tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15110997710510367462024-02-07T18:23:57.162-08:00in my opinion...A place for me to cuss & discuss things that I find interesting and topical. Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.comBlogger214125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-6199408789496538682011-12-09T11:54:00.001-08:002011-12-09T11:55:54.013-08:00Email FormattingSorry about the crummy formatting on the last email alert, y'all. I'm still getting used to this new Blogger interface.Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-57798419867325552742011-12-08T14:03:00.001-08:002014-07-30T17:23:57.415-07:00How long should we be tolerant of "cultural" activities that are inherently destructive to our Ecosystem?I originally posted this to my Facebook wall, but it was too long so got cut off. I've recreated it and expanded it from my original post.
Should Shark Fin Soup Be Outlawed? The other night while having Chinese at Silver Pond with a friend, we debated about ordering the shark fin soup. "If you were in the ocean, the shark wouldn't think twice about eating you," my friend Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-59167260290974194152011-11-05T14:47:00.000-07:002011-11-05T14:47:27.595-07:00Protecting your Gadgets in Daily LifeAs a sort-of hobby I spend a fair bit of time reading Apple's Support Community to see what problems folks might be coming up against using the gadgets, and occasionally I'm able to provide some help. One trend I've been seeing a lot of lately is people posting about how to get a lost or stolen iDevice or laptop back. What amazes me the most about all of these posts, is the fact that none of Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-66389030597959247302011-09-23T09:27:00.000-07:002011-09-23T09:27:21.295-07:00Peace Corps Update: Next stage reachedAs many of you many have seen from my post on Facebook last week I got my nomination to the Peace Corps. Very exciting. I had to wait to get the letter in the mail to see more about the project, though and I got it yesterday.
I've been nominated to teach English somewhere in Asia. For now that's all I know. The letter tells me that if I get past the next round of paperwork and interviews then Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-11663323404842624982011-07-26T13:28:00.000-07:002011-07-26T13:28:11.450-07:00Peace Corps RecruitingWow. I logged into my Blogger account to write up a new, short post and.... they changed everything!
Anyway, I got a call today from my new PC recruiter, which I didn't expect, because, Travis, my original recruiter is moving on. Jennifer and I chatted for a few minutes; she wanted me to revise one of my essays because it wasn't quite long enough. No problem.
She gave me some encouraging news Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com1151-199 Onondaga Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112, USA37.7225491 -122.441061837.6974296 -122.4805438 37.747668600000004 -122.4015798tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-69714216805246310462011-07-05T13:16:00.000-07:002011-07-05T13:39:00.201-07:00The Casey Anthony TrialAs many of you know by now Casey Anthony was found not guilty of killing her daughter, in Florida. What I find interesting is the reactions of folks on the social networks. The L.A. Times even wrote a story about it:
Casey Anthony was found not guilty Tuesday of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, by a jury in Florida. The court of public opinion, however, thought the Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-521697659298087092011-07-05T09:37:00.000-07:002011-07-05T09:37:01.057-07:00Adventures in Volunteer TeachingTo help me with my Peace Corps application I've been advised by my recruiter that I should try to get at least 30 hours of experience teaching ESL. In San Francisco that shouldn't be too hard... we are a city of immigrants, aren't we?
It turns out the hardest part is not finding volunteer opportunities; it is narrowing them down. Using the web site Serve.gov I came up with a list as long as Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-78366193071879344822011-07-03T10:32:00.001-07:002011-07-03T14:30:25.149-07:00Rekindling the FiresSince I got into the Google+ beta I've gotten the urge to start keeping this 'blog up to date again. It's been almost a year since my last post and a lot has changed for me.
For those of you who might not know I've left my job and applied to the Peace Corps. My recruiter tells me he thinks I am a strong candidate and all they really have to do is find a project for me. Right now all the Biz DevKlaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-33598861165964876342010-04-20T23:54:00.000-07:002010-04-20T23:54:21.272-07:00The Nuclear SummitThere have been some very positive development in the realm of nuclear weapons lately what with the US and Russia signing a new START treaty (although it is not ratified by the Senate yet), and the recent summit that happened in Washington D.C.
I've been reading a lot about safe guarding nuclear materials and waste to prevent the threat of nuclear terrorism. I've also been reading a lot about Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-28189344074198396282010-03-26T02:21:00.000-07:002010-03-26T02:21:07.023-07:00NFL Owners Approve Overtime Rule ChangeThe crux of the rule is to make overtime outcomes less dependent on the coin flip. If the team that has possession of the ball first scores a touchdown, the game is over. But if it kicks a field goal, the other team would get a possession and would win with a touchdown. If nobody scores on the first drives, or if both teams kick field goals, the game will revert to sudden death.I think this is a Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-6324065881319863902010-03-10T05:47:00.000-08:002010-03-10T05:47:19.221-08:00AT&T Wireless FAIL!I've been in Stockholm, Sweden for almost a month now. Before I came over I took the plunge and jailbroke & unlocked my iPhone so I could use a mobile provider in Sweden without resorting to carrying around more than one device. I had several to choose from and the one I went with is the former state-owned company Telia.
All I can say about the data services in Sweden is Wow! Not only is the Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-21601929838952071452010-02-25T22:19:00.000-08:002010-02-26T11:38:16.607-08:00Time For Action, Mr. PresidentYou've have your "bipartisan" summit, Mr. President. You've played out the Kabuki theater for the GOP obstructionists, and their obstruction was on display for all the see on CSPAN yesterday. Now it is time for action.
Mr. President and Mr. Reid, it is now time to act and give the people what they want and reform health care by enacting a public option, and regulating the health insurance Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-39226955799540644342009-10-12T07:02:00.000-07:002009-10-12T07:02:18.962-07:00Africa Journal ComingSorry for the radio silence since the vacation. I had misplaced my journal, and only found it this morning. So journal entries are coming. In the meantime check out some photos on my Flickr pages. I got some great portraits in Rwanda.Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-82589505614459751702009-09-03T07:23:00.000-07:002009-09-03T07:23:21.956-07:00Massive EngineeringStarting tonight at 8 PM PDT, the Bay Bridge which connects San Francisco with Oakland and the rest of the East Bay will be closed over the Labor Day weekend to put in a new piece that will eventually connect the new span of the bridge to Treasure Island. It's a huge engineering feat, and I've been fascinated by the on going coverage this week. Although nothing has happened yet, I think you Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-78932516046856689092009-09-02T08:02:00.000-07:002009-09-02T08:02:29.702-07:00In The Home StretchI am into the single digit countdown to my vacation, and I've pretty much already checked out at work. I leave in 7 days, and land in Rwanda in 8. I don't know what my ability to communicate will be like but I am taking my iPhone and plan to try to update my facebook page when I can from Africa. So if you're not my "friend" yet just click my status over there and add me. That is, if you want to Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-85590385156221071662009-08-17T16:22:00.000-07:002009-08-17T16:22:54.195-07:00Healthcare Train WreckI've been trying to keep up with the "debate" going on in the country right now over providing health care coverage to all Americans and I've been becoming increasingly frustrated with the ineptness of the Democrats in general and the White House in particular in getting this done.
And today we are getting reports that the White House has said a public option is "not a priority." Grrr....
Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-88199669246927660292009-08-16T09:01:00.000-07:002009-08-16T09:01:18.194-07:00The New Format WarsOver the past few years we, as consumers, have been victims of several "format wars." First there was the MP3 vs. AAC (or MP4) struggle. That one is still kind of going on on the fringes, kept alive by desperate luddites who refuse to buy iPods because they hate all Apple products for some nebulous reasons. Next there was the first big format war: Digital Rights Management (DRM) vs. no Digital Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-87745112789112513162009-08-11T17:43:00.000-07:002009-08-11T17:43:04.081-07:0030 Days... Not In The HoleJust 30 more days before I land in Kigali, Rwanda. Argh.Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-18475108365774371882009-08-11T07:04:00.000-07:002009-08-11T07:04:26.797-07:00I Could Have Told You ThatA new study released this week says that the average dog is at least as smart as the average toddler: I could have told them that without all the hair-pulling.
The finding is based on a language development test, revealing average dogs can learn 165 words (similar to a 2-year-old child), including signals and gestures, and dogs in the top 20 percent in intelligence can learn 250 words.The study Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-54473096110065051482009-08-07T10:00:00.001-07:002009-08-07T10:01:21.364-07:00Big Boss, Little Boss
Big Boss, Little Boss
Originally uploaded by Michael AllbrittonLast weekend I went to the zoo, as I am known to do if I have a bit of free time on the weekends, and snapped some shots of the lowland gorillas. I needed to practice just a bit more with my long lens.
The whole family was out that morning and Hasani was just trucking around the enclosure. On a couple of occasions he was having so Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-60016692969992461502009-08-07T06:27:00.000-07:002009-08-07T06:27:39.950-07:00No Takers for Michael VickIt seems that the NFL teams have a bit more sense than I gave them credit for a few days ago. There are so far no takers for Michael Vick's services.
From the LA Times:
Late last month, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will be allowed to return to professional football. Vick, of course, was banned from league play following the Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-65015821987255317632009-08-07T06:09:00.000-07:002009-08-07T06:09:55.081-07:00Welcome HomeA big welcome home to Euna Lee and Laura Ling. They have arrived back in the bay area and are settling back into their interrupted family life.
Also a big congratulations to President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton for getting the women home. This was a nice bit of diplomacy on their part.
And to all the right-wing talkers who have been saying the Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-46959761220211761922009-08-06T13:47:00.000-07:002009-08-06T13:47:17.749-07:00Shiny!So the nice FEDEX man dropped my passport off yesterday with my new, shiny visas for Uganda and Kenya all official and everything. I've been to countries on 4 continents in the last few years (North America, Asia, Australia, Europe) and these are the flashiest visas I've gotten yet. Check 'em out.
This is real for me now. I've been buying camera gear, plane tickets, making reservations, Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-30499532846516687972009-07-27T15:10:00.000-07:002009-07-27T15:10:13.208-07:00Very DisappointingIt seems that the NFL is more concerned with their bottom line than how their players are viewed.
Today, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell "conditionally" reinstated Michael Vick so he is eligible to play in the 2009 season, albeit missing the first 5 games of the season. This was not unexpected, but I had hoped Mr. Goodell would have more sense than this. I was really hoping for at least a two Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1511099771051036746.post-4889304557627745822009-07-23T22:57:00.000-07:002009-07-23T22:57:08.168-07:00Amazon ApologizesLast week I posted about Amazon reaching out from the cloud and plucking purchased content right out from under the noses of unsuspecting Kindle owners. I wasn't kind in with my words. Today Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, apologized for what his company did.
This is an apology for the way we previously handled illegally sold copies of 1984 and other novels on Kindle. Our "solution" to the problem Klaatuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565947979396930288noreply@blogger.com0