Endorsing Action

Mrrrr Friends,

I received a letter a couple weeks ago asking if I would consider a late run for the Democratic nomination. As you see here, because I value the opinion of my human friends, I did spend a bit of time pondering such an idea – thinking about what a cat’s roadmap for America would look like. I have, however, declined, using the reasonable excuse: I am, after all, a cat.

I mean, really, can you imagine a litterbox in the oval office?

In response to my decision, I’ve been asked for an endorsement prior to Super Tuesday. The pressure is too great. Hillary is likely going to defend my right to get cat food, but she seems to be pissing everyone off. Even The Nation is writing rather dismissive webitorials about her. And then there is the cold hard fact that while Barack Obama is not furry, he seems to get people engaged. It seems easy to make a prediction at this point.

I still think neither of them has a very good lap. And, I’d like to point out that while my people often are inspired to clean the litterbox, they don’t always actually clean the litterbox. Though I’d like to know what Mr. Feingold thinks – my home state senator – I’m putting my kibble on Senator Obama...Ted Kennedy has a great lap and he’s supporting him.

I am, however, a cat of action...I’ll be watching for thoughtful, progressive action. I want more than a good speech and grand ideas for creating consensus…I want a responsible decision maker.

And since inspiration actually does create action in the best of times, I’m passing on a couple links that might get you thinking and feeling passionately on a couple of my favorite issues. Take 20 minutes out of your day for each…it will get you thinking about where we are and where we might go as a bunch of individuals in a society, no matter who the First Lap is. Video and sound are required for one but not the other.

First, here’s Al Gore’s Nobel Prize speech. They call it a lecture; I call it worth a listen. First, go to the link in the right column of this blog called “Places to Go.” Then, when you get to the page, the video link is just under Al’s color photo. But you can also read the text version.

Another place to go when you have another 20 minutes (and can play video and sound) is called “The Story of Stuff.” The click link is just below Al’s Nobel speech link.

Watch these…then go vote in your primary or caucus. Tell them Diesel sent you.

Resolutions

Mrrrr Friends,

So I understand that people make New Year’s resolutions. (The concept of a structured year is pretty uptight if you ask me…cats roll with the seasons, the sun and moon rising and setting.)

My cat pal Alex and I thought about this custom a bit last night while our people were out imbibing and carousing and here’s my list. Alex is keeping hers to herself.

1. I resolve to climb at least 12 trees in the next human calendar year.
2. I resolve to stop trying to go into the bathroom to keep every guest that comes over company while they pee.
3. I resolve to learn to use the comma correctly.
4. I resolve to campaign for better treatment for all cats and to continue to teach people about the wonder of felines and the care and respect they need.
5. I resolve to speak up for all other animals, especially the wild things in all their forms (and I will not disregard dogs).
6. I resolve to TRY not to lick my person’s eyelids when she is sleeping but I nevertheless need attention (i.e. food).
7. I resolve to avoid scratching the dining table when I jump up on it (even though I am not supposed to jump up on it).
8. I resolve to sit patiently, thoughtfully, and critically on my person’s lap as she fulfills her own resolution to start her writing projects (but she doesn’t do resolutions…is that a girl thing?)
9. I resolve to restrain from tearing the weather stripping off the front door (thus reducing the energy savings in my people’s home and disappointing Al Gore) in my anticipation to go OUT.
10. I resolve to continue to try to raise funds for my good friends at the Sauk County Humane Society.

What do you resolve?

Happy Human New Year!

The Fourth Paw

Mrrrr,

I’ve got questions about biofuels, do you? I know that most of you, when you’re driving and you see the name DIESEL posted in big letters, you think about me. But shockingly, some people actually think about fuel. For the latter group, when they meet me or see my blog, my name raises questions about my relationship to and my thoughts on diesel fuel.

Diesel, like any fuel, can be made from a variety of sources. The world’s first diesel engine ran on peanut oil. All you need is a plant with an oil-based seed (algae works too). That would include many of our native plants here in the prairie region. A recent NSF funded study from the U of Minnesota shows that mixed prairie grasses produce more biomass in a way that is more environmentally sound than corn or soybeans. That seems a no-brainer to me; I’ve always gotten charged up by a nice stand of mixed prairie grasses, especially when there’s Switchgrass involved.

In several places, biofuels are becoming more common, and not at the slow pace evident in the U.S. It’s pretty amazing that in Brazil, 1 million cars were running on diesel fuel made from sugar cane last year. Many others are “flex fuel cars” that can take bio-ethanol or regular gasoline or a combination of the two. The FAO predicts that in the next 15 to 20 years, biofuels will be providing a full 25% of the world’s energy needs.

But me and my cat pals we still have questions.

Is there enough room to grow all these biofuel sources – palm oil, rapeseed or canola, sugar cane, grasses, corn, and more? Don’t get me wrong, this sounds better than more oil drilling in Alaska or the Gulf of Mexico, mountain top coal mining, and those natural gas fields slowly choking antelope migration pathways out west. But even though I’m told biodiesel can be made by almost anyone, production will not likely remain local but will be industrialized.

I wonder what kind of stress growing lots of biofuel crops will put on land and space? What about water resources – will you build more dams, irrigate more land? What about pesticide use? Will it increase? What happens when residue from a pesticide used to grow a crop is burned as fuel? I guess it depends on the pesticide. Already big companies are paying money to big universities and others to research bioengineering crops for fuel. What does that mean? It is too much for a young cat to get his brain around. And then I have to worry about having my name on the product…

Biofuel sounds like a great idea and one that humans have a good start on, but, again, we cats have questions. Market economics and innovation aside – is there some comprehensive planning going on? Does Al Gore have a handle on this? Al??? (As an aside, this cat has a great deal of respect for Al, and, I think we look a bit alike. I mean, I wouldn’t mind taking a walk though a prairie on the man’s shoulders while discussing the environment.)

On the one paw: multiple competing crop options, genetic engineering of plants for biofuel, conversion of lands for biofuel, manipulation of water, pesticide use; on another paw: less oil drilling and petroleum burning; on a third paw: wind energy, solar energy alternatives, phase out of incandescent bulbs, geo-thermal, and hybrid engines. Will you humans balance these options and adapt how they get used? Will you keep an eye on the downsides to the elements of the cure?

And, in the end (the fourth paw), isn’t the cure just using less…fuel, electricity, plastic, cotton, water, paper…?

In the meantime, cats across the world have been there at your side for centuries, adding a little body heat, helping to keep you humans warm. Here at home, bio-Diesel takes on a whole new meaning.

Please share your thoughts if you’d like. There’s a little comment button just below each blog. Or just check out some of the links in my ‘Places to go' bar at the right.