Magic Johnson.
Spike Lee again
Jim “Lover Boy” Lovell again.
Mackenzie Scott
Jim Lovell:
I promised a small post in support of Amory Lovins, I hope this is convincing without being too long-winded.
As noted by another poster, Lovins is often grouped with Al Gore and Bill McKibben as a “climate activist”, which is, insofar as the power we use impacts our climate, somewhat true. Certainly if Lovins’s program was followed, not just nationally but worldwide, our climate issues would be considerably eased if not completely solved. He’s been pushing for non-fossil-fuel sources for energy for his entire career, which makes the association inevitable for many.
But climate change is only part of the pitch for the necessity of his target. Distributed, clean generation is not only better for the planet, but better for the United States, more economical, reduces our dependence on our enemies, and is more healthy for our population. To a great extent, he is arguing against ignorance, all the people who design, build and use things the easy way, “the way they’ve always done it”. Instead he argues in favor of new ways to do things more efficiently that will unlock greater benefits.
He focuses a great deal on business and capitalism to make the changes he pushes, which can be very unpopular with the climate movement. Much of the work of his think tank, the Rocky Mountain Institute, focuses on providing economically competitive, superior solutions to companies in accordance with his vision. I think that he overestimates the degree that rationality aids such transitions, among businesses and even more in the consumer market, but you cannot fault him for the goal for which he is striving. If we are going to get a sustainable drive for clean sustainable energy, we’re going to have to do the kinds of things that Lovins has been pushing for his entire career.
The fact that he is and has been working hard on one of our largest and most significant problems for the bulk of his life, and has made headway in a market-friendly way that is consistent with American tradition and values, gives him a solid argument to be in the top tier of greatest living Americans.
Oh, and my vote this round is for Jim Lovell.
Spike Lee.
Since it looks like Lovell is on his way out , this is priming the pump to wash Lee out in the next go-around.
-“BB”-
Our votes this round:
José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef - 1 vote
Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration - 1 vote
Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan - 2 votes
Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut - 3 votes
MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist - 1 vote
Jim Lovell’s portrayal by the beloved Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 does not save him here.
Our remaining nominees:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist
José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef
Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer
Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire
Bob Dylan: Poet of generation
Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist
Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire
Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader
Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration
Mark Kelly: Senator, astronaut, aviator
Stephen King: Great American writer
Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan
Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist
Barack Obama: President, statesman, lawyer
Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian
Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader
MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist
Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer
Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist
Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes
Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary
Eliminated
- Jim Gaffigan: Comedian, author, commentator
- Craig Ferguson: Polymath, director-writer, comedian
- Mitt Romney: Senator, impeachment juror
- Buzz Aldrin: Second on Moon
- Taylor Swift: Musician, songwriter, icon
- Tim Walz: Honorable political messenger
- Simon Biles: GOAT gymnast
- Judy Blume: Children’s literature icon
- Amanda Gorman: Poet, activist, prodigy
- Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut
Voting for our next round will end at noon EST on Mon. July 7.
He got two votes last round; I’ll vote for Spike Lee this time.
Mackenzie Scott again
I’ll go Amory Lovins. The defense a couple posts up makes him sound aspirational but without the actual accomplishments. And I think the proliferation of solar power is like 99% due to the price coming down, not advocacy.
Magic Johnson
Spike Lee
Sayonara, Spike. Maybe if you were a fan of someone other than the Knicks… ?
-“BB”-
I was going to Mackenzie Scott but looked her up, Jesus, 19 billion of funneling Bezos to charities is something. I’ll go with Janet Yellen this round, and then maybe revisit Scott later.
Janet Yellen
Isn’t even the best living American Secretary of the Treasury
I agree with Snarky_Kong. Amory Lovins does not to me stand above a host of other climate activists.
Goodbye Spike Lee!
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Our votes this round:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist - 1 vote
Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration - 1 vote
Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan - 4 votes
Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist - 2 votes
MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist - 1 vote
Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary - 2 votes
Spike Lee has left his film set, his Knicks courtside seat and this thread.
Our remaining nominees:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist
José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef
Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer
Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire
Bob Dylan: Poet of generation
Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist
Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire
Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader
Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration
Mark Kelly: Senator, astronaut, aviator
Stephen King: Great American writer
Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist
Barack Obama: President, statesman, lawyer
Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian
Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader
MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist
Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer
Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist
Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes
Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary
Eliminated
- Jim Gaffigan: Comedian, author, commentator
- Craig Ferguson: Polymath, director-writer, comedian
- Mitt Romney: Senator, impeachment juror
- Buzz Aldrin: Second on Moon
- Taylor Swift: Musician, songwriter, icon
- Tim Walz: Honorable political messenger
- Simon Biles: GOAT gymnast
- Judy Blume: Children’s literature icon
- Amanda Gorman: Poet, activist, prodigy
- Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut
- Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan
Voting for our next round will end at noon EST on Weds. July 9.
Still relatively unimpressed with him as compared to others who remain, I’ll vote for José Andrés this time.