~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress: in pro forma Session …to keep President Obama from recess appointments


The Senate will meet on the following dates and times for pro-forma sessions only with no business conducted:

– Friday, August 5th at 10:00am,

– Tuesday, August 9th at 11:00am,

– Friday, August 12th at 12:00pm,

– Tuesday, August 16th at 11:00am,

– Friday, August 19th at 10:00am,

– Tuesday, August 23rd at 2:30pm,

– Friday, August 26th at 11:15am,

– Tuesday, August 30th at 10:00am,

– Friday, September 2nd at 10:00am;

When the Senate convenes at 10:00am on Friday, September 2nd, it will adjourn until 2:00pm on September 6, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will be in Executive Session to consider Calendar #109, Bernice Bouie Donald, of Tennessee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 6th Circuit with 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley.

The next roll call votes will be at 5:30pm on Tuesday, September 6th. The first roll call vote will be on confirmation of the Donald nomination. The 2nd will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.1249, the Patent Reform bill.

*****************************************************

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF AUGUST 19, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

1:07 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to sections 3 and 4 of H.Res. 375. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on August 23, 2011.

1:05 P.M. – The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a message to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency with the Government of Syria first declared in Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004, as expanded in scope in Exectuive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011–referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 112-50).

1:04 P.M. – The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a sealed envelope from the White House on August 18, 2011, at 10:46 a.m. which is said to contain a message from the President whereby he notified the Congress that he had issued an Executive Order that takes additional steps with respect to the national emergency with the Government of Syria first declared in EO 13338 of May 11, 2004, as expanded in scope in EO 13572 of April 29, 2011.The House received a communication from The Honorable Duncan Hunter. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives Mr. Hunter notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for production of business records, issued by the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego. After consultation with the Office of General Counsel, Mr. Hunter had determined that compliance with the subpoena is inconsistent with the privileges and rights of the House.

1:03 P.M. – NOT DISPENSING WITH LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS – Pursuant to section 4 of H.Res. 375, the Chair announced that legislative business would not be dispensed with on this day.

1:02 P.M. – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.JOURNAL APPROVED – The Chair announced that pursuant to section 5 of H.Res. 375, the Journal of the last days’s proceedings was approved.

1:01 P.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Bill Kirlin-Hackett, Interfaith Taskforce on Homelessness, Bellevue, Washington

1:00 P.M. – The Speaker designated the Honorable Mick Mulvaney to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Cruelty to animals at UW … Patrick Schmitt, Change.org


In just a few weeks, medical residents at the University of Washington will begin their fall rotations, studying new topics and performing new procedures. Unfortunately, they’ll be using cruel and outdated training methods to do so.

Students at UW still learn how to insert breathing tubes in human infants using live ferrets instead of simulators.

Here’s what happens: Students push breathing tubes down the throats of live ferrets to practice intubation. Each ferret is subjected to the process repeatedly, experiencing pain, bruising, bleeding, and even death.

More than 90 percent of U.S. pediatrics programs have moved from abusing animals to relying on simulators — an option that has been proven to be more effective for teaching.

Join the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in urging University of Washington President Michael Young and the UW School of Medicine to stop using ferrets in its pediatrics program. >>    http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-university-of-washingtons-cruel-ferret-lab-3?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&alert_id=NNSacSzXig_zLjAKpCEDe

The use of ferrets in pediatric training is cruel and unnecessary. These ferrets suffer needlessly in the short-term — and medical students receive inferior training that affects their abilities as physicians in the long-term.

According to experts at PCRM, “Simulators approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics actually provide a better training experience – they’re humane, they can be used over and over again to aid learning, and they’re specifically designed to mimic the anatomy of newborns and infants.”

August is the perfect time to push for policy change before the new school year starts.

Several weeks ago, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine filed an animal cruelty complaint against the university with the county prosecutor, increasing pressure on UW officials.

Plus, University of Washington President Michael Young has only been at the university for a month. He is still likely to be receptive to reviewing and updating policies.

If Young commits to switching the pediatrics program to using simulators before the next classes of students and residents begin training, 2011-2012 could be a cruelty-free school year for UW’s pediatric residency program.

Sign here to ask UW to end the practice of animal cruelty in its pediatrics program and begin offering more modern methods of training to its medical students and residents:

http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-university-of-washingtons-cruel-ferret-lab-3

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Patrick and the Change.org team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

we only need 12 more people from Washington



Hundreds of straight allies have already stepped up to help us fight the radical right and to protest the anti-LGBT witch hunt they want to start. We’ve extended our deadline to join HRC until midnight tonight because we’re so close to our goal of signing up 2,000 new members – and I know you can help us fight back, Carmen.
We just crunched the numbers, and we only need 12 more people from Washington to join HRC right now to hit our goal. I hope you’ll pitch in.
Stand with us now. Until midnight tonight ONLY, you can join HRC for $20 – a 43% discount – and still receive a cold cup tumbler as our thank-you. We’re offering this discount because we want to be able to count you as a valued member at this critical time.
Still on the fence? Well, the radical right isn’t sitting back on its heels. In just the last few weeks, several of the GOP presidential candidates have signed onto a pledge to support a constitutional ban on marriage equality – and to launch a commission that will investigate pro-equality advocates like you and me for “harassment” of anti-LGBT antagonists.
We can call out disgusting lies like these and fight back, but only thanks to our members. If love is going to conquer hate and tolerance is going to overwhelm prejudice, it’s going to take the true commitment of straight allies at moments just like these.
Take a look at Joe’s note below and then make your membership gift now.
– Ann Crowley, Membership Director, HRC

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Unemployed need not apply …Jess Kutch, Change.org


On Monster.com, employers are allowed to prevent anyone who is currently unemployed from applying for a job.

It’s cruel to the millions of Americans out of work — but you can put an end to it this week.

Kelly Wiedemer, who lost her job in 2008, has launched a campaign demanding that Monster.com ban these discriminatory ads.  Please click here to sign Kelly’s petition.  http://www.change.org/petitions/monstercom-ban-job-listings-that-discriminate-against-the-unemployed?

A nationwide backlash against the company, which treasures its reputation as a website that helps people find jobs, will force Monster.com to act.

Please sign the petition today asking Monster.com to stop discriminating against the unemployed.

http://www.change.org/petitions/monstercom-ban-job-listings-that-discriminate-against-the-unemployed?

Thanks for being a changemaker,

– Jess and the Change.org team

~ my 2cents ...

wily Wednesday… &some News


Just another rant

 Summer is starting to give us all the signs of being over

 However, we in the Democratic Party have to help President Obama give Teapublicans the boot in 2012. I want the Democratic Party to stop the madness and instead of beating up on each other Democratic members of Congress and the President need to get on the same page, do the Peoples Business, and make sure those viewers know that Teapublicans have done nothing but filibuster both Chambers of Congress. In addition, unless you have been living under a rock the President’s efforts to move the Country into the 21st Century, a better standing, status and an employment number much lower than we have currently still blocked by the Teapublicans. We must not ever forget that Rep. McConnell said that his job is to make President Obama a One Term President, which is also what Bachmann, is pushing when she gets media attention. While it is obvious, the Media has made their focus on the extreme right. We all know controversy is good for ratings but we the people must make sure that “the media” fact checks the extremist Presidential candidates who seem to be throwing out lies, misinformation, and BS about the first Black President. The media continually points out the disrespectful comments President Obama has experienced while Teapublicans seem to take respect for granted or expect it as if they are privileged.  I admit there are quite a few extremely right leaning politicians from the Teapublican Party running for office in various states all over the country and there is a slight possibility of at least one woman, specifically Michelle Bachmann becoming the Republican Presidential Nomination with another extreme rightie named Sarah Palin. This is not the year of the Woman but not one of these two ladies … candidates truly represents women in their best light. The fact is most women in the Republican Party are against the right to choose, and unfortunately, Bachmann thinks submitting to her husband means having respect for him, which, if I hear her correctly would be how she would be if President; well the definition of submission is as follows and like we all know Words matter right. So, read what Merrian-Webster.com says Submission means …

The Origin of SUBMISSION

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin submission-, submissio act of lowering, from submittere

First Known Use: 14th century

Most if not all conservative evangelical, Christians like Bachmann and Palin are against gays and some feel women in the Military is definitely a no no. To say these ideals are against family is to say i have a nose on my face. They are women who live different lives than the rest of us and if i am hearing them right they intend to push their personal ideologies on Americans and will try legislate them as well.   I certainly cannot image having these kinds of people in Congress let alone vying for the position of President. We must all GOTV in 2012 against a group of social conservatives that obviously are not our parent’s conservatives who may not share the Democratic view but were able to come together to solve our countries problems as Americans. The Teapublicans have taken risks since the midterm elections and are now setting their sights on the Whitehouse. Again, ruling by religion is a big problem for me because I see religion as a personal thing, which I would never force push or demand others practice. We have freedom of religion but what Bachmann, Palin, Perry maybe others seem to be pushing is just wrong, it is offensive, and dare i say against the whole separation of church and state… right? As right leaning Teapublicans try to out extreme, each other we all need to be aware of their lack of real substance, solutions or plans that would be good for ALL Americans.  Though I am no expert when it comes to individual rights, it is apparent that folks on the right feel Americans get too many entitlements like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and intend to take some if not all of my individual rights as a person of colour. The behavior from these so-called women on the right have embarrassed me as a woman in general on so many levels and continue to as they open up their mouths to say things that have moved from nasty sarcasm to what I consider extreme ideology to seemingly overt racism. The notion that any public figure or anyone who wants to call themselves a Public Servant and or Representative of the People should be speaking and representing one nation under god, not just a select few which if you listen closely, representing a “select few” is all I get from the conservative extreme right like Bachman, Palin and Perry.  The Teapublicans like Bachmann and Perry want Americans to accept a new way of life, which they call limited government. Unfortunately, that means and includes a ban on women’s rights, people cannot love or marry whom they want, people of colour and Muslims should not be trusted, religion and state are inseparable though our founding fathers were against it and yes, Teapublicans are against most of what our forefathers put on paper.

 I don’t know about you but the new deal sounds like the end of The only Pledge that should matter to all Americans … the Pledge of Allegiance.

News …

Hingham veterans want Pledge of Allegiance recited at town meetings

politics,pollution,petitions,pop culture & purses