Mark Turner

The BP oil disaster: we’re all responsible

SF Gate columnist Mark Morford nails the BP/Gulf disaster, pointing the finger ultimately back to us and our insatiable need for more oil. This is exactly how I was feeling about the disaster.

Morford writes:

I think the most disturbingly satisfying thrill of this entire event — and it is, in a way, a perverse thrill — comes from understanding, at a very core level, our shared responsibility, our co-creation of the foul demon currently unleashed.

What a thing we have created. What an extraordinary horror our rapacious need for cheap, endless energy hath unleashed; it’s a monster of a scale and proportion we can barely even fathom.

Because if you’re honest, no matter where you stand, no matter your politics, religion, income or mode of transport, you see this beast of creeping death and you understand: That is us. The spill may be many things, but more than anything else it is a giant, horrifying mirror.

Go read the rest. And then start thinking of where we go from here.

Fighting graffiti on Raleigh highways

WRAL just did a story on the growing problem with graffiti on Raleigh-area highways like the I-440 Beltline, I-540, and I-40. City officials have always been quick to remove graffiti from city-owned and private-owned property, but all state-maintained roads are the responsibility of the N.C. Department of Transportation. Unlike Raleigh, NCDOT has dragged their feet in dealing with this issue and as a result the graffiti has spread.

I sent this email to NCDOT in April:

From: Mark Turner
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 1:38 PM
To: Halsey, Steven M
Subject: Graffiti around Raleigh NCDOT structures

Hello, Mr. Halsey,

Here are some spots around Raleigh with graffiti on NCDOT-maintained structures. I figured it was easier to email you than call:

1. I-40 West, Harrison Avenue overpass: orange graffiti on northside columns.

2. Wade Ave. Ext. under I-40 flyover: brown graffiti on southside columns.

3. Wade Ave. Ext. East at Blue Ridge Rd: black graffiti on southside columns.

4. I-440 West (outer) between Brentwood and Wake Forest Rd: graffiti on brick wall.

5. I-440 West (outer) at Lake Boone Trail: graffiti on brick wall.

6. I-440 West (outer) at Lake Boone Trail: graffiti on median barrier.

7. I-440 West (outer) at Glen Eden overpass: graffiti on columns.

If you are not the right contact for this info I’d appreciate you forwarding me to the proper person. If you have any questions, feel free to call.

Thanks so much!

Here’s the response I got back:
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Busy life

I’m still kicking. I’ve just not had much time or incentive to blog lately. Life is still good, however.

Maybe I’ll have more to say tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Sweltering day

It was a traditional sweltering late-spring day in Raleigh today. The temperature reached 96 degrees today, and with a 70 degree dewpoint it was miserably hot and humid. Fortunately there was a steady breeze all day, which made Hallie’s outdoor birthday party at Mordecai Mini Park bearable for all.

After the party I felt as if it was already 5 o’clock. The heat drained the energy from me! All I wanted to do this afternoon was take a long nap in the cool of the house but my dad wanted to get some commentary from me and Kelly about our late friend, Gerry. So we drove over there and visited, spending some time talking on camera about Gerry. Kelly did her part and left for her supper club and the kids and I enjoyed spending more time with my parents.

Now it’s a little after 9 PM and I think I’m not going to be awake much longer! I understand tomorrow will be cooler, which is good because I’m not a big fan of days like today!

Happy birthday, Hallie!

Today is Hallie’s eighth birthday. Hard to believe it’s already here. She enjoyed a birthday pancake this morning, popsicles at school, opening her presents, and checking out the new Raleigh amphitheatre.

Tomorrow the festivities continue with the actual party, Hallie’s violin recital, and dinner with Kelly’s parents.

Old rails

Trolley to Bloomsbury Park, 1913, Courtesy of N.C. State Archives

Recent work on Glenwood Avenue has turned that busy street into a pockmarked disaster, with construction blocking lanes and backing up traffic. I’ve been avoiding that road to keep my sanity (and my car in alignment). However, I couldn’t help but gawk yesterday when I drove through Five Points because the road work has uncovered rails from Raleigh’s old trolley line.

I’ve always been captivated by the now-defunct streetcar system. I’ve written Progress Energy before, asking them if they have any old trolley maps. Never heard back from them. And I know some downtown buildings used to be trolley-related. But briefly uncovered was hard evidence:trolley tracks!

I didn’t care what drivers behind me thought: I took my time riding up the road in front of the Rialto Theatre, tracing the lines in the exposed concrete. There were the actual tracks, hidden for decades beneath countless layers of asphalt! Yes, I’m a hopeless geek, but I was thrilled to see those steel rails. I also have to admit my glee at hearing how those rails had taken out some of the teeth of the paving machines. Serves them right!

I was amused at the timing, thinking how different the world might be if these tracks hadn’t been buried. Perhaps the Gulf of Mexico would still be alive. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll one day reconsider the wisdom of basing our society on finite resources and the trolley bells will ring once again.

Eastshopcn: Your source for electornic products

This spam infiltrated a neighborhood email list and I couldn’t help but post it. Bless the spammer’s Chinglish-speaking heart.

Subject: New shopping new life!
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 19:44:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: [Innocent victim’s name removed]

Dear friend,
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The web address: (www.)eastshopcn.com

Sen. Hoyle’s anti-municipal broadband bill up for vote today

Sen. David Hoyle (D-Gaston)

Senator David Hoyle (D-Gaston) managed to get S.1209, his anti-competition broadband bill, scheduled for a Senate floor vote today after ramming it through the Senate Finance Committee yesterday. Though committee senators Joe Sam Queen,, William Purcell,, and Floyd McKissick were questioning the wisdom of the bill, Daniel Clodfelter called opposition to it “noise” and Hoyle openly rolled his eyes as Purcell explained that this bill will leave rural communities broadband wastelands. Presiding senator Clark Jenkins then cut off debate and quickly called for a vote, declaring it passed before anyone could object. Just when I thought I’ve seen stunning behavior in the North Carolina General Assembly something comes along that stuns me even more. There wasn’t one vote against this bill and plenty of lies told by Hoyle in support of it.

Hoyle also managed to put in an exemption for Google Fiber, though he clearly couldn’t explain what it was. This is the problem with me: when lawmakers regulate things they clearly don’t understand the result is bad law. The only experts Hoyle apparently consulted were the ones with checkbooks in their hands.

People tell me the days of back-room politics will soon be over but they’re apparently still alive and well. Hoyle can’t leave office fast enough for me. His idea of this being a “business-friendly” state means big business wins and citizens lose.

You can hear audio of yesterday’s meeting here.

Lapping oil

I’ve been deeply troubled by the environmental disaster taking place in my beloved Gulf of Mexico and caused by the BP oil blowout. It’s been six weeks and still there is no end in sight to this nightmare. It might be August before BP can drill a relief well: apparently the only sure-fire way to stop the leak. In the meantime, a million gallons of crude oil will likely poison the gulf each day.

As much as this disaster upsets me it also made me examine what led to it. By drilling for oil, BP was fulfilling a need: the world’s insatiable need for oil. And that insatiable need is my insatiable need, too. If my car doesn’t get gasoline, it doesn’t go anywhere. That means I can’t get to work, which means I can’t provide for my family. Not a good scenario.
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Return to Carowinds, part 2

Hallie and I met up with Kelly and Travis after Hallie and I got off Thunder Road. We then headed back to our car to eat lunch. We thought we might go from there to the water side of the park (Boomerang Bay) but decided there were a few more coasters to be ridden before that. So we left our swimwear in the car and went back into the park.

Our first order of business was to cool off! It was now after 1 PM and the low overcast skies had now given way to hot sun. Thinking we could cool off at Rip Roarin’ Rapids, we reached the ride entrance only to find out it would be an hour wait. I smirked at this, as this has been the case with Rip Roarin’ Rapids since the first summer it opened. Some things never change. Rather than waste an hour for this ride, we split up again. This time Hallie would take Kelly on Thunder Road while I went with Travis to ride the “helicopters,” also known as Woodstock’s Whirly Birds.
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