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Kennedy dead at 77 - The Boston Globe

Kennedy dead at 77

Liberal lion of the Senate, symbol of family dynasty succumbs to brain cancer.

via www.boston.com

End of an era, and a legacy of this family to America.. he shall be missed.. R.I.P. and thank you, Ted, for your service to your nation... Screen snapshot of Boston.com tribute and photos, see here for the full photo essay...

Reporter’s Notebook - Obama, a Little-Seen Visitor, Is the Talk of Martha’s Vineyard - NYTimes.com

Reporter’s Notebook

The Obamas Relax on Martha’s Vineyard

By JEFF ZELENY

Published: August 25, 2009

OAK BLUFFS, Mass. — President Obama is now three days into his Martha’s Vineyard vacation, a visit that has caused a considerable stir on this tiny island. Yet if it wasn’t for the outbreak of commercialism — T-shirts, cocktails and even dog treats bearing the Obama name — it would be difficult to know the first family was even here.

via www.nytimes.com

Teacher Gives Soldiers Place to Rest Their Heads | NBC San Diego

Teacher Gives Soldiers Place to Rest Their Heads | NBC San Diego.

CCNY Reference Resources:Government Views of D-Day 1944

CCNY Reference Resources:Government Views of D-Day 1944.

Government Views of D-Day 1944

"On 6 June 1944 the Western Allies landed in northern France, opening the long-awaited 'Second Front' against Adolf Hitler's Germany. ... Commanded by U.S. Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Normandy assault phase, code-named "Neptune" (the entire operation was "Overlord"), was launched when weather reports predicted satisfactory conditions on 6 June.

Hundreds of amphibious ships and craft, supported by combatant warships, crossed the English Channel behind dozens of minesweepers. They arrived off the beaches before dawn. Three divisions of paratroopers (two American, one British) had already been dropped inland. Following a brief bombardment by ships' guns, Soldiers of six divisions (three American, two British and one Canadian) stormed ashore in five main landing areas, named "Utah", "Omaha", "Gold", "Juno" and "Sword." After hard fighting, especially on "Omaha" Beach, by day's end a foothold was well established."

Above taken from "Normandy Invasion - June 1944," U.S. Navy (see below under "Photographs")

Downturn Puts New Stresses on Libraries - NYTimes.com

Downturn Puts New Stresses on Libraries - NYTimes.com.

Downturn Puts New Stresses on Libraries
By SUSAN SAULNY and KAREN ANN CULLOTTA, Published: April 1, 2009

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — The public library here had just closed its doors one evening in December when two homeless men who had been using the stacks as shelter from the cold got into a fight on the outside steps.

What began as bickering took a violent turn when one of the men pulled out a knife and stabbed the other six times, leaving him bleeding beside the book drop.

Like libraries across the country, Arlington Heights Memorial had strived to keep pace with the changing times, ensuring its relevance in the digital age by becoming something of an indoor town square, and emphasizing that its money-saving services catered to the community’s needs.

These days, however, community need reaches far beyond reference help — and in many libraries, it is turning a normally tranquil place into an emotional and stressful hotbed.

Earth Hour 2009

Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:55:52 -0600 (MDT)
From: Elaine Harger

To: ALA Council List

FYI -- share with others!

On Saturday, March 28, 2009, at 8:30 pm local time, tens of millions of people will turn off all of their lights for an hour in support of the future of our planet. Earth Hour, an event led by the World Wildlife Fund, is now the largest event of its kind in the world. Already 250 cities in 74 countries have agreed to take part including Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville with more signing up every day.

National 4-H Council has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund to address climate change as one of the most serious problems facing our world today. 4-H'ers can participate in Earth Hour too - in their own homes or by organizing and encouraging others to participate.

http://www.earthhourus.org/main.php

Elaine Harger
Councilor-at-Large

Elaine Harger
PO Box 311
Snoqualmie WA 98065
eharger@drizzle.com
425/831-8155 work

"Society is like a stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you get a lot of scum on top." Edward Abbey

EOP - Blog Post - Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov

EOP - Blog Post - Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov.

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov

Welcome to the new WhiteHouse.gov. I'm Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House and one of the people who will be contributing to the blog.

A short time ago, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States and his new administration officially came to life. One of the first changes is the White House's new website, which will serve as a place for the President and his administration to connect with the rest of the nation and the world.

Millions of Americans have powered President Obama's journey to the White House, many taking advantage of the internet to play a role in shaping our country's future. WhiteHouse.gov is just the beginning of the new administration's efforts to expand and deepen this online engagement.

Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration's online programs will put citizens first. Our initial new media efforts will center around three priorities:

Communication -- Americans are eager for information about the state of the economy, national security and a host of other issues. This site will feature timely and in-depth content meant to keep everyone up-to-date and educated. Check out the briefing room, keep tabs on the blog (RSS feed) and take a moment to sign up for e-mail updates from the President and his administration so you can be sure to know about major announcements and decisions.

Transparency -- President Obama has committed to making his administration the most open and transparent in history, and WhiteHouse.gov will play a major role in delivering on that promise. The President's executive orders and proclamations will be published for everyone to review, and that’s just the beginning of our efforts to provide a window for all Americans into the business of the government. You can also learn about some of the senior leadership in the new administration and about the President’s policy priorities.

Participation -- President Obama started his career as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago, where he saw firsthand what people can do when they come together for a common cause. Citizen participation will be a priority for the Administration, and the internet will play an important role in that. One significant addition to WhiteHouse.gov reflects a campaign promise from the President: we will publish all non-emergency legislation to the website for five days, and allow the public to review and comment before the President signs it.

We'd also like to hear from you -- what sort of things would you find valuable from WhiteHouse.gov? If you have an idea, use this form to let us know. Like the transition website and the campaign's before that, this online community will continue to be a work in progress as we develop new features and content for you. So thanks in advance for your patience and for your feedback.

Later today, we’ll put up the video and the full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address. There will also be slideshows of the Inaugural events, the Obamas’ move into the White House, and President Obama’s first days in office.

Watch the Obama Inauguration Live Online

Watch the Obama Inauguration Live Online.

Watch the Obama Inauguration Live Online
January 20th, 2009 by Loren Baker, Editor

Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States today in an event which is unlike any other inauguration with the many economic challenges facing the new President and will be the first war time inauguration since Nixon in 1972.

Around 4 million spectators are expected in Washington DC today, and millions more will be watching the inauguration on around the world. But if you’re stuck behind your desk today, or not in the United States, how can you watch the inauguration on the Internet?

Watch the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Live Online

• C-Span : Being the centerpiece of the live streaming of political events, C-Span will be airing a multichannel choice of various inauguration events, including the Bush exit of the Whitehouse and the inaugural concerts and parties.
• CNN Live : Join Anderson Cooper, James Carville and the other CNN political analysts, and even your Facebook friends to watch the live inauguration of President Obama online.
• Ustream : The pinnacle of live broadcasts and user generated content, Ustream will be carrying an Obama inauguration feed which can be viewed on the iPhone.
• Obama Girl : If you’re like me and can’t get enough of Obama Girl, she’ll be living her inauguration commentary live today at Stickam.
• Hulu : Last but not least, Hulu will be featuring live streaming of the Obama inauguration on their homepage, and also via video embeds which can be placed on blogs, sites and social media profiles.

ResourceShelf » Blog Archive » Resources of the Week: 2009 Presidential Inauguration

ResourceShelf » Blog Archive » Resources of the Week: 2009 Presidential Inauguration.

Resources of the Week: 2009 Presidential Inauguration
By Shirl Kennedy, Senior Editor

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

January 20th is the Big Day. Barack Obama will be sworn in as the nation’s 44th president — and first African-American president. To commemorate this very special event, we bring you a round-up of inauguration-related information. Not that we haven’t already been doing some of this. To wit:

+ Fast Facts: Inauguration Resources #1 — Includes items from the U.S. Senate’s inauguration websites.
+ Inauguration Factfile from Infoplease.com
+ Master Inaugural Events Schedule, from ConklinScott, a political consulting firm

New update... Hulu has put online a collection of video clips of inauguration addresses, all the way back in time to William McKinley's Second Inauguration. See at Hulu

The Housing Bubble and Foreclosure Crisis « Greensboro Public Library

The Housing Bubble and Foreclosure Crisis « Greensboro Public Library.

The Housing Bubble and Foreclosure Crisis
Posted on December 15, 2008 by pdurham000

CNN reports today that as the subprime mortgage mess has unfolded, American home values have declined by a total of more than $2 trillion dollars.  And CBS’s 60 Minutes reported last night that significantly larger numbers of other mortgage loans, known as “Alt-As” and “option ARMs,” which attracted home buyers with low initial interest rates, will soon reset at higher rates.   

Investment fund manager Whitney Tilson, who was interviewed by Scott Pelley on 60 Minutes, thinks we’ve only worked our way through about 50% of the housing bubble as yet and that, over the next few years, resetting Alt-As and option ARMS may bring a repeat of the subprime fiasco, with many more Americans suffering the trauma of foreclosure.  Let’s hope Mr. Tilson is wrong.

Measuring Up 2008

Measuring Up 2008.

Measuring Up 2008
Foreword By James B. Hunt Jr., Chairman, National Center's Board of Directors

Since 2000, the Measuring Up report cards have evaluated the progress of the nation and all 50 states in providing Americans with education and training beyond high school through the bachelor’s degree. In their totality, the five editions of the national and state report cards constitute the most extensive assessment ever of the educational performance of American higher education. Our purpose in the Measuring Up series is to assist the nation and the states in improving higher education opportunity and effectiveness. More...
...

See the reports...

Measuring Up 2008 is the fifth in
a series of biennial report cards that provide the general public and policymakers with information they can use to assess and improve postsecondary education in each state.

• National Print Report (PDF)
• State Print Report Cards
• Online State Report Cards

TamCam - a blog of videos about Campaign 2008 by Tammy Haddad : Chevy Chase and His Presidential Memories

TamCam - a blog of videos about Campaign 2008 by Tammy Haddad : Chevy Chase and His Presidential Memories.

Posted Tuesday, November 04, 2008 11:09 AM
Chevy Chase and His Presidential Memories
Tammy Haddad

Chevy Chase didn't want Gerald Ford to be elected. In 1976 when he began portraying the stumbling, bumbling president on Saturday Night Live, Ford's pubic face and political fate was sealed. "I didn't want him to be president again, I wanted Jimmy Carter."

After writing political satire for the Smothers Brothers and other comedy shows, Chevy Chase came to Saturday Night Live as a writer and ended up on-air playing Ford. "It was more about getting laughs and a way to reach millions of people."

Chase reminded Newsweek that he called it for Sarah Palin this year. "We were all sitting around the Democratic Convention in Denver with a bunch of reporters and someone mentioned that a jet just left Anchorage. I said, it was going to be her and everyone laughed."

Halloween Masks - Forbes.com

Halloween Masks - Forbes.com.

Happy Halloween
Halloween Masks
Forbes.com Staff 10.27.08, 6:00 PM ET

THE SCARIEST PEOPLE OF 2008

Forget your current Halloween costume idea--let everyone else dress up as the Joker or a bankrupt stockbroker. Why not disguise yourself as someone truly scary instead? Our annual collection of Halloween masks highlights some of the year's most frightening faces. Click a face to download our print-ready mask.

AARP.org: Voter video

AARP.org: Voter video.

Who can break partisan gridlock in Washington on November 4? The answer in AARP′s “Get Out the Vote” video may surprise you. Enter your name below and see for yourself!

AARP 08 Video

Enter your name to see who can bring real change to Washington. First Name: Last Name:

North Carolina's New Blues - washingtonpost.com

North Carolina's New Blues - washingtonpost.com.

North Carolina's New Blues
In Insecure Times, a State Once Firmly Republican Now Wobbles
By Kevin Merida, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, October 22, 2008; Page A01

CHARLOTTE - The Queen City Motel sits barely noticed on this city's West Side, just seven minutes from the wobbly banks and new construction projects commanding the downtown skyline. At the Queen City, you find people who are living by day and by week, watching economic calamity from the outer edge of misery.

Some have no cars, no cellphones, no steady work, no health plan and not enough food to fill a small fridge in a $160-a-week room. But in this political season of surprise and possibility, the presidential campaign has found an audience here even among the disheartened.