Shadow Void

Pets 1 of 2 maybe 1 of 3

Golden Millipede Mating

My Video of Poison Hemlock

Coal-Fired Electricity - A letter from my senator

Thank you for contacting me regarding the construction of new coal-fired electricity generating plants. I appreciate your thoughts and concerns on this issue. As you know, last December the retaining wall of a coal ash storage pond gave way in Eastern Tennessee leading to what some believe to be the largest environmental disaster of its kind in U.S. history. Over 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash was released into the nearby Emory River. This disaster also highlights our nation's dependence on coal for electricity generation. Approximately 49% of the U.S. electricity is derived from coal-fired power plants. Indiana is significantly more dependent on coal with 95.4% of our electricity coming from coal. These facts, along with the Department of Energy's projection of an increase in U.S. demand for electricity of 30% by 2030, underscore our need to pursue clean, renewable energy generation technologies around the country. Solar, wind, geothermal, and many other renewable energy technologies have tremendous promise to reduce our need for coal power plants. That is why in the 110th Congress, I supported the bipartisan Energy Investment and Protection Act of 2008, H.R. 6049 which passed the Senate on September 23, 2008. This legislation extends tax credits for a variety of clean energy sources which are critical to securing the energy and national security of the United States. These sources include renewable fuels, carbon capture and sequestration, energy efficiency, conservation, advanced technology vehicles, among others. Please rest assured, should legislation regarding regulation of coal-fired plants come before the Senate in the 111th Congress, I will keep your views in mind.

Happy Father's Day

First off I want to say that Father's Day is a strange day. At church, we give goodies to all the adult females on Mother's Day. Do we do that for father's day? Nope! I think it's understandable. I'm not a father so do I expect any remembrance on this day. Heck no! I want to change that though. I want to say happy father's day to all the guys out there. I know there are guys out there who can't have kids, who would have kid if situations rather medical or legal would change. So yeah, to all us guys out there who don't have kids, I hope you found reason to celebrate today.

Now, I want to address another issue. I know there are kids out there who don't have fathers in their lives. Here in Indiana one in four kids do not have father's in their lives. Now the next number might be off a little but somewhere around 24 million kids nationwide don't have fathers in their lives. What heck? I'm not taking anything away from the wonderful mom's who have sacrificed to see that their kids have the world. I'm just saying that I think it's sad. I'm not going to drag this out into a verbal lashing at the dead beat dads out there. No real need for it, they know what people think of them. If they don't know then yeah they need help. I should add that there are mothers out there who fail at parenting too. So yeah parents wake the HECK up! Carlos, I could have switched in another word for heck but I'm just not going to do it this time.

My dad with his faults I could list them if I wanted too, but I'm going too. My dad may not be the prince of dads but he is my dad. This man allows me to live here rent free. I don't want to hear it guys. I carry my fair share of the load. He lets me have my pets. He also helps me by bringing in birds which from time to time I get share with you. He made sure that I was involved in church programs that helped strengthen my talents. Between him and my mom, I never knew when things were bad finically growing up. I don't expect him to agree with who I am but he'll always be my dad. Love you dad!!