Al Gore’s Travelin’ Global Warming Show is Rolling Into Your Town

Al Gore’s Travelin’ Global Warming Show FTW

Al Gore may be Smuggled Back into White House in Someone’s Luggage

8 years later, and many of us have spent this entire time daydreaming ‘what ifs’ about Al Gore’s stolen presidency. It seems that the current presidential candidates are very aware of this, and they’re running with it: everyone’s eager to get Al Gore in on the action.

Democratic White House hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama speak often about green jobs, emissions cuts and renewable energy. But they have more than global warming on their minds when they talk of environmental policy.

The long-term goal may be saving the planet, but the short-term one is winning the backing of former Vice President Al Gore.

So the dueling candidates praise Gore during campaign stops, offer up the prospect of roles for him in future administrations, and - most of all - they stay in touch.

Ok, I have another confession: in 2000, I was one of those Floridians who voted for Nader. You know, the ones who inadvertently helped hand the presidency to Bush on a silver platter. Sigh, the days of being an idealistic college student. Now, I’m almost wishing someone would stage a coup and sneak Al back into the White House, whatever it takes.

Link [MSNBC]

Photo: Wikimedia Commons & Flickr user abbynormy

Watch Al Gore’s Awesomely Updated Slideshow from TED: The Urgency of Manbearpig

Al Gore is my hero. Check out the new slideshow he gave at TED about the solutions needed to win the fight against Manbearpig Global Warming.

HT [Ecogeek]

Gut Buster of the Week: Lindsey Graham Says John McCain Has Done More Than Al Gore for the Environment

 

Michael said it best over at Ecorazzi when he said “Let loose the dogs of absurdity!” upon hearing that Lindsey Graham said that John McCain has done more for the environment than Al Gore. Here’s the exact quote:

“Climate change is the road less traveled but he’s traveled it even more than Al Gore,” Graham said. “Al Gore has talked about it and deserves great recognition but he was around here a long time and never introduced a bill.”

John McCain was given a zero by the League of Conservation Voters, is stupidly pro-war, and is known to be an all around douche nozzle. Al Gore, on the other hand, is our god. He is put above and before all in our pantheon of world savers. As Ecorazzi points out that ThinkProgress points out, Gore was wielding his power in Congress back in the 70s before McCain even ran for office, holding hearings on climate change. He successfully fought off Manbearpig, is raising almost a third of a billion dollars for a global warming ad campaign, and is generally the most recognized ‘”green” person on the planet. I forgive Tipper for her assault on porn and free speech back in the day, but other than that Gore is The Man. The good The Man, not the bad The Man keeping us all down. You know?

Bottom line: John McCain is no friend of the environment, Lindsey Graham is a lying and corrupt blowhard, and the GOP is going to lose by 20 points in November. It’s Obama time baby!

Link [Think Progress] via [Ecorazzi]

Photo: Flickr user Yogi

Al Gore on 60 Minutes: Dick Cheney and Other Global Warming Deniers Are Flat Worlders

Or maybe it was more like:

“You’re talking about Dick Cheney. I think that those people are in such a tiny, tiny minority now with their point of view, they’re almost like the ones who still believe that the moon landing was staged in a movie lot in Arizona and those who believe the world is flat,” says Gore. “That demeans them a little bit, but it’s not that far off…”

Have a look at what the former Vice Prez and current “PR Agent for The Planet” has to say about his Halliburton-hugging successor during his March 30th 60 Minutes interview on CBS.

Link [60 Minutes]

Q & A with Mr. Cranky Green: Snowy Winter = Global Warming Called Off? and Adventures in Wind Credits

Q&A with Mr. Cranky Green is a new feature we’re rolling out here at EarthFirst. It’s written by the collective EF Hive and answers our readers questions about all things Green. If you have a good questions for Mr. Cranky Green, send them on to MrCrankyGreen@EarthFirst.com. 

Dear Mr. Cranky Green,

I’m confused. I know everyone is talking about Global Warming, but I’m sitting here looking at three feet of snow on my back deck. We’ve had the coldest winter since I can remember and it’s looking to me like this Global Warming thing might be a bit overblown. Can I go back to driving my SUV without feeling guilty? Why is Al Gore trying to steal and eat my babies?

J. Baskind
Eugene, Oregon

Dear J,

No, you should still feel guilt ridden every time you fire up the Landrover. Global Warming doesn’t mean the whole place gets warmer all the time. Planet wide weather patterns are incredibly complex and a colder/warmer/whatever season in one region doesn’t mean jack. Winter was colder in the U.S. this year, but much warmer in Europe. The overall trend of global temperatures continues to rise in correlation with increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. That’s a fact and three feet of snow in your backyard doesn’t mean it’s not true. Al Gore is a Manbearpig fighting God amongst Men. He needs your babies to keep up his energy.

Mr. Cranky Green

Dear Mr. Cranky Green,

My batty old treehugging aunt bought me some ‘wind credits’ for my birthday, once again not getting me the present I actually asked her for- the fourth season of Full House on DVD. What’s the deal with these things?

A. Allehe

Dear A,

Wind credits are a kind of ‘offset’. You might have heard the term ‘carbon offset‘- an ethereal credit created when someone does something that reduces a unit of carbon dioxide from being created somewhere. There are a bunch of different kinds of offsets- tree planting, industrial emissions reductions, efficiency gains and renewable energy generators like wind turbines. They are basically a market based consumer generated subsidy that helps drive advancements and development of green projects like tree plantations, wind farms, solar installations, and industrial CO2 scrubbers.

Wind credits are created for the energy wind farms put on the electricity grid. Wind farms can sell these credits because they displace dirty fossil fuel created electricity on the energy grid. For every kilowatt of energy a wind turbine puts into the electricity pool, that much less coal (statistically most of our energy comes from coal) is burnt to meet the demand. Those emissions and pollution saved are what you are “buying” when you get wind credits.

Wind credits are some of the more trust worthy kinds of offsets because their positive environmental impact is much easier to accurately measure. It’s nearly impossible to get accurate numbers on planting trees and many offset projects have been criticized for their use of mono-culture farms planted over the ground of cut down native forests.

We’re fans of Renewable Choice Energy around here at EarthFirst. They’re the ones who supply wind credits to Whole Foods, Kettle Chips (yumm…. salt & vinegar…), Stratton Mtn., Vail Resorts, and 360 Organic Vodka. We love them mostly because our Publisher Shea was a founder and will get kinda rich when they get around to selling out, but they actually sell a damn fine high quality wind credit.

Mr. Cranky Green 

Q&A with Mr. Cranky Green comes atcha every Tuesday or so on the EarthFirst Blog. Send us your questions to MrCrankyGreen@EarthFirst.com so we don’t have to make up these questions.  

Photo Credits- Flickr Users EverSpoon (Wind Tubines) & Shelms (Snowy Guy)

The Friday Video Round Up: Will Ferrell, Big Angry Fat Guys, Al Gore, and the Hummer Hybrid

It’s Friday; you ain’t got no job… and you ain’t got shit to do. So roll one up (a burrito), sit back, and relax to a few funny ass videos.

• Big Angry Fat Guy 

 

I’m surprised this guy didn’t have a heart attack half way through this. The fat Guy From Boston unloads on Global Warming, Al Gore, and Ben Affleck. While I don’t agree with his angle, I have to give him credit for his angry crazy man passion.

• The Hummer Hybrid

 

I want a Hummer Hybrid. It’s gets 5MPG on the highway!

• Will Ferrell, aka George Bush, on Global Warming

 

An oldie, but goodie. Will Ferrell is the man.

• Artfully Shot Macro Video of Popping Pimples

 

OK, this one isn’t green at all but is a disturbingly good way to end the week. If you’ve ever gotten a secret thrill from popping a pimple, this one is for you. Squeamish readers might want to skip this one.

Enjoy your Friday!

EarthFirst Blog Week in Review: March 3rd - 7th

Last week was a good one if only because I turned 30 on Saturday. Three cheers for Pisces!

You can feel Spring in the air here in Maine, though we’re probably due for another good storm or three. We’re slowly ramping up things on the ol’ blog here and should be getting our Official Launch on in the next few weeks. You’ll start to see some new writers get into the mix and our editorial intern Caroline starts this week. Yeeeehaw!

Here are the headlines from Earthfirst.com from March 3rd through the 7th.

• The Internet Saves 10 Watts of Energy for Every Watt it Uses
• War’s a Comin’! Alabama, Georgia and Florida Will Fight it Out Over Water
  
• Bush 0 Whales 1, Federal Court Rules Against Use of Navy Sonar
• Al Gore Calls out Major Media at TED: Ask More Green Questions to Presidential Candidates
• It’s a Long Way Back to The Office- A Pull Back in Work At Home Policies?
  
• Very Stupid Eco-Arsonists Torch Green Homes in Seattle Suburb
• Tiny Homes Are Full of Awesome, 100 Square Foot Tumbleweed Tour Video
  
• Higher Gas Prices + Road Congestion = Greener Mass Transit
• Great Flying Spaghetti Monster! Look at Those Gas Prices!
  
• Alyssa Milano Makes a Very Strong Argument for Vegetarianism
• Ripping Off Mother Nature For Design Tips Nets Better Wind Turbines
  
• George Bush Bends Space and Time to Recast America as a Leader on Climate Change
• The Pedal Powered Snow Plow Is Chock Full of Awesome
  
• Tripp Isenhour, Pro Golfer and Dick, Kills a Hawk with a Well Aimed Bal
• Bullet Proof Vest Saves Anti-Whaling Activist from Japanese Whaler’s Bullet
  
• Clearly You’re Doing it Wrong
• The Friday Crazy: The Can Man Suit is 35lbs. of Aluminum Can Awesome

Al Gore Calls out Major Media at TED: Ask More Green Questions to Presidential Candidates

Al Gore gave a well received speech to the Technology, Entertainment & Design (TED) conference on Saturday. He continued his push for global solutions for global problems, but one particular item caught my eye.

• Of the thousands of questions the major networks (figures given for NBC, ABC, CBX, FOX & CNN) asked the U.S. Presidential candidates, only 6 questions concerned global warming. What does this say about the priorities of political reporting in this political year? Maybe Al should be asking questions of the candidates.

Saving the environment and positioning our country to face the realities of climate change is one of America’s most pressing issues, this side of the War in Iraq. We need to hear more from our politicians about their plans to get us there. Keep on rocking Al Gore.

Link [Wired.com]

New Poll Finds That 18% of Americans are F*cking Morons

Have you ever looked at President Bush’s 29% approval rating and wondered “Who in their right mind could possibly approve of the job that guy is doing?”. Well, I found almost half of them. According to a new Gallup poll, 18% of Americans are Massively and Profoundly Stupid.

18 out of 100 Americans think the Sun revolves around the Earth.

Though the poll didn’t explore their other misconceptions, I’d gamble the same folks are fans of Creationism and think Global Warming is a hoax made up by Al Gore.

18% of this country’s citizens are at the same intellectual level as 4th Century European peasants.

May the Flying Spaghetti Monster bless America with his Noodly Appendage. We could really use his buttery blessing right about now.

In somewhat related hilarity…

Link [Gallup]

The photo is Ms. Teen South Carolina. Watch the video if you haven’t already, it’s a classic.