November 2007

There were 48 posts published in November 2007 (this is page 5 of 5).

Google Earth updates Raleigh imagery

I noticed that Google Earth’s satellite imagery of Raleigh has been recently updated. Its actually showing imagery taken this year. I note that trees are green, traffic is moving on the Knightdale segment of I-540, and Falls Lake is full so I’m assuming the pic was taken in late spring. I’m also feeling embarrassed to have the greenest yard in the neighborhood, which is a switch for me: I was probably pretty darn proud at the time.

The spring and summer seasons are a terrible time for satellite imagery as the goal is normally to capture the details hidden by the foliage. Still its good to see somewhat recent pictures.

CPSC has only one full-time staffmember testing toys

Remember all those toy recalls due to excessive amounts of lead? It turns out George W. Bush’s Consumer Products Safety Commission only has only one full-time staffmember who tests toys. That’s one staffer standing between us and $600 billion of toys imported from China, a place where corner-cutting is rampant.

Let’s pass a federal law banning lead in toys. Let’s also find CPSC chairwoman Nancy Nord another job.

Heck of a job, Nordie.

(Via Crooks and Liars)

Steam double-header at the New Hope Valley Railway

It was Kelly’s “day off,” so the kids and I headed south to explore the New Hope Valley Railway’s “double-headed thunder” steam trains this weekend. For this weekend and next, the NHV has a sister steam engine to its familiar Number 17 on loan, the Flagg Coal Company Number 75. Together, they’ll be pulling the tourist trains in a double-header configuration (my kids would call it by its modern name, a “consist”).
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Friday night at the blog

I’ve got a quiet household tonight as the kids are safely in bed and Kelly’s enjoying a much-deserved night out with her friends. Even the cat’s sleeping, somewhere around here. I’ve got a half-full glass of wine at my side and an urge to write something – not just post a link somewhere.
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The CIA and the cocaine plane

Cristobal pointed me to the latest news on the CIA-connected cocaine plane that crashed last month. As Cristobal hints in his post, the article explains how easy it is to muddle the ownership of a plane caught trafficking drugs. We should certainly close these FAA loopholes if we’re serious about the other Endless War: the “war on drugs.”

As for whether the CIA’s actively ferrying drugs, I cannot say one way or another. But I’m getting mighty suspicious of all the drug busts that seem to occur so soon after the CIA allegedly owned these aircraft. There’s definitely smoke here, if not outright fire. I’m glad McClatchy’s got two good reporters on the trail.

Cary police charge driver in Ponce-Perez death

Cary police yesterday charged the driver in the death of Maria Soledad Ponce-Perez, a jogger who was struck and killed last week. Beverly Alice Castelli, age 51, was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle in the incident.

Kelly and I agreed that this is an unfortunate move on the part of Cary PD. Its tragic that Ponce-Perez was hit by Castelli’s car, to be sure. Its something Castelli will have to live with the rest of her life. On the other hand, Ponce-Perez was jogging with her back to traffic. Not only that, she was jogging in the middle of the road! The article doesn’t specify but it wouldn’t surprise me if she was also wearing headphones like a lot of joggers do.

Any kid can tell you that you that if you’re a pedestrian you’re supposed to face traffic and if you play in traffic you’re going to get hit. I don’t know what kind of reaction time Castelli may or may not have had, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Ponce-Perez was in the wrong here and solely responsible for endangering herself. She was jogging in a manner and place that made it inevitable she would be hit. Its the same as if I decided to play on the power lines: no one would blame the power company if I get electrocuted.

Now Castelli will have to go through the spectacle of a trial in addition to the grief she already must feel. Unless Cary Police know something I don’t, there’s no way Castelli should have been charged.