Source: http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/Reuters/PoliticsNews/~3/5lLB49Ueu78/idUSTRE69929420101031
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Obama warns of policy rollback if Republicans win
CHICAGO (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned Saturday that Republicans could roll back his agenda if they prevail in Tuesday's congressional elections as he sought to rally Democrats in a final campaign push.
Nobel Economic Recipe: Help States, Add Stimulus
Economist Peter Diamond, freshly minted Nobel Prize winner, says the only way to break the unemployment logjam is another round of short-term spending and a big injection of federal money to save jobs in state and local governments.
Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130955806&ft=1&f=1014
ALEXANDER HAIG ALEXI GIANNOULIAS ALVIN GREENE AM POLITICAL TICKER
Down to the Wire in Ohio
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Ohio shows John Kasich (R) leading Gov. Ted Strickland (D) by just one point in the race for governor, 49% to 48%.
Key finding: "What Strickland has done over the last two months is bring the base home. He's now winning 87% of the Democratic vote, up from only 78% in the previous poll. Democrats also look like they'll now account for a larger share of the electorate, as the party's voters have increased their interest in turning out as the election has moved closer."
Key finding: "What Strickland has done over the last two months is bring the base home. He's now winning 87% of the Democratic vote, up from only 78% in the previous poll. Democrats also look like they'll now account for a larger share of the electorate, as the party's voters have increased their interest in turning out as the election has moved closer."
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PoliticalWire/~3/x9pwY-L-z-A/down_to_the_wire_in_ohio.html
HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HOWARD DEAN HOWARD WOLFSON
A Lesson In Campaign Mismanagement
My candidate didn't win the Chicago City Council race, but at least I got to see how politics could be tough but good-natured. It makes me wonder about young people in campaigns today who think the goal is mutual annihilation.
Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130934462&ft=1&f=1014
BENJAMIN TODD BEST COMPANIES BEST EMPLOYERS BEST POLITICAL PODCAST
The Rally to Restore Sanity: Nonpartisan, but political
Jon Stewart didn't lie. His "Rally to Restore Sanity" was aggressively non-partisan. But while none of the participants had anything to say about the upcoming midterm elections (besides a brief shout of "vote!" by American treasure and '60s civil rights marcher Tony Bennett), there was a quiet political message. And, honestly, it's a message that Democrats should be happy with.
Source: http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2010/10/30/jon_stewart_sanity_rally/index.html
GERALDINE FERRARO GERRY CONNOLLY GINNY BROWN-WAITE GLENN BECK
Master chocolatiers give green chocolate a boost
by Agence France-Presse.
PARIS—From its chocolate factory in the French Alps, Stephane Bonnat’s family has been nurturing ties with cocoa farmers around the world for over a century, and together they are now driving a green revolution.
Long dismissed by cocoa-loving gourmands as poor in texture and flavor, organic chocolate has broken into the luxury end of the market, promoted by master chocolatiers like Bonnat who have made it an “ethical choice.”
Bonnat decided to go organic 17 years ago, after taking over the family chocolate business in the Alpine town of Voiron. For him, this meant building on its decades-old ties with growers around the world, starting in Mexico.
“Back then, they wanted to sell me their cocoa three euros a kilo. I offered them nine!” the chocolatier told AFP at the giant Salon du Chocolat trade fair in Paris this week. “Today they make a good living, they visit the Salon in Paris, get to see the finished product,” said Bonnat, whose firm—one of Europe’s oldest—was a pioneer of high-quality organic chocolate.
Likewise, Bonnat says the 35 cocoa suppliers, from Peru to Venezuela, that supply his factory with some 220 tons of beans per year have benefited from the shift to high-end organic.
Two of its growers in Brazil were awarded the 2009 Best Cocoa award, handed out each year at the Salon du Chocolat.
Fully 80 percent of the world’s cocoa plantations are thought to be de facto organic, run by farmers who cannot afford chemical fertilizers or pesticides, Bonnat told AFP. But only a tiny fraction of that output is certified organic, since few can cover the cost of a complex formal labelling process.
“Cocoa beans that are certified organic account for just 20 percent of world production—and less than two percent of the chocolate sold around the world is labelled organic,” said Bonnat.
Meanwhile, most of the world’s chocolate production is in the hands of a global industry for which, Bonnat says, quality is not a priority.
“The paradox is that cocoa producer countries are not the ones that make the chocolate,” he said.
Parisian chocolatier Jean-Paul Hevin, who buys organic cocoa directly from producers in Haiti, started sourcing ethically a decade ago in a bid to “defend the sector” from industrial excesses.
The choice comes at a price—adding 20 percent to his production costs—but he does not tack this onto the retail price for his chocolate, which sells for 3.90 euros ($5.3) a bar.
“I wanted to do something for Haiti, cutting out middlemen to provide growers with a better wage. I believe in ‘art de vivre,’ in quality. And quality always depends on the grower,” he told AFP.
Hevin, whose stand at the Salon du Chocolat has the feel of a jewelry or luxury perfume display case, likens the “latest cru from Papua New Guinea” to a “truly great wine.”
The chocolatier recently opened a luxury hot chocolate bar in the French capital, offering patrons such intriguing delicacies as chocolate with oysters, carrots, or a chili-banana mix.
“Organic or not organic,” said Philippe Laurent, head of sales at the chocolatier Michel Cluizel, “a great tasting chocolate always depends both on the quality of the bean and on the craftsmanship.
Excellence requires making the cocoa paste without artificial flavors or soy lecithin—used as an emulsifier in most industrial chocolate—and relying only on natural vanilla pods and cane sugar.
Like Bonnat and Cluizel, Francois Pralus is one of five French luxury chocolatiers who transform the cocoa beans themselves, sourced from South America or Indonesia.
He too has built up a relationship with growers in Madagascar—where he owns a small plantation—and in Venezuela, which produces the Chuao cocoa—“an exceptional vintage from exceptional soil.”
In Venezuela, the 20 tons of cocoa produced a year for Pralus helped rebuild the local school, while his planters in Madagascar earn almost three times the average wage.
“Organic chocolate doesn’t taste better per se,” says Pralus. “It requires a heavy financial commitment, the admin and checks are cumbersome. But it’s also a philosophical gesture, a lifestyle choice that we make every day.”
Related Links:
Droves of confused, well-meaning kids giving candy back this Halloween
An artisanal plea from a fed-up foodie
The French serve up one helluva school lunch
Source: http://feeds.grist.org/click.phdo?i=68f5367e74503c62b46e8e7bf1e40355
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Empowering Entrepreneurs Through Connection and Capital
Empowering Entrepreneurs Through Connection and CapitalJessica Jackley is a co-founder of Kiva.org, the world's first peer-to-peer online microlending website. Named as one of the top ideas in 2006 by the New York Times Magazine and called "revolutionary" by the BBC, Kiva (www.kiva.org) lets internet users lend as little as $25 to specific developing world entrepreneurs, providing affordable capital to help them start or expand a small business. Kiva has been one of the fastest-growing social benefit websites in history, and today facilitates over $1M dollars each week from lenders to entrepreneurs across over 185 countries.
Prior to founding Kiva, Jackley worked for the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Village Enterprise Fund, Amazon.com, Potentia Media, the International Foundation, World Vision, and others. Jackley speaks widely on microfinance and social entrepreneurship and has been featured in a wide array of media and press including Oprah, the Today Show, CNN, BBC, NBC, ABC, PBS, NPR, the WSJ, NYTimes, the Economist, and more.
In addition to her speaking engagements in the U.S. and internationally, Jackley serves as a director on several boards related to micro-enterprise development, including Opportunity International.
Date: Sat, 23 Oct 2010 09:20:00 -0700
Location: San Francisco, CA, Moscone Center, BizTechDay
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/10/23/Empowering_Entrepreneurs_Through_Connection_and_Capital
Source: http://fora.tv/2010/10/23/Empowering_Entrepreneurs_Through_Connection_and_Capital
BART STUPAK BASKETBALL BATTLEGROUND: PENNSYLVANIA BEAU BIDEN
Founding Fathers Slung Mud, Just Like Us
U.S. presidential and congressional campaigns have mostly been nasty, something we tend to forget. Our tendency to pretend that our era is especially nasty demonstrates our ignorance or ability to idealize our own history, if nothing else.
Senate Race Tightening in Pennsylvania
The Morning Call/Muhlenberg tracking poll in Pennsylvania shows the U.S. Senate race tightening again with Pat Toomey (R) barely edging Rep. Joe Sestak (D), 45% to 43%.
Just two days ago, the tracking poll had Toomey ahead by eight points.
However, a new McClatchy-Marist Poll shows Toomey leading by seven points, 52% to 45%, and a new Rasmussen survey has Toomey up by four points, 50% to 46%.
Just two days ago, the tracking poll had Toomey ahead by eight points.
However, a new McClatchy-Marist Poll shows Toomey leading by seven points, 52% to 45%, and a new Rasmussen survey has Toomey up by four points, 50% to 46%.
ALEXI GIANNOULIAS ALVIN GREENE AM POLITICAL TICKER AMERICA VOTES 2008
A beautiful coalition against dirty energy
by Van Jones.
New polls are showing that the majority of Californians reject Proposition 23, a November ballot initiative—funded by Texas oil companies—that would effectively repeal the state’s landmark clean energy and environmental protection laws.
What the polls do not show and what few news outlets are covering, is the striking diversity of voices that are demanding clean energy, and rejecting the false notion that protecting the planet and our public health will hurt the economy.
Last week, the No on Prop 23 campaign experienced a surge of support from groups that included a council of inter-faith leaders, university academics, the wealthiest man in the country (Bill Gates), an award-winning Hollywood director (James Cameron), and even President Obama and former Vice President Al Gore.
They join the rank and file of a coalition that is rarely witnessed in our modern age of ultra-polarizing politics.
This coalition includes social justice organizations of all creeds and colors, whose missions are to empower the voices of the working class and communities of color—including immigrants. These groups understand that less smog means less asthma, fewer trips to the emergency room, and healthier neighborhoods for their children.
The coalition also includes a group of investors who represent more than $421 billion in assets, much of it in the clean tech sector. They make the case that clean energy technology is the next wave of the industrial revolution, and California is poised to become a leader in innovation, job creation, and commercialization of these technologies. However, they also warn that reversing course on policy—precisely what Prop 23 aims to achieve—will cause investment to flow elsewhere (mainly to places like China and parts of Europe), and doom California and the rest of the nation to be left behind during the biggest revolution of the new global economy.
These groups represent just the tip of iceberg in a movement that includes environmentalists, politicians from both parties, students, public health organizations, big and small businesses, labor groups, consumer groups, senior citizens, and public safety organizations.
A vision for the future of green growth
What’s happening in California is truly amazing. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of voices, from literally every political, ethnic, faith, and socio-economic spectrum, all pulling for the same cause. This beautiful coalition gives us a glimpse of the green path forward toward clean energy, a prosperous sustainable economy, and a healthier planet.
In 2008, I wrote a book called The Green Collar Economy, and in it I outlined a vision for a “Green Growth Alliance.” This coalition, I argued, should include labor, social justice activists, environmentalists, students, and faith organizations—along with green business interests. Such an alliance could, in my opinion, “change the face of politics in this country.”
A lot has happened since early 2008—and the face of politics has begun to change, slowly.
The green movement has suffered setbacks, most notably the failure of comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation in Congress. The deep pockets of the dirty energy lobby, which spent more than $500 million to buy influence among (mostly Republican) lawmakers, along with the rise of Tea Partiers, climate deniers, and conservative TV and radio pundits, turned the protection and preservation of the planet and public health into a political malaise.
But what we see happening in California gives the green movement a reason for continued optimism. This time we are on the defensive, protecting our climate laws already on the books. The fight has unmasked the opponents of clean energy, as well as vetted their arguments—the same tired talking points they have been using for the last four decades.
But more importantly than unmasking our enemies, this fight has revealed our friends and allies. It turns out that given the opportunity, huge swaths of Californians, from all walks of life, can find common value in supporting cleaner air and a commitment to growing the clean technology sector.
The fight is far from over, and with Election Day approaching in less than a week, the stakes are higher than ever. But victory in California can give us a model for the coalition that is needed to achieve a green growth victory in Washington, D.C. and the rest of the nation.
Related Links:
Schwarzenegger and James Cameron team up to terminate Prop 23
Opponents of California’s AB 32 rail against a law that doesn’t exist
Tennessee governor’s race: Haslam vs. McWherter
Source: http://feeds.grist.org/click.phdo?i=d227a424c599ecda5cedbe57eedd7a03
'Shop Talk': Should Kendrick Meek Stay In Florida Senate Race?
In this week?s installment of The Barbershop, host Michel Michel Martin talks with author Jimi Izrael, civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar, syndicated columnist Ruben Navarette and screenwriter and graphic novelist John Ridley. They discuss former U.S. President Bill Clinton urging Florida Democrat Kendrick Meek to drop out of the Senate race in Florida; Stephen Colbert and John Stewart?s ?Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear? that will take place in Washington D.C. this Saturday; California GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman?s recent comment on FOX News about her feelings toward the maid ?an illegal immigrant? she fired; and Miami Heat basketball player LeBron James? new Nike commercial.
Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130913337&ft=1&f=1014
Dow Diary: Call Me Mr. October
Dear Diary,
Another month in the books! Today's four-point gain puts me at 11,118.49 -- up 3.1 percent for October! Not too shabby for a month that saw huge foreclosure turmoil for the banking sector, uncertainty over the Federal Reserve's monetary stimulus, renewed rage over the BP/Halliburton oil spill and a general frightening overhang of unemployment and sadness out on Main Street. Not that Main Street matters all that much, but still.
Before we go any...
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuning out California?s Prop 23 with a song
by Ashley Braun.
Supporters of California’s landmark climate-change law (AB 32) are tuning out the slippery campaign ads of the oil companies trying to overturn it via Proposition 23. Here’s a catchy little ditty from the “No on Prop 23” camp set to the melody of “Yellow Rose of Texas.”
It’s something clean-energy advocates are hoping California voters will be whistling on their way to the polls on November 2.
Hat tip to my friend TH for passing it along.
Related Links:
Chevron thinks we’re stupid [VIDEO]
Schwarzenegger and James Cameron team up to terminate Prop 23
Opponents of California’s AB 32 rail against a law that doesn’t exist
Source: http://feeds.grist.org/click.phdo?i=58251d6363d6360fbb8a7a97c118855b
Is Halliburton the real heavy in the Gulf oil explosion?
by Randy Rieland.
Not saying that BP hasn’t deserved the beatdown it’s been taking for the Gulf oil spill. But now it looks like Halliburton, Dick Cheney’s old stomping grounds, has moved dead center into the line of fire.
It’s a shame they didn’t make that right: Turns out, according to the lead investigator for the presidential commission investigating the Gulf spill, that both Halliburton and BP knew that the cement used to seal the doomed well was flawed, but neither did anything about it. Three out of four tests by Halliburton before the explosion showed the cement mixture it used was “unstable.”
During earlier rounds of finger-pointing, BP blamed bad cement work by Halliburton for the disaster. Halliburton, in turn, groused about BP’s well design. This latest twist hardly absolves BP of blame—most experts believe a series of human errors and mechanical failures was responsible—but it definitely lays more liability at Halliburton’s feet. It’s investors certainly think so—yesterday, the value of Halliburton’s stock plunged 8 percent. [Wall Street Journal]
Here’s the take of an investment banker quoted in today’s The New York Times:
Halliburton has a history of walking on the energy high beam without a net. Because they have been very aggressive, working on very high-profile types of projects, when anything goes wrong, they will be front and center.
Halliburton has issued a press release saying more analysis of the allegedly flawed cement is needed. So it goes.
And in other green news:
Listen to the profits: It’s not all bad news in the energy biz. ExxonMobil and Shell are helping us keep things in perspective by reporting 3rd quarter profits of $7.35 billion and $3.46 billion respectively. [AP]
You gotta play to spin: Before last summer’s oil spill, Nalco, the Illinois company that produces the dispersant Corexit, wasn’t a particularly big player in Washington. It spent only $90,000 for lobbying in 2009 and not a nickel in 2008. So far this year, it’s shelled out almost $350,000. [Mother Jones]
Offensive maneuvers: Corporate and industry heavy hitters—including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Manufacturers Association, and the American Chemistry Council—are back on the attack against the EPA. They’ve sent a letter to key senators asking them to attach to a big upcoming spending bill, a measure that would stop the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases early next year. [The Hill]
Well, that’s that: The French Academy of Science has spoken. In a new report written by 120 scientists, it has declared that global warming exists and is unquestionably due to human activity. [AFP]
Share and share a bike: The San Francisco Bay area has come up with its own way of cutting car pollution. The plan is to have as many as 100 kiosks around the region—primarily in the neighborhoods between San Francisco and San Jose—where about 1,000 bicycles will be available to commuters looking for alternatives to driving solo. [The New York Times]
Array of hope: The pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline has taken the first step to creating the largest rooftop solar array in North America. It’s installed the first of what eventually will be 11,000 solar panels on top of its distribution center in York, Pa. [Greenbiz]
Algae aweigh: A U.S. Navy gunboat took a successful test drive on a fuel that was half diesel and half a concoction made from algae. [The Guardian]
Really old navy: Looking for a different way to help deal with climate change? Britain’s Meteorological Office and the University of Oxford have rolled out a project called Oldweather.org and they need people to pore over old British Royal Navy logbooks and copy the wind, barometric pressure, and temperature readings naval officers meticulously recorded, even in the middle of battles. Your work will be fed into computer models analyzing climate change. And you’ll know so much more about barometric pressure hundreds of years ago. [Discovery News]
Related Links:
BP and other large European green-washing polluters funnel cash to U.S. Senators blocking climate ac
BP, other European polluters, pump money into Senate campaigns
One-fifth of juvenile Atlantic bluefin tuna killed by BP oil spill
Source: http://feeds.grist.org/click.phdo?i=7d115a807486dfda6046ced05738064e
DEDE SCOZZAFAVA DEFICIT DEFINE POLITICS DEFINITION OF POLITICS
For Dems, Latino votes are key this year
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39908039/ns/politics-decision_2010/
Favorites Emerge in Three-Way Governor's Races
Momentum rarely plays a role in deciding races, but it may have an impact in a three-way contest.
Source: http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/favorites-emerge-in-three-way-governors-races/
Thursday, October 28, 2010
How Scary Is the Chamber of Commerce?
Also, Liz Peek gives a final bow
Liz Peek | 10/22/2010 11:45 am
As Halloween approaches, The New York Times has decided that the scariest goblin in the land is ? surprise! ? the Chamber of Commerce. Just this morning, the paper ran yet another front-page piece detailing campaign contributions from the Chamber, which has so far ponied up $21.1 million to business-friendly candidates in this cycle. The Times claims that the pro-business group is funding an "orchestrated campaign to become one of the most well-financed critics of the Obama administration."
(Not to be left behind, and using different data, the Wall Street Journal ran Source: http://www.wowowow.com/pov/how-scary-chamber-commerce-liz-peek-506308
Tea Party candidates only a Democrat could love
This year, some Democratic congressional candidates and party activists and operatives have worked behind the scenes to support Tea Party activists to run as third party candidates.
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39875737/ns/politics-decision_2010/
Cholera Outbreak in Haiti and Nigeria Claims Over 1,800 Lives
Filed under: News
Last week, it was reported that at least one hundred people perished in Haiti due to cholera. Now, this week, CNN reports that over 1,500 people have perished already in Nigeria from the same intestinal infection. What is shocking is that cholera is an easily treatable condition.
Cholera, a bacterial infection of the small intestine, causes watery diarrhea among other symptoms, such as abdominal cramps, dry skin and mouth, rapid heart rate, intense dehydration, excessive thirst, nausea and vomiting. If left untreated, it can become fatal in a matter of hours.
Haiti is a nation that has been suffering since its independence, by way of an exhaustive $268 million debt, which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that it would cancel in light of the devastating January 12th earthquake in which thousands upon thousands of people perished and over one million were displaced.
Now, reparations, that is another case. Yet and still, most of the $3.5 billion pledged since the earthquake has not been actualized. The living conditions (if you want to call it that), which people have been dealing with, magnified since the earthquake, have widely been reported: improper sewage systems, lack of sustainable shelter, and lack of food. It is no wonder that we are now hearing about a cholera outbreak.
Across the Atlantic Ocean, we enter Nigeria, often considered the giant of Africa, and home to approximately 150 million people, it is the most populous black nation in the world. Here, the recent floods have sparked the worst cholera outbreak in 20 years. We are told that 1,500 people have died from an easily treatable condition, from among at least 40,000 cases reported. In addition, hundreds of deaths have been reported in the bordering nation of Cameroon.
Causes of Cholera
Places that experience improper sanitation -- contaminated water, inadequate sewage systems, natural disasters, tight living conditions -- are breeding grounds for cholera.
Prevention of Cholera
1) Have a properly managed sewage system (also see Compost Toilet System).
2) Wash hands after using the toilet and before eating.
3) Purify water
a) Boil water for five to ten minutes
b) Add moringa seeds
c) Solar disinfection
Source: Cholera: Treatment with Natural Medicine / medicinal plants
Treatment of Cholera
1) A widely used method is Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), used to replace lost liquid, minerals, and energy.
In addition, there are some herbal treatments that can address such cholera symptoms as diarrhea and dehydration.
1) A widely used method is Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), used to replace lost liquid, minerals, and energy.
In addition, there are some herbal treatments that can address such cholera symptoms as diarrhea and dehydration.
2) Black pepper is used to treat dysentery, weakness caused by cholera, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and mental exhaustion, among other problems.
Source: The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines by Charles W. Fetrow and Juan R. Avila
3) Mucuna Pruriens (pois gratter/ velvet bean/cowage), used to treat cholera, is found in such countries as Haiti and the Dominican Republic among other tropical areas. The plant, when young, is hairy on both sides of its leaves. The leaves are various shapes such as ovate, tripinnate and rhombus. The seed pod, if touched, can cause itching. The pod is 10 cm long and covered with orange hair.
Source: Medicinal plants of the world: chemical constituents, traditional and modern medicinal uses by Ivan A. Ross
4) Guava Root Bark helps to arrest the symptoms of cholera, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Guava (Psidium guajava) is found in such places as Haiti, Nigeria, and other tropical areas.
Source: Handbook of African medicinal plants by Maurice M. Iwu
5) Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus/Sitronel) is not only used for aromatherapy, but also in the treatment of cholera.Found in such places as Haiti and Nigeria.
Source: Medicinal plants of the world: chemical constituents, traditional and modern medicinal uses by Ivan A. Ross
*Consult with an herbalist or other qualified health care practitioner
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/10/27/cholera-outbreak-in-haiti-and-nigeria-claims-over-1-800-lives/
Tea Party Nation founder: I have a real problem with Islam
Judson Phillips, the Tea Party Nation leader who recently called for the defeat of Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., because he is Muslim, has put up a new blog post clarifying his views:
Source: http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2010/10/27/judson_phillilps_on_islam/index.html
Will Obama's GOP House Watchdogs Be Pesky Or Nightmare?
The likely House takeover by the GOP promises plenty of probes of the Obama Administration. While some observers believe the oversight will be pesky, the partisanship in the nation's capital indicates it will more likely be withering.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
How Scary Is the Chamber of Commerce?
Also, Liz Peek gives a final bow
Liz Peek | 10/22/2010 11:45 am
As Halloween approaches, The New York Times has decided that the scariest goblin in the land is ? surprise! ? the Chamber of Commerce. Just this morning, the paper ran yet another front-page piece detailing campaign contributions from the Chamber, which has so far ponied up $21.1 million to business-friendly candidates in this cycle. The Times claims that the pro-business group is funding an "orchestrated campaign to become one of the most well-financed critics of the Obama administration."
(Not to be left behind, and using different data, the Wall Street Journal ran Source: http://www.wowowow.com/pov/how-scary-chamber-commerce-liz-peek-506308
CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONGRESS CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
Civil Rights Leaders Tell U.S. Court That 'Boy' Is Racially Offensive
Filed under: News, Race and Civil Rights
Ask any black man in this country what they would think if a white man called them "boy," and the answer would be the same: racial insult, degrading and maybe even fighting words.
That word is akin to describing a black person with the N-word.
That's why it's interesting that a $1.75-million discrimination lawsuit verdict in favor of an Alabama black man, who says he was denied a promotion and called "boy" by his white manager, keeps getting overturned. The court says that the white managers use of the word "boy" did not display "racial animosity" and that the use of the word was "conversational."
The Atlanta Journal Constitution writes:
A central issue on appeal is the term "boy" and what it means. The federal appeals court in Atlanta found that the manager's alleged use of the term was "conversational" and amounted to "ambiguous stray remarks" that were not made in the context of employment decisions. The court said it found no evidence of racial animosity.
That ruling has stirred some of the giants of the Civil Rights Movement who are justifiably pissed off.
The court's ruling simply "does not stand the test of history, experience, reality or the common social understanding of race relations in the country, particularly the South."
For decades, the term "boy" coming from a white person's mouth was a way to verbally degrade a grown man. It was a constant reminder that blacks did not have equal standing under the law. It was a reinforcement that there was a legal caste system in place in this country and that black men were at the bottom of that system.
Even if you had gone to college, earned degrees, supported a family, raised up children - achievements and responsibilities that are characteristic of responsible adults - you could still be called a "boy." In fact, it's degrading to call any man a boy.
John Hithon, the worker who filed the lawsuit, knows this. So does every black man in America.
Hithon spent 13 years working in a Tyson chicken plant. He was a low-level manager still doing difficult work. A better opportunity opened as a shift supervisor and Hithon applied but was passed over in favor of two white candidates from a different Tyson plant. Hithon thought that the fact that the manager regularly referred to black as "boys" had something to do with it.
The lawyer in the case was chastised for trying to insert testimony that equated the word "boy" with the word "n*gger."
U. W. Clemon, the first black assigned to the federal bench in Alabama, challenged that decision:
"I'm outraged, because not only does the Supreme Court realize that the word 'boy' can be racially offensive, all you have to do is pick up a dictionary, pull up Wikipedia, and both will indicate that the word "boy" can be used as a racial epithet; it's racially derogatory," Judge Clemon said in a radio interview.
The Supreme Court has rebuked the federal appeals court in Atlanta and a jury has ruled twice in Hithon's favor, and there is historical precedent for the idea that certain words are reprehensible. In Chaplinsky V. New Hampshire, the court held that:
There are certain well-defined and narrowly limited classes of speech, the prevention and punishment of which have never been thought to raise any constitutional problem. These include the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or "fighting" words those which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace. It has been well observed that such utterances are no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be derived from them is clearly outweighed by the social interest in order and morality.
I would count the use of the word "boy" in the context of a white man directing it to a black man as one of those words.
Republican Rep. Geoff Davis was forced to apologize to President Barack Obama, after he called him a "boy" who was unequipped to handle national security duties if he was elected president:
"I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," Davis said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."
In his letter, Davis acknowledged that his choice of words was "poor," quite an understatement.
Civil rights leaders are doing the right thing by standing up. Far from an obscure lawsuit, this case represents an attempt to rewrite history. If we deny the fact that "boy" has a history as a horribly derogatory word that was used to intimidate, oppress and degrade black men, then it's possible that blatant abuse will once again become acceptable as the law of the land.
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Source: http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/10/26/civil-rights-leaders-tell-u-s-court-that-boy-is-racially-offe/
Democrats Stay in Front in California
A new SurveyUSA poll in California shows Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) with a five point lead over challenger Carly Fiorina (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 45% to 40%.
The San Francisco Chronicle notes Fiorina entered a Los Angeles hospital yesterday with an infection related to her reconstructive surgery following breast cancer last year. She's expected to be back on the campaign trail soon.
In the race for governor, Jerry Brown (D) still leads Meg Whitman (R) by an eight point margin, 46% to 38%.
The San Francisco Chronicle notes Fiorina entered a Los Angeles hospital yesterday with an infection related to her reconstructive surgery following breast cancer last year. She's expected to be back on the campaign trail soon.
In the race for governor, Jerry Brown (D) still leads Meg Whitman (R) by an eight point margin, 46% to 38%.
The Sharron Angle ad that drove Joy Behar crazy
Adam Hanft dissects and deconstructs political advertising at Spin Season, where this originally appeared.
Source: http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2010/10/26/spin_season_joy_behar_sharron_angle/index.html
BEST EMPLOYERS BEST POLITICAL PODCAST BEST POLITICAL TEAM GRADES BETTY MCCOLLUM
Paul volunteer ordered to court for scuffle
Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39844442/ns/us_news/
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Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Too Late Candidate
With less than one week until Election Day, Carl Paladino is finally beginning to resemble a conventional candidate.
He is reining in his rhetoric, limiting his media exposure, stumping in key constituencies and spending significant sums of money.
But it might not matter.
"There's reasons why voters vote the way they do," said Lee Miringoff, the Marist pollster whose most recent survey showed that 62 percent of likely voters view Mr. Paladino unfavorably--one of...
Source: http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/too-late-candidate?utm_medium=partial-text&utm_campaign=home
'Jolene' Was Worth the Wait: A Two-Year-Old Film Finally Gets the Spotlight
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Every movie is a gamble, but considering the back-stabbing and double-crossing that goes on behind the scenes, the juggling of the books in the Hollywood accounting departments, the almost certain knowledge that everything will go over budget and cost twice what it should, the fear of filming anything that is just a little bit different and the uncertainty of what makes a gamble pay off commercially, it's a miracle that good movies ever get...
Mr. wOw Gives Up: Shouldn't We All Be Free to Be Fools?
Mr. wOw reacts to the firing of Juan Williams
Mr. Wow | 10/22/2010 11:15 am
As readers of this column know, Mr. wOw is not much for excessive political correctness.
Recently, I have decried the CNN firing of ignoramus and possible anti-Semite Rich Sanchez. I have given myself a Great Big Headache over Vince Vaughn and Universal caving in to the finger-wagging of GLAAD and Anderson Cooper over a line in VV’s coming crappy movie, "The Dilemma" ? that electric cars are "so gay."
Now we have FOX News commentator Juan Williams fired by NPR because of his unfortunate statement that he "gets nervous" when he’s on a plane when people ...
Source: http://www.wowowow.com/pov/mr-wow-gives-shouldnt-we-all-be-free-be-fools-506297
Who owns your land?
Question
I own 8.93 acres. In the past it has been used for growing crops. Now I want to put a few horses and a small shed on it, but the county won't allow me. Who owns my land? Where are my rights?
Answer
You have a conflict between what you want to do with your land and what the zoning authorities permit -- an all-too-common problem these days.
Today, while you own your own land -- in theory -- in practice, it can be taken from you and given to another private party through eminent domain, if the local government believes it will receive more taxes that way.
The local zoning board can tell you what you may or may not do on your land. Even if you own the land "free and clear," the government can take it from you if you don't pay property taxes. And property taxes amount to, in practice, a kind of "rent" you have to pay the government each year to be allowed to keep living on your own property!
In a libertarian society, government couldn't take your land by eminent domain. There would be no zoning boards. Deed restrictions, which you would be aware of when you bought the property, would be the only limitations on what you did with your property. Deed restrictions would protect your property rights, and also protect your neighbor's property rights, far more fairly and effectively than zoning laws.
Finally, a truly libertarian society would have no taxes, so the government couldn't take your land for not paying the "rent" of annual property taxes.
If you like the idea of having the freedom to do any peaceful thing you wish on your own property, you just might be a libertarian. If so, join us and help make real freedom ring!
Read more of Dr. Mary Ruwart's responces to tough questions in her book Short Answers to the Tough Questions.
The Role of the Media in Post-Conflict Northern Ireland
The Role of the Media in Post-Conflict Northern IrelandSince Northern Ireland's sectarian politics turned to power-sharing in 1998, the country has struggled to define itself within its "peace process". The media serves as a barometer of this progress as it re-defines its own purpose within the newly formed society.
Caroline Porter takes a look specifically at the role of different media outlets, with particular emphasis on the most popular radio shows, to see how the media becomes a player in the contemporary peace process of Northern Ireland.
For transcript and download versions of this lecture, please visit the event's page on the Gresham College website: The Role of the Media in Post-Conflict Societies: A Contemporary Look at Northern Ireland
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:00:00 -0700
Location: London, Museum of London, Gresham College
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/09/27/The_Role_of_the_Media_in_Post-Conflict_Northern_Ireland
Source: http://fora.tv/2010/09/27/The_Role_of_the_Media_in_Post-Conflict_Northern_Ireland
Monday, October 25, 2010
What kind of long-lasting effect do you think the extraordinary rescue of the Chilean miners might have on us?
Join the wOw Women in the Conversation
Question of the Week | 10/18/2010 12:00 am
Joan Ganz Cooney: As moving and heroic as the Chilean mine rescue was, I do not for a minute think it will have any lasting effect on our spirits. The Miracle on the Hudson was an American success story that made some difference in its effect on the American people. However, it had no long-lasting effect. We went right back to our depression, anger, arguing and worry over the direction of the country very quickly. If the momentary delight in Captain Sullenberger’s skill and cool made a difference in our national mood, it wasn’t ...
More trouble for Meg Whitman's son
The actions of a candidate's child are relevant to a campaign only to the degree that the candidate leans on his or her record as a parent to sell him or herself to the voters. (Unless the kids are working for the campaign or acting as surrogates, obviously.) California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman doesn't even have photos of her adult sons on her campaign website -- although her excuse for never voting was that she was focused, at the time, on being a mother. She's got a reputation as something of a bully, and there's a wealth of evidence that her sons, Griff and Will Harsh, are monstrously entitled. And as Gabriel Winant wrote, the last time news of Griff's misadventures made the news, "the Harsh boys are neither vulnerable nor irrelevant."
Source: http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2010/10/22/meg_whitman_son/index.html
The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water
The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled WaterPeter Gleick, scientist and freshwater expert, talks about his latest book: Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water.
Tap water is safe almost everywhere in the U.S. It takes far more water to make the plastic bottle than it even holds. Most bottled water is simply water from somebody else's tap! Why on earth does this industry continue to thrive?
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0700
Location: San Francisco, CA, African Hall, California Academy of Sciences, African Hall, California Academy of Sciences
Program and discussion: http://fora.tv/2010/09/30/The_Story_Behind_Our_Obsession_with_Bottled_Water
Source: http://fora.tv/2010/09/30/The_Story_Behind_Our_Obsession_with_Bottled_Water
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HOUSING AND REAL ESTATE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HOWARD DEAN
Meg Whitman Campaign Shows How Not To Use Twitter
tsamsoniw writes "California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's campaign team attempted to share with her Twitter followers an endorsement from a police association. Unfortunately, the campaign press secretary entered an incorrect or incomplete Bit.ly URL in the Tweet, which took clickers to a YouTube video featuring a bespectacled, long-haired Japanese man in a tutu and leggings rocking out on a bass guitar. And for whatever reason, the Tweet, which went out on the 18th, has remained active through today."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
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Women, Money, Risk and Trust: A Conversation (Photos)
wowOwow and Wells Fargo present a breakfast Conversation featuring Joni Evans, Margo Howard, Liz Smith and Cynthia McFadden
Sheconomics | 10/21/2010 12:00 pm
Thursday morning, October 14, 2010, wowOwow and Wells Fargo got together at New York City’s fabulous Bryant Park Grill to host a breakfast conversation. Joni Evans moderated as Margo Howard, Liz Smith and Cynthia McFadden discussed "Women, Money, Risk and Trust: A Conversation." Flip through this slideshow to see these fabulous women in action and some of the amazing guests who contributed to the Conversation.
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