http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog To explore and evaluate the true causes of social and environmental problems and how prejudice and emotion prevent solutions to those problems Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:53:44 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en  Fiscal Irresponsibility "Do I need it?" "Will I use it?" "Can I afford it?" That is how I have managed my life's finances. There are obviously times during one's life when we buy things that we don't really need but those are what makes life fun. These are the frivolous items that we buy or ... http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/06/23/fiscal-irresponsibility/  Black Plastic (Polyethylene) During my recent travels I drove along a highway in western Florida where some road construction was underway in the median strip. It was a four-lane Interstate highway with the wide median strip the level of which was below the center of the highway lanes. During the last decade it ... http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/06/15/black-plastic/ For a number of years I have been going to the same resort in Jamaica. Quite a few years ago I met the man who picks up trash and plastic cups from the beach, arranges the beach lounges and chairs for the next day and then rakes the beach. He's a ... http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/03/03/blessed-be-the-slobs/ One last comment. If everyone seems to know that corn biofuel costs more to produce than the equivalent energy available from gasoline, that it requires fertilizers that pollute water, that by displacing wheat production it is causing all food prices to increase, why is corn production being subsidized? http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/02/15/corn-biofuel/ "It's easy to find fault but difficult to find solutions."                                                      John W. Malenda Friends and loyal readers, I will be "off-line" for a couple of weeks but don't despair, I will return! http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/02/15/reality/ Just read this morning that  Congress and the President have decided to borrow $168 billion from China to fund the 'tax rebate'  for us. With that, I expect, most will be spent by us to buy products from China. Perhaps the Columbian drug dealers would like to get in on this deal ... http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/02/15/fiscal-policy/ I read on the news today that the NYPD was able to purchase three 100 pound cylinders of chlorine without identification of who was making the purchase. ...and you don't think we need a National ID Card? Package that with a few bags of fertilizer and a can of home heating oil ... http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/02/13/more-regarding-positive-identification/ "The truth, like medicine, is not always sweet."                                                  John W. Malenda http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/02/10/truth/ Although a National Identity Card is both a practical and absolute form of identification I have yet to find anyone who agrees with the concept. Since I posted the previous article I have talked with a number of people and everyone feels that it would restrict their freedom. The second concern is ... http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/02/10/identity-card-revisited/ There seems to be a lot of concern about a National Identification Card. I wonder why? I have heard discussions that it will take away our privacy and our freedom. That it is the final step toward 666, the Mark of the Beast. Consider where we are today. You must use your Social ... http://www.jwmalenda.com/blog/2008/02/06/national-id-card/