Do you know about craigconnects from craigslist Founder Craig Newmark? It’s his:
“…personal, Web-based initiative aimed at helping people work together for the common good using the Internet. In addition to veterans’ organizations, the initiative spotlights many other organizations and agencies working in the areas of community building, connectivity, journalism integrity, open government, service and volunteering, and technology for social good.”
“craigslist and craigconnects Founder Craig Newmark Announce Campaign to Support Veterans and Military Families
SAN FRANCISCO, June 28, 2011 — craigslist and craigconnects founder Craig Newmark today launched a month-long campaign to support non-profit and government organizations that successfully work with veterans and military families. The campaign is part of his craigconnects initiative launched in March, and includes a $100,000 grant challenge for four highly respected non-profit veterans’ organizations, as well as extensive social media outreach by Newmark and the organizations involved.
“A lot of people do a lot of good work to help military families and vets, and I’d like to bring attention to them and to provide some direct support,” said Newmark.
The non-profit organizations selected for the campaign are Blue Star Families, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, the Intrepid Foundation, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. The four will participate in a grant challenge to raise funds from their existing and new supporters.
“These guys really get the job done, effectively providing services and advocacy where they’re needed,” said Newmark.
Newmark said he will donate a total of $100,000 to the four organizations based on the number of donations they receive during the challenge, rather than the amount of money they raise. “What I want to do with craigconnects is help build involvement, not just raise money. All non-profits need money, but what they really need are supporters who will be there long-term. I hope everybody will come to our site, check out these groups, and decide which they want to support.”
He added that he is also using social and traditional media to support government agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs and local VA medical centers. “They’re starting to use social media to provide better customer service and outreach to our veterans,” he said. “I want people to know about the good stuff they’re getting done.”
Additionally, the non-profit organizations will participate in craigconnects’ extensive social media effort through Twitter, Facebook, and the craigconnects website. Guest authors on the site will include several individuals prominent in the field of veterans support, including NASCAR CEO Brian France and entertainer Eddie Money. Newmark said guest authors will write about the organizations and issues they support.
craigconnects is Newmark’s personal, Web-based initiative aimed at helping people work together for the common good using the Internet. In addition to veterans’ organizations, the initiative spotlights many other organizations and agencies working in the areas of community building, connectivity, journalism integrity, open government, service and volunteering, and technology for social good.
You know why that Carnival Splendor cruise ship got towed to a San Francisco dry dock all the way up from Fun Diego last month, you know why her owners chose the 415 as the place where she’d get a new engine and get a whole bunch of work done?
The view from our world-class San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge. (It’s only been two decades since that earthquake and we’re almost done fixing it up already!) Now-defunct Potrero Power Plant camera right:
See them fellers on the bridge? That could be you, someday:
Click to expand to see them fellers
Don’t think this was on an airshow day. It’s just every military pilot’s dream to buzz the GGB on the taxpayer’s dime, so this kind of thing happens all the time. They generally don’t try to fly ‘neath the bridge anymore.*
*Former Presidential candidate John Kerry tried doing just this back in ’67, but he “chickened” out. Oh well.
*End User License Agreement or whatever it is. I’m all like, I’m not agreeing to that, just the way I reacted when I saw similar click box as I was trying to make a post at SFist one day back in ought-eight. The upshot of RAND’s new policy is that I’m now afraid to even read their pdfs, much less borrow text from them. Oh well. I mean, if people for whom I’m doing favors want to sue me, they’re welcome to do so, but I’m not going to make it easy for them, I’m not going to make their case a lead-pipe cinch through a written contract right from the get-go…
Anyway, all the deets, license and pdf-free:
“At the request of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Secretary of Defense, the RAND Corporation conducted a study on sexual orientation and U.S. military policy in order to provide information and analysis that might be considered in discussing the possible repeal of the law known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). The study examined DADT implementation; U.S. public and military opinion about allowing gay men and lesbians to serve in the military without restriction; and the scientific literature on group cohesion, sexual orientation, and related health issues. RAND conducted focus groups with military personnel and a survey of gay, lesbian, and bisexual military personnel. RAND researchers also examined the comparable experiences of other institutions, domestic agencies, and foreign militaries, as well as how repeal of DADT might affect unit cohesion and military readiness and effectiveness.
“Most polling data suggest that a majority of Americans support allowing gay people to serve in the military without restriction. The research concludes that there would be little impact on recruiting and retention of military personnel and on unit cohesion and performance. Current research and the experience during World War II shows that cohesion of combat units comes from the common threat of the enemy, not from prior shared values and attitudes. The majority of gay and lesbian service members who responded to RAND’s survey reported that, although they did not talk about their sexual orientation, many unit members already knew that there was a gay service member in their unit. The vast majority indicated that they would remain circumspect in how they make their orientation known to other service members. Many military focus group participants said that they knew gay men and lesbians who were serving and respected their contributions. Many major U.S. allies, including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, have allowed gay individuals to serve without restriction for a number of years. They report no effect on unit performance or on their ability to meet recruitment goals. No country provides special accommodations for privacy or special training on sexual orientation. Police and fire departments, as well as federal agencies, major corporations, and colleges, all report that they have integrated gay individuals without serious problems and without negative effects on performance — and without making specific accommodations — by applying a strict policy of nondiscrimination.”
Pretty soon, “Ask, Tell” will be the Law of the Land, unambiguously…
This is what it looked like. All the deets are below.
“SAN FRANCISCO – November 2 – Approximately 200 Amnesty International activists march and rally in solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Myanmar this Friday, November 5, starting at 5:30 p.m. Held on the eve of the historic November 7 elections in Myanmar, activists holding illuminated posters of Aung San Suu Kyi will call on the Myanmar authorities to release her and the 2,000-plus prisoners imprisoned for peaceful activism. The march will begin at the corner of McAllister and Hyde Streets at 5:30 p.m. and will end with a rally at the steps of San Francisco City Hall, with projected images of Aung San Suu Kyi as the backdrop.
The demonstration kicks off Amnesty International USA’s (AIUSA’s) annual regional human rights conference, which will continue on November 6 and 7 at UC Hastings College of Law. Speakers include several prominent Burmese human rights defenders , including: Toe Lwin, a youth leader for the National League for Democracy and a member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s Security Team; Nyunt Than of the Burmese American Democratic Alliance; Yasmin Vanya of the Burmese American Women’s Alliance; and Maung Maung Latt, an exiled Minister of Parliament. AIUSA Field Organizer Kalaya’an Mendoza will emcee. A Burmese drum troupe will perform traditional music at the event.
The military rulers of Myanmar have jailed thousands of people in their continuing efforts to crush all dissenting views. Most prominent of those detained is Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has been the beacon of hope and change for nearly two decades in Myanmar. November 7, 2010, marks the first time the Myanmar government has held elections since 1990.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers who campaign for universal human rights from more than 150 countries. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
What: Solidarity March and Rally for Aung San Suu Kyi and the People of Myanmar
Who: Amnesty International USA and Burmese human rights defenders Where: U.C. Hastings (at the corner of Hyde and McAllister); march ends at the steps of San Francisco City Hall (1 Doctor Carlton B. Goodlett Place) When: Friday, November 5, 2010, 5:30 p.m. Rally and program begin at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall.”
Now, take a look at what Judicial Watch has “uncovered” in their release from this morning, below.
Basically, it says that Nancy travels around a lot under the rules set up under George W. Bush. Does this surprise you? Of course she’s required to fly on military aircraft in this post-9/11 world, so she flies on military a/c. Does this surprise you? And when she flew with a congressional delegation to Iraq, somebody on the plane drank, wait for it, beer! Does this surprise you? Would you like to know which brand? Corona! Does this surprise you? Now, did it come with a lime wedge? Natch! How could it not? But sadly, the report contains no confirmation regarding this important issue…
The crappy C20B military jet that Nancy Pelosi sometimes uses, with noisy, archaic low-bypass engines that would look comfortable hanging off a plane from the 1950′s. This thing is the K-Carof private jets. It’s older than you – it’s straight out of the 1970′s:
(Personally, I’d rather fly coach on JetBlue or the Virgin America. And that way I could land in the bay area at SFO or OAK instead of freaking Solano County, East of the East Bay)
Anyway, maybe I’m missing something so check my work by reading along right here. This report is just a nothing burger with a side-order of nada:
Judicial Watch Uncovers New Documents Detailing Pelosi’s Use of Air Force Aircraft
Records Indicate Pelosi Used Air Force Aircraft for 85 Trips Covering 206,264 Miles from March 2009 through June 2010
Pelosi’s Family Members Included on at least Two Flights
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 / –Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has obtained new documents from the United States Air Force detailing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s repeated use of United States Air Force aircraft. According to the documents, obtained by Judicial Watch through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Pelosi used Air Force aircraft on 85 flights from March 2009 through June 2010. Members of Pelosi’s family were guests on at least two flights.
Among the highlights from the documents, obtained pursuant to a FOIA request filed on January 25, 2009:
– Pelosi used the Air Force aircraft for a total of 85 trips, covering
206,264 miles, from March 2, 2009 through June 7, 2010. Pelosi, her
guests and Air Force personnel logged a total of 428.6 hours on these
flights.
– Members of Pelosi’s family were guests on at least two flights. On
June 20, 2009, Speaker Pelosi’s daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons
joined a flight from Andrews Air Force Base to San Francisco
International Air Port. That flight included $143 in on-flight
expenses for food and other items. On July 2, 2010, Pelosi took her
grandson on a flight from Andrews Air Force Base to Travis Air Force
Base in Fairfield, California, which is northeast of San Francisco.
According to previous documents uncovered by Judicial Watch, Speaker’s military travel cost the United States Air Force $2,100,744.59 over a two-year period – $101,429.14 of which was for in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol. For example, purchases for one Pelosi-led congressional delegation traveling from Washington, DC, through Tel Aviv, Israel to Baghdad, Iraq May 15-20, 2008 included: Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey’s Irish Creme, Maker’s Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewar’s scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey, Corona beer and several bottles of wine.
South San Francisco’s Solazyme has made good on its promise to deliver 1500 gallons of algae-based jet fuel to the U.S. Navy.
Will military jets like this F-18 Super Hornet soon be flying on algal fuel?
Looks that way, one of these days. And actually, aviation biofuels soon could be coming to an aircraft near you.
All the deets:
Solazyme Delivers 100% Algal-Derived Renewable Jet Fuel to U.S. Navy
Biotechnology Company Showcases Solajet(TM) HRJ-5 Jet Fuel at the World-famous Farnborough International Air Show in UK
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 18 — Solazyme, Inc. is helping the U.S. military move closer to powering its planes, ships, tanks and trucks on renewable fuel and has delivered of 1,500 gallons of 100% algae-based jet fuel for the U.S. Navy’s testing and certification program. The U.S. Navy has previously announced the objective to operate at least 50% of its fleet on clean, renewable fuel by 2020, and the delivery fulfills a contract awarded to Solazyme by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in September 2009.
Solazyme, a renewable oil and green bioproducts company and leader in algal biotechnology, manufactured the world’s first 100% algal-based jet fuel through its proprietary fermentation process in collaboration with renewable jet fuel processing technology from Honeywell’s UOP. Solazyme’s renewable Solajet(TM)HRJ-5 is designed to meet all of the requirements for Naval renewable aviation fuel. In preliminary tests, it also meets the fuel requirements of the U.S. Air Force and meets the standards for commercial jet fuel.
“It has been an honor to work with both the Navy and DESC/DLA to provide the first microbial derived advanced biojet fuel that will aid the military’s transition away from fossil fuel and toward more secure, renewable and reliable sources,” said Jonathan Wolfson, CEO, Solazyme. “The military has recognized the national security imperative of creating alternative energy solutions, and this project reflects their leadership and vision in supporting new ways to power our Department of Defense.”
Solazyme’s algal fuel technology will help the DoD reduce its carbon footprint, minimize reliance on foreign oil, combat global climate change and pioneer the development of clean and renewable energy sources for national energy security.
Verified through external lifecycle analyses, Solazyme’s fuels provide an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels. Prior to delivery to the Navy, the fuel was tested by an independent testing laboratory, and met all of the Navy’s 19 rigorous requirements for renewable hydrotreated jet fuel. In addition, the fuel meets the proposed ASTM D 7566 specification for Aviation Turbine Fuels containing synthesized hydrocarbons, which is a critical milestone for providing fuels not only for the military, but also for the civilian market.
About Solazyme:
Solazyme, Inc. is a renewable oil and bioproducts company and the leader in algal biotechnology. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in South San Francisco, Solazyme’s unique technology enables the production of oil and biomaterials in standard fermentation facilities quickly, efficiently and at large scale. These oils and biomaterials are tailored to be drop-in replacements for fossil fuel and plant oils, which are feedstocks for a diverse range of products ranging from fuels and chemicals to personal care products. Solazyme’s products offer compelling solutions to the increasingly complex challenges of fuel scarcity, energy security and environmental impact. These products fit seamlessly into the pre-existing multi-trillion dollar fuel infrastructure. Solazyme’s investors among others include Braemar Energy Ventures, Harris & Harris Group, Lightspeed VenturePartners, The Roda Group, and VantagePoint Venture Partners. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.solazyme.com/.
“Golden Guardian 2010 will be the sixth Full Scale Exercise (FSE) in the Governor’s Golden Guardian Exercise Series since 2004. The theme of Golden Guardian 2010 is terrorist attacks in multiple ports throughout California. The FSE will be aligned with the National Level Exercise, NLE10 (Improvised Nuclear Device in FEMA Region IX), and will take place over several days in May 2010.”
