(This is an update on an earlier blog post called "Snow in Atlanta".)
The Atlanta, Georgia area is getting a healthy dose of snow, and this blogger, taking care of his mother's home in suburban Atlanta, is in the middle of it. The snow is coming down fast and here's the video of it all:
To think. Exactly one week ago on Friday, I was in balmy South Beach, Miami, Florida for the Super Bowl festivities...
Now I'm here.
The snowy conditions have forced thousands of flight cancellations at Atlanta-Harsfield-Jackson Airport. But flying in the snow is one thing; driving in it something else. For those of us trained by their fathers to drive in midwestern snow, this is not a problem. But then, it's the other Southern drivers that really concern me.
Reportedly, this is supposed to go on all day long, and it has done that and is still snowing albeit at a really slow rate, then we reportedly get a break on Saturday, and it starts up again Sunday.
That trip into Atlanta I planned never happened; I've got snow to shovel.
Stay tuned.
Friday, February 12, 2010
University shooting at Alabama-Huntsville: Dr. Amy Bishop is suspect
A university shooting at Alabama-Huntsville University has neuroscientist Dr. Amy Bishop as the key suspect (the Huntsville Times reports Bishop's Harvard-trained but what relevance that is to the story is a mystery). Bishop's being held, along with her husband, but has not been charged with a crime as of this writing. Three people, all Alabama-Huntsville faculty members, are dead.
Amy Bishop joined the UAH faculty in 2003. With her husband, Jim Anderson, Bishop created a portable cell-incubator called "InQ" which won the couple an award in a state competition and won $25,000 of seed money in a business competition, money they could use to start a company around the invention.
A search for the name "Amy Bishop" revealed a web page that had this text, instead of Bishop's profile:
Dr. Bishop was also working on a cybernetics project called The Neuristor, using neurons as we use integrated circuits in a living computer. Bishop wrote:
Amy Bishop was reportedly denied tenure. What happened after that, a hypothesis, may be that Bishop went off when she perceived the University as trying to take and profit off of an idea she developed, just as they were getting rid of her. At that point, Bishop may have went berserk.
Stay tuned.
Amy Bishop joined the UAH faculty in 2003. With her husband, Jim Anderson, Bishop created a portable cell-incubator called "InQ" which won the couple an award in a state competition and won $25,000 of seed money in a business competition, money they could use to start a company around the invention.
Amy Bishop
A search for the name "Amy Bishop" revealed a web page that had this text, instead of Bishop's profile:
There has been a shooting on campus. The shooter has been apprehended. The campus is closed tonight. Everyone is encouraged to go home. Classes are cancelled for tonight. Any additional cancellations or changes will be announced as they become available. There is a Command Center set up at Madison Hall Room 109. Counselors are available in University Center Rooms 125, 126 and 127 for anyone who wishes to speak with a counselor.
Dr. Bishop was also working on a cybernetics project called The Neuristor, using neurons as we use integrated circuits in a living computer. Bishop wrote:
Neuroengineering
My laboratory's goal will be to continue in our effort to develop a neural computer, the Neuristor™, using living neurons. This computer will exploit all of the advantages of neurons. Specifically, neurons rich with the nitric oxide NO dependent learning receptor, N Methyl D Aspartate receptor NMDAR, will be utilized. These have previously been studied in the context of induced adaptive resistance to NO IAR. For the Neuristor™ we will take advantage of the IAR phenomena since it has been demonstrated that IAR neurons express more learning and memory receptors NMDAR as well as increased neurite outgrowth. The neurons that we are currently using are mammalian motor neurons. We are exploring the possibility of using neurons derived from adult stem cells, and from bony fishes provided by Bruce Stallsmith Ph.D. This laboratory has created a portable cell culture incubator, the Cell Drive™ that is an ideal support structure for the Neuristor".
Amy Bishop was reportedly denied tenure. What happened after that, a hypothesis, may be that Bishop went off when she perceived the University as trying to take and profit off of an idea she developed, just as they were getting rid of her. At that point, Bishop may have went berserk.
Stay tuned.
Bill Clinton out of hospital and back to work today
Former President Bill Clinton is out of the hospital in New York City and back to the same schedule he maintained before he complained of a "discomfort" in his chest on Thursday.
The 42nd President of the United States walked out of New York Presbyterian Hospital Friday after an overnight stay to have two stents installed to restore healthly blood flow. President Clinton had quadruple bypass surgery for four blocked arteries in 2004.
President Clinton was joined by his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and his daughter Chelsea Clinton at the hospital.
As I said in this video, Clinton needs to take time from his Bush - Clinton - Haiti work to get some rest:
Stay tuned.
The 42nd President of the United States walked out of New York Presbyterian Hospital Friday after an overnight stay to have two stents installed to restore healthly blood flow. President Clinton had quadruple bypass surgery for four blocked arteries in 2004.
President Clinton was joined by his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and his daughter Chelsea Clinton at the hospital.
As I said in this video, Clinton needs to take time from his Bush - Clinton - Haiti work to get some rest:
Stay tuned.
Tim Wise speaks in Oakland: anti-racist activist
Even with the election of President Barack Obama, America is still plagued by racism, according to author Tim Wise. The anti-racist activist was in Oakland last week discussing his most recent book, "Between Barack and a Hard Place: Racism and White Denial in the Age of Obama."Students packed a Laney College classroom Wednesday, Feb. 3 Tim Wise lecture, part of the campus' Black History Month lecture program.
Wise -- who is white -- said the recent economic downturn, fear over health care reform, the changing demographics of America, and the election of the first African American president in the U.S. has caused great anxiety for white people in America. The rise of the “Tea Party” demonstrations and much of the backlash against the Obama administration is due to a perceived loss of “white privilege.”
"For the first time you actually have to realize that America’s not just about white folks,” Wise said, referring to the luxury of America being seen as a nation for white people. “When all of a sudden that changes, an awful lot of people aren’t ready.”
“All of a sudden you have a white America” no longer “totally convinced that everything’s going to be okay. He added that the economic collapse has caused many white people to feel as if they are “losing” the country and wanting “their” country back. “They’re talking about going back to the day when they were the norm. They could take it for granted that they were the norm.”
During the question and answer period, his advice on confronting subtle or subconscious racism was confrontation, critically. He said some whites may not be conscious of their racism, but by asking questions or critiquing racist remarks and statements, people who are not overtly or intentionally racist, will improve.
“You don’t want to just jump on them, you want them to think,” Wise suggests.
Read the complete article or watch a video recording on TheBlackHour.com.
Snow in Atlanta, Georgia coming down fast
The Atlanta, Georgia area is getting a healthy dose of snow, and this blogger, taking care of his mother's home in suburban Atlanta, is in the middle of it. The snow is coming down fast and a video of it all is coming soon.
The snowy conditions have forced thousands of flight cancellations at Atlanta-Harsfield-Jackson Airport. But flying in the snow is one thing; driving in it something else. For those of us trained by their fathers to drive in midwestern snow, this is not a problem. But then, it's the other Southern drivers that really concern me.
Reportedly, this is supposed to go on all day long, then we get a break on Saturday, and it starts up again Sunday.
That trip into Atlanta's looking all the more risky.
Stay tuned. Video coming.
The snowy conditions have forced thousands of flight cancellations at Atlanta-Harsfield-Jackson Airport. But flying in the snow is one thing; driving in it something else. For those of us trained by their fathers to drive in midwestern snow, this is not a problem. But then, it's the other Southern drivers that really concern me.
Reportedly, this is supposed to go on all day long, then we get a break on Saturday, and it starts up again Sunday.
That trip into Atlanta's looking all the more risky.
Stay tuned. Video coming.
DC Metro train Red Line derailment is second incident in one year
DC Metro train Red Line derailment is second incident in one year
A DC Metro train derailed for the second time in the young 21st Century. On Friday, the first two cars of the DC Metro Red Line train derailed at 10:13 am EST, as it was leaving the Farragut North Station. There were 345 passengers, but only three were injured.
Here's the Associated Press video:
While some passengers reported they didn't feel the train derailment, the incident marks the second major DC Metro accident in less than a year. During the Monday evening rush hour of June 22nd of 2009 a DC Metro train crashed into another one right in front of it, killing nine people. It was the worst accident in the DC Metro rail system's 33 year history.
DC Metro crash video from YouTube:
DC Metro crash video from AP:
The DC Metro, MARTA in Atlanta, and BART in the San Francisco Bay Area, were all developed and built in the 70s by Westinghouse, which created the ROHR cars (see here and here). Now, with the DC Metro's two accidents, it's time to ask if these systems are in need of a major overhaul.
A DC Metro train derailed for the second time in the young 21st Century. On Friday, the first two cars of the DC Metro Red Line train derailed at 10:13 am EST, as it was leaving the Farragut North Station. There were 345 passengers, but only three were injured.
Here's the Associated Press video:
While some passengers reported they didn't feel the train derailment, the incident marks the second major DC Metro accident in less than a year. During the Monday evening rush hour of June 22nd of 2009 a DC Metro train crashed into another one right in front of it, killing nine people. It was the worst accident in the DC Metro rail system's 33 year history.
DC Metro crash video from YouTube:
DC Metro crash video from AP:
The DC Metro, MARTA in Atlanta, and BART in the San Francisco Bay Area, were all developed and built in the 70s by Westinghouse, which created the ROHR cars (see here and here). Now, with the DC Metro's two accidents, it's time to ask if these systems are in need of a major overhaul.
Dan Abrams on NBC; expands Mediaite with Geekosystem
Dan Abrams (in photo), who at one point had his own show on MSNBC, was on NBC again Friday after a bit of a television hiatus to start the media news website Mediaite. Now, TechCrunch has taken note of Publisher and founder: Dan Abrams's new site called Geekosystem.
This young, black, bald, geek blogger was totally underwhelmed by Geekosystem because it seems to reflect what Geek culture looks like from a young, white, frat boy perspective. (Not that Dan Abrams is such a person). Not the term "Geek" wasn't used to describe that view. Geekosystem, to the extent such a thing really exists - and it does - contains blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos and Latinas, Indians, and a large number of people of color.
The Geekosystem also contains a large number of women that aren't represented in Dan Abrams' version of The Geekosystem.
One woman that Dan Abrams should be aware of is Jane McGonigal at The Institute for The Future, who spends much of her time not only playing games, but making games and studying how people interact within a game structure, which could be anything from a board game to, well, the whole World. Yet, there's nothing about, say, the top 10 female programmers or game developers.
But on that note, Geekosystem's "Top 10 Programmers" does include one woman, indicating the influence of Dan Abrams associate Rachel Sklar, maybe? One can only hope.
In fact, that's the problem. Geekosystem's Editor-At-Large is not Rachel Sklar, but Andrew Cedotal. Nothing against Andrew, but Dan was better off having Rachel fill that role. Of course, the bias here is that Rachel's a friend of this blogger, and this blogger is a contributor to Mediaite, but the overarching issue is the theme, message, and direction of Geekosystem: it's a mess that does not live up to its mission:
It's the in the "oft-overlooked personalities" that Dan Abrams new venture fails. More often than not, the "oft-overlooked personalities" are geeks who women and people of color. A token mention does not solve the problem; a total Geekosystem overhaul is necessary.
This young, black, bald, geek blogger was totally underwhelmed by Geekosystem because it seems to reflect what Geek culture looks like from a young, white, frat boy perspective. (Not that Dan Abrams is such a person). Not the term "Geek" wasn't used to describe that view. Geekosystem, to the extent such a thing really exists - and it does - contains blacks, whites, Asians, Latinos and Latinas, Indians, and a large number of people of color.
The Geekosystem also contains a large number of women that aren't represented in Dan Abrams' version of The Geekosystem.
One woman that Dan Abrams should be aware of is Jane McGonigal at The Institute for The Future, who spends much of her time not only playing games, but making games and studying how people interact within a game structure, which could be anything from a board game to, well, the whole World. Yet, there's nothing about, say, the top 10 female programmers or game developers.
But on that note, Geekosystem's "Top 10 Programmers" does include one woman, indicating the influence of Dan Abrams associate Rachel Sklar, maybe? One can only hope.
In fact, that's the problem. Geekosystem's Editor-At-Large is not Rachel Sklar, but Andrew Cedotal. Nothing against Andrew, but Dan was better off having Rachel fill that role. Of course, the bias here is that Rachel's a friend of this blogger, and this blogger is a contributor to Mediaite, but the overarching issue is the theme, message, and direction of Geekosystem: it's a mess that does not live up to its mission:
The mission of Geekosystem is to unite all the tribes of geekdom under one common banner. There’s a lot of overlap between the different families of geekery: The geeks who are into gadgets and computers are often one and the same as the geeks who are into comics and sci-fi are often just the same as the geeks who are fueling the culture of the Web — one forum or imageboard at a time. As the site’s name suggests, Geekosystem recognizes and celebrates these interconnections and the oft-overlooked personalities that hold it all together.
It's the in the "oft-overlooked personalities" that Dan Abrams new venture fails. More often than not, the "oft-overlooked personalities" are geeks who women and people of color. A token mention does not solve the problem; a total Geekosystem overhaul is necessary.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Skinny Girl Margarita!
So if you've watched either The Real Housewives of Orange County of New York City, you've heard of the Skinny Girl Margarita. This is really one of the most basic drinks to make! (and this blogger has made many a drinks after a few years in the bar industry). One of the NYC housewives, Bethenny Frankel took the recipe that can at times be filled with calories and simplified it. Good for our taste buds and good for our waist line!
Bethenny's recipe is straight forward.
-2 oz. of Clear Premium Tequila
- Tiny splash of Orange Liquor
-Juice of 4 lime wedges.
-Combine all ingredients over a glass of ice and garnish with a lime wedge
-Enjoy!
Bill Clinton hospitalized, heart needs rest to recover
President Clinton has been on a healthier diet since his 2004 operation, but maintains a busy schedule that has seen him go from the Davos World Economic Forum last week, to New York, and eventually to Haiti and back in one day. For a man who has heart disease and high blood pressure, Clinton has not appeared to maintain a schedule that allows him significant "down time".
With that kind of pressure comes stress, a good friend of high blood pressure. A good enemy is athletic activity, like running or at least a brisk walk. To what extent Clinton is maintaining his once-common running schedule is not clear from available reports as of this writing.
GOP bid for earmark backfires, Shelby embarasses Congressional Republicans
It was amazing to many to learn recently that it was one Senator, Alabama's Richard Shelby, on a quest for a 
massive earmark for his home state, that was able to suspend all progress in filling key leadership roles in many government agencies.
No wonder some in the GOP lament government effectiveness as unattainable: their own party is preventing many key agencies from having leaders. Americans were stunned to learn that the objections weren't based on qualifications, or even philosophical differences, but were simply a partisan ploy that amounted to demanding a kick-back for Alabama.
There's nothing inherently wrong about earmarks. They allow for quick resolutions to funding decisions that don't require much, if any, debate. They can be used to replace a fallen bridge, or abused to fund a pork-barrel project that benefits a key constituent or city... but Shelby's audacity has backfired, and he's walking back from his stand after embarrassing his party -- later claiming it was just to get attention.
Well done, Senator; you've drawn attention. The President threatened to take a page out of the former administration's strategy book. Your bluff has been called, and people around the country are starting to call your petulant, obstructionist Grand Old Party the Republi-can'ts.
President Obama's statement following action by the Senate to confirm twenty-seven nominees reveals he's getting tougher dealing with Republicans playing political games at the expense of the citizens of the USA:
Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, journalist, and political analyst who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.
massive earmark for his home state, that was able to suspend all progress in filling key leadership roles in many government agencies.No wonder some in the GOP lament government effectiveness as unattainable: their own party is preventing many key agencies from having leaders. Americans were stunned to learn that the objections weren't based on qualifications, or even philosophical differences, but were simply a partisan ploy that amounted to demanding a kick-back for Alabama.
There's nothing inherently wrong about earmarks. They allow for quick resolutions to funding decisions that don't require much, if any, debate. They can be used to replace a fallen bridge, or abused to fund a pork-barrel project that benefits a key constituent or city... but Shelby's audacity has backfired, and he's walking back from his stand after embarrassing his party -- later claiming it was just to get attention.
Well done, Senator; you've drawn attention. The President threatened to take a page out of the former administration's strategy book. Your bluff has been called, and people around the country are starting to call your petulant, obstructionist Grand Old Party the Republi-can'ts.
President Obama's statement following action by the Senate to confirm twenty-seven nominees reveals he's getting tougher dealing with Republicans playing political games at the expense of the citizens of the USA:"Today, the United States Senate confirmed 27 of my high-level nominees, many of whom had been awaiting a vote for months.At the beginning of the week, a staggering 63 nominees had been stalled in the Senate because one or more senators placed a hold on their nomination. In most cases, these holds have had nothing to do with the nominee’s qualifications or even political views, and these nominees have already received broad, bipartisan support in the committee process.
Instead, many holds were motivated by a desire to leverage projects for a Senator’s state or simply to frustrate progress. It is precisely these kinds of tactics that enrage the American people.
And so on Tuesday, I told Senator McConnell that if Republican senators did not release these holds, I would exercise my authority to fill critically-needed positions in the federal government temporarily through the use of recess appointments. This is a rare but not unprecedented step that many other presidents have taken. Since that meeting, I am gratified that Republican senators have responded by releasing many of these holds and allowing 29 nominees to receive a vote in the Senate.
While this is a good first step, there are still dozens of nominees on hold who deserve a similar vote, and I will be looking for action from the Senate when it returns from recess. If they do not act, I reserve the right to use my recess appointment authority in the future."
Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, journalist, and political analyst who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.
Save the Oakland A's - send an email to MLB Commissioner Selig
On the matter of retaining the Oakland A's in Oakland, an email was just released as part of an effort to have Oakland A's supporters contact MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. Here's what it reads:
The next step? Click here - Save the Oakland A's - and get started.
My one question is why isn't Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums' name on this? What about any of the other Oakland City Councilmembers? Where's the Oakland leadership? What about the Oakland Chamber of Commerce?
Hello?
It looks like the Super Bowl: Oakland effort all over again but worse: at least we had some elected officials willing to put their name on something. This ...it is terrible. But sign the petition, anyway. Please.
Go Oakland! Do something.
We're at a critical point in our fight to keep the A's in Oakland.
Very soon, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig will review the City of Oakland's proposal to partner with the Oakland A's to build a world class baseball-only ballpark near Jack London Square. In the coming days or weeks, the Commissioner will decide whether to keep the A's in Oakland.
At this crucial time, we need to make sure that Commissioner Selig sees and understands the incredible level of support of tens of thousands of fans like you who have signed our online petition or joined us on Facebook
Can you take just a few seconds, right now, to help?
Click here to forward Commissioner Selig an email today: Tell him you want him to keep the A's in Oakland and that you would support the team at their new waterfront stadium!
We all know that a new waterfront ballpark in Oakland would be a boon for the city, for the team, and for the fans -- further revitalizing the neighborhoods around Jack London Square by drawing fans and business support from all over the region.
This is our chance to stand up and show the Commissioner our commitment to getting this done. Please speak out now.
Click here to send your message to Commissioner Selig now!
This week, we are sending the Commissioner a copy of the Let's Go Oakland! online petition, signed by more than 9,300 A's fans. But we hope you'll take a moment, right now, to send your own personal message directly to Commissioner Selig, too.
By sharing your thoughts, you can help us demonstrate the depth of support for the A's here in Oakland.
The time for action is now. We appreciate and need your support.
Best,
Doug Boxer & Marty Glick
Lets Go Oakland!
The next step? Click here - Save the Oakland A's - and get started.
My one question is why isn't Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums' name on this? What about any of the other Oakland City Councilmembers? Where's the Oakland leadership? What about the Oakland Chamber of Commerce?
Hello?
It looks like the Super Bowl: Oakland effort all over again but worse: at least we had some elected officials willing to put their name on something. This ...it is terrible. But sign the petition, anyway. Please.
Go Oakland! Do something.
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