From 'Snowpiercer' to 'Atlas Shrugged': Sublime to ridiculous

I concluded 'Snowpiercer', by quoting the following transition and commenting on it.

There is one thing that's puzzled me, though.  Some reviews, including several raves, have claimed to see the influence of a writer who is about as far from Occupy Wall Street as it's possible to get.  Despite the political allegory, the very clear parallels to modern life, and the criticism of elitist greed that permeates the entire film, a handful of people are convinced that Snowpiercer was at least partially inspired by the least liberal, least likely of writers:  Ayn Rand.

Yes.  Really.

That sets up part two, in which Ellid descended from the sublime to the ridiculous.  Stay tuned.

Follow over the jump for Ellid's take on Ayn Rand and "Atlas Shrugged."

Yes votes for SMART, Detroit Library, and Wayne RESA millages

I mentioned the SMART millage renewal in Report on the 2014 Clawson 4th of July parade.

I saw a truck promoting the SMART (suburban bus system) millage renewal, which will be on the ballot in August.  I would gladly volunteer for that cause.  However, when I asked if they had any candy, the answer was no.  I told them that they didn't need me, but they would have my yes vote for the renewal.

I'm not the only one who has that opinion.  The Detroit Free Press wrote an Endorsement: Voting for SMART millage is the smart move.

On Aug. 5, voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties will be asked to approve a tax increase to support the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) bus system.

SMART is an integral piece of the regional transit system, and it’s been hard-hit by the decline in property values — and resulting loss of tax revenue, which accounts for about 35% of its budget. Its 590-vehicle fleet is outdated, and needs replacing. Because the system can’t operate with a deficit, if voters don’t approve the millage, operations will cease, SMART general manager John Hertel says.

We urge tri-county residents to vote YES on this millage.

I'm glad one of the major Detroit dailies agrees with me.

Follow over the jump for the Free Press's endorsements of two other millages.

First phase of M1 light rail construction began yesterday

I concluded Red Wings to join Tigers and Lions in Detroit's Foxtown plus M1 update with commentary on a month-old story.

MLive reported last month Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit to close as construction of M1 Rail begins.

DETROIT, MI – Construction of the M1 Rail streetcar line officially begins Monday, July 28, and traffic in the lower Woodward Avenue area should get pretty hairy.

M1 Rail representatives said in an email Friday that work on the 3.3-mile lightrail line will close Woodward from Adams to Campus Martius Park for about 120 days.

As I was driving along Woodward downtown, I noticed how narrow the street was and wondered how the light rail line would be installed while keeping the street open.  The answer is that the street will be closed.  I'm glad I've been warned.

Work began as scheduled yesterday, as WXYZ reports in M-1 RAIL construction begins.


That was a useful video to watch, if only for the year when the previous light rail system was removed.  I'm also heartened by all the optimistic projections of economic development downtown.  It may not help as much as Penske and Duggan say, but overall the effects will be positive.

Storm damage in Macomb County and elsewhere

My footnote to A fifth drop in gas prices read "There was a big storm this afternoon, which downed tree limbs and snapped power lines all over the area.  When WXYZ has video, I'll post it."  The station finally put up one video about storm damage, and it found something more spectacular than downed tree branches and power lines--lightning strikes church and starts a fire.


As for the power outages, the Detroit Free Press has the summary in Utility crews work to restore power after severe storms hit Michigan.

Homes were darkened and fallen trees and branches littered neighborhood streets Monday morning after a series of severe thunderstorms hit Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and knocked out power to more than 210,000 homes and businesses.

DTE Energy Co. said Monday about 165,000 of its about 186,000 customers that lost power following storms Sunday were still without service. The utility also said in a news release that about 1,000 power lines were down. DTE said most customers should have power by late Wednesday.

Elsewhere in the state, 32,000 Consumers Energy customers were without power Monday morning. The most affected area was Genesee County, where 5,700 were without power. About 5,000 were without power in Livingston County.

My wife and I were lucky.  We only lost power long enough to cause the lights to flicker and our computers to restart.  Even so, the tornado sirens went off and we and our dogs spent most of the late afternoon and early evening in the basement office where our computers are.  Only after the storms passed did we venture upstairs.  When we looked outside, there were lots of downed branches ranging from 2 to 15 feet long, but no other damage on the property that we could see.  I'm sure I'll be cleaning up those branches tomorrow.  Today, I have to go to work.

A fifth drop in gas prices

The cat is still doing the limbo.  Since I posted Gas falls a fourth time, the corner station has dropped its price twice in two days.  Yesterday, it was at $3.39.  Today, it along with the one station down the street that still had power,* was selling regular for $3.38.  The local stations are now inside the $3.35-$3.39 price range at which I expected to find first price resistance--so much for that; the neighborhood price is already below $3.39--and then a floor--only four cents to go!

Even though I quoted a Wall Street Journal article reporting that the wholesale prices of commodities that lead to increases in prices at the pump were up slightly, the retail prices here are still going down.  Since it's Sunday, there should be no new price news on that front, but there is still GasBuddy.  The national average is still dropping, heading from last week's $3.53 down past $3.52 and heading to $3.51.  The Detroit average is below it at just above $3.46, but is showing signs of slowing its decrease, as it hit $3.47 yesterday followed by a flattening out of the curve of a steady descent of 42 cents in 30 days.  Given the shape of the curve, a bottom of $3.35 for the neighborhood stations looks good, as that would be a dime cheaper than the metro average, the normal spread.

One last observation on the gas prices--they are 11 cents lower than last year at this time.  Again, I'd post Farnsworth, but the kitty doing the limbo has priority.

*There was a big storm this afternoon, which downed tree limbs and snapped power lines all over the area.  When WXYZ has video, I'll post it.

Examiner.com article about Free Press and News endorsements

Debbie Dingell earned endorsements this week from three Detroit newspapers, the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, and Michigan Chronicle.
Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Detroit News and Free Press endorse congressional candidates in 2014 primaries

Both the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press issued their endorsements for congressional candidates in the August 5 primary this weekend, the News on Saturday and the Free Press on Sunday.

Both metropolitan dailies endorsed Debbie Dingell for the Democratic nomination to succeed her husband John in the Twelfth Congressional District, which includes Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and surrounding areas of eastern Washtenaw County as well as western and southern Wayne County.

The Free Press endorsed incumbent Tim Walberg for the Republican nomination in the Seventh Congressional District, which encompasses western and northern Washtenaw County along with a wide swath of southern Michigan extending from Monroe County to Branch County, as well as the counties of Jackson and Eaton.  The News made no recommendation in the contest.

Both papers also issued endorsements in the Eighth Congressional District, which borders Washtenaw County to the north, and Eleventh Congressional District, which adjoins Washtenaw County to the east.  Each district features intensely contested primaries for both major parties' nominations.

More details about the endorsements, including quotes from both papers' editorials and a response from Debbie Dingell to an earlier endorsement from the Michigan Chronicle and a video report of Dingell's announcement of her candidacy, at the link.

Here are two items that amused me.  The News endorsed Terry Bowman over Stephen Farkas in the Republican primary for the Twelfth Congressional District, even though Farkas is not on the ballot, having withdrawn from the race.  Also, the Free Press gave a very lukewarm endorsement for Walberg, calling his record "lackluster" but then saying he was still better than his opponent.  I bet they endorse Byrnes in the general.  I know I will.

'Snowpiercer'

In a future where a failed global-warming experiment kills off most life on the planet, a class system evolves aboard the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe via a perpetual-motion engine.

For my Sunday collapse-and-decline-related entertainment entry, I feature "Snowpiercer," which my wife and I watched yesterday.  We quite enjoyed it.  The movie explores most of the themes I examine here--climate, sustainability, population, food, technology, and inequality.  It also warns that sometimes the cure can be worse than the disease.

As for a more thorough review, I don't have one of my own.  However, I ran across a very complete one in the first part of Books So Bad They're Good: Objectifying the Apocalypse by Ellid on Daily Kos last week.  Warning--spoilers ahoy!

Examiner.com article on wolf hunt and minimum wage proposals

It's time to follow up on Petitions submitted for minimum wage, wolf hunt, which I quoted in Examiner.com article on petitions submitted for ballot initiatives.

The same day a initiative to raise Michigan's minimum wage was turned down, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) held a news conference to call for Congress to raise the national minimum wage.
Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images.

Board of State Canvassers approves wolf hunt, denies minimum wage

On Thursday, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers decided the fates of two ballot initiatives that had their petitions submitted at the end of May.

The Board unanimously approved the initiative from Citizens for Professional Wildlife Management that would allow the wolf hunt to continue along with funding measures to combat Asian Carp and continue offering free hunting and fishing licenses to active-duty members of the armed services.

They also denied the initiative from Raise Michigan to put a measure on the ballot that would allow voters to vote for an increase in the state's minimum wage to $10.10 per hour on a 3-1 bipartisan vote, citing not enough valid signatures.

Much more about both decisions and the reaction to them at the link.

As I told the readers of Join the Coffee Party Michigan, it's possible that neither will be on the ballot, as the minimum wage measure was turned down, while the pro-hunting measure may be voted into law by the state legislature, bypassing the voters entirely.  Welcome to life in a republic, not a democracy.

Gas falls a fourth time

When I wrote "it's too soon to tell if a plateau has been reached from just observing the local stations; the last drop only happened today" and "trends indicate continued lower prices," in Gas falls three times in one week, I was more right than I expected.  After still selling regular at $3.44 early this afternoon, the three stations down the street dropped their price another notch to $3.41 by late afternoon, while the corner station held steady at $3.44.  The neighborhood price is now a full dime below the metro Detroit average of $3.51, which is precisely the discount the local stations seem to target.  I should have figured that into my prediction.

As for hitting a price floor of $3.35-$3.39, it's getting close.  Also, The Wall Street Journal reports that wholesale conditions are not as favorable for continued price drops as they were yesterday: Brent Oil Prices Rise to Two-Week High.

Global oil prices rose to a two-week high on Friday as investors prepared for more market-roiling headlines from Ukraine and the Middle East over the weekend.

Brent crude for September delivery rose $1.32, or 1.2%, at $108.39 a barrel, the highest closing price since July 10 on the ICE Futures Europe exchange. It was the largest one-day gain for the global benchmark since June 12.

Light, sweet crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange ended almost flat, up 2 cents to $102.09 a barrel.
...
Front-month August reformulated gasoline blendstock, or RBOB, gained 2.85 cents, or 1%, to $2.8653 a gallon.

Looks like the fear premium is returning, however weakly.  Let's see if it gains strength on Monday.

In the meantime, gas is still 21 to 24 cents cheaper than at this time last year.  If it weren't for the dramatic price drop followed by hitting and bouncing off a price floor, I'd post Professor Farnsworth instead of the cat doing the limbo.

Gas falls three times in one week

Here's where prices stood when I posted Prediction salvaged with bonus fuel economy and emissions news on Thursday evening of last week.

I managed to save my best prediction from Gas falls faster and farther than I expected.

[W]hile the third station down the street did match the rest at $3.65, the corner station did not.  Yesterday morning, it dropped to $3.67, but by yesterday evening, it had lowered its price to $3.59.  It passed right by $3.65.  Now, I can still save my prediction if the three stations down the street are also at $3.59, so at least it will have matched them, but I haven't checked yet.

I drove by the stations and they are all at $3.59, so my call that the corner station will match them by the end of the week came true despite not getting the price right.

Since then, the neighborhood price has fallen three times and now stands at $3.44.  That's much farther and faster than I expected when I wrote "the current conditions may be favorable for at least one more drop, possibly as early as next week, before they plateau or rise slightly."  Good thing I conditioned my prediction with "at least."  As for the decline stalling out, I would expect it at these price levels for this time of the year, but it's too soon to tell for reasons I'll explain over the jump.

Red Wings to join Tigers and Lions in Detroit's Foxtown plus M1 update

When I drove downtown for Netroots Nation and the water protests, I realized that I had never seen Detroit so full of life.*  A large part of that were the crowds of Tiger Fans crossing Woodward and streaming into Comerica Park both nights.  It looks like Red Wings fans in the winter will join Tigers fans in the spring and summer and Lions fans in the fall, turning the area into a year-round sports attraction.  WXYZ has the video report in Closer look into new sports and entertainment district plans.


Crain's Detroit Business has more in Detroit Rink City: Ilitches' grand plan to supersize the entertainment district.

A gargantuan 3-year plan: 5 new neighborhoods, a $450 million hockey arena and an accelerated timeline to complete it all

A DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION OF THE HEART OF DETROIT will begin in September, when the Ilitch family breaks ground on the construction of a $450 million Detroit Red Wings arena concurrently with another $200 million in apartments, restaurants, office buildings, parks and shops over 45 blocks. This is the city’s entertainment district, super-sized.

Planned is a gargantuan three-year construction project to create five new neighborhoods intended to stitch together the city where it’s divided by the trench-like Fisher Freeway underneath Woodward Avenue.

The 650,000-square-foot hockey and events center and the new neighborhoods — including hundreds of apartments to be built both outside Comerica Park and the new hockey arena — are scheduled to be ready by summer 2017.

I'd noticed the large vacant expanses between Foxtown and Midtown and wondered what would become of them.  Now I know.  I'm looking forward to seeing it completed, just in time for the M1 light rail to serve it.**

Happy 313th Birthday to the 313

Detroit turns 313 years old today.  The Detroit Free Press relates the details in A short history on the founding of Detroit.

Why are we celebrating Detroit’s 313th birthday on Thursday?

Well, because it was 313 years ago that French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac and his band of merry hommes arrived on the banks of the Detroit River and established the settlement that would one day become the Motor City.
...
[O]n July 23, the crew rows across Lake St. Clair and passes by Belle Isle. As the “Detroit Almanac” tells it, “Stopping on the island might be foreboding: The sight of swarms of mosquitoes and the occasional threatening rattle of massasauga rattlesnakes may convince them to keep rowing.” They make their way south, past where Detroit is today, and camp on what is now Grosse Ile. Cadillac takes things in and re-evaluates his options a bit.

The next day, he has his crew backtrack north a bit to a rather strategic spot with great views up and down the river. Cadillac orders his men to bust out their axes and get to choppin’. This is where he will build the fort that would one day give rise to one of the greatest cities in the world. It is July 24, 1701. Detroit is born.

Happy birthday, Detroit!  I'm celebrating by following the advice of another Free Press article.

Show your Detroit pride on the 313’s 313th birthday by downloading your very own Detroit flag.

I particularly like the motto: Speramus meliora; resurget cineribus" -- "We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes."  It's just as appropriate today as it was in 1805, when the city burned down, only to be rebuilt.

Reblogging: Guide to entries that contain answers to 'The End of Suburbia'

Crazy Eddie's Motie News: Guide to entries that contain answers to 'The End ...: I showed my students "The End of Suburbia" last week and one of them not only found the worksheet , but had the courage to come ...

I'm showing "The End of Suburbia" again this week, so I'm reblogging the above entry so my students can find it more easily.  Just follow the link.  For more commentary on it, also read Student worksheets for the second and third year of Crazy Eddie's Motie News.

Detroit Water Project helps pay delinquent water bills

More good news on top of the city suspending water shutoffs--there is now a site that connects people who need help paying their water bills with people willing to donate money.  WXYZ has the story in Website allows donors to pay delinquent bills.


To read more, Deadline Detroit has the story at Person to Person: Here's How to Help Detroiters With Unpaid Water Bills.  The site itself is here.

Bankruptcy update--city suspends water shutoffs and pensioners approve plan of adjustment

All of us involved in the Water protests in Detroit can claim a victory, even though the official position is that the result we wanted was going to happen anyway.  WXYZ reports Detroit Water and Sewerage Department suspends water shutoffs for 15 days.


Next, the Free Press reports Detroit pensioners back grand bargain in bankruptcy vote, creditors object.

Detroit retirees voted to accept pension cuts and allow the Detroit Institute of Arts to spin off as an independent institution, reflecting a critical endorsement of the city’s restructuring blueprint to resolve the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.

With all votes counted, the two separate classes of pensioners — civilians and police and fire — voted “yes” to back the grand bargain, giving the city significant momentum in its fight against holdout financial creditors.

Both of those are good news.  I'd be tempted to post Professor Farnsworth except for the following.

Still, several obstacles linger for the bankruptcy. For one thing, 119 classes of Detroit Water and Sewer Department secured bondholders voted “no,” compared to 32 that voted “yes,” presenting a legal hurdle for the city. They voted “no,” even though they will be paid 100% of their principal, because they are mad at the city’s plan to redeem their bonds early.

The city is expected to continue negotiations with the water and sewer investors in a bid to reach a settlement that could resolve their differences.

It comes back to the water and sewer department and its debt, which is why the shutoffs were happening in the first place.

That's not all.

Four groups of unsecured creditors voted “no” — including the stiffest of opponents, a group of bond insurers and hedge funds that control $1.4 billion in pension debt issued by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s administration in 2005. Smaller unsecured creditors, including people who sued the city and are owed settlements, also voted “no.”

The Chapter 9 bankruptcy will now proceed to its final stage: a massive confirmation trial starting Aug. 14 to decide whether the plan is fair, legal and feasible.

Stay tuned.

Elizabeth Warren at Netroots Nation

At the end of Water protests in Detroit, I wrote "In other news, Elizabeth Warren spoke.  That will be the topic of another update."  I'll begin with this excerpt from the Detroit Free Press.

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., told a crowd at Cobo Center today that “corporations are not people.”

In a speech that touched on topics ranging from immigration to culpability in the financial crisis, the Democratic senator — who now is being encouraged by some to run for president — offered a list of progressive beliefs, blasting big banks, lobbying and corporate misdeeds along the way.

“Those with power fight to make sure every rule tilts in their favor. That’s what we’re up against,” she told the crowd, which responded with rounds of applause. At times, the crowd broke into chants of “Run, Liz, Run,” a reference to the next presidential race. Warren, however, has said she has no plans to run for president in 2016.

Amanda Turkel of The Huffington Post captured an even more inspiring quote.

Warren focused her message on her familiar theme of economic populism, getting loud applause when she said, "The game is rigged. And the rich and the powerful have lobbyists and lawyers and plenty of friends in Congress. Everybody else, not so much. So the way I see this is we can whine about it, we can whimper about it or we can fight back. I'm fighting back!"

As for the attempt by the Warren supporters to draft her, Turkel had this to say.

Warren's supporters used her speech to progressive activists Friday as their launching pad, handing out hats, signs and stickers to attendees. When Warren appeared on stage, large banners urging her to run were unfurled, and members of the crowd chanted for her to run a few times during her speech.

Warren, however, does not support this effort, as her spokeswoman told The Huffington Post this week. And she didn't acknowledge the calls to run for president Friday either, simply urging people to sit down whenever they jumped up and started applauding.

I really enjoyed the speech and found it a great way to start my day of meeting other activists, participating caucuses, and attending panel discussions.  However, I did not join in the calls for Elizabeth Warren to run.  I can understand why the conference attendees want Warren to contest the Democratic nomination, but she's not going to run so long as Hillary Clinton appears likely to.  At this stage in the game, the nomination is Clinton's to lose and the best that Warren could hope for is to audition to be Vice President.  That might not be a bad idea, but I suspect Warren thinks she can serve her state and her country more effectively in other ways.  If so, I agree.

Climate change films at Netroots Nation

For this Sunday's entertainment entry, I present the trailers to three environmental films that were featured at Netroots Nation on Thursday at a session titled "Changing the climate on climate change; a showcase of films for environmental action."  The first of the three was THE WISDOM TO SURVIVE: Climate Change, Capitalism & Community—Trailer.

Climate change is taking place. Will we have the wisdom to survive? The film features thought leaders and activists in the realms of science, economics and spirituality. The focus: how we can live creatively and even joyfully in the face of this catastrophe.

Featured in the film: Bill McKibben, Joanna Macy, Gus Speth, Roger Payne, & more!

"This film is deeply moving and profoundly engaging. Indeed, it has the potential to transform lives because it provides visions of how we should live in the midst of massive environmental challenges. I cannot recommend it more highly!"—Mary Evelyn Tucker, Forum on Religion & Ecology at Yale.

Follow over the jump for the trailers for two other films screened at the session.

First moon landing 45 years later

Today is the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing and the usual suspects are all celebrating the occasion, including me.  First, ABC News is Celebrating the 45th Anniversary of First Moon Landing.

Remembering that moment 45 years ago when Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon.

I was one of those watching the broadcast.  I sat in front of the TV waving a miniature U.S. flag the entire time.  The memory still makes me smile.

Follow over the jump for more from NASA, Space.com, and Discovery News (I told you, all the usual suspects).

Water protests in Detroit

I mentioned in Detroit's bankruptcy, one year later that "Detroit's water crisis will be a topic at Netroots Nation."  It was a bigger deal than I expected, as WXYZ reports in Hundreds gather downtown to protest Detroit's water shutoffs.


I joined that peaceful demonstration as one of the many from Netroots Nation.  That went pretty smoothly, as the protesters had the cooperation of police.  Another protest elsewhere in the city against water shutoffs didn't fare as well, as WXYZ reports in Protesting water shutoffs: Demonstrators face Detroit Police.


In other news, Elizabeth Warren spoke.  That will be the topic of another update.

Magnetic field reversal and 'Innovation the NASA Way'

Looking through my archives, I found that I didn't post all the space news from the past two weeks in Orbiting Carbon Observatory launches and space news video extravaganza and Supermoon and other space and astronomy news.  I missed one story each week that should have appeared in those two compendiums.  Without any further ado, here they are.

First, Kelly Dickerson of LiveScience reported Earth's Magnetic Field Is Weakening 10 Times Faster Now.

Earth's magnetic field, which protects the planet from huge blasts of deadly solar radiation, has been weakening over the past six months, according to data collected by a European Space Agency (ESA) satellite array called Swarm.

The biggest weak spots in the magnetic field — which extends 370,000 miles (600,000 kilometers) above the planet's surface — have sprung up over the Western Hemisphere, while the field has strengthened over areas like the southern Indian Ocean, according to the magnetometers onboard the Swarm satellites — three separate satellites floating in tandem.

The scientists who conducted the study are still unsure why the magnetic field is weakening, but one likely reason is that Earth's magnetic poles are getting ready to flip, said Rune Floberghagen, the ESA's Swarm mission manager. In fact, the data suggest magnetic north is moving toward Siberia.

This ties back into Discovery News on the sun flipping, in which I pointed out that "increased sunspot activity...would make for more solar storms.  That wouldn't be good for Earth, especially if they happen when the Earth's field is also reversing.  Such a combination might fry our electric grid."  This news indicates a reversal of Earth's magnetic field is becoming more likely.

Next, Space.com via LiveScience describes 'Innovation the NASA Way' (US 2014): Book Excerpt.

NASA's approach to leadership has inspired the public for decades, achieving results and overcoming obstacles that so often seemed impossible. Rod Pyle has provided leadership training to top executives at the agency and learned first-hand the situations that have guided the space agency at its most critical moments. With his latest book, he shares what he has learned and offers insight into both the inner workings of NASA and leadership lessons that span disciplines.

Below is an excerpt from his book, the first chapter of  "Innovation the NASA Way: Harnessing the Power of Your Organization for Breakthrough Success" — problem-solving anecdotes and lessons from the Mars Curiosity mission.

Read the excerpt; it's cool.

Detroit's bankruptcy, one year later

It's the one-year anniversary of Detroit files for bankruptcy, so here are two videos from WXYZ about the ongoing saga of Detroit's adventures in insolvency.

First, some good news: More donations for DIA.

The DIA is $26 million closer to its goal of raising $100 million for the grand bargain in Detroit's bankruptcy.

So far, I was right to be optimistic in Looks like good news for the DIA.

Next, a follow-up to U.N. declares Detroit's water shutoffs a human rights violation: What to do if your water is shut off.


Detroit's water crisis will be a topic at Netroots Nation tomorrow.  Speaking of which, it's time for me to go downtown and see Elizabeth Warren.

Prediction salvaged with bonus fuel economy and emissions news

I managed to save my best prediction from Gas falls faster and farther than I expected.

[W]hile the third station down the street did match the rest at $3.65, the corner station did not.  Yesterday morning, it dropped to $3.67, but by yesterday evening, it had lowered its price to $3.59.  It passed right by $3.65.  Now, I can still save my prediction if the three stations down the street are also at $3.59, so at least it will have matched them, but I haven't checked yet.

I drove by the stations and they are all at $3.59, so my call that the corner station will match them by the end of the week came true despite not getting the price right.  Between being twenty cents lower than a year ago at this time and in the case of the corner station, forty cents lower, albeit for only one day, and salvaging my prediction, I'm posting Professor Farnsworth.

Since I'm not going to waste an entry just on a simple update, I'm going to add some value.  Follow over the link for a press release from the University of Michigan about the fuel economy and CO₂ emissions of the cars sold in the U.S. last month that I originally included in Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (First of three supermoons) on Daily Kos.

Gas falls faster and farther than I expected

I was wrong in Gas prices finally lower year-over-year, although in two of the cases, I was wrong in exactly the way I'd like to be.

The next price drop arrived yesterday, when two of the three stations down the street lowered their price to $3.65.  Prices haven't been this low since the Thursday before Memorial Day.  They're also 14 cents below where they were this time last year.  Yes, time for Professor Farnsworth, even if the corner station and the third station down the street are still at $3.79.  By the end of the week, they'll join the rest.

First, the price for the corner station should have been $3.69, not $3.79.  Oops.  That's not the way I like being wrong.  Second, while the third station down the street did match the rest at $3.65, the corner station did not.  Yesterday morning, it dropped to $3.67, but by yesterday evening, it had lowered its price to $3.59, twenty cents below the price at this time last year.  It passed right by $3.65.  Now, I can still save my prediction if the three stations down the street are also at $3.59, so at least it will have matched them, but I haven't checked yet.

The last prediction I made may not be wrong, as I left myself an out.

As for what will happen next, I'm not sure.  On the one hand, GasBuddy shows the national average continuing to go down to $3.60 from $3.63 and the Detroit average has continued falling past $3.77 to $3.72.  Based on that, prices should be stable to down by next week.  On the other hand, Reuters reported that crude oil is bouncing off a bottom.

Oil prices ended slightly higher on Monday as traders weighed renewed violence in Libya against broader signs of a global market well-supplied with crude.

Brent crude gained 32 cents to settle at $106.98 A barrel. It had dropped to $106.21 earlier in the session, the lowest intraday price since April.

WTI is also flattening out, as another Reuters article reported "U.S. crude futures rose 8 cents to settle at $100.91 a barrel."  For the tie-breaker, I'm going to RBOB (wholesale gasoline stock).  Take it away Wall Street Journal!

Front-month August reformulated gasoline blendstock, or RBOB, rose 1.66 cents, or 0.57%, to $2.9251 a gallon. August diesel settled up 1.20 cents, or 0.42%, to $2.8729 a gallon.

I'll vote for steady prices not dropping ones next week as long as these conditions prevail.

The conditions I listed did not prevail, as The Wall Street Journal reports.

U.S. oil futures rebounded Wednesday from steep day-earlier losses as Chinese economic growth, Libyan unrest and a strong U.S. report on domestic oil inventories combined to deliver the strongest gain in more than a month.

Light sweet crude futures for August delivery rose $1.24, or 1.2%, to $101.20 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, their largest one-day jump since June 12. The gain pushed prices back above $100 a barrel, after they fell below that threshold on Tuesday for the first time since May 9, and arrested a month-long slide that knocked 6.5% off the market before Wednesday's rise.
...
The global Brent contract lost 17 cents, or 0.2%, to $105.85 a barrel, on the last day of trading for the expiring August contract.
...
Front-month August reformulated gasoline blendstock, or RBOB, lost 1.61 cents to $2.8824 a gallon, as analysts said the strong refinery runs likely panicked gasoline investors who fear a robust increase in supplies in future data releases. August diesel rose 0.23 cent to $2.8578 a gallon.

RBOB Gasoline lost four cents since the previous report.  Since that was the tiebreaker last time, it's the tiebreaker this time, so I can escape being wrong on prices not dropping.

As for what I expect next, the current conditions may be favorable for at least one more drop, possibly as early as next week, before they plateau or rise slightly.  According to GasBuddy, the national average is continuing to slide down, heading to $3.58, which means the corner station is at the national average.  The Detroit average is currently at $3.68 and declining.  This means that the neighborhood outlets are at their usual level of a dime below the metro average, so they won't drop any more until the Detroit mean price falls another five or more cents.  Based on the declines in Brent Crude and RBOB Gasoline, that's possible.

Crazy Eddie's Motie News going to Netroots Nation

Last year, I announced in Netroots Nation coming to Detroit in 2014, "I've been thinking about going to Netroots Nation since 2008, but never went.  Now that I've waited long enough, I don't have to.  It's come to me.  See you at Cobo in July!"  This morning, I registered myself and my wife, so it's official.  If you are going, look for me under my Daily Kos screen name Neon Vincent.  If you are thinking of going, here is the link to the website and here is the link to the schedule.  Hope to see you there!

Report on the 2014 Clawson 4th of July parade

It's time to recount my experiences Marching in the Clawson 4th of July parade again.  Just as I did in A-10s on parade, I begin with a WXYZ video: Clawson honors veterans in Fourth of July parade.


The clip gives a pretty accurate assessment of the parade's family-friendly and community-oriented atmosphere.  Also, I just missed getting on screen, as the closing shot is of the unit right behind the one I marched with.  Darn.  However, the candidate I ended up volunteering for wasn't Nancy Skinner.  Follow over the jump for who I marched down the parade route with and why.

Pacu caught in Lake St. Clair

I'm still in an "I can't be all DOOM all the time" mood, so here is a weird local biodiversity story.  WXYZ reports in Husband and wife reel in Piranha looking fish at Lake St. Clair.


For people interested in a text version, click on the Detroit Free Press article Fish caught in Lake St. Clair looks like piranha, but it's no man-eater.  As the headline states, it may look like a piranha and it is related to the notorious predator, but it's a vegetarian.  Still, it does not belong in the wild here.  Fortunately, pacu will not survive a normal winter in Michigan.

Gas prices finally lower year-over-year

I was able to resist the temptation I mentioned in Another prediction comes true early.

Gas is no longer more expensive year-over-year, as it now matches the the $3.69 all of them were selling gas for exactly a year ago today.  In fact, so long as the stations don't raise their prices, they'll be a dime lower than the $3.79 gas was selling for a year ago this coming Saturday.  That's when I'll be tempted to break out Professor Farnsworth, although I should hold out for the next price drop.

The next price drop arrived yesterday, when two of the three stations down the street lowered their price to $3.65.  Prices haven't been this low since the Thursday before Memorial Day.  They're also 14 cents below where they were this time last year.  Yes, time for Professor Farnsworth, even if the corner station and the third station down the street are still at $3.79.  By the end of the week, they'll join the rest.

As for what will happen next, I'm not sure.  On the one hand, GasBuddy shows the national average continuing to go down to $3.60 from $3.63 and the Detroit average has continued falling past $3.77 to $3.72.  Based on that, prices should be stable to down by next week.  On the other hand, Reuters reported that crude oil is bouncing off a bottom.

Oil prices ended slightly higher on Monday as traders weighed renewed violence in Libya against broader signs of a global market well-supplied with crude.

Brent crude gained 32 cents to settle at $106.98 A barrel. It had dropped to $106.21 earlier in the session, the lowest intraday price since April.

WTI is also flattening out, as another Reuters article reported "U.S. crude futures rose 8 cents to settle at $100.91 a barrel."  For the tie-breaker, I'm going to RBOB (wholesale gasoline stock).  Take it away Wall Street Journal!

Front-month August reformulated gasoline blendstock, or RBOB, rose 1.66 cents, or 0.57%, to $2.9251 a gallon. August diesel settled up 1.20 cents, or 0.42%, to $2.8729 a gallon.

I'll vote for steady prices not dropping ones next week as long as these conditions prevail.

Coffee Party Elections

I've been posting less the past month or two.  One of the reasons for slowing down is that I've been running the Coffee Party USA board elections.  This includes interviewing the candidates on BlogTalkRadio.  Here are two of the recordings of those shows.

First, Coffee Party Elections: Interview of Debilyn Molineaux for Board President.

Current Politics Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with Coffee Party USA on BlogTalkRadio

Next, Coffee Party Elections: Interview of Jeanene Louden for Treasurer.

Find Additional Politics Podcasts with Coffee Party USA on BlogTalkRadio

Voting ends today.

Bastille Day 2014 in Sacramento

Happy Bastille Day!  For a change of pace, I present KCRA's clip Bastille Day celebrations make their way through downtown--downtown Sacramento, that is.

Sacramento's own version of Bastille Day, which celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution, was held in downtown Sacramento.

Not to be outdone, the Sacramento Bee posted its own coverage of the 2014 Bastille Day Waiter's Race.

Waiters and waitresses from local restaurants battle for cash prizes in tribute to the Parisian footrace.

Gianna Jordan and Sam Paris, the Waiter's Race champions, discuss their strategy for the footrace.

So it's not the Tahiti garrison dancing the haka or a military parade down the Champs Elysee, but a promotion of downtown restaurants.  So what.  It's exactly the kind of thing I enjoy when I'm in an "I can't be all DOOM all the time" mood.

Vox on vampires and zombies

At the end of Supermoon and other space and astronomy news, I wrote that I'd post some links from Vox if I wasn't ambitious.  I decided I'd rather correct papers and watch some post-apocalyptic shows ("Falling Skies" and "The Last Ship") than write about them, so links from Vox it is.

First, Missing 'The Walking Dead'? Here are 13 ways to cope with zombie withdrawal.

This week, AMC released the first season 5 teaser for The Walking Dead...which mainly served as a reminder on how abruptly season four's finale ended. It had long-awaited reunions, flashbacks to now-deceased characters, and really bad snipers. The episode ended (spoilers await) with the new bad guys forcing all of our favorite characters (except the ones that have been stupidly killed off *side-eye at writers*) into a dark train car, leaving us to wonder what exactly their next move is going to be. One of the characters then said something "inspiring," and then — black out.

That's it. Episode over. No more zombies.

AMC hasn't yet announced a start date for season five (*more side-eye*) but some are guessing an air date of October 12 or somewhere thereabouts. If so, that means we have three more grueling months to get through without any new TWD episodes.

But in the meantime, if you find yourself in zombie withdrawal, or have already gone back and marathon-watched the entire series at least four times, then here's a list of some zombie stuff you can do to pass the time.

Brandon Ambrosino gives a list of 13 things one can do, and one no one should, which takes care of zombies.

Follow over the fold for what Vox writes about the vampires from The Strain.

Supermoon and other space and astronomy news

It's a rare event when I post three space news compendiums in a row.  In fact, I don't think I've ever done so before.  Just the same, that's what I feel like doing, beginning with the featured story of last night's Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (First of three supermoons) on Daily Kos, which comes from Science at NASA and Space.com.

ScienceCasts: A Summer of Super Moons

The summer of 2014 will be bathed in moonlight as three perigee "supermoons" occur in consecutive months: July, August, September.

Supermoon Saturday: Supersized Full Moon Rises This Weekend
By Kelly Dickerson, Staff Writer

Get ready for a supersized moon. One of the biggest full moons of the year — a so-called "supermoon" — will light up the night sky on Saturday (July 12), but is only the first in a lunar triple-play this summer.

During this weekend's supermoon, the July full moon will appear about 30 percent brighter and 14 percent closer than a typical full moon. Last year, the full moon of June made headlines with its super luminosity. In 2014, skywatchers will see three supermoons this summer, one each during the back-to-back full moons in July, August and September.

Yes, one not-so-rare event inspired an even rarer one.

Follow over the jump for the rest of the week's space and astronomy news.

Orbiting Carbon Observatory launches and space news video extravaganza

I ended Gliese 832c and other space and astronomy news by telling my readers to to stay tuned for the next week's space news.  The wait is over.

The news begins with Carbon Observing Mission Launches on This Week @NASA.

NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 mission is underway. Launched from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base, OCO-2 will help track our impact on the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and help us better understand the various human-made and natural sources of CO-2. This is one of five Earth-observing missions scheduled in 2014 -- the most Earth-focused missions launched in a single year, in more than a decade. Also, Saucer-shaped vehicle tested, Cygnus Orb-2 launch update, Space Launch System model tests and 10 years exploring Saturn.

Follow over the jump for the rest of last week's space and astronomy news, mostly in video form.

Gliese 832c and other space and astronomy news

I'm running a week behind on my space news compendiums, so without any further ado, here is the the space and astronomy news from Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (Gliese 832c) on Daily Kos,* beginning with the headline story from Space.com.

Nearby Alien Planet May Be Capable of Supporting Life
By Mike Wall, Senior Writer
June 25, 2014 04:48pm ET

A newfound alien world might be able to support life — and it's just a stone's throw from Earth in the cosmic scheme of things.

An international team of astronomers has discovered an exoplanet in the star Gliese 832's "habitable zone" — the just-right range of distances that could allow liquid water to exist on a world's surface. The planet, known as Gliese 832c, lies just 16 light-years from Earth. (For perspective, the Milky Way galaxy is about 100,000 light-years wide; the closest star to Earth, Proxima Centauri, is 4.2 light-years away.)

Gliese 832c is a "super-Earth" at least five times as massive as our planet, and it zips around its host star every 36 days. But that host star is a red dwarf that's much dimmer and cooler than our sun, so Gliese 832c receives about as much stellar energy as Earth does, despite orbiting much closer to its parent, researchers said.

Follow over the jump for the rest of that week's news.

Discovery News on cat people vs. dog people

As I wrote in May Pazuzu curse the Sith Jihad, I might find "Blah, blah, blah, collapse" useful some day.  Today is one of those days.  I woke up to find myself in an "I can't be all DOOM all the time" mood, so I'll celebrate Caturday early by passing along a question and answer from Discovery News: Are Cat People Smarter Than Dog People?

There are cat people and there are dog people, but which are smarter? Trace tells you about new research that found a clear answer, and explains what choosing one animal over the other says about us!

I have both dogs and cats, so I don't take a side in this dispute.

Another prediction comes true early

Just like the time before, the prediction I made in Prices continue floating down over 4th of July came true early.

Detroit's average has fallen even more steeply from $3.86 to $3.79.  A local price drop to $3.69 by the end of this week or the start of next week is not out of the question.

Yesterday morning, the three stations down the block had lowered their price for regular to $3.72.  They then dropped it to the predicted target of $3.69 this morning.  By this afternoon, the corner station, which had been holding out at $3.75 until this morning, matched the rest at $3.69. That's a day earlier than I had expected my forecast would have panned out.

Gas is no longer more expensive year-over-year, as it now matches the the $3.69 all of them were selling gas for exactly a year ago today.  In fact, so long as the stations don't raise their prices, they'll be a dime lower than the $3.79 gas was selling for a year ago this coming Saturday.  That's when I'll be tempted to break out Professor Farnsworth, although I should hold out for the next price drop.

Speaking of which, I expect prices will continue to decline, as GasBuddy shows the  national average continuing to go down to $3.63 from $3.64, the Detroit average has continued falling past $3.79 to $3.77, and West Texas Intermediate crude oil has dropped about $3.50 from ~$105.60 on July 1st to a little over $102.00 today.  How low they'll go next week I'm not saying today.  I'm just savoring my success right now.

Driving update for July 2014: Yuki

Last night, my car Yuki turned over 221,000 miles just before I pulled her into my driveway, which is where her odometer sits right now.  That means it's time to update my miles driven since Driving update for April 2014: Yuki.

It's been 88 days since Yuki passed 220,000 miles on April 12, 2014.  The result is that my rate of driving increased to 11.36 miles/day and 346.59 miles per month.  Those are quite a lot more than the 8.77 miles/day and 267.54 miles/month from the last update.  However, they're less than I drove during the comparable period last year, when it took me 81 days to drive 1000 miles between April and July for averages of 12.35 miles/day and 376.5 miles/month.  Yay!  I'm down year over year!

It turns out that I'm bucking the national trend, which Calculated Risk reported was Vehicle Miles Driven increased 1.8% year-over-year in April.

Travel on all roads and streets changed by 1.8% (4.6 billion vehicle miles) for April 2014 as compared with April 2013.

Here's the relevant graph.


People may be driving more than last year, but peak driving still happened in December 2007.

Finally, the July 2013 update was exactly a year ago, so I can calculate miles per year, month, and day much more precisely.  I drove 4,000 miles in exactly one year and averaged 333.33 miles/month and 10.96 miles/day.  Now I have to go back and estimate the miles per year from July to July for the two years before that.  Later.  I have to drive to work.

May Pazuzu curse the Sith Jihad

I concluded Prices continue floating down over 4th of July by writing I'd have more to say later about ISIS, the Sith Jihad.  It's later.  Take it away, Daily Telegraph!

Iraq's 'Exorcist' temple falls into Isis jihadist hands
Ancient pre-Christian temple in northern Iraq featured in film The Exorcist at risk of destruction by Isis jihadists
By Colin Freeman, Baghdad

An ancient temple made famous in the film The Exorcist has fallen into the hands of the Islamic militants who have taken over northern Iraq, the Telegraph has learnt.

The pre-Christian worship complex at Hatra, a vast network of 200-ft high sun-god temples that is a Unesco world heritage site, features in the opening sequence of the 1973 horror classic.
...
Director William Friedkin filmed in Hatra for the first scene in The Exorcist, in which a priest at an archaeology dig unearths an ancient talisman belonging to Pazuzu, an ancient Mesopotamian demon. A child bogeymen in Mesopotamian folklore, Pazuzu is said to be alerted whenever his talismans are disturbed or touched, and in The Exorcist he goes to possess a young American girl.

Should ISIS deface the temple, may Pazuzu curse the Sith Jihad.

"The Exorcist" isn't the only item of popular culture in which Pazuzu appears.  He also makes a cameo in Rockit by Gorillaz.


If I ever need a new theme song, I could use this one.  I might find "blah, blah, blah, collapse" useful some day.

Prices continue floating down over 4th of July

The prediction I made in Gas drops in advance of July 4th came true.

The decline is also happening nationally and regionally.  The national average peaked at $3.69 a week ago and has glided down to $3.68 today.  The Detroit average peaked even earlier and has fallen farther.  It almost reached $3.96 a little over two weeks ago, making the local stations almost underpriced, then has floated down a dime to $3.86.  If this trend continues through the holiday weekend, the stations down the street could even drop their price down to $3.75 next week.

I didn't even have to wait until this week for the three stations down the street to drop their price down to $3.75; they hit it on July 4th.  By Monday, the corner station matched them.  That's where all four neighborhood outlets were yesterday.

Normally, I'd post Professor Farnsworth, but prices are still above where they were a year ago Saturday, when the corner station was selling gas at $3.48, and even a year ago tomorrow, when it raised its price to $3.69.  However, it's getting close.  GasBuddy suggests that prices will continue to fall.  The national average is down to $3.64 from $3.67 at the time of last week's report and Detroit's average has fallen even more steeply from $3.86 to $3.79.  A local price drop to $3.69 by the end of this week or the start of next week is not out of the question.

Local prices may not even have to fall for prices to be lower year-over-year by the end of the week, as gas was selling for $3.79 a year ago next Saturday because of unrest in Egypt.  So far, ISIS has not been able to revive the fear premium.  Speaking of the Sith Jihad, I'll have more to say about them later.

My reflections on the centenary of World War I

The Archdruid opened In a Handful of Dust with a commentary on the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which inspired me to reply with these two paragraphs about the event and the war that ensued.

I responded to the centenary of the assassination of Franz Ferdinand with a bid of morbid whimsy by leaving the following as my Facebook status last Saturday: "One hundred years ago today, the real-life game of Pax Britannica ended when the random event 'Serbia defies Austria-Hungary' was rolled, pushing the European Tensions Index above 100 and starting the Great War."

On a more serious note, I read a history of World War I back in 2000 to get an idea of what really happened.  What struck me as I paged my way through the book was that it was error after miscalculation after mistake, all the way up to the end, when the war ended, not because of military defeat so much as exhaustion and collapse, first on the part of Russia and then Germany.  To this day, my impression of the war was "what a tragic screw-up by everyone involved."  The story would be funny if it weren't so bloody and wasteful.

As for the denouement of the Great War, "Who would have guessed that the victor in the great struggle between Britain and Germany would turn out to be the United States?"--that might have been foreseen if people had been paying attention to the GDPs of the major powers.  By 1914, the U.S. and Germany were the top two, with the U.K. in third.  Also, there had been historical precedents for another power sneaking in when the top two got into a contest for world domination.  Spain and Portugal were the top two countries in the first world system from 1500 to 1600.  Nominally, Spain won by absorbing Portugal from 1580 to 1640, but the actual winner was the Netherlands, who ended up the dominant world power until the late 1600s, when they got into a fight with Hapsburg Spain.  Again, both lost and England took over the top position among world powers, ironically when the English monarch was Dutch.  So the U.S. taking over as the hegemon should have come as no surprise.  Unfortunately, the U.S. didn't accept world leadership until World War II broke out.  That was one last tragic mistake on our part in the aftermath of all the rest.

After that, I changed the subject.  I'm saving those comments for another time.

Hunger Games, Leftovers, and Transformers--other bloggers' perspectives

I concluded yesterday's Politics of the World Cup with a promise.

I'll cover the more obviously post-apocalyptic entertainment news later.  If nothing else, I can link to what other bloggers have to say about all of the TV shows and movies that are out or being promoted right now.

It's later, although later than I expected.  My wife and I got lost in a marathon of "Lost" on Netflix* while I was simultaneously correcting papers, so I didn't blog last night.  Hey, priorities.

On that note, follow over the jump for links to what other bloggers are writing about "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay," "The Leftovers," and "Transformers: Age of Extinction."

Politics of the World Cup

I had intended to follow up on the loose ends I left hanging in Video games are not bad for you, but I'm not up to it just yet.  Instead, here are two articles I included in last night's Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (Hurricane Arthur) on Daily Kos about the politics of the World Cup plus a bonus video from John Oliver.

First, the University of Florida reports that Brazil can still capitalize on good vibes from World Cup.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Brazil can still make the positive glow from hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup last for years if it starts right away building programs that will unite citizens long after the event is over, a University of Florida study has found.

That’s the opportunity South Africa missed after it hosted the 2010 World Cup, and Brazil has even more to lose if it does the same, said Heather Gibson, a UF tourism, recreation and sport management professor.

“There’s obviously a lot of dissent over hosting and the amount of money being used to host the event when there are many more pressing social issues,” she said. “Tread lightly and show the people that they also get a share in any of the benefits.”

In the run-up to the World Cup, Brazil saw large-scale protests across the country that focused on the government’s decision to spend billions on the event instead of on correcting social ills such as homelessness. While the number of participants has dwindled with the games underway, some demonstrators have continued their activities.

This internal political effort is important, as Brazil is also hosting the Summer Olympics in two years.  A lot of the same problems will be played out again on an even larger scale with the Olympics, at least in terms number of venues and potential disruption, so Brazil will need to learn from its mistakes or risk more unrest over sport--and not just rioting over the results of the matches.

Follow over the jump for an article from Georgia Tech and John Oliver's perspective on FIFA, the ruling organization of soccer.

Examiner.com article about U.S. Taxpayers Party nominees

The U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan announced its candidates this week.  Here are photographs of ten of the fourteen candidates running for state and federal offices, beginning with gubernatorial nominee Mark McFarlin.
Credit: Marc Sosnowski.

U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan announces 2014 candidates

In an email sent Saturday, the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan announced their slate of candidates for the general election in November. The Taxpayers Party nominated twenty-nine candidates for twenty-eight federal, state, and local offices. Of those, fourteen will appear on ballots in Washtenaw County, including the party's nominees for U.S. Senator, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and the state's four educational governance boards.  The Taxpayers Party, which is the Michigan affiliate of the Constitution Party, nominated their slate at their state convention on June 28th, but waited until this week to announce their slate.

The Taxpayers Party's nominee for Governor, Mark McFarlin of Bay City, proves that the third time was the charm for his gubernatorial ambitions.  MLive reported Saturday that In 2013, McFarlin had circulated petitions to secure a place on the August primary ballot as a Democratic candidates for Governor while expressing his doubts that President Barack Obama was really a citizen of the United States.  Earlier this year, he switched his affiliation to Republican in order to challenge incumbent Rick Snyder for Governor in the primary.  In June, he filed his papers with the Taxpayers Party to be considered at their convention.

When asked about his nomination by the Taxpayers Party, McFarlin told MLive, "It means a lot because of the reform we need in the state. We're giving the people a choice."

Much more about the McFarlin and his fellow nominees at the link in the headline.

As if "the third times the charm" wasn't enough, I decided against remarking "it's all in the family."  However, it's true.  Check out the three sets of husbands and wives on the Taxpayers Party slate.

A drum corps 4th of July

Marching in the Clawson 4th of July parade again today was not enough.*  I'm continuing the patriotic celebration by posting videos of five shows that Drum Corps International chose as the most Americana filled shows in DCI history.  Yes, I'm in an "I can't be all DOOM all the time" mood and I want to maintain my unique position as the only doomer blogger who writes about drum corps.

DCI posted the videos in chronogical order and so will I.  The first is the finale of 1984 Suncoast Sound, which I saw in person three decades ago.

Suncoast Sound reflected the turbulence of America in the 1960s, a time when many were convinced we all might disappear in a nuclear war precipitated by the Cuban Missile Crisis and further aggravated by the Vietnam War. Drill formations of a bomb and a giant mushroom cloud rekindled this sense of uneasiness.

The spiritual highlight of the show was when a dispute between police and war protesters led into a deeply reverential moment, when 28 pieces of adjoining fabric were slowly picked up to reveal a representation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The image of a young girl communicating with the spirit of her unseen deceased father at the wall was chilling and heartbreaking.

The production came to a close starting with the discontent of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" before evolving into "America the Beautiful." An old-fashioned American flag presentation was followed by color guard members unrolling banners of red, white and blue, portraying a sense of renewed hope and pride in the nation.

At the time, I said both Troopers and Suncoast Sound were both America's Corps that year, but Troopers were Reagan's corps, while Suncoast Sound was Mondales.  Speaking of Troopers, follow over the jump for them and three more shows from the decades of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, most of which I saw in person or on live television.

Marching in the Clawson 4th of July parade again today

It's time to repeat what I did two years ago.

If all goes according to plan, I'll be celebrating the holiday by walking (not marching--I've done enough of that for a lifetime) in the Clawson 4th of July Parade...

That was a fun experience that I described in A-10s on parade.  In fact, it was such a fun experience that I plan on doing it again, this time as a volunteer for Nancy Skinner.  She's running on a platform that emphasizes fighting climate change.  Here's her campaign video: 11:11:1.

Nancy Skinner is running in one of the very few US House Seats in the nation that is "in play" due to gerrymandering, Michigan's 11th District. The incumbent is a first term Tea Party (and major Climate Denier), Kerry Bentivolio. Roll Call has MI-11 in it's Top Ten Most Vulnerable Seats.

Nancy has run twice before for Congress on Climate Change. The first time was 2004 in the US Senate Democratic primary in Illinois, where a little-known state senator, Barack Obama, won the primary.

Obama heartily endorsed Nancy during her second run for office, calling her his sharpest opponent. In the second campaign which was for US Congress in MI 9, Nancy's hometown, Nancy almost beat 14 year incumbent Joe Knollenberg, despite being outspent 8:1. Bobby Kennedy Jr. did Nancy's ads during this campaign, calling for her to be elected for her leadership on climate change.

Now, the redistricted seat is Michigan's new 11th (half her previous district) and Nancy is up against a much easier opponent. We can win this race and earn a blue Congressional seat, but we need your help! We can show politicians that running on climate change is viable, and that the American people truly care about this issue, but only if you stand up for the cause! We need your donation, whatever you can afford, to ensure that the SkinnerSquad has the funds necessary to win this race.

Make your choice and your voice heard!

She's also the only major party candidate I've heard heard mention peak oil.  On top of which, she's running in the 11th Congressional District, which is great for entertainment value and right next door.  How could I not support her?  I couldn't resist.

Finally, the weather should be perfect, as WXYZ reports in Fine Fourth of July forecast.


Beats the hell out of the 100 degree F. on July 4th two years ago.

Gas drops in advance of July 4th

It's been more than two weeks since I wrote the following in The corner station awakens, advances, then retreats.

Yesterday, it had matched the rest of the neighborhood stations at $3.85.  Throughout this entire episode, they kept their prices where they have been for a couple of weeks.

According to GasBuddy, that's exactly where they belong, as the metro Detroit average has been $3.95 for the past three days and the local stations normally are a dime cheaper.  Prices aren't going down any time soon.  If anything, they might go up based on the slight increase in the national average from $3.63 to $3.66 during the past week as well as the increase in crude oil prices Calculated Risk noted two days ago.

Last week, the corner station made its usual charge into No Man's Land, raising its price to $3.95 while the rest of the neighborhood stations remained at $3.85.  By the end of the week, it returned to $3.85.  Since there was no real movement, I didn't bother posting about it.

This week, prices began to slide off the plateau where they had been all month.  Monday morning, the three stations down the block lowered their prices to $3.79.  By that evening, the corner station had joined them.  That's where all of local outlets have remained since.

The decline is also happening nationally and regionally.  The national average peaked at $3.69 a week ago and has glided down to $3.68 today.  The Detroit average peaked even earlier and has fallen farther.  It almost reached $3.96 a little over two weeks ago, making the local stations almost underpriced, then has floated down a dime to $3.86.  If this trend continues through the holiday weekend, the stations down the street could even drop their price down to $3.75 next week.  Crude oil price trends support the possibility, as Reuters reports.

Brent crude extended the previous session's losses to fall to a three-week low, dropping 32 cents to $110.92 a barrel by 0230 GMT. U.S. oil declined 44 cents to $104.04, also sliding to a three-week low.

I'd be tempted to post Professor Farnsworth, except that prices are much higher than they were at this time last year, when they hit a seasonal low of $3.37 before going up to $3.59 then falling to $3.38.  I don't expect such volatility.  Instead, I expect a disciplined decline.  To illustrate, I'll post a photo of a parachute drop instead of a roller coaster.

Duverger's Law works, a response to Kunstler

This past January, Kunstler expressed his dissatisfaction with America's two-party system in The Disenchantment of American Politics — And the Coming Uproar, in which he posed what he thought was a rhetorical question.

The mature two-party system may prove to have been a transient product of America’s industrial heyday, which is now over despite the euphoria over stock bubbles, shale oil, computers and other new technology. If the two old parties dry up and blow away, will anyone shed a tear for them?

For me, it wasn't rhetorical, but one that needed not only an answer--yes, there will be people who will shed a tear for their disappearance, even if they aren't the majority of Americans--but refutation of sorts.

The current two-party system has lasted since the end of the Civil War, which predates the U.S.’s industrial heyday, but does coincide with the rise of American Industrialism. Before that, the country had other two-party systems, first the Democrats (then calling themselves the Republicans, but the party of Jefferson is still today’s Democratic Party) and the Federalists, then the Democrats and the Whigs. Now it’s the Democrats and the Republicans. As you can see, it’s always the Democrats, who are the oldest continuously active organized political party on the planet, and an economically conservative rival. The Democrats survived being on the wrong side of the Civil War, while the Whigs, as you pointed out, disintegrated over slavery, failing to renominate their own sitting President. The Federalists got on the wrong side of a war, too, supporting the British in the War of 1812. Unlike the Democrats, that killed them. Based on that history, I’d put my money on the current GOP disintegrating first. Hey, they’re vampires–throw them out into the sunlight and they’ll burn up by themselves.

The Democrats can be killed, but not as long as the current GOP is around to keep the members in line. Take away their opposition, and the party will splinter, just as it did during the time between the fall of the Federalists and the rise of the Whigs, and again between the fall of the Whigs and rise of the Republicans. Even then, the party survived enough to maintain continuity. Right now, that could happen, as the GOP is like the old Democratic Party when Will Rogers observed that he was “not a member of any organized political party; he was a Democrat” and “Democrats never agree on anything, that’s why they’re Democrats. If they agreed with each other, they’d be Republicans.” The GOP is fractious, while the Democrats are united.

As for what has kept the two-party system going, it’s called Duverger’s Law, which “asserts that plurality rule elections structured within single-member districts tend to favor a two-party system,” according to Wikipedia. One of the predictions that can be made by this is that if one of the major parties is ideologically out of step with an area, then one of the minor parties will step up to fill the void. I’ve observed that happening twice, first in Louisiana, where the Democratic Party only contested one seat out of six in the state’s congressional delegation and again in the City of Ann Arbor, where there were no Republican candidates in a city that elected a Republican Mayor 20 years ago.

So, who took over as the opposition? In Louisiana, it was the Libertarians, who were more in line with the state’s conservative leanings.

In Ann Arbor, a “Green Tea” party calling itself the Mixed-Use Party arose. It employed Libertarian means to Green ends. They were also more in line with that city’s environmentalist ethic than the current GOP.

Duverger’s Law works, which means that as long as the U.S. is a representative democracy operating within a republic, with first-past-the-post elections, there will be two major parties, and therefore a two-party system. Of course, that condition won’t last forever.

Mind you, the question really being asked by Kunstler is whether the two major parties as currently constituted deserve the support of the American people.  That's a question that Greer attempted to answer in Fascism and the Future, Part Two: The Totalitarian Center and I responded to in The Archdruid on Fascism, part 2.  Greer's answer is no, but also to be careful of the alternatives.  As I told Fabius Maximus, "When you wish for a “Radical Center,” be careful what you wish for. You might get it in ways you don’t want."

Decade: Cassini arrives at Saturn

Despite my skepticism about looking back ten years that I expressed in Nablopomo for July: Decade, an video that does exactly that fell into my lap when I put together Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (Gliese 832c), JPL/NASA showing Cassini Saturn Arrival in 2004.

On June 30, 2004 (PDT), as mission controllers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory held their collective breath, the international Cassini-Huygens mission successfully arrived in orbit around Saturn. NASA's Cassini spacecraft delivered the European Space Agency's Huygens probe to Titan in early 2005. Cassini completed its four-year primary mission in 2008 and went on to perform dozens more flybys of Titan, Enceladus and Saturn's other icy moons through its 10th anniversary in 2014. The mission may continue through 2017.

Yes, that was 10 years ago this week.  How time flies when one is having fun making great discoveries.