US and China Announce Climate Agreement

I'm sure Right Wing World sees this as much ado about nothing, since--somehow--their political ideology overrules climate science, and relegates climate change to being a hoax. But if anyone has been paying attention to China's desperate--and unsuccessful--effort to squelch their horrific air pollution in advance of this summit, they'd see just how obvious it is that we can affect our environment in bad ways. Why on earth they think it's impossible to cause more global changes is hard for me to fathom. But good on President Obama for this effort, whatever the usual suspects have to say about it.

[Excerpt]

US, China Announce Ambitious New Climate Agreement

The United States and China unveiled ambitious targets Wednesday to reduce greenhouse gases, aiming to inject fresh momentum into the global fight against climate change ahead of a make-or-break treaty to be finalized next year. President Barack Obama announced that the U.S. would move much faster in cutting pollution, with a goal to reduce by 26 percent to 28 percent by 2025, compared with 2005 levels. Earlier in his presidency, Obama set a goal to cut emissions by 17 percent by 2020. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Nevada Candidate for Congress Has China Syndrome

Ugh. Is it too late to get Sharron Angle back? Yeesh, this thing is so over the top, it could be from The Onion.

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Nevada GOP Candidate Warns Of Impending Chinese Military Invasion In New Ad



Nevada state Sen. Mark Amodei (R) didn’t wait long after starting his campaign for his state’s unfilled House seat before dabbling in xenophobia. Amodei, the GOP nominee for Nevada’s second congressional district special election in September, launched his three-day-old campaign with a television ad telling viewers China’s debt holdings will soon allow the country to rise up and destroy U.S. sovereignty. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

China to Hong Kong Bridge Crosses from Left to Right!

Image from source, Design Boom

This is pretty nifty.  It reminds me of an old Benny Hill skit, where (as a news announcer) he says, Britain will change from driving on the left side of the road to the right. The change will be phased in gradually. . .

[Excerpt]

NL architects: Hong Kong boundaries crossing facilities

Dutch NL architects have sent in images of their 'Pearl River Necklace', a proposal for the Hong Kong boundary crossing facilities international ideas competition. The aim for entrants was to create a new landmark to reflect Hong Kong as a vibrant global and metropolitan city. . .

Read more at: Design Boom

Found at: Joe.My.God

Somebody Wants to Buy Hummer?

Image from Car Buyer's Notebook

To many of us, Hummers were tacky and over-the-top when they were first released. They were not only gas-hogs, they were garish, tarted up Tonka trucks. The thing that would pop into my head whenever I'd see one was "Overcompensate much?"

But for a while there, the ugly buggers were very popular. Growing outside of a niche, cult following, we started seeing them everywhere. Part of it was probably a post-9/11 patriotism/bravado thing. But you'd see tiny blonde women driving them, not necessarily loaded up with kiddies. Incongruous describes it pretty well.

Then, for a while, gas prices hit $4+ per gallon, and the Hummer seemed to lose its appeal overnight. Suddenly everyone saw them for the big shiny uglies that they were. And GM kept building them anyway. When they said they were going to try to sell the brand off, I thought "who'd want it?" Well, apparently the Chinese want to overcompensate for something too.

[Excerpt]

GM strikes Hummer deal with China machinery maker

General Motors Corp(GMGMQ.PK) said on Tuesday it reached a tentative deal to sellits Hummer brand to a privately held Chinese heavy machinerymaker, part of an effort to drop four unprofitable vehiclelines and leave bankruptcy as a leaner company. . .

Read more at: Reuters

More on the "China Drilling for Oil in Cuba" Story

Image from source, TPM Muckraker

This story is a prime example of how the right-wing operates, and for why we absolutely need a change in the political direction in this country. There is no guarantee that a Barack Obama Presidency would bring about that change, but of our two choices, it is the best one we've got.

It's possible--maybe probable--that other Presidents (and their administrations and supporters) have engaged in this type of behavior. But the Bush Administration (with support from right-wing talk radio and FOX "News") have turned "truthiness" into standard operating procedure. It works like this: assert something to be true, even if you know it's not. Appear on FOX "News," and spread your story. If your story is questioned or even debunked, keep repeating it anyway. Friendly surrogates and pundits then quote your story, and eventually report the story as true. Over and over. For a grace note, you can then cite one of those people as evidence of the merit of the story!

This China/Cuba story by all appearances is false. Just like the Iraq-9/11 story, and oh-so-many others. No matter how thoroughly debunked it is, some of the right-wing mouthpieces will still assert that it is true. Maddening.

[Excerpt]

Searching For The True Source Of A Bogus Story

We've been trying to find the original source for that mysterious meme about China drilling for oil off the coast of Cuba and Florida.

It's flat out wrong. The AP debunked it a few days ago after Vice President Dick Cheney tried to pass it off in remarks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about high energy prices. . .

Read more at: TPM Muckraker

Cheney: China Drilling for Oil 60 Miles from Florida?

Photo from MSNBC

Here's an odd knot to untie. Is China drilling for oil off of Cuba, 60 miles from Florida? It's the latest mantra to be repeated by right-wing blowholes like Sean Hannity (not to mention Vice President Dick Cheney). It's has the sound of a fish story; the type of thing that is passed around the internets and emails from "concerned friends."

Could it be true? The rabid right is insisting it is. But there is conflicting evidence, from all people, Republican Senator Mel Martinez. I'm gonna go with Mel for now, unless he's proven wrong. After all, when something becomes a Cheney-inspired Hannity talking point, it's either untrue, or at least seriously skewed.

[Excerpt]

Dick move: Cheney perpetuates myth about China-Cuba oil partnership

During his "drill, drill, drill" rant yesterday, Dick Cheney complained that Cuba and China are drilling for oil closer to the coast of Florida than American companies are currently allowed. It's become a common talking point for Republicans arguing that more areas should be opened to drilling -- but, reports McClatchy, it appears to be bogus. . .

Source: Grist Mill

USA! USA! We're #2! Hey, Wait a Minute. . .

Photo from source, Newsweek

I'm a liberal blogger and a Democrat, and if there's anything we've learned over the last 7+ years, we are by definition America Haters. We're part of the blame America first crowd. Hogwash. I'm as patriotic as the next guy, I just have a beef with the overt, faux-patriotism displayed by the current crowd of Neo-Cons and their sycophants. I despise their mindless flag waving and sloganeering while the country goes down the crapper.

And I believe it is precisely these people, from George W. Bush on down to his lock-steppy supporters who have brought our nation to a place where it is seen as, well, Number 2. Pun intended.

[Excerpt]

The Rise of the Rest

Americans are glum at the moment. No, I mean really glum. In April, a new poll revealed that 81 percent of the American people believe that the country is on the "wrong track." In the 25 years that pollsters have asked this question, last month's response was by far the most negative. Other polls, asking similar questions, found levels of gloom that were even more alarming, often at 30- and 40-year highs. There are reasons to be pessimistic—a financial panic and looming recession, a seemingly endless war in Iraq, and the ongoing threat of terrorism. . .

Read more at: Newsweek

How China Came Up With the Olympic Logo

Do you like dark humor? I do. Of course that has been obvious here, over the existence of this blog. So, it's possible that you'll find this clip in bad taste. . .

What Would Jesus Do? Chinese Sweatshop Crosses

Photo from source, CNN

Apparently, a bunch of US churches are selling crucifixes that are made in sweatshops in China. No word on if they're coated with lead, or if Jesus turns into a date-rape drug. . .

[Excerpt]

Crucifixes allegedly made in Chinese sweatshops

A labor rights group alleged Tuesday that crucifixes sold in religious gift shops in the U.S. are produced under "horrific" conditions in a Chinese factory with more than 15-hour workdays and inadequate food.

"It's a throwback to the worst of the garment sweatshops 10, 20 years ago," said Charles Kernaghan, director of the National Labor Committee. . .

Read it at: CNN

Erin Burnett: Bring on the Lead Paint & Poison!

OK, I'm going to give this CNBC reporter the benefit of the doubt, and assume that she just worded this badly. She may have been merely trying to express a thought on live TV that came out sounding bonkers. Surely she doesn't think we should continue to use and consume toxic products from China. Then again, she just may be bonkers.

Chinese Toymaker Commits Suicide After Recalls

OK, first the Chinese government executes their equivalent to our FDA head, and now this. This sort of thing just doesn't happen here, when one of our bigwigs gets busted.

[Excerpt]

Owner of Chinese Toy Factory Commits Suicide

By DAVID BARBOZA
Published: August 14, 2007

SHANGHAI, Aug. 13 — The head of a Chinese company that was behind the recall this month of about a million Mattel toys committed suicide over the weekend, China’s state-controlled news media reported Monday.

Zhang Shuhong, a Hong Kong businessman and owner of Lee Der Industrial, a company that made toys for Mattel for 15 years, hanged himself in a company warehouse in Foshan, in southern China, The Southern Metropolis Daily said Monday.

Read more at: NYTimes.com