About Me

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For me it is All About Being of Service & Living the Life of the Give-Away....

Being Mindful of those who are unable to speak for themselves; our Non-Two Legged Relations and the Future Generations.

It's about walking on the Canka Luta Waste Behind the Cannunpa and the ceremonies.

It's about Mindfulness and Respect. It's about Honesty and owning up to my foibles.

It's about: Mi Takuye Oyacin

Monday, August 31, 2009

Angeles National Forest Wildfire


I always take action, however today I face a bigger threat than the polar bears. My neighborhood is on fire. I live in Tujunga...we have a multi-thousand acre wildfire.

Why not take action by protesting the governments incessant use of "chem-trails"?

Here they spray the chemicals in the air and use large radio frequency discs in order to stop the rain.
They have been totally successful, so much so that we live in extreme drought conditions....now the Angeles National Forest is ablaze... Had the government not worked so hard to stop the rain (to alter the weather) with their poisonous chemicals and radio frequencies our forest would have had the necessary snow cap that would allow it to withstand a fire.

Because the trees and the Earth are so thirsty, there is not enough water within to survive what might have otherwise been a brush fire.
We do not even have enough free standing water resources to use for the much needed water drops. Countless lives of our non-two legged relations have been lost due to the selfish, self-serving interference of the government.

This has Nothing to do with Mr. Obama, this has everything to do with Bush/Cheney...for this is when the weather changers increased their activity....up to 4-5 planes twice daily spewing as many as 40-50 chemtrails per mission.

If you think you can afford not to speak out on behalf of our National Forest wildlife...then you are a part of the problem, not the solution.

Mi Takuye Oyacin

Friday, August 28, 2009

Planned Parenthood: Read the Facts



Planned Parenthood
E-NEWSLETTER: AUGUST 2009
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/g1AC7Wp1ILs9/TroubleViewing
************************

<<---<>--->>

Dear Auntie Nanuuq,

August is almost over. And you can take it from this Texan --
it's been a hot one.

Members of Congress left for summer recess having made progress
on health care reform, but with no final bill -- and opponents
of reform pounced. Conservative talking heads fueled the fire by
encouraging rightwing activists to spread false rumors and
disrupt town hall meetings, all in an effort to kill any bill
that would increase access to health care for women, men, and
families.

Health care reform is a vitally important issue, too important
to be derailed by myths and misinformation. From false
accusations that the reform bill will "mandate abortion" to the
bizarre claim that the administration wants to create "death
panels," opponents of reform keep inventing new lies to try to
stop the bill. We can't let propaganda keep affordable health
care out of the reach of millions.

As Planned Parenthood gears up for Congress to return to
Washington, we're counting on supporters like you to stay
informed about what is at stake -- and share the truth with
friends, family, and co-workers. Most important, I want you to
act based on the facts -- not the myths.
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/51AC7Wp1ILsE/HuffingtonPost

Sincerely,

Cecile Richards, President
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

<<---<>--->>
With your help, Planned Parenthood can protect access to
essential health care like contraception and cervical cancer
screenings -- so that those who need access to care will ALWAYS
have somewhere to turn. Make a gift to the Planned Parenthood
Federation of America today. Click here:
https://secure.ga0.org/02/pp2009/n07AC7WpqKcOM?source=enews_aug09_ppol

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

<<---<>--->>
Question: Lately sex has been really painful. Does that mean
something is wrong?

Read Dr. Cullins' response:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/tdAC7Wp1ILs8/DoctorCullins

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

<<---<>--->>
Aggressive outreach for a healthier Massachusetts.
Dianne Luby, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood League
of Massachusetts, is being honored by the Boston Business
Journal as a "Champion in Health Care." Dr. Roberta Herman, who
nominated Dianne for the honor, wrote, "How many other CEOs
drive around in a hot pink Scion with the tagline 'Sexual Health
Matters,' to reach the public with information about critical
health services?" Click here to read more:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/cdAC7Wp1ILsN/DianneLuby

<<---<>--->>
Lying and scaring people to stop health care reform.
The Family Research Council has never let the truth get in the
way of its claims, but its TV ad opposing health care reform
shamelessly twists the issue into a fictional -- and completely
unfounded -- scene that is pure propaganda. The ad falsely
suggests that health care reform will lead to government denying
surgery for seniors while funding abortions. Learn more about
the ad at Factcheck.org:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/v7AC7Wp1ILsj/FactCheck-org

<<---<>--->>
Vote for Planned Parenthood in CREDO poll.
CREDO Mobile and Working Assets donate a portion of their
profits every year to non-profits like Planned Parenthood. The
best part? They let customers and activists decide where the
money goes. If you're a CREDO/Working Assets customer -- or even
if you've just taken action online with CREDO Action -- you can
help generate more donations for Planned Parenthood. Click here
to vote.
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/g7AC7Wp1ILsl/VoteForPlannedParenthood

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

<<---<>--->>
Congratulations to Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
"We applaud Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation as the newest
associate justice to the U.S. Supreme Court. Her historic
appointment is an inspiration to all Americans, and we join with
millions of women and men across the country in celebrating the
confirmation of the first Hispanic woman to the Supreme Court."
- PPFA President Cecile Richards. Click here to read the rest of
her statement:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/5pAC7Wp1ILsh/Sotomayor

<<---<>--->>
Maternal mortality in India.
A new report shows that while the maternal mortality rate in
India is slowly declining, it is still alarmingly high. Maternal
deaths in India account for 25 percent of maternal deaths
worldwide. Although abortion is widely legal countrywide, the
lack of access to services for millions of poor and
rural-dwelling women has meant that unsafe abortion is still a
major contributor to maternal deaths. PPFA is working to address
maternal mortality in India by supporting local reproductive
health groups on the ground to ensure affordable and accessible
services, including safe abortion services, for underserved
women. Read more of the Guttmacher Institute's report here:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/vpAC7Wp1ILsm/Guttmacher

<<---<>--->>
Is recess over yet?
When Congress disbanded for its August recess, they did not have
a final health care reform bill. What followed was a month full
of town hall meetings across the country drawing citizens from
all points on the political spectrum. But perhaps most notable
were the rightwing activists who made headlines for disrupting
these meetings with shouting, and even violence. An analysis
from Reuters described what was happening -- and how the
rightwing disrupters may have failed to achieve the outcome they
hoped. Read it here:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/gdAC7Wp1ILso/Reuters

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

<<---<>--->>
Mac vs. PC Spoof: Birth Control
There are many methods of birth control, and this fun video
reminds us that sometimes being prepared means having backup.
Watch our spoof of the popular "Mac vs. PC" commercial, "Pack
vs. EC" on YouTube:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/gpAC7Wp1ILs0/Pack_vs_EC

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

<<---<>--->>
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report these
figures on chlamydia cases in 2007:

1.1 million people had chlamydia.

825,660 were women.

280,337 were men.

The report emphasizes that these statistics appear to show that
men are far less likely to be screened for chlamydia.

Read more from the CDC's report on chlamydiachlamydiachlamydia
in the United States:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/47AC7Wp1ILsf/CDCstats

<<---<>--->>
Speaking of Sex is Planned Parenthood's award-winning podcast
and videocast that takes a fun, yet informative, look at
sexuality and its important role in our lives and relationships.
Listen here:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/tpAC7Wp1ILsk/SpeakingOfSex

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

<<---<>--->>
Search for the nearest Planned Parenthood health center by state
or zip code at:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/t1AC7Wp1ILsn/HealthCenter

<<---<>--->>
Planned Parenthood Federation of America on MySpace:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/5dAC7Wp1ILsU/MySpace

<<---<>--->>
Join the Cause on Facebook to support Planned Parenthood
Federation of America:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/c1AC7Wp1ILsM/FacebookCause

<<---<>--->>
Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of
America, on Twitter:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/4dAC7Wp1ILsr/Twitter

**********************
(C)2009 Planned Parenthood(R) Federation of America, Inc. All
rights reserved.


Read our privacy policy here:
http://www.ppaction.org/ct/t7AC7Wp1ILsi/PrivacyPolicy

Thursday, August 27, 2009

LSHIWMP


I received this from a friend.....

A teacher was doing a study testing the senses (taste)


The children began to identify the flavors by their color:

Red.....................Cherry
Yellow................Lemon
Green...................Lime
Orange...............Orange

Finally the teacher gave them all HONEY lifesavers. None
of the children could identify the taste.

The teacher said, 'I will give you all a clue. It's what your mother may sometimes call your father.'

One little girl looked up in horror, spit her lifesaver out and yelled,

Spit 'em out everybody! They're assholes!


The teacher had to leave the room.

Stop the Slaughter of Idaho Wolves


Stand up...make your voice heard....All these stoopid people who are afraid of non-two leggeds who happen to be smarter than they are...so they have to kill them off...for what purpose?

-- In just a few days, Idaho officials have already sold more than 4,000 of an estimated 70,000 permits for a deadly wolf hunt that could kill at least 25% of the state’s wolves this year alone. On Monday, Defenders of Wildlife's lawyers will try to convince a federal judge to stop this awful slaughter before it starts, but we’re not stopping there in our efforts to save the lives of these wolves.

Please read the message below from actress and activist Ashley Judd, watch the video and send a message to the Obama administration to stop Idaho’s deadly wolf hunt and support reasonable, science-based management of wolves in the northern Rockies.

-- Rodger Schlickeisen, Defenders of Wildlife


Seventy thousand permits to shoot and kill wolves in Idaho. Seventy thousand guns trained on the estimated 1,000 wolves in Idaho.

It’s unbelievable, but true. Unless they’re stopped, Idaho officials intend to sell as many as 70 wolf hunting permits for each one of these magnificent animals living in the Gem State. In just the first day the permits were on sale, the state sold thousands!

Please help me stop this slaughter by watching Defenders of Wildlife’s new video and sending an emergency message to President Barack Obama asking him to stop this devastating wolf hunt.

Idaho officials have announced they plan to allow hunters to target the 1,000 wolves in Idaho, shooting and killing up to 220 wolves during this hunting season alone. More than four thousand wolf-killing permits have already been sold -- and the killing could begin next Tuesday!

Under Idaho’s wolf plan, more than 500 wolves could be killed over the next two years. But the true results of the state’s plans may be even worse.

Idaho’s legislature has said it wants to remove all wolves from the state “by whatever means necessary,” and Governor Butch Otter literally howled with delight when President Obama’s Interior Secretary Ken Salazar eliminated Endangered Species Act protections for wolves earlier this year and has promised to hunt wolves himself.

Unless we stop the hunt, hundreds of wolves could be killed, with orphaned wolf pups -- unable to hunt for themselves -- left to starve to death during the brutal winter months.

Please watch this new video and then urge President Obama to restore Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in Idaho and Montana.

The good people at Defenders of Wildlife are doing everything they can right now to ensure a lasting future for wolves in Idaho and the rest of the northern Rockies. I’m lending my voice to this fight, and I hope you will too.

Sincerely,

Ashley Judd

P.S. We don’t have much time to save the lives of these wolves. Idaho’s wolf hunt is scheduled to begin next Tuesday! Please take action now…

P.P.S. Help us send 150,000 messages to President Obama. Please forward this message!


Watch the Video and Help Save Idaho Wolves.

Watch the video and help save Idaho wolves

Watch Ashley Judd’s new video for Defenders of Wildlife and urge President Obama to stop the deadly Idaho wolf hunt.

Stop the Idaho Wolf Hunt

Please forward this message to a friend and help us send 150,000 messages to President Obama!




Defenders of Wildlife is a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities.

Defenders of Wildlife can be contacted at:
1130 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

More Environmental Action Needed


Honestly:

I get so tired of writing to those lawmakers to remind them of their responsibility to this Unci Maka (Mother Earth), the future 7 generations (their children's children) and our non-two legged relations.

I know my congressman & senators get it...but what the hell is wrong with the rest of these people?

Why is money more important than the future life on this Unci Maka? Why is money more important than the lives of their grandchildren & great-grandchildren?

Money will not feed us when the last fish is gone, when the last drop of water is poisoned....when there is nothing left on this earth except cockroaches.

So anyways.....

Center for Biological Diversity



Give a gift to nature and support the Center's work.

Solanum conocarpum

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Tell your friends about the Center's e-mail newsletter!

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Endangered Earth.




Emergency Suit Filed to Stop Wolf Killing

Last Thursday, the Center for Biological Diversity and allies filed an emergency legal motion Idaho and Montana from killing hundreds of wolves. It is the latest move in our ongoing lawsuit to put northern Rockies wolves back on the endangered species list.

Idaho plan to raise an enormous sum of money by selling 70,000 permits to kill 255 wolves through hunting. That's not a typo: 70,000. It would wipe out 30 percent of the state's wolves. Montana has authorized killing 75 wolves -- 15 percent of its total.

Two previous Center lawsuits restored protections to northern Rockies wolves in 2005 and 2008, and our suit for Midwest wolves put them back on the endangered list last month. Meanwhile, we have an ongoing lawsuit to provide greater protections for Mexican gray wolves.

Read more in the Missoulian.


Climate-killing Clearcuts Stopped in California

In response to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, this week timber giant Sierra Pacific Industries abandoned plans to clearcut a sizeable swath of Sierra Nevada forest -- and emit way too much carbon-dioxide pollution in the process. Earlier this month, the Center filed a trio of suits against the California Department of Forestry for illegally approving three of the company's logging plans without analyzing the greenhouse gases the logging would cause. The three projects would have decimated more than 1,600 acres of forest and spewed out tons of CO2 -- though of course we can't know just how many tons, since we have no emissions analysis to go by. Sierra Pacific's move is a big victory for the Sierra Nevada and the climate, but the Center is keeping a close eye on the company, which is still harboring plans for more than two dozen other climate-changing clearcutting projects.

"Clearcutting is an abysmal practice that should have been banned long ago due to its impacts on wildlife and water quality," said Center Public Lands Director Brendan Cummings. "Now, in an era where all land-management decisions need to be fully carbon conscious, there is simply no excuse to continue to allow clearcutting in California."

Read more in the Daily Journal.


300-plus Groups Demand Stronger Climate Bill

This Wednesday, the Center for Biological Diversity led more than 320 organizations in sending a letter to senators calling for a strong energy and climate bill -- much stronger than the one passed by the House this summer. That bill had small goals and big loopholes that would hinder a fast transition to clean energy and give us a 50/50 chance of suffering catastrophic global warming. Our letter asks for legislation that reduces atmospheric CO2 levels to 350 parts per million or below, keeps the Clean Air Act intact, minimizes loopholes and eliminates polluter giveaways, promotes abundant clean energy, and protects vulnerable communities. All while fulfilling U.S. commitments to the rest of the world. Next week, we'll be personally delivering the letter to senators in D.C.

"The organizations that signed on to our letter represent a broad array of environmental, environmental-justice, faith, indigenous, and social-justice groups from across the country," declared the Center's Climate Campaign Coordinator Rose Braz, who spearheaded the effort. "It's a real testament to the magnitude of grassroots mobilization for a strong bill -- not just any bill."

Read more on our letter in Newsweek, and if you belong to an organization, you can still sign on now.


Protections Budding for Caribbean Plants

After two Center for Biological Diversity lawsuits, two near-extinct plants on the Virgin Islands -- Agave eggersiana and Solanum conocarpum -- may finally receive Endangered Species Act protection. Almost 13 years after petitions to protect the plants were first filed, last week the Center reached a settlement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service setting a timeline for the agency to decide on protections. Agave eggersiana, which lives only on the island of St. Croix, is a perennial herb with large, funnel-shaped flowers and can grow up to 16 to 23 feet tall. The thornless, flowering shrub Solanum conocarpum is found only on the island of St. John and is down to about 220 plants. Habitat for both species was first gobbled up by intense deforestation for cotton and sugar-cane cultivation. Now residential and commercial development, as well as grazing by feral animals, also threaten the plants.

Read more in the Virgin Islands Daily News.


1,200 Tortoises Could Perish in Desert Exodus -- Please Help

Though hundreds of desert tortoises died last year in a mass-tortoise-relocation disaster, the feds have proposed yet another forced exodus -- for twice as many tortoises. In 2008, more than 600 threatened tortoises in the Mojave Desert were "relocated" to make way for the expansion of the Fort Irwin Army base into prime tortoise habitat. A shocking 252 tortoises have died, and after the Center for Biological Diversity sued, the project was suspended last fall. But now the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Army have proposed to move about 1,200 more tortoises to ease the fort's expansion. Already threatened by disease, development, crushing by vehicles, and more, these reptiles can't afford more deaths.

Originally, the Bureau and Army gave the public only 15 days to comment on the plan. But after receiving more than 24,000 comments -- an amazing 22,700-plus of them from Center supporters -- the deadline has been extended to August 31. This shows the big impact you all can have -- and why it's crucial to keep taking action.

Read more in the Los Angeles Times and take action for tortoises today.


Judge Blasts Efforts to Curb Mountaintop Removal

Dealing a bad blow to lands and people near mountains blown up for coal, this month a federal judge blocked an Obama administration move to rein in mountaintop removal coal mining. The judge decided in favor of a Bush administration directive that scrapped the "stream buffer-zone rule," which prohibited stream-harming mining within 100 feet of streams. The rule was a first step toward preventing mountaintop-removal coal mining, a highly destructive practice that explodes the tops off mountains and dumps debris directly into waterways. The Obama administration rightly asked the court to overturn Bush's rule, but the effort was shot down last Wednesday. Also last week, the Environmental Protection Agency approved yet another permit for a mountaintop-removal project -- this one predicted to fill eight valleys with mining waste. That makes 43 out of 48 permits approved, despite the agency's vows to scrutinize them to the letter of the law.

As expressed by Appalachian native and Center for Biological Diversity biologist Tierra Curry, "Given the ongoing failure of the EPA to enforce the Clean Water Act in Appalachia, it's time for the Obama administration to stop talkin' just to hear its brains rattle and pass new federal regulations that prohibit mountaintop removal mining."

Read more in The Washington Independent and take action against mountaintop removal now.


Help Stop Plunder of Bluefin Tuna

The western Atlantic bluefin tuna, one of the fastest fish in the ocean, is also on a fast track toward extinction -- and a new federal proposal would speed its demise.

Despite the fact that this tuna could be extinct within 10 years, the National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed to let Gulf of Mexico commercial fisheries increase their use of pelagic longline gear -- dozens of miles of fishing line boasting hundreds of hooks -- to catch swordfish and yellowfin tuna, snagging bluefins in the process (not to mention other at-risk ocean swimmers). Though the bluefin tuna weighs in at three-quarters of a ton, reaches 10 feet in length, and can zoom through the water at up to 50 miles per hour, it's no match for deadly longlines. And the Gulf of Mexico is its only known spawning ground.

The Center for Biological Diversity is dedicated to protecting ocean species and ecosystems from overfishing and bad fishery practices, and we need your help to tell the Fisheries Service it should ban -- not expand -- pelagic longline fishing in the Gulf.

Take action now and learn more about our fisheries campaign.


Extinction Crisis Worsens . . . Just in Time for Year of Biodiversity

2010 has been declared by the United Nations to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It's also the year the UN set as a target for "significantly reducing the rate of biodiversity loss." Will that goal be met? Fat chance, confirmed a European Commission conference that met in Athens this year. In fact, we're in the middle of the world's sixth mass extinction event, and it's only getting worse. Globally, 12 percent of mammals and birds, about a third of reptiles and amphibians, and 37 percent of fish are threatened with extinction.

The situation in Japan is a prime example. Thanks to development, invasive species, chemical contamination, and other threats, nearly a quarter of Japan's mammals and plants -- and more than a third of freshwater, estuarine, and mangrove-dwelling fish -- are threatened with extinction.

More people, more pollution, more habitat loss, more extinction: That's the message of a television ad the Center is creating to promote the International Year of Biodiversity and educate people about the extinction crisis.

Contribute to getting our ad on television and see videos of the last Laysan rails and honeycreepers.

Then check out our Web page on the extinction crisis and learn how it's playing out in Japan in the Japan Times.


Inflatable Love Dolls of the Floral World

Flowers are attractive, sure, but . . . sex objects for bugs? Thanks to the wonders of evolution, some orchids have made themselves look like ideal mates for pollinating bees and wasps. The Ophrys orchid, for one, has evolved to look just like a female bee's rear end protruding from a green flower, enticing male bees to . . . to do what male bees do -- and in the process, spread the orchid's pollen around. The flower of the tongue orchid does such a good female wasp impression that male wasps actually release sperm onto its petals before flying off to spread pollen to other orchids. And according to orchid-pollination expert Michael Pollan (yes, that's pronounced pollen), trying to have one's way "with anything that moves" is a good reproductive strategy for the wasps, too -- even if the object of desire is just blowing in the wind.

Pollan calls these orchids the "inflatable love dolls of the floral kingdom." We call them crafty devils.

Listen to details on National Public Radio.


Kierán Suckling
Executive Director


Photo credits: Solanum conocarpum (c) Robin Cooley; gray wolf courtesy NPS; clearcutting courtesy Wikimedia Commons/Vmenkov under the GNU free documentation license; power plant by Phillip J. Redman, USGS; Agave eggersiana by Robin Cooley; desert tortoise by Beth Jackson, USFWS; mountaintop removal site courtesy Wikimedia Commons/JW Randolph; bluefin tuna courtesy Wikimedia Commons/OpenCage under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 license; black rhino courtesy Wikimedia Commons/Yorky under the GNU free documentation license; bee courtesy Wikimedia Commons under the GNU free documentation license.


The Center for Biological Diversity sends out action alerts and newsletters through DemocracyinAction.org.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Duh? Do You Have to Comprehend English to Work Here?


Well it's another day at the liberry.....

Today the part time staff was asked to fill out a form that would enable those qualified to receive "stimulus" funds from the Federal Government.

Well, the first question was something to the effect: Do you have children at home ( minors under the age of 18) that you support financially? Yes No

It seems really straightforward to me......

Do you know that several of the people did not understand the question? Now these are not people who are new here...only one of them has a poor grasp of the English language (how she can correctly shelve materials is another story for another time). And another (from Iran) asked why this didn't include her elderly parents....how unfair it was!

Sheet...and these people work in a liberry!

Makes you wonder don't it!


A Letter From Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)


Dear Auntie Nanuuq:

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about the American Clean Energy and Security Act. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views with me. I voted for the bill when it came before the House of Representatives.

Protecting our environment, both around the world and here in the San Fernando Valley, is one of my top legislative priorities. I have consistently earned a 100 percent vote rating from the Sierra Club for my work in Congress. I will continue to work closely with them and other important environmental groups to pass meaningful laws to preserve and protect the environment. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about some of the many steps I have taken to fight for a clean and healthy environment.

American Clean Energy and Security Act

In June, I helped pass through the House of Representatives the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454). This historic legislation is an important effort to help America achieve energy independence and fight global warming. It will create millions of jobs in the green energy sector, reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, and help curb greenhouse gas emissions. The world economy is rapidly moving towards greater reliance on green technology, and we must act now in order to continue to be the world's leader in the transition to a green economy. The legislation promotes innovation and makes long-term investments in technology that will benefit our economy and create jobs for years to come.

Additionally, energy rebates and tax credits would be offered to low-income households to offset costs, while keeping energy costs low for all Americans. There would be no deficit increase as a result of the legislation. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy recently released a study stating that the legislation could save approximately $750 per household by 2020 and $3,900 per household by 2030.

The legislation passed the House by a vote of 219 to 212. The Senate has not yet acted on this legislation. I will continue to update you on its progress.

Allowed California to Regulate Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions

California leads the nation in passing progressive environmental policies. California passed regulations to require motor vehicles, manufactured in the 2009 model year and after, to have reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Under this plan, by 2016 greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles would be about 30% below the 2002 vehicle fleet emissions level.

While the federal government has the authority to set nationwide standards for motor vehicle emissions, California has a unique status which permits it to apply for a waiver from the EPA to allow the state to enact its own state-wide standards.

On December 19, 2007, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson denied California's waiver request to allow the state to regulate motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. He made this decision despite career EPA staff unanimously advising him to grant California the waiver. His decision ignored precedent -- California had been granted all of its prior 53 waiver requests. On January 2, 2008, California filed suit challenging the Administrator's decision.

I introduced the Right to Clean Vehicles Act (H.R.609) along with Congressman Welch to remedy the situation. In January, President Obama directed the EPA to reconsider the Bush Administration's past denial of the waiver request. On June 30, 2009, the EPA granted a waiver to California to allow the state to maintain its regulations. California can now continue to lead the nation in curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Santa Monica Mountains and Rim of the Valley

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a national treasure right in our backyard, and it is the world's largest urban national park. Over the years, I have secured more than $20 million to enhance and maintain this scenic area.

I helped introduce and pass into law The Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act, along with my colleague Adam Schiff. This legislation directs the Secretary of Interior to study the feasibility of expanding the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the area known as the "Rim of the Valley Corridor." The Rim of the Valley Corridor includes areas within the Santa Susana Mountains, just north of Granada Hills and Northridge. The study will explore ways to protect wildlife populations, establish connections along the Rim of the Valley Trail system, preserve access to open space and recreation, and respect the needs of nearby communities.

This is only a brief update of some of my work to preserve and protect our environment. I encourage you to contact my office with your ideas and concerns about the environment or any other federal issues that interest you.

I'd also like you to follow me on Twitter by visiting Twitter.com/BradSherman, or become my fan on Facebook. My official government Facebook page is registered as "Congressman Brad Sherman."

BRAD SHERMAN
Member of Congress

BJS:MD


Sincerely,

Brad Sherman
Member of Congress

Please note that Brad Sherman respects your privacy. If you sign up for
Congressman Sherman's email updates or participate in a questionnaire,
your email information will never be sold, traded or rented to any outside
company. If you wish to contact me further, I welcome your
correspondence. However, please do not reply to this message. Instead,
please visit my website, http://bradsherman.house.gov/sherman/contact,
and e-mail me through the webform provided. Thank you very much
for contacting me.

Monday, August 24, 2009

What's Going On @ the Library


So, as most of you know, I work at a Library! And I am sure all ya'll get yourselfs to thinking that it must be mighty fine and quiet working in a library.

Well I have to say that Friday was one of those days where I had to deal with the Patrons From Hell.

We have (much to my dismay) free public access internet. There would not be a problem if the people in our community took advantage of them, but mostly due to poor service, paid printing, and the small number of available computers most the people in the surrounding communities come to our little haven to use ours.

So after, I don't know how many years of giving away FREE copies, the library in their infinite wisdom decided to charge for copies...but not from page 1...but from page 11 (that's still 10 free...10 more than any other library in the state)!

"Sure, sure, that's cool" you say...but if you do not first go to "Print Preview" and then select your pages...you are going to get both the first title page (that only has the title frame) and the last page (that only has the URL link) counted as the 10 pages.

This is exactly what happened to one of our infamous C.C.s (computer cranks). This is a large, loud, rude, aggressive, abusive man...and I have go-rounds with him often (usually about him not having his library card/number). So, of course, he has problems, because he has printed 8 pages (2 which he has tossed out) and proceeds to try and print 4 more...believing he has only printed 6 (the 2 he threw away didn't count in his wee mind). The computer tells him...it's not going to print and he needs to deposit money to his account!

Well...he gets peevy and yells at the children's librarian....she yells back. No problem, but then he goes to the desk and yells at my staff...who come and get me. He then yells at me...I am so not gonna take his crap...and I tell him in no uncertain terms: "Do NOT talk to me in that manner...or I'm Not going to help you!" He shuts up for about 90 seconds, and I am getting ready to print 2 free pages for him...as I explain the new policy. Stoopid man starts yelling at me, so, I stop what I am doing on the computer...and say "This is the policy, it has changed, today I'll print your pages." To which the Dumb-F@#k yells: "You can your policy and Go To Hell!" At that point, I say, "And you can go someplace else" and I walk away...I go back to my desk in back and sit down.

Meanwhile...it gets busy and he's harassing my staff agian...I go out and help the people in line and walk away...and he starts yelling at me....and I just say "YOu cussed at me...I'm not helping you".

Bless my boss...we file a harassment report, and next time we call the Sheriff.

The second incident of the day, is with a freak who scans the internet looking for a Virginal Russian Bride.....he also uses our computers. Now this creep has $$$$, he goes to Russia at least 2-3 times a year in order to meet the gals from his Russian Hottie Bride websites, he has a new BMW convertible, he lives with his Momma....and is too cheap to buy a computer (which for him is a 100% business write-off).

Apparently, while he was sitting in his car making his business phone calls, the Sheriff comes by and checks him out! The Sheriff also informs him, we have a "No Loitering" policy.... What does the freak do? Comes in all upset, because he thinks I called the po-lice on him (not this time I didn't..but give me a reason & I will)...and he starts whining at me. I just tell him, we have a No Loitering policy....which he says he has just now become aware of (Hell he was parked next to the farking sign)...and I told him...the po-lice discourage people hanging around the parking lot.

So that was my day.....All you out there who use the library...Be Kind...we are providing you a free service that soon might slip away due to loss of revenue...and there where will you go for free internet, entertainment, information, baby-sitting, and books?