To contact us Click HERE
Not only was there a lot hanky panky during the Pataki years to bring NASCAR racing to formerly rock ribbed Republican Lewis County, but the owners of the failed race track in New Bremen now say they want more tax breaks so they can reopen the Adirondack Speedway.
The owners say the $95,000 annual tax bill is the difference because success and failure in their business model. If so, they should find another line of business...It's just something for nothing.
Deal In Works Could Reopen Adirondack Speedway | WWNY TV 7 - News, Weather and Sports for | Local News
25 Haziran 2012 Pazartesi
Dicker: Andy Links Pay Hikes to Other Reforms
To contact us Click HERE
Governor Cuomo is using legislative pay as a carrot to get other reforms passed including cutting of a long standing extra stipend for lawmakers...They currently get a per diem for every day they are in session, and Mr. Cuomo reportedly wants to get rid of that.
He also wants changes to the Triborough Amendment, an aspect of state labor law favoring unions in their dealings with local government.
Nothing is perfect in Albany, but this governor seems adept at working the Legislature for getting at least some of what he wants.
We hope his skills continue, as there is no shortage of changes needed.
Cuomo links legislative pay hike to spending, union reforms - NYPOST.com
He also wants changes to the Triborough Amendment, an aspect of state labor law favoring unions in their dealings with local government.
Nothing is perfect in Albany, but this governor seems adept at working the Legislature for getting at least some of what he wants.
We hope his skills continue, as there is no shortage of changes needed.
Cuomo links legislative pay hike to spending, union reforms - NYPOST.com
Carl Paladino Endorses Wendy Long...That Should Clinch It
To contact us Click HERE
While turnout will be very low tomorrow in the GOP primary for federal offices, its looking like attorney Wendy Long will win. She is the only one getting attention and has picked up the backing of the party's 2010 gubernatorial candidate, "Crazy Carl" Paladino of Buffalo.
Long will face a long road in defeating fellow blonde, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. However, she will provide at least spirited competition as the GOP fight to keep or pick up various House seats, including Northern New York's 21st CD.
Polls are open from noon to 9PM for all you registered "R's".
Carl Paladino and Rus Thompson endorse Wendy Long « Albany's Insanity
Long will face a long road in defeating fellow blonde, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. However, she will provide at least spirited competition as the GOP fight to keep or pick up various House seats, including Northern New York's 21st CD.
Polls are open from noon to 9PM for all you registered "R's".
Carl Paladino and Rus Thompson endorse Wendy Long « Albany's Insanity
WDT: Provisional Police Chief Named
To contact us Click HERE
Its not my job to announce it since the manager appoints, but it is the job of the MSM to poke around and find out...so the pending appointment of a provisional (not interim) police chief is not likely to remain top secret available only on a need to know basis.
The official announcement will occur after Chief Goss wraps up his 30 year career.
In other City Hall news, the Clerk continues to muse over new furnishings in her office and, well that's about it....Dog days come early.
Watertown Daily Times | Local News, Sports, Features, and Community Information for Jefferson County, St. Lawrence County, and Lewis County in Northern New York.
The official announcement will occur after Chief Goss wraps up his 30 year career.
In other City Hall news, the Clerk continues to muse over new furnishings in her office and, well that's about it....Dog days come early.
Watertown Daily Times | Local News, Sports, Features, and Community Information for Jefferson County, St. Lawrence County, and Lewis County in Northern New York.
Final Hours in Primary Campaign Most Don't Know Much About
To contact us Click HERE
The Doheny HQ on Court Street was abuzz today when I stopped by, although I never made it to the inner sanctum to see the candidate. Today is a day to remind those likely to vote, to actually vote...Likely they are using the list of people who voted earlier this year in NY's Presidential primary....Those are the hardcores.
Meanwhile, opponent Kellie Greene just can't stop reminding us she just moved from AZ....Ms. Greene put out a statement on the SCOTUS ruling on the AZ immigration law.
Today's ruling is a victory for State's rights and the State of Arizona in that the US Supreme Court finally admitting the federal government's negligence in enforcing immigration law. Hopefully this ruling will force this administration to finally take seriously its job in enforcing border-national security. I believe that this battle is far from over, especially if the Obama Administration continues to push executive directives that ignore immigration law.
Pundits from the blogosphere (of which I think there are only two) predict Doheny wins...Me by 63-37 and the SU grad who works at the Times by 65-35.
Parties tomorrow night include Doheny at the Italian American Club and later at Fort Pearl.....Ms. Greene is at the Savory Downtown at the Best Western.
Polls are open from Noon to 9PM and only registered Republicans can vote. The rest of us watch.
Meanwhile, opponent Kellie Greene just can't stop reminding us she just moved from AZ....Ms. Greene put out a statement on the SCOTUS ruling on the AZ immigration law.
Today's ruling is a victory for State's rights and the State of Arizona in that the US Supreme Court finally admitting the federal government's negligence in enforcing immigration law. Hopefully this ruling will force this administration to finally take seriously its job in enforcing border-national security. I believe that this battle is far from over, especially if the Obama Administration continues to push executive directives that ignore immigration law.
Pundits from the blogosphere (of which I think there are only two) predict Doheny wins...Me by 63-37 and the SU grad who works at the Times by 65-35.
Parties tomorrow night include Doheny at the Italian American Club and later at Fort Pearl.....Ms. Greene is at the Savory Downtown at the Best Western.
Polls are open from Noon to 9PM and only registered Republicans can vote. The rest of us watch.
24 Haziran 2012 Pazar
Tuesday's Odds and Ends
To contact us Click HERE
CMPD FOP Petition - The wife of one CMPD Officer has created an online petition addressed to Charlotte City Council asking Council Members to support the FOP recommended pay changes.
"Step-raises for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department have been frozen for years. This has posed a hardship to our officers, especially our most junior officers. This affects not only their pay, but also their 401(k)s, since retirement contributions by the city are based on a percentage of earnings. With the DNC coming up, we are asking more and more of our officers, but with increased responsibility should come increased pay.
We entrust CMPD with our safety, and it is important that we compensate them according to the scope of their efforts and risks taken. If we don't, someone else will, and we will lose dedicated, talented officers to other cities who are willing to value them in a way we have not.
If we can afford to bring the Knights to uptown, we can afford to fairly compensate our police department. Charlotte City Council, it is time to show your citizens that their safety is more important than entertainment."
Cedar's Take: CMPD Officers are paid on average 20% less than officers in more than a dozen cities the size of Charlotte. Take a few seconds this morning and sign the petition which is here, it is the least we can do to support the men and women on our streets.
Facebook's Facepalm - Nothing says bad press like an IPO that heads south right out of the gate. Everyone knows "investment are not FDIC guaranteed and can lose value" but the vast majority of investment experts expect IPO's to hold up and not plummet like a rock. Turns out that the usual system of "peer review" was lost in the buildup to Facebook's 38.23 opening. More from the Wall Street Journal here.
But the emerging theme behind the Facebook Facepalm is a series of contorted numbers and assumptions and outright lies. Amazing considering the technology of the Internet and instant communication ability of investment bankers whose Achilles heel is still greed. Greed and the thought that each was getting an inside deal, lead thousands of otherwise smart investors to lose their minds and a couple of billion in the process.
WSJ Excerpt: "With the deal size expanded and some institutional investors scaling back orders, demand dropped to about 4.5 times the available shares, says one person familiar with the book.
Morgan Stanley, led by its chairman of global capital markets Daniel Simkowitz, said demand remained strong, according to people involved in the deal. Morgan Stanley told Facebook that the number of shares ordered by institutional investors had increased that week.
Individual investors often are shut out of hot IPOs because the shares usually are coveted by big, fee-generating clients of investment banks. But individual investors weren't excluded from Facebook.
On May 15, three days before the IPO, Knox Massey, a 49-year-old Atlanta investor, was in his office when he got an email from Bert Madden, his Morgan Stanley Smith Barney broker, asking if he wanted any Facebook shares.
Mr. Massey, who manages the Keith-Massey Family Investments for his family, says he hadn't requested any Facebook shares. He says he called Mr. Madden and told him he was surprised at the last-minute offer but was interested in buying. His broker, Mr. Massey says, told him he thought he could get 500 shares or more. "See what you can do," Mr. Massey recalls telling his broker."
The rest is history and Facebook goes down as one of the greatest IPO swindles ever.
Harris Teeter Beefs Up Security - It might not come as a surprise to those who live in Charlotte's "trouble spots" but out in the Stonecrest and Rea Road neighborhoods I'm not used to seeing uniformed officers on duty at banks much less grocery stores.
But ever since the armed robbery at the Harris Teeter at 11516 Providence Road last month and similar robberies in Cornelius, Union County and South Carolina the locally based Harris Teeter grocery store chain has hired off duty CMPD and MCSO Officers to stand watch over their locations.
Harris Teeter is also offering $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspects which may have ties to one or more gangs according to one CMPD Officer Cedar Posts spoke to.
The inside story is that the crooks aren't from Charlotte and the same two thugs will no doubt strike again. Harris Teeter has been targeted since late last year and no other grocery store chain has reported any smilier robbery or attempt.
Investigators say since Christmas Eve 2011, two masked men have held up seven different Harris Teeter stores in High Point, Winston Salem and Greensboro in addition to those in the Charlotte area.
Harris Teeter has responded by shutting down some stores 24 hour operations in the Greensboro area reducing the hours with a 1AM close and reopening at 6AM.
Anyone with information can call 911 or CrimeStoppers, at 704-334-1600 but apparently the calls have been scarce dispite the large cash reward.
US Open Golf - Ron Green pays homage to all things golf including "Bird Man" here. Next up across the pond to "The Open" and then the PGA Championship in our own backyard at Kiawah's Ocean Course. Having played the resort island's sandy windswept course a dozen times and stood next to the greatest golf talent at the time on the tee at number 17 during the final day of the Ryder Cup back in 1991. I'm looking forward again serving as a course marshal and hanging out "inside and ropes" in August.
As for the "Bird Man" who goes by the name "JB" for "Jungle Bird" admits he had a few beers before jumping in front of Bob Costas and Webb Simpson during the trophy presentation.
JB says it was a premeditated mission to raise awareness about global deforestation ... explaining, "I want people thinking about saving trees."
Of course, security ripped him off the course and handed him over to the San Francisco PD but JB says the officers were laughing with him and making bird noises at the station. They eventually let him go because the USGA did not want to press charges.
"Step-raises for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department have been frozen for years. This has posed a hardship to our officers, especially our most junior officers. This affects not only their pay, but also their 401(k)s, since retirement contributions by the city are based on a percentage of earnings. With the DNC coming up, we are asking more and more of our officers, but with increased responsibility should come increased pay.
We entrust CMPD with our safety, and it is important that we compensate them according to the scope of their efforts and risks taken. If we don't, someone else will, and we will lose dedicated, talented officers to other cities who are willing to value them in a way we have not.
If we can afford to bring the Knights to uptown, we can afford to fairly compensate our police department. Charlotte City Council, it is time to show your citizens that their safety is more important than entertainment."
Cedar's Take: CMPD Officers are paid on average 20% less than officers in more than a dozen cities the size of Charlotte. Take a few seconds this morning and sign the petition which is here, it is the least we can do to support the men and women on our streets.
Facebook's Facepalm - Nothing says bad press like an IPO that heads south right out of the gate. Everyone knows "investment are not FDIC guaranteed and can lose value" but the vast majority of investment experts expect IPO's to hold up and not plummet like a rock. Turns out that the usual system of "peer review" was lost in the buildup to Facebook's 38.23 opening. More from the Wall Street Journal here.
But the emerging theme behind the Facebook Facepalm is a series of contorted numbers and assumptions and outright lies. Amazing considering the technology of the Internet and instant communication ability of investment bankers whose Achilles heel is still greed. Greed and the thought that each was getting an inside deal, lead thousands of otherwise smart investors to lose their minds and a couple of billion in the process.
WSJ Excerpt: "With the deal size expanded and some institutional investors scaling back orders, demand dropped to about 4.5 times the available shares, says one person familiar with the book.
Morgan Stanley, led by its chairman of global capital markets Daniel Simkowitz, said demand remained strong, according to people involved in the deal. Morgan Stanley told Facebook that the number of shares ordered by institutional investors had increased that week.
Individual investors often are shut out of hot IPOs because the shares usually are coveted by big, fee-generating clients of investment banks. But individual investors weren't excluded from Facebook.
On May 15, three days before the IPO, Knox Massey, a 49-year-old Atlanta investor, was in his office when he got an email from Bert Madden, his Morgan Stanley Smith Barney broker, asking if he wanted any Facebook shares.
Mr. Massey, who manages the Keith-Massey Family Investments for his family, says he hadn't requested any Facebook shares. He says he called Mr. Madden and told him he was surprised at the last-minute offer but was interested in buying. His broker, Mr. Massey says, told him he thought he could get 500 shares or more. "See what you can do," Mr. Massey recalls telling his broker."
The rest is history and Facebook goes down as one of the greatest IPO swindles ever.
Harris Teeter Beefs Up Security - It might not come as a surprise to those who live in Charlotte's "trouble spots" but out in the Stonecrest and Rea Road neighborhoods I'm not used to seeing uniformed officers on duty at banks much less grocery stores.
But ever since the armed robbery at the Harris Teeter at 11516 Providence Road last month and similar robberies in Cornelius, Union County and South Carolina the locally based Harris Teeter grocery store chain has hired off duty CMPD and MCSO Officers to stand watch over their locations.
 |
| Charlotte Harris Teeter Robbers |
The inside story is that the crooks aren't from Charlotte and the same two thugs will no doubt strike again. Harris Teeter has been targeted since late last year and no other grocery store chain has reported any smilier robbery or attempt.
Investigators say since Christmas Eve 2011, two masked men have held up seven different Harris Teeter stores in High Point, Winston Salem and Greensboro in addition to those in the Charlotte area.
 |
| Greensboro Harris Teeter Robbers |
Anyone with information can call 911 or CrimeStoppers, at 704-334-1600 but apparently the calls have been scarce dispite the large cash reward.
US Open Golf - Ron Green pays homage to all things golf including "Bird Man" here. Next up across the pond to "The Open" and then the PGA Championship in our own backyard at Kiawah's Ocean Course. Having played the resort island's sandy windswept course a dozen times and stood next to the greatest golf talent at the time on the tee at number 17 during the final day of the Ryder Cup back in 1991. I'm looking forward again serving as a course marshal and hanging out "inside and ropes" in August.
As for the "Bird Man" who goes by the name "JB" for "Jungle Bird" admits he had a few beers before jumping in front of Bob Costas and Webb Simpson during the trophy presentation.
JB says it was a premeditated mission to raise awareness about global deforestation ... explaining, "I want people thinking about saving trees."
Of course, security ripped him off the course and handed him over to the San Francisco PD but JB says the officers were laughing with him and making bird noises at the station. They eventually let him go because the USGA did not want to press charges.
CMPD Chaplins Take Another Hit - This Time Jesus Gets The Pink Slip
To contact us Click HERE
You should have seen this one coming.
WSOC-TV reports that CMPD Chaplins have been ordered not to invoke the name of Jesus in prayers at public events.
From WSOC:“When I heard this I was sad," said Pastor Terry Sartain, who has been a chaplain with CMPD for seven years.Sartain said he learned of the policy when he got a phone call before a recent promotion ceremony saying he could not use Jesus' name in his invocation."I asked if I could withdraw, because Jesus is the only thing I have to bless people with," Sartain said.
He was allowed to withdraw from the ceremony and was told it would hurt his standing as a chaplain.
Major John Diggs, who oversees the chaplain program, said the policy is a matter of respecting that people may have different faiths and that it is not aimed at any one religion or denomination.
Some say the policy is long overdue."It's past time when they should've made a policy," said Jim Gronquist, a former Methodist minister who has been a practicing lawyer and member of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Gronquist said it's important to keep the separation between church and state -- in this case, between specific faiths and the police department."It's improper to mix up religion with the function of state agents, and as long as they're state agents, they should not be able to do that," Gronquist said.
Controversy is nothing new to the police chaplains. Several resigned two years ago when the department took on a lesbian chaplain.But Terry Sartain did not walk away then and he said he's not going to leave his ministry with the officers, whatever their beliefs.
“They know when I ride with them that I love them for who they are," Sartain said.
WSOC-TV reports that CMPD Chaplins have been ordered not to invoke the name of Jesus in prayers at public events.
From WSOC:“When I heard this I was sad," said Pastor Terry Sartain, who has been a chaplain with CMPD for seven years.Sartain said he learned of the policy when he got a phone call before a recent promotion ceremony saying he could not use Jesus' name in his invocation."I asked if I could withdraw, because Jesus is the only thing I have to bless people with," Sartain said.
He was allowed to withdraw from the ceremony and was told it would hurt his standing as a chaplain.
Major John Diggs, who oversees the chaplain program, said the policy is a matter of respecting that people may have different faiths and that it is not aimed at any one religion or denomination.
Some say the policy is long overdue."It's past time when they should've made a policy," said Jim Gronquist, a former Methodist minister who has been a practicing lawyer and member of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Gronquist said it's important to keep the separation between church and state -- in this case, between specific faiths and the police department."It's improper to mix up religion with the function of state agents, and as long as they're state agents, they should not be able to do that," Gronquist said.
Controversy is nothing new to the police chaplains. Several resigned two years ago when the department took on a lesbian chaplain.But Terry Sartain did not walk away then and he said he's not going to leave his ministry with the officers, whatever their beliefs.
“They know when I ride with them that I love them for who they are," Sartain said.
The Boat In Kenny Chesney's Come Over
To contact us Click HERE
Another video that makes you wonder what a pretty popular guy is thinking. Perhaps Chesney is wanting to distance himself from the loathsome redneck, "Bass Tracker" crowd that folks like the Zac Brown Band attract.
So he had some director use the standard MTV hot girl format, added an even hotter boat and Kenny Chesney has another music video hit.
The video is fun, but no one seems to care about the song or the girl they want to know about the boat.
First off it is not Kenny Chesney's boat. Just a loaner they used for the video. Last Cedar Posts heard Chesney still owns a small but nice SeaRay that is normally found in the Bahamas.
The yacht in question is a Riva Domino in Metallic Ice, and at 86 feet she is the real stunner of the video. Cost you ask? Trust me if you have to ask..... but upwards of 6 million.
The Offical Sales Pitch:
This 26 metre coupè, result of the working relationship between Officina Italiana Design, the exclusive designer of all the yachts in the Riva range, AYT - Advanced Yacht Technology - Ferretti Group's naval research and design centre, and the team of architects and designers of Centro Stile Ferrettigroup, is an evolution of the 68' Ego Super model, featuring larger spaces and several living areas which allow ever more socialising. These characteristics make this yacht ideal for both long cruises and daily life on board.
The clean, seducing lines of the new 86' Domino are softened - in this new optional version of the model - by the new Grey Sand colour covering the hull and the deckhouse and creates a final effect of great elegance and simplicity.
A large sundeck in the foredeck area features a dinette with a table that can seat up to 6 guests. Perfectly integrated into the upper part of the deckhouse is the sundeck, where a second pilot seat is also located, ideal for mooring manoeuvres. Another table seating 6 and a comfortable divan are located in the cockpit.
The closed, air-conditioned upper salon creates an open space area with the dinette, and is separated from the helm station by a large 55'' LCD television. This solution ensures the area is extremely well-lit as it guarantees the passage of natural light both through the large side windows and the windscreen. The design of the furnishing elements, and the choice to match the special shades of Canaletto walnut with chocolate-coloured leather inserts and white lacquering make this an attractive, welcoming environment, emphasising the available space.
The fully-equipped galley is located on a mezzanine level, and accessed from the left hand side of the helm station, whilst the crew cabins - for 4 people - are accessed from the stern cockpit. They feature a head and dinette, guaranteeing total privacy for Owners and their guests.
The special design of the large window, in correspondence with the full beam master cabin located amidships, follows the surface of the hull integrating into it perfectly and ensuring as much light as possible in this environment. The light is also emphasised by the Canaletto walnut and white lacquering which alternate with the Africa coloured lacquering. Equipped with an en-suite head and walk-in wardrobe, the master cabin also has a private living-room area and vanity.
The VIP cabin, with en-suite head, is located in the forward area, whilst two twin-bedded guest cabins with en-suite heads, are located between this and the master cabin. The starboard guest cabin also features a system of sliding beds on tracks transforms it into a second queen size cabin.
86' Domino is equipped with two MTU 16V 2000 M93, power 2435 mhp; they deliver a maximum speed of 38 knots and a cruise speed of 34 knots.
Weather Dog tells CP that the girl in Chesney’s new music video is Courtney McCann, a west coast girl who looks right at home in Ft. Lauderdale on a million dollar yacht. see.More of Ms. McCann here http://www.emshowcase.com/portfolio-view/courtney-mccann/
So he had some director use the standard MTV hot girl format, added an even hotter boat and Kenny Chesney has another music video hit.
The video is fun, but no one seems to care about the song or the girl they want to know about the boat.
First off it is not Kenny Chesney's boat. Just a loaner they used for the video. Last Cedar Posts heard Chesney still owns a small but nice SeaRay that is normally found in the Bahamas.
The yacht in question is a Riva Domino in Metallic Ice, and at 86 feet she is the real stunner of the video. Cost you ask? Trust me if you have to ask..... but upwards of 6 million.
The Offical Sales Pitch:
This 26 metre coupè, result of the working relationship between Officina Italiana Design, the exclusive designer of all the yachts in the Riva range, AYT - Advanced Yacht Technology - Ferretti Group's naval research and design centre, and the team of architects and designers of Centro Stile Ferrettigroup, is an evolution of the 68' Ego Super model, featuring larger spaces and several living areas which allow ever more socialising. These characteristics make this yacht ideal for both long cruises and daily life on board.
The clean, seducing lines of the new 86' Domino are softened - in this new optional version of the model - by the new Grey Sand colour covering the hull and the deckhouse and creates a final effect of great elegance and simplicity.
A large sundeck in the foredeck area features a dinette with a table that can seat up to 6 guests. Perfectly integrated into the upper part of the deckhouse is the sundeck, where a second pilot seat is also located, ideal for mooring manoeuvres. Another table seating 6 and a comfortable divan are located in the cockpit.
The closed, air-conditioned upper salon creates an open space area with the dinette, and is separated from the helm station by a large 55'' LCD television. This solution ensures the area is extremely well-lit as it guarantees the passage of natural light both through the large side windows and the windscreen. The design of the furnishing elements, and the choice to match the special shades of Canaletto walnut with chocolate-coloured leather inserts and white lacquering make this an attractive, welcoming environment, emphasising the available space.
The fully-equipped galley is located on a mezzanine level, and accessed from the left hand side of the helm station, whilst the crew cabins - for 4 people - are accessed from the stern cockpit. They feature a head and dinette, guaranteeing total privacy for Owners and their guests.
The special design of the large window, in correspondence with the full beam master cabin located amidships, follows the surface of the hull integrating into it perfectly and ensuring as much light as possible in this environment. The light is also emphasised by the Canaletto walnut and white lacquering which alternate with the Africa coloured lacquering. Equipped with an en-suite head and walk-in wardrobe, the master cabin also has a private living-room area and vanity.
The VIP cabin, with en-suite head, is located in the forward area, whilst two twin-bedded guest cabins with en-suite heads, are located between this and the master cabin. The starboard guest cabin also features a system of sliding beds on tracks transforms it into a second queen size cabin.
86' Domino is equipped with two MTU 16V 2000 M93, power 2435 mhp; they deliver a maximum speed of 38 knots and a cruise speed of 34 knots.
Weather Dog tells CP that the girl in Chesney’s new music video is Courtney McCann, a west coast girl who looks right at home in Ft. Lauderdale on a million dollar yacht. see.More of Ms. McCann here http://www.emshowcase.com/portfolio-view/courtney-mccann/
It's Time To End Public Prayer in America
To contact us Click HERE
Glenn H. Burkins is editor and publisher of Qcitymetro.com. His commentary on the recent CMPD decision to remove the name of Jesus in public prayer is a bold and well made statement.
As much as it makes CP despondent, he's right. When we removed school prayer we landed on the well greased slippery slope. But the First Amendment which the church and state debate is based on requires that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." While for the past 60 years the emphasis has been on the first part "establishment" maybe it is time to focus on the last part, "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
Should we eliminate prayer before Panthers games? What about NASCAR, and boxing? Don't our gladiators of sport deserve and need prayer? What if there is no prayer and some tragic accident happens? After all tragic accidents happen all the time in sport even with prayer, so without how bad could it get without?
But what do you think?
By Glenn H. Burkins:
So, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has asked its chaplains to stop invoking the name of Jesus when they pray at official department ceremonies.
John Diggs, who heads CMPD’s volunteer chaplain program, told the Observer’s Mike Gordon the move was not meant to “demean anyone’s Christian beliefs” but rather to show greater sensitivity to all religions practiced by the department’s 2,000-plus police employees.
A bold stroke in a town sometimes called “the city of churches.”
Sadly, though, not bold enough.
If Chief Rodney Monroe had asked for my opinion, and clearly he did not, I would have advised him to go one step further and eliminate prayer altogether at events such as police promotions and graduations.
No, I have not taken leave of my Christian senses. Neither have I forsaken the teachings of my father, who every Sunday of my youth called his wife and children around the breakfast table and led us all in family prayer.
What I have done is come to the reluctant conclusion that public prayer – be it of the Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jewish variety -- has no place when Americans gather for secular events.
In explaining the police department’s move, Diggs told the Observer, “CMPD is not anybody’s church.”
Precisely. Neither is it anybody’s synagogue, mosque, temple or prayer closet – all appropriate places for personal expressions of faith.
Who among us has not attended a business or community luncheon where all in attendance were directed to stand for a public invocation? For me, those occasions rank among my most uncomfortable moments as a Christian.
Will the person praying call on the name of Jesus and risk offending every Muslim or Jew in the house, or will he ignore the name so sacred to my faith and leave me feeling ambivalent? And what about the guy fidgeting next to me who desires no faith at all?
In our noble attempt to avoid every offense, we have watered down public prayer to a point where it has become more rote than religious. At that point, it ceases to have significance.
In a conversation I had with Bishop Claude Alexander late last year, he touched on this topic. Increasingly, he said, he is being asked to pray at public events in Charlotte without mentioning the name of Jesus.
“Well, personally,” he said, “I’m accepting fewer invitations to pray.”
I often hear people whose opinions I otherwise respect lament the day that prayer was taken out of our public schools. Look where it got us, they say.
For me, it was a no-brainer.
I remember watching in elementary school as a quiet kid who seemed to have few friends exited our classroom every time we prepared to pray or hold Bible study. (Yes, we actually had Bible study in school back then.)
How strange it was that our schoolmate would leave us, we all whispered, which only added to this kid’s alienation. It wasn’t until years later that I learned that he was a Jehovah’s Witness and that his parents did not want their child participating in what amounted to our classroom worship service.
The beauty and genius of the United States is our racial and cultural diversity. China and India will never touch us in that category. But it’s also the quality that, more than any other, may lead to our undoing.
As much as some might desire it, we will never go back to the days of big-finned automobiles when practically every American was either black or white but all most likely were Christian. If we are to survive as a nation, we must find a way, somehow, to respect our growing differences while avoiding situations that might allow our differences to become nation-busting fault lines.
Public prayer, alas, is one of those situations.
As much as it makes CP despondent, he's right. When we removed school prayer we landed on the well greased slippery slope. But the First Amendment which the church and state debate is based on requires that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." While for the past 60 years the emphasis has been on the first part "establishment" maybe it is time to focus on the last part, "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
Should we eliminate prayer before Panthers games? What about NASCAR, and boxing? Don't our gladiators of sport deserve and need prayer? What if there is no prayer and some tragic accident happens? After all tragic accidents happen all the time in sport even with prayer, so without how bad could it get without?
But what do you think?
By Glenn H. Burkins:
So, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has asked its chaplains to stop invoking the name of Jesus when they pray at official department ceremonies.
John Diggs, who heads CMPD’s volunteer chaplain program, told the Observer’s Mike Gordon the move was not meant to “demean anyone’s Christian beliefs” but rather to show greater sensitivity to all religions practiced by the department’s 2,000-plus police employees.
A bold stroke in a town sometimes called “the city of churches.”
Sadly, though, not bold enough.
If Chief Rodney Monroe had asked for my opinion, and clearly he did not, I would have advised him to go one step further and eliminate prayer altogether at events such as police promotions and graduations.
No, I have not taken leave of my Christian senses. Neither have I forsaken the teachings of my father, who every Sunday of my youth called his wife and children around the breakfast table and led us all in family prayer.
What I have done is come to the reluctant conclusion that public prayer – be it of the Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jewish variety -- has no place when Americans gather for secular events.
In explaining the police department’s move, Diggs told the Observer, “CMPD is not anybody’s church.”
Precisely. Neither is it anybody’s synagogue, mosque, temple or prayer closet – all appropriate places for personal expressions of faith.
Who among us has not attended a business or community luncheon where all in attendance were directed to stand for a public invocation? For me, those occasions rank among my most uncomfortable moments as a Christian.
Will the person praying call on the name of Jesus and risk offending every Muslim or Jew in the house, or will he ignore the name so sacred to my faith and leave me feeling ambivalent? And what about the guy fidgeting next to me who desires no faith at all?
In our noble attempt to avoid every offense, we have watered down public prayer to a point where it has become more rote than religious. At that point, it ceases to have significance.
In a conversation I had with Bishop Claude Alexander late last year, he touched on this topic. Increasingly, he said, he is being asked to pray at public events in Charlotte without mentioning the name of Jesus.
“Well, personally,” he said, “I’m accepting fewer invitations to pray.”
I often hear people whose opinions I otherwise respect lament the day that prayer was taken out of our public schools. Look where it got us, they say.
For me, it was a no-brainer.
I remember watching in elementary school as a quiet kid who seemed to have few friends exited our classroom every time we prepared to pray or hold Bible study. (Yes, we actually had Bible study in school back then.)
How strange it was that our schoolmate would leave us, we all whispered, which only added to this kid’s alienation. It wasn’t until years later that I learned that he was a Jehovah’s Witness and that his parents did not want their child participating in what amounted to our classroom worship service.
The beauty and genius of the United States is our racial and cultural diversity. China and India will never touch us in that category. But it’s also the quality that, more than any other, may lead to our undoing.
As much as some might desire it, we will never go back to the days of big-finned automobiles when practically every American was either black or white but all most likely were Christian. If we are to survive as a nation, we must find a way, somehow, to respect our growing differences while avoiding situations that might allow our differences to become nation-busting fault lines.
Public prayer, alas, is one of those situations.
WCNC Reporting Officer Involved Accident
To contact us Click HERE
A wreck involving a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer is under investigation.
The rear-end collision happened Friday evening on East Independence Boulevard. According to police, a female officer slammed into the back of a pick-up truck. No one was injured.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the officer will receive a citation or face charges. Police told NewsChannel 36 that the officer will immediately undergo drug testing.
Emails sent to CMPD’s public information department asking for additional information were not immediately returned.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/06/23/3337310/cmpd-officer-slams-into-pick-up.html#storylink=cpy
 |
| Photo Credit: Jason Boyd |
The rear-end collision happened Friday evening on East Independence Boulevard. According to police, a female officer slammed into the back of a pick-up truck. No one was injured.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the officer will receive a citation or face charges. Police told NewsChannel 36 that the officer will immediately undergo drug testing.
Emails sent to CMPD’s public information department asking for additional information were not immediately returned.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/06/23/3337310/cmpd-officer-slams-into-pick-up.html#storylink=cpy
23 Haziran 2012 Cumartesi
And the Holiest Candidate Is......
To contact us Click HERE
No rallies today for Mr. Doheny's opponent, but according to Kellie Greene's Facebook page, she did get an A+ from a website rating candidates on their adherence to Judeo-Christian values.
Mr. Doheny got a B. My theory in college was always one of balance...Better to take a B and have had some fun than graduate to real life with nothing more than a good report card.
Under the circumstances a B is pretty good. As for an A+, I am electing a Member of Congress, not a candidate for sainthood.
Summary
Mr. Doheny got a B. My theory in college was always one of balance...Better to take a B and have had some fun than graduate to real life with nothing more than a good report card.
Under the circumstances a B is pretty good. As for an A+, I am electing a Member of Congress, not a candidate for sainthood.
Summary
The Boat In Kenny Chesney's Come Over
To contact us Click HERE
Another video that makes you wonder what a pretty popular guy is thinking. Perhaps Chesney is wanting to distance himself from the loathsome redneck, "Bass Tracker" crowd that folks like the Zac Brown Band attract.
So he had some director use the standard MTV hot girl format, added an even hotter boat and Kenny Chesney has another music video hit.
The video is fun, but no one seems to care about the song or the girl they want to know about the boat.
First off it is not Kenny Chesney's boat. Just a loaner they used for the video. Last Cedar Posts heard Chesney still owns a small but nice SeaRay that is normally found in the Bahamas.
The yacht in question is a Riva Domino in Metallic Ice, and at 86 feet she is the real stunner of the video. Cost you ask? Trust me if you have to ask..... but upwards of 6 million.
The Offical Sales Pitch:
This 26 metre coupè, result of the working relationship between Officina Italiana Design, the exclusive designer of all the yachts in the Riva range, AYT - Advanced Yacht Technology - Ferretti Group's naval research and design centre, and the team of architects and designers of Centro Stile Ferrettigroup, is an evolution of the 68' Ego Super model, featuring larger spaces and several living areas which allow ever more socialising. These characteristics make this yacht ideal for both long cruises and daily life on board.
The clean, seducing lines of the new 86' Domino are softened - in this new optional version of the model - by the new Grey Sand colour covering the hull and the deckhouse and creates a final effect of great elegance and simplicity.
A large sundeck in the foredeck area features a dinette with a table that can seat up to 6 guests. Perfectly integrated into the upper part of the deckhouse is the sundeck, where a second pilot seat is also located, ideal for mooring manoeuvres. Another table seating 6 and a comfortable divan are located in the cockpit.
The closed, air-conditioned upper salon creates an open space area with the dinette, and is separated from the helm station by a large 55'' LCD television. This solution ensures the area is extremely well-lit as it guarantees the passage of natural light both through the large side windows and the windscreen. The design of the furnishing elements, and the choice to match the special shades of Canaletto walnut with chocolate-coloured leather inserts and white lacquering make this an attractive, welcoming environment, emphasising the available space.
The fully-equipped galley is located on a mezzanine level, and accessed from the left hand side of the helm station, whilst the crew cabins - for 4 people - are accessed from the stern cockpit. They feature a head and dinette, guaranteeing total privacy for Owners and their guests.
The special design of the large window, in correspondence with the full beam master cabin located amidships, follows the surface of the hull integrating into it perfectly and ensuring as much light as possible in this environment. The light is also emphasised by the Canaletto walnut and white lacquering which alternate with the Africa coloured lacquering. Equipped with an en-suite head and walk-in wardrobe, the master cabin also has a private living-room area and vanity.
The VIP cabin, with en-suite head, is located in the forward area, whilst two twin-bedded guest cabins with en-suite heads, are located between this and the master cabin. The starboard guest cabin also features a system of sliding beds on tracks transforms it into a second queen size cabin.
86' Domino is equipped with two MTU 16V 2000 M93, power 2435 mhp; they deliver a maximum speed of 38 knots and a cruise speed of 34 knots.
Weather Dog tells CP that the girl in Chesney’s new music video is Courtney McCann, a west coast girl who looks right at home in Ft. Lauderdale on a million dollar yacht. see.More of Ms. McCann here http://www.emshowcase.com/portfolio-view/courtney-mccann/
So he had some director use the standard MTV hot girl format, added an even hotter boat and Kenny Chesney has another music video hit.
The video is fun, but no one seems to care about the song or the girl they want to know about the boat.
First off it is not Kenny Chesney's boat. Just a loaner they used for the video. Last Cedar Posts heard Chesney still owns a small but nice SeaRay that is normally found in the Bahamas.
The yacht in question is a Riva Domino in Metallic Ice, and at 86 feet she is the real stunner of the video. Cost you ask? Trust me if you have to ask..... but upwards of 6 million.
The Offical Sales Pitch:
This 26 metre coupè, result of the working relationship between Officina Italiana Design, the exclusive designer of all the yachts in the Riva range, AYT - Advanced Yacht Technology - Ferretti Group's naval research and design centre, and the team of architects and designers of Centro Stile Ferrettigroup, is an evolution of the 68' Ego Super model, featuring larger spaces and several living areas which allow ever more socialising. These characteristics make this yacht ideal for both long cruises and daily life on board.
The clean, seducing lines of the new 86' Domino are softened - in this new optional version of the model - by the new Grey Sand colour covering the hull and the deckhouse and creates a final effect of great elegance and simplicity.
A large sundeck in the foredeck area features a dinette with a table that can seat up to 6 guests. Perfectly integrated into the upper part of the deckhouse is the sundeck, where a second pilot seat is also located, ideal for mooring manoeuvres. Another table seating 6 and a comfortable divan are located in the cockpit.
The closed, air-conditioned upper salon creates an open space area with the dinette, and is separated from the helm station by a large 55'' LCD television. This solution ensures the area is extremely well-lit as it guarantees the passage of natural light both through the large side windows and the windscreen. The design of the furnishing elements, and the choice to match the special shades of Canaletto walnut with chocolate-coloured leather inserts and white lacquering make this an attractive, welcoming environment, emphasising the available space.
The fully-equipped galley is located on a mezzanine level, and accessed from the left hand side of the helm station, whilst the crew cabins - for 4 people - are accessed from the stern cockpit. They feature a head and dinette, guaranteeing total privacy for Owners and their guests.
The special design of the large window, in correspondence with the full beam master cabin located amidships, follows the surface of the hull integrating into it perfectly and ensuring as much light as possible in this environment. The light is also emphasised by the Canaletto walnut and white lacquering which alternate with the Africa coloured lacquering. Equipped with an en-suite head and walk-in wardrobe, the master cabin also has a private living-room area and vanity.
The VIP cabin, with en-suite head, is located in the forward area, whilst two twin-bedded guest cabins with en-suite heads, are located between this and the master cabin. The starboard guest cabin also features a system of sliding beds on tracks transforms it into a second queen size cabin.
86' Domino is equipped with two MTU 16V 2000 M93, power 2435 mhp; they deliver a maximum speed of 38 knots and a cruise speed of 34 knots.
Weather Dog tells CP that the girl in Chesney’s new music video is Courtney McCann, a west coast girl who looks right at home in Ft. Lauderdale on a million dollar yacht. see.More of Ms. McCann here http://www.emshowcase.com/portfolio-view/courtney-mccann/
Things You Suspected All Along - Jerry Orr on Email
To contact us Click HERE
WFAE's Julie Rose is really good at what she does and her story "Assessing Access To Public Records In NC" which aired Monday was no exception.
Her news story points out that getting the City of Charlotte, Police Department and City Attorney's office to respond to FOIA requests is a tiring and often frustrating experience. And while CMPD and the City of Charlotte is required to provide requested information they really have no reason to be expeditious.
But buried in the last 100 words is this amazing quote from CDIA Direction Jerry Orr, regarding his lack of use of emails.
"Cause once you hit that key, it's there," says Jerry Orr, Charlotte Aviation Director. He says he uses email, but sparingly. "You want to say as little as possible. In case you change your mind, you have that much less to deny."
"Much less to deny" which is pretty much what we saw with the Tisdale death and security issues, denial after denial. Notice Orr didn't say "explain" he said "deny", amazing.
Cedar Posts Foot Note: My apologies to Julie Rose for not answering her email last week. For the record Cedar Posts doesn't make FOIA requests, instead CP relies on CMPD and City/County insiders to provide information and documents regarding wrong doing, corruption and excessive spending.
Her news story points out that getting the City of Charlotte, Police Department and City Attorney's office to respond to FOIA requests is a tiring and often frustrating experience. And while CMPD and the City of Charlotte is required to provide requested information they really have no reason to be expeditious.
But buried in the last 100 words is this amazing quote from CDIA Direction Jerry Orr, regarding his lack of use of emails.
"Cause once you hit that key, it's there," says Jerry Orr, Charlotte Aviation Director. He says he uses email, but sparingly. "You want to say as little as possible. In case you change your mind, you have that much less to deny."
"Much less to deny" which is pretty much what we saw with the Tisdale death and security issues, denial after denial. Notice Orr didn't say "explain" he said "deny", amazing.
Cedar Posts Foot Note: My apologies to Julie Rose for not answering her email last week. For the record Cedar Posts doesn't make FOIA requests, instead CP relies on CMPD and City/County insiders to provide information and documents regarding wrong doing, corruption and excessive spending.
If You Think The Obama Presidency is Circus - Just Wait To You See The Clowns They Invite to the White House.
To contact us Click HERE
A pair of LGBT activists who were invited to the White House for a first-ever White House "gay pride" event last Friday stirred a controversy after being photographed giving President Ronald Reagan’s official portrait the finger.
The guests, Philadelphia gay rights activists Matthew Hart, and Zoe Strauss, traveled to Washington, DC, at President Barack Obama’s invitation to observe Gay Pride Month.
The event also came on the heels of Obama's recent declaration of support for same-sex marriage.
During the Friday reception, a transgender man also dropped down on one knee and proposed to his partner also a man, errr woman, (seriously I have no clue who or what was who or what) while Strauss and her partner were later photographed swapping spit on a couch under Reagan’s portrait.
The photos featuring Reagan-flipping images surfaced online when Hart posted his photo on Facebook with the caption: ‘F--- Reagan.’ Strauss posted hers without commentary. Both images have since been removed.
The White House has not commented on the incidents or photos.
As if his photo did not speak volumes, Mr Hart made his feelings about the 40th U.S. president abundantly clear in an interview with Philadelphia Magazine a week after the reception.
‘Ronald Reagan has blood on his hands. The man was in the White House as AIDS exploded, and he was happy to see plenty of gay men and queer people die,’ Hart said. ‘He was a murderous fool, and I have no problem saying so. Don’t invite me back. I don’t care.’
Cedar's Take: Don't you think four years of this garbage is enough? Isn't it time to clean house?
The guests, Philadelphia gay rights activists Matthew Hart, and Zoe Strauss, traveled to Washington, DC, at President Barack Obama’s invitation to observe Gay Pride Month.
The event also came on the heels of Obama's recent declaration of support for same-sex marriage.
 |
| Reagan-haters and classless clowns, Matthew “Matty” Hart (top), and photographer Zoe Strauss (above). |
The photos featuring Reagan-flipping images surfaced online when Hart posted his photo on Facebook with the caption: ‘F--- Reagan.’ Strauss posted hers without commentary. Both images have since been removed.
The White House has not commented on the incidents or photos.
As if his photo did not speak volumes, Mr Hart made his feelings about the 40th U.S. president abundantly clear in an interview with Philadelphia Magazine a week after the reception.
‘Ronald Reagan has blood on his hands. The man was in the White House as AIDS exploded, and he was happy to see plenty of gay men and queer people die,’ Hart said. ‘He was a murderous fool, and I have no problem saying so. Don’t invite me back. I don’t care.’
 |
| Strauss, kissing her partner beneath the Reagan portrait. |
Cedar's Take: Don't you think four years of this garbage is enough? Isn't it time to clean house?
Another Friday Night in Chalotte Another Homicide
To contact us Click HERE
A 21-year-old was found fatally shot at an East Charlotte apartment complex early Saturday morning.
Around 3:30 this morning Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to 2520 Lanecrest Drive, off Milton Road where they found Dantonio Gerrick Hamilton in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Officers determined that the victim had been shot and paramedics pronounced him dead at 3:43 a.m.
Witnesses described the suspect as a black male with short dreadlocks, wearing a black T-shirt and jean shorts. He was last seen fleeing toward Barringer Road.
According to MCSO records Hamilton was charged with murder in the death of 20-year-old Devon Clement, who was gunned down in front of dozens of people at a Cook-Out restaurant on West Sugar Creek Road in May of 2010.Hamilton and two others were arrested in the case. Prosecutors said the only gunshot that struck Clement was fired by another suspect, Cherelle Griffin. She pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder.
Last November, Hamilton pleaded guilty to discharging a gun into occupied property. He was sentenced to 25-39 months in prison, but that sentence was suspended pending his successful completion of three years on supervised probation.
Around 3:30 this morning Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to 2520 Lanecrest Drive, off Milton Road where they found Dantonio Gerrick Hamilton in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Officers determined that the victim had been shot and paramedics pronounced him dead at 3:43 a.m.
 |
| Dantonio Gerrick Hamilton |
According to MCSO records Hamilton was charged with murder in the death of 20-year-old Devon Clement, who was gunned down in front of dozens of people at a Cook-Out restaurant on West Sugar Creek Road in May of 2010.Hamilton and two others were arrested in the case. Prosecutors said the only gunshot that struck Clement was fired by another suspect, Cherelle Griffin. She pleaded guilty last year to second-degree murder.
Last November, Hamilton pleaded guilty to discharging a gun into occupied property. He was sentenced to 25-39 months in prison, but that sentence was suspended pending his successful completion of three years on supervised probation.
21 Haziran 2012 Perşembe
"The Covert War Against Rock"
To contact us Click HERE
Source: Antifascist Encyclopedia Click here for more
CHAPTER 1….. A Killing Field for the Heat…….. ..
In 1967 a subversive form of music melded with politics in San Francisco. Thus, destabilization tactics were summarized in a leaked memo, excerpt: “show them as depraved, call attention to their habits, and every possible embarrassment. Send articles to the newspaper showing their depravity. Use misinformation to confuse and corrupt. Provoke target groups into rivalries that might result in death.”
For the first time since it’s creation the warfare state erected by the Dulles brothers, Hoover, MacArthur, Kissinger, Nixon, etc. was threatened by an increasingly militant segment of society. The FBI rose to the challenge. On July 30, 1994, Intelligence files on Leonard Bernstein reveal the bureau spent countless hours examining his links with associations deemed “communist” to “subversive.”
FBI agent Jane Moore said the FBI saw the strength and power of the idea of socialism, realized it represented a very real danger to our profit-motivated corporate state and had declared total covert war against not only the denim clad revolutionaries but all progressive forces. The
bureaus tactic was to cut them down or burn them out before they realized their POTENTIAL.
At the federal level, the CIA. was already pursuing similar objectives under code name Operation Chaos.
Targets of “Chaos” Blank Panther Movement…. Geronimo Pratt, jailed for 27 yrs. for murders he did not commit. He was also a target of COINTELPRO, the FBI “counter-surveillance program”. Politically active hippies were also targets. Many underground papers were put out of business when they were abandoned by advertisers who had been pressured by the FBI. From 1967 to 1972 the operation compiled 13,000 files, which concerned 300,000 individuals and organizations. The CIA directorate of operations created an index of 7 million names.
CHAPTER 1….. A Killing Field for the Heat…….. ..
In 1967 a subversive form of music melded with politics in San Francisco. Thus, destabilization tactics were summarized in a leaked memo, excerpt: “show them as depraved, call attention to their habits, and every possible embarrassment. Send articles to the newspaper showing their depravity. Use misinformation to confuse and corrupt. Provoke target groups into rivalries that might result in death.”
For the first time since it’s creation the warfare state erected by the Dulles brothers, Hoover, MacArthur, Kissinger, Nixon, etc. was threatened by an increasingly militant segment of society. The FBI rose to the challenge. On July 30, 1994, Intelligence files on Leonard Bernstein reveal the bureau spent countless hours examining his links with associations deemed “communist” to “subversive.”
FBI agent Jane Moore said the FBI saw the strength and power of the idea of socialism, realized it represented a very real danger to our profit-motivated corporate state and had declared total covert war against not only the denim clad revolutionaries but all progressive forces. The
bureaus tactic was to cut them down or burn them out before they realized their POTENTIAL.
At the federal level, the CIA. was already pursuing similar objectives under code name Operation Chaos.
Targets of “Chaos” Blank Panther Movement…. Geronimo Pratt, jailed for 27 yrs. for murders he did not commit. He was also a target of COINTELPRO, the FBI “counter-surveillance program”. Politically active hippies were also targets. Many underground papers were put out of business when they were abandoned by advertisers who had been pressured by the FBI. From 1967 to 1972 the operation compiled 13,000 files, which concerned 300,000 individuals and organizations. The CIA directorate of operations created an index of 7 million names.
Was SAG/AFTRA Vote Count Witnessed By Any Opposed To Merger?
To contact us Click HERE
Source: SAG Watchdog
So there were never any witnesses.
This reminds me of a weird thing that happened with AFTRA.
Our union shop was to vote last year on whether to go ahead with negotiations, or whether to wait until later. Many people felt strongly that we should go ahead.
Ballots were passed out.
We voted.
The vote came back, according to the union people, overwhelmingly, "to wait."
I thought that was funny and so did some other people who were surprised that it would be "overwhelming" when a number of people were expressing the opposite opinion verbally at work.
So then I asked our shop steward whether our votes actually counted, if we weren't paid up on our membership.
She never got me an answer.
She asked and was blown off.
When I asked her whether she might be being blown off, she said the guy just hadn't gotten back to her. But then she never got back to me and I never heard.
I had heard a rumor our votes don't count unless we're paid up or on a payment plan, but they passed out ballots and no one made a peep about that.
If I voted and it wasn't counted, I really find that offensive. If I need to pay up for it to count, fine.
Tell me that, then.
Then there's the little matter of the 150 million dollar settlement AFTRA is about to approve with JP Morgan Chase.
JP Morgan apparently lost a bunch of AFTRA's pension fund.
AFTRA's not saying how much; at least, I can't find out how much.
But they are settling for 150 million.
How much more did they lose?
Isn't that sort of a member's right to know?
So there were never any witnesses.
This reminds me of a weird thing that happened with AFTRA.
Our union shop was to vote last year on whether to go ahead with negotiations, or whether to wait until later. Many people felt strongly that we should go ahead.
Ballots were passed out.
We voted.
The vote came back, according to the union people, overwhelmingly, "to wait."
I thought that was funny and so did some other people who were surprised that it would be "overwhelming" when a number of people were expressing the opposite opinion verbally at work.
So then I asked our shop steward whether our votes actually counted, if we weren't paid up on our membership.
She never got me an answer.
She asked and was blown off.
When I asked her whether she might be being blown off, she said the guy just hadn't gotten back to her. But then she never got back to me and I never heard.
I had heard a rumor our votes don't count unless we're paid up or on a payment plan, but they passed out ballots and no one made a peep about that.
If I voted and it wasn't counted, I really find that offensive. If I need to pay up for it to count, fine.
Tell me that, then.
Then there's the little matter of the 150 million dollar settlement AFTRA is about to approve with JP Morgan Chase.
JP Morgan apparently lost a bunch of AFTRA's pension fund.
AFTRA's not saying how much; at least, I can't find out how much.
But they are settling for 150 million.
How much more did they lose?
Isn't that sort of a member's right to know?
Cal State Chancellor Reed: Administrators First
To contact us Click HERE
Source: Daily Titan.com
Reed told the students he had 45 minutes to listen to their concerns. The students presented their demands and the reasoning behind them.
Students said the board has increased tuition by 318 percent since 2002, leading to high student debt and other students not being able to afford basic expenses.
SQE also told the board that executives are not immune to the budget crisis, and a message needs to be sent to the state that money is being allocated appropriately.
Inga, the only CSUF student participating in the hunger strike, called for students’ rights to free speech to be restored at all CSU campuses.
The SQE group asked Chancellor Reed and the board to act on their behalf to take the burden off of students and enact change.
“Your demands … are not possible. You are focusing on the wrong group of people,” Reed told the students at the meeting. “You should be focusing on the Legislature and on the government because that’s where the resources come from.”
“I don’t particularly like the decision to raise tuition, but the reason that we’ve had to raise tuition is because the Legislature and the governor haven’t given us the money to able to offer the classes and sections that you want,” Reed said.
“I think we all agree here at the table about the issues with Sacramento,” Inga told Reed at the meeting. “We understand that this crisis is multifaceted.
But what we are here at the table to present to you is not necessarily the problems of Sacramento, but the problems with the structural makeup of the CSU and the decisions that are made … by the Board of Trustees that are supposed to represent the students, faculty and greater university community.”
Reed claimed the average student loan debt of a CSU graduate is $13,000, while nationally the average student is $24,000. The numbers were derived from a 2010 survey.
“I think we are doing a pretty good job of keeping our costs as low as we possibly can,” Reed said. “Student debt is not a big issue for California State University students, on the average.”
Reed said welfare of campus starts with the president, and he has an agreement with the presidents for their pay and benefits. Reed contended that presidents at the CSU campuses have not received pay raises since 2007, even when a president goes from one CSU to another with an increase in salary.
“I think there is a huge amount of disconnect with the reality of students and other members of the university community when you raise our tuition in November 2011 (and) then the very next day you raise the salary of the CSU San Diego president Elliot Hirshman by $100,000.
These decisions are extremely problematic … It’s a gross misallocation and misappropriation of funds,” Inga said to Reed at the meeting.
During the rest of the meeting, students continued to press Reed on various issues, such as the privatization of the CSU, CSU presidential pay and their perception of a disconnection between the Chancellor and the plight of students.
Although Reed denied the group’s demands, he told the students that any concerns about free speech should be brought to the attention of himself and the board.
Chancellor Reed tells the students what-it-is.
Reed told the students he had 45 minutes to listen to their concerns. The students presented their demands and the reasoning behind them.
Students said the board has increased tuition by 318 percent since 2002, leading to high student debt and other students not being able to afford basic expenses.
SQE also told the board that executives are not immune to the budget crisis, and a message needs to be sent to the state that money is being allocated appropriately.
Inga, the only CSUF student participating in the hunger strike, called for students’ rights to free speech to be restored at all CSU campuses.
The SQE group asked Chancellor Reed and the board to act on their behalf to take the burden off of students and enact change.
“Your demands … are not possible. You are focusing on the wrong group of people,” Reed told the students at the meeting. “You should be focusing on the Legislature and on the government because that’s where the resources come from.”
“I don’t particularly like the decision to raise tuition, but the reason that we’ve had to raise tuition is because the Legislature and the governor haven’t given us the money to able to offer the classes and sections that you want,” Reed said.
“I think we all agree here at the table about the issues with Sacramento,” Inga told Reed at the meeting. “We understand that this crisis is multifaceted.
But what we are here at the table to present to you is not necessarily the problems of Sacramento, but the problems with the structural makeup of the CSU and the decisions that are made … by the Board of Trustees that are supposed to represent the students, faculty and greater university community.”
Reed claimed the average student loan debt of a CSU graduate is $13,000, while nationally the average student is $24,000. The numbers were derived from a 2010 survey.
“I think we are doing a pretty good job of keeping our costs as low as we possibly can,” Reed said. “Student debt is not a big issue for California State University students, on the average.”
Reed said welfare of campus starts with the president, and he has an agreement with the presidents for their pay and benefits. Reed contended that presidents at the CSU campuses have not received pay raises since 2007, even when a president goes from one CSU to another with an increase in salary.
“I think there is a huge amount of disconnect with the reality of students and other members of the university community when you raise our tuition in November 2011 (and) then the very next day you raise the salary of the CSU San Diego president Elliot Hirshman by $100,000.
These decisions are extremely problematic … It’s a gross misallocation and misappropriation of funds,” Inga said to Reed at the meeting.
During the rest of the meeting, students continued to press Reed on various issues, such as the privatization of the CSU, CSU presidential pay and their perception of a disconnection between the Chancellor and the plight of students.
Although Reed denied the group’s demands, he told the students that any concerns about free speech should be brought to the attention of himself and the board.
Chancellor Reed tells the students what-it-is.
Riverside County To Raise Pay While Threatening Layoffs?
To contact us Click HERE
>>Riverside Supervisors To Consider Raises For 1700 Employees
(Riverside, CA) -- Riverside County Supervisors, who expect to slash more than 200 jobs from county payrolls next year to balance the budget, will soon consider a proposal to give raises to about 17-hundred upper-level employees. District Attorney Paul Zellerbach and Sheriff Stan Sniff want to give 15 percent raises to upper-level managers because those managers are making less than some of the people under them. The board voted to reconsider the raises after budget hearings next week.
(Riverside, CA) -- Riverside County Supervisors, who expect to slash more than 200 jobs from county payrolls next year to balance the budget, will soon consider a proposal to give raises to about 17-hundred upper-level employees. District Attorney Paul Zellerbach and Sheriff Stan Sniff want to give 15 percent raises to upper-level managers because those managers are making less than some of the people under them. The board voted to reconsider the raises after budget hearings next week.
To contact us Click HERE
I was at a dinner party with a bunch of lawyers a couple of weekends ago.
Ha ha. I just wanted to write that because 1--I do not go to dinner parties and 2--I do not hang out with lawyers. But it was an old friend of my baby's and you know how it goes. The food was good, but it was full of mushrooms, which was very unfortunate for my baby but which mightily pleased my own palate.
Anyway, I wanted to ask the lawyers what they thought of Building 7, but I restrained myself.....
Barry Jennings, New York Housing Authority guy who was in Building 7 for several hours on 9/11, had this to say about it on videotape before his untimely death:
We subsequently went to the stairwell and were going down the stairs. When we reached the 8th, er the 6th floor, the landing that we were standing on gave way. There was an explosion, and the landing gave way. We were--I was left there hanging. I had to climb back up, and then I had to walk back up to the 8th floor.
(edit)
When I made it to the 6th floor, and there was an explosion, the explosion was beneath me. Keep in mind now, it's pitch black in there. All the lights went out. So when the explosion happened, it blew us back. I'm thinking I'm standing on the landing, I'm actually holding on to a pole above us. And I had to climb back up because Hess (Guiliani aide) was yelling, "What do we do now?" I said, there's only one thing we can do, and that's go back up. Both buildings were still standing. Keep in mind, I told you the Fire Department came..and went. They came twice. Why? Because building, Tower 1 fell, and Tower 2 fell. And when they came back, they came back all concerned now to get me the hell out of there. I was trapped in there for several hours. I was trapped in there when both buildings came down.
All this time, I'm hearing all kind of explosions. All this time I'm hearing explosions. When they finally got to us, when they took us down, to what ..what, what they uh called the lobby, 'cause I asked them, I said when we got down there, I said "where are we" he said "this was the lobby." And I said, 'you gotta be kidding me.'
Total ruins. Total..now keep in mind when I came in there, the lobby had nice escalators. It was a huge lobby. And for me to see what I saw, it was unbelievable. And the firefighter that took us down kept saying, do not look down. I kept saying why, he said do not look down. And...we were stepping over people. You know, you can feel when you're stepping over people.
This big, giant police officer came up to me. And he says, 'you have to run.' I said 'I can't run, my knees are swollen,' and he said 'you'll have to get on your knees and crawl, then.' He said, 'because we have reports of more explosions.' And that's when I started crawling. And I saw this guy fall behind me, his comrades came to his aid, they dragged him to safety.
I'm just confused about one thing, and one thing only. Why World Trade Center 7 came down in the first place. I'm very confused about that.
I know what I heard.
I heard explosions.
The explanation I got was, it was the fuel oil tank. (Shaking head) I'm an old boiler guy. (Continues shaking head) If it was a fuel oil tank, it would have been one side of the building.
Yes, you can use this footage.
Ha ha. I just wanted to write that because 1--I do not go to dinner parties and 2--I do not hang out with lawyers. But it was an old friend of my baby's and you know how it goes. The food was good, but it was full of mushrooms, which was very unfortunate for my baby but which mightily pleased my own palate.
Anyway, I wanted to ask the lawyers what they thought of Building 7, but I restrained myself.....
Barry Jennings, New York Housing Authority guy who was in Building 7 for several hours on 9/11, had this to say about it on videotape before his untimely death:
We subsequently went to the stairwell and were going down the stairs. When we reached the 8th, er the 6th floor, the landing that we were standing on gave way. There was an explosion, and the landing gave way. We were--I was left there hanging. I had to climb back up, and then I had to walk back up to the 8th floor.
(edit)
When I made it to the 6th floor, and there was an explosion, the explosion was beneath me. Keep in mind now, it's pitch black in there. All the lights went out. So when the explosion happened, it blew us back. I'm thinking I'm standing on the landing, I'm actually holding on to a pole above us. And I had to climb back up because Hess (Guiliani aide) was yelling, "What do we do now?" I said, there's only one thing we can do, and that's go back up. Both buildings were still standing. Keep in mind, I told you the Fire Department came..and went. They came twice. Why? Because building, Tower 1 fell, and Tower 2 fell. And when they came back, they came back all concerned now to get me the hell out of there. I was trapped in there for several hours. I was trapped in there when both buildings came down.
All this time, I'm hearing all kind of explosions. All this time I'm hearing explosions. When they finally got to us, when they took us down, to what ..what, what they uh called the lobby, 'cause I asked them, I said when we got down there, I said "where are we" he said "this was the lobby." And I said, 'you gotta be kidding me.'
Total ruins. Total..now keep in mind when I came in there, the lobby had nice escalators. It was a huge lobby. And for me to see what I saw, it was unbelievable. And the firefighter that took us down kept saying, do not look down. I kept saying why, he said do not look down. And...we were stepping over people. You know, you can feel when you're stepping over people.
This big, giant police officer came up to me. And he says, 'you have to run.' I said 'I can't run, my knees are swollen,' and he said 'you'll have to get on your knees and crawl, then.' He said, 'because we have reports of more explosions.' And that's when I started crawling. And I saw this guy fall behind me, his comrades came to his aid, they dragged him to safety.
I'm just confused about one thing, and one thing only. Why World Trade Center 7 came down in the first place. I'm very confused about that.
I know what I heard.
I heard explosions.
The explanation I got was, it was the fuel oil tank. (Shaking head) I'm an old boiler guy. (Continues shaking head) If it was a fuel oil tank, it would have been one side of the building.
Yes, you can use this footage.
20 Haziran 2012 Çarşamba
Heed the Warning Behind the Wheel
To contact us Click HERE
Sarasota County residents woke up to news of another tragic automobile accident that took the life of two North Port men late last night. While the cause of the crash has not yet been released, it shouldn't really matter. Traffic statistics for all of Sarasota County were posted today, and already this year crashes are way up and fatalities are higher than this time last year. Motorists need to remember that driving can be dangerous and they must be vigilant at all times. Safe driving reminders are everywhere and enforcement activities are up. Please heed these safety warnings whenever you are behind the wheel.
Sarasota County residents woke up to news of another tragic automobile accident that took the life of two North Port men late last night. While the cause of the crash has not yet been released, it shouldn't really matter. Traffic statistics for all of Sarasota County were posted today, and already this year crashes are way up and fatalities are higher than this time last year. Motorists need to remember that driving can be dangerous and they must be vigilant at all times. Safe driving reminders are everywhere and enforcement activities are up. Please heed these safety warnings whenever you are behind the wheel.
New Bill May Prevent Cell Phone Thefts
To contact us Click HERE
The bad news is smartphone thefts are rising around the country... but the good news is the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and legislators are proposing a new bill that could protect you. Lawmakers want to create a database of stolen smartphones, and they are also working on a bill that would criminalize using a stolen phone or tampering with its unique ID. Read more about these proposals in this Headline News TV post, and look for the link toward the end for helpful tips from consumer talk show host Clark Howard on how to protect your favorite device.
911 Call Screens Temporarily Offline
To contact us Click HERE
The system that allows citizens to see dispatch call screens from the Public Safety Communications Center will be temporarily offline through Thursday, April 19. This DOES NOT impact the ability to call 911 or reach emergency services. It only means that the public cannot log on to www.SarasotaSheriff.org or www.scgov.net to view the list of fire or law enforcement calls during that downtime. Anyone with questions can contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941.861.5000.
National Victims' Rights Week
To contact us Click HERE
The public is encouraged to attend the annual Victim Tribute planned as part of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. The event will be held Tuesday, April 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 34th Street in Sarasota. The tribute is hosted by the Sarasota County Victim Advisory Council and is designed to honor victims of all types of crimes while also recognizing the strength of survivors. Several area agencies will be on hand to offer information on available community resources. The event concludes with a solemn candlelight vigil.
The public is encouraged to attend the annual Victim Tribute planned as part of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. The event will be held Tuesday, April 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 34th Street in Sarasota. The tribute is hosted by the Sarasota County Victim Advisory Council and is designed to honor victims of all types of crimes while also recognizing the strength of survivors. Several area agencies will be on hand to offer information on available community resources. The event concludes with a solemn candlelight vigil.
People Don't Protect Privacy on Facebook
To contact us Click HERE
This blog frequently includes warnings about privacy risks online, including the use of social media. A new investigation by Consumer Reports into data collection and privacy on Facebook found that many users are undermining their own privacy by not using the security options the platform offers. Please read this article from one of my favorite web sites Techlicious, and take the listed steps to boost your privacy on the popular site.
19 Haziran 2012 Salı
Washington County Sheriff’s Office Awarded Grant to Enforce Underage Drinking Laws
To contact us Click HERE
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is one of the 15 law enforcement agencies across the state that will be receiving funding from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse to target underage drinking. The two-year $15,000 grant will help to coordinate efforts across Washington County to enforce existing underage drinking laws.
Alcohol abuse remains one of the critical problems facing families, communities, and law enforcement departments in Maine. Alcohol is the drug of choice among both youth and adults in Maine, and is a factor in all of the leading causes of death for Maine citizens under 30 years old.
For the past two years, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has been working with Washington County: One Community to reduce underage and high risk drinking. “Law enforcement plays a critical role in reducing underage drinking in our county. This is a community problem and it takes an entire community working together to solve it. Research shows that alcohol kills more children than all illegal drugs combined. Many adolescents drink alcohol that was purchased by their parents and many do so without their parents’ knowledge.” states Sheriff Donnie Smith.
This funding will help with implementing underage drinking party patrols, collaboration among agencies for special call-out teams to handle large parties, third party transaction surveillance, and compliance checks. The funding will assist the Sheriff’s Office to those who provide alcohol and/or a place for minors to consume alcohol, as well as notifying parents or guardians of juveniles involved in the use of alcohol.
Eleody Libby, Executive Director of Washington County: One Community said, “As a society, we understand the message about not drinking and driving, but we still need to look at the bigger picture of underage and high risk drinking. The portion of the brain that controls decision making and reasoning is not fully developed until around the age of 25. Thus, a teen’s judgment is altered and this can lead to serious consequences.” Unfortunately this problem is growing as young people begin drinking at a younger age and at more dangerous levels. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office understands that alcohol affects adolescent brain development. Individuals who are under the influence are more susceptible to be involved in domestic violence, become injured, contract a sexually transmitted disease, have an unwanted pregnancy, miss academic instruction, and participate in other risky behaviors such as experimentation with illicit drugs.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has recently increased emphasis on OUI’s, highway safety and party patrols, as well as alcohol education through instruction in schools. According to Smith, “The Sheriff’s Office partnership with Washington County: One Community has given us the opportunity to increase our party patrols, publicize our anonymous Tip Line and educate the public. It is through enforcement and collaboration that we hope to reduce underage access and educate the community. ” If you would like to report incidences of underage drinking in Washington County, the Tip Line is available and is completely confidential. Call 255-8303 or 1-800-432-7303. To find out what you can do in your community to reduce underage drinking please contact Sara McConnell at 255-3741.
Kaydol:
Kayıtlar (Atom)