Monthly Archives: August 2012

Incredible group at Baltimore Bike Party Tonight

August 31, 2012 – 11:43 pm
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Getting started soon. Very exciting. The crowd is huge.

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Rising oceans, retreating president

August 31, 2012 – 5:41 pm
The climate is getting a one-two punch from the GOP and Obama. Take a stand for the earth! http://bit.ly/ONGvEN
By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

It’s Friday. Please give to the #GreenParty before Labor Day weekend. They have matching funds, so double your money! http://t.co/SMqbcwRx

August 31, 2012 – 4:01 pm

It's Friday. Please give to the #GreenParty before Labor Day weekend. They have matching funds, so double your money! http://t.co/SMqbcwRx

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

“Enough!” The first Jill Stein for President TV ad

August 31, 2012 – 5:14 am

via Uploads by Jill Stein for President by Jill Stein for President on 8/29/12
Help us break through the media blackout and get this ad in front of millions of Americans! Go to http://www.jillstein.org/first_tv_ad_campaign and http://www.JillStein.org/DONATE to put this ad in front of more people! Paid for by Jill Stein for President
Views: 5057
239 ratings
Time: 00:59 More in News & Politics

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Ellicott City train derailment clean up, Follow Up 2 – #ellicottcity #train #csxderailment #csx #derailment #environment

August 31, 2012 – 5:10 am

I managed to get out to Ellicott City again today. The water and riverbed near the bridge look OK to my less than expert eyes. It appears that any coal has been cleared away, and the contamination barrier that I showed in a previous blog entry has been removed.  There is much foot traffic on the river bridge that is adjacent to the bridge where the train derailed, likely throughout the day. Here are the photos I took today.

 

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Some readers, who saw the original aerial photographs of the derailment site, with the overturned coal cars, will recognize this site. It is beyond the bridge on the south side of the river. In fact, it is very near the river, just up a small hill behind some trees in an area that gets less attention.

 

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This sign is another bit of CSX irony. Ellicott City residents and visitors, who ventured up to this site could clearly read this sign behind a fence. It is a no dumping sign, which is surrounded by coal on the ground.

 

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Here is another photo of the coal spill at the derailment site. This view is looking down the track, in the direction of the bridge where the train derailment occured, but the bridge may not be visilble in this picture.

 

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This photo shows more vinyl plastic barriers behind the coal. These barriers are likely intended to prevent coal contamination from running down the hill and into the river water. It is not difficult the imagine that heavy rains could easily overcome these barriers.

A casual observer, such as myself, cannot get easy access to all the areas where coal was spilled. For example, this area was protected by a chain link fence and no trespassing signs.  I got clear shots through and over the fence.

I read today that CSX has spent 2 million dollars on the clean up so far. Hopefully, their efforts will continue, including in areas that are seldom seen by Ellicott City residents and visitors. It is crucial to protect the precious waters of the Patapsco River and the nearby Patapsco State Park.

Regards,

proclus

http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

 

 

 

 

 

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

‘Refuse to fight in Afghanistan!’ An infantry vet’s open letter to US troops

August 30, 2012 – 5:23 pm
Another great action from March Forward!.

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

March Forward logo
By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Jill Stein has a new preview ad on the website.

August 30, 2012 – 12:28 am

Jill Stein has a new preview ad on the website.  It is not working for me in Firefox Nightly.

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

There is a report that protesters are being removed from the #Ecuador embassy. Police removed poster and signs earlier. #Assange #Wikileaks

August 30, 2012 – 12:26 am

There is a report that protesters are being removed from the embassy. Police removed poster and signs earlier.

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Michael wants you to take action on “No Super Trawlers. Not Here. Not Anywhere.”!

August 29, 2012 – 7:32 pm

Michael Love has just read and signed the petition: No Super Trawlers. Not Here. Not Anywhere.

You can view this petition at: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/565/124/723/

Message from Michael Love:
—–

Hi, I signed the petition “No Super Trawlers. Not Here. Not Anywhere.”. I’m asking you to sign this petition to help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures. I care deeply about this cause, and I hope you will support our efforts.

—–

ThePetitionSite.com provides tools and empowers individuals to make a difference and effect positive change through online activism. Get connected with the causes you care about, take action to make the world a better place, and start your own petition at http://www.ThePetitionSite.com!

ThePetitionSite.com is powered by Care2, the largest and most trusted information and action site for people who care to make a difference in their lives and the world. www.care2.com

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Tell Duke Energy: Take a stand against corporate funding of voter suppression

August 29, 2012 – 3:25 pm

Dear Friend,

For years, the right wing has been trying to stop people of color, young people, and seniors from voting in order to help Republicans get elected — and now some of America's biggest companies like Duke Energy are helping them do it.

Duke has helped pass discriminatory voter ID legislation by funding a rightwing policy group called the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Voter ID bills linked to ALEC have already passed in seven states, and similar voter ID bills have been introduced in 27 other states.

Tell Duke Energy to stop funding ALEC and its attempt to disenfranchise millions of voters. Click the link below to join me in signing this petition.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/duke_alec/?r_by=45944-3052123-AFcxyvx&rc=paste1

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Court: Israel at No Fault for Death of Rachel Corrie

August 28, 2012 – 3:53 pm

via (title unknown) by jon on 8/28/12


A district court in Haifa has rejection a civil lawsuit that the state of Israel and its armed forces were at fault in the death of American human rights activist Rachel Corrie, who was crushed by an Israeli Defense Force bulldozer in 2003 while trying to prevent the destruction of Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.

"I reject the suit," Judge Oded Gershone said in the briefly worded verdict. "There is no justification to demand the state pay any damages."

[field_image_caption-raw]

read more

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

No surprise to see this happening at JPL #anonymous #cispa #drone #drones #legislation #ndaa #potus #rnc #sopa #usdor

August 27, 2012 – 11:49 pm

now

johns hopkins – Google Search –

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No Drones Maryland: Calling for End to Drone Research at Johns Hopkins University

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tag wrap: –

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now

Have a look at .

View conversation Hide conversation

5h

Mike, does Hopkin also play a role in making these drones?

Retweeted by

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3h

. NO !

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3h

First-hand account from colleague of the May8 action to protest research

Retweeted by

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3h

At “the APL on and on” & says “this goes against the open nature of universities”

Retweeted by

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via twitter.com

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Stop Plastic From Killing Ocean Animals

August 27, 2012 – 7:49 pm
The plastic you see and use every day is killing endangered birds, sea turtles and seals by the hundreds of thousands. Every year animals get tangled up in plastic, or eat it, with fatal consequences.

Please sign our petition asking the Environmental Protection Agency to curb plastic pollution on our beaches and in our oceans.

Plastic makes up 60 percent to 80 percent of ocean debris; there are 3 million tons of it in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The same durability we value in plastic makes it a persistent pollutant.

Plastic doesn’t belong in our oceans; it doesn’t belong in the diet of baby sea birds like this Laysan albatross chick; and it doesn’t belong wrapped around endangered seals. That’s why we’re asking the federal government to establish water-quality criteria for plastic pollution.

Please take action to join us in asking the EPA to get plastic out of our ocean ecosystems.

Take action by using this Web address: http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY…

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

This Friday people: August Route | baltimorebikeparty #bike #bicycle http://baltimorebikeparty.com/2012/08/24/august-route/

August 27, 2012 – 3:18 pm

This Friday people: August Route | baltimorebikeparty #bike #bicycle
http://baltimorebikeparty.com/2012/08/24/august-route/

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Ellicott City train derailment clean up (MORE PHOTOS) #Trapwire #OpTrapwire #csx #train #ellicottcity #derailment #csxderailment #environment

August 27, 2012 – 12:18 am

I finally managed to get some more of the photos posted. There are 50%
blowups available for all of these. Just ask. 

11
10

 

These two pictures are of a different bridge, presumably downline towards Baltimore. This bridge is very near to one of the entreances to Patapsco State Park. A small footbridge is not far from this location, and people swim in the river below. Patapsco State park is a real treasure, a green gem.  It is likely that the whole coal transport system will receive much attention as a result of the the derailment accident. It passes very near the park.

 

09

 

CSX – quality in motion. It is likely that the people of Ellicott City had a sense of irony when they saw that slogan.

 

08

 

In the background is the bridge where the derailment occured, with some cleanup equipment surrounding. In the foreground is the adjacent bridge that crosses the river. I also caught a police officer watching me take the photo at the edge of the shot.

 

07

 

This is the inside of a twisted coal car as it is being towed away.

 

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The river looks to me pretty much as it was before the accident.  I’ll admit that I am not much of an expert in such matters. I’m just a river lover, going way back.

 

04

 

This shows the coal car being lifted onto a trailer that is sitting on the adjacent bridge. They were using the cranes or winches to do the lifting.

 

03

 

This looks like a remote surveillance rig to me.  Some of my #Trapwire, #OpTrapwire friends might find this one interesting. There are 4 solar arrays to power the system. The camera sits at the top of the pole.

 

02

 

There was definitely a police presence at the site, and they seemed far more interested in us observers than the clean up operation.

 

01

 

This is another view of the coal car being loaded onto the truck.

 

I previously blogged some more interesting photes of the cleanup. Based on my Coast Gaurd experience, it seems to me that the CSX cleanup team has been taking measures to prevent coal contamination from spreading into the river. If you want to see that, here is the link.

http://proclus-gnu-darwin.posterous.com/ellicott-city-train-derailment-clean-up

Ellicott City is a wonderful place to visit, and I will certainly be returning there again and again.  If there is anything more to report, I will definitely push it out to the GNU-Darwin Spectrum.  All comments welcome.

 

Regards,

proclus

http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Ellicott City train derailment clean up

August 25, 2012 – 1:30 am

Here is a sampling of the pictures that I took in Ellicott City. Note the sheet plastic and straw barrier, which was apparently built to protect the river from coal contamination. Several of the coal cars tipped over on the bridge, and dumped out their contents. Hopefully I can post more of the pictures later.

I love the bicycle ride to from Baltimore City to Ellicott City, and will likely be visiting again soon. This site is very close to Patapsco State Park, which is a great place for bike riding.

Regards,
proclus
http://www.gnu-darwin.org/

Img_20120822_190612 Img_20120822_190422 Img_20120822_190401
See the full gallery on Posterous

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Stop Plastic From Killing Ocean Animals

August 23, 2012 – 7:37 pm
The plastic you see and use every day is killing endangered birds, sea turtles and seals by the hundreds of thousands. Every year animals get tangled up in plastic, or eat it, with fatal consequences.

Please sign our petition asking the Environmental Protection Agency to curb plastic pollution on our beaches and in our oceans.

Plastic makes up 60 percent to 80 percent of ocean debris; there are 3 million tons of it in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The same durability we value in plastic makes it a persistent pollutant.

Plastic doesn’t belong in our oceans; it doesn’t belong in the diet of baby sea birds like this Laysan albatross chick; and it doesn’t belong wrapped around endangered seals. That’s why we’re asking the federal government to establish water-quality criteria for plastic pollution.

Please take action to join us in asking the EPA to get plastic out of our ocean ecosystems.

Take action by using this Web address: http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY…

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Ellicott City train derailment clean up

August 23, 2012 – 3:10 pm

I have some photos of the clean up, near the river in Ellicott City. Many coal cars tipped over. Hopefully, I will get a chance to put them in the blog soon.

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

Jill Stein to participate in the presidential debates

August 22, 2012 – 2:25 pm

Hi,

The Republican and Democratic Parties control the presidential debates and exclude third party candidates.  This is anti-thetical to democracy.  We petition the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow Jill Stein to participate in all of the presidential debates this year.

That's why I signed a petition to Commission on Presidential Debates, which says:

"Allow Green Party Presidential Candidate, Jill Stein, to participate in all of the presidential debates."

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/allow-jill-stein-to-particip?source=s.em.cp&r_by=985589

Thanks!

 

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)

US is taking half of your tax dollars&using it to make new enemies 4 you. Most of the rest is bailout for rich fatsos. Al #Qaeda the enemy?

August 20, 2012 – 5:41 pm

US is taking half of your tax dollars&using it to make new enemies 4 you. Most of the rest is bailout for rich fatsos. Al the enemy?

By gnudarwin | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
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