Unsolicited Plug 2010-1: SolarSkyLite & Nash Built Construction

There hasn't been an Unsolicited Plug here in a while, and I realized that I had one I should share, despite my deep hatred of phony spellings like "Lite" and "Nite" and "Donut" etc.

The plug goes to SolarSkyLite.

This is also the first unsolicited plug that discusses a national product rather than a Salem-made product or service -- a solar light port kit that would probably install pretty easily and does a very nice job lighting up an otherwise dark, windowless hallway that often needed a light on during even the brightest days, just because of the way the house was laid out. I wouldn't actually know how hard it was to install, because, at least in my case, the savings on the kit (just $200 at Costco) are better used having a real pro do most home improvement projects.

And the pro I can suggest is Paul Nash of Nash Built Construction. Paul did a LOT of work here at LOVESalem HQ in 2009 by framing around the _outside_ of the house to add 2" of thick thermal insulation panels and then hang hardiplank(TM) siding. He and his helper Vince did good, solid work for weeks and helped make LOVESalem HQ much more energy-efficient and comfortable, not to mention much, much, much better looking. He does a fair amount of work in Salem so I'll consider him local even though I think he gets his mail in Sublimity.

If you install one of these SolarSkyLite jobs in 2010 you can write off 30% of the cost on your federal taxes and, I think, probably also write something off your Oregon taxes too (though I haven't checked that part out, so don't quote me). Now that Paul has done one, he could probably pop one in for you pretty quickly, and I doubt you'd regret it. We have a similar solar light port in another dark room of the house and it was terrific this winter.

A vital measure: Deny Corporate Personhood

"Additional charges may apply; Void where prohibited by law." Image via Wikipedia

The phony conservatives and Faux patriots who always whine about "judicial activism" have been delighted to remain silent about the Supreme Court's latest act of supreme self- debasement before corporate power in defining corporations as persons with free speech rights that trump election laws, thus permitting unlimited corporate spending on any election. Mussolini proudly defined his system of fascism as corporatismo, the merger of the power of the state and corporations, and the corporate servants on the court (Roberts-Alito-Scalia-Thomas-Kennedy) have given them a great victory.

That's why we must amend the Constitution to guarantee that the fictional persons (corporations) don't further snuff out the rights of real people:

Motion to Amend

We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to:

• Firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.
• Guarantee the right to vote and to participate, and to have our vote and participation count.
• Protect local communities, their economies, and democracies against illegitimate "preemption" actions by global, national, and state governments.