…Did you have fun in NC yesterday? I understand that you made a joke about light bulbs saying, "I look better under an incandescent light." I think I might look better under an incandescent light, too. Right now, we have some kind of energy efficient bulb in our bathroom and I look terrible. I like to think it's the light bulb. It could be that I'm getting old. In any case, I don't mind harsh lighting if it will save the planet….
…t's too bad that your peace plan did not work out. …As I try to wrap my head around the Afghan situation this morning I am wondering how we might help the women there. I think that Senator Jeanne Shaheen is correct when she says that "peace is 35% more likely to succeed when women are at the negotiating table" so I suggest that you start from scratch with the peace talks and get women like Sediqa Sherzai (SS) and Mahbouba Seraj (MS) involved. …
…Who knew that a hurricane could stir up so much media attention? I'm sure that you've heard about "Sharpie Gate." Did you read James Poniewozik's analysis of it in the NYT today?…
…It sounds like the USS Bataan and USNS Comfort are ready to go help out, they just need the go ahead. Please talk to your people and expedite that! It sounds like the folks on Abaco could use some fresh water and food ASAP and those vessels are equipped to purify up to 200,000 gallons of water each day and provide all kinds of services. It's time to call Mark Esper to get those boats where they can do some good….
I hope your meeting with Mary Barra (MTB) goes well today. I think GM is on the right track with their ZERO campaign - Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion - Zero Is More." …(They are) working on a new airless tire that's puncture proof. It's made on a 3D printer out of a resin-embedded fiberglass material and since it doesn't deflate, it's good for gas mileage and no spare tire needed! Isn't that great?
Did you hear that folks in the UP saw the Northern Lights this weekend. I have never seen them, have you? It seems they are a common occurrence in that part of the country at this time of year. I might have to arrange to be at my cabin in Dunbar, WI, next Labor Day so I can witness the beauty of a geomagnetic storm….
I think the dollar store will have to start calling itself the dollar-fifty store because of this China thing. As I have said before, less consumer merch is good for the environment - not so good for the economy but maybe it's time we put people to work doing things besides working at Walmart. …
…I hope you'll talk to Sonny Perdue about his jokes. Paul Krugman, writing in today's NYT, quoted him as asking, “What do you call two farmers in a basement?” and replying, "a whine cellar." Framers are allowed to tell that kind of joke to each other, but not the Secretary of Agriculture. Please help him understand he should not be perpetuating negative stereotypes about farmers….
… I was disappointed to see that you are relaxing regulation on methane leaks. I encourage you to give Shell U.S. President Gretchen Watkins a call so you can better understand why that regulation is a good idea. Perhaps she'll persuade you that "Climate change is real and is a problem that the society needs to engage in." …
…My suggestion is to let go of the idea of having the next G7 at your hotel in Florida…. the group just met in a beachy kind of place and Florida in the summer is just too humid! I suggest Aspen instead. It's beautiful. Security is doable. …The mountains in the summer are gorgeous. Please give this suggestion some consideration….
