The Case for Compromise

There's a common thread among voters, it seems, and that is that they want a candidate/President that compromises less, or doesn't compromise at all. "Less compromise, less compromise!" "Stick to your guns!"

My question is, why the heck do people dislike compromise?

I'm going to use the debt ceiling situation for my example. We essentially had two sides completely unwilling to compromise. One side wanted to essentially tax everything, but no real spending cuts and the other wanted to cut spending, but no taxation. Yes, in the end, they got a deal done. But it should not have been so hard, or the ridiculous charades by both sides going on so long. If both sides had compromised, we could have had SOME taxes, and SOME spending cuts. It's really not that hard. However, you get people thinking more about what they want to do for their political career, and not for the best interests of the country.

When it comes down to it the best option for the country is not always the most popular. You can't build a nation when you are too busy arguing among each other. Compromise is a GOOD thing!

President Obama has Confirmed, Osama Bin Laden is dead.

Osama bin Laden is dead.
Thanks to all of the service members who have fought the Wars on Terror and their families.

Obama to announce national security news at 10:50pm ET

President Barack Obama is set to announce something national-security related, likely involving Osama Bin Laden, at 10:50pm ET.

4:06 AM CT

Entire West Coast of the United States and Hawaii under Tsunami warnings. If you are in the affected areas please get to high ground immediately. Oil refinery fire in Chiba Prefecture in Japan raging out of control. At least 26 confirmed dead in Japan. Tsunami is reported to be bigger than some low lying Pacific Islands. Airport at Sendai, Japan was completely washed out. People and cars seen washing away in the footage from Japan. Videos of flaming debris can be seen.

.. I don't really know what else to say.

Earthquake footage in Japan is absolutely horrific. Rumors of a nuclear power emergency situation. My thoughts with my readers in the affected areas. Stay safe.

Reflections Upon The State Of The Union

I don''t think that anyone can doubt Obama is a great orator. He is also correct in that although our economy has rebounded, certain sectors of our market have vanished altogether. I know that personally in my town several factories have all but vanished, with a lot of the new job growth coming from the biofuel and biotechnology department due to the demand for ethanol.

Hooray for some of the best post-secondary schools in the nation.

Our nation is founded on ideals and dreams of our children and to get there, we need to focus on primary and secondary educations. We are certainly not out educating the rest of the world when it comes to these sectors, not even close. I know the figures came out today that only 40% of Minnesota kids are proficient in science. I think we've stepped away a lot from the "WOW" moments of science that inspire kids and make them want to learn more, rather than drilling them on how to take tests. We lost the dream and imagination aspect. I think we stopped teaching kids to ask "Why?" and instead said memorize this.

Any future energy policy needs to include nuclear power. It can bridge the gap between the other alternative powers such as wind, water and coal. Sadly though, I don't think we're going to have as many as 1 million electric cars on the road by 2050 unless someone extends their mileage between cars. We're not the leaders in research and technology, that is for sure.

Wow, I hadn't realized that we've fallen to 9th in people getting a secondary degree. I wholly agree that family is the key to getting a good education. I know that I wouldn't have gotten as good of one if my parents hadn't been strict about turning off the TV and encouraging me to learn and grow. Science should be celebrated more than the Super Bowl, that is for sure. Why is it that we celebrate athletes so much but not mathematics or science? I also know that some of the people who have inspired me the most have been some of my teachers. I can think of a few professors as well.

I think something he also needs to emphasize is that to be successful in today's job market is that your college education needs to have an "and" to it. Technology changes so often that it can affect any part of the industry, no matter if you think of it as "tech-proof" or not. Even agriculture has shifted to quite a lot of tech over the last 20 years or so. Also, hooray for high speed wireless internet access for 98% of America!

The Iraq war may be coming to an end, but we must never forget why we were there or who we have lost. Nor may we forget what is currently going on in Afghanistan and the brave men and women we have lost there as well. However, I think that we need to understand we can't stop out terrorism all over the world. It is not feasible, nor is it possible. Hooray for the START treaty as well. Though to be fair, we still have enough weapons to destroy the world many times over.

I feel like, overall, Obama did a really good job with this State of the Union speech. I think he reemphasized working together across party lines in order to better our selves and country, and that America has, and still is, a nation of dreams.

Barack Obama State of the Union Address

Don't miss Purple Pineapple Town's (Semi)Live Blog post directly after the State of the Union address tonight!

Why the Healthcare Bill Should Stand: A Personal Appeal

I realize that many are are against the new healthcare reforms, and believe that they should be repealed. I can only hope that this post can put a face on the need for the reforms, and may make you consider the issue from a different light.

My name is Meredith, and I am 20 years old. I have a disease called a Primary Immune Deficiency. My immune system does not produce antibodies correctly and parts are missing, and consequentially I get sick frequently and severely. I also suffer from Sjogren's Syndrome, Celiac Disease, and peripheral neuropathy in my hands, forearms, and feet. My greatest dream for as long as I can remember was to serve my country in order to honor my family's nearly 100 years of past military service, but my health issues disqualify me.

I started my plan of spending 8+ years in college last fall in order to become a Nuclear Engineer and hopefully work for the Navy someday. My insurance coverage from my parents will run out when I am 25. I will not be done with my schooling and the only option left to me if the healthcare reform is repealed will be to try and buy a policy from a private insurer. Due to my preexisting conditions, I would be considered in the "high-risk" category, and a policy would cost upwards of $16,000 a month. I doubt many of you could afford this plan, let alone a college student. To compound this, due to all of the health issues, I am currently unable to get a part-time job in addition to attending college.

Unless this healthcare reform stands, it could become a matter of life and death for me. My main medication, antibody replacement therapy for the Primary Immune Deficiency, costs over $100 a gram to make. I use 80 grams monthly, so that is $8,000 a month for that medication alone. Including all prescriptions, doctors appointments, medical testing, hospitalizations, ect., it costs over $250,000 to keep me alive for a year. Despite the cost, why do I deserve any less of a chance to live my life than anyone else?

I do not write this blog post lightly. I could be throwing away my future chances of working for the Navy, the only dream I have left, and the one thing that keeps me going. This healthcare reform is too important for me not to speak up and speak out. I realize to many people that I am merely a massive expenditure of money, something to be avoided like the plague.

I think if people take one thing away from this post, if one thing only.

I did not ask to be born with all of these health issues, and I do everything in my power to keep them under control.

I will never give up until the day I die. Until then, I will keep exercising 5+ times a week, even when sick, eating healthy, taking all of my medications, and being as proactive as I can about my health. I am also currently pursuing experimental treatment for my Primary Immune Deficiency, as all else has failed.

I refuse to simply lie down and die.

I want to live.

-Mer

For more information on Primary Immune Deficiencies:
http://www.primaryimmune.org/about_pi/about_pi.htm

Immigration and America

Today is Independence Day here in America, and it seems like a perfect oppurtunity to discuss a key issue, immigration.

Arizona's recent immigration law has brought the issue to the table once more. It requires all immigrants to carry their papers at all times, and gives police the power to detain anyone who is suspected of being in the country illegally. Attorney General Eric holder claims that the new law isn't racist, but he's concerned that it may lead to racial profiling.

Wait, what? So it's not racist, but it may lead to racial profiling?

Racism- racial prejudice or discrimination

Racial Profiling- refers to the inappropriate use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement

So, even though racial profiling is just another version of discrimination, it's not racist? I don't know about you, but this makes no sense to me.

America is a nation of immigrants. Our country was founded by people from many different nations, and it would do us, and certain politicians to remember that. Although we do need to find a way to limit illegal immigration to this country, perhaps the answer would be to make it easier to legally become a citizen of the United States. Many people come to America to search for a better life, or an opportunity for them or their children to succeed. I don't think you can blame illegal immigrants for wanting to have a better life for them or their children.

So by making it easier for people to become legal immigrants, we discourage illegal immigration, and our country continues to grow.

Sounds easy, right?

No One Dies in Lily Dale

Hey everyone- Check out the latest in the HBO Documentary Films Summer Series, No One Dies in Lily Dale. The trailer for it is below. I think it looks very intriguing, you should check it out!

Trailer 2

Look for another post tomorrow on Immigration in America for the 4th of July!

-Mer

The Gulf Coast Oil Disaster- Day 65

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past 65 days, you know about the massive Deepwater Horizion oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Since the spill first started, the entire fiasco seems to be following with Murphy's Law, where anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. First we had the Containment Dome, a Frankenstien-like idea, to try and contain the spill. It failed due to hydrate crystals, because someone didn't remember that it happens to be cold on the ocean floor. I think anyone who has gone swimming in a lake can tell you, that the deeper the water goes, the colder it gets. Then came the "top kill," forcing drilling mud through the blowout preventer, and then the "junk shot," trying to force golf balls and shredded tires through the blowout preventer. Then, the containment cap idea was hatched, and has been a partial success, though they had to remove it for a short period of time.

As more and more information comes out, it strikes me how this whole issue could have been prevented. There are indications that BP knew of problems with an offshore well hours before it exploded. The well had failed a key pressure test that showed pressure building up in the well, likely indicating that oil or natural gas were seeping in and could lead to an explosion. However, for the sake of getting the rig online, BP and Transocean did not stop operations. Furthermore, BP listed Peter Lutz, a south Florida biologist, as a consultant in its 2009 disaster response program. There's just one little problem with that though. Peter Lutz has been dead since 2005. Their plan also mentioned walruses, sea otters, sea lions, and seals, all of which don't live anywhere near the Gulf of Mexico.

The bottom line is this: This disaster was preventable, and it shouldn't have happened in the first place. BP and Transocean cut corners in order to get the rig operational and make money. Eleven people paid for this with their lives, and thousands more are paying with their livelihoods. Safety must come first. And for the people of the Gulf Coast, all they can do is watch and hope that the relief wells are able to fix the oil spill.

So what do we do now, with so much oil washing up not just in the Gulf area, but in Florida as well? By collecting seeds now, we can hopefully save and be able to replant and regrow the wetlands that are being affected. The best way to get rid of the oil in the wetlands is to burn it off, and then when the nightmare is over with, and no more oil is washing up, to replant with the seeds we have collected and nurture them back to health. If you can get the producers (the plants) to grow again, you can also get the consumers (animals) to return. As for the oil well, if the relief wells fail, we must consider the nuclear option. The Russians have used it 5 times with success, all on underground oil leaks. It, in essence, would squeeze the well's channel shut, blocking any more oil from escaping. Those who have crunched the numbers say that it has about a 20% chance of working.

Sounds better than what BP has come up with.

-Mer

The Ethics of Genetic Engineering

The advancement of science and medical technology always comes with an ethical discussion attached. In previous years it has been embryonic stem cell research and human cloning. As the field of genetic engineering makes significant strides, the discussion of ethical application of scientific knowledge will only get more difficult.

Genetic engineering is the practice of cutting and splicing genes and DNA from different sources. A gene for color blindness could be replaced with one for normal color vision, and a gene that causes cystic fibrosis can be replaced with a "good" gene. Scientists have already created everything from higher yielding plants to glow in the dark monkeys! However, the practice leads to some interesting questions. Should genetic engineering be used on humans? There may not be a right or wrong answer.

One worry is that if genetic engineering is used on humans, it may bring about the discrimination of said individuals. This is a valid point, because even 45 years after the Civil Rights act, we still deal with discrimination pertaining to race. Also, just as someone who is sick can be discriminated against by their employer, genetic engineering could lead to discrimination due to being too healthy! Another issue surrounding genetic engineering is the ability to use it for selective breeding purposes. Should parents be able to custom build a baby from the genetic traits they want? Picking gender is already allowed in some in vitro fertilization clinics. How about a baby with blue eyes, or perfect teeth? This is sounding a bit too close to Adolf Hitler's quest for a perfect race for my comfort. But, what if the parents want to avoid the baby inheriting a genetic defect for the disease they carry? For an individual with an inherited genetic disease, this could mean they could have children without fearing passing on the disease.

The issue of genetic engineering is a very personal one for me. I have a condition called a primary immune deficiency. A primary immune deficiency occurs when a person is born without their immune system or their immune system doesn't function properly. (See this article for more details.) These diseases are caused by genetic defect and most often leave people with an increased susceptibility of infections. In my case, not only does my body not produce enough of one type of antibody, but there is a hidden piece of the puzzle they can't seem to figure out that makes me not respond to the normal treatment very well. My immune deficiency has a very limiting effect on my life, and my best hope is if they can someday perfect adult gene therapy.

Although I do realize that the usage of genetic engineering doesn't come without serious questions, I believe that it will someday benefit us all. And who knows, maybe it will save your life.

The Economic Recession: Why the Stock Market Isn't a Good Idea

Sometimes I just don't know where the time goes... well, I do. If you haven't figured it out yet, I've got a lot of health problems. Most of my time has been spent in doctor's offices or traveling to them.

This piece is (possibly) one in a series of pieces looking at different sides of the economic recession. I know that the Recession has been extensively covered by the news media, but I feel that they have left out or chosen to ignore some very important factors that have greatly contributed to it.

Today's topic? The stock market.

Now, for those of you that don't know, here's the best explanation of the stock market I could put together: A stock is the capital (money) raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest. (equity) Now here's one of the crazy things: A stock actually has two factors that determine price: What you can buy it for (Your bid), and what you can sell it for. (Your ask) Both are the "real price," because buyers and sellers each have a price in mind. When they match, a sale is made. Basically, you want to buy low, sell high. Could they make it any more confusing?

Anyways, one of the big problems with this approach is the fact that the stock buyer's emotions can run the stock up or down. Take GM for example. News comes out that it's not doing well and may fail. What's the stock buyer's first thought? Sell, sell, sell! This drives down the cost of GM's stock, and adds to the hysteria that GM may fail. This drives more people to sell their stocks. Quite the vicious cycle.

The other main problem with the stock market is the fact that it is used as an icon of economic stability. How on earth can it be used as a basis for economic stability if it's run by emotions? Has anyone looked at some long term numbers rather than short term? Or have all of these people gone absolutely mad?

-Meredith

Questions or Comments? Contact purplepineappletown@hotmail.com

It's been a long time... but we're back!

Hello Everyone! I'm happy to announce that Purple Pineapple Town is back after the long hiatus! I've had a bad 6 months with my health and had to focus on the necessary things. I'm very happy announce though that I am back, with (hopefully) more regular postings, as I've got a lot of topics I want to cover. I've also got big plans as far as the layout and design of the site goes, so you're in for a bit of a surprise! I'd like to thank the readers that have stuck around, I really appreciate it. Hopefully I can pay you back a bit with some interesting content.

My friends at Crew Creative Advertising asked me to put up a piece on a new show coming up on Animal Planet, called River Monsters. The details:

The show tackles such legends as: Did a large catfish attack a teenager in a German Lake? Did a school of piranha eat flesh down to the bone of a busload of passengers that crashed in an Amazonian river? Host, biologist, and extreme angler Jeremy Wade travels worldwide to solve these freshwater mysteries, to debunk these myths and to track down these harrowing tales. Each Sunday, he'll come face-to-face with fear and try to understand these mysterious predators with a taste for human flesh, putting his life on the line to find truly monster sized fish while globetrotting through Germany, Australia, Brazil, and even the state of Texas. River Monsters premieres Sunday, April 5 at 10PM (ET/PT) and 9pm central on Animal Planet.

It seems like it could be interesting- I wonder if he'll take on the Loch Ness monster mystery? Here's a sneak preview picture- that's a huge fish!

Keep an eye out for new content and a new site design!

-Mer

Veteran's Day 2008

Today is Veterans Day, and I would like to use this opportunity to thank all of those who serve and have served in the military.

There is one veteran who is indeed close to my heart, and that is my grandfather. My grandfather has been my hero since I was a very young girl. For as long as I remember, he has been a pillar of quiet strength and support in my life, and as a kid growing up with health problems, I admired that greatly.

He served in Korea with the Army, with Battery B of the 99th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. It is not often that he talks about the war, but when he does, I have always been amazed at the conditions that they served in, and how unprepared they were for the extreme cold. He received 2 Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. He was one of the lucky ones who came home, and for that, I am forever grateful, because my life would be so empty without him.

On this day of honoring our veterans, I hope you will take the time to think about these brave men and women who have fought and are fighting for us today. Let us learn from their actions and their courage. If you know a veteran or a currently serving member, please take the time to tell them "Thank You."

Please feel free to add to the comments a veteran or current military member's story that you think that others should know about. For within them all, there lies courage.

~Dedicated to my Grandfather, and all who have served, and in memory of those missing and those that never made it home.~

~Meredith
purplepineappletown@hotmail.com

ELECTION DAY 2008!!!!

Well, the day has finally arrived. After nearly two years of campaigning, political ads, numerous news articles and blogs, America will now choose it's new president. For those of you in other countries, (and in America), I've added a poll to the blog. Tell me who you'd vote for if you could vote in this election!

I really apologize for the lack of updates. As you may have realized by now, I have some health problems that get in my way once and a while. As of now, they haven't been able to figure out what is going on. I'm going to try to push for a twice monthly update, but I hope you will understand if I am unable to put them up.

Nuclear... Peace?

Well, what can I say. Between vacation, working, summer, and writer's block, I haven't written for a month and a half.

So, some of you may or may not know that the Atomic bomb was voted the second-worst invention of all time. But without it, would we be where we are today? Enter the phrase... Nuclear Peace. Now, I know what you're most likely thinking. "OK, she's crazy if she thinks that nuclear weapons can assist with peacekeeping."

I'll be the first to say that I have a very unique standpoint on the issue of nuclear power and nuclear weapons. I believe that every country has the right to pursue nuclear energy as well as nuclear weapons. Other than Fat Man and Little Boy, nuclear weapons have not been used against any nation, and I don't expect any country to be expected to disarm when the United States is holding onto theirs.

I'm not going to lie and say that nuclear weapons don't have serious consequences and lethal killing power, as well as the power to maim generations due to radiation exposure. But at the same time, after WWII, nuclear weapons have become a "You bomb us, we bomb you." situation. They are certainly still something that we should be aware of, but I think that the threat of a global "nuclear apocalypse" is almost little to none at this point. This may not be the case always... but for now, there does seem to be "Nuclear Peace."

~Mer Questions or Comments? E-mail: purplepineappletown@hotmail.com

Practical Planet: Global Cooling, Global Warming...

So as most of you know, unless you've been living under a rock, the biggest trend right now is "going green." This piece was originally written by me for entry into the Virgin's "Climate Challenge" contest. In the end, I decided not to enter it, but I didn't want this to go to waste. Whether you think the earth is cooling, warming, or, like me, think that we don't really know, I think we can all agree that we need to cut our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, as well as helping the earth.

Practical Planet- 10 Ways to help the Earth

1. Tax breaks/rebates to inspire people to switch to energy saving technologies. Examples include new hybrid/electric car ownership, and bonuses to Companies that make at least three out of the changes listed next. (switching to at least 75% alt. power, putting good recycling programs in place to recycle everything from paper to Styrofoam cups, water recycling, green lighting, all appliances Energy Star compliant, implementing 5 min. standbys for all computers, and motion sensitive lighting)
2. New Home Guidelines- All appliances must be energy star compliant, fees on non-renewable resources used to build.
3. We MUST try to switch to 50% alternate power, using more Nuclear, Ethanol, Biofuels, Solar, Wind, Water, Wave, and geothermal. Nuclear materials can actually be recycled, reducing the amount of nuclear waste by the plants. The technology is there. Ethanol and Biofuels can both be used to fuel cars. MN State University, Mankato, has one of the earliest and best programs in the country. They are currently working on a converter that allows a regular car to be able to run on gasoline or ethanol, and it takes about 15 min. to install. Solar power can be used in many Southwestern and South Central states, while wind works for the Great Plains. Water and wave power can be used near large bodies of water, and wave power can power coastal communities. Geothermal power can be used where there is volcanic activity. There is an alternative power that fits every part of this country, and even the world.
4. A large part of my plan involves Carbon Dioxide to Oxygen “Air Farms.” Located all over the world, these farms would filter Carbon Dioxide and run it through special chambers filled with growing plants and trees. The plants use photosynthesis to turn the Carbon Dioxide to Oxygen, which is then piped back into the atmosphere. They would strive to be Zero-Emission by using recycled water, compost, and powered by whatever renewable energy source best fits that area. Plants grown can also include edibles, which can be sold as organics to help finance the operations. If we have enough of them all over the world, we can easily remove much of the built up Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere.
5. We also need to explore methane gas as a fuel source. NASA is working on methane- powered rocket engines. We have the technology to filter the methane out of the air, and we could use that as another alternative fuel source.
6. We must impose MPG minimum requirements on cars- at least 30 MPG. We also must strive to switch to more hybrid cars, as well as making non-idling cars, which are a huge source of greenhouse gas emissions. The average American spends 38 hours a year commuting, and also polluting. Also, we must push more public transportation. Buses, Subways, and Metro Trains should be free to workers registered for a “Ride, Don’t Drive” program. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, offers free bus rides to workers at the clinic.
7. We must step up our recycling efforts, especial with Styrofoam, plastics, and other hard to recycle items. Just because it’s hard to recycle doesn’t mean that we shouldn't recycle them. Citizens of this Earth must make an effort to recycle more, and buy more recyclable products.
8. We should always step up and start compost programs. The heat energy generated by the compost can be captured and used for energy, and the compost can be sold to run the programs.
9. We must phase out harmful chemical cleaners and replace them with environmentally friendly chemicals. Tea Tree Oil sprays can be used to get rid of mildew, while a mixture of baking soda and vinegar can clean your bathroom, as well as kill mold. These natural cleaners also have the added benefit of you’re not breathing in the harmful chemicals, nor are they being introduced to the sewer system.
10. We must have more fuel efficient airplanes, trains, boats, and trucks. Biofuels are a possibility for fueling trains and trucks, both of which ship most everything cross-country. Airplanes, while surprisingly fuel efficient, should step it up one more level. A Boeing 747, filled with 500 passengers, gets about 100 MPG per person. Let’s see if we can make it 200MPG per person. Manufacturers of airplanes, trains, boats, and trucks must step up and make an effort to employ existing technology to build environmentally friendly.


I'm going to aim for two updates a week from now on... life has been a bit topsy-turvy for me lately, but I'm going to do my best.

~Mer

Memorial Day- Honor our Veterans

When people ask me who my hero is, I have many for different reasons. But if I had to pick one, it would be my Grandfather. My grandfather fought in the Korean War, receiving 2 Purple Hearts, and a Bronze Star. To this day, he is one of my favorite people in the world. Despite all he's been through, he remains one of the most positive people I have ever met.

So take some time to remember the Veterans of all of our wars. The dead, the missing, the remembered, the forgotten. And remember the soldiers that are fighting and dying for you right now. All of them are heroes.

-Mer

Dirty Jobs 4th Season, All New Time!

Most of you know that I'm quite addicted to Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel. The fourth season kicks off on Monday, April 14th at 9pm ET/PT, and 8pm CT. So check it out, and get ready for even more dirtiness with Mike Rowe.

Also, my apologies for lack of updates. I'm currently dealing with a case of pneumonia. Hopefully I'll have something up mid-week of next week.