For the longest time I’ve has a slight fascination with the round houses Deltec produces. Occasionally I swing into log cabin thoughts, then maybe a extra-large tiny house. After seeing this Mashable post, I may be dreaming a little again. Location, location, location.
Adam
Toxic water and no answers
HARAZ N. GHANBARI / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nearly a half million people have been without clean running water for over two days where I live. I don’t live in a third world county or in a war zone. I live in Toledo, Ohio, in the midwest of the United States.
We have been told the water supply is unsafe to consume, heat up, wash with, or even put on living plants. There is a toxin in the water supply called microcystin. It comes from the overgrown algae bloom in Lake Erie. This is where the city get its water.
There are several things we have not been told.
-What is the most recent tested level of microcystin?
-What is the accepted safe level?
-How often is the water tested for it?
-How long does it take to process the test?
-Is the City of Toledo still processing these tests?
-What are any of the results?
-Is it getting better, worse or staying the same?
-What are the conditions needed to have safe water again?
Why isn’t the government of the people, by the people, for the people sharing any of this information with the people? I don’t even care about fault right now. I’d like to know approximately when I can put my clothes in the washing machine or run my dishwasher or take a hot shower.
One true positive by-the-people action to be seen are the many who are pulling together to help each other out in this situation while the powers that be don’t release any information.
Sent you two boats and a helicopter…
I was reminded today of the joke about the preacher who confronted G-d about not saving his life which led me to this interesting piece. Good stuff in there from Troy DuFrene.
As a guy fumbling for change, thought, recognizing the poverty of knowledge gives me a little hope. I’m getting comfortable with the fact that, try as I might, I’m not going to be able to read everything, absorb everything, figure everything (or anything) out. Instead, I’m going to try slowing down enough to be able to hear that voice calling to me through the megaphone from above.
G-d shakes his head and says, “What did you want from me? I sent you two boats and a helicopter…”
Look closely
“Look closely at the present you are constructing:
it should look like the future you are dreaming.” -Alice Walker
The Warrior of Light and Courage
Saw this at Paulo Coelho’s site. Wanted to pass it along here…
The warrior of light knows the value of persistence and of courage.
Often, during combat, he receives blows that he was not expecting.
And he realises that, during the war, his enemy is bound to win some of the battles.
When this happens, he weeps bitter tears and rests in order to recover his energies a little.
But he immediately resumes his battle for his dreams.
The longer he remains away, the more likely he is to feel weak, fearful and intimidated.
When a horseman falls off his horse, if he does not remount immediately, he will never have the courage to do so again.
Kindness of a stranger
Forgot my wallet at home today so for lunch I had to resort to a place that takes Square Wallet. In downtown Toledo that leaves two options, a sandwich shop and a coffee place.
It turns out Jominic’s, the sandwich joint, is out of business. Option two was Bleak House. I ordered a medium pour over coffee. As it was being made, a stranger who was on his way out paid for my order. Guess I didn’t need Square after all today.
I think I’m still a little shocked as I’m sitting in this coffee house while sipping a brilliant cup of java.