News Cut: June 9, 2011 Archive
Tales from the trail (5x8 - 6/9/11)
Posted at 7:30 AM on June 9, 2011
by Bob Collins
(3 Comments)
Filed under: Five by 8
1) BIKING TO WORK
It's Bike to Work Day, so named because Bike Back Home After Work Day doesn't sound so noble and exciting. And exciting bicycling can be, given the hazards presented by the people who, well, you know.
In New York, Casey Neistat got a citation for riding outside of a designated bike lane. He tried to tell the cop that riding in a bike lane isn't safe because there are so many obstructions. The cop didn't listen.
So Neistat made this video this week. Bicyclists make better videos than drivers, by the way.
Here are a few more events this week for bike week in Minnesota.
Continue reading "Tales from the trail (5x8 - 6/9/11)"
The end of La Nina
Posted at 11:02 AM on June 9, 2011
by Bob Collins
(2 Comments)
Filed under: Weather
If you speak the language, this may interest you:
A transition from La Niña to ENSO-neutral conditions occurred during May 2011 as indicated by generally small sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies across the equatorial Pacific Ocean east of the Date Line (Fig. 1). The latest weekly Niño index values (Fig. 2) showed near-average SSTs in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific (Niño-4 index of -0.2oC and Niño 3.4 index of -0.1oC), and above-average SSTs in the eastern equatorial Pacific (Niño-1+2 index of +0.7oC). The subsurface oceanic heat content anomalies (average temperatures in the upper 300m of the ocean, Fig. 3) remained elevated, but relatively constant during the month, reflecting a large area of above-average temperatures at depth (Fig. 4). Consistent with other transitions to ENSO-neutral conditions, the atmospheric circulation anomalies continued to show some features consistent with La Niña, albeit at weaker strength. Convection was enhanced over eastern Indonesia and suppressed over the central equatorial Pacific (Fig. 5). Also, anomalous low-level easterly and upper-level westerly winds weakened but persisted over the central Pacific. Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies reflect a transition to ENSO-neutral conditions, but with lingering La Niña-like atmospheric impacts, particularly in the global Tropics.
We don't know exactly what language the Climate Prediction Center uses but translated to English, it means La Nina has ended, let normalcy reign.
La Nina has been blamed for hurricanes, tornadoes and -- I'm theorizing here -- the slow start of the Minnesota Twins.
The phenomenon may, the Weather Service says, have had something to do with May's outbreak of tornadoes, including the ones that struck Minnesota.
La Nina gets blamed for a lot of things, some of which may be true. Of late it's been tagged for the wildfires in Arizona. But if it's to blame for the drought, there's little indication the end of La Nina means things might improve there.
"This is not just happening on eastern New Mexico, it is the same over most of southwestern United States" said Ken Widelski, lead forecaster with the NWS in Albuquerque.
A drought continues in Texas. Farmers there are writing off the cotton crop. But in South Dakota, especially the western part of the state, they don't want to see any more water.
Video of the Oahe Dam outflow (north of Pierre) must make Texas weep.
Don't hurry back, La Nina.
Super Saturday in north Minneapolis
Posted at 11:07 AM on June 9, 2011
by Bob Collins
(1 Comments)
Filed under: Disasters
Here's a news release from the MplsTornado.info people who have worked above and beyond the call of duty to provide information to residents of north Minneapolis in the wake of last month's tornado. They've organized a donation event for Saturday:
SUPER SATURDAY, JUNE 11TH 2011Relief drive for North Minneapolis. You drop off donations at 2818 Washington Ave N. Minneapolis, MN 55411 On Sat between 6am and 6pm. On Sunday and Monday, they are picked up by Shiloh, Prayer Center and other relief orgs.
HELP NEEDED
*MplsTornado is now taking volunteer names. Email volunteer@mplstornado.com and specify what shift you can work 6-10am, 10-2pm , or 2-6pm. Need full name and cell phone number. Nothing is verified until you receive email from us. We don't need hundreds of volunteers . Just about 20-ish per shift so these will fill fast. First come first served. We will then also need volunteers for Sunday but not sure how many though at this time
* We still need pallets and trolleys. Can anyone lend these to us?
* Still need about 300 gloves and some back braces
* Need stationary. Some notepads and pens
* A couple of laptops and data entry experts to enter inventory as the day goes by
* Need a first Aid kit ( or hopefully a red cross duo or so on site)
* Looking for a very kind company/restaurant to volunteer grill or bbq for the volunteers. Prob from around noon-ish or so
* Will need a flag waver ( lol..not sure if correct term). Someone to stand outside entrance waving orange flag or so to alert motorists that they've reached the destinationNOTES:
-This is a people driven event. There is no specific agency or organization behind it. Just humble and kind residents. We would appreciate your participation for a good cause :)
-Vehicles will be turning right into the base and driving up to the staging area, then leave through the back
-We intend to have both some workers from The Prayer Center and Shiloh Temple on hand at the location helping with the efforts. These are the two primary recipients of the donations drive, along with others to be determined
-To clarify, please do NOT bring us any money or checks. We are simply collecting donations specified on list. If you wish to donate to one of the organizations, we have a list on our resource sheet http://sites.google.com/site/mplstornado/home. If you would like to donate to our ( MplsTornado )efforts in this process since we're carrying out most of our efforts out of pocket expenses, you can do so here http://sites.google.com/site/mplstornado/home/donate . Donations to us would go towards communications related expenses, transport, and liasing. We also want to begin hosting BBQs on different ravaged blocks, in order to speak to residents and connect with people
-Do NOT bring toys, furniture, clothes, appliances. Those will be collected at a later date
-We have received two weighing scales courtesy of Prism folks and we will weigh and take inventory of all items received so we can have full reports for you
-We are NOT distributing the items directly to the residents. We are distributing them to organizations who have 'in place' mechanisms to effectively and swiftly move the products out into the streets ASAP and have been actively doing so since day 1.For more info, email get@mplstornado.info ( do not email this adress for volunteer opps)
(1 Comments)
Infidelity 2.0
Posted at 1:50 PM on June 9, 2011
by Bob Collins
(9 Comments)
Filed under: Life
Rep. Anthony Weiner's online escapades may be the latest evidence of a technical sexual revolution, an MIT researcher is suggesting.
"Crude connections may signal a 'robotic moment' for society where humans begin turning to artificial intelligence to fulfill emotional needs," Sherry Turkle, director of MIT's Initiative on Society and Self, tells InnovationNewsDaily.
Turkle, who's written "One Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other," says her research has found people more interested in "artificial" boyfriends, girlfriends, and spouses.
Say what?
"They were not being ironic. They felt that people had failed them. And that a robot would be a safe choice," she says.
If you're in a relationship with a real person, are you unfaithful if you take up with a virtual one?
It depends on what your definition of infidelity is, according to Robert Weiss, founding director of The Sexual Recovery Institute in Los Angeles. He now defines infidelity as the act of keeping secrets in a relationship.
This is going to be a problem.
(9 Comments)Clara Luper stood up by sitting down
Posted at 3:06 PM on June 9, 2011
by Bob Collins
Filed under: Icons, Race
Clara Luper never attained the widespread fame of Rosa Parks in the civil rights movement. She never became the household word that Parks deservedly did.
But someone had to lead the first sit-in to protest the exclusion of blacks in public places. That someone was Clara Luper. In 1958, she and about a dozen others ordered cold drinks at a lunch counter in Oklahoma City.
Clara Luper has died.
Doggelganger and the pooch who looks like you.
Posted at 5:01 PM on June 9, 2011
by Bob Collins
(3 Comments)
Filed under: Marketing and advertising
You'll thank me later for this, even though you may spend so much time on this Web site you'll lose your job. We're talking matching you up with your canine soul mate in an entertaining way.
To boost its Pedigree (dog food) Adoption Drive, an ad agency in New Zealand has unveiled "Doggelganger," which -- operating under the presumption that people and their dogs tend to look alike -- matches you with the dog of your dreams.
First, go here, and upload either a video or a picture of you.
Here, let me show you. I take this old picture of me, upload it, and line it up accordingly...
... push the button and watch the system match my nose, eyes, ears and general good looks with the database of mutt features...
... until we get the big payoff: what dog looking for a home, looks most like me?
It's a lab-German Shepherd mix that currently is sitting in the SPCA in Whangarei, New Zealand. The Web site also reveals the dog's name is Kala, and it provides a form to fill out to let the SPCA know you might be interested in her. I think you'd agree: That is one sexy dog.
The Current's Mary Lucia suggested I try her...
Mary does not look like her dog, in my opinion...
... but let's see what might match the New Zealand version of Mary Lucia. Do your thing, Doggelganger!
and, voila! Bailey the staffordshire bull terrier, presently residing in Auckland.
The idea is similar to one an agency for a shelter in New York came up with some time ago.
It's brilliant marketing.
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