Longer Step: Ideas for Justice and Sustainability

  I dunno. It's easy to say we're for "peace," and certainly unnecessary wars (like W Bush's foray into Iraq) were utter financial and humanitarian disasters, with no kind of success to point to. Cynics say that the US gov't does whatever it needs to, to boost the profits of the weapons makers. Mere lives are expendable. I'd like to support the (below cut-and-pasted) sentiment by World Beyond War), but it feels naive. It's catchy to say "let's spend the next $100 trillion on the needs of our own people." If only we would. The biggest reason that the US remains unattacked--the reason you don't have to worry about missiles or vengeful enemy soldiers entering your house-- is our powerful military. It's not because everyone loves us; they know we are one of the most-violent, most-meddling countries on the planet. The biggest reason Ukraine is still a free country is our military aid. Probably could say the same about Israel; not sure...

  Aren't these defensible positions on cars?: 1. A hatchback is better than a sedan, because it doesn't take much metal to raise the trunk to the roof and enclose a lot more space for carrying stuff. AND, having a rear wiper is useful. --so that pushes us towards SUVs and crossovers. 2. A plug-in hybrid is a good choice because: (a) you can use e-only on trips up to about 39 miles, and power prices here in PacNW are the lowest of anywhere in the US, and probably well over half our trips are short enough to be e-only; (b) EV's (electric-only cars) are not yet quite ideal: (i) The US needs more time to get a nationwide fast charging network set up (and preferably just one network, not many different kinds), so that we won't have to search far or wait long to get recharged, on long trips; (ii) a lot of scarce minerals are used to make EVs, whereas a hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV) uses a lot less of those minerals, thus allowing more people to "drive electric." (...

  "Ambulo Blanc" sounds like the part of a French hospital where people heal from leg injuries. But it is a new modern grape finding success in California. It's 97% vinifera. Has Pierce's Disease resistance. Thrives in CA's hotter weather. One grower planted it (apparently) mostly to provide a "buffet" along a stream for the sharpshooters, who are "satisfied" by the new grape and thus don't intrude into the vinifera vineyard.  1. Interesting that hybrid/modern grapes can be mostly an "insulation layer." I guess that's something. 2. How low can the US and Asian native grape parentage go, and the grape still be "hybrid?" 3% is awfully low. But I bet many growers are comforted by the super-high vinifera component--it's not as frightening to their meekness. I recall Germany's trying to promote Regent as "vinifera." As if these wonderful other grape species are somehow evil. This makes me think of the e...