Category: misc

Rock & Roll stops the traffic*

My mate Thomas over in Glasgow is helping push a concert featuring Klearkut, Ashley Ballard, Yvonne Lyon and The Glasgow Gospel Choir on Nov. 20th. The cause – STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING. I can’t make the show, but maybe Elijah and his bride and Erikito and her husband can make the show.

Here’s a brief history:

In 2001 the chocolate industry committed to eradicate the worst forms of child labour. In 2007 the world is still waiting.
Nearly half the world’s chocolate comes from cocoa plantations in the Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa
Twelve thousand children have been trafficked to work on these cocoa plantations.
We want all chocolate companies to be able to give us a traffik free guarantee: that the cocoa beans which make their chocolate have not been harvested by trafficked children.
Download resources for you and your community to fight for a traffik free guarantee on chocolate at www.stopthetraffik.org/chocolatecampaign

It’s amazing to think that human trafficking and slavery still takes place today – but it does – even in the “Good ole’ U. S. of A.”
in fact KERA’s Think had a full hour dedicated to the issue on yesterday’s show. Host Chris Boyd spoke with Journalist John Bowe. His new book, “Nobodies: Modern American Slave Labor and the Dark Side of the New Global Economy” (Random House, 2007), exposes a practice which fuels the low prices that benefit us all.

In the interview Bowe makes the statement that most slavery in the U.S. isn’t as much about saving money – as it is about how we view others. When the cost of pesticide increased 1 cent per pound, the growers simply increased the cost of oranges. Yet when the workers asked for a pay increase of 1 cent per pound, which would have doubled many of their yearly incomes, the growers said, “No. We can’t do that.” When asked why not, the growers responded, “Look my tractor doesn’t tell me how to farm.”

Yet we (myself included) let these atrocities continue when we make uninformed buying decisions. When will it stop?

* I wonder how many people will recognize this blog post title (leave a comment if you do).

Nigeria asks Bill Gates for proof

From NPR:

Nigeria doesn’t let just anyone into the country. When Bill Gates applied for a visa, the Nigerian government wanted proof the billionaire wouldn’t overstay his welcome and become a burden on the country’s social services. The Microsoft chairman had to get a letter from his bank. The letter might have said that Gates is worth an estimated $59 billion. His visa was approved.

You think? Listen to the story

CWF in Nigeria

Just found a news story out of Abuja, Nigeria about my bros in the CWF touring Nigeria over the next week or so.
Remember them in your prayers…

A team of ten American wrestlers, led by Coach Rob Vaughn, will begin a twelve day tour of Jos, Plateau state in a bid to attract youths to the sport as an alternative to other form of violence.
Coordinator for the program, Kyle Abts of the Light House Sports Outreach based in Jos says of the program:
“These are wrestlers trying to reach out to young ones with a message and that message is that wrestling can be practiced as a clean sport.
“What they are trying to introduce is the opposite of what we know today as the WWE in America. While that has a lot of evil and negative side to it and is all about money, this brand is trying to provide youths with alternatives that will not only make them more economically empowered but also more constructive to the society,” he said.
The team goes by the name of Christian Wrestling Federation.
A total of six centres will be used during the event. Today, they will be at the Azi Nyako youth centre in Dadin Kowa. Other venues are Bukuru Mini-stadium, Jos Township stadium, University of Jjos Permanent site, St. Louis College and Dogon Dutse.
The national coordinator of LSRO, Geoffrey Bottson disclosed that the wrestlers will be wrestling themselves and putting up demonstrations for the youths. Youths who are interested will also be taught this new ‘safe’ style of wrestling.

Here’s just one of the places they’re scheduled to wrestle in:

The Jos Township stadium
Wish I could be there with them but looks like God had other plans in mind.

Govt. officials hope to block access to maps

As someone who works with GIS in my job, this story in particular caught my attention this morning.
It seems that some local and state entities around the country are trying to block the publics access to GIS maps, siting security reasons.
From NPR:

With Google Earth and GPS, people have grown accustomed to online maps of whatever they’re searching for. But the boom in digital mapping has run into an obstacle. Some government officials are refusing to release electronic maps of what they call “critical infrastructure,” such as water mains and fire hydrants.

There’s so much great information out there to help the general user/member of the public yet there are those in power who are doing all they can to hold on to that information and squash the open sharing of knowledge. Frustrating to say the least.
If I could only get my GIS information to convert to the correct file formats for my GPS unit we’d really be in business – but that may still be a ways off.
Listen to the full story online

Cuban hopes Dallas still votes

Mark Cuban is hoping to stay in the race on Dancing with the Stars tonight, but I think he’s a little worried about the dance and his replacement hip and the fact that the Dallas Cowboys are playing on Monday Night Football tonight.
You can still vote for him, regardless of watching the Cowboys or not. 1-800-vote-411.

Stretching for energy

Dumb Little Man has some tips on stretches to do when your afternoon starts dragging on.
1. Touch the Sky.
2. Side Stretch.
3. Touch Your Toes.
4. Shoulder Opener.
5. Twirl ‘Em.
6. Loosen Your Neck.
7. Arm Stretch.
8. Arm Circles.
9. Seated Twist.
10. Quad Stretch and Balance.
11. Hip Opener.
12. Seated Back Bend.
Check the site for more information. Any other ideas for getting an added burst of energy in the afternoon or morning?

Hat tip to Lifehacker for the link