Small is Beautiful - Reviewing E.F. Schumacher's 1973 book on growth and society. 4/14.
Not My Choosing - So much of our lives are not under our control. 4/11.
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Andy Arthur
15A Elm Avenue
Delmar, NY 12054
(518) 210-7423
andy@nycowboy.org
AIM: andy b arthur
NPR tells you when you will get your $600 dollar check from the government. Com'nt P'Link
“It's been nearly 20 years since a former housekeeper of Leona Helmsley infamously testified that the wealthy real estate investor claimed that "only little people pay taxes."” Com'nt P'Link
“It has been three decades since China's one-child policy was introduced as a temporary measure to slow the country's population growth. But there's rising opposition to the policy amid criticism that it's creating another demographic crisis.” Com'nt P'Link
He told the Daily News that he's not interested in running for Governor of New York. Com'nt P'Link
“Democratic Gov. David Paterson just ended his first closed door visit with the Assembly Republicans, during which (according to a source who was present) he praised the GOP for their fiscal conservatism and refused to rule out wielding his veto pen when it comes to the state budget.” Com'nt P'Link
“Partnerships can help businesses build their customer base” Com'nt P'Link
“Conservatives blame the housing crisis on a 1977 law that helps-low income people get mortgages. It's a useful story for them, but it isn't true.” Com'nt P'Link
“The decline of Hillary Clinton's presidential prospects does not change the fact that she is a singularly hard-working, policy-focused politician. Now that Eliot Spitzer is out, perhaps she should consider running for governor of New York.” Com'nt P'Link
David Weiss Gots A Website. I see over on Democracy in Albany, they've posted a link to the new website for David Weiss for State Senate.
For all of us who want anybody but Neil Breslin representing us in the State Senate, he seems like a pretty solid candidate—abit one without money or any resources. While he does not have to report his campaign fundraising yet, it should be interesting to see what happens.
Senator Breslin has an absurb amount of money to run a re-election bid, reporting in January that he had $110,409.83 in the bank of his committee, and spending $18,000 mostly on meals and donations to other candidates. He raised $3,900 in the same time period.
At one level Senator Breslin must be looking to build up his base with progressives. Last month he was at the DFHMR meeting, pandering to progressives, to keep him as their candidate, even if his years of blundering along in the Senate has done little for the people of our state.
Plus, I'd like to have a State Senator from Renselearville, rather then suburban Delmar. It's pretty up on County Route 360 where David Weiss lives. Com'nt P'Link
“Many renters may believe that they have avoided the chaos of the subprime loan crisis and the mortgage meltdown simply by renting and not buying, but they may not be as insulated as they think. Buildings with tenants are going into foreclosure as well.” Com'nt P'Link
Phil Steck Out Fundraising Tracy Brooks? That would appear to be the case according to Brooks is claiming today, about $175k for the past filing period. Steck in contrast is claiming he raised raised $200k prior to April 3.
It seems that Brooks has more small donors, but we don't have final numbers for Steck in yet. I doubt Steck's contributors are anywhere near maxed out in the primary fight, and we still have a lot of months until September.
I look forward to seeing those number tomorrow. Com'nt P'Link
The Sanctuary for Independent Media Re-Opening. After suffering political harassment from the Troy Code Enforcement after showing a controversial exhibit, changes have been made to appease code inspectors.
Just more than a month after it was forced to shut its doors, The Sanctuary for Independent Media announced Friday that it will re-open on April 26.
The media outlet was forced to stop hosting public gatherings on March 11 after the city enforced a 14-month old code violation which stated that the building’s doors were too narrow and needed panic hardware. The violation was enforced the day "The Night of Bush Capturing: Virtual Jihadi," a controversial exhibit created which depicts the assassination of President Bush through a video game, was set to open to the public.
A protest against the exhibit was led by Bob Mirch, commissioner of the Department of Public Works, the night before the building was shut down.
Steve Pierce, director of the sanctuary, explained he was glad to see the building re-open thanks to the generous support of local organizations, including Christ Church, the Arts Center of the Capital Region, and AME Zion Church, which have hosted several of the sanctuary’s exhibits while it was closed down.Advertisement
“City officials used code enforcement as a weapon as a weapon to silence the artist, Waffa Bilal, and shut us down, simply because they disagreed with what was being said,” said Pierce.
Read Sanctuary to Reopen in the Troy Record. Com'nt P'Link
A Historical Look At Late Budgets. Below is an image I created this morning that graphs out how late our state budget has been since 1975.
( You can click on the image to enlarge it to something that is readable. )
A few obvious things. The state budget is almost never on time, only being on time 18% of the time since 1975. In the eighties it was largely on time, but it got worst in the early 1990s and particularly bad under the George Pataki administration.
The source is the April 9th Newsday article on this topic. Com'nt P'Link
“People who live in Plattsburgh Housing Authority buildings refuse to be stereotyped. Com'nt P'Link
“Neither record-high gasoline prices nor news of instability for airline travel seems to have deterred families determined to escape the Capital Region for spring break Friday.” Com'nt P'Link
“When Cindy Sheehan made a detour to Crawford, Texas, in 2005, she only intended to ask President George W. Bush to explain the “noble cause,” the term he used to describe the objective her son Casey and scores of other soldiers died for in Iraq.” Com'nt P'Link
“The system has worked for more than a century, but those volunteers will face major new demands if an Advanced Micro Devices computer chip plant is built here.” Com'nt P'Link
“Is an almost 100 percent increase in the state sales tax on cigarettes sending the wrong message to New Yorkers? It is essentially preying on smokers' addiction to nicotine, and the lawmakers' knowledge that smokers will be forced to swallow the price hike to continue their habit.” Com'nt P'Link
“Technology can connect upstate and downstate, and benefit all involved” Com'nt P'Link
“With one state budget under his belt, Governor Paterson is already looking for ways to close a projected $4 billion gap in next year's spending plan. It's an encouraging sign Mr. Paterson intends to be much more forceful in urging fiscal restraint on lawmakers than he was during his first budget effort. At the same time, he needs to take a broader look at costly fiscal practices by state entities that have led, among other things, to New York's crazy quilt of salaries for top administrators.” Com'nt P'Link
“How the state's unused and moribund death penalty statute costs taxpayers plenty” Com'nt P'Link
“A shorted-out underground wire led to an explosion on River Street early Sunday that blew manhole covers almost 20 feet in the air and broke about 30 upper-floor windows.” Com'nt P'Link
“I see the Thruway Authority is considering another toll hike. Would you know how the state of New York managed to continue operating the Thruway as a toll road when the tolls were supposed to be removed after the bonds were paid off in the late 1990s?” Com'nt P'Link
“Albany County legislators are expected to approve tonight the purchase of 210 voting machines for the September primary that are specifically designed to allow a voter -- and, particularly, disabled people -- to mark a ballot with a special device.” Com'nt P'Link
“At a private fundraiser in San Francisco, Sen. Barack Obama said Pennsylvania's small town voters are bitter about losing jobs and that to explain their frustrations, they "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them." Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain were quick to characterize the remarks as elitist.” Com'nt P'Link
“New York lawmakers are favoring passing a bill that would link ammunition to the gun it was fired from... Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.” Com'nt P'Link
Bloomberg's 10-Point Code for Walmart. It looks like if you buy a gun from Walmart they will be a taping you.
1. Videotaping the Point of Sale for All Firearms Transactions. Participating retailers will videotape the point-of-sale of all firearms transactions and maintain videos for 6 months to deter illegal purchases and monitor employees.
2. Computerized Crime Gun Trace Log and Alert System. Mayors Against Illegal Guns will develop a computerized system that participating retailers will implement over time to log crime gun traces relating to the retailer.
Once the program is in place, if a customer who has a prior trace at that retailer attempts to purchase a firearm, the sale will be electronically flagged. The retailer would have discretion to proceed with the sale or stop the sale.
3. Purchaser Declaration. For sales flagged by the trace alert system, participating retailers will ask purchasers to fill out a declaration indicating that they meet the legal requirement to purchase the firearm.
4. Deterring Fake IDs. Participating retailers will only accept valid federal- or state-issued picture IDs as primary identification. Retailers will utilize additional ID checking mechanisms.
5. Consistent Visible Signage Consistent Visible Signage. Participating retailers will post signage created by the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership to alert customers of their legal responsibilities at the point-of-sale.
6. Employee Background Checks Employee Background Checks. Participating retailers will conduct criminal background checks for all employees selling or handling firearms.
7. Employee Responsibility Training. Participating retailers will participate in an employee responsibility training program focused on deterring illegal purchasers. The Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership will create an online training system based on Wal-Mart’s training program.
8. Inventory Checking. Participating retailers will conduct daily and quarterly audits. Guidelines will be based on Wal-Mart’s existing audit procedures.
9. No Sales Without Background Check Results. Participating retailers would prohibit sales based on “default proceeds,” which are permitted by law when the background check has not returned a result within 3 days.
10. Securing Firearms. Participating retailers will maintain firearms kept in customer accessible areas in locked cases or locked to racks.
Read The Daily Politics Blog from the NY Daily News. Com'nt P'Link
“As hybrid vehicles become “electric motor dominant” they require a motor that can deliver more power and more torque at a lower cost with more reliability. Raser’s Symetron™ technology is available for license for “hub” style motors to meet the needs of the next generation of hybrid vehicle motors. Symetron™ technology offers PM motor performance with the economy of an AC induction pancake motor. The technology is ideal for many applications including integrated hybrid motors, intergraded starter generators, and is scaleable for a wide range of sizes from small scooters to the large heavy vehicles and generators.” Com'nt P'Link
“The world has seen the first international conference on manufacturing meat. This is the process, tested so far only at laboratory scale, of growing pork, chicken, or beef through cell culture in vats instead of raising and slaughtering animals.” Com'nt P'Link
Happy Gun Day at the Capitol. It's the New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV) day here at the Capitol, and that means that the Assembly will be passing several symbolic measures, including 50-caliber ban, gun locks mandate, micro-stamping, more insurance mandates on gun sellers, "fake assault" weapons ban, among other measures.
The State Senate will ever so quietly let those silly and redundant measures just go out to pasture and die. Which is good, because every goes home happy. The gun control people get their bills passed and their ego stroked by the Assembly. They'll then go out and hopefully vote for Democrats. Gun rights advocates, get the bad legislation killed.
You can watch the show starting today as 2:00 PM on the Assembly AV Website. Expect lots of pandering from both sides of the aisle. Com'nt P'Link
“The country’s oldest thoroughbred horse auction company will be sold to a Dubai company with connections to horse racing.” Com'nt P'Link
“The last day of auctioning at the stockyards of South St. Paul, Minn., which once were among the largest in the world but increasingly became an awkward presence in a major metropolitan area. New owners are planning to bulldoze everything to make room for light industry.” Com'nt P'Link
“Madison County's efforts to attract businesses and residents got a boost when it was named as one of the best rural places to live in the Northeast.” Com'nt P'Link
“When Salim B. Lewis and his wife, Barbara, began building three suburban-style homes in 2006 for the workers on their 1,200-acre organic farm here, they didn’t realize they were wading into a regulatory brawl with the state that apparently set off an interagency dispute.” Com'nt P'Link
“Fresh Air from WHYY, April 14, 2008 - With both the cost of and demand for oil rising, nations with large energy reserves are redrawing political and military alliances, and oil-rich countries like Russia and Venezuela are enjoying greater influence. Michael Klare, author of Rising Power, Shrinking Planet, calls it the "new international energy order."” Com'nt P'Link
“Officials in the city of Holyoke Massachusetts have announced an initiative they hope will help keep litter off the city's streets and sidewalks... WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports....” Com'nt P'Link
“An ecological treasure of Connecticut is now one step closer to being permanently protected. As part of a larger package of natural resources bills, the U.S. Senate today voted 91-4 to protect the Eightmile River as a federal Wild and Scenic River.” Com'nt P'Link
“Under the bill, which County Executive Thomas Suozzi supports, Nassau would have to set up a procurement committee to identify suitable products, and the county could not purchase products made with polystyrene foam, commonly called Styrofoam.” Com'nt P'Link
“Owego will accept up to eight tires per residential household at no charge. The tires can't be wider than 19 inches. An additional eight tires will be accepted for a $1-a-tire fee, and tires on rims will be taken at no charge. Clean scrap metal will also be accepted at no charge. Proof of residency is required.” Com'nt P'Link
“Owego will accept up to eight tires per residential household at no charge. The tires can't be wider than 19 inches. An additional eight tires will be accepted for a $1-a-tire fee, and tires on rims will be taken at no charge. Clean scrap metal will also be accepted at no charge. Proof of residency is required.” Com'nt P'Link
“Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were asked about climate change as part of the Compassion Forum, a gathering focused on eliciting the candidates' views on matters of faith. Asked whether Americans can combat global poverty and climate change without changing their standard of living, Clinton got all "10 things you can do," advising people to unplug appliances and change their light bulbs. "I hope that, as president, I can model that and lead that effort so that people don't feel so threatened by the changes we're talking about when it comes to dealing with global warming," she said. Clinton also commented on the Vatican's efforts to become carbon neutral and spoke of implementing a cap-and-trade system. Later, Rev. Richard Cizik quizzed Obama on his climate change views. "Where I think potentially religious faith and the science of global warming converge is precisely because [climate change is] going to be hard to deal with," Obama said. Obama also stressed the intergenerational nature of the climate problem, advocated for a cap-and-trade system, and said Americans need to be less wasteful of energy.” Com'nt P'Link
“APA OKs big development at Gore Ski Bowl with a new ski hill for Johnsburg and a 432-acre gated private resort.” Com'nt P'Link
“These diminutive summits offer great views, some as good as the cloud splitters, and there are a number of mountains to choose from. ” Com'nt P'Link
“A private security company organized and managed by former Secret Service officers spied on Greenpeace and other environmental organizations from the late 1990s through at least 2000, pilfering documents from trash bins, attempting to plant undercover operatives within groups, casing offices, collecting phone records of activists, and penetrating confidential meetings. According to company documents provided to Mother Jones by a former investor in the firm, this security outfit collected confidential internal records -- donor lists, detailed financial statements, the Social Security numbers of staff members, strategy memos -- from these organizations and produced intelligence reports for public relations firms and major corporations involved in environmental controversies.” Com'nt P'Link
“Been on the Zoomway lately? Drivers in the slow lane doing less than 70 mph risk rear-end tailgating by cars and trucks.” Com'nt P'Link
“The death of a promising congestion pricing plan for Manhattan is yet another reminder of Albany's dysfunction, and the urgent need for reform. Too much power is concentrated in the hands of legislative leaders, who can thwart the will of the people on a whim.” Com'nt P'Link
“Paterson's order creates a State Energy Planning Board, which would come up with a State Energy Plan. It will be headed by Deputy Secretary for Energy Paul DeCotis and include representatives from the major energy, environmental, economic and transportation agencies.” Com'nt P'Link
Bonus Weekend. The weekend weather turned out to be much nicer then I certainly expected. I spent most of Saturday outdoors hiking, reading, and doing some photography.
I spent a lot of time reading this weekend. I am actually reading three books at once, which can be a bit confusing. I'm kind of into all of these books and have yet to pick one to focus on.
I recently finished Tom Friedman's The World is Flat. Right now, I am mostly focused on reading Jane Jacob's ever so wonderful The Death and Life of Great American Cities and learning much to boot. I hope to post reviews of the new few weeks. Com'nt P'Link
Copyright ©1999-2008 Andy Arthur.
All mistakes are intentional or otherwise.
Mind where you step in a cow pasture or legal mindfield.