October 2013

There were 49 posts published in October 2013 (this is page 4 of 5).

NSA’s $2B Spy Center is Going Up in Flames

Whoopsie.

The National Security Agency’s $2 billion mega spy center is going up in flames.Technical glitches have sparked fiery explosions within the NSA’s newest and largest data storage facility in Utah, destroying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, and delaying the facility’s opening by one year.And no one seems to know how to fix it.

Within the last 13 months, at least 10 electric surges have each cost about $100,000 in damages, according to documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal. Experts agree that the system, which requires about 64 megawatts of electricity—that’s about a $1 million a month energy bill–isn’t able to run all of its computers and servers while keeping them cool, which is likely triggering the meltdowns.

via $2 Billion NSA Spy Center is Going Up in Flames | The Fiscal Times.

Why I poke the N&O

So why am I playing Ahab to the News and Observer’s Great White Whale? Because I love newspapers. I love good journalism. I appreciate the valued role the press plays in our society. Among the many things I wanted to be when I grow up was a journalist.

My blog, then, is my printing press, and here I try to call ’em like I see ’em. I offer not only criticism but praise when called for. In short, it’s my nature to hold the press to very high standards, to be the kind of force that serves the people. The kind of force that can bring down crooked Presidents (or crooked governors) when needed. I adore a press that’s fearless but fanatically committed to finding the truth. That isn’t always possible in an environment that overworks and underpays its reporters, sadly enough.

Don’t shirk your responsibility to find the truth, ladies and gentlemen of the press, and we’ll get along just fine. I still look up to you.

N&O doubles down on council criticism

The News and Observer often fires volleys at city leaders for being too secretive, as the city’s hunt for a new city manager clearly demonstrated. Yet the N&O itself often leaves me scratching my head. I should probably let it go, I know, but I’m still mystified the paper is sticking by its story that Randy Stagner’s parking email was somehow the impetus for firing former city manager Russell Allen.

Today’s editorial:

Randy Stagner was the one incumbent who lost, to Wayne Maiorano, a newcomer. Stagner was not a bad council member at all, but he got himself in a bad position when he appeared to be pushing for the ouster of former City Manager Russell Allen over a parking space.

Continue reading →

It’s not easy staying on the wagon

Today marks the 16th day I have had no alcohol. This is not because I have any problem with my alcohol consumption but more of a test of personal discipline. When I recently found out my brother had gone six months without a drink (again, just by choice) I decided to see if I could do it, too. I don’t know if I have any particular goal or timeframe in mind; I’m just going go without until I decide otherwise.

I’ve never been a heavy drinker. I usually average about one drink, either wine or beer, per day. On rare occasions (once every two weeks at most) I may have two. But in this experiment, even a modest drink would break the rules.
Continue reading →

McFarlane tops in Raleigh; moderates rule again on the Wake school board

Bob Geary pins the blame on Randy Stagner’s loss on the News and Observer’s dumb decision not to endorse him. I wonder how long it will be before they have to acknowledge this mistake?

Maiorano can thank The News & Observer for his narrow victory. Somehow, the newspaper decided that firing Russell Allen was a terrible thing to do and that Stagner was responsible. The firing was debatable, perhaps. What wasn’t debatable was that Stagner, a council rookie, had little to do with it. Five other members, including McFarlane, made the call to get rid of Allen. Stagner’s vote made six.

Nonetheless, the N&O pinned the blame on Stagner in story after story, after which the paper endorsed Maiorano.

via McFarlane tops in Raleigh; moderates rule again on the Wake school board | Citizen | Indy Week.

Flares over Raleigh attract no 911 calls

After learning from the Raleigh Fire Department that the flares I saw on the night of September 28th didn’t belong to them, I thought I’d reach out to the Raleigh-Wake 911 center to see if any calls had come in about the flares.

I got a response today from deputy director Walt Fuller who checked the records for downtown calls and turned up nothing:

I went back and looked into CAD and I saw several calls in the downtown area but they mostly security checks, traffic stops and other normal incidents. I saw no calls of the nature you mentioned.

Continue reading →

“We Hate Teachers” signs

Photo from New Raleigh

Photo from New Raleigh

Yesterday I drove through Raleigh’s Five Points neighborhood when I noticed a handful of signs tacked onto the utility poles. Usually these are advertising home-buying services, or fix-your-bad-debt services, but these were different. They say “We Hate Teachers – NCGOP” and below this is a phone number of 1-800-ART-POPE. I hear these signs are popping up all around Raleigh, with another group around Wiley Elementary.

I don’t know who created or posted the signs and I have my doubts they’ll do anything useful. I don’t think Art Pope hates teachers and the N.C. GOP doesn’t,. either. Still, I did chuckle at the audacity of it all.

Raleigh ‘Color Run’ race leads to dyed houses, towed cars

Looks like Colin Campbell at the N&O has picked up on the Color Run story.

By the way, I’m up to 16,045 page views now. Word has really gotten around.

Residents of the historic Oakwood neighborhood are fuming after a recent “color run” left brightly colored powder on houses, and some people’s cars were towed from outside their homes.

The Color Run is a for-profit 5k race where runners are doused with dyed starches along the route. They are held in dozens of cities across the country each year, billing themselves as “a race that celebrates healthiness, happiness and individuality.”

via RALEIGH: Raleigh 'Color Run' race leads to dyed houses, towed cars | Wake County | NewsObserver.com.

My Raleigh picture shows up on WTVD

WTVD_Raleigh_pic

I noticed in WTVD’s story on Raleigh’s new city manager that the station is using my public domain picture of downtown Raleigh for its graphics about the city of Raleigh. Also, during my city council appearance last month I was amused to see my picture now displayed on the city’s projector at the beginning of the council session.

It’s pretty awesome that I’ve got people seeing Raleigh the same way I do!

Residents seeing red after Raleigh ‘Color Run’ | abc11.com

Ed Crump with WTVD just ran a story on Raleigh’s Color Run fiasco (and nice headline, Ed. Sounds kinda familiar …)

RALEIGH (WTVD) — Some residents of historic Oakwood in downtown Raleigh say they are annoyed by the noise and mess left from last weekend’s “Color Run.”

Runners and volunteers played loud music and threw colored powder as part of the 5K event at Halifax Mall on Sept. 28.

However, some residents said they were really upset when their cars were towed off the street with less than 24-hours notice.

via Residents seeing red after Raleigh 'Color Run' | abc11.com.