You're my head, you're my heart.
Jordan. University of Texas at Austin.
Brilliant! Moscow finds a great rhythm and shows off its fine balance of historical landmarks with modern skyscrapers.
(Source: vimeo.com)
Interventionism helps no one.
Except the war profiteering military-industrial complex.
- the one where I’m out-going and loud.
- the one where I’m shy and quiet as fuck
- the one where I hate everyone and every little thing bothers me.
haha, too accurate.
(Source: tiffany-vu)
The Straw That Can Save Lives
Danish water purification company Vestergaard Frandsen’s latest development could very possibly save millions of lives of those who struggle to find and produce clean water.
Their invention is the LifeStraw, a low-tech, low-hassle personal water filter that enables the user to simply stick one end into a water source of questionable cleanliness, such as a river, and suck. Several layers within the straw manage to filter out 99% of bacteria and viruses. Previously, people of areas with little clean water would be forced to boil water to ensure its safety, using up other resources in the process. With this invention, little maintenance would be required, and it could last for a year or two.
In addition to the personal filter, the company has developed a LifeStraw Family, which uses gravity rather than suction to filter water. By hanging this up in their homes and filling it with water, families would be able to open the bottom for clean, safe water.
These products do, however, have their limitations. While 99% of pathogens are removed, the filter is unable to prevent Giardia Lamblia from entering the filtered water, as this particular parasite is too small for the filters. The company is diligently working on a solution to this problem. Another potential problem is availability, since Vestergaard Frandsen is a small, struggling company that cannot quite afford to give out too many handouts.
Hopefully these problems can be overcome, as this product, in its current state, and especially once perfected, has the potential for aiding many who need it most.
Texans for Israel, College Republicans, and CAMERA co-ordinated to bring IDF Sgt. Benjamin Anthony to give a talk at the University of Texas at Austin on January 26th, 2012 inside a small, dimly lit room with highly restricted media privileges (no photos, video, cell phones, or camcorders). Anticipating dissent, the presenters announced that disruptions and would not be tolerated and as per University policy, three warnings would be given to violators before being escorted out. In hindsight, this was incredibly generous but not necessary.
In my opinion, the choice of hosting the event inside a dimly lit black box room was an obvious attempt at masking the audience. Despite these attempts, the UT PSC and their supporters were successful in making their presence known. Here we see one man out of approximately 15 people who stood up during Sgt. Anthony’s speech and silently placed a black hood over his head (more joined in after the initial photo). The front of his shirt, like the others, had the name of a Palestinian child killed by the IDF. Their silhouettes against the bright lights was a visually chilling sight, and a reminder of the Palestinian casualties who we refuse to forget.
The effect was astounding. Reportedly, Anthony’s security team wanted to respond but were verbally held back by University police because this type of dissent fell within the guidelines of allowed behavior for the event.
Somewhere between half and two-thirds of the room walked out after all the hooded protestors stood up. Outside, they held a sign stating “THESE ARE THE NAMES OF JUST A FEW OF THE 1,472 PALESTINIAN CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY THE IDF SINCE 2000”, chanted “Free, Free Palestine”, and left a stack of papers with the names of the children at the check-in table.
Inside, hooded protestors remained standing for the entire duration of Sgt. Benjamin Anthony’s speech.
