Archive for » 2009 «

The New God of Nuclear Energy is….. Thor?

Thorium, which was abandoned in favor of Uranium due to its production of nuclear grade Plutonium, is now working to be the Green Nuclear Fuel of Choice.

Uranium Is So Last Century — Enter Thorium, the New Green Nuke

Long live our new Thorium overlords.

Atheists Banned From Public Office in 7 State Constitutions

I was not surprised to see this still an issue. In the pre-revolution days many of the colonies had religious tests as a requirement to hold office. They did out-law it at some point prior to the the uniting of the colonies, if I remember correctly, but still there remains these last remaining vestiges of Christian religious oppression. Fortunately, the Constitution is really clear on this and tells the state to suck it.

24 – Christmas Special Video with Jack Bauer and Santa Clause

I do not watch the Fox series titled 24 with Kieffer Sutherland, but I know that those even those who do not find this darker holiday humor entertaining:

Category: Entertainment, Humor, Links, Misc  Tags:  Leave a Comment

$30 YouTube Movie Picked Up by Movie Studio for $300 Deal

$300 Sci-Fi YouTube Video Lands $30m Movie Deal (Slashdot).

Even if it was made on $300 software… wow was it beautifully done… for the price.

Google Celebrates Dr. Zamenhof’s Birthday with a Logo Doodle!

Google is, thankfully, celebrating Dr. L.L. Zamenhof’s birthday today with a Doodle, since it is Zamenhof Day. Right about now you are probably wondering who this Dr. Zamenhof is that Google would take the time to recognize him? There was a lot of speculation within the Esperanto community as to whether or not Google would do recognize him or not, but it looks like Google heard our call and the importance of Esperanto to the world

Google's Zamenhoff Day Doodle

Dr. Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof

Dr. Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof

In case you do not know who Dr. Zamenhof is, he was a Polish Jew born in Byaliastock Poland during Russia’s occupation. He, throughout a decade or so, created the constructed language Esperanto to be the worlds primary secondary-language to facilitate communication between the disparate languages. I write at length about Esperanto and his wonderful and easy to learn language in my Esperanto pages here at Arion’s Home..

What does a green flag have to do with Zamenhof or Esperanto, well a green flag with a white star, or a green star are the symbols of the Esperanto movement.

More Coverage on National Geographic News and CBS News via the Associated Press.

Gay on Trial: Why more than marriage is at stake in the federal legal challenge to Prop. 8

The article Gay on Trial: Why more than marriage is at stake in the federal legal challenge to Prop. 8 (the American Prospect) has a great run-down on the current state of the gay rights movement especially in light of the famous lawyers David Boies and Ted Olson taking up the case.

The only part of the article that I find annoying is this following quote:

Prop. 8′s defenders seem most self-assured when speaking in broad axioms. According to the motion filed by the defense in Perry, “the purpose of marriage [has] always been to promote naturally procreative sexual relationships,” and “every civilized society in recorded history [has] limited marriage to opposite-sex relationships.” But when asked concrete questions, as the defense was at a pre-trial hearing in October, lawyers have been hard-pressed to come up with an answer.

Gay on Trial, Gabriel Arana; November 23, 2009

If they paid any attention to history or anthropology they would find this statement patently false. Marriage has not, in even a pseudo modern world, traditionally been done specifically for procreative or genetic ends. Marriage has been done for power, land, and influence, and love. The ability to bear children is a natural extension of power, love, and influence.

Historically there have been many societies that have revered or thought nothing of homosexuality. There have been even some societies where sex with the opposite sex was abhorrent and only done with the explicit necessity of bearing children to perpetuate their tribe. The possibility of not having and answer for this I find annoying, because it is easy to refute.

A Solomon’s Choice on Abortion: Let Compassion and Justice Prevail

Rev. Debra Haffner’s Huffington Post article “A Solomon’s Choice on Abortion: Let Compassion and Justice Prevail” is a great message I have been a fan of hers for a few months now.

Charter for Compassion

Karen Armstrong, a former nun, gave her speech called A Charter for Compassion (TED)” to Ted Talks on Feb 2009. I watched this speech and it is quite inspiring. This speech was given as her TED Prize Wish for 2009. She now has a website of for it as well: Charter for Compassion

Related TED Talk:Lets Revive the Golden Rule

“Stand by Me” – Playing for Change

This just shows the power of the internet to bring people together. I could listen to this sort of music all day. Playing for Change brings musicians from around the world to perform for each song in a beautiful and progressive layering of talent from around the world – Zimbabwe, India, Ireland, Tibet, United States, etc.

Vote for Womens Reproductive Rights

Get more info at “A Woman is not a Pre-existing condition.

Vote Your Support for Finally Moving to the Metric System

Vote for catching up to the rest of the world and move to the metric system at Change.org’s cause ‘Twenty-First Century Metric America’

Looking for Work…

I am looking for part-time, or short-term/contract work in the following areas:

  • Realtor - if you or someone your know is looking to
    • buy
    • sell
    • lease a property
    • or relocate
  • Web Development
    • website creation
    • usability consulting
    • accessibility consulting
    • basic computer repair
    • basic networking

I am a licensed Realtor working for First Weber in the Wisconsin Dells and am looking to work in the Baraboo/Dells area – Reedsburg will work as well.

I am available after 4:30pm each day from 5:00pm – 10;00pm Monday through Friday, as well as weekends. If you know of a position that might be suitable for me please let me know and I will follow up.

Facebook for Scientists gets Millions in Funding

In 2008 I listed some Notes to the Obama Administration and in part of that was having research between different organizations or researchers being more publicly and/or centrally located so that work is not repeated and researchers can more closely work together and share insights to allow more rapid scientific advancement. This Facebook for scientists gets millions in funding is a huge stepping stone towards that goal. Very good to hear.

Category: Links, Misc, Science, Technology  Tags:  One Comment

I want “Nokia’s Morph” NOW!!!

I just found out about Nokia’s morph concept today. Wow is it totally cool!

More Nokia Morph Info

Category: Links, Misc, Technology  Tags: ,  2 Comments