*Obama is gearing up for a showdown with student loan lenders. He's proposing significant changes that, if done right, would reduce the cost of taking out loans and would expand the Pell Grant program. Of course, there are billions of dollars at stake, so the banks are lining up in opposition. Here's hoping Obama is successful. It's high time for student loan reform.
*I've always wanted to travel to Cuba before Americans swarm onto the island. It is supposed to be a fascinating place, in many ways stuck in the past, once you are inland and away from all the European resorts. My dream may soon be washed away as the Obama Administration is very seriously considering easing travel to and from the island nation. Good for them. We have long since past the time (if that time ever existed) that these tenuous relations had any positive effect.
*In New York's 20th District, Democrat Scott Murphy has reclaimed the lead over Jim Tedisco by 35 votes. We'll know more in a couple days when all the absentee ballots are counted. It's a nail biter!
Showing posts with label NPD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NPD. Show all posts
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
NPD 4.2.09
*The G20 Summit wrapped up today with the crew agreeing to a variety of regulatory changes. All indicators point to Obama being a good ambassador for the United States... a welcome change from the previous administrator in his position.
*Blagojevich, or favorite former governor, was indicted on charges of corruption. He's charged, among other things, with having tried to use the power of the office for personal gain.
*Blagojevich, or favorite former governor, was indicted on charges of corruption. He's charged, among other things, with having tried to use the power of the office for personal gain.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
NPD 4.1.09
*Ol' BO is in London for the G20. He's really getting around... a bit slutty perhaps?
*The University of California at San Diego sent a "Welcome to UCSD!" email to 29,000 students. Trouble is, those students were on the rejected list. Whoops.
*Former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens will go free after Attorney General Eric Holder says government prosecutors engaged in misconduct. Most observers seem to think he really was guilty of wrongdoing, so it's unfortunate that he goes unpunished... or did he? My guess is that he lost his bid for reelection as a result of the trial. The world is better without Ted "It's a Series of Tubes" Stevens on Capitol Hill.
*The University of California at San Diego sent a "Welcome to UCSD!" email to 29,000 students. Trouble is, those students were on the rejected list. Whoops.
*Former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens will go free after Attorney General Eric Holder says government prosecutors engaged in misconduct. Most observers seem to think he really was guilty of wrongdoing, so it's unfortunate that he goes unpunished... or did he? My guess is that he lost his bid for reelection as a result of the trial. The world is better without Ted "It's a Series of Tubes" Stevens on Capitol Hill.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
NPD 3.31.09
*Obama signed an omnibus lands bill which set aside 2 million additional acres of land for wilderness protection.
*Republicans in Minnesota are now talking about dragging out the Coleman-Franken dispute for "years" by doing multiple appeals. If they are legitimate appeals, and all signs point to them not being such, then fine. But, if they are appealing in what is essentially a delay tactic, then the courts need to put a stop to accepting their petitions.
*Today is special election day in New York's 20th district! Jim Tedisco and Scott Murphy are vying to replace Kirsten Gillibrand, a former congresswoman who was elevated to replace Hilary Clinton as New York's junior senator. There is some talk that if the Republican, Tedisco, loses, that the Republican National Chairman Michael Steele will be ousted from his job (that he started only a couple months ago).
*Democratic Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania is being probed left and right on charges of corruption. He said, "If I'm corrupt, it's because I take care of my district." Whoops.
*Republicans in Minnesota are now talking about dragging out the Coleman-Franken dispute for "years" by doing multiple appeals. If they are legitimate appeals, and all signs point to them not being such, then fine. But, if they are appealing in what is essentially a delay tactic, then the courts need to put a stop to accepting their petitions.
*Today is special election day in New York's 20th district! Jim Tedisco and Scott Murphy are vying to replace Kirsten Gillibrand, a former congresswoman who was elevated to replace Hilary Clinton as New York's junior senator. There is some talk that if the Republican, Tedisco, loses, that the Republican National Chairman Michael Steele will be ousted from his job (that he started only a couple months ago).
*Democratic Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania is being probed left and right on charges of corruption. He said, "If I'm corrupt, it's because I take care of my district." Whoops.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
NPD 3.21.09
*President Obama sent a message to the Iranian people, welcoming in Nowruz which, to my understanding, is a "Helllllllllo spring!" ceremony.
*Multiple Republican governors are saying they will not accept federal dollars to improve their economies. Add Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons to the list that includes Sarah Palin, Mark Sanford, and Bobby Jindal. What makes Gibbons different is that he is not a 2012 presidential hopeful. Perhaps, then, he's at least not politically motivated like the other three.
*The House of Representatives passed a bill that will tax AIG bonus-getters at 90%. There seem to be lots of holes in the proposal, one of which is that many of the bonuses went to non-Americans. Whoops. The things that gets me about his whole mess is that they were "retention bonuses." Who wants to retain these folks who ran the company into the ground!?
*A longer post about this will come, but how about the White House Garden!?!? Hooray!
*Multiple Republican governors are saying they will not accept federal dollars to improve their economies. Add Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons to the list that includes Sarah Palin, Mark Sanford, and Bobby Jindal. What makes Gibbons different is that he is not a 2012 presidential hopeful. Perhaps, then, he's at least not politically motivated like the other three.
*The House of Representatives passed a bill that will tax AIG bonus-getters at 90%. There seem to be lots of holes in the proposal, one of which is that many of the bonuses went to non-Americans. Whoops. The things that gets me about his whole mess is that they were "retention bonuses." Who wants to retain these folks who ran the company into the ground!?
*A longer post about this will come, but how about the White House Garden!?!? Hooray!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
NPD 3.19.09
*The Treasury Department is giving $5 billion to auto parts dealers who are struggling due to the problems of the Big Three automakers. This is a piece of the argument in favor of auto bailout coming to fruition.
*This is whacky: A school in Dallas was settling disputes in "the cage" by pitting feuding students against each other in a bare-knuckle fight inside of an equipment cage. As Jon Stewart said, "This can't be right."
*As the dollar weakens the price of oil goes up, today rising 7%. Is this a harbinger of what is to come this summer?
*The NCAA basketball tournament started today and my bracket didn't fare so well. With only one big upset--Western Kentucky over Illinois--those of us that predicted a wild ride were on the outside looking in.
*This is whacky: A school in Dallas was settling disputes in "the cage" by pitting feuding students against each other in a bare-knuckle fight inside of an equipment cage. As Jon Stewart said, "This can't be right."
*As the dollar weakens the price of oil goes up, today rising 7%. Is this a harbinger of what is to come this summer?
*The NCAA basketball tournament started today and my bracket didn't fare so well. With only one big upset--Western Kentucky over Illinois--those of us that predicted a wild ride were on the outside looking in.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Non-Paper Daily, 3.18.09
Not much of a daily today, but a few things that have been happening:
*A group of Democratic Senators is forming to "restrain the influence of party liberals in the White House and Capitol Hill." Democrats are notorious for sabotaging their power for the sake of looking good, so looks like here we go. This is ridiculous. For once we have a chance to pass meaningful healthcare, energy, and climate legislation and these idiots want to solidify their power. Anger.
*George W. is keeping any criticism he has of Obama quiet. Good for him. There is a long tradition of former presidents refraining from criticizing their successor and it looks like Bush will honor that. I didn't agree with him often, but on this I do.
*For St. Patrick's Day, Michelle Obama had the White House fountain water dyed green. That sounds fun.
*A space shuttle with teachers on it recently docked at the International Space Station. There is hope for me as a teacher to get into space! They are installing a photovoltaic system and then taking off so that two Russian cosmonauts can move in. The International Space Station is getting pretty big... I wonder when Hal will show up.
*The federal government (this means you!) owns 80% of AIG. That's a lot. This also means you are the primary sponsor of Manchester United, leaders of the English Premier League! There's a silver lining to everything.
*A group of Democratic Senators is forming to "restrain the influence of party liberals in the White House and Capitol Hill." Democrats are notorious for sabotaging their power for the sake of looking good, so looks like here we go. This is ridiculous. For once we have a chance to pass meaningful healthcare, energy, and climate legislation and these idiots want to solidify their power. Anger.
*George W. is keeping any criticism he has of Obama quiet. Good for him. There is a long tradition of former presidents refraining from criticizing their successor and it looks like Bush will honor that. I didn't agree with him often, but on this I do.
*For St. Patrick's Day, Michelle Obama had the White House fountain water dyed green. That sounds fun.
*A space shuttle with teachers on it recently docked at the International Space Station. There is hope for me as a teacher to get into space! They are installing a photovoltaic system and then taking off so that two Russian cosmonauts can move in. The International Space Station is getting pretty big... I wonder when Hal will show up.
*The federal government (this means you!) owns 80% of AIG. That's a lot. This also means you are the primary sponsor of Manchester United, leaders of the English Premier League! There's a silver lining to everything.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Non-Paper Daily, 3.3.09
*Bill Gates doesn't allow iphones and ipods in his house. Principles baby.
*Today the primary was held in Illinois' 5th Congressional District to determine who will run for Rahm Emmanuel's old position. Now that Rahm is running the show as Obama's Chief of Staff, there is an opening for an up-and-coming Democrat in this highly Democratic district.
*The Obama Administration is doing many things right in the international arena, including their announced withdraw from Iraq to be completed in 18 months. In addition, they are doing away with the Bush Administration policy of refusal to engage with nations with whom our relations have soured. Recently they have begun talks with Iran, Syria, and Russia. Good for them.
*While playing basketball is fun, waking up at 5:30 to do it is rough. Just thought I'd share.
*Today the primary was held in Illinois' 5th Congressional District to determine who will run for Rahm Emmanuel's old position. Now that Rahm is running the show as Obama's Chief of Staff, there is an opening for an up-and-coming Democrat in this highly Democratic district.
*The Obama Administration is doing many things right in the international arena, including their announced withdraw from Iraq to be completed in 18 months. In addition, they are doing away with the Bush Administration policy of refusal to engage with nations with whom our relations have soured. Recently they have begun talks with Iran, Syria, and Russia. Good for them.
*While playing basketball is fun, waking up at 5:30 to do it is rough. Just thought I'd share.
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