Official Death Toll in Haiti Rises Over 111,000

Posted on 23. Jan, 2010 by M.L. Zupan in Feature, Hot Topics, Video, World

Over 111,000 have been confirmed dead from the 7.0 earthquake that rocked Haiti just over a week ago according to an official government figure released by the United Nations.

Over 600,000 people have been left homeless in and around the capital of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In order to get a better understanding of what that means we have compared it to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City has an official population of 444,719 people. Over 25% of the people would be dead and the entire population would be without homes and still the numbers can’t compare.

No Food, No Water, No Electricity, No Shelter

The basic things that we take for granted – they have none. Not since the tsunami in Asia in 2004 has there been a natural disaster of  this magnitude.

A Glimmer of Hope!

After more than of week of herculean effort – relief aid is finally starting to arrive in quantities that will begin to do some good. Efforts had been blocked by the destruction in the port and at the airport. Little more than a few flights a day were able to arrive and take-off jamming the small airport. Military personnel and have been working round-the-clock to open the port. Now, Port-au-Prince is able to receive between 120-140 flights per day at their single-runway airport as opposed to 25 flights.

Haiti Is In Desperate Need Of Your Support

Posted on 18. Jan, 2010 by Editor in Hot Topics, Video, World

The Week in Haiti

CBS News’ Jeff Glor is in Haiti and provides a timeline of the events immediately after the devastating earthquake that has wrecked unthinkable destruction.
– CNN News

Now, as the city lies in ruins and rescue workers continue to try desperately for any remaining survivors,  the needs of the living continue to mount.

The needs of the living are many. Among one of the greatest needs is water and basic food items.

We at CIDANews.com would like to urge you to get involved in the rescue and relief effort. In a previous article: Haiti Earthquake Victims – An Urgent Appeal For Help – we talked about what you could do as part of the relief effort if you are unable to give money.

We will continue to bring ideas to the forefront with the hopes that everybody will get involved somehow.

“Texting for Haiti” Relief Fund:

Texting for Haiti is the newest way you can help by giving finances. By texting the word “Haiti” to the following number: “90999″ you will be able to give directly the “American Red Cross” Haiti relief effort. The donation is a $10.00 donation and will be applied to your next cell phone bill.

Also, you can contact your local Red Cross and ask them if you can bring products directly to them that will be distributed to Haiti. Things like:

• Cases of Water
• Cans of baked beans (or cases – they are easier to ship if they can be stacked)
• Cans of beans
• Jars (preferably plastic) of Peanut Butter
• Items high in protein (non-perishable)
• Baby Food will be in high demand – evaporated milk products, dry milk, etc…
• Blankets
• Rice
• Noodles
• Lentil Beans
• etc…

One item at a time can make all the difference in the world.

Haiti Earthquake Victims: An Urgent Appeal for Help!

Posted on 18. Jan, 2010 by M.L. Zupan in Feature, Hot Topics, World

Haiti Earthquake Devastation 2010

Don’t Delay to Help Because Every Second Counts

Over 20,000 dead and the final report is still not in. It may be weeks or even months before they really know how many people have been affected by the largest earthquake in Haiti’s recorded history. These people need your help!

The relief efforts to assist the hundreds-of-thousands and perhaps millions of people who are injured, homeless, waterless, etc… have been enormous – but there is much to be done.

Below are just a few of the places where you can give to help offer aid. They are good, trustworthy organization that have been around for awhile. We list them because it is a quick link to give you an opportunity to respond. But there are other things – more direct approaches that will also offer tremendous relief.

Organizations you can help by giving:

Hospital Albert Schweitzer – Direct Relief to held the Hospital >> Donate Now

To find out more about what is happening at “HAS” here is the latest press release from the hospital: Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti Updates

Oxfam America Haiti Relief Fund:

Make a Donation to Oxfam Earthquake Relief

Redcross
Haiti Relief and Development

“The American Red Cross is working with its partners in the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, including the Haitian Red Cross, and other partners to assist those affected by this disaster.”

More Direct Approaches to Giving Relief Aid

There are many ways to help the relief effort. These efforts take just a little time, however your offer more aid per dollar spent.

Unfortunately, many large organizations also have high overhead. What does that mean? It means that a portion out of every dollar you give to them goes to operation, administrative costs first. They have employees who work for them full-time, they have relief workers who go out into the field to help in the distribution of aid and finances. They have clerical and administration costs to over see each project.

There is nothing wrong with all of those things, they have families to feed, they work hard, they also deserved to be paid for their time and effort – but what it means is that not all of your support goes directly to help the relief effort.

So What Can Be Done to Help?

1. Contact a local Library, Community Center or Church to see if they would become a gathering point for products such as:
   • cases of WATER – number 1 need in an emergency
   • canned goods high in protein
   • baked beans
   • green beans
   • lentils
   • peanut butter
   • packages of rice
   • dried noodles – like elbow noodles
2. Next: you can contact a local grocery store in your neighborhood and ask them if they will set up a display before the check-out counters with perhaps a half pallet of each of the items listed above. People have the option to purchase a product for Haiti Relief – and then drop it into a “Relief Bin” on the other side of the check-out counter.
3. Find out if someone is already doing something mentioned above and offer to help organize transportation from check-out areas to receiving areas.
4. Or, help with packing so that all items can be shipped by container
5. Assist in the shipping process – organization, securing a shipping company, etc… Perhaps call the nearest military base and see if they are taking supplies to Haiti – and if they can take your storage containers (make sure it is packed properly – best if it can be packed into a storage container)

Let us here from you! We would like to know what you are doing in your neighborhood to make a difference.

Will “Black Friday Shopping Deals” Bring Death Again?

Posted on 26. Nov, 2009 by M.L. Zupan in Feature, Hot Topics, Seasonal

Long Island Wal-Mart on Black Friday in Nov. 2008 - Ends in Tragedy

Remembering Damour

“Jdimytai Damour, was crushed-to-death under a crazed mob of 2,000 frantic, selfish and greedy shoppers” – Black Friday Stampede – Who is to Blame? – CIDANews.com 2008

Last year, Black Friday did not represent the beginning of the Christmas shopping season with joy of holiday shopping and the anticipation of Christmas with loved ones and family. It ended tragically with the death of a young man who was trampled to death because of a mad rush of holiday shoppers who had to have that first big special of the day.

We at CIDANews.com would like to remind everyone to shop responsibly and show due caution in the face of holiday bargains. No life is worth 40, 50 or even 60% off.

Jdimytai Damour, a 34-year-old temporary maintenance worker, died in Black Friday stampede.

The family of Mr. Damour will forever have an empty seat at the Christmas table and an empty place in their hearts for the young man who is now missing from their lives.

He needs to be remembered, not as some faceless worker – but as a young man with family and loved ones just like you.

Keep Jdimytai Damour in mind when you go out this season and keep his family in your prayers. Try not to get caught up in the frenzy of the moment and exercise caring and caution – even if it means missing that last special deal. And above all – be safe this Christmas season.

Related Articles:

Black Friday Madness: Remembering Jdimytai Damour

Sister of worker Jdimytai Damour who died in Wal-Mart Black Friday stampede blasts ‘new rules’ — Daily News

Cap and Trade – Carbon Offsets

Posted on 16. Sep, 2009 by M.L. Zupan in Energy, Feature, Hot Topics

Cap and Trade Carbon Trading - Is it Enough?

What is “Carbon Cap and Trade”?

Cap and trade is when regulations put a cap on the amount of carbon emissions (or other green house gas emissions – GHG) on a company or residence. If the company or residence produces more than the allotted CO2, then you pay a fine for the excess or trade it with another company or residence that doesn’t produce as much as their allowance.

Now we have a second power plant that is a 500 Mw power plant that has the capability of producing 3.75 million tons of CO2 emissions; however, that plant is a back up plant and only runs during peak energy hours of the day, thus it is only running at 50% capacity so it is actually only producing 1.875 million tons of CO2 per/year. The same regulatory commission gives them a cap allowance of the amount of CO2 that they could produce when running at full capacity less 5% for the first year equal to 3.56 million tons of CO2. This leaves an excess of 1,685,000 tons of CO2 per/year.

Carbon Credit Choices:

• When a company emits more carbon than it is allowed under the new cap regulation, then it will have to pay a fine for the excess carbon – perhaps $20.00 per/ton. That would mean that the first company would have to pay a total of:  $7,500,000.oo. During the second year the percentage of reduction will increase and so will the fine if nothing is done.
• Or, the second company can sell some of their excess carbon credits to the first company. Like stocks, they trade carbon credits. The first, reduces how much they would have to pay – and the second makes a tidy little profit on the side.
• The third choice would be for the first company to actually reduce their carbon output. Using todays technology, in order to reduce their output they would have to invest in expensive equipment and it would take time to set it up – and the end result, the cost comes out to approximately $150.oo per/metric ton.
• The fourth choice would be to reduce output of the amount of electricity they produce for at least the first year, thus reducing the CO2 output. However, that would also reduce the amount of money they take in as profit. In order to make up for the loss – you the consumer would probably be hit with high energy bills.

What is the problem with carbon trading?

The problem arises when company A trades off their excess with company B and in effect – NO CARBON DIOXIDE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REDUCED!

What is going to be the incentive for the first company to reduce CO2 emissions? None!

Carbon credit trading is expected to become a $2 trillion market by 2012.

What needs to be done in order for this program to work?

If a cap and trade of carbon credits is going to work – and work well:

• A deeply funded, new, trillion dollar regulatory commission would have to be established to regulate, monitor and enforce the new laws and policies. This could create thousands of jobs.
• Companies that have too much carbon must buy their offsets from companies that are actually reducing CO2.
• The CO2 must be over-and-above what they are currently reducing. Perhaps the extra offsets help them increase their business – like producing a larger Algae Photo Bioreactor plant. Or traded with a farmer who has a field that he is not using so he would plant trees or change his crop to something like switchgrass. Or invest in a company that wants to newly develop solar roads or larger, affordable wind or solar farms. By increasing green energy alternatives, then not as much carbon based energy needs to be produced – and once again, you have CO2 reduction.
• CO2 that is being reduced must be measurable
• The fines for not meeting the caps  should be large enough that they make a dent in  the industry being capped! That way, the offset price of reducing the carbon is much more attractive.
• Companies that meet their caps should be able to register and become a certified company that can receive funding to sell offsets at that point. That means that company A (above), once they have either reduced their carbon output by 375 thousand metric ton, or invested in a carbon offset worth 375 thousand metric ton of actual carbon somewhere in the world (now remember it must be verifiable), then that company could become a registered company to receive money to offset more carbon from their factory. That money would have to be used to actually reduce the CO2 output.

Carbon Trading could be a viable solution to the GHG (green house gas emissions). However, it must not be the only option. In order for the reduction of CO2 in our environment to be achieve – everybody must take action.

Don’t miss an exciting article. Next, we will be discussing the possibility of a Carbon Tax on residential homes and carbon trading for the individual.

What Happened to Google’s 10-to-the-100th Project?

Posted on 12. Sep, 2009 by Simon Banks in Hot Topics, Offbeat

But what has happened to the vision of making the world a better place since that time?

Originally, Google was going to go through all the submission and narrow the entries down to the top 100 ideas. Then, those ideas were going to be posted for the public to vote on, narrowing the list to the top 20. Out of those twenty submissions, Google was once again going to have a separate panel to chose the top five.

Those five entries (or less, if there weren’t five good ideas) would divide $10 Million dollars to help them get started in making their inventions a reality.

The initial announcement of the first 100 ideas was to be make available for public voting in January 2009. The deadline came and went and an update was posted on the official “Project 10 to the 100th” web site. The said to stay tuned, due to the overwelming response they had to move the project date to March 17, 2009. They had received over 100,000 responses.

March finally arrived and the only thing that had changed was the number of entry responses counted – it had now reached 150,000! That was six months ago.

Google! America is waiting! The world is waiting to read, hear and see some of those brilliant ideas that have been submitted from around the world.

CIDA News – The Peoples News: We have brought you several of the 30 second entries that were placed on Youtube.com. If you had an idea, you also had the opportunity to create a 30 second video describing your project. We have posted a small selection of those that we have found.

Shelter Kit

Google Project 10^100: econvert

Honeycomb House – Thinking Outside the Box

Water Coolant System

Sabrina 2008 “Google Project 10^100th

We are interested in your ideas and helping you get the recognition that you deserve. Google got you thinking – now, keep the ball rolling. What is your vision and how would you implement it if you had the chance?

If you liked this article don’t forget to Subscribe Now and get the news directly to your RSS feeder or Subscribe via Email and only get our news when there is news.

Electric Car Homicide

Posted on 12. Sep, 2009 by Goode Fellow in Energy, Feature, Hot Topics

GM's EV1 - Sleek, Sporty, and Completly Electric - zero-to-sixty in 8.0 sec.

When CIDA News first did an article on the electric car; entitled: Energy Efficient “Luscious” – Going Electric on Who’s Dime? – we were interested in asking the question: “who was going to be paying for all this electricity that electric car owners will be using as they plugged in across the United States”?

Since that time, we have looked deeper into the electric car controversy and discovered some very interesting pieces of information.

In 1997, GM built a sporty, two-seater, electric car. Time Magazine said:

“The EV1 was a marvel of engineering, absolutely the best electric vehicle anyone had ever seen. Built by GM to comply with California’s zero-emissions-vehicle mandate, the EV1 was quick, fun, and reliable.”

It seemed that the electric car had finally come of age; but, what happened to that electric car and why has it virtually disappeared?

History of the Electric Car

GM 1990 Impact

In order to provide an answer to the above question, we must first travel a little further back in time to some earlier designs of electric automobiles. In 1990, GM actually produced their first production electric car capable of doing over 100 miles per charge and 0-60 in 8.0 seconds. It was called: The Impact!

The GM Impact was a technological breakthrough in style, design, and efficiency. Thousands of people wanted to test drive these vehicles – and those that did thought it was the greatest thing since cheddar cheese. In a marketing video produced by GM, it was toted as a revolution in automobile design and it showed how GM was once again on the cutting edge of the auto industry proving why they were the number one automobile manufacturer in the world.

Here is the video – 1974 Electric CitiCar, 1990 GM Impact

Later, the Impact’s that were produced, were ground up and turned to shreds. The name was changed and GM produced the new version between 1994 & 1999, calling it “EV1″. Between 1996 and 1999, GM made these cars available to the general public.

California Zero Emission Standard

In 1990, California regulators passed a new “Zero Emission Standard” (Z.E.V.) in order to help reduce carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide which are large contributors to smog, and particles, which lead to respiratory sicknesses. The mandate would require auto manufactures to “sell more than 100,000 electric cars and fuel-efficient vehicles in the state each year. The zero-emission standard was scheduled to take effect with the 2003 model. Specifically the mandate would require automobile manufacturer – the largest of which was GM – “to make 2% of its fleet emission-free by 1998, 5% by 2001, and 10% by 2003, in accordance with consumer demand, in order to continue to sell cars in California“. Read: General Motors EV1

Coincidence? Perhaps, perhaps not!

GM – in a show of good faith began testing and producing electric cars. In 1990 it was The Impact – and then the development of the EV1 in 1994 which was first made available to the public in 1996. However, from the very beginning GM, DaimlerChrysler and Chevron started a legal battle to fight and stop the mandatory Z.E.V program.

Read: In California, Clean Air Rules Force Changes in Autos – New York Times, July 22, 2002

GM., now the most outspoken opponent of the Z.E.V. mandate, was a pioneer in the electric vehicle development.

General Motors said it would never fly. They expected a fizzle and despite rave reviews and enthusiasm said that there wasn’t a market for the EV1.

Perhaps if they had actually produced more of them and sold them instead of leasing a limited number of them – they would have been able to turn a profit.So, to comply and yet not have to sell any vehicles, GM leased all of the EV1’s to the general public. In January of 1994, the New York Times wrote in an article entitled: Expecting a Fizzle, G.M. Puts Electric Car to the T est -

“…to the horror of regulators and other electric-car promoters, G.M. appears to be counting on the test to demonstrate that nobody really wants a car that will cost considerably more than a comparable gasoline-powered vehicle and will go only about 100 miles before it needs to be plugged in for several hours.”

Death of the EV1

The lease program lasted only long enough for the Z.E.V. mandate to finally be overturned in 2003. At that time all EV1’s were recalled, crushed and shredded. Lessees were not given the option to purchase the cars from GM.

GM claimed they spent over $1 Billion dollars trying to develop an electric car, but how much of that was spent on legal fees trying to stop the mandatory sale of those same vehicles?

It is one thing to say people aren’t ready for the electric car, but it is quite another to spend more money trying to suppress the technology and keep it from the general public.

We would also like to hear from you! If you were one of the people who test drove one of these vehicles – let us know what you think.

Danny Gans – Las Vegas Entertainer Dies at 52

Posted on 03. May, 2009 by Kirsten Daly in Celebrity, Hot Topics

Danny Gans – The Man of Many Voices

It was a sad day in Las Vegas when the world heard about the death of Danny Gans, a legendary performer on the Las Vegas strip.

Danny Gans - Entertainer of the Year

Gans is best known for his time at The Mirage where he performed for eight years. His show was a ‘must see’ while in Vegas and as far as I know; for my almost eight years living in Las Vegas – he never had a show that was not sold out.

When his contract at The Mirage was up, he once again joined Steve Wynn; the man who brought him to The Mirage; at his new venue – The Encore.

But who was the man behind the marquee?

Danny Gans was a man of giving. He gave of his talents to the world. He also gave his time and talents to help those in his community. As an avid golfer, he formed the Danny Gans Junior Golf Academy to help raise money for The First Tee of Southern Nevada golf program. A program help youth ages 6 – 17 to learn the fundamentals of golf, life skills and core values for life. The program was fun & competitive, and at the end of each session kids learned and were able to demonstrate proper life skills and golf etiquette.

Each year Danny Gans put on several charity golf events to raise money for The First Tee Program. Recently, one of our dear friends participated in Danny Gans golf fundraisers at Lake Las Vegas and was able to ride with Gans during the whole round.  What a thrill & encouragement for a 10 year old girl. She said that he was: “very nice and really funny the whole round”.

Tributes to Danny Gans

If you would like to read some of the things that other people have to say about Danny Gans – Donny & Marie, Cher, Celine Dion & more… there is a wonderful article entitled: Tributes to Danny Gans Begin to Pour In that is a must read.

A true entertainer has left us, but his memory will not be forgotten. Like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Al Pacino, George Burns and the myrid of others that he brought to life on stage – his memory will live in the hearts and minds of those who new him and saw him & whose lives were touched by him.

Danny Gans – you will be missed. God Bless your wife and children with peace as you go ahead of them and entertain for the Father.

Danny Gans 1956-2009

###

Oklahoma Burns! Wild Fires Rage!

Posted on 09. Apr, 2009 by Goode Fellow in Hot Topics, Local

Just West of Stillwater, Oklahoma and I35; at 1:15 p.m. a wildfire was spotted. It looked to be about 100 acres burning. By 2:45 p.m. the fire was raging out of control and Interstate I35 was closed to north and south bound traffic backing up vehicles for miles. In Perry, thirteen miles north of Stillwater, the smoked cloud could be seen like a giant thunderhead gaining strength on the horizon. The cause of the f ire is still unknown.

CIDA News was on location in Stillwater as the wild fire raged across I35 and our news crew was right in the middle of the conflagration.

Timeline Photos of Fireline on I35 (click photos for larger image)

Meanwhile a fire in Midwest City has left over 100 people homeless as fires destroyed their neighborhoods, and hundreds more seeking shelter due to evacuations of homes along the destructive path of the fireline.

Google – 10 to the 100th Project – Voting Day has Changed

Posted on 27. Jan, 2009 by M.L. Zupan in Food & Drink, Hot Topics, Offbeat

On Jan. 26, 2009, we posted an article entitled: Google 10 to the 100th Project, in which we informed you that Today is the day when the general public would get the chance to vote on their favorite project to help the world.

Due to the unprecedented amount of responses to the 10 to the 100th project – Google has changed their voting day until March 17th, 2009.

Over 100,000 contestants have submitted ideas to help as many people as possible. Ideas have been submitted from all over the world.

The project; 10 to the 100th; was initiated on Google’s 10th birthday in Sept. 2008. The 10-to-the-100th idea comes from what a google is. That is how many zeros are behind the one (one hundred) in order to make a googol, which is a mathematical term. In Google’s effort to stimulate the economy, encourage visionary thinking, and promote a broader world view and world involvement, they are giving away $10 million dollars to the top 5 entries to jumpstart those ideas (like an angel investor) that could help and change the lives of as many people as possible.

So for those of you who did not have a chance to register to vote – now is your opportunity. You could make a difference in someone’s life and help them make a difference in the lives of many.

If you are involved in this Google Project, and you are someone who has submitted an idea – send us some information about yourself and a brief summary about your project and we will spotlight it here on CIDA News.

Stay Tuned – Upcoming articles, I will be writing about Googlomics (Google’s Business Economics); Job Hunter, Mismanagement of Big Companies; & When Poor Management Gets Awarded

Comments are welcome – please keep comments relevant to the article.