Friday, June 06, 2014

In Canada today a reaffirmation that civilization still has clout over evil.

CBC – 10 hours ago

A court decision (click here) to bar an American white supremacist organization from inheriting an estimated $250,000 coin and artifact collection from a New Brunswick man is being commended by a Canadian Jewish organization.
Robert McCorkill had willed the items to the National Alliance, based in West Virginia, before he died in Saint John in 2004.
But a New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench judge ruled on Thursday in favour of McCorkill's estranged sister, Isabelle Rose McCorkill, who had challenged the will.
Judge William Grant described the written materials of the National Alliance as "racist, white supremacist and hate-inspired."
"They are disgusting, repugnant and revolting," he said.
Such "hate propaganda" is both illegal in Canada and contrary to public policy, said Grant, voiding the will.
“This was a strong statement indicating that it is against Canadian public policy to bequeath money to organizations that spread hate," the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said in a statement on Friday....

Republicans hate chidlren in public schools. Correction, they just hate children. Fetuses are good. Children? Too dependent to be likable.

I don't blame Republicans really. All this money is spent on educating everyone while all Republicans are looking for is a few good men for the brain trust and all the funky discards are perfect for Grunts to fight the Plutocratic wars. It really would make me annoyed if all I cared about was mechanization and getting human beings out of the way.

Posted 
By Kathi Keys
By Kathi Keys
kkeys@courier-tri
...Several areas (click here) of educational spending are impacted by the state budget plans being developed in Raleigh. Gov. Pat McCrory released his budget May 14, on the opening day of the General Assembly. The N.C. Senate approved its plan last weekend. The N.C. House is readying its budget proposal.

The Senate plan was addressed this week by both Dr. Diane Frost, superintendent of Asheboro City Schools, and Dr. Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System.

Frost said the proposed funding cut of teacher/instructional assistants from second and third grades would result in a loss of 24 positions, leaving 24 assistants for K-1 classrooms at the five city elementaries. That’s in addition to the 10 slots eliminated for this year.

Gainey said Randolph currently has 156 regular education teacher assistants and is looking at a cut of $2.6 million in funding in this area. The reduction would fund 68 positions at 94 percent employment for K-1 classrooms at 17 elementaries.

Teacher assistants have been the focus of past state budget cuts. Last summer, the Randolph County Board of Education agreed to a 6 percent reduction in the salaries of these instructional support positions to keep from eliminating 38 assistants in order to address a $1.3 million cut....

...I have big concerns about the Senate budget. I have big concerns about the governor’s budget,” Gainey said Thursday. He added that some proposals could “impact our school system negatively, but I can promise we are going to have school at the highest possible level for kids.
“I have big concerns about the Senate budget. I have big concerns about the governor’s budget,” Gainey said Thursday. He added that some proposals could “impact our school system negatively, but I can promise we are going to have school at the highest possible level for kids.” - See more at: http://courier-tribune.com/news/education-cuts-could-bring-loss-school-jobs#sthash.FfSPxKQ2.dpuf
everal areas of educational spending are impacted by the state budget plans being developed in Raleigh. Gov. Pat McCrory released his budget May 14, on the opening day of the General Assembly. The N.C. Senate approved its plan last weekend. The N.C. House is readying its budget proposal.
The Senate plan was addressed this week by both Dr. Diane Frost, superintendent of Asheboro City Schools, and Dr. Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System.
Frost said the proposed funding cut of teacher/instructional assistants from second and third grades would result in a loss of 24 positions, leaving 24 assistants for K-1 classrooms at the five city elementaries. That’s in addition to the 10 slots eliminated for this year.
Gainey said Randolph currently has 156 regular education teacher assistants and is looking at a cut of $2.6 million in funding in this area. The reduction would fund 68 positions at 94 percent employment for K-1 classrooms at 17 elementaries.
Teacher assistants have been the focus of past state budget cuts. Last summer, the Randolph County Board of Education agreed to a 6 percent reduction in the salaries of these instructional support positions to keep from eliminating 38 assistants in order to address a $1.3 million cut.
- See more at: http://courier-tribune.com/news/education-cuts-could-bring-loss-school-jobs#sthash.FfSPxKQ2.dpuf
Posted 

The Florida Governor can't provide a wider margin of safety for dedicated scientists? Really? That is really lousy. The corals are more important than a ship.

Saving these corals are a one time opportunity given the fact the water channel will be disrupted. This is the most incredibly insensitive Governor Florida has ever had. Nothing matters but a political agenda and cronies. Forbid a ship should have to ideal for an hour waiting to put into port. A lifetime to save corals, a carbon sink, and the scientists can't even be accommodated with a margin of safety. I suppose the scientists are lucky they have a chance in the first place with this Governor.

Republicans hate Americans. They hate American values.

What is really amazing is the work is being conducted by a private company, "coralmorphic."  (click here)

Yes, indeed, the scientists have a private company, a small business, the very entity that Republicans claim are protected by them at every turn. Oh, wait, it is a small business and one to admire, but, it just isn't the right kind of small business that agrees with Republican political dogma. 

Work by scientists is extremely important work. In many, many ways more important than any work by a Governor. Yet, it doesn't matter how important anyone's work is, the Republicans simply hate American values and work that conflicts with their best chance at winning power. The truth is the power of the corals have are absolutely nothing any Governor has a substitute for and needs to pay attention and respect to those entities that cannot be replaced on God's green Earth. Earth is still green, right?

The best Florida Governor Scott's administration can do to rescuing corals is warn those conducting the work is they have 20 minutes or die. Is that right? Lives of these scientists hang in the balance while they do their work? Really?

OSHA! OSHA! OSHA! There is still an OSHA, right?

By Greg Allen
June 4, 2014 — 2:03 PM

...We're finding brain coral. (click here) We're finding boulder corals, the mountainous star coral. We're finding about four or five species of corals that just this past year were proposed to be listed on the endangered species list. And they're all growing out there," he says.
The boat, headed 2 miles out into the bay, speeds past huge cranes unloading container ships at the port, and condos and sunbathers on Miami Beach.
In the middle of the channel here on the previous day, divers spotted some large corals. They've come back to rescue them.
As Foord maneuvers the boat, port officials pull up in another boat to warn the crew that a freighter is coming, headed right through the spot where they're diving. They're told they have 20 minutes.
"OK, that's all we need. I have corals from yesterday that they had to abandon. We're just going to get the corals, and we're going to get out," Foord says.
As the boat bobs in a choppy 3-foot sea, Sam May, a junior at the University of Miami, pulls on his wet suit and diving gear.
"The depth is not what's exceptionally challenging about here. It's the fact that it's such a busy waterway," he says. "We have to time it correctly around the currents, otherwise we have this huge 5- to 6-knot current that flows through."
May and another diver go into the water with big baskets attached to buoys. Within a few minutes, Foord and another crew member haul in the baskets. Inside are 30-pound corals nearly 2 feet in diameter....
Incredible to realize 70 years ago freedom hung in the balance. The military was the only answer. Massive efforts were levied that day and many young soldiers knew the odds were against them. FDR in his speech made that clear. The military commanders gave the troops every advantage, but, they knew there would be losses and potential to failure. Yet in ten months from this day, the war was over.


David Jackson, USA TODAY
8:56 a.m. EDT June 6, 2014

The American-French ceremony (click here) at Omaha Beach began a day of 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations along the French coast once held by Nazis.
The ceremony featured the solemn traditions of military memorials.
Obama and French President Francois Hollande — who also spoke — placed a wreath at a colonnade near the gravesites. They held their hands over their hearts as a bugler played taps and jets roared overhead. A 21-gun salute boomed over the thousands of stone crosses at Omaha Beach.
The American and French leaders could also be seen chatting amiably with elderly veterans who visited under much different circumstances seven decades ago....

Seventy years and this war front never needed a nuclear explosion. 

The Taliban is a militia, not an ethnicity.

The media never gets it correct. The majority of the Taliban are made up of Afghan Pashtun tribesmen. The Taliban practice cultural extremism. Their guns are their power. No different than any extremist organization on any continent. They have no protections as an ethnic group in the World Court. If anything, their brutal extremism is more a subject of prosecution.

As a strong note to the focus on The Taliban as being powerful above all others in Afghanistan, it is noteworthy Ghullam Muhayuddin Khan Zmaryalay, was a Pashtun from Kandahar. Who is Ghullam Muhayuddin Khan Zmaryalay? The father of Afghan Presidential candidate Abdullah Abduallah. Did I mention he was affiliated with the Northern Alliance?

I don't doubt coal is important to Kentucky coal miners, but, it isn't all that when it comes to the state's GDP.

2012 Manufacturing Employment 
Total Manufacturing 223,300 
Transportation Equipment 49,400 
Motor Vehicle Parts 29,000 
Machinery/Appliances 27,700 
Food 26,400 
Fabricated Metals 19,300 
Paper (and printing) 19,200 
Petro/Coal 15,600 
Primary Metals 11,500 
Motor Vehicles 14,400 
Wood Products 9,300 
Computer/Electronic Products 6,100 
Chemical NA

Source: KY Department for Employment Services (click here)

There is not one coal company among the top ten in Kentucky industried. There are 4,380,000 people in Kentucky. There isn't that much of the state impacted by the coal industry when it comes to employment. Seems like much to do about nothing.

Top 10 Manufacturers/ Service & Technology 
Companies by Employment 
United Parcel Service, Inc. 12,517 
Toyota Motor Corporation 12,028 
Humana, Inc. 11,836 
Ford Motor Co. 8,491 
Amazon.com 6,529 
General Electric Co. 6,053 
FMR LLC 3,900 
Berkshire Hathaway 3,392 
Xerox Corporation 3,374 
J&F Participações S/A 2,700 
Source: Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, Office 
of Research and Public Affairs 
www.ThinkKentucky.com/kyedc/pdfs/KYTop25Firms.pdf

Mining in Kentucky is among the best paying with earnings on average per week of $1,342. Unions. Unions in Kentucky. Interesting, right? McConnell detests unions but the most unionized industry in the state is important enough to attempt a political scandal. Why? 

Kentucky coal is about 8 percent of the nation's source of coal according to the US Energy Department. It can't possibly carry that much brevity to the elections in Kentucky, can it? In comparison, Wyoming produces the most coal of US production at 39%. Not West Virginia, but, Wyoming.

Why is coal such a huge political issue in Kentucky? 


McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)Senate $132,800
Because Mitch McConnell is the third top recipient of coal's political contributions, that's why. Cronyism. 

Who are the first two?


Boehner, John (R-OH)House $251,108
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV)House $188,975
Interestingly, Ohio has only two coal mines in Century and Pohatan No. 6. Both are owned by Murray Energy and are a minor part of the coal picture in the USA, yet the House Speaker received the largest contribution from the coal industry. See, that. It pays to be Speaker of the House who directs the members of the US House and it's legislation. More interesting, isn't it? The coal industry must be very happy with Boehner and McConnell.


I thought this was interesting related to coal mining jobs in Kentucky.

The amount of coal mined in eastern Kentucky (click here) has fluctuated since the late 1970s, dropping briefly in the early 1980s, rising sharply and remaining high through the late 1980s and mid 1990s, then declining somewhat in the late 1990s. Despite these fluctuations, coal production in 2004 was only slightly lower than it was in 1979. By contrast, mining employment in eastern Kentucky declined dramatically over the same period. This is primarily the result of technological innovations that enabled more coal to be mined with fewer workers (see Figure 1).

I'll be darn. The fall in coal employment has absolutely nothing to do with coal production or federal prohibitions (which doesn't exist), but, it is because the coal industry used more and more and more technology and less and less and less persons to mine coal. Now, if the coal industry disappeared off the map would it actually impact the USA or Kentucky employment rate? Absolutely not. Now, in Kentucky there would be at the very most 15,600 human beings in need of training and refocus for employment. 15 thousand. 

So, if the coal industry is dumping all this money into the political coffers of McConnell when coal employment is being replaced by technology what is all the fuss about ? saving ? the coal industry in Kentucky? It is a lot of nonsense and LIES. In my opinion, there is no coal crisis in Kentucky and the employment picture in the best paying job in the state is bleak simply because the coal industry doesn't want human beings, they want machines so they don't have to pay the American Middle Class. 

How much of an election issue is this? Huge. Only it isn't about preserving coal employment, it is however, about the draconian manner in which the coal industry has gutted employment in opting for a mechanized industry. I mean if one wants to speak to the issue and employment there is only one real focus, but, it doesn't take expensive ads to do it.

If I were running for office in Kentucky I would eagerly point to the reason for Mr. McConnell's focus on the industry in receiving the third highest political contribution from the industry and how he never bothered to save one coal mining job since his first election to the US Senate in 1985. In fact, it could be said Senator McConnell looked the other way as Kentucky coal mining jobs were eagerly replaced by mechanization. Mitch McConnell did NOTHING to save Kentucky coal mining employment all this time in office. Not one bill, until June 4, 2014, did he propose to preserve the best paying job in Kentucky. A far cry from high on the agenda of a 29 year run in office. The legislation McConnell sought on June 4, 2014 can easily be coined, "Closing the barn door far after the horse left."

McConnell's irate attitude about coal mining is to protect the wealth to the wealthy, not about employment.

See that. The best of truth is the most powerful truth. What were the positions since 1985 by McConnell when it comes to coal mining unions?


Sierra Club survey on the new measure to end CO2 pollution. (click here)

With Millennials, the older they are the more they are independent in their judgement of the energy industry in comparison of those still dependent on parents and the fewer and fewer view the EPA unfavorably. Only 20 percent of Millennials hold an unfavorable rating of the EPA from age 26 upward. I think it is the 'child's future' connection that increases their awareness of the energy legacy they have been dealt and will leave to their children.

Republicans are anti-American. It is not that difficult to see.

I'll leave it there for now. 

There is a lot to cover. Education of our children and young people. The safety of our food. The safety of our climate. And the list continues. 

So.

I firmly believe Republicans are anti-American. They prefer a very select group of Americans to align with and oppress the rest of the country. Not only oppress, but, impoverish. 

How many campaign contributions are made on the back of those sinking further into poverty and denied the American Dream?

Until later.

"The Bible is something you fun your life by..."

Chapter and Verse. What good is it, if, it is taken out of context of it's original author?

Earlier this week I wrote about Paul and Jesus and the way the self-righteous use Bible Verse to justify guns and even elevate them to saintly status. What gives anyone, preacher or laymen the right to do that? What gives them the right to use the Bible as a sales tool and a political wedge?

It is wrong to use the Bible is used as a tool rather than as scripture.

Why does an American go to church? 

Obligation? Sure.

To hear scripture? I would hope so.

To be taught how to vote based in Biblical verse? There are some Americans that view that as a valuable method of evangelizing. 

What is the difference between the Biblical scripture and Chapter and Verse as a tool, a means to an end?

The difference is the love of God. Is a person in a church to hear the reading of scripture and the discussion of that scripture by the minister or preacher or priest to become closer to God and Jesus Christ? Or. Is the person in church to hear a so called "Man of God" deliver Chapter and Verse out of context to promote a political value system? Are both considered Christian?

Do Hebrews use the Tora and Talmud as tools to an end? No, they don't. The Hebrews I know reaffirm their faith by reading the Jewish Scripts. They have a right of passage based in the ability to read the Jewish documents. The Tora and Talmud are precious to understand and validate their faith. The don't use the readings of these documents to justify an end.

Is there any doubt about the Middle Class and the strength of unions?

As you can see, (click here) when around 35% of American workers are in a union, the equality of the wealthiest 10% and the rest of use increase at around an equal rate. It is no coincidence that this also was happening in a time where America experienced its true middle class and values of “we are all in this together.”

February 13, 2014
Paul Waldman
...What most people (click here) probably don't realize is that this inherently hostile relationship between management and unions isn't something that's inherent in capitalism. In fact, in many places where there are capitalists making lots of money, corporations work—now hold on here while I blow your mind—cooperatively with unions. One of those places is Germany, and one of the biggest German companies, Volkswagen, is right now embroiled in a union election in Tennessee that has turned into a bizarre spectacle that is showing the true colors of American conservatism. If you thought conservative were just laissez faire capitalists, seeking freedom for businesses to create prosperity, you're dead wrong. What they actually want is something much uglier....

Secession? Really?

November 13, 2008
By Elizabeth Flock


Just a week after President Barack Obama was re-elected, (click here) a petition by Texans for the right to secede from the rest of the country has garnered some 64,000 signatures, many more than the 25,000 signature threshold needed to get a response from the Obama administration.

The petition was made on the government's "We the People" petitioning web site, along with secession petitions from at least 18 other states.

The Texas petition to "peacefully" secede has gained by far the most traction of any state, citing "economic difficulties" related to the actions of the federal government in Texas, and "blatant abuses" of Texans' rights by the National Defense Authorization Act and Transportation Security Administration....

Oh, it is just a tradition. No, it is more just freedom of speech. No, it is more or less disgust at that Black Man being in the White House again!

He isn't anti-American? Millions of Texans are validated by the Texas Governor, but, that isn't anti-American?

It wasn't until the first man walked on the moon the number of African American in Congress finally reached 10.


There are 43 African American Members (click here) serving in the 112th Congress, all in the House of Representatives. There have been 133 African American Members of Congress: 127 have been elected to the House; 5 have been elected to the Senate; and 1 has been appointed to the Senate. 
There have been 104 Democrats, 101 in the House and 3 in the Senate; and 29 Republicans, 26 in the House and 3 in the Senate. 

The number of African American Members has steadily increased since the first African Americans entered Congress in 1870. There were fewer than 10 Members until the 91st Congress (1969-1971). In the 98th Congress (1983-1985), the number surpassed 20 for the first time and then jumped to 40 in the 103rd Congress (1993-1995). Since the 106th Congress (1999-2001), the number has remained between 39 and 44 serving at any one time....

So, are things drastically different in the year 2013? Are there more wealthy African Americans than ever? In the one percent are their overwhelming changes in racial equity? The wealthy have never been wealthier, so is there a drastic difference in 2013?

What level of arrogance does it take to believe they have 'the answer' that everyone needs to achieve?

Arrogance  an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing  manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions.

Is arrogance not a form of hatred. Self-righteousness is not hatred? Acknowledging one is wealthy and have done it all correct and now the rewards are rightfully held in esteem is culturally healthy?

These are the people the Republicans answer to before they ever consider the needs of Americans. The one percent. The only people that matter.

"...inequality is pre-ordained...god is never going to give you anything you can't handle...The Bible is something you run your life by and you will succeed."

I'll comment on this a little later.

How much hate does it take to victimize American children?

In denying the importance of the Minimum Wage standard in society is denying Americans of food, housing, comfort, heat and cooling for an unpredictable planet, clothing every American child deserves.

Think about that one. 

How much compassion does it take for anyone to realize a child needs to be clothed within the same appearance as their peers. In other words, when a child is 'strange looking' because they come from a poor neighborhood, it is a distraction. It is a distraction from school work and a distraction for other children. 

Every child should receive a school breakfast and lunch to minimize any distraction as well.

But, parents are great people and if they were earning a living wage, they would dump a lot of it into elevating their children's self esteem. 

Thank about that one. Please.

How much do you have to hate an American to deprive them of a living wage while taking political funding from the 1 percent?


By Kristen A. Lee
New York Daily News
Wednesday, February 13, 2013

...House Speaker John Boehner (click here) shot down President Obama’s State of the Union proposal for a minimum wage increase on Wednesday – calling the plan a job killer.

"When you raise the price of employment, guess what happens? You get less of it,” Boehner told reporters Wednesday morning. “At a time when the American people are still asking the question, 'Where are the jobs?' why would we want to make it harder for small employers to hire people?"

On Tuesday night, Obama proposed lifting the minimum wage to $9 an hour from $7.25 an hour. He followed up the proposal on Wednesday with a trip to an auto-parts factory in Asheville, N.C., where he pushed again for the increase.

“If you work full time, you shouldn’t be in poverty,” he told his audience.
Boehner, however, told reporters that a minimum wage increase would hurt minimum wage workers, rather than helping them.

“Listen, I’ve got 11 brothers and sisters on every rung of the economic ladder,” Boehner said. “I know about this issue as much as anybody in this town. And what happens when you take away the first couple of rungs on the economic ladder – you make it harder for people on the ladder.”...