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Become a Charter Member


NMAAHC -- National Museum of African American History and Culture

Join NowThank you for spreading the word about the Smithsonian’s newest museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). However, not a roof beam can be raised, a nail hammered, or a window set into place without the steadfast commitment from friends like you.
That is why I hope you’ll become a Charter Member of the Museum. Every dollar you can give brings us one step closer to the day we open the doors on what will truly be a great addition to the Smithsonian’s family of museums.
The NMAAHC will present the dark days of slavery and also celebrate individual heroism and collective resiliency that was the Civil Rights Movement to the triumph of the election of the first African American president and beyond. But this history is not solely for African Americans. This history is America’s history.
Our challenge now is to raise the money we need to build this exciting addition to the American cultural landscape. Of the $500 million needed, Congress has committed to provide half of the funds required to build the Museum. This means we need your help to raise the additional $250 million in private donations to open the doors of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2015.
We broke ground in February 2012, but to continue construction, your generous support of the Museum as a Charter Member is critical. In return, you’ll be eligible for many special benefits:

  • For your gift of $25, you will receive a 10% discount at all Smithsonian gift shops and online, special E-updates about Museum events, programs and exhibitions, and your name added to the Museum’s prestigious electronic Honor Roll of Charter Members to be displayed at the Museum.
  • For your gift of $40, you will also receive a beautiful 8.5″ x 11″ Certificate of Appreciation, perfect for framing and proudly displaying your support of the Museum.
  • For your gift of $100, you will also receive the double CD Every Tone a Testimony, a fascinating aural history of African Americans in words, music and poetry.
  • For your gift of $250, you will also receive the book Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits, a beautiful collection of portraits and stories of prominent African Americans.

Please don’t delay in becoming a Charter Member. We need your help to build this great Museum. . With your help, we’ll build this important museum to honor the great legacy of the African American experience.
Sincerely,


Lonnie Bunch
Director
National Museu
~ Culture & History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Food Safety Modernization Act


Your Opinion Counts: Food Safety Modernization Act

Comment Period Ends November 15th
            

— The Time to Comment Is Now —

           Make Your Voice Heard to the FDA

Safety Standards for Produce
Growing, Harvesting, Packing & Holding

            Dear friends and customers,

As employee-owners of Johnny’s Selected Seeds, we invite you to join us in sharing your opinion with the FDA regarding new Produce Food Safety Rules and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

We recognize that most of you will be touched by the proposed changes, in some cases dramatically. While the day-to-day demands of farming may keep us running from sun-up to sundown, when it comes to legislation that places the very livelihoods of many farmers across our country in jeopardy, it’s time to express your well-earned opinions.

To learn more about the rules and leave your comments, visit Regulations.gov. To date, the grower’s voice is underrepresented. With your input, the FDA will get the “real dirt” as to just how the specifics of this proposed legislation — constituting the largest food safety overhaul in more than 70 years — could impact your farming operations.

We encourage you to speak up now — the FDA’s comment period closes November 15th!

By taking the time to participate in the discussion now, you can make a real difference in the long run. And again, thank you for choosing Johnny’s as your source for seeds and more — we look forward to serving you for many years to come.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds
TOLL-FREE: 800-854-2580
FAX: 1-207-238-5388
Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 10/30 ~~ the House


Wethepeople

The Senate stands in adjourned until 9:30am on Wednesday, October 30th.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #53, the nomination of Alan F. Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be a Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense with the time until 10:30am equally divided and controlled in the usual form.

At 10:30am, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Estevez nomination. If cloture is invoked on the nomination, there will be up to 8 hours of debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

Upon disposition of the Estevez nomination, the Senate will proceed to cloture votes in relation to the following nominations in the following order.  If cloture is invoked on any of the nominations (60-vote threshold), there would be up to 8 hours for debate on each of the nominations, except for the Millett nomination, which would have up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate, prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

–          Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

–          Executive Calendar #63, Jacob Lew, of New York, to be the United States Governor to the following International Banks:

–          International Monetary Fund,

–          International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

–          Inter-American Development Bank, and

–          European Bank for Reconstruction;

–          Executive Calendar #209, Melvin L. Watt, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Federal Housing Agency;

–          Executive Calendar #327, Patricia Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.

888888888888888888888888

At 10:30am today, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense. If cloture is invoked on the Estevez nomination, and we expect it to be, there would be up to 8 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination (Some time may be yielded back).

As a reminder, several other cloture motions on nominations have been filed (see list of nominations below). We will consider one nomination at a time. If cloture is invoked (60-affirmative vote threshold), then each nomination is subject to 8 hours of post-cloture debate time except for the  Millett nomination, which is subject to up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate time. Confirmation votes are subject to a majority vote threshold.

We are also working on an agreement to consider H.R.3204, a bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to human drug compounding and drug supply chain security, as early as today.

Cloture motions have been filed on the following nominations:

–          Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (10:30am Wednesday cloture vote)

–          Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

–          Executive Calendar #242, Thomas Wheeler, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission; (Confirmed by unanimous consent 10/29/13)

–          Executive Calendar #63, Jacob Lew, of New York, to be the United States Governor to the following International Banks:

–          International Monetary Fund,

–          International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

–          Inter-American Development Bank, and

–          European Bank for Reconstruction;

–          Executive Calendar #209, Melvin L. Watt, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Federal Housing Agency;

–          Executive Calendar #327, Patricia Millett, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit.

At 10:30am the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense;

Invoked: 91-8

Cloture on the Estevez nomination was invoked 91-8. By consent, at 12:00 noon today, all post-cloture time will be yielded back, and the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination. We expect a voice vote on confirmation of the Estevez nomination. The next vote in order will be cloture on the Archuleta nomination and that vote will occur at noon.

Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, was confirmed by voice vote.

­­At 12:03pm the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

Invoked: 81-18

Cloture on the Archuleta nomination was invoked ­­­­81-18. There will now be up to 8 hours for debate, equally divided, prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled.

Senator Rubio asked unanimous consent to take up and pass Calendar #225, S.1592, a bill to provide for a delay of the individual mandate under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act until the American Health Benefit Exchanges are functioning properly. Senator Baucus objected.

We believe we are close to being in a position to yield back all remaining post-cloture time and vote on confirmation of Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management, at approximately 5:15pm. Senators should expect 1 roll call vote to begin at approximately 5:15pm.

5:18pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management;

Confirmed: 62-35.

Cloture on the Archuleta nomination was invoked ­­­­81-18. There will now be up to 8 hours for debate, equally divided, prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled.

The Archuleta nomination (Director of OPM) was confirmed 62-35. The Lew nomination was confirmed by voice vote. The Senate is now in a period of morning business for debate only with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no further roll call votes tonight. Senators should expect the next vote to occur following the swearing in of Senator-elect Booker, at approximately 12:00 noon tomorrow. That vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #209, Melvin L. Watt, of North Carolina, to be Director of the Federal Housing Agency.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense; Invoked: 91-8

2)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #307, Katherine Archuleta, of Colorado, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management; Invoked: 81-18

3)      Confirmation of the Archuleta nomination; Confirmed: 62-35

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed Calendar #228, S.1561, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve provisions relating to the sanctuary system for surplus chimpanzees with a committee-reported substitute amendment.

H.R.3190, the United States Parole Commission Extension Act.

Adopted S.Res.278, designating October 2013 as “School Bus Safety Month”.

Adopted H.Con.Res.62,provides for an adjournment for the House of Representatives.

Additional EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed the following items by voice vote:

–          Executive Calendar #53, Alan Estevez, of the District of Columbia, to be Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense

–          Executive Calendar # Executive Calendar #63, Jacob Lew, of New York, to be the United States Governor to the following International Banks:

–          International Monetary Fund,

–          International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

–          Inter-American Development Bank, and

–          European Bank for Reconstruction;

Jointly referred the nomination of Rhea Sun Suh, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, sent to the Senate by the President on October 30, 2013, to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

====================================================================================

Last Floor Action:
9:42:55 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The
next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on October 30, 2013.

=============================================================

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Next Progressive Radio Northwest Community Forum, October 29


radioProgressive Radio Northwest (PRNW) invites you to join American blogger and former Seattle talk radio host David Goldstein on Tuesday, October 29, for the second in the PRNW series of monthly get-togethers to meet, mingle and discuss issues central to the mission of bringing progressive radio back to the region. Goldstein addresses the question of “What’s the Way Forward for Progressive Talk?”

The Forum begins at Seattle’s Montlake Branch Library at 6:30 pm and then moves to the Montlake Ale House at 7:45 pm for those wanting to continue the Meet & Mingle.

Montlake Branch Library, 6:30 – 7:45 p.m., 2401 24th Ave. E.,  Seattle, WA 98112, (206) 684-4720

Montlake Ale House from 8:00 pm;  2307 24th Ave E; Seattle, WA 9811; (206) 726-5968

RSVP by Friday, October 25 at progressiveradionorthwest@gmail.com and visit the website: www.progressiveradionorthwest.org

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Our bees are dying


Tell the EPA: Save our bees and crops! Ban toxic pesticides!

Take action!Disaster struck for Mark, a Minneapolis beekeeper last month. His precious backyard bees were spilling out of their hive “like they’re drunk” and falling to the ground dead — victims of toxic agricultural pesticide.

[1] A quarter of everything we eat — from apples to onions — depends on pollination.

[2] But now, Mark and fellow beekeepers from around the world are reporting a pandemic of the worst bee population collapses ever recorded. While you and I know chemical-giant Bayer for aspirin and alka seltzer, their toxic agricultural pesticides are unfortunately linked to this unprecedented bee die-off.

[3] The EPA has the power to ban the pesticides, but so far has bowed to pressure from Bayer.

[4] Our nation’s food supply is at risk — it’s time for the SierraRise community to step in and speak out! Over 1 million people have stood up for the health of our bees and our food — will you join them?

[5] The EPA has the power to protect our bees and our food supply. Let’s send 50,000 more letters by Tuesday, demanding they ban Bayer’s toxic pesticide! The same story of shocking bee die-off — called Colony Collapse Disorder — has been heard all over the country. Bret Adee, whose family owns Adee Honey Farms of South Dakota, the nation’s largest beekeeper, described mounting losses. “We lost 42 percent over the winter. But by the time we came around to pollinate almonds, it was a 55 percent loss,” he said in an interview.

[6] This isn’t just bad for our nation’s food supply — it’s also crippling family businesses like Bret’s and the local economies. Independent, unbiased studies have linked Bayer’s pesticides to colony collapse — when picked up by bees, the chemical can act like a nerve agent, compromising a bee’s ability to feed and make its way back to the hive.

[7] It’s no wonder the European Union just adopted a continent-wide ban on these toxic chemicals. It’s time we do the same![8] The EPA continues to dither while Bayer peddles its toxins and puts our nation’s crops at risk. Not on our watch — together, we are more powerful than any chemical company. Make sure the EPA knows where you stand. The safety of our food supply is at risk.

Demand the EPA stands up to big chemical companies like Bayer and bans bee-killing pesticides! In it together, Ashley Allison SierraRise Senior Campaigner P.S. To keep up with the latest about climate change and other campaigns from SierraRise, like us on Facebook and follow @SierraRise on Twitter! Share this page on FacebookShare this page on TwitterShare this page with other services

References:

[1] Colwell, Hailey (2013 September 16). “U investigates sudden slew of bee deaths.” Minnesota Daily.

[2] Collman, Ashley (2013 June 14). “What your supermarket will look like if bees die out: Empty shelves, scant produce options.” Emerging Truth.

[3] Carrington, Damian (2013 March 28). “Study: Pesticides Make Bees Forget the Smell of Food.” Mother Jones.

[4] Staff (2013 August 22). “EPA announces new bee warning labels for neonicotinoid containing pesticides.” Underground Health.

[5] DeWitt, Dan (2012 March 31). “A Pasco County beekeeper knows why bees are dying and colonies are collapsing.” Tampa Bay Times.

[6] Wines, Michael (2013 March 28). “Mystery Malady Kills More Bees, Heightening Worry on Farms.” New York Times.

[7] Eban, Katherine (2010 October 8). “What a scientist didn’t tell the New York Times about his study on bee deaths.” CNNMoney.

[8] Carrington, Damian (2013 April 29). “Bee-harming pesticides banned in Europe.” The Guardian.

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