Yesterday the site was down from early in the morning until THIS morning at 8:12am. You can always find out the status of the site by going to http://status.cementhorizon.com. This will work even when the site is down.

I have, in the past, been unconvinced that people had a personal responsibility when it came to what job they choose to do. I wasn't sure one way or the other. The obvious example being whether the executioner has a responsibility to refuse to do his job in that it is amoral, doesn't overly compel me as valid or bunk. I've recently changed my mind on this based on two phenomena.

For the first, I'll provide a bit of backstory. I work across the street from the US Government Federal Buildings in Oakland. Entities in these buildings have fleets of cars that they use to do whatever it is they do. Most days when I arrive at work later than 8, and park in the parking garage, I'll see, just on my walk to the elevator at least 2 or 3 people, in these government cars, in the parking garage, parked, with the engine running, listening to music. At first I thought this was some kind of fluke, but it's fairly consistent. As far as I can tell, these people are hanging out in running cars in a garage because they can and it means they don't have to work. The gas doesn't cost them anything.

The second is that I often see, as you probably do too, people with the gasoline engine backpack and the blower, blowing leaves around some massive corporate landscape project. It seems every corporate office park has this these days, and downtown Oakland is no exception.

I guess my thoughts are that when one ends up in these types of situations, where this is part of what one does every day, that there has to be a point where the individual stops and says, "This is wrong. I'm not going to do it anymore." I guess the part where it gets tough is the line where this is appropriate, since we all, well no, many of us, exist on this gradient, I mean I do. What I do is wrong, I feel just less so in degree.

How to visit an inmate in a California prison.

... An inmate and his/her visitor(s) are allowed to
briefly embrace and kiss at the beginning and end of their visit. An inmate may hold his or her minor
children. Inmates may also hold minor children accompanied by an adult. Children are to remain
under the direct supervision and control of the visiting parent or guardian at all times. Holding hands
on top of the table in plain view is permitted, with no other physical contact. Excessive contact,
(kissing, massaging, stroking, and sitting with legs intertwined or sitting on laps) could result in
termination of the visit. Nursing mothers shall be discreet and covered when breast-feeding their baby
in the visiting area. Failure to do so may result in termination of visiting for that day. ...