Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

As you may know, I spent New Years 2006 freezing in Times Square with half a million of my closest friends.

After vowing to never freeze on New Years again, I spent New Years 2007 on the Copa Cabana beach in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. There, along with 85 degree weather, and 3 million of my closest friends, I sported the traditional white wardrobe and rang in the New Year Brazilian style.

This year, continuing on the warm New Years' trend, I will be enjoying the New Year down in beautiful sunny Mexico. But do not worry, my friends Hope and Change are here enjoying the warm 80 degree weather with me!

Can we ring in the New Year in style? YES WE CAN.

I hope you enjoy your New Years bash wherever you are and best wishes to you and yours this upcoming year.

The Ice Man Cometh

Ice paralyzes area roads
December 26, 2008 at 8:51 AM



Some of the worst icy driving conditions in years hit the Chicago area early this morning, causing crashes too numerous to count.

"If we had the manpower, we'd close down every expressway in the area," a harried Illinois State Police dispatcher said this morning. State police called out day-shift troopers two hours early to handle the crisis.

Every expressway had multiple crashes in both directions -- even with many drivers creeping along at 5 to 10 m.p.h. Those going any faster often found they couldn't control their vehicles. The most recent incidents involved a jackknifed semi blocking all lanes of the outbound Stevenson near Ill. Hwy. 53 and icy conditions blocking all lanes on I-80/94 between the Illinois state line and Indianapolis Blvd.

And conditions were bad enough that officials closed the entire Indiana Tollway -- from the Illinois border to the Ohio border for a time. It's open again now -- but conditions remain icy.

CTA and Metra were reporting substantial delays on buses and trains, as well as some service suspension.

Police in southwest suburban Lemont took the unusual step of closing the entire village to traffic for about two hours, then reopened some key thoroughfares.

A freezing rain advisory elapsed at 6 a.m. The system started moving into the area around 2:30 a.m. and quickly spread over the entire metropolitan region, coating all roads with a thin, treacherous coat of ice.

The problem is expected to end as temperatures climb this morning, reaching the 40s later in the day. But until then, police warned drivers to slow way down or, better yet, to not even go out.


Complete Story

Good thing I made the midnight trek last night!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by!
I wish you and your family the very best this Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

I spent the day entertaining the crowd at Church Creek - Independent and Assisted living facility today. Here are some highlights:

Bundled Up and Headed Back to Chicago

I am leaving sunny 30 degree Washington, D.C. en route for Chicago today. I am looking forward to seeing everyone, but not looking forward to the single digit temps! Over the weekend, the wind chill in Chicago was reported as -30. Oh my!

Where'd the bailout money go? Shhhh, it's a secret

Dec 22, 9:52 AM (ET)
By MATT APUZZO

WASHINGTON (AP) - It's something any bank would demand to know before handing out a loan: Where's the money going?
But after receiving billions in aid from U.S. taxpayers, the nation's largest banks say they can't track exactly how they're spending the money or they simply refuse to discuss it.

"We've lent some of it. We've not lent some of it. We've not given any accounting of, 'Here's how we're doing it,'" said Thomas Kelly, a spokesman for JPMorgan Chase, which received $25 billion in emergency bailout money. "We have not disclosed that to
the public. We're declining to."

The Associated Press contacted 21 banks that received at least $1 billion in government money and asked four questions: How much has been spent? What was it spent on? How much is being held in savings, and what's the plan for the rest?
None of the banks provided specific answers.

Complete Story

Mug Shots of the Year

More Pics Here

Racial Jokes are Out of Bounds - But to Senator Arlen Specter, Polish Jokes are Still Ok

Polish American Congress Washington DC, 12/16/2008 -- During the evening hours of December 15, 2008, Frank Spula, the president of the Polish American Congress, received a phone call from US Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) in regards to the recent "Polish jokes" made by the Senator during his remarks addressed to the Commonwealth Club, a Pennsylvania Republican group that met in New York on Friday, December 12.

After exchanging pleasantries, Senator Specter expressed his regrets and said that he was "out of line" in his remarks and that he "apologizes profusely".

President Spula explained to the Senator the deepest concern voiced in recent days by the members of the Polish American community, as well as by numerous Americans with no Polish heritage, and who considered the remarks equally offensive.

Spula emphasized that the concern cannot be eased by mere words and urged that a written statement of apology and explanation be issued by the Senator's office. The Senator confirmed that the written apology would be issued shortly.

The Polish American community nationwide, more than 10 million strong, as well as Poles in Poland who found out about the incident from the media, felt deeply insulted by the Senator's words.

"It would be equally unthinkable if any elected official made similar remarks in regards to any other group," said Spula. "It really does not matter which group is targeted– all jokes ridiculing people based on their ethnicity, religion or race are unacceptable!"


The following day, December 16th, 2008, Spula received the following letter (also attached):

Frank J. Spula
President, Polish American Congress
5711 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60646

Dear Mr. Spula:

I apologize for the comments which I made Friday at a Republican State Committee luncheon in New York.

In retrospect, I can see that they were inappropriate and I regret having made them. You may be sure I will never make the same mistake again.

In my 28 years in the United States Senate, I have always values my strong relationship with the Polish community. I have traveled to Poland on several occasions, most recently in 2007. Following my visit, I returned to the floor of he United States Senate to share with my colleagues that, "the relationship between the Untied States and Poland is strong." I also recognized Poland's important contribution to the war on terrorism: "Poland is20 putting forward a number of troops to assist the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, with 900 in Iraq and 1,200 in Afghanistan."

To my knowledge, I am one of the few, if not the only, Senators who has hosted a Polish national on my Washington, D.C. staff who returned to Warsaw to serve his government.

As the son of Russian immigrants, I keenly appreciate that one's heritage is a matter of intense pride and identity. I look forward to working with the Polish-American community in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Arlen Specter


Complete Story

Jackpot! 6 to 10 inches of snow in Vegas!

A rare winter storm swept through Southern Nevada Wednesday, dumping the most snow on the valley in nearly three decades, grounding flights at the airport, forcing the closure of major highways and closing schools for today.

"This is the most snow we've had in Las Vegas in almost 30 years," said Chris Stachelski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "It's a significant historical event."

At 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, the weather service measured a record-breaking 3.6 inches of snow at its office location southwest of McCarran International Airport. It was the highest snow accumulation recorded in the month of December in Las Vegas since the start of official records in 1937. The previous record was 2 inches of snow, which fell on Dec. 15, 1967.

The weather service dubbed the storm as "the eighth greatest snowstorm ever in official Las Vegas weather records for any month."
The heaviest snowfall hit the southeast valley, where about 3 inches had accumulated by 7:45 p.m., with unconfirmed reports of as much as 6 inches in Henderson, Stachelski said.

Between 6 to 10 inches could fall in that area by the time the storm tapers off this morning, and the northern and western parts of the valley could receive up to 4 inches of snowfall, he said.

Frozen Friendly Confines

Would you pay $10 to skate at the Friendly Confines?

If you're a neighbor of the Cubs, you're about to get that opportunity.

The Cubs sent e-mails to neighbors and neighborhood groups last week announcing a community skate on the hockey rink soon to be installed at Wrigley Field for the Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Detroit on Jan. 1.

The skate will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 4, just before the temporary rink is to be dismantled. Cubs neighbors will be given a chance to skate in one-hour shifts for $10 apiece, with proceeds benefiting Cubs Care.

Complete Story

Late Night News - No Bailout

Late Night News - No Bailout

Auto bailout talks collapse over union wages
December 11, 2008 - 10:30pm

Auto bailout stalled; negotiations into the night
November video game sales near $3 billion
Some autoworkers can get paid without leaving home
Inaction on Big 3 would cost taxpayers billions
Finger-pointing begins as Senate nixes auto vote

WASHINGTON (AP) - A $14 billion emergency bailout for U.S. automakers has collapsed in the Senate after the United Auto Workers refused to accede to Republican demands for swift wage cuts. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was "terribly disappointed" about the demise of an emerging bipartisan deal to rescue Detroit's Big Three.

Reid also said he was sorry, and was not looking forward to the stock market tomorrow.

Dow futures were down -120 at 6pm at 10:30pm after the Senate announced they do not have a deal they jumped to -245

Update as of 11:00pm Dow futures are now down -329 - dow back to 8240

Update 11:10pm ET

Motion for cloture fails - only received 52 votes

Senator Reid - no more work until the new Congress - I hope the President considers using the TARP money to help the auto companies

Amazing Arcola - Zany Lawn Rangers Rev Up for Obama's Inaugural Parade

They aren't politically correct and they aren't very presidential. But somehow, the World Famous Lawn Rangers from Amazing Arcola (Illinois) - a longtime staple of beer-drenched St. Patty's Day parades in America's heartland - have secured a spot in President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural parade.

Pushing mowers and wielding toilet plungers and broomsticks, the Lawn Rangers have entertained rowdy crowds from the St. Patrick's Day parade in Chicago and the Indy 500 parade in Indianapolis to the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix and the Holiday Bowl parade in San Diego. They've also participated in countless community parades throughout the Midwest, including Arcola's Broom Corn Festival parade, where they first marched 28 years ago, bonded by their only talent: pushing mowers.

And now, they'll get a chance to wow the millions of Americans expected to descend on the nation's capital for Obama's inauguration next month.

"We're greatly honored," the zany troupe's co-founder, Pat Monahan, tells the Sleuth, having been chosen above hundreds of other applicants. "I have to think it was diversity."

Sure, if you call middle-aged white guys diverse. Though, to be fair, the Lawn Rangers and their "Banner Babes" - who will be called "Banner Abes" in the inaugural parade, in keeping with Obama's Lincoln theme - now range in age from 21 to 80. And they include union workers, lawyers and business people alike.

They usually decorate their mowers with Lazy-Boy recliners, beer kegs and the like. But for Obama's inaugural parade, they're toning down their act - quite a bit. Never fear, they'll still have plenty of the corny shtick that made them famous.

Complete Story from the Post

Federal deficit totals $164.4B in November

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER - AP

Wednesday, December 10, 2008; 3:03 PM

WASHINGTON -- The federal government registered a record budget deficit for the month of November, reflecting the impact of a recession on tax receipts and the mounting costs of the $700 billion financial rescue program.

The country remains on track to hit a record deficit of $1 trillion or more for the entire year, which would be more than double the previous all-time high set last year.

U.S. says latest missile defense test a success

U.S. says latest missile defense test a success
Fri Dec 5, 2008 4:16pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military conducted a successful test of its system built to knock out long-range missiles that could be fired by North Korea or Iran, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The target missile for the test over the Pacific was launched from Kodiak, Alaska and an interceptor was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, officials said. The intercept took place at 3:29 p.m. EST .

Boeing Co is prime contractor for the system, called the ground-based midcourse defense.

The Pentagon will hold a briefing on the results of the test at 5:15 p.m. EST (0015 GMT), officials said.

Complete Story

U.S. officials had billed the test as a particularly realistic simulation of a possible missile attack but critics of the system disputed that description.

Before the latest test, the Pentagon said 12 tests of the ground-based system had been conducted since 1999 and seven of them had been successful.

Advisers to U.S. President-elect Barack Obama have said he favors missile defense in principle but the program, a flagship policy of the Bush administration, will face more scrutiny after he takes office.

President George W. Bush has been spending roughly $10 billion a year on all aspects of missile defense, the Pentagon's costliest annual outlay for an arms development program.

The United States and Russia are at odds over a Bush administration plan to extend the Boeing-managed system into Eastern Europe, using 10 silo-based two-stage interceptors in Poland and a related radar system in the Czech Republic.

Clubs in D.C.

Looking to party in DC? Here are some of the best clubs the District has to offer.

Eyebar
1716 I St. NW
Washington, DC 20006
Wednesdays: www.PrimoP.com
(Open bar for women from 10 p.m. – 11 p.m.)

Fly Lounge
1802 Jefferson Pl. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tuesdays: www.JetSetMafia.com
Fridays: www.AbsoluteAddicition.com

Fur
33 Patterson St. NE
Washington, DC 20002
Saturdays (18+): www.NightlifeAgency.com

Ibiza
1222 1st Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Thursdays & Fridays: www.DCClubHost.com
Saturdays (18+): www.DCClubbing.com

Indebleu
707 G St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Thursdays: www.PrimoP.com
Fridays: www.JetSetMafia.com
Saturdays: www.ELundEvents.com

Josephine
1008 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Thursdays: www.JetSetMafia.com,www.JamieHess.com
Fridays: www.ELundEvents.com

K Street Lounge
1301 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Sundays: www.WeRunDC.com
Wednesdays: www.MadPowerUnit.com

Lima
1401 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Mondays: www.PrimoP.com (open bar for women, salsa lessons)
Tuesdays (18+): www.DCClubbing.com ($3 beers all night)
Wednesdays: www.DCClubbing.com
Thursdays: www.AbsoluteAddicition.com

Lotus Lounge
1420 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Thursdays: www.weownthenite.com
Saturdays: www.NightlifeAgency.com

MCCXXIII
1223 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Fridays: www.NightlifeAgency.com
Saturdays: www.JetSetMafia.com

Play
1219 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Thursdays (18+): www.NightlifeAgency.com
Fridays: www.JamieHess.com

Tattoo
1413 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tuesdays: www.JamieHess.com
Wednesdays: www.JetSetMafia.com
Thursdays: www.ELundEvents.com

Ultrabar
911 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
www.ultrabardc.com
Thursdays (18+): www.DCClubbing.com
Fridays: www.PrimoP.com, www.DCClubbing.com (open bar)
Saturdays: www.AbsoluteAddiction.com, www.DCClubbing.com
(Open bar 9:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.)

Albuquerque Police Arrest Ambulance Worker While On An Emergency Call

Complete Story

British may ban 'happy hour' as drink deaths rise

LONDON (AP) - Britain is considering a ban on "happy hour" discounts at bars and restaurants to curb drinking, a spokesman said Saturday, as health advocates warned that a rise in liver-related deaths among young people may signal a future epidemic.

Health officials will decide on whether to ban the happy hours - designated times for discount drinks - once an independent policy review is published in coming weeks, a health department spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.

The proposal was one of several aimed at stemming a trend in binge drinking in recent years, particularly among teenagers and young adults. The government also plans to spend 10 million pounds ($15 million) on a new public awareness campaign, and wants to improve enforcement of laws against underage drinking.

Complete Story

Alan Colmes to Depart Top Rated Hannity & Colmes

FOX News Channel’s (FNC) Alan Colmes will relinquish his role as co-host of Hannity & Colmes at the end of the year.

In announcing his decision, Colmes said, “I approached Bill Shine (FNC’s Senior Vice President of Programming) earlier this year about wanting to move on after 12 years to develop new and challenging ways to contribute to the growth of the network. Although it’s bittersweet to leave one of the longest marriages on cable news, I’m proud that both Sean (Hannity) and I remained unharmed after sitting side by side, night after night for so many years.”

Colmes will continue to have a presence on FNC as he will serve as a liberal commentator on a variety of FOX News programming, including Foxnews.com’s The Strategy Room and continue hosting his radio program, The Alan Colmes Show on FOX Talk, a division of FOX News Radio. He will also begin developing a weekend program.

Complete Story

Dr Pepper to deliver on its free-soda promise

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality.

The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. "Chinese Democracy," infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.

"We never thought this day would come," Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper's vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "But now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us."

Beginning Sunday at 12:01 a.m., coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24 hours on Dr Pepper's Web site. They'll be honored until Feb. 28.
___

On the Net:

www.drpepper.com

Tip to Automakers: When Begging Leave Private Jets at Home

Can you imagine coming to Congress to beg for public money in your private jet? Well that is exactly what all three top automakers did this week. GM's private flight cost GM an estimated 20,000 dollars for a round trip flight.

You have to check out this video.

Automaker Bail-out Justifications

Here is my attempt to capture all of the justifications that have been proffered regarding why U.S. taxpayers should bail out the auto industry.

+ It is not a bailout, it is a loan

+ We produce vehicles for defense, therefore national security depends on it

+ Taxpayers would have to pay at least $3 billion annually in the event that the Big
Three automakers -- General Motors, Chrysler and Ford -- have to file for bankruptcy and no longer pay for retiree health care, United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger said on Tuesday during a Senate Banking Committee hearing

+ One in 10 American jobs depends on U.S. automakers

+ Nearly 3 million jobs are at immediate risk

+ U.S. personal income could be reduced by $150 billion

+ The tax revenue lost over 3 years would be more than $156 billion

Study: BlackBerry has twice the failure rate of iPhone

Apple's iPhone has half the failure rate of RIM's BlackBerry in the first year of use, a study carried out by a mobile-phone warranty firm has found.

Figures from the analyst firm Canalysys, released last week, showed Apple has now overtaken RIM in the global smartphone sales stakes.

SquareTrade had to project their figures for the iPhone's failure rate over a two-year period, as the handset has not been available for that long — nonetheless, that rate came in at between nine to 11 percent. The equivalent failure rate for BlackBerry handsets was 14.3 percent, with the Treo coming in at 21 percent.

Breaking the figures down, the most prominent malfunctions for iPhone users appear to be touchscreen-related, accounting for a third of all reported issues with that handset. However, 12 percent of iPhone users reported accidental damage to their handsets within the first year of use — the average for other handsets is nine percent.

The report's authors also noted that fewer than half-a-percent of iPhone owners reported battery problems after a year of use, compared with around one percent for BlackBerry and Treo users.

Complete Story

American Airlines embraces the iPhone

American Airlines is now the first airline to offer boarding passes on your iPhone - talk about a paperless system!
It is expected that more airlines will follow suit in the upcoming months.

Complete Story

Obama is coming and so is his favorite Chicago Pizza

Barack Obama's favorite pizza is from Italian Fiesta Pizzeria, a chain on the south side and south suburbs.
Now, The Ritz in Washington D.C. is paying to fly the pizzeria's owners to the nation's capitol for the inauguration expo to be held there next week to serve their pizza there.

A month before the election, owner Patti Harris-Tubbs got a phone call from the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., asking if she would be willing to come to the nation's capital to make her pizza if Obama won. She thought it was a joke, Harris-Tubbs when Obama won, the hotel e-mailed back, offering to fly her and her husband out to serve their pizza next week at the Presidential Inauguration Expo, which is an event designed to preview the food that will be served at inauguration time in January.
The owners said that Obama was introduced to their pizza by Michelle Obama, whose parents ordered it for her as a young girl when she got good grades.

Italian Fiesta has been family owned/operated since the 1940s.
It was featured in a recent article listing Obama's favorite Chicago restaurants, in which it was said, "Buttery thin-crust pizza comes straight from the oven tasting chewy, spicy and slightly sweet."

Complete Story

An Afternoon at the White House

I had a great day today at the White House. I had the chance to see a lot of stuff: the Press Briefing Room, the West Wing, the Oval Office, the Roosevelt Room, the Bowling Alley, the White House Restaurant, the Rose Garden, the Indian Treaty Room, Media Row, and a lot of other miscellaneous stuff.. To view some of the photos click here.

First Test: Russia

As reported on here at www.roszaks.com back on September 29, 2008, the new President will face some serious security issues, one of which is the missile defense shield in Poland. It seems that Russia is wasting no time in engaging President-Elect Obama. Russia announced earlier this morning that it plans to station new missiles near Poland's border and employ missile jamming devices that will make any US missile shield inoperable.

Russia to station missiles near Poland
By Michael Stott

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pledged on Wednesday to station new missiles near Poland's border in response to U.S. plans for an anti-missile system and proposed extending the presidential term to six years from four.

In an assertive first annual address to the nation, he defended Russia's war with Georgia, appealed to nationalism and attacked Washington's "selfish" foreign policy and "economic blunders" which he said caused the global financial crisis.

The harsh tone and repeated attacks on the United States the day after Democrat Barack Obama's electoral victory surprised some observers who had expected a more liberal style and more detail on how Russia would tackle a financial crisis.

"To neutralize -- if necessary -- the (U.S.) anti-missile system, an Iskander missile system will be deployed in the Kaliningrad region," Medvedev said, referring to a Russian enclave bordering European Union members Poland and Lithuania.

Russia would electronically jam the U.S. system, parts of which are due to be deployed in Poland and the Czech Republic, and Moscow would scrap plans to stand down three Cold War-era nuclear missile regiments, the president said.

Free Ice Cream, Donuts, and Coffee!

Companies give free coffee, ice cream for election

By EMILY FREDRIX
Published: Today
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Americans will pick a new leader for the country on Tuesday, and will be able to pick up some free coffee, ice cream and other goodies too.

Starbucks Corp. is offering a free cup of brewed coffee to anyone who asks on Tuesday, while Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. is giving away star-shaped doughnuts. Ice cream maker Ben and Jerry's is offering a free scoop as part of a celebration of the election.

Seattle-based Starbucks had originally planned to give away the "tall" brewed coffees to anyone who reported that they voted, saying in an ad: "If you care enough to vote, we care enough to give you a free cup of coffee."

The company broadened its offer to all customers to ensure it was in compliance with election law, spokeswoman Tara Darrow said Monday evening.

"We hope there is a record turnout on Tuesday and look forward to celebrating with our customers over a great cup of coffee," she said in a statement.

Complete Story

Obama Will Pay for My Gas and My Taxes

Halloween in Sin City

I am spending the next five days celebrating Halloween in Las Vegas - pictures coming soon.

The Rough Streets of San Diego

Apparently the streets of San Diego inspire to be like those of Memphis and New Orleans - here is a little street fight I caught on tape on Saturday night.

Legalities of Automated External Defibrillators - APHA

I am in San Diego this week, presenting at the American Public Health Association's Annual Conference.



The Legalities of Automated External Defibrillators - Powerpoint Presentation - Click here to Download

The Legal Implications of Legislatively Mandated Automated External Defibrillators in
Educational Settings - Paper Click Here

PNC to Taxpayers: Thanks, Suckers!

With each passing day the economy seems to get worse - and with each passing day, it seems that our tax money is being used on more and more things. The latest use seems to be to bail out banks. This may have started with the governments in Europe, but Teasury Secretary Henry Paulson quickly followed suit and diverted $250 billion to buy stock in US banks in an effort to spur lending.

"Bank executives hinted they might instead use it for acquisitions. Sen. Christopher Dodd, chairman of the Senate banking committee, said this development was "beyond troubling."

Sure enough, a day after Dodd, D-Conn., made the comment, the government confirmed that PNC Financial Services Group Inc. was approved to receive $7.7 billion in return for company stock. At the same time, PNC said it was acquiring National City Corp. for $5.58 billion.

"Although there will be some consolidation, that's not the driver behind this program," Paulson recently told PBS talk show host Charlie Rose. "The driver is to have our healthy banks be well-capitalized so that they can play the role they need to play for our country right now."

Other planned uses of the bailout money have lawmakers protesting, although it is only fair to note there is nothing in the law that they just wrote to prevent those uses.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. questioned allowing banks that accept bailout bucks to continue paying dividends on their common stock.

"There are far better uses of taxpayer dollars than continuing dividend payments to shareholders," he said.

Schumer, whose constituents include Wall Street bankers, said he also fears that they might stuff the money "under the proverbial mattress" rather than make loans.

Neel Kashkari, head of the Treasury's financial stability program, told Dodd's committee this past week that there are few strings attached to the capital-infusion program because too many rules would discourage financial institutions from participating."

Complete Story

Unreal...

Renewable Energy, The Election and The Stock Market

Green Energy Likely Winner, Big Oil Loser In US Senate Races
Oct 24, 2008 15:12:36 (ET)
By Ian Talley

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--A strengthened Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate will likely boost the outlook for renewable-energy companies while large oil companies could be socked with a multi-billion dollar windfall profits tax next year.

Many polls predict Democrats will win a half-dozen or so U.S. Senate seats from Republicans in the Nov. 4 general election. This could give Senate Democrats a voting edge needed to approve a Renewable Portfolio Standard, or RPS, a requirement for greater alternative energy production from wind, solar and biomass.

Many Democrats promise a "new direction" in energy policy, supporting a move away from fossil fuels.

If elected, these candidates could allow Democrats to pass a windfall profits tax for Big Oil companies such as ExxonMobil (XOM), Chevron Corp. (CVX) and ConocoPhillips (COP), according to a Dow Jones Newswires review of campaign promises and polls.

There would also be more political mass to set stricter energy market regulations and to pave the way for congressional intervention of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Given the polling numbers, "the RPS is almost a certainty," said Dave Hamilton, Sierra Club director of its Global Warming and Energy Program.

The Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, supports a 25% renewable portfolio standard by 2025. Obama, who leads in most major polls, also backs a windfall profits tax for the petroleum industry and tapping the nation's emergency stocks when oil prices are high.

Sen. Obama - as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. - believe spurring the renewable industry would help the country recover from its current economic crisis. Republican candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona doesn't support a national renewable energy standard.

Southern utility companies, including Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) and Southern Co. (SO), have lobbied against a federal renewable portfolio standard. Wind turbine manufacturers such as GE Energy, a unit of the General Electric Co. (GE), India's Suzlon Energy (532667.BY) and Denmark's Vestas Wind Systems (VWS.OS), as well as solar firms such as Norway's Renewable Energy Corp. ASA (REC.OS), and U.S.-headquartered First Solar Inc. (FSLR) and Evergreen Solar Inc. (ESLR) would benefit under a renewable portfolio standard.

Based on previous votes, Capitol Hill watchers estimate the number of senators who are highly likely to remain in their seats and who would vote for a renewable standard is between 53 to 59. As the House has already passed such a standardseveral times, the Democratic leadership needs 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a Republican filibuster. Although support isn't strictly along party lines, the GOP has largely been opposed to a federally mandated renewable standard.

Complete Story Here

Greetings from San Diego

Made it safe and sound. Been exploring the 'Gas Lamp District' most of the afternoon. More pictures to come.

Up and Away

I am traveling today, 7 hours and 41 minutes worth of travel to be exact. Total trip spanning 2,312 miles.
Which, interestingly, is about half the distance and time it took me to get to Rio De Janeiro last December.

Today's travel schedule includes Denver, Colorado this morning and then San Diego, California this evening.

I will attempt to post a few pictures from San Diego when I get settled.

Notice to All Employees

This email has been floating around out there the last few days, figured I would post it.

As of November 5, 2008, if President Obama is officially elected into office, our company will instill a few new policies which are in keeping with his new, inspiring issues of change and fairness:

1. All salespeople will be pooling their sales and bonuses into a common pool that will be divided equally between all of you. This will serve to give those of you who are under-achieving a fair shake.

2. All low level workers will be pooling their wages, including overtime, into a common pool, dividing it equally amongst yourselves. This will help those who are too busy for overtime to reap the rewards from those who have more spare time and can work extra hours.

3. All top management will now be referred to as the government. We will not participate in this pooling experience because the law doesn't apply to us.

4. The government will give eloquent speeches to all employees every week, encouraging its workers to continue to work hard for the good of all.

5. The employees will be thrilled with these new policies because it's good to spread the wealth. Those of you who have underachieved will finally get an opportunity; those of you who have worked hard and had success will feel more patriotic.

6. The last few people who were hired should clean out their desks. Don't feel bad, though, because President Obama will give you free healthcare, free handouts, free oil for heating your home, free foods stamps, and he'll let you stay in your home for as long as you want even if you can't pay your mortgage. If you appeal directly to our democratic congress, you might even get a free flatscreen TV and a coupon for free haircuts (shouldn't all Americans be entitled to nice looking hair?)!!!

If for any reason you are not happy with the new policies take it up withyourselfon November 4th while you are still free to do so.

Whether Rain, Wind, Snow.. Gunfire..

I came across this today and thought it was quite interesting - especially given the fact that I worked as a paramedic in Harvey from 1998-2000. Good to see that some things never change...

From the Chicago Tribune:

Under the eyes of a police officer, a U.S. postal carrier returned today to her route in a south suburban Harvey neighborhood that has gone without door-to-door delivery since the carrier had to evade gunfire two weeks ago.
The Harvey officer stood watch nearby as the carrier handed mail to residents, some of whom were frustrated they hadn't received mail since service was discontinued.

Postal service officials said today they are considering putting one central mailbox pick-up location on the block and eliminating door-to-door service. Residents would use a key to open their mailbox at a station with several boxes similar to one at an apartment complex, said Jose Aguilar, a spokesman for the United States Postal Service.


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Aguilar said a central mailbox would be safer for the carrier and more efficient because the route can take as long as 45 minutes to complete.

"Our concern is for the safety of the carrier," Aguilar said.

The police escort was requested to protect the unidentified mail carrier so that delivery could resume to about 52 households.

One resident, Jobonna Brantley, 18, of the 15200 block of Marshfield Avenue, said it was difficult going to the post office to pick up her mail because she doesn't have a car.

"I'm angry. It's crazy because we couldn't get our LINK cards or checks. We had to walk to the post office everyday," Brantley said.

The Harvey Post Office suspended delivery Oct. 9 after the carrier reported to her supervisors that she was caught in gun crossfire as she walked her route. The carrier said someone in a vehicle began shooting at someone on the block as she walked the area of 151st Street and Marshfield Avenue.

Complete Story

iCongress

From The Hill
By Jordy Yager
Posted: 10/21/08 07:52 PM [ET]
House members in the next Congress could get Apple’s iPhone as their newest communication gadget.

The Chief Administrative Office (CAO), which oversees the communications systems for the House, has begun testing a small number of iPhones within its ranks to see if they are compatible with the working needs of lawmakers and staff.

“The reason we’re trying them out is because we heard a lot of people wanted the option to have them,” said Jeff Ventura, a spokesman for the CAO.
The iPhone has garnered tremendous attention since its release in July 2007. In addition to being heralded as one of the greatest modern inventions, it’s received its share of criticism for its touch-screen keyboard and slow connection speeds.

The CAO plans to decide whether to give members the option of using the phones, which are offered exclusively under AT&T contracts, by the beginning of the next Congress in January.

The cell phone of choice in the House is currently the BlackBerry, with nearly 8,200 in active use.

Complete Story

Bar Stool Economics

BAR STOOL ECONOMICS

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.

'Since you are all such good customers, he said, I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20.
Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.

But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay!
And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

'I only got a dollar out of the $20, 'declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man, 'but he got $10!'
'Yeah, that's right,' exclaimed the fifth man. 'I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!'
'That's true!!' shouted the seventh man. 'Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!'*
'Wait a minute,' yelled the first four men in unison. 'We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!'
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics, University of Georgia

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Obama's Citizenship - The Debate Rages On

Is Senator Obama a natural born citizen, a naturalized citizen, or neither? The debate rages on. A court case is now pending in the Pennsylvania Eastern District Court:

BERG v. OBAMA et al - Case Number 2:2008cv04083

Plaintiff Philip J. Berg alleged that Defendant Barack Obama is not eligible for the Office of the President because Obama lost his U.S. citizenship when his mother married an Indonesian citizen and naturalized in Indonesia. Plaintiff further alleged that Obama followed her naturalization and failed to take an oath of allegiance when he turned 18 years old to regain his U.S. citizenship status.

Court Documents Click Here

Municipalities Begin Feeling The Pinch

AP Story By CHRIS KAHN
Complete Story

PHOENIX (AP) — The palm trees in many Phoenix neighborhoods will be left shaggy this year. The city can afford to prune the trees only on major streets.

There's also no money for children's tee ball, or soccer, baseball or flag football. No money for a free shuttle service for the elderly. No money for most inner-city "fight back" programs that tackle blight.

Around the country, the mortgage crisis and the slumping economy are causing tax revenue and investment returns to plummet, forcing cities big and small to cut expenses.

"You're going to start to see across-the-board cuts in services," said Chris Hoene, director of policy and research at the National League of Cities. "Every service — police, fire, libraries, recreation — will see some cuts. And you start to see layoffs. You won't see the same number of police on the streets."

At the center of the financial meltdown, in New York City, officials expect 165,000 job losses overall in the next two years, including as many as 35,000 in the financial services industry. Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered all city agencies to slash spending by $500 million now and $1 billion for fiscal year 2010. The city also is mulling new ways to raise money, like putting ads on the sides of garbage trucks and street sweepers.

In New Jersey, Gov. Jon Corzine is warning hundreds of cities and towns to start teaming up and combining essential services or face a reduction in state aid.

In Chicago, Mayor Richard Daley plans to lay off more than 900 city workers and eliminate nearly 1,350 vacant jobs to help cover a $469 million shortfall. Daley's budget also increases taxes on parking and sports tickets and gives city workers three unpaid days off around the holidays — the day after Thanksgiving, the day before Christmas, and the day before New Year's — to save $20 million. That's on top of numerous tax increases already imposed.

"The little man, the worker bees are totally forgotten," said Paula Chiano, 51, a court reporter in Chicago and a single mom. "Everything is harder."

In Oakland, Calif., an estimated $42 million deficit has Mayor Ron Dellums proposing shutting down City Hall one day a week, eliminating 84 city jobs, imposing hiring freezes and cutting other services.

Brad Walters, a circulation manager at the Oakland Public Library, said the library will cut programs for the disabled and elderly, its bookmobile and its literacy programs.

Walters, president of a municipal employees union with about 2,000 full-timers, said closing the city one day a week means he and his members will lose 20 percent of their pay. "I lose 20 percent of my pay, I can lose my house," he said.

Towns across the Midwest already reeling from a spike in the price of road salt say the downturn in the economy will mean more snow on the roads this winter. "People won't be able to expect to drive on a road in the dead of winter that is completely clear of snow and ice," said Watertown, Wis., Mayor Ron Krueger.

In the Seattle area, King County is making cuts to offset a projected $93 million budget deficit. The cuts will mean fewer sheriff's deputies patrolling the county, staffing cutbacks at the courts and less spending on public health, including a program that helps women who are HIV-positive and pregnant find doctors and get counseling.

Even wealthy cities are feeling the pain. Aspen, Colo., will delay construction of a $360,000 foam pit for training snowboarders in the city gym.

"We have a lot of gold and silver medalists from the X-Games who live and train here, so that's going to have to go," said Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland.

Economists say that communities with close ties to the financial sector such as New York City and Charlotte will probably suffer the worst. Cities reliant on auto manufacturing like Detroit will have a tough time as well. Phoenix, Las Vegas, Miami and other areas that saw home values rocket will also struggle as the real estate market cools.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, is cushioned somewhat by its many hospitals and universities, which are resistant to swings in the economy, said Moody's Economy.com senior economist Ryan Sweet.

Communities near military installations and defense contractors also will do well, since federal contracts tend to run for a few years, said Steven Cochrane, managing director at Moody's Economy.com. Similarly, the Washington, D.C., suburbs in Virginia and Maryland may continue to prosper because of their many research and development firms and their large population of federal employees.

"This is where all the government bureaucrats live," University of Maryland economist Jeffrey Werling said. "They don't tend to get laid off. Those guys, they'll do fine."

Up to now, communities from Texas to Colorado that are heavily tied to the energy sector have prospered from the run-up in oil and gas prices. But oil prices are plummeting, and those cities and towns could suffer too.

Phoenix didn't get hit by the mortgage crisis — it got slammed. For years, the city has been going through a building boom that turned desert into housing developments and strip malls. It is now looking at a glut of unsold homes.

Last fiscal year, Phoenix's tax revenue fell $89 million short. So the city doubled the cost of swimming lessons at city pools to $12 per session and eliminated 250 baseball games at one park. It left it up to homeowners to pay for the pruning of palm trees. And it ended a shuttle service that took the elderly and disabled to the grocery store.

City Manager Frank Fairbanks said Phoenix must slash up to $250 million more by March to make ends meet. This time, the cuts will sweep across the city's most essential areas, including police, fire, libraries and services for senior citizens.

"There's just no choice," Fairbanks said. "With all the cuts we've made in the past, I don't think there's anything left that someone in the community doesn't highly value."

Dallas Reunion

ORIGINAL "DALLAS" CAST MEMBERS LARRY HAGMAN, VICTORIA PRINCIPAL, LINDA GRAY, PATRICK DUFFY, CHARLENE TILTON, KEN KERCHEVAL AND STEVE KANALY REUNITE AT SOUTHFORK RANCH TO CELEBRATE THE LONG-RUNNING HIT SERIES, ON "DALLAS REUNION: RETURN TO SOUTHFORK," SUNDAY, NOV. 7 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Mary Crosby, Who Played the Infamous Kristin Shepard, Also Returns
Click here to CHAT LIVE about the reunion

DALLAS REUNION: RETURN TO SOUTHFORK will reunite original "Dallas" cast members Larry Hagman, Victoria Principal, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Charlene Tilton, Ken Kercheval and Steve Kanaly at Southfork Ranch, to celebrate the long-running hit series, Sunday, Nov. 7 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Mary Crosby, who played the infamous Kristin Shepard, also returns.

"Dallas," with 356 episodes broadcast during 13 seasons on the Network (April 2, 1978 to May 3, 1991), remains television's second longest-running primetime entertainment series, surpassed only by CBS's "Gunsmoke" (402) episodes. "Dallas" also holds the distinction of having one of the highest-rated episodes in television history ("Who Shot J.R.?," 11-21-80), which garnered a 53.3 rating and a 77 share and was watched by more than 300 million people worldwide.

It's been more than 25 years since the "Dallas" cast took up residence at the famous Southfork Ranch just outside of Dallas. They will meet there again for this special reunion to tour the famous grounds, talk about the series' most infamous storylines and reminisce about their time together on the show. Larry Hagman will also share his own home movies that were shot when "Dallas" was actually being filmed.

"Dallas" couples J.R. and Sue Ellen (Larry Hagman, Linda Gray) and Pam and Bobby (Victoria Principal, Patrick Duffy) will remember their years together. Charlene Tilton looks back at the time she spent playing Lucy Ewing, the granddaughter of the head of the Dallas clan, Jock Ewing (the late Jim Davis). Also reminiscing about their parts on the show are Ken Kercheval, who played Pam's lawyer brother, Cliff Barnes, and Steve Kanaly, who played Southfork's ranch foreman Ray Krebbs. Mary Crosby, who played the infamous Kristin Shepard, will talk about her part in one of the most famous scenes ever filmed on network television.

The season finale cliffhanger originated on "Dallas," and there was a cliffhanger at the end of the last show for all of its 13 seasons. Did Sue Ellen and her baby survive a car crash? Who was found floating face down in the Ewing's swimming pool? Would Cliff Barnes die of a drug overdose? What happened to Pam and the Ewing family after Bobby was killed saving her from a speeding car? And, in season two, the most famous cliffhanger of all: Who shot J.R.?

Prior to the special's broadcast, "Dallas" fans will have the opportunity to vote online for their favorite cliffhanger of all time. The voting will begin on Monday, Sept. 27 and will end on November 6. For details, log-on to CBS.com. The final results will be revealed on the special.

Palin to Appear on SNL!

Palin to appear on 'Saturday Night Live'

The Associated Press and CNN report that Gov. Sarah Palin will appear on this week's edition of "Saturday Night Live." A spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign confirmed that Palin would appear.

This week's host is Josh Brolin, who plays President George Bush in the new Oliver Stone movie "W."

In an interview earlier this week, Lorne Michaels, the executive producer of "Saturday Night Live," said that Tina Fey would return to do her Palin impression before the election, but he didn't say when.

UPDATE: Here's footage from Defamer of Fey on Friday's Letterman show talking about her Palin impression.
We may see Fey-as-Palin and Palin-as-Palin side by side this week. Or we may see the real Palin in a skit with Brolin's George Bush. Or we may see something completely different. Either way, it is safe to say that we will all be watching!

Here is the SNL take on the final debate:

Bad Blago!

Illinois County Judge Renews Ruling to Block Gov. Blagojevich's FamilyCare Expansion Initiative

Cook County, Ill., Judge James Epstein on Wednesday renewed an order prohibiting the state from making payments under a health coverage expansion enacted under an emergency order by Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and said the state must outline how it will comply with the ruling, the AP/Chicago Tribune reports (Robinson, AP/Chicago Tribune, 10/15). Last month, the Illinois Appellate Court upheld an earlier decision that Blagojevich did not have the authority to expand the FamilyCare program without approval from the General Assembly (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/30).

Epstein refused to stay the order pending an appeal by the state and said the state has 14 days to explain how it intends to comply with the order. He said that people who gained coverage under the expansion "do not have a right to continue to receive coverage under this improperly promulgated program."

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services in a statement following Epstein's action said the agency is "currently reviewing the decision, but the governor is committed to making sure that these families continue to get the insurance they need" (AP/Chicago Tribune, 10/15).

Joe the Plumber?

HOLLAND, Ohio -- Joe the Plumber's story sprang a few leaks Thursday.

Turns out that the man who was held up by John McCain as the typical, hard-working American taxpayer isn't really a licensed plumber. And court documents show he owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes.

"Joe," whose name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, was cited repeatedly in Wednesday night's final presidential debate by McCain for questioning Barack Obama's tax policy.

Wurzelbacher instantly became a media celebrity, fielding calls during the debate and facing reporters outside his home near Toledo on Thursday morning for an impromptu nationally televised news conference.The burly, bald man acknowledged he doesn't have a plumber's license, but said he didn't need one because he works for someone else at a company that does residential work.

But Wurzelbacher still would need to be a licensed apprentice or journeyman to work in Toledo, and he's not, said David Golis, manager and residential building official for the Toledo Division of Building Inspection.

State and local records show Wurzelbacher has no license, although his employer does. Golis said there are no records of inspectors citing Wurzelbacher for unlicensed work in Toledo.
And then there was the matter of his taxes.

Wurzelbacher owes the state of Ohio $1,182.98 in personal income tax, according to Lucas County Court of Common Pleas records.

Complete Story

Debate Preview: Mean McCain?

It has been a little harder than normal to get a pulse on the 3rd and final debate this week. For one thing, I have been in Philadelphia – and everyone is obsessed with PHILLIES MANIA – Given the fact that the debate is up against the Phillies game tonight, the general consensus, at least here in Philly was indifferent. Some folks said that they plan on tivo-ing the debate and watching it later, others said they planned on celebrating a Phillies win tonight – forget the debate.

However, from what I have manage to gather during the past week, McCain needs to make a strong showing. Many feel that he needs to come out swinging and hit hard. No more dancing around the issues and light footing about Obama’s questionable relationships – if there is an issue about any of Obama’s qualifications then McCain needs to raise it, and make it front and center tonight.

The economy has hurt the McCain campaign, and it looks as though this financial mess is not going away any time soon. Therefore, McCain really needs to attack Obama on his taxation policies. Who will be taxed, how much, and what will the consequences be. Obama often says that he is going to leave taxes alone, or lower them, for 95% of us – McCain needs to take Obama to task on this statement. If you raise taxes on businesses or business owners who will really feel the effect? Higher taxes on companies mean higher product prices, thus higher burden on the everyday consumer.

After today’s grim consumer spending report one thing is clear – we need to sell more products, not less. Also, Mc Cain needs to flush out exactly what the Obama health care plan will be. Is Obama going to penalize employers who do not provide health insurance to their employees? How much will that cost – and what choice will businesses make?

As always, it should be an interesting debate. I am always amazed how many time McCain says “my friends” and how many times Obama drags out the word “and”.
Hopefully this third and final debate is more lively than last weeks. I will be watching, and hope you will be too!

The Bottom Is Here!

Maybe I should not publicly say this, but it appears that the stock market hit bottom on Friday and is now beginning to climb back up. It seems like the time to buy is now, there are a lot of very undervalued stocks out there - mostly as a result of the mass over sell that has occurred during the past few weeks. So, if you have a few extra dollars sitting around, come on and join the fun - invest now!

Hello Philly!

I am in Philadelphia this week - stay tuned for more pictures and updates.

Happy Polish-American History Month

Polish American Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1981 in Pennsylvania. Originally, August was the month selected to focus in on the contributions of great Americans of Polish descent that were often not recognized. Michael Blichasz of Philadelphia, a fourth generation Polish American, started in an effort to bring to the forefront the strong pride he believed all Americans of Polish heritage should have in the successes that Polish Americans have made in America.

Does the average American youngster -- whether of Polish or any other extraction -- learn in school that a group of Poles arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1608, 12 years before anyone had even heard of the Mayflower? Is he or she told that the Jamestown Poles not only laid the foundations for America's first industry (the manufacture of pitch, soap and glass) but also staged America's first civil-rights strike?

Are American school children ever informed that medieval Poland was the largest country in Europe, straddling the continent from the Black Sea to the Baltic? That it provided a safe haven for Jews fleeing persecution in Spain, France, Germany and other countries of the 'enlightened' West?

That on at least four occasions it changed the course of history. Thrice it helped saved Europe from invading hordes from the east: the pagan Mongols at Legnica in 1241, the Moslem Turks at the gates of Vienna in 1683 and the Bolshevik Red Army outside Warsaw in 1920. In 1980 Poland's Solidarity movement unleashed a force that eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet empire.

Does today's American youngster learn of the contributions to America made by millions of Polish immigrants who, without the benefit of today's hand-outs and minority privileges, pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps through hard work and sacrifice?

They worked hard, paid their taxes, built clean and safe neighborhoods, maintained their property, kept their kids out of trouble and in general helped to build America up rather than trying to tear it down. These and other facts, still largely absent from the US mainstream, could go a long way towards building up the ethnic self-esteem of Polish Americans.

Read More - Polish News

Middle Class Candidate

As the battle for the White House heats up, one thing is certain - both parties are trying to connect with the middle class. So, which of the candidates truly feels the needs and pains of the middle class?

Last Friday Sarah Palin released her tax returns and personal financial disclosure report. The Palin Family, Sarah and Todd, had a combined adjusted gross income of $166,000 in 2007, and $128,000 in 2006.

Interestingly, according to tax documents, John McCain paid more for household help last year—$270,000—than his running mate and her husband earned.

Barack and Michelle Obama reported income of $4.2 million in 2007.

The Biden Family reported $320,000 in adjusted gross income last year.

Complete Story

University of Illinois at Chicago Receives $10 Million Gift for Polish Studies

University of Illinois at Chicago Receives $10 Million Gift for Polish Studies

A $10 million gift to the University of Illinois at Chicago to enhance studies in Polish history, language and literature will transform the study of that country and its culture in the city with the largest Polish population outside of Warsaw.

The donation, a bequest from the late Romuald Hejna, is the second-largest gift from an individual that UIC has ever received and the biggest single gift to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Hejna's bequest will create two chairs in the history of Poland and one chair in Polish language and literature.

"Mr. Hejna's gift has ensured not only that the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will remain on the map for Polish Studies -- so vital already in Chicago with its storied and strong connections to Poland -- but also that UIC will become a beacon for scholars who wish to research and teach in this specialization," said Dwight A. McBride, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Full Story

Can You Hear Me Now? Cell Phone Service Coming to Metro

H.R. 2095: Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, is now on the way to the President's desk for signature. The bill gives the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) $1.5 billion in federal funding for its Metro system.

The legislation provides funding to Metro on the condition that it is used to maintain the existing system and not to add new tracks or stations. Metro plans to buy and maintain rail cars and buses and renovate stations in need of repair, said Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel.

Of interest to frequent Metro users, the bill requires that Metro expand cell phone coverage to assure service at its 20 busiest stops within the next year and install service at all stops within four years. Currently, only Verizon or Sprint roaming customers can receive signals - and the coverage is spotty at best.

For the government to award the money, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia must match it with $1.5 billion of their own, with each jurisdiction paying $500 million apiece.

Senator Tom Coburn, R-Okla., placed a hold on the legislation Friday, making it the most recent of more than 80 spending bills that he has held since 2005. While he approved of many of the bill's safety reforms, he strongly objected to what he considered wasteful funding, most notably the $1.5 billion for Metro and almost $13.1 billion for Amtrak. As a side note, Senator Biden (D-Amtrak), did not vote on this bill.

The Senate was able to get around Coburn's hold Monday by voting for cloture. When approved by 60 senators, cloture limits consideration of a bill to no more than 30 additional hours. The motion passed, 69-17, clearing the way for Wednesday's vote.

The bill is now before the President awaiting his review and signature.

More on this story
Southern Maryland Online
Washington Post Story
US Senate Website

Senate Bailout - Wooden Arrows

The Following story from Associated Content:

In struggling with the liquidity crisis, the United States Senate seems to have found that it goes beyond banks, investment firms, and even generally small business. It seems that, among others, the manufacturers of wooden arrows for children were in peril.

Dutifully, the Senate tucked into its version of the bailout bill a provision repealing a 39 cent excise tax on wooden arrows made for children. This relief for the beleaguered wooden arrows industry was included on behalf of Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith, Democrat and Republican respectively, of Oregon to benefit arrow manufacturers in their state.

One supposes that if one makes fiberglass arrows for adults, one is just out of luck.

According to Bloomberg:
"(via Bloomberg):
Senators attached a provision repealing a 39-cent excise tax on wooden arrows designed for children to an historic $700 billion financial-markets rescue that passed tonight by a vote of 74-25. The provision, originally proposed by Oregon senators Ron Wyden [D] and Gordon Smith [R], will save manufacturers such as Rose City Archery in Myrtle Point, Oregon, about $200,000 a year.

It's one of dozens of tax breaks benefiting Hollywood producers, stock-car racetrack owners and Virgin Islands rum-makers included in the broader legislation in an effort to win support from House Republicans, whose defection contributed to a rejection of an earlier version of the legislation two days ago on a 228-205 vote."

Associated Content continued:

The Senate bailout bill also contains provisions benefiting Hollywood producers, stockcar race track owners, and rum distillers. These kinds of provisions are delicately known as earmarks. They are commonly known as pork.

The German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck once said that there are two things that should not be looked at too closely, sausage making and law making. The Senate bailout bill, filled out with pork to get Senators to sign on to it, is sausage making at its finest and at its worst.

The liquidity crisis, we are told, has the potential to sink the American economy and cause a second Great Depression. If no one is willing to loan anyone any money, then commerce will grind to a halt. Tens of millions of people will lose their jobs. Chaos will reign.

And, incidentally, Barack Obama will be elected with a far left Congress with a mandate to enact a second New Deal. That is a nightmarish prospect that should be an incentive for any Republican law makers to want to fix the liquidity crisis before it gets really out of control.

Full Story Here

Vice Presidential Debate - Time to Party?!?

Election Season in D.C. is like the Superbowl elsewhere, even the bars get into the elections. For this week's VP debate, many of the D.C. bars are hosting specials, here is just a snippet of what is available.

Complied by the Washington Post:

DC

At the 1331 Bar in the JW Marriott hotel, try some partisan wings—the “left” come with a spicy Asian lacquer, and the “right” have a Texas barbecue sauce—or an “undecider slider,” and sip on some red, white, and blue cocktails. The lounge will host happy hours every Tuesday through November 4 and will also show the presidential debates.

At Ventnor’s, customers can pick a word they think the candidates will say, and every time it’s uttered, shots will be $1.

At Capitol Lounge, enjoy $10 pitchers of Budweiser, Bud Light, Capitol Amber, and Yuengling while watching Biden and Palin duke it out.

DC for Obama is hosting a VP Debate Extravaganza at Mezza Luna. It has one 100-inch and four 32-inch flat-screen TVs in the main area, which guarantees you’ll be able to hear the debate. Reservations are required, but you can reserve a space only for yourself and one other person. Click here to RSVP.

While airing the debate, Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue will also be hosting a Democratic fundraiser. The suggested donation is $100, with a $25 minimum. There will be a cash bar, and pizza and appetizers are free; 8 to 11:30.

The Progressive Happy Hour Crew will host a debate/dance party at Left Bank Bistro Lounge in Adams Morgan.

The couch-filled executive rooms at Lounge 201 will be available after 8 for debate watching, but you can also see it at the bar.

Capitol Hill’s 18th Amendment will offer its regular happy-hour specials.

For last week’s debate, Hawk & Dove was packed by 7:30, so arrive early and take advantage of the happy-hour specials while waiting for the main event. Miller Lite drafts are $1.75, and pitchers are $7.

At Stetson’s Famous Bar & Grill, a big crowd is expected for the debate, so show up early.

Head to the Lobby Bar in the Ritz-Carlton to try a campaign cocktail such as the Elegant Elephant, Delicate Donkey, Obamaretto Sour, or Sugar (Mc)Cain Mojito. These specials and more will be offered through Election Night.

Because of the high demand last week, Timberlake’s American Bar & Grill will show the debate on three flat-screen TVs.

B. Smith’s will raffle off a dinner for two during its debate-viewing party. Guests can enjoy two specialty drinks: the Obama Bahama Mama and the McCain Mojito.

VP Moderator In the Tank for Obama-Biden?

Tuesday, September 30, 2008
ELECTION 2008
WorldNetDaily Exclusive
VP debate moderator Ifill releasing pro-Obama book
Posted: September 30, 2008
8:35 pm Eastern

By Bob Unruh
WorldNetDaily

Gwen Ifill
The moderator of Thursday's vice-presidential debate is writing a book to come out about the time the next president takes the oath of office that aims to "shed new light" on Democratic candidate Barack Obama and other "emerging young African American politicians" who are "forging a bold new path to political power."

Gwen Ifill of the Public Broadcasting Service program "Washington Week" is promoting "The Breakthrough," in which she argues the "black political structure" of the civil rights movement is giving way to men and women who have benefited from the struggles over racial equality.

Ifill declined to return a WND telephone message asking for a comment about her book project and whether its success would be expected should Obama lose. But she has faced criticism previously for not treating candidates of both major parties the same.

During a vice-presidential candidate debate she moderated in 2004 – when Democrat John Edwards attacked Republican Dick Cheney's former employer, Halliburton – the vice president said, "I can respond, Gwen, but it's going to take more than 30 seconds."

"Well, that's all you've got," she told Cheney.

Ifill told the Associated Press Democrats were delighted with her answer, because they "thought I was being snippy to Cheney."

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Just Call Me Andrew, Esq.!

ILLINOIS BOARD OF ADMISSIONS TO THE BAR

October 1, 2008


Dear Mr. Roszak,

We are pleased to advise that you have passed the July 2008 Illinois bar examination.

Our records reflect that you have satisfied all of the requirements for admission to the bar of Illinois pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 704 and will be certified to the Illinois Supreme Court as eligible to take the oath of admission.

For information regarding the transfer of your Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) score to another jurisdiction, please visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners website at www.ncbex.org. For information and to download the transfer form, click the MBE link under the homepage heading labeled Multistate Tests.

The Supreme Court has fixed Thursday, November 6, 2008, as the date of the admission ceremonies. All certified candidates for admission to the bar must appear in open court to take the attorney's oath and receive their licenses. November 6 is the earliest date on which certified candidates may do so. Notices and instructions that include the location and time of your assigned ceremony will be mailed by the Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court.

Very truly yours,

Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar