A petition has been set up in the hopes that the ad will be dropped.

Iraqi oil production is above the levels seen before the US-led invasion of the country in 2003, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

And I assume we’re to believe the revenue is going to rebuild Iraq?

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has opened high-level talks at the climate change conference in Bali with a call to action.
He said that if no action was taken, the world would face impacts such as drought, famine and rising sea levels.

Delegates are hoping to agree a “Bali roadmap” leading to further cuts in greenhouse gas emissions when the Kyoto Protocol targets expire in 2012.

The US and Canada are among countries opposed to further binding targets.

Why be opposed to binding targets?
a) to avoid accountability
b) to avoid responsibility
c) to admit anything is “binding” is to relinquishment a sense of control.
d) duh, the needs of the natural world are not as important as the needs of our economic system
e) all of the above

This is the cutest animal I’ve ever seen. (BBC news video)

The Bush administration’s position, that technology, private investment and economic growth — rather than mandatory emissions cuts — will save the planet from global warming, is taking a beating this week at a U.N. climate change conference in Indonesia.

The conference in Bali is charged with launching negotiations that will eventually lead to an international accord to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on global warming.

My ass was wet all last weekend from riding in the rain. The rains are back this weekend (snow tomorrow?) and I finally broke down and bought a rear fender. I felt a little stupid spending 14 bucks on a piece of plastic that clips onto my seatpost, knowing full well that I could easily make one.

There are several different ways to create your own DIY fender. Last November, during a time when I was pretty hard up for cash—subsisting on apples I stole from neighbors trees—I made my own fender out of one of those gigantic plastic liquid detergent bottles.

It’s really easy: with a sharp knife, cut from the top of the bottle downward. Make sure you make measure the size of your tires and match the width of your fender accordingly. Keep cutting into the bottom of the bottle about three inches. With these three inches of flat plastic, simply zip tie it (multiple times) to your seat post. The same thing can be done with a milk carton, but the plastic of a laundry detergent bottle is significantly stronger.

If you’re worried about total wheel coverage, that will also protect your chain, etc., this guy demonstrates a way to make a fender with a coroplast campaign sign. You can order one of these for free from politicians or, better yet, swipe one from a neighbor you don’t like.

The following story actually took place last night. I’ve edited out the umms, uhs, hmms and other conversational faux-pas on my end that might make me sound stupid.

All weekend, it has been cold and rainy (but isn’t it gorgeous today?!). Instead of grading papers or working on my own stuff, I’ve been watching movies (by the way, go watch A Night on Earth and Paris, je T’aime). On my way to Hastings last night, I was pulled over by a cop; I was on my bike. I was tempted, of course, not to stop. But as the red and blue flashed off the icy road in front of me, I knew running that red light wouldn’t be a big deal and I’d probably slip and get a stupid injury trying to get away.

I ran the light on the south side of campus where the speed limit is 15 (on Knowles, the light you hit going west just before the University St. intersection). There is no traffic besides bikes and walkers that cross there. I slowed down, there was nobody coming so I kept riding. The cop must have been right behind me. My stopping proved to be worthwhile, I think, for both of us.

“Do you have your license with you? Or an ID?”
“No. I’m on my bike.” He wasn’t interested in my Hastings rental card.

The cop was actually pretty cool and totally understood why I did what I did. “I understand, it’s cold and windy and you’ve got your momentum built up. It’s just that we’ve been getting some complaints from motorists about bicyclists not following the traffic laws,” he said.

“Well the traffic laws were never designed with bicyclists in mind. There are actually a lot of biking organizations in this country working to change the laws. You’re right though; there are irresponsible bikers out there. There are a lot of irresponsible motorists as well.

He agreed and we continued to talk as he wrote me up a warning. He asked what laws I would change to accommodate bicyclists.

“I think, for a bicyclist, stop signs should be treated as yield signs—slowing and proceeding when and if it is safe—and stop lights should be treated as stop signs—bikers should come to a full stop and proceed when and if it is safe.”
“Which would still make you in the wrong back there, right?”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m ruining it for everyone!
“I can see it from both perspectives,” said the cop. “Sometimes it seems as though there is a battle going on between bikers and motorists. I understand it from both perspectives.”
I piped up immediately. “Lets be honest though, if everyone were out here on a bike, your job would be a lot easier.”
“Ain’t that the truth.”

Then there was a long pause: he finished writing as I looked at the traffic passing us by. I knew what a wanted to ask him.

“Can I ask you a question, just to satisfy my own curiosity?”
“Sure.”
“What would you have done if I simply kept riding? I mean, I know this area pretty well and I’m pretty quick on this thing. I could have got away if I wanted to.”
“Well honestly, you probably would have got away. I would have followed for as long as it were safe, but doing a big pursuit wouldn’t have been worth the risk.”

He went on to talk about the potential offenses I could have been cited with (i.e. fleeing, endangerment…etc), but also mentioned someone they did catch whom they released without charge. He thought for a second and concluded.
“I wouldn’t make this public information (so I will!), but yeah, there is a good chance nothing would happen to you.”

We each said thank you and goodnight; giggling to myself, I peddled away.