Archive for January 20th, 2007


A good reason for solar

Friends of ours live in rural Utah where they’ve had a serious cold snap for a week with temperatures between 20 and 30 below zero every night.

Their water comes from a well, the power went out, and thus the pump house heater couldn’t run so the pump froze solid and may be damaged. They’ve not had water for a week now.

With solar power storing electricity in a battery, the pump heater would have operated. They have in fact installed solar, but a parts shortage meant they could hook it up to the house and pump.

They are moving full speed now to get the parts and say they are “looking forward to our new life with solar.” Wind power too.

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Blowing up a coliseum

Connecticut Bob got up at 4:15 AM this morning to video the implosion of the New Haven CT Coliseum. He has the video online.

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Honoring Hrant Dink

Hrant Dink

There have been large demonstrations in Turkey and vigils in Los Angeles to honor the memory of Hrant Dink, Turkish-Armenian newspaper editor who was murdered yesterday. He was a leader in the movement to have the Armenian genocide recognized as such in Turkey, something which got him a six month suspended sentence for insulting “Turkishness.”

Because, you see, it’s illegal in Turkey to discuss the genocide.

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Connecticut State Police targeted Krayeske

The Hartford Courant uncovers more on the police misconduct in the arrest of blogger/ journalist/ activist Ken Krayeske.

Hours before the controversial arrest of political blogger Kenneth Krayeske at Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s Jan. 3 inaugural parade, state police distributed copies of a full-color, two-page document describing Krayeske as an activist who had invited people to join him in a protest outside Rell’s inaugural ball that night.

Krayeske was arrested while standing on the sidewalk photographing the governor. He was held for 12 hours and given an outrageous $75,000 bail. That’s right, he was simply standing on the sidewalk, not doing anything illegal when they took him away - apparently simply for being an activist.

The document, containing color prints of Krayeske’s current and past driver’s license photos, made it seem as if “Ken Krayeske was public enemy No. 1,” said Rep. Michael P. Lawlor, a state legislative leader whose committee now plans to investigate.

Krayeske was campaign manager for Green Party candidate for governor Cliff Thornton. This arrest, and the state police enemies list, make difficult to believe this wasn’t politically motivated. Connecticut activists and bloggers have been mobilizing hard in support of Krayeske.

With investigations by both state legislators and major newspapers, the Connecticut State Police and the governor are finding themselves on the defensive. It’s not just bloggers who are on their case about this apparent abuse of the legal system.

Did the governor know about the enemies list? That’s the question many are asking.

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Boo hoo, the bottle made me do it

bottle-chaine-2218832.jpg

Rep. Bob Ney got 30 months in prison in a federal bribery investigation. He said the bottle made me do it. Yeah, right.

Actually, Mr. Convicted Felon, the bottle didn’t make you do. You made yourself do it. While you say you accept full responsibility for your actions, it’s clear you don’t, since you blame it on alcoholism.

I’m tired of the slippery evasion of “The Mel Gibson Defense.” The best way to get sober and stay sober is to admit what you’ve done, make it right, get on with your life, and don’t drink or use no matter what.

Been there, done that.

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Stallone to direct movie about Armenian genocide

Given the draw of Sylvester Stallone, the movie could easily push recognition of the Armenian genocide onto the front pages.

Stallone says that the flick will be “an epic about the complete destruction of a civilisation. (But) talk about a political hot potato. The Turks have been killing that subject for 85 years.”

Thank you, Rocky.

This issue, recognition of the genocide, is neither left nor right. It’s been a long time coming. But it finally looks like recognition will soon be a mainstream issue.

It should always be noted that Bob Dole, both as a senator and afterwards, has for decades worked towards recognizing the genocide. His life as a WWII soldier was saved by an Armenian doctor who survived the genocide and told Dole of it.

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