25 July 2011

See one of the Men behind the Computer that won Jeopardy!


The principle investigator on the Waston project, which build the computer that beat Ken Jennings at Jeopardy! will be giving a colloquium at Fermilab on Wednesay, July 27 at 4pm in Wilson Hall, room One West. Let me know if you are interested in coming.

09 July 2011

One of the benefits of being on swing shift is seeing beautiful sunsets...


...he has set a tent for the sun,
     which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
     and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
     and its circuit to the end of them,
     and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

06 July 2011

I want to be able to bike to church. (mailed July 5, 2011)

Commissioner Thomas Van Cleave
Forest Preserve District of Kane County
1996 South Kirk Road, Suite 320
Geneva, IL 60134


Dear Commissioner Van Cleave:
As a resident of Batavia and an avid bicyclist, I am writing to ask about a possible extension to the bike trails which intersect at the corner of Kirk Rd. and Fabyan Parkway in Geneva.  Would it be possible to construct an extension from that corner to the parking lot of the Fox Valley Ice Arena?  This extension would allow a cyclist to ride to Cherry Lane from the south without needing to ride on Kirk Rd. or walk through knee-high grass and thistles along sections of Kirk.  
This is of interest to me and multiple other members of The Well, which is a church congregation that has recently begun sharing the Fox Valley Church of God building on the corner of Kirk and Cherry.  Several of us would like to be able to bike to church on Sunday mornings. We have even discussed having a “Bike to Church Sunday.”  However, there is currently no safe or convenient bicycle route, and the extension I have suggested would complete one from the south.
I realize that such a suggestion would require considerable money and time, so if such a trail extension is impractical at present, it would still be helpful if the grass on the west side of Kirk Road could be kept short enough to make walking though it practical.  Thank you for your time and consideration.



Sincerely,



Luke Corwin

Ask Your Senators To Support the TVPRA

I called both of my senators today.

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Justice Campaigns - TVPRA Justice Campaigns - TVPRA Photo
Dear Friend,
On June 29, 2011, a bill called the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Leahy (VT), Brown (MA), Kerry (MA), Boxer (CA), Cardin (MD), and Wyden (OR).
This bi-partisan legislation is critical - it will renew the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which established the State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, authorized the annual Trafficking in Persons report, and established human trafficking as a punishable crime here in the U.S.
Abolitionists around the country are calling on Congress to pass the TVPRA quickly. Will you join us? Thank you for your support!
Gratefully,
Eileen Campbell
Director of Justice Campaigns
P.S. Stay tuned for updates on the introduction of the TVPRA in the U.S. House of Representatives!
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IJM - International Justice Mission
www.ijm.org | PO Box 58147, Washington, DC 20037
All text and images © 2011 International Justice Mission.

One Reason I Enjoy Giving Tours of the MINOS Underground Area

Date: Wed, 18 May 2011 17:11:53 -0500 (CDT) [18 May 2011 05:11:53 PM CDT]
...
Subject: thanks!

Dear Aria, Art, Zeynep and Luke,
Thanks so much for the tunnel tour Friday at MINOS.  I totally love going down there and I really appreciate your time and patience with my science writing students so they can love it too.  I am endlessly fascinated by the concept of sending neutrinos through a tunnel and then the Earth to Minnesota...I don't think there'll ever be a day when I'm not amazed.  You do a wonderful job making the science accessible and explaining what goes on in the tunnel.  Then there are those elephant doors....
The students told me afterward they thought the tour was awesome...they even liked your elevator.
I look forward to visiting again.
All the best,
Donna