While anger towards BP is a localized and short term emotion and likely to dissipate in a few years just like anger towards Exxon, America should be angry at the government who collectively has done very little towards really creating a blueprint for the future of energy and transportation. Americans should also blame themselves as most people seem to think that everyone is entitled to cheap gas. With cheap gas comes a huge demand for it and along with that comes powerful lobbies who make sure that restrictions on oil companies are as weak as they can possibly get.

The latest Time magazine says, that Dick Cheney was responsible for diluting some regulations against the oil industry. With Dick’s record I tend to believe this statement. But let me not pick on Dick, if ultra stringent regulations on the oil industry are not in place today, then the entire political system is to blame. A few months ago President Obama did approve offshore drilling (this decision may already have been reversed). It’s kind of sad to see that politicians really do not have a track record of looking after people that inspires confidence in democracy.

It’s ridiculous to see the number of people who get onto US highways each day. It’s inefficient, costly, environmentally unfriendly and just plain stupid to not have a good nationwide mass travel system in place. How about getting the best of intercity travel technology from Europe or Japan into the US? I would love to see two or three competitors to Amtrak in the country with TGV or Shinkansen type high speed trains.

I once used the TGV from Paris to Brussels and the trip was superb. I got some reading done and I doubt I could have made the trip faster if I drove all the way. The price obviously can’t be beat. But I realize that moving away from highways that now feed a whole industry of automobiles, fast food, gas, toll collectors etc. is not going to happen in one decade or maybe even two. But it needs to start now. So slowly, people can get off the road and into nice clean trains whenever possible.

So let us take this disaster to think about:

• Whether we really need to put the environment or cheap gas ahead in our list of priorities.
• Whether offshore drilling is a bad idea overall
• Whether god intended for oil to remain where he/she put it (i.e. underground)
• Whether all offshore drilling facilities should be scrapped overall
• Can I be happy driving a 4 cylinder automobile instead of a 6 cylinder automobile? Do I need an automobile at all?

What happens is that if you make a one-time donation to a non-profit, a sizable percentage of your donation will be spent on sending you postal mail. And you will be doing more harm than good if that donation is a one-time small donation. The affiliate postal mails that will also be sent to you will pretty much negate that donation you made, in the wasted printing and mailing costs.

So its important to only donate to a few non-profits whom you plan on giving to on a long term basis and to also request the non-profits to whom you are donating to, to not share your information with affiliates of any sort.

So far, there has been little difference. JPMorgan Chase does have a very nice online control panel that lets you look at all your credit cards and banking accounts in one view, however there was little difference in terms of features that affect your way of life.

That is, till last week when I dropped into a JPMorgan Chase ATM to deposit a handwritten check. I was first struck by the absence of deposit slips and envelopes which in the past have been ‘out of stock’ at some locations and either you had to come back another day or drive to another location to make a deposit.

But then I noticed that the ATM machine had this new neon green slot that said “insert check”. Intrigued, I logged in, inserted the handwritten check, indicated my preference for a receipt and confirmed the amount of my deposit which was miraculously displayed on the screen.

Essentially the process of depositing checks that previously took about 4-5 minutes and licking an envelope, now takes less than 45 seconds and no paper is involved. This is an example of a perfect implementation of a paperless system, handwriting recognition and where technology really makes a difference to the customer. Wait, the environment now benefits too.

From their website, I found a drop off location at a local RadioShack and was able to get a bunch of dead batteries off my chest – literally.

So collect all your batteries and find a drop off location at: http://www.rbrc.org/

Recycling is the right thing to do.

Visit World Changing:

Visit EarthWatch Institute.

I came to this site looking for a place to recycle CFL bulbs that Walmart, Lowes, Bed Bath & Beyond etc are selling. But only Ikea has a program in place to recycle these mercury (toxic stuff) containing bulbs. I suppose for most retailers unless volumes are built, it would be too expensive to recycle these bulbs.