last evening to hear Russ and Elena agree with such depth of understanding with Obama, and of course me. I get excited when I hear positive and knowledgeable people support good, practical U.S. policy with interest and sincerity. The stars aligned for me to have a good evening out; Obama’s Cairo speech to generate discussion and agreeable people to talk with. The added surprise of the evening was to hear that Tina had voted for Obama. The world has changed; Tina, the devout conservative, has been converted. Thank the gods.

I am unable to accept any criticism of Obama. His Cairo speech was brilliant. He spoke as an adult, with humility, understanding and truth, and it set the path his administration intends to take. He also spoke to the heart of those on Earth who desire peace and opportunity for a good life. What else is there? That’s why Russ, Elena and Tina’s agreement meant so much to me last night and made the tacos taste much better, even though they weren’t the best I’ve ever had.

We agreed that Cheney, Limbaugh, etal., are simply insane with their ranting against every little nuance of President Obama’s Administration. It blows my mind that Limbaugh would say that Osama bin Laden should hurry to destroy America before Obama does it. Where did a statement like that come from? What facts is a statement like that based on? It can only be insanity; some warped reasoning from a man who has only his self-interest ratings at heart and will say anything to be controversial. And Cheney’s continued insistence that his interrogation methods worked and were legal. What kind of mind continues that thinking when there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary? A paranoid and fearful mind is my only conclusion. Insanity.

We ended the evening watching “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO and I would have thought that his show, following so closely behind Obama’s speech, would have praised Obama. But, Jeremy Scahill, author of “Blackwater,” saw fault. His criticism was that Obama is expanding Bagram, Afghanistan’s notorious torture prison. Of course what Scahill doesn’t say is that Obama has ordered basic legal rights under International Law for the prisoners. These are war prisoners, Taliban soldiers, who must be kept someplace. Where does Mr. Scahill suggest they be kept? In Guantanamo, adding to the impossible situation there? The criticism is ridiculous. After only five months in office, does he expect Obama to have run all over the world to fix or clean up every little nook and cranny pile of shit that Bush has deposited world-wide? Bush shit in too many places and it will take several years to clean up. Obama has done an enormous clean-up in only five months, so I reject Scahill’s judgement.

And, speaking of Bush. I imagine him sitting on his new sofa in his new Texas home watching Obama’s speech. Did he say, “Christ! Why didn’t my speech writers think of that? Why didn’t I remember to treat others as you would have them treat yourself from the ages and ages? Why wasn’t I less belligerent and more humble?” Maybe he slapped his forehead with sudden recognition and with regret or maybe he simply slumped into his sofa in shame. Maybe Laura looks at him differently now. If Bush is a man to sit and have a beer with, even though he’s now drinks tea, I’d like to sit down with him at a local cafe. I’d like to ask him to his face what the f**k he thought he was doing? Did he think being President of the United States was a joke? Has his mind changed about the job being “overrated?” Did he not understand that even though Cheney dictated torture that he, himself, was responsible? Did he not see the value of diplomacy? I’d like to see in his face some semblance of regret, of contrition and of conscience. I’d like to see him finally admit, at least through appearance, that he was the worst President that ever happened to America. Worse, by far, than Nixon.

But, I will let sleeping dogs lie and be glad that nowadays I can go to dinner with agreeable people looking forward to better times. Perhaps we have a chance to redeem ourselves and help this world through the huge challenges we face.