Price of Rice rocketing upward as it becomes more and more scarce
Are we seeing the beginning of food wars?
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delux_vivens
Are we seeing the beginning of food wars?
From
delux_vivensApr. 1st, 2008
Water runs orange and black due to mountain top removal done by coal companies.
Waterways threatened by toxic heavy metal laden mountaintop removal waste.
Figure 1. Mountaintop Removal in progress Pic from here
A mountaintop mining removal operation in West Virginia, similar to the mountain top mining operations elsewhere in North America. Mountain top removal has been called "strip mining on steroids."
A mountaintop mining removal operation in West Virginia, similar to the mountain top mining operations elsewhere in North America. Mountain top removal has been called "strip mining on steroids." 
TONS OF LINKS, IMAGES AND INFO HERE Note that this link is a candidate diary for Obama. But the info and the link collection to even more info is superb.
What. The. Fuck!!!!!
Apr. 1st, 2008 07:34 amVideo via Shakesville
Why the HELL are people asking Chelsea Clinton about the Monica Lewinsky Scandal? Is THIS what passes for journalism these days? Asking a CHILD about the infidelity of her FATHER is a good POLITICAL QUESTION? ARE YOU SERIOUS? ARE YOU FOR REAL? Quite apart from the callousness of this inquiry, (which person on earth wants to be questioned about her father's infidelity to her mom!!)HOW THE FUCK IS THIS RELEVANT TO THE FACT THAT HER MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?
Stop. Rewind. Pause. I thought we are trying to elect a President.IS IT ANYONE'S BUSINESS? Does knowing about Monica Lewinsky help fix our economy? Does it bring our troops home? Does it stop global warming? Does it create jobs? Did Hilary Clinton herself commit the crime of getting a blowjob? Is Bill Clinton running for President? Does who you fuck and how you fuck them have ANY RELATION TO HOW WELL YOU CAN RUN A COUNTRY??? No? THEN WHY THE FUCK IS IT RELEVANT? JESUS CHRIST, OUR MSM IS A FUCKING, IMMATURE, GOSSIPMONGERING CESSPOOL!
Why the HELL are people asking Chelsea Clinton about the Monica Lewinsky Scandal? Is THIS what passes for journalism these days? Asking a CHILD about the infidelity of her FATHER is a good POLITICAL QUESTION? ARE YOU SERIOUS? ARE YOU FOR REAL? Quite apart from the callousness of this inquiry, (which person on earth wants to be questioned about her father's infidelity to her mom!!)HOW THE FUCK IS THIS RELEVANT TO THE FACT THAT HER MOTHER IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?
Stop. Rewind. Pause. I thought we are trying to elect a President.IS IT ANYONE'S BUSINESS? Does knowing about Monica Lewinsky help fix our economy? Does it bring our troops home? Does it stop global warming? Does it create jobs? Did Hilary Clinton herself commit the crime of getting a blowjob? Is Bill Clinton running for President? Does who you fuck and how you fuck them have ANY RELATION TO HOW WELL YOU CAN RUN A COUNTRY??? No? THEN WHY THE FUCK IS IT RELEVANT? JESUS CHRIST, OUR MSM IS A FUCKING, IMMATURE, GOSSIPMONGERING CESSPOOL!
From the New York Times
March 31, 2008
As Jobs Vanish and Prices Rise, Food Stamp Use Nears Record
By ERIK ECKHOLM
Driven by a painful mix of layoffs and rising food and fuel prices, the number of Americans receiving food stamps is projected to reach 28 million in the coming year, the highest level since the aid program began in the 1960s.
The number of recipients, who must have near-poverty incomes to qualify for benefits averaging $100 a month per family member, has fluctuated over the years along with economic conditions, eligibility rules, enlistment drives and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, which led to a spike in the South.
But recent rises in many states appear to be resulting mainly from the economic slowdown, officials and experts say, as well as inflation in prices of basic goods that leave more families feeling pinched. Citing expected growth in unemployment, the Congressional Budget Office this month projected a continued increase in the monthly number of recipients in the next fiscal year, starting Oct. 1 — to 28 million, up from 27.8 million in 2008, and 26.5 million in 2007.
The percentage of Americans receiving food stamps was higher after a recession in the 1990s, but actual numbers are expected to be higher this year.
Federal benefit costs are projected to rise to $36 billion in the 2009 fiscal year from $34 billion this year.
March 31, 2008
As Jobs Vanish and Prices Rise, Food Stamp Use Nears Record
By ERIK ECKHOLM
Driven by a painful mix of layoffs and rising food and fuel prices, the number of Americans receiving food stamps is projected to reach 28 million in the coming year, the highest level since the aid program began in the 1960s.
The number of recipients, who must have near-poverty incomes to qualify for benefits averaging $100 a month per family member, has fluctuated over the years along with economic conditions, eligibility rules, enlistment drives and natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, which led to a spike in the South.
But recent rises in many states appear to be resulting mainly from the economic slowdown, officials and experts say, as well as inflation in prices of basic goods that leave more families feeling pinched. Citing expected growth in unemployment, the Congressional Budget Office this month projected a continued increase in the monthly number of recipients in the next fiscal year, starting Oct. 1 — to 28 million, up from 27.8 million in 2008, and 26.5 million in 2007.
The percentage of Americans receiving food stamps was higher after a recession in the 1990s, but actual numbers are expected to be higher this year.
Federal benefit costs are projected to rise to $36 billion in the 2009 fiscal year from $34 billion this year.
( Read more... )
Report on the 10% rule in Texas
Broken down into its simplest parts, the 10% rule in Texas education basically guarantees a space in Texan state universities for the top 10 percent of all high schools in Texas. It was instituted after affirmative action laws in the state were struck down by the courts. It seems to have worked pretty well:
Ten years later, we know a little more about the law: It works. Maybe even a little too well, given that the president of the University of Texas asked the Legislature last week to scale it back.
Examples of its success at the University of Texas at Austin include:
* Students admitted under the 10% rule get better grades than other students. Plus, they graduate at higher rates.
* Racial diversity at the Austin campus improved. The number of Hispanic students has risen by 29% and the African-American student population by 32%.
Now, however, Texas University President William Powers is complaining that the net effect of the rule is that talented students who fall below the ten percent measure are ending up at less good universities
What a dilemma. The plan works so well that they are running out of college space for all the good students out there. *Shakes head* The solution to the problem is not to cut the percentage of people from high schools that get automatically put into state universities. Its to upgrade the bad schools and build more of them. Sheesh.
Broken down into its simplest parts, the 10% rule in Texas education basically guarantees a space in Texan state universities for the top 10 percent of all high schools in Texas. It was instituted after affirmative action laws in the state were struck down by the courts. It seems to have worked pretty well:
Ten years later, we know a little more about the law: It works. Maybe even a little too well, given that the president of the University of Texas asked the Legislature last week to scale it back.
Examples of its success at the University of Texas at Austin include:
* Students admitted under the 10% rule get better grades than other students. Plus, they graduate at higher rates.
* Racial diversity at the Austin campus improved. The number of Hispanic students has risen by 29% and the African-American student population by 32%.
Now, however, Texas University President William Powers is complaining that the net effect of the rule is that talented students who fall below the ten percent measure are ending up at less good universities
What a dilemma. The plan works so well that they are running out of college space for all the good students out there. *Shakes head* The solution to the problem is not to cut the percentage of people from high schools that get automatically put into state universities. Its to upgrade the bad schools and build more of them. Sheesh.
(no subject)
Apr. 1st, 2008 02:04 pmRussians (switch the bad guys to USA and update the situation to 2008 and us in Iraq. God, do we EVER LEARN?)
Sting "Russians"
In Europe and America, there's a growing feeling of hysteria
Conditioned to respond to all the threats
In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets
Mr. Krushchev said we will bury you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
It would be such an ignorant thing to do
If the Russians love their children too
How can I save my little boy from Oppenheimer's deadly toy
There is no monopoly in common sense
On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too
There is no historical precedent
To put the words in the mouth of the President
There's no such thing as a winnable war
It's a lie that we don't believe anymore
Mr. Reagan says we will protect you
I don't subscribe to this point of view
Believe me when I say to you
I hope the Russians love their children too
We share the same biology
Regardless of ideology
What might save us, me, and you
Is if the Russians love their children to
The Gay Agenda
Apr. 1st, 2008 04:56 pmMight as well.
The LGBT Community in the United States of America wants:
1. We want, in a few generations, for gay, lesbian, and transsexual kids studying history to wonder why we even needed anti-discrimination laws in the old days. Of course transsexuals and homosexuals are natural and normal and accepted by society. What was the big deal?
2. We want the rights and responsibilities of marriage available to all American families, even same sex couples. We want it in every state and at the federal level. As a stepping stone we will accept civil unions or domestic partnerships that grant our families all the rights and responsibilities of marriage, but only as a stepping stone. These place our families in a second class, which is unacceptable. Of course, making the states and the federal government responsible only for civil unions or domestic partnerships and leaving "marriage" to religious bodies is another acceptable avenue of resolution.
3. We want to be allowed to work without fear of discrimination. We want a fair hiring process, a fair promotion process, and to work without fear of being fired for our sexual orientation. We want to be free from constructive discharge where employers force one to quit. We want an end to the wage disparity between heterosexuals and homosexuals where homosexuals earn an average 14% to 20% less than similarly situated heterosexuals. We want an end to the wage disparity faced by lesbians and all women in the USA where lesbians and all women earn an average of 76 cents to each dollar earned by a man.
4. We especially want nondiscrimination protection for transsexuals. This ought to include public funding for the healthcare costs of transitioning. Specific enforcement of nondiscrimination work statutes will be required at first. It is most unfortunate that now a declaration of transexuality almost certainly causes a drastic reduction in one's personal economy due to discrimination.
Read rest here
The LGBT Community in the United States of America wants:
1. We want, in a few generations, for gay, lesbian, and transsexual kids studying history to wonder why we even needed anti-discrimination laws in the old days. Of course transsexuals and homosexuals are natural and normal and accepted by society. What was the big deal?
2. We want the rights and responsibilities of marriage available to all American families, even same sex couples. We want it in every state and at the federal level. As a stepping stone we will accept civil unions or domestic partnerships that grant our families all the rights and responsibilities of marriage, but only as a stepping stone. These place our families in a second class, which is unacceptable. Of course, making the states and the federal government responsible only for civil unions or domestic partnerships and leaving "marriage" to religious bodies is another acceptable avenue of resolution.
3. We want to be allowed to work without fear of discrimination. We want a fair hiring process, a fair promotion process, and to work without fear of being fired for our sexual orientation. We want to be free from constructive discharge where employers force one to quit. We want an end to the wage disparity between heterosexuals and homosexuals where homosexuals earn an average 14% to 20% less than similarly situated heterosexuals. We want an end to the wage disparity faced by lesbians and all women in the USA where lesbians and all women earn an average of 76 cents to each dollar earned by a man.
4. We especially want nondiscrimination protection for transsexuals. This ought to include public funding for the healthcare costs of transitioning. Specific enforcement of nondiscrimination work statutes will be required at first. It is most unfortunate that now a declaration of transexuality almost certainly causes a drastic reduction in one's personal economy due to discrimination.
Read rest here
THEIR TEACHERS?!!?!?!!?!?!!?!!?!?!!?!?!!?!
WAYCROSS, Ga. - Police say a group of third-graders plotted to attack their teacher, bringing a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items for the job and assigning children tasks including covering the windows and cleaning up afterward.
The plot by as many as nine boys and girls at Center Elementary School in south Georgia was a serious threat, Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner said Tuesday.
"We did not hear anybody say they intended to kill her, but could they have accidentally killed her? Absolutely," Tanner said. "We feel like if they weren't interrupted, there would have been an attempt. Would they have been successful? We don't know."
The children, ages 8 and 9, were apparently mad at the teacher because she had scolded one of them for standing on a chair, Tanner said.
WHA?!?!?
I mean, WHUT?!!!
How...dear god...WHAT?????!!!!!
I...*Speechless*
Viakarnythia
WAYCROSS, Ga. - Police say a group of third-graders plotted to attack their teacher, bringing a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items for the job and assigning children tasks including covering the windows and cleaning up afterward.
The plot by as many as nine boys and girls at Center Elementary School in south Georgia was a serious threat, Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner said Tuesday.
"We did not hear anybody say they intended to kill her, but could they have accidentally killed her? Absolutely," Tanner said. "We feel like if they weren't interrupted, there would have been an attempt. Would they have been successful? We don't know."
The children, ages 8 and 9, were apparently mad at the teacher because she had scolded one of them for standing on a chair, Tanner said.
WHA?!?!?
I mean, WHUT?!!!
How...dear god...WHAT?????!!!!!
I...*Speechless*
Via
karnythia