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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 2020)
FEBRUARY 14, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 Opinion Netfl ix’s Bojack gives new meaning to animation for adults The science of carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is a main component in greenhouse gas, which traps heat and warms our planet. Carbon dioxide is a colorless gas that appears as water when in a liquid form. Exposure in high con- centrations has been found to cause dizziness and restlessness, tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling while it can make breathing diffi cult, result in extreme tiredness, in- crease of heart rate, ele- vate blood pressure. It also causes coma, asphyxiation and convolutions. Not incidentally, research has found that human activ- ities emit more than 60 times the amount of carbon dioxide than nat- ural events, such as volcanic erup- tions. Carbon dioxide has been present in the atmosphere since the Earth condensed from a hot ball of gases following our planet’s initial for- mation about fi ve billion years ago. The fi rst signs of life on Earth came into existence at the planet’s devel- opment some 2.5 million years ago. The original plants on Earth con- sumed CO 2 (as they do to this day) so that at a mark in time some 20 million years ago, CO 2 levels were at or near 300 parts per million (ppm). Life on Earth has evolved under these conditions with humans hav- ing appeared about 200,000 years ago. The carbon dioxide at 300 parts per million at that time per- sisted until the Industrial Revolu- tion brought with it massive emis- sions from the combustion of fossil fuels, coal and oil. Meanwhile, CO 2 plays an important role in climate as it is one of the atmospheric gas- es which keep the Earth’s surface at about 33 degrees fahrenheit; it would otherwise be well below 0 degrees, were carbon dioxide and its companion gases not present. By modern measures, CO 2 ppm have regularly exceeded 400 ppm or 40 percent higher that the Earth’s pre-industrial value and a level not known on Earth for several million years. This is a fact judged indisput- able by eminent sci- entists throughout the world. Not only are ever greater in- creases in atmospheric-borne CO 2 a danger to the very survival of our species but also, as the oceans warm they are expanding to rise, a phe- nomenon we see happening every- where land meets sea. Oregon’s political leaders have been proposing what is known as a cap and trade program which is proposed to reduce emissions of pollutants by placing a limit (or cap) on the total amount of emissions released by the sources covered by this program. The overall cap on emissions is implemented through a system of allowances using an al- gebraic formula. Cap and trade is an alternative to a carbon tax to reduce emissions and run through a system where big polluters are issued permits by auction or allocation. Oregonians, based on their in- dustry, are for or against a cap and trade regimen. Unfortunate for the average person in our state, Ore- gene h. mcintyre gon’s legislators too often are helped most in campaign costs by wealthy individuals, corporations and others in our society who wield the fi nan- cial means and power to give big money to those who will do their benefactor-bidding once in offi ce. These arrangements between the powerful rich and persons holding public offi ce means usually that those who hold elected positions do not always do what’s best for the general population; rather, they do what was promised in a quid pro quo. It is the rich and powerful now who determine the fate of cap and trade and our survival. Carbon dioxide has become a threat to our existence. Meanwhile, there are interventions by which we humans could bring controls to bear on the matter and reduce, if not eliminate, its dangers. How- ever, since greed and self-aggran- dizement are often dominant in the “dark” corners of decision-making, the costs to control CO 2 emis- sions—if a law is passed—will be passed along to the poor and pow- erless among us. If we could ever come to a place in our human re- lations where the rich and power- ful become dedicated to helping and caring for others, we could act decisively on carbon dioxide and thereby save ourselves. Publicly-funded elections is one indirect action that would mitigate corruptions now rampant, its time overdue. (Gene H. McIntyre lives in Keizer. He shares his opinion frequently in the Keizertimes.) Bring cursive back to schools To the Editor: A growing number (at last count about 17) of state legisla- tures, including New Jersey, Illi- nois, Texas and California are plan- to even sign their name to a legal document or a check. This is the perfect time for the current Oregon legislative session to correct this same mistake and bring back the teaching of cursive to Oregon’s young children. Let’s ask our legislators to to do so and if the schools require additional fi nancial support to once again teach cursive then let us, as tax- payers, be willing to fund the plan. It will be a worthwhile investment. Jim Parr Keizer Trump and Pelosi: No handshake Keizertimes Wheatland Publishing Corp. • 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 phone: 503.390.1051 • web: www.keizertimes.com • email: kt@keizertimes.com EDITOR & PUBLISHER Lyndon Zaitz publisher@keizertimes.com 2019-2020 President Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Keizertimes Circulation 142 Chemawa Road N. Keizer, OR 97303 Periodical postage paid at Salem, Oregon SUBSCRIPTIONS One year: $35 in Marion County, $43 outside Marion County, $55 outside Oregon PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Publication No: USPS 679-430 not sugarcoat the latter as he seeks to become a better (or at least bear- able) person. It does not sugarcoat the downs of any of the characters, be- cause Bojack Horseman is, when you come down to it, an ensemble effort on behalf of one of the most talented casts in television: a cast that can make you cry just as easily as it can make you laugh. And it will make you laugh (I can safely say without hesitation that Todd Chavez, voiced by Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, is easily one of the most absurdly entertaining characters in the history of TV. Just saying). Bojack Horseman is also not a show that is content to stay in what we would consider normal boundaries. Creativity abounds in each episode, from background sight gags to clever story structures. One of my favorite episodes takes place underwater and has almost entirely no dialogue. An- other consists of Bojack giving a eulo- gy, and… that’s it. An episode that’s just an extended monologue. And it works. Just when you think the show is going to settle down or that it can’t possibly retain its freshness for much longer, it manages to surprise you. And it does so until the very end. Season 6 is the perfect way to cap off a series that is funny, perceptive, and bravely depressing all at once in a way that is 100 percent believable, regard- less of the equine nature of its protag- onist. Bojack Horseman may not always be a fun journey, but it is one that is well worth making nonetheless. Bojack Horseman seasons 1-6 are now available on Netfl ix. cuffed in Keizer Harley Davidson Grant Arrested Feb. 3 for: Possession of methamphetamine Previous convictions: Felon in possession of a fi rearm, unauthorized departure letters ning to bring back cursive reading and writing to elementary second and third grade school curricula. State leaders are realizing that by not teaching cursive since about 2010, a population of young peo- ple have grown up who are unable to read historical documents or By T.J. REID For the Keizertimes I don’t know how the myth that cartoons are only meant for the view- ing of younger audiences initially came about, but it is an unfair miscon- ception that various creators, animated television shows and animated movies have had to fi ght against for genera- tions. Although efforts on behalf of Pix- ar, The Simpsons, anime and many other companies and productions have taught us time and time again that animation can be a medium that audiences of all ages can enjoy, I still occasionally come across people that are shocked when a cartoon exhibits an intellect above that of your average fourth grader. Bojack Horseman, whose last epi- sodes just dropped on Netfl ix, con- tinues the proud tradition of pushing back against the stigma society places on animated media and may just be one of the fi nest examples of cartoons as art to date. One of the most appealing (and frustrating) aspects of Bojack Horse- man is how hilariously and heartbreak- ingly human its characters are. Yes, the show has jokes, and yes, they are as sidesplitting as they are sharp, but the real appeal comes from the honesty in which the writers and actors por- tray the characters. The titular Bojack Horseman, voiced by Will Arnett, is far more than a goofy anthropomor- phic horse: He is a deeply broken and self-destructive alcoholic who you will hate as much as you cheer for. He has his ups and downs, and the show does To the Editor: I am writing in response to your recent editorial (State of the Union as reality TV entertainment, Feb. 7, 2020). I would like to help you out with some of your confusion. Perhaps you do not know, but Donald Trump does not like Speaker Nancy Pelosi. That is why he turned his back to her gesture of civility to shake hands. Yes, she did tear up his “reality show” script. I do agree with you about re- spect for the offi ce of President. If only that respect would start with the holder of said offi ce. Patrick O. Selander Keizer SHARE your opinion Submit a letter to the editor, or a guest column by noon Tuesday. Email to: publisher@keizertimes.com Kaster Kasio Sana Evan Lee Webber Arrested Feb. 4 for: Possession of methamphetamine, assault, theft Arrested Feb. 8 for: DUII Previous convictions: DUII (twice) Other pending charges: Assault, unlawful use of a weapon, criminal trespass, criminal mischief Michael Wesley McDaniel Arrested Feb. 7 for: Failure to appear in court Previous convictions: DUII (twice), driving while suspended or revoked Gary Timothy Martinez Arrested Feb. 9 for: Felon in possession of body armor, escape Juan Carlos Navarro- Flores Arrested Feb. 8 for: Reckless endangering Other pending charges: Reckless endangering, conspiracy to commit a felony, criminal mischief Previous convictions: Identity theft, theft, tampering with a witness, attempting to fl ee
