House Heavyweight Feels Threat to Power April 25
In the weeks since the news that prosecutors had raided the offices of the PMA Group — a lobbying firm founded by a former Murtha associate that became a gateway to his office and his biggest source of campaign money — about two dozen rank-and-file Democrats have risked his wrath by calling for a House ethics investigation of the matter
Now Mr. Murtha also agreed to accept a new rule requiring competitive bidding on earmarked contracts. Furthermore, one of his usual lieutenants — Representative Peter J. Visclosky, Democrat of Indiana and member of the defense subcommittee who is chairman of the energy and water panel — unexpectedly switched sides to back the new restrictions, perhaps because he too is under new scrutiny for his ties to the PMA Group.
And in a recent meeting with the secretary, Mr. Murtha pushed a plan to divide a $35 billion contract to build a new airborne refueling tanker between two rival contractors — a compromise that pleases both but would cost the government much more. Mr. Gates listened with little response, several people briefed on their conversation said, but he later dismissed it.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
New York Times Article 6
Without Superfund Tax, Stimulus Aids Cleanup April 25
Environmental Protection Agency officials and environmentalists say the Superfund program has been chronically underfinanced since a tax that supported it expired in 1995.
The government is spending $600 million in stimulus money to work on sites like the defunct arsenic-fouled Vineland Chemical Company
Ronald Naman, the E.P.A. manager for the Vineland site, said the new money would create or save about 20 jobs and allow the current phase of the cleanup to be completed in as little as two years rather than four.
President Obama wants to restore the tax and assumes it will provide $1 billion in revenues for his 2011 budget.
Environmental Protection Agency officials and environmentalists say the Superfund program has been chronically underfinanced since a tax that supported it expired in 1995.
The government is spending $600 million in stimulus money to work on sites like the defunct arsenic-fouled Vineland Chemical Company
Ronald Naman, the E.P.A. manager for the Vineland site, said the new money would create or save about 20 jobs and allow the current phase of the cleanup to be completed in as little as two years rather than four.
President Obama wants to restore the tax and assumes it will provide $1 billion in revenues for his 2011 budget.
New York Times Article 5
As Nations Try to Contain Flu, N.Y. cases are confirmed April 26
Cases were confirmed in Queens, N.Y. of the swine flu that has been spreading in Mexico. 81 people have been confirmed dead in Mexico with the outbreak originating in Mexico City.
Governments issued travel restrictions urging people not to travel to Mexico.
All of the cases confirmed in N.Y. have been mild so far, but without a known treatment for the disease and unclear answers as to how it spreads, extreme precautions are being carried out.
Hong Kong issued extreme measures on travel. Any person entering Hong Kong from Mexico with a fever or respiratory illness will be immediately detained.
So far there have been no deaths in the U.S. due to the new outbreak of swine flu
Cases were confirmed in Queens, N.Y. of the swine flu that has been spreading in Mexico. 81 people have been confirmed dead in Mexico with the outbreak originating in Mexico City.
Governments issued travel restrictions urging people not to travel to Mexico.
All of the cases confirmed in N.Y. have been mild so far, but without a known treatment for the disease and unclear answers as to how it spreads, extreme precautions are being carried out.
Hong Kong issued extreme measures on travel. Any person entering Hong Kong from Mexico with a fever or respiratory illness will be immediately detained.
So far there have been no deaths in the U.S. due to the new outbreak of swine flu
New York Times Article 4
Policy Agenda Poses Test for Rusty Legislative Machinery April 5
The ambitious policy agenda will test whether congress can shake the rust ffrom its legislative machinery.
Congress has not managed to produce its basic spending bills on time in recent years and has spent considerable energy dealing with recurring tax and Medicare issues.
Many are wondering if Congress is up to the task of completeing and taking this agressive policy agenda head on. The budgets approved by the House and Senate last week need to be reconciled for a final vote and this is only the first step in producing the related legislation.
One concern is that simple matters of logistics can slow progress and the calendar can get away from Congress. Another concern is the extent Republicans will be enganged in trying to produce any bills.
The ambitious policy agenda will test whether congress can shake the rust ffrom its legislative machinery.
Congress has not managed to produce its basic spending bills on time in recent years and has spent considerable energy dealing with recurring tax and Medicare issues.
Many are wondering if Congress is up to the task of completeing and taking this agressive policy agenda head on. The budgets approved by the House and Senate last week need to be reconciled for a final vote and this is only the first step in producing the related legislation.
One concern is that simple matters of logistics can slow progress and the calendar can get away from Congress. Another concern is the extent Republicans will be enganged in trying to produce any bills.
New York Times Article 3
Obama to Loosen Restrictions on Policy with Cuba April 5
Obama plans to abandon restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba. The House and Senate are considering legislation that would allow all Americans unlimited travel to Cuba.
Obama, however, is not expected to lift the trade embargo which calls for Congressional approval.
Cuban-Americans as of now, are allowed to travel once a year to the island to visit close relatives. Support for these changes has been growing in the U.S. and Latin America.
Obama plans to abandon restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba. The House and Senate are considering legislation that would allow all Americans unlimited travel to Cuba.
Obama, however, is not expected to lift the trade embargo which calls for Congressional approval.
Cuban-Americans as of now, are allowed to travel once a year to the island to visit close relatives. Support for these changes has been growing in the U.S. and Latin America.
New York Times Article 2
Pentagon Weighs Cuts and Revisions of Weapons April 4
The Army's expensive Future combat Systems and exotic missile defense programs are likely to be cut back.
These changes are the first step in the reshaping of the military under the Obama administration. Robert M. Gates, the secretary of defense is expected to announce the changes on Monday. Although he is not disclosing details of the changes yet he did make it clear of his intention to take a "hatchet" to troubled high-tech programs designed for fighting countries like China or Russia. This in turn would help free up money for simpler systems.
Gates is likely to cut 1 to 2 billion dollars from missile defense programs. Focusing the budget on systems to protect soldiers from short range missiles.
These proposals will go to the White House and a budget will be sent to Congress in May.
The Army's expensive Future combat Systems and exotic missile defense programs are likely to be cut back.
These changes are the first step in the reshaping of the military under the Obama administration. Robert M. Gates, the secretary of defense is expected to announce the changes on Monday. Although he is not disclosing details of the changes yet he did make it clear of his intention to take a "hatchet" to troubled high-tech programs designed for fighting countries like China or Russia. This in turn would help free up money for simpler systems.
Gates is likely to cut 1 to 2 billion dollars from missile defense programs. Focusing the budget on systems to protect soldiers from short range missiles.
These proposals will go to the White House and a budget will be sent to Congress in May.
New York Times Article 1
North Korea Launches Rocket April 6
North Korea Launched a Rocket despite warnings from U.S.. North Korea claimed that it was a satellite they were launching but suspicions were high.
The Rocket flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific Ocean. The rocket, from reports from the Japanese prime ministers office, indicated it flew farther than any the north had tested before.
The launch drew swift international condemnation and prompted the U.N. security council to have an emergency meeting. Britain, France, and the European Union all criticized North Korea for raising tensions.
Obama is now being tested on his reactions to provocation and his strategy to counter proliferation threats.
North Korea Launched a Rocket despite warnings from U.S.. North Korea claimed that it was a satellite they were launching but suspicions were high.
The Rocket flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific Ocean. The rocket, from reports from the Japanese prime ministers office, indicated it flew farther than any the north had tested before.
The launch drew swift international condemnation and prompted the U.N. security council to have an emergency meeting. Britain, France, and the European Union all criticized North Korea for raising tensions.
Obama is now being tested on his reactions to provocation and his strategy to counter proliferation threats.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
More Info on the Future of Green! DOE
I'm putting this article on here for anyone who wants to know more about Algae Biofuels or thought i was crazy.
Algae: Biofuel Of The Future?
ScienceDaily (Aug. 19, 2008) — In the world of alternative fuels, there may be nothing greener than pond scum.
Algae are tiny biological factories that use photosynthesis to transform carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy so efficiently that they can double their weight several times a day.
As part of the photosynthesis process algae produce oil and can generate 15 times more oil per acre than other plants used for biofuels, such as corn and switchgrass. Algae can grow in salt water, freshwater or even contaminated water, at sea or in ponds, and on land not suitable for food production.
On top of those advantages, algae — at least in theory — should grow even better when fed extra carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) and organic material like sewage. If so, algae could produce biofuel while cleaning up other problems.
"We have to prove these two things to show that we really are getting a free lunch," said Lisa Colosi, a professor of civil and environmental engineering who is part of an interdisciplinary University of Virginia research team, recently funded by a new U.Va. Collaborative Sustainable Energy Seed Grant worth about $30,000.
With the grant, the team will try to determine exactly how promising algae biofuel production can be by tweaking the inputs of carbon dioxide and organic matter to increase algae oil yields.
Scientific interest in producing fuel from algae has been around since the 1950s, Colosi said. The U.S. Department of Energy did pioneering research on it from 1978 to 1996. Most previous and current research on algae biofuel, she said, has used the algae in a manner similar to its natural state — essentially letting it grow in water with just the naturally occurring inputs of atmospheric carbon dioxide and sunlight. This approach results in a rather low yield of oil — about 1 percent by weight of the algae.
The U.Va. team hypothesizes that feeding the algae more carbon dioxide and organic material could boost the oil yield to as much as 40 percent by weight, Colosi said.
Proving that the algae can thrive with increased inputs of either carbon dioxide or untreated sewage solids will confirm its industrial ecology possibilities — to help with wastewater treatment, where dealing with solids is one of the most expensive challenges, or to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, such as coal power-plant flue gas, which contains about 10 to 30 times as much carbon dioxide as normal air.
"The main principle of industrial ecology is to try and use our waste products to produce something of value," Colosi said.
Research partner Mark White, a professor at the McIntire School of Commerce, will help the team quantify the big-picture environmental and economic benefits of algae biofuel compared to soy-based biodiesel, under three different sets of assumptions.
White will examine the economic benefits of algae fuel if the nation instituted a carbon cap-and-trade system, which would increase the monetary value of algae's ability to dispose of carbon dioxide. He will also consider how algae fuel economics would be impacted if there were increased nitrogen regulations (since algae can also remove nitrogen from air or water), or if oil prices rise to a prohibitive level.
The third team member is Andres Clarens, a professor of civil and environmental engineering with expertise in separating the oil produced by the algae.
The team will experiment on a very small scale — a few liters of algae at a time. They will seek to optimize the oil output by using a pragmatic engineering approach, testing basic issues like whether it makes a difference to grind up the organic material before feeding it to the algae.
Wastewater solids and algae, either dead or alive, are on the menu. "We're looking at dumping the whole dinner on top of them and seeing what happens," Colosi said.
Some of these pragmatic issues may have been tackled already by the various private companies, including oil industry giants Chevron and Shell, which are already researching algae fuel, but a published scientific report on these fundamentals will be a major benefit to other researchers looking into algae biofuel.
Published evidence of improved algae oil output might spur significant follow-up efforts by public and private sectors, since the fundamentals of this technology are so appealing, Colosi said. Research successes would also open the door to larger grants from agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy, and could be immediately applicable to the handful of pilot-scale algae biofuel facilities recently funded by Shell and start-up firms.
Algae: Biofuel Of The Future?
ScienceDaily (Aug. 19, 2008) — In the world of alternative fuels, there may be nothing greener than pond scum.
Algae are tiny biological factories that use photosynthesis to transform carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy so efficiently that they can double their weight several times a day.
As part of the photosynthesis process algae produce oil and can generate 15 times more oil per acre than other plants used for biofuels, such as corn and switchgrass. Algae can grow in salt water, freshwater or even contaminated water, at sea or in ponds, and on land not suitable for food production.
On top of those advantages, algae — at least in theory — should grow even better when fed extra carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) and organic material like sewage. If so, algae could produce biofuel while cleaning up other problems.
"We have to prove these two things to show that we really are getting a free lunch," said Lisa Colosi, a professor of civil and environmental engineering who is part of an interdisciplinary University of Virginia research team, recently funded by a new U.Va. Collaborative Sustainable Energy Seed Grant worth about $30,000.
With the grant, the team will try to determine exactly how promising algae biofuel production can be by tweaking the inputs of carbon dioxide and organic matter to increase algae oil yields.
Scientific interest in producing fuel from algae has been around since the 1950s, Colosi said. The U.S. Department of Energy did pioneering research on it from 1978 to 1996. Most previous and current research on algae biofuel, she said, has used the algae in a manner similar to its natural state — essentially letting it grow in water with just the naturally occurring inputs of atmospheric carbon dioxide and sunlight. This approach results in a rather low yield of oil — about 1 percent by weight of the algae.
The U.Va. team hypothesizes that feeding the algae more carbon dioxide and organic material could boost the oil yield to as much as 40 percent by weight, Colosi said.
Proving that the algae can thrive with increased inputs of either carbon dioxide or untreated sewage solids will confirm its industrial ecology possibilities — to help with wastewater treatment, where dealing with solids is one of the most expensive challenges, or to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, such as coal power-plant flue gas, which contains about 10 to 30 times as much carbon dioxide as normal air.
"The main principle of industrial ecology is to try and use our waste products to produce something of value," Colosi said.
Research partner Mark White, a professor at the McIntire School of Commerce, will help the team quantify the big-picture environmental and economic benefits of algae biofuel compared to soy-based biodiesel, under three different sets of assumptions.
White will examine the economic benefits of algae fuel if the nation instituted a carbon cap-and-trade system, which would increase the monetary value of algae's ability to dispose of carbon dioxide. He will also consider how algae fuel economics would be impacted if there were increased nitrogen regulations (since algae can also remove nitrogen from air or water), or if oil prices rise to a prohibitive level.
The third team member is Andres Clarens, a professor of civil and environmental engineering with expertise in separating the oil produced by the algae.
The team will experiment on a very small scale — a few liters of algae at a time. They will seek to optimize the oil output by using a pragmatic engineering approach, testing basic issues like whether it makes a difference to grind up the organic material before feeding it to the algae.
Wastewater solids and algae, either dead or alive, are on the menu. "We're looking at dumping the whole dinner on top of them and seeing what happens," Colosi said.
Some of these pragmatic issues may have been tackled already by the various private companies, including oil industry giants Chevron and Shell, which are already researching algae fuel, but a published scientific report on these fundamentals will be a major benefit to other researchers looking into algae biofuel.
Published evidence of improved algae oil output might spur significant follow-up efforts by public and private sectors, since the fundamentals of this technology are so appealing, Colosi said. Research successes would also open the door to larger grants from agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy, and could be immediately applicable to the handful of pilot-scale algae biofuel facilities recently funded by Shell and start-up firms.
Stimulus Tax Breaks for you!
The new stimulus plan will provide tax breaks for working americans....97% in fact!The average amount saved would be $1,170. The law, which President Obama signed on Tuesday, contains a range of tax breaks for individuals. Those likely to affect the greatest number of households are the new Making Work Pay credit worth up to $400 ($800 for joint filers); a patch to protect middle- and upper-middle-income families from having to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax; and expansions of the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit for low-income families.
There are also breaks that address specific situations: a new credit for first-time home buyers, a sales tax deduction for car buyers and a new credit to help pay for college tuition. For people receiving unemployment benefits, the first $2,400 will be tax free.
The Treasury Department has told employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks by April 1. Treasury estimates that a typical family will begin taking home about $65 more per month, according to Obama.
A quote I found on CNN quotes Obama saying, TAX SAVINGS
How households may fare under the economic recovery plan.
Income Avg. tax savings Drop in tax bite
Under $19K $476 -95%
$19K-$38K $652 -22%
$38K-$66K $781 -9%
$66K-$112K $1,301 -7.5%
$112K-$161K $2,549 -8.3%
$161K-$227K $3,883 -8.3%
$227K-$603K $5,133 -5.7%
$2.8M plus $39,350 -1.4%
Source:The Tax Policy Center
The stock market's lost decade
More Videos
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Roughly 97% of American households could see tax savings as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to a new analysis by a nonpartisan research group.
The Tax Policy Center crunched the numbers and concluded that the average savings would be $1,179. But how much a household actually gets depends on income, marital status and whether a filer has children. The savings range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.
The law, which President Obama signed on Tuesday, contains a range of tax breaks for individuals. Those likely to affect the greatest number of households are the new Making Work Pay credit worth up to $400 ($800 for joint filers); a patch to protect middle- and upper-middle-income families from having to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax; and expansions of the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit for low-income families.
There are also breaks that address specific situations: a new credit for first-time home buyers, a sales tax deduction for car buyers and a new credit to help pay for college tuition. For people receiving unemployment benefits, the first $2,400 will be tax free.
On Saturday, Obama said the government had already taken action on the broadest of the law's cuts -- the Making Work Pay.
The Treasury Department has told employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks by April 1. Treasury estimates that a typical family will begin taking home about $65 more per month, according to Obama,"Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans."
Let's hope that this package has what it takes to get the ball rolling again on a stronger consumer economoy!
There are also breaks that address specific situations: a new credit for first-time home buyers, a sales tax deduction for car buyers and a new credit to help pay for college tuition. For people receiving unemployment benefits, the first $2,400 will be tax free.
The Treasury Department has told employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks by April 1. Treasury estimates that a typical family will begin taking home about $65 more per month, according to Obama.
A quote I found on CNN quotes Obama saying, TAX SAVINGS
How households may fare under the economic recovery plan.
Income Avg. tax savings Drop in tax bite
Under $19K $476 -95%
$19K-$38K $652 -22%
$38K-$66K $781 -9%
$66K-$112K $1,301 -7.5%
$112K-$161K $2,549 -8.3%
$161K-$227K $3,883 -8.3%
$227K-$603K $5,133 -5.7%
$2.8M plus $39,350 -1.4%
Source:The Tax Policy Center
The stock market's lost decade
More Videos
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Roughly 97% of American households could see tax savings as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to a new analysis by a nonpartisan research group.
The Tax Policy Center crunched the numbers and concluded that the average savings would be $1,179. But how much a household actually gets depends on income, marital status and whether a filer has children. The savings range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand.
The law, which President Obama signed on Tuesday, contains a range of tax breaks for individuals. Those likely to affect the greatest number of households are the new Making Work Pay credit worth up to $400 ($800 for joint filers); a patch to protect middle- and upper-middle-income families from having to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax; and expansions of the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit for low-income families.
There are also breaks that address specific situations: a new credit for first-time home buyers, a sales tax deduction for car buyers and a new credit to help pay for college tuition. For people receiving unemployment benefits, the first $2,400 will be tax free.
On Saturday, Obama said the government had already taken action on the broadest of the law's cuts -- the Making Work Pay.
The Treasury Department has told employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from paychecks by April 1. Treasury estimates that a typical family will begin taking home about $65 more per month, according to Obama,"Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans."
Let's hope that this package has what it takes to get the ball rolling again on a stronger consumer economoy!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
New Commerce Secretary and more Bipartisanship
Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire has accepted Obama's proposal of being the next commerce secretary! Increasing this new concept of bipartisanship in Washington. Gregg is known for being fiscally conservative. With another open seat in congress, New Hampshire's governor could have given that seat to another democrat which would have increased the democratic majority to 60.Gregg said he would not give up his seat if it meant it would change the balance in senate. However, the governor will replace Gregg with another republican, Gregg's chief of staff, Bonnie Newman. Newman worked in the White house during the Bush administration and was an assistant commerce secretary during the Reagan administration.
So okay now let's get things started! Hopefully this bipartisanship concept works in our favor!
So okay now let's get things started! Hopefully this bipartisanship concept works in our favor!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
DISTURBING!
I found this current event as well.... hmmmm. Disturbing.
A suspect in police custody calls himself a "stewmaker" for a Mexican drug lord, saying he disposed of about 300 bodies by dissolving them in acid.
Santiago Meza Lopez has asked for forgiveness from the families of those he says he targeted.
Santiago Meza Lopez was arrested Thursday in Ensenada, Baja California, but it took police 24 hours to identify him. He says he works for drug lord Teodoro Garcia Simental, also known as "el Teo," a powerful drug trafficker.
Meza, who is shown handcuffed and flanked by guards in video released by the government, calls himself "Teo's stewmaker" and says he was paid $600 a week for his macabre duties. The victims, he said, were men who owed Garcia something or had betrayed him.
A native of Guamuchil, Sinaloa, Meza was arrested along with three other people, including a minor female who said she was contracted for a social event. Other people sought by police were in the area at the time but were able to escape, officials said.
Now, Meza is asking for forgiveness.
"To the families, please forgive me," he said in the video.
Mexican police have not specifically said whether they believe that all elements of Meza's story are credible.
He has told police where he buried some of the bodies.
Now authorities, along with citizens groups and the families of the disappeared, are searching for them.
They hope Meza could have information about the location of their friends and relatives.
Authorities say Garcia formed part of the Arellano Felix cartel but is currently said by intelligence sources to be operating with the Sinaloa cartel.
Officials say seven brothers and four sisters of the Arellano-Felix family inherited the Tijuana, Mexico-based drug cartel from Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo in 1989, after his arrest for drug trafficking.
Today, the notorious cartel is split into two factions that have engaged in brutal fighting that has accounted for nearly all the violence in Tijuana, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. More than 400 people were killed last year in drug-related violence.
Eduardo Arellano-Felix, who police said was the last remaining brother to have an active role in the cartel, was arrested in October.
I don't really know what to say about this one besides it may be one of the most disturbing ways i can think of to get rid of bodies and I really never would want this job you could never pay me enough. Well I hope I can sleep tonight!
A suspect in police custody calls himself a "stewmaker" for a Mexican drug lord, saying he disposed of about 300 bodies by dissolving them in acid.
Santiago Meza Lopez has asked for forgiveness from the families of those he says he targeted.
Santiago Meza Lopez was arrested Thursday in Ensenada, Baja California, but it took police 24 hours to identify him. He says he works for drug lord Teodoro Garcia Simental, also known as "el Teo," a powerful drug trafficker.
Meza, who is shown handcuffed and flanked by guards in video released by the government, calls himself "Teo's stewmaker" and says he was paid $600 a week for his macabre duties. The victims, he said, were men who owed Garcia something or had betrayed him.
A native of Guamuchil, Sinaloa, Meza was arrested along with three other people, including a minor female who said she was contracted for a social event. Other people sought by police were in the area at the time but were able to escape, officials said.
Now, Meza is asking for forgiveness.
"To the families, please forgive me," he said in the video.
Mexican police have not specifically said whether they believe that all elements of Meza's story are credible.
He has told police where he buried some of the bodies.
Now authorities, along with citizens groups and the families of the disappeared, are searching for them.
They hope Meza could have information about the location of their friends and relatives.
Authorities say Garcia formed part of the Arellano Felix cartel but is currently said by intelligence sources to be operating with the Sinaloa cartel.
Officials say seven brothers and four sisters of the Arellano-Felix family inherited the Tijuana, Mexico-based drug cartel from Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo in 1989, after his arrest for drug trafficking.
Today, the notorious cartel is split into two factions that have engaged in brutal fighting that has accounted for nearly all the violence in Tijuana, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. More than 400 people were killed last year in drug-related violence.
Eduardo Arellano-Felix, who police said was the last remaining brother to have an active role in the cartel, was arrested in October.
I don't really know what to say about this one besides it may be one of the most disturbing ways i can think of to get rid of bodies and I really never would want this job you could never pay me enough. Well I hope I can sleep tonight!
Mock Congresss
I thought that our experiment of pretending to be members of congress was interesting. It was a good way to better learn and understand how to make a bill a law and the extensive process it goes through. I was a representative from Colorado (D). I was also on the education committee and although my bill didn't make it to the final cutting block I think that during the senate discussion we passed some good bills. It was fun debating with others on why one bill should become a law or shooting down others. I liked this hands on approach to teaching much more than reading the process out of the book. Kate made a great Speaker of the House and I can see her as the next Nancy Pelosi! But what would be really awesome is if we could have this test in a couple days..... :)
Current Event - Murder confession!
I was looking around for a current event and found one i thought was pretty interesting! Read it for yourself.
-Two months before dying, a Virginia woman confessed to killing two women nearly 42 years ago, authorities said Friday, telling police she shot the women because they had taunted her for being a lesbian.
Constance Smootz Hevener, 19, was shot to death at an ice cream shop where she worked in 1967.
Sharron Diane Crawford Smith, 60, confessed in a November 28 interview to shooting the women at a Staunton ice cream store in 1967, authorities said.
"I was just pushed so far," Smith said, according to a transcript of a police interview.
Smith was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Constance Smootz Hevener, 19, and Hevener's 20-year-old sister-in-law, Carolyn Hevener Perry, according to CNN affiliate WVIR.
But health problems forced a postponement of a December court date, WVIR said, and Smith, who had heart and kidney problems, died January 19.
Authorities on Friday said they consider Smith the guilty party and are working toward closing the case.
In a transcript of the police interview, Smith told police she and the women worked at High's Ice Cream. The night of the shooting, she went to the store to tell the women she could not work the next day and took her .25-caliber pistol with her.
"I was just going to tell them that I couldn't work and one thing led to another."
She acknowledged that teasing "about my lifestyle" had gone on for a while.
Asked how the victims knew about it, she said, "How do kids find out about anything? I mean, it was really unusual back then."
She also said her stepfather had sexually abused her, but refused to elaborate on whether that played a role in the shootings or helped push her "over the edge."
"I don't know. I'm not trying to psychoanalyze it," she said.
In other interviews with police, Smith said that she got into a physical altercation with Hevener at the store, which was consistent with evidence at the crime scene, Commonwealth Attorney Raymond Robertson said. Bruises on Hevener's body were inconsistent with injuries that would have resulted from a fall after being shot, he told reporters.
"She expressed shame in herself. I never saw any tears. She expressed her concern for the family members [of the victims], as to bringing closure to this case," police investigator Mike King said.
Smith told police she acted alone, authorities said. But Staunton Police Chief Jim Williams said questions about the case remain.
"There will likely be questions surrounding this case we will never be able to answer," he said.
One of those questions was the whereabouts of the murder weapon, but a late development Friday may have solved that mystery.
In the November interview, Smith told police she gave the weapon to a detective on the police force in 1967, David Bocock, and that he buried it.
"He just said that it was sort of dangerous to have a gun, you could hurt somebody," Smith said, according to the transcript. "He said, 'I'll fix it for you if you want.' I figured it was the best thing to do."
It was unclear whether Bocock, who died in 2006, knew of Smith's involvement in the murders. The two knew each other, as Bocock taught Smith to shoot, but authorities said they were still investigating the relationship and whether Bocock was trying to cover for Smith.
Later Friday, the Staunton News-Leader newspaper reported its circulation manager had turned over to police a .25-caliber automatic handgun.
Kathy Myers told the newspaper that Bocock gave the gun to her now-deceased husband, a former Staunton police officer, in 1981, telling him, "Don't let anybody know I gave this to you."
Myers said she forgot she had the gun until she saw the police news conference Friday, and turned it over to authorities.
I guess better to solve a case late than never. I think if I were the victims family I would be happy to finally have the answers but it would anger me that the murderer had kept that quiet until right before her death. Maybe she was ridding her mind of guilt before she passed. I just think it's really interesting when a case has to be put off and then it is finally solved someday in the future!
-Two months before dying, a Virginia woman confessed to killing two women nearly 42 years ago, authorities said Friday, telling police she shot the women because they had taunted her for being a lesbian.
Constance Smootz Hevener, 19, was shot to death at an ice cream shop where she worked in 1967.
Sharron Diane Crawford Smith, 60, confessed in a November 28 interview to shooting the women at a Staunton ice cream store in 1967, authorities said.
"I was just pushed so far," Smith said, according to a transcript of a police interview.
Smith was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Constance Smootz Hevener, 19, and Hevener's 20-year-old sister-in-law, Carolyn Hevener Perry, according to CNN affiliate WVIR.
But health problems forced a postponement of a December court date, WVIR said, and Smith, who had heart and kidney problems, died January 19.
Authorities on Friday said they consider Smith the guilty party and are working toward closing the case.
In a transcript of the police interview, Smith told police she and the women worked at High's Ice Cream. The night of the shooting, she went to the store to tell the women she could not work the next day and took her .25-caliber pistol with her.
"I was just going to tell them that I couldn't work and one thing led to another."
She acknowledged that teasing "about my lifestyle" had gone on for a while.
Asked how the victims knew about it, she said, "How do kids find out about anything? I mean, it was really unusual back then."
She also said her stepfather had sexually abused her, but refused to elaborate on whether that played a role in the shootings or helped push her "over the edge."
"I don't know. I'm not trying to psychoanalyze it," she said.
In other interviews with police, Smith said that she got into a physical altercation with Hevener at the store, which was consistent with evidence at the crime scene, Commonwealth Attorney Raymond Robertson said. Bruises on Hevener's body were inconsistent with injuries that would have resulted from a fall after being shot, he told reporters.
"She expressed shame in herself. I never saw any tears. She expressed her concern for the family members [of the victims], as to bringing closure to this case," police investigator Mike King said.
Smith told police she acted alone, authorities said. But Staunton Police Chief Jim Williams said questions about the case remain.
"There will likely be questions surrounding this case we will never be able to answer," he said.
One of those questions was the whereabouts of the murder weapon, but a late development Friday may have solved that mystery.
In the November interview, Smith told police she gave the weapon to a detective on the police force in 1967, David Bocock, and that he buried it.
"He just said that it was sort of dangerous to have a gun, you could hurt somebody," Smith said, according to the transcript. "He said, 'I'll fix it for you if you want.' I figured it was the best thing to do."
It was unclear whether Bocock, who died in 2006, knew of Smith's involvement in the murders. The two knew each other, as Bocock taught Smith to shoot, but authorities said they were still investigating the relationship and whether Bocock was trying to cover for Smith.
Later Friday, the Staunton News-Leader newspaper reported its circulation manager had turned over to police a .25-caliber automatic handgun.
Kathy Myers told the newspaper that Bocock gave the gun to her now-deceased husband, a former Staunton police officer, in 1981, telling him, "Don't let anybody know I gave this to you."
Myers said she forgot she had the gun until she saw the police news conference Friday, and turned it over to authorities.
I guess better to solve a case late than never. I think if I were the victims family I would be happy to finally have the answers but it would anger me that the murderer had kept that quiet until right before her death. Maybe she was ridding her mind of guilt before she passed. I just think it's really interesting when a case has to be put off and then it is finally solved someday in the future!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration of a Lifetime!
Today was a very historic and epic day. I was afraid that due to my educational duties I would miss the inauguration of President Barack Obama, but as luck would have it I found a way to watch it live. The short oath was incredibly exciting but I was in anticipation for the speech and what analyists have been calling "what will be, one of the greatest speeches of all time." When he gave his speech it was eloquent and perfectly delivered as was to be expected. He talked about the many hardships facing our country and the struggles our country will no doubt have in the next four years. I liked that he didn't try to sugar coat the situation our nation is in. Instead he instilled hope by recognizing our crisis and offering his new administration of hope and that the problems will be met. He said it may take time, but they will be met. Today really brought it home for me that times will change, I truly believe that this country will benefit from this term and there is no question he has been given a tough and trying time to become President of the United States, but I have full faith that he will rise to meet the challenge and get this country on the track to getting back on track. I don't expect miracles but this is a step towards better times. For my generation, who will have to deal with these problems this is a welcoming advance. YAY OBAMA!
Mr. Smith and the bill/law process!
Although I didn't watch the entire movie, "Mr Smith goes to Washington",I will do my best to explain the process of making a bill into a law in my interpretation from the movie.
-A bill was introduced by the senator Mr. Smith
-It was then discussed in senate in which Mr. Smith held the floor until the senators who were so quick to dismiss the bill listened to the reasoning behind his proposal of the bill.
This is the point in the movie in which I stopped watching so I'll explain the rest of the bill law process out of context of the movie.
Once a bill is refered to a committee, the committee considers the bill. If the bill makes it past the committees approval, they report it to the members of house or senate. It is read and amended and then read a third time in which the members vote on whether to veto the bill or not. If the bill passes this process, it then is sent to the second chamber, either the house or the senate and the process is repeated. If the bill then passes the second chamber it is then signed into law or vetoed by the Governer. If the Governer vetos the bill the legislature can override the veto and make it law.
BILLLLLLL LAW PROCCCCESSSSS
-A bill was introduced by the senator Mr. Smith
-It was then discussed in senate in which Mr. Smith held the floor until the senators who were so quick to dismiss the bill listened to the reasoning behind his proposal of the bill.
This is the point in the movie in which I stopped watching so I'll explain the rest of the bill law process out of context of the movie.
Once a bill is refered to a committee, the committee considers the bill. If the bill makes it past the committees approval, they report it to the members of house or senate. It is read and amended and then read a third time in which the members vote on whether to veto the bill or not. If the bill passes this process, it then is sent to the second chamber, either the house or the senate and the process is repeated. If the bill then passes the second chamber it is then signed into law or vetoed by the Governer. If the Governer vetos the bill the legislature can override the veto and make it law.
BILLLLLLL LAW PROCCCCESSSSS
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Pork: A Time Honored Tradition Lives On
In this article by Paul Starobin, pork is outlined and shown from two different sides of opinions on it. For me personally after reading this article, I would consider it wasteful. I believe that most pork-barrel spending is unnecessary and a waste of funding that could be contributing to more beneficial areas. It is dishonest and used to please people in order for self benefit. If there is a need for it in public services such as infrastructure or betterment for an area that is an entirely different issue all together. In a country drowned in debt, it is important that our national spending be spent on beneficial and necessary projects.
David Price
This is kind of out of order but in all fairness Coit I think you should give us some grace period since it didn't actually say blog after this reading. Anyway I thought this excerpt from the life of a Congressman, was actually a great inside look at the crazy hectic life that these people go through. I liked how personal the reading was, even including things about his kids and the journey he took to get where he became a congressman. His schedule made me cringe.... I'm sort of a lazy person by nature and the continuous line up of events would not be for me. This article gave a more in depth look at what the congressman do and the hoops they jump through to improve their districts. I still don't think i'll be one though.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Redistricting Game :(
I don't know if it was just me but I couldn't even make it past the first level of trying to pass my population changes. I would finally get it to where all the districts had the same range of population and then my proposal would be shot down unanimously. I finally got it to be passed by two of the three and then it was shot down again. If this game was that difficult to please everyone I have no idea the extent it would take to redistrict a state. I may have to give that game another shot though and figure it out....
Ritter's Senatorial Appointment!
In the article I found on the Denver Post by Karen Crummy, I found some interesting things about Bennet. I had really no idea who he was but after reading this I find him to be a seemingly suitable guy for Colorado's senate seat. I really liked his background in being the Denver public school's superintendent. He has had experience and is aware of the conditions of Colorado public schools. The article also said in addition to this that he is nationally known as an urban-education reformer and was even on Obama's short list for education secretary. In addition to his education background Bennet was also a lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice so he has experience in that area as well. I think all too often education is overlooked in not only local levels but definitely national and I think it will be beneficial to have a man passionate about education in higher office. Good Choice in my book!
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