Thursday, March 22, 2007
Chicago
Jose, Marye & I drove to Chicago on Friday afternoon. Then the festivities began at the house of Kofi & Kate (who are engaged, if you didn't know). We relaxed, watched March Madness, ate Giordano's Pizzeria from Logan Square, and generally enjoyed the reunion. On Saturday we went to Anne Sather's for brunch. Damn. Then we rode the train from Argyle into downtown (State Street). We saw the green river and then after assessing the lines of 20+ people at every bar, we decided to go back to Andersonville where we engaged in the democratic process of electing the best beer at the Hopleaf Bar. For me, Pauwel Kwak. Then we received a call from Ziyad and Jenny, who had made the drive from Madison. Rendezvous. Good times. We ate Ghanaian food for dinner, briefly lapsed into a food coma, and then progressed down Armitage to the cuban restaurant Cafe Laguardia for drinks. We talked about Castro and cigars rolled on the thighs of virgins. Then walked down the block to the Map Room, a source of tremendous beer diversity. While micturating in the bathroom at the Map Room I noticed the room was lit with a compact fluorescent bulb. Go green. I also noticed bathroom stall graffiti: Love + Herpes = Problems. We capped the night with a conversation of great gravitas, as one could have expected. In an age of self-interest, how are we to live? On Sunday we ate brunch at Hot Spot. I had the Segundo Primo Breakfast Burrito. Then we drove Kofi to the airport for a business trip to Atlanta and continued on our way back to Minnesota. The End.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
How can you be moral
Human morality may be severely limited by having evolved as a way of banding together against adversaries, with moral restraints being observed only toward the group, not toward outsiders.
The profound irony is that our noblest achievement -- morality -- has evolutionary ties to our basest behavior -- warfare. The sense of community required by the former was provided by the latter.
Morality is a sense of right and wrong that is born out of groupwide systems of conflict management based on shared values.
The profound irony is that our noblest achievement -- morality -- has evolutionary ties to our basest behavior -- warfare. The sense of community required by the former was provided by the latter.
Morality is a sense of right and wrong that is born out of groupwide systems of conflict management based on shared values.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Household Hazardous Waste
EPA: HHW
Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be "household hazardous waste" or "HHW." Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides, that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them.
Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash. The dangers of such disposal methods might not be immediately obvious, but improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health. Many communities in the United States offer a variety of options for conveniently and safely managing HHW.
Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be "household hazardous waste" or "HHW." Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides, that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them.
Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash. The dangers of such disposal methods might not be immediately obvious, but improper disposal of these wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health. Many communities in the United States offer a variety of options for conveniently and safely managing HHW.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Turkish court bans YouTube access
Access to the popular video-sharing website YouTube has been suspended in Turkey following a court order. The ban was imposed after prosecutors told the court that clips insulting former Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk had appeared on the site.
According to Turkish media, there has been a "virtual war" between Greek and Turkish users of the site, with both sides posting insulting videos.
The clip prompting the ban reportedly dubbed Ataturk and Turks homosexuals [gasp].
Insulting Ataturk, the founding father of modern Turkey, or "Turkishness" is an offence which can result in a prison sentence.
The offending videos sparked a storm of complaints to YouTube and the clips were removed, but the court order goes further, blocking all access to the site.
Freedom of speech
Turkish visitors to the site are now greeted with a message in English and Turkish reading "Access to www.youtube.com site has been suspended in accordance with decision no: 2007/384 dated 06.03.2007 of Istanbul First Criminal Peace Court".
Paul Doany, the head of Turk Telecom, the country's largest telecoms company, said that they had blocked access to the site as soon as the court order came through.
"We are not in the position of saying that what YouTube did was an insult, that it was right or wrong," Mr Doany told Anatolia news agency. "A court decision was proposed to us, and we are doing what that court decision says."
Mr Doany said that for its part Turk Telecom will continue to enforce the ban as long as the order stands.
The European Union, which Turkey is hoping to join, has long called for an easing of Article 301 - the law which prevents insults to Turkish culture - arguing that the law places severe restrictions on free speech in Turkey.
About 50 writers in the country have been put on trial for allegedly contravening the rule, including Nobel prizewinner Orhan Pamuk, though most cases have eventually been dismissed by the judge.
According to Turkish media, there has been a "virtual war" between Greek and Turkish users of the site, with both sides posting insulting videos.
The clip prompting the ban reportedly dubbed Ataturk and Turks homosexuals [gasp].
Insulting Ataturk, the founding father of modern Turkey, or "Turkishness" is an offence which can result in a prison sentence.
The offending videos sparked a storm of complaints to YouTube and the clips were removed, but the court order goes further, blocking all access to the site.
Freedom of speech
Turkish visitors to the site are now greeted with a message in English and Turkish reading "Access to www.youtube.com site has been suspended in accordance with decision no: 2007/384 dated 06.03.2007 of Istanbul First Criminal Peace Court".
Paul Doany, the head of Turk Telecom, the country's largest telecoms company, said that they had blocked access to the site as soon as the court order came through.
"We are not in the position of saying that what YouTube did was an insult, that it was right or wrong," Mr Doany told Anatolia news agency. "A court decision was proposed to us, and we are doing what that court decision says."
Mr Doany said that for its part Turk Telecom will continue to enforce the ban as long as the order stands.
The European Union, which Turkey is hoping to join, has long called for an easing of Article 301 - the law which prevents insults to Turkish culture - arguing that the law places severe restrictions on free speech in Turkey.
About 50 writers in the country have been put on trial for allegedly contravening the rule, including Nobel prizewinner Orhan Pamuk, though most cases have eventually been dismissed by the judge.
Monday, March 12, 2007
NAHHMA
North American Hazardous Materials Management Association
NAHMMA is a professional organization dedicated to pollution prevention and reducing the hazardous constituents entering municipal waste streams from households, small businesses and other entities that may be exempt from local, regional or national regulations.
Our hope is to create a membership-based, professional organization that unites the diverse entities that influence or have an interest in hazardous components of municipal waste streams (product manufacturers, government regulators, provincial, state and local waste management programs, waste handling businesses, non-profit environmental organizations and others) in an active, engaging association that promotes information sharing and cooperative problem solving. We strive to build consensus and foster public/private cooperation.
NAHMMA is a professional organization dedicated to pollution prevention and reducing the hazardous constituents entering municipal waste streams from households, small businesses and other entities that may be exempt from local, regional or national regulations.
Our hope is to create a membership-based, professional organization that unites the diverse entities that influence or have an interest in hazardous components of municipal waste streams (product manufacturers, government regulators, provincial, state and local waste management programs, waste handling businesses, non-profit environmental organizations and others) in an active, engaging association that promotes information sharing and cooperative problem solving. We strive to build consensus and foster public/private cooperation.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Feb to present rekapp
Moti Mahal
Orchestra - Sibelius, Beethoven's 5th (more punch than a 5th of jack)
Hexagon Bar
Nordkapp (by Tofte on the North Shore)
Dulonos
Midtown Global Market (Andy's has supreme malts)
The Departed
Weisman Bob Dylan exhibit
Longfellow Grill
sledding (down Town and Country golf course hills)
Khyber Pass
Finding Neverland
Wisconsin with the Klinkers
North Carolina vs. Duke
and...
Great Waters Brewing Company
* Golden Prairie Blonde
* Saint Peter Pale Ale
* Brown Trout Brown Ale
* Imperial Wit
* Sun Dog Pilsner
* Great Waters House Ale
* Black Watch Oatmeal Stout
* Mr. Smooth
Orchestra - Sibelius, Beethoven's 5th (more punch than a 5th of jack)
Hexagon Bar
Nordkapp (by Tofte on the North Shore)
Dulonos
Midtown Global Market (Andy's has supreme malts)
The Departed
Weisman Bob Dylan exhibit
Longfellow Grill
sledding (down Town and Country golf course hills)
Khyber Pass
Finding Neverland
Wisconsin with the Klinkers
North Carolina vs. Duke
and...
Great Waters Brewing Company
* Golden Prairie Blonde
* Saint Peter Pale Ale
* Brown Trout Brown Ale
* Imperial Wit
* Sun Dog Pilsner
* Great Waters House Ale
* Black Watch Oatmeal Stout
* Mr. Smooth
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