February 27, 2007 at 9:23 pm Filed under News Items
Just days after winning an Oscar for his movie, “Inconvenient Truth,” a local non-profit organization is claiming that Al Gore’s own home “emblematic of what it deems Gore’s environmental hypocrisy.”
Holding Gore’s utility bills for the past two years, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research charged Monday that the gas and electric bills for the former vice president’s 20-room home and pool house devoured nearly 221,000 kilowatt-hours in 2006, more than 20 times the national average of 10,656 kilowatt-hours.
“If this were any other person with $30,000-a-year in utility bills, I wouldn’t care,” says the Center’s 27-year-old president, Drew Johnson. “But he tells other people how to live and he’s not following his own rules.”
Even though Tipper and Gore have installed solar panels, and have taken some efficiency measures, Johnson is not impressed.
”I appreciate the solar panels,” he said, “but he also has natural gas lanterns in his yard, a heated pool, and an electric gate. While I appreciate that he’s switching out some light bulbs, he is not living the lifestyle that he advocates.”
While we speak of his home, this is actually only just one of his homes. No need to even mention here about how he takes private jets all over the world while he preaches against the rest of us driving anything other than a bike or green car.
I think the Oscars are going to force more than a few celebrity environmentalists into accountability, which is a good thing.
February 17, 2007 at 10:17 am Filed under General
While the ACLU threatens suit against those who have a cross on federal property, and makes more of the ’separation of Church and State” than ever was meant to be, I had to be glad in a little in the email my sister just sent me.Apparently, every Preamble in each state in the U.S. acknowledges our Christian roots, honoring God in each of them:
Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution. Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution…
Arkansas 1874, Preamble . . We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government…
California 1879, Preamble We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom…Colorado 1876, Preamble
Connecticut 1818, Preamble.
Delaware 1897, Preamble Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
Florida 1885, Preamble We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution…
Georgia 1777, Preamble We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution…Hawaii 1959, Preamble
Idaho 1889, Preamble
Illinois 1870, Preamble We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil , political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
Indiana 1851, Preamble We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
Iowa 1857, Preamble We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings, establish this Constitution.
Kansas 1859, Preamble We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.Kentucky 1891, Preamble.
Louisiana 1921, Preamble
Maine 1820, Preamble . We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity .. And imploring His aid and direction.
Maryland 1776, Preamble We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty…
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble We…the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction ..
Michigan 1908, Preamble le. We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish this Constitution.
Minnesota, 1857, Preamble We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:Mississippi 1890, Preamble
Missouri 1845, Preamble We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness . Establish this Constitution…
Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the
.
blessings of liberty establish this Constitution … We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom . Establish this Constitution.
Nebraska 1875, Preamble
Nevada 1864, Preamble We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, establish this Constitution…
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty.. We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
New Jersey 1844, Preamble
New Mexico 1911, Preamble
New York 1846, Preamble
North Carolina 1868, Preamble We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those…
North Dakota 1889, Preamble We , the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain… We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common…
Ohio 1852, Preamble
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty, establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I Section 2. All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance… We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing…
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble.
South Carolina, 1778, Preamble We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
South Dakota 1889, Preamble We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties .
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience…
Texas 1845, Preamble We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution. Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man . Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other
Utah 1896, Preamble
Vermont 1777, Preamble
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI
Washington 1889, Preamble We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God …
West Virginia 1872, Preamble
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility… We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties, establish this Constitution..
Wyoming 1890, Preamble
Mind you, in none of them does it say how you HAVE to worship a particular God in a particular way, but I think our forefathers saw a wisdom in what the Bible says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Over the years, that provision has been badly interpreted to say that government must consider all religions or none at all in its policies. I don’t understand at all where they get that from what the First Ammendment says.
I am glad that each state is on record acknowledging God, as well as more than a few main documents in our history.
As for me, I’d gladly accept more God, less government.
February 10, 2007 at 10:38 am Filed under Personal
Each year, I take one of my “valentines’ to the Motortrends Autoshow in Baltimore, Maryland. It has become quite a little tradition that the whole family likes. This year we each had cameras, flat shoes (ahem, Laura), ample card space, and plenty of fresh batteries. Also this year, Miquel brought his friend, Mike, who seemed a little perplexed at the amount of picture taking our family can do. Later, he got into it himself, taking pictures with his cell phone camera.
After a confusing ride into the city, some issues finding parking lot “C”, and somehow headed on 95 South to D.C., we finally ended up to our destination, the Baltimore Convention Center.
After parking, the auto show offers a luxury bus ride to the Convention Center. Here Mike and Miquel posed for me in the bus.
To the right is a partial view of our very large convention center. I could easy travel by bus all the time, freeing my hands to take pictures! 
Laura Mercé poses, in a Mercedes, of course.
Miquel has fun with the Hummer Display
Miquel intensely looks for interesting angles in his shots.
Miquel inside a 2008 Infiniti
Laura has a laugh inside the Jaguar. Mike was getting worried, as he put it, “She pushed every button on the panel, I am getting out of here before she ejects me!”
Some hours later we had been to every floor and room in the convention center, and were well ready to take the bus back to the car.
I took 333 photos that day and slowly getting the better ones up on my photography site.
Have a look so far here » Xerraire’s Vistit to the 2007 Motortrends Car Show Baltimore, Maryland
How was YOUR Valentine’s Day?
