Mariott ending in-room Porn

There aren't that many bright spots in the quest to fight pornography right now. It is becoming more and more prolific on the internet, and is slowly making its way into more and more lives. But here is a major source of hope for those hoping to reduce the influence of pornography on society - Mariott Hotels has announced a plan to end porn on their in-room channels and entertainment systems. A step in the right direction!

Marriott International, one of the nation's leading hotel groups, tells Hotel Check-In that it's pulling access to adult movies from the new hotel rooms it will be opening the next several years...

Marriott's decision also comes after years of discussing whether the availability of adult entertainment in guest rooms - for years, a money maker for hotels - is appropriate and whether secure safeguards exist to keep it away from children

Of course, this doesn't stop guests from locating porn on their laptops or bringing it in with them. But the point here is to protect the innocent, and make it just a little bit harder to bring that kind of darkness into one's life in a moment of loneliness.

Secretary of Transportation would disable cell phones in cars

I try to give the benefit of the doubt to both sides, but there are times when someone says something that simply makes no sense. Consider for this point, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood who is proposing requiring car companies to actively jam all cell phones in cars in an effort to end "distracted driving."

The US government may require cars to include scrambling tech that would disable mobile-phone use by drivers, and perhaps passengers.

"I think it will be done," US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said on Wednesday morning, according to The Daily Caller. "I think the technology is there and I think you're going to see the technology become adaptable in automobiles to disable these cell phones."

LaHood is on a self-described "rampage" against distracted driving, and if making it impossible to use a mobile phone while in a car can save lives, he's all for it...

This means not only would it be illegal to use the cell phone while driving, but it would also be impossible for you or your passengers to use it. If implemented as proposed here, it would also jam data connections (or else drivers could simply switch to Skype) which would mean the end of Pandora or other music streaming services in the car. And, of course, it would mean the end of being able to contact emergency services from your vehicle.

There is a time and place for government intervention, and "distracted driving" is definitely a problem. But let's be reasonable and realize that such whole hog solutions create more problems than they solve.

Group seeks to ban Bicycles from roads

Some days, it is great to be a cyclist. You feel the wind in your face, you feel the burn as fat is consumed and you become more fit, and you realize you are out and about in the real world instead of sealed inside a metal capsule on wheels. Other days, it ain't so great. For example, when a group in Iowa tries to ban ALL BICYCLES from roads in the name of safety.

 http://www.northlibertyleader.com/article.php?id=769

 The basic argument seems to be that "shared roads" are unsafe for both cyclists and automobile drivers, because of their significantly different travel styles (speed, maneuverability, etc.) But the attitude is nothing new to anyone who has ridden their bike on any road. Some car drivers believe the road belongs to them alone, and anyone else - on foot, on bicycle, on horseback, even in a stroller - is fair game.

Posted via email from The Bike Nomad

Solar Freeze is the worst idea this year

I usually try to keep weekends light, but I am still furious about the announcement yesterday to suspend all solar power building for two years on Federal Lands. Some have said to me "Well, that does not affect private land, so it is no big deal." Here is an article showing exactly how much land is tied up in the Bureau of Land Management which would be PRIME for Solar Power building.

Let me say it again. If the Bush administration or Congress does not reverse this decision by July 4, they ALL deserve to be thrown out of office. I include in that evaluation Barack Obama and John McCain. Supporting or ignoring this move displays complete incompetence at best, or simple corruption at worst.

Feds freeze solar power building

So, you're facing an mounting energy crisis with oil at $4+/gallon and looking to reach $5/gallon by summer's end. Everyone and their brother are crying out for alternative energy sources, and the solar power community is rolling out breakthrough after breakthrough to make solar energy production cheaper and easier. So what do you do? Well, if you are the Federal Government, you announce a 2-year freeze on building new solar power plants.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/us/27solar.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1214584113-v3z1P+TfnrPGbc97b/n4hw

That's right. At the HEIGHT of an energy crisis, we are cutting off the cleanest form of energy available "for environmental concerns." If Congress or the Bush Administration does not reverse this order by July 4, they all DESERVE to be thrown out of office in November. This is not just the usual government foolishness, this is downright criminal.