Eideard

Fraley’s Robot Repair is a fictional business set up as a public art installation. The Artist behind this installation is Toby Atticus Fraley, a multidisciplinary artist based in the Pittsburgh area.

This installation opened for a year long run on Duquesne Light Light Up Night®, November 18, 2011.

The shop depicts what appears to be a robot repair shop where the owners have left for vacation, leaving robots in various stages of repair, including one peering through the store windows longing for life in the outside world. The scene appears to be set in the future, where robot ownership is commonplace, with a 1950’s aesthetic. Interactive QR codes and a website allow smartphone and internet users a behind-the-scenes view of the creation of the art piece. Those who frequent the area will see the installation change and evolve over the course of the year…

The project seeks to dovetail recent investments in downtown by revitalizing and occupying vacant storefronts, making for a more attractive, safe and vibrant downtown corridor while adding to local economy.

Terrific idea. Eminently successful concept. Should be managed by someone like Ray Bradbury.

Thanks, Ursarodina

Fort Bragg has reached a truce of sorts with a group of Army atheists that opens the door for an event called Rock Beyond Belief on post next spring featuring music and speeches by noted secular humanists, including the writer Richard Dawkins .

On his Web site, Rockbeyondbelief.com, Sgt. Justin Griffith, the driving force behind the event, said this week that the post commander, Col. Stephen J. Sicinski, had authorized the group to hold the event on the post’s centrally located parade field, a major sticking point in earlier negotiations. Sergeant Griffith, who Fort Bragg officials said was currently deployed in Kuwait, said the event would be held March 31.

“This just might be the turning point in the foxhole atheist community’s struggle for acceptance, tolerance and respect,” Sergeant Griffith wrote on the Web site. “It’s an amazing time to be a nonbeliever in the U.S. military on the cusp of a major breakthrough.”

A spokesman for the fort, Benjamin Abel, confirmed that Colonel Sicinski had approved use of the parade field because Rock Beyond Belief had come up with enough money to pay for a stage, lighting, sound system and other expenses involved in setting up the grounds…Mr. Abel added that the fort would provide electricity, water and security for the event but not any direct financial assistance.

“This is not a Fort Bragg sponsored event,” he said. “We’re dealing with it the same as for other private organizations who have events on the installation.”

The idea behind Rock Beyond Belief began last year when the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association held an event at Fort Bragg called Rock the Fort. The base command, at the urging of its chaplains, provided some money and manpower for the event as well as a choice location on the parade field. Sergeant Griffith and other atheists at the post protested, arguing that the event was an Army-sponsored platform for the Graham organization to recruit converts, though the post command denied that…

Sergeant Griffith and other atheists in the military say their ultimate purpose is to gain acceptance within the Christian-dominated armed forces, including by winning the appointment of secular chaplains.

Amazing isn’t it? How long has it been since our freedoms were recognized by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Yet freedom from religion still takes political pressure and the threat of litigation for something as simple as an equal opportunity to address the public.

Rock on, folks. A little freedom of speech is a powerful thing.

Daylife/Reuters Pictures used by permission

Financier Warren Buffett has said the US government is generally taking the right steps to aid economic recovery. The legendary investor was speaking to 35,000 shareholders of his Berkshire Hathaway company at their annual general meeting in Omaha, Nebraska.

The value of Berkshire Hathaway’s investments fell by nearly 10% in the last year and Mr Buffett’s personal wealth shrank by $25 billion. He told the AGM he expected the company to make further losses this year.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Mr Buffett said it had been “a very extraordinary year” and the economy had experienced “a financial hurricane”.

“When the American public pulls back the way they have, the government does need to step in. It is the right thing to do, but it won’t be a free ride.”

But he said the government had reacted well, telling his investors: “Overall, I commend the actions that were taken…”

Berkshire’s range of investments are seen as a bellwether of the US economy.

Some people raised questions on the issue of appointing a successor for 78-year-old Mr Buffett.

But Mr Buffett told the meeting he would not name a successor to begin following him now as all candidates were already running businesses and those not appointed would possibly choose to leave the company, the Associated Press reported.

“It’d be a waste of talent. I don’t really see any advantages in having some crown prince around,” he said.

Know any investors who lost only 10% in the sub-prime meltdown? Even if you’re not an investor, did your “well-managed” 401K do as well?

I’m not here to give investment advice; but, some of the stocks I bought since I decided they were at or just above a bottom have increased in value 30% – or more – in the space of a few months.