Above Average Jane

Two Patrick Murphy Notes

2012-01-26T23:32:00.001-05:00

Patrick Murphy, former congressman for Pennsylvania's 8th district (primarily Bucks Count), is running for Attorney General. There are a couple of interesting notes about him and his campaign this week:

Murphy is scheduled to give the keynote address at the NARAL Pro-Choice America will mark the 39th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade with an annual dinner in Washington, D.C.

Later this week Murphy is expecting an endorsement from Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.

McCaffery Bows Out of AG Race

2012-01-25T23:34:00.001-05:00

You may have already heard, but Dan McCaffery has decided to end his campaign for Attorney General. That leaves former Congressman Patrick Murphy and Kathleen Kane.

Here is McCaffery's statement:

Dan McCaffery, Democratic candidate for the office of Pennsylvania Attorney General, today announced the cessation of his campaign, effective immediately.

"It is with a clear conscience and more than a twinge of regret that I announce today the end of my campaign for Attorney General of Pennsylvania," said McCaffery. "After much soul searching this past weekend and a series of honest conversations with my family and closest political advisors, I reached the inescapable conclusion that the current configuration of this race and the economic circumstances of the time make it extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, to continue to mount a viable campaign. I am also deeply concerned that the Democratic Party and the state’s proud labor community are split in their allegiances; we need to be unified in order to be well-positioned to win the Attorney General seat in the November General Election. I exit this campaign with my head held high and my heart full of gratitude for the many people who support and believe in me. I will continue to be a strong voice within the state Democratic Party and pledge to work tirelessly to make sure the Democratic nominee wins the election in November. The office is simply too important not to be our top priority. I wish Patrick Murphy and Kathleen Kane all the best as they continue their pursuit of the Democratic nomination for Attorney General.”

McCaffery also made an impassioned plea to the remaining Democratic candidates and the state party itself.

"America's middle class is hurting and Pennsylvanians have not been spared," McCaffery added. "We have been hurt by banks, we have been abused by insurance companies, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and so many other reckless business sectors run amok. It is my sincere hope that the Democratic candidates take up the mantle and defend Pennsylvania's middle class. Corporations have been given more than a few breaks and a considerable helping hand from our federal government. It's time to give our state's struggling middle class a break and the Attorney General can and should play a significant role in making it happen."

CNN's SOTU Snafu

2012-01-24T23:37:00.003-05:00

I was multitasking during the State of the Union address, mostly with my eyes on my laptop screen, with the tv set for CNN. At one point when I looked up Attorney General Eric Holder was being identified as HHS Secretary Kathleen Sibelius. Maybe the camera had just cut away from her. The chryon came down shortly after I saw it. Someone must have realized the error. It was one of those comical "um ..... no" moments.

You can watch a video of the speech at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2012 . A transcript isn't up yet but probably will be shortly. I thought it was a good speech.

Schwartz Statement on SOTU

2012-01-24T23:31:00.001-05:00

from the inbox:

U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s State of the Union address.

“Tonight, President Obama addressed the importance of reigniting the American dream and ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to succeed if they work hard and play by the rules.

“I agree with President Obama’s call that to grow our economy, our focus has to be on ensuring that Americans have the skills and education necessary for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Our tax policy must work to support entrepreneurship, manufacturing and innovation, which are at the core of our economic vitality. We must invest in essential infrastructure from broadband to bridges, and continue to do the work necessary to get our fiscal house in order.

“We must build a nation where the opportunity for success is available to all Americans and our middle class is able to prosper.

“I urge my Republican colleagues to work with President Obama and Democrats to find common ground to meet our obligations as a nation and make the right investments for our future. The American people cannot afford to wait.”

Chester Upland Teacher at SOTU

2012-01-24T22:57:00.000-05:00

The guest list for the First Lady at tonight's State of the Union speech included a woman from Pennsylvania:

Sara Ferguson

Teacher, Columbus Elementary
Parkside, Pennsylvania

Sara Ferguson teaches literacy and math at Columbus Elementary, and has worked for the Chester Upland School District for 20 years. She is a third generation educator in Chester Upland, and a proud product of that district. When the Chester Upland School District faced bankruptcy earlier this year in light of severe state budget cuts, Ms. Ferguson vowed to continue teaching even without being paid, saying “we are adults; we will make a way. The students don’t have any contingency plan. They need to be educated, so we intend to be on the job.”

Former Inky Reporter to WSJ

2012-01-24T22:54:00.000-05:00

Peter Nicholas who covered Philadelphia politics for the Inquirer in the 1990s has gone round and round through the journalistic trombone and is now headed to the Wall Street Journal where he will join the DC political staff.al race.

PA Wind Energy

2012-01-24T22:45:00.000-05:00

from the inbox:

Wind energy industry leaders, environmental advocates and policymakers gathered in the Capitol today to announce the launch of ChoosePAWind and the coalition’s new website – choosepawind.com – which touts the economic and environmental benefits of wind power for Pennsylvania.

“The wind energy industry is growing in Pennsylvania and creating jobs,” says Jim Spencer, President and CEO of EverPower, one of the wind farm developers and operators who helped conceive and launch the coalition. “Wind is an important part of a diverse energy solution for Pennsylvania. Alongside natural gas, solar and other locally sourced options, Pennsylvania's commitment to wind is another example of how our state is leading the national movement to produce more domestic energy. “

The website, which shows options for several operators and energy suppliers, also shows Pennsylvania energy consumers how to “ChoosePAWind.” Individual consumers can choose suppliers that feature 100% PA wind, and large energy users can work with a number of PA wind producers on renewable energy credits supporting only in-state wind projects.

More than 17 wind farms are currently operational in Pennsylvania, with 23 more in development, generating jobs, property taxes, and revenue for communities across the state. The wind energy industry is bigger than the wind energy providers. In Pennsylvania, it also encompasses a strong manufacturing presence in the state and many other industry suppliers.

In 2010, the latest year that figures are available, between 3,000 and 4,000 people are employed directly or indirectly in wind energy industry jobs. Millions of dollars are paid in land leases and property taxes by wind energy producers. While these economic figures are impressive, it’s important to note the long-term environmental gains: Wind turbines cause no emissions and use virtually no water.

“Americans have grown more aware of where their energy comes from, and by purchasing Pennsylvania wind power, Pennsylvanians interested in renewable energy can choose a source that’s literally from their backyard,” says David Takash, Vice President of Sales, Gamesa, a global wind energy leader that has its U.S. headquarters and two manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania.

Wind power has the potential to provide 6.4% of Pennsylvania’s energy needs, powering more than a million homes.

If the Pennsylvania wind industry grew to its full potential, wind turbines could prevent over 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. It would take 1,100 acres of forest to remove that amount of carbon dioxide.

World Class Philly Summit

2012-01-24T22:40:00.000-05:00

from the inbox:

Don't miss the 2012 World Class Summit!

Over the past two years, more than 1,000 cross-sector leaders have brought their energy and passion for Greater Philadelphia to World Class conversations about what's most important for our shared future. Since last spring's release of the 2026: Future Histories of Greater Philadelphia report, the Economy League has been building consensus among regional leaders around a clear framework that will focus and guide strategic collaboration and ensure a world class future for Greater Philadelphia.

On February 2, we invite you to join us as we debut three overarching priorities for a World Class Greater Philadelphia, introduce aspirational goals that will drive the creation of Global Positioning Strategies for the region, and announce several exciting partnerships that will drive World Class collaboration in 2012.

See www.economyleague.org/

A Quick Look at Bob Brady's 2011 FEC Reports

2012-01-24T00:02:00.000-05:00

Normally I stay out of Philadelphia politics. When I was going over the quarterly FEC reports for the collar counties I dipped into the reports for Philadelphia’s congressional representatives. A few things surprised me so I’ve done a little more digging. Here are some observations on the reports from 1st district Congressman Bob Brady’s campaign, from the post-general 2010 election, year end 2010, first, second, and third quarter 2011 reports. To provide some context, I found a Dec. 20, 2010 article by Brad Bumstead and Mike Wereschagin in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, “Campaign expenses: chocolates, meals, flowers, club dues,” that looks at the 2010 FEC reports statewide.

As always I encourage residents of the district and other interested parties to review the reports for themselves, at www.fec.gov. A standard caveat on these reports: I am not a lawyer or an accountant and apologize in advance or any errors or misconceptions.

No Little People. In most reports you have contributions that are itemized and unitemized. The unitemized reports are under a particular threshold (I think it is $250) over the length of an election cycle. Donations over that amount are itemized, with the donors’ names, address, occupation and employer listed. Unitemized donations are folks like me, who might send in $50.00 or attend a $35.00 fundraising picnic, the so-called “little people.” Congressman Brady has no little people. Over the five reports I reviewed there were relatively few unitemized donations, $600 in the post-general, none in the year end, $175 in the first quarter, none in the second or the third. Over almost an entire year he received only a total of $775 in unitemized donations. That’s really surprising. Congressman Brady’s money comes from larger individual donations and from PACS, although it is more from individuals than PACs.

Bob Brady, Car Guy. Bumsted and Wereschagin noted that Brady spent $34,000 on car leases over the year they reviewed. I found similar expenses. His car lease payments for the post-general were $2,623, year end $550, first quarter $5,528 in lease payments plus fees for a lease buyout and a new lease for $4,484, second quarter $5,208, third quarter $5,208. That’s a total of $23,601. Granted, it’s a savings of nearly $11,000 from Bumsted and Wereschagin but, yowza! That’s a lot to spend on cars. You could buy two nice used cars for that amount, or one really nice new one. I looked at car leases in the Sunday paper a couple of weeks ago and you could lease a Cadillac Escalade for $800 a month. I don’t know what you can get for $5,208 a month, but it has to be at least two vehicles. And they might be gas guzzlers because he spends a lot on gas, too. In the post general the campaign spent $160.00 on gas, none in the year end, $1,100 in the first quarter, $920 in the second, and just under $2,000 in the third quarter. He loyal to Sunoco and Lukoil. Sunoco returns the sentiment, as their PAC donated $7,000 so far this year. A 2009 article by Tom Infield, “How Bob Brady thrives and survives,” in the Inquirer (8/25/2009) notes that Brady drives home from Washington most days. That might explain the gas costs and why he makes regular payments to NJ EZ Pass ($400 in the first and second quarters, $585 in the third).

Lawyers and accountants and bears, oh my! In the quarterly reports there are some notable payments for legal and accounting services. In the first quarter it is $4,000 for accounting, $5,000 for legal. In the second it was $3,000 each. In the third it was $11,000 for legal and $3,000 for accounting. The accounting fees might be for FEC compliance, $19,000 in legal fees seems like a little more than general campaign matters would require. The campaign also makes regular payments to a fundraiser. In the post general she was paid $9,500, $21,000 in the first quarter, $10,000 in the second quarter, and $10,500 in the third quarter.

Real Estate Matters. The campaign paid $4800 to a company for a year's worth of office rent. Interestingly his campaign website (www.bobbrady.us) lists as the mailing address something that seems to be in a residential area, and it is also listed as the address for his treasurer and his fundraiser.

There are a few other odds and ends but I’ll leave a little mystery for the curious to discover on their own. (Someone named Meehan donated in the second quarter. It’s a common name, but still, ….)

If you are interest in learning more about the congressman, his congressional web site is brady.house.gov; campaign site is www.bobbrady.us

Richards to DVRPC Board

2012-01-23T21:15:00.000-05:00

from the inbox:

Montgomery County Commissioner Leslie S. Richards has been named the county’s representative on the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.

            Richards was a unanimous choice at yesterday’s commissioners’ meeting to represent the county on DVRPC board. Richards replaces former Commissioner Joseph M. Hoeffel as the county’s representative to the board.

            Both Commissioner Josh Shapiro and Commissioner Bruce Castor pointed to Richards’ extensive background in planning issues and projects in explaining why she was the obvious choice for the position.

            Richards is a regional planner and is currently a senior project engineer at a civil engineering firm. She has a broad background in planning and executing a variety of projects involving roads, bridges, trails, streetscapes and many others.

            “Commissioner Richards will be the perfect representative for us on DVRPC,” said Shapiro. “There will be no learning curve. She will be able to hit the ground running at her first meeting and will be a vital asset to Montgomery County on the board.”

            “It has become obvious to me in a very short period of time that Commissioner Richards is a talented, experienced person with a wealth of knowledge in this area,” said Commissioner Bruce L. Castor, Jr. “She will do a great job.”

            Richards indicted that she will be very cognizant of several Montgomery County projects that may come before the DVRPC board, including the Lafayette Street extension, which is considered vital to the future of Norristown.

            “I am honored by and thankful for the confidence my colleagues have shown in me, and I promise to work hard and continually use my experience and knowledge for the betterment of Montgomery County and the region,” Richards said.

Real Time SEPTA App

2012-01-23T15:41:00.000-05:00

from the inbox:

SEPTA has launched a new online tool that gives riders real-time updates for all modes of travel in one place.

System Status offers a complete view of the SEPTA system with just the click of a mouse or touch of a screen. In one neat snapshot, you can see the status of all bus and trolley routes and rail lines. This new feature is available on SEPTA’s Website at http://www.septa.org/realtime/status/system-status.shtml. Here’s how it works: By simply clicking the System Status “Eye”, located on the bottom left-hand corner of every Web page, customers will be taken to a page displaying a grid with all routes and lines clearly listed. Four icons – denoting line suspensions, service alerts, detours and service advisories – will be displayed next to any route or line where service has been or is scheduled to be altered.

Customers can then click on the icons to find out how the changes are impacting service and what they may need to do to change travel plans. If no icons are displayed next to a specific route or line, service is running according to schedule and no alterations are planned.

Preliminary Notes on the Philly.com Tablet

2012-01-23T00:45:00.001-05:00

I've recently acquired an Arnova tablet, purchased via Philly.com. It part of a package deal. You get the tablet for an extremely low price, but with a contract to pay a monthly fee to subscribe to the Philadelphia papers on it. Check out the details at www.phillytablet.com.

Tablets require hand / eye coordination so it has taken me little longer than usual to get the hang of things, and it has capabilities that I haven't used. For instance, the specs say you can watch movies on it but I haven't tried that yet. In fact I've done very little other than read the paper on it. My morning commute routine now includes downloading the paper on to the tablet before I leave the house and then reading it on the train. Reading the physical paper on the train has always been beyond my abilities -- too much folding and unfolding and refolding, so I have been reading the paper when I get home in the evening.

I check Philly.com as part of my "get ready for work" routine but that only has a few stories on it. I get some of the highlights there and then read the rest on the tablet. I get a digital copy of the paper as well, delivered to my email but it just isn't feasible for my old eyes to read it on a computer screen. I use the Philly app. I can select the section of the paper I want to read and the stories appear in a menu. I can pull up the first one, read it, and then just scroll through with a wave of one finger. Pictures come through, though I can't always seem them well, usually due to the angle I hold the tablet.

The tablet uses wireless so I don't have constant Internet access, but once the paper is downloaded I can read it wherever whenever. There aren't updates, however, so you still need to check philly.com during the day, or subscribe to the paper's twitter feed, to get the latest news.

I had thought about making the tablet my newstand, perhaps trying to read the New Yorker, which also gives me a digital subscription, but it requires an Internet connection to read online -- no download, and the layout is hard for me to read. Perhaps there are options but if so I've missed them; perhaps it just needs more investigation. You can also get book readers on the tablet and download books. I haven't done that yet either.

The tablet has become so much a part of my routine that even on the weekends I am more likely to sit down with it than to trot down the driveway and retrieve the paper. I do miss the ads a little, and not all of the comics I like to read are included, but overall I'm getting more and more comfortable with the tablet. Mr. J asked when I got the tablet if I was ready to cancel our print subscription. I wasn't, but next time he asks the answer may be different.

My only real problem with the tablet, other than the occasional bug that requires a restart, is that it has messed up my train reading routine. I used to reserve train time for magazines and haven't reworked that yet, so I'm weeks behind on the New Yorker. That's a time management problem, though, and not the paper's problem.

If you've been thinking about getting one of these I would recommend giving it a try, or considering it as a gift for the newsy and nerdy. You can get Android aps for the tablet so there are a lot of other things you can do with it. It comes loaded with a few other services / features but I haven't really used those either. Read more at www.phillytablet.com.

State of the Blog -- Year 7

2012-01-23T00:14:00.001-05:00

Another year come and gone, another late state of the blog post. In mid-November I passed the seven year mark. It seems odd to me that I've been doing this that long. I tried quitting once (in year six) but blogging is like the mafia -- you try to get out and you just get pulled back in.

I've posted less this year than in previous years. In part this was because I've had some health issues. In part is because for much of the year we didn't have reliable Internet service at home. There is nothing quite so frustrating as writing up a post and then watching the modem, trying to catch one of those elusive moments when all five lights are on. In August we switched to Comcast and have had only one insistence of downtime since then. In part it's because my schedule this year has been a lot more hectic. We've been short staffed at work and more has been going on, which means my 9 p.m. blogging start time was frequently delayed. I ended up taking a leadership role in a couple of kids' organizations. One was planned the other wasn't and that one had a steep learning curve. There are superwomen who can juggle everything but many days it's all been a bit much for me. Hopefully this year will ease up a bit.

On the plus side I've been having a great time with the new laptop I received for Christmas last year. It's great to have reliable equipment. During the year I upgraded my old phone to an Iphone. My Ipod Touch was great but I could only use it where wireless was available. Having constant Internet access and being able to connect any where any time is fantastic.

Politically the main action was on the county level. Some of these races were easy to work with, others weren't. To be honest I'm just too old and cranky (and tired) to go chasing after campaigns. I'll send out one or two emails asking to be put on email lists, general greetings, etc., but that's about it. If there isn't some interest on the other end there's isn't much I can do. One campaign was interested in doing an interview but after I did all the research for the questions they never bothered to return the answers. Another issue that comes up at least once every year is that I'll build some rapport with campaign staff or consultants and then there is turnover and the new folks have no idea what happened before and I have to start over from scratch. I wish the political world was better organized but over the years it has become clear that is just isn't. Only once that I can recall in the seven years I've been doing this has someone emailed me to say they are leaving a campaign, cc'ed their replacement and provided an introduction and summary of my interaction with them to date.

Conversely, I did more in person political work this year than I have in the past. I volunteered a couple of times,handed out flyers and, for the first time ever, had a bumper sticker on my car. I've reflected on which role, campaign volunteer or blogger, has more impact. Candidates should make an appearance at train stations but I don't know that more than two or three volunteers are needed at any one time. Having a small army of people annoying commuters might be too many, though it is probably difficult to know how many people are going to show up on any given day. Calling strangers and going door to door are not particular strengths, so my options are limited. Maybe blogging in my basement after the family has gone to bed is the best pathway for me ....

Usage statistics continued to be a challenge. Sitemeter gives me a lot of data but usage numbers coming in through that software are decreasing. Google Analytics indicate similar usage, but tells me most of the users it detects are new users not returning users. I know from experience that Google Reader usage doesn't show up in either sitemeter or Google Analytics. In fact, Google Reader does not seem to trigger paywalls. So if, say, your favorite newspaper political blog is now only available free for a small number of posts per month, you can still read it for free via Google Reader. Not that I am encouraging anyone to do that, I'm just saying it is possible. Feedburner does seem to pick up those uses. It tells me the blog gets around 1,000 hits a day, and indicates the number of subscribers, over 200. Feedburner is owned by Google so I'm not sure why this isn't reflected in Google Analytics. All of this means I don't have a good idea how many people actually read the blog.

In 2012, we'll have state house and state senate races, congressional and the presidential races. That's a lot so it could be a busy year, blog-wise. Hopefully there will be some interesting events to attend, at times I can attend and for suggested amounts that I can affored.

To summarize, last year was not a good year, either for me or the blog. Let's hope both do better over the coming months.

Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes

2012-01-21T22:06:00.000-05:00

This year I turned 50. No matter how you figure it, half a century, 4 bits, it’s over the hill. Adding to general sense of age, over the last year I’ve had a series of health issues. True, if you live long enough things start to fall apart, but having it happen the year you turn 50 just adds insult to injury.

Head – From April through August I was without one of my molars. A root canal had to be done twice (not unusual – my teeth are quirky). The dental office was closed for a while due to plumbing problems. The first crown didn’t fit. And so on and so forth. After four months without a back tooth, the crown felt enormous and it took a few weeks to get used to.

Shoulders – Three years ago one of my shoulders stiffened up. After about eight weeks or so of physical therapy everything was fine. Fast forward to last winter when the other shoulder started to stiffen. I could lift and carry but anything requiring rotation was tricky, and painful. There are a large number of standard everyday things you can’t do if you can’t extend or rotate a shoulder, including reach into the back pocket of your pants on that side, touch your mid or upper back (and yes, ladies, there are wardrobe implications to that), take off a tailored coat or jacket without help, put that hand behind your head (to brush hair, etc), reach into the back of the dryer or washer, sleep comfortably unless that shoulder is propped up with a pillow, catch things (including yourself if you fall), throw things, and many others. All that involuntary stretching people do first thing in the morning was painful, being jostled on the train was painful, griping the handles on the elliptical machines in the gym was painful, as was doing most weight training exercises. I kept that arm tucked up and close to my body, a habit I am still trying to break. Physical therapy went on and on for months, including two steroid shots, which helped quite a bit. Eventually I started making progress and was able to stop the pt visits. I still do some exercises at home and have regained most of the standard flexing ability in that arm. It was the first time I have ever had a lengthy physical disability and it was not fun. This gave me a small glimpse of what life is like for people who have a permanent disability or an illness that affects mobility.

Knees – My knees have never been my finest feature; I’ve had rice crispie knees since my teen years. Extra weight doesn’t help and when my shoulder problems developed it was painful working out at the gym; the weight I had lost came back. These days I don’t bound up the stairs with quite as much energy as I did last year and much of that is due to my knees.

Toes – On a trip to a water park this summer I landed wrong coming out of a waterslide and stubbed two toes. They were swollen and sore for a couple of months. Fortunately it was summer when I could wear sandals most of the time.

Ifill and Gingrich

2012-01-19T23:19:00.001-05:00

This evening Gwen Ifill interviewed Newt Gingrich on the PBS Newshour. Video is available online. After the South Carolina debate this evening she tweeted that he did not appear as upset about his former wife's interview when she asked him about it than he did when John King asked him about it.

Another Ifill note -- former Pennsylvania reporter Sam Youngman is slated to be on Washington Week tomorrow.

Sheamus Bonner's Rescue Mission on Bosnia

2012-01-19T00:00:00.001-05:00

Sheamus Bonner is running for the State House in Delaware County's 163rd district. Bonner is a 19 year veteran, including a tour of duty in Bosnia and Hezegovenia. A 2002 issue of the Talon newsletter records a routine mission that became decidedly non-routine. Five US soldiers, including Bonner, were showing a group of Scottish soldiers around the area when a small group of people flagged them down and pointed to a car that was submerged in water. Bonner and the others rescued a family from a car that had gone off a bridge. As Sgt. Thomas Farley, Jr., writes in the Dec. 19th issue:

“I cut the woman out of her seat restraints and Chris (Heyman), Leo (Robert) and I dragged her to dry ground,” said Bonner. “One of the Scots – Cpl. Williams, I think – felt her neck and was able to detect a weak pulse. She must have been underwater for five minutes or more, but she was still alive!”

You can read the entire article "Scottish, US Soldiers Save Life," online, see page 7 of the 8 page pdf. It's an exciting story.

Lang Accepted by American Inns of Court

2012-01-18T23:36:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite candidates, Paul Lang, who ran for State Senate in 2006, is now part of a law firm in Bucks County. He's recently been accepted as a member of the American Inns of Court, which is:

The American Inns of Court (AIC) are designed to improve the skills, professionalism and ethics of the bench and bar. An American Inn of Court is an amalgam of judges, lawyers, and in some cases, law professors and law students. Each Inn meets approximately once a month both to "break bread" and to hold programs and discussions on matters of ethics, skills, and professionalism.

The full press release is available online.

PA Red to Blue Candidates

2012-01-18T23:29:00.004-05:00

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has announced a round of "red to blue" campaigns. Kathryn Boockvar, running against Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08), and Dr. Manan Trivedi, running against Jim Gerlach (PA-06) are on the list. "Red to blue" candidates are offered assistance with fundraising, communications, strategic planning, and grassroots support.

Pres O on Keystone Pipeline

2012-01-18T23:21:00.001-05:00

from the inbox:

Earlier today, I received the Secretary of State’s recommendation on the pending application for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. As the State Department made clear last month, the rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline’s impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment. As a result, the Secretary of State has recommended that the application be denied. And after reviewing the State Department’s report, I agree.

This announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that prevented the State Department from gathering the information necessary to approve the project and protect the American people. I’m disappointed that Republicans in Congress forced this decision, but it does not change my Administration’s commitment to American-made energy that creates jobs and reduces our dependence on oil. Under my Administration, domestic oil and natural gas production is up, while imports of foreign oil are down. In the months ahead, we will continue to look for new ways to partner with the oil and gas industry to increase our energy security –including the potential development of an oil pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico – even as we set higher efficiency standards for cars and trucks and invest in alternatives like biofuels and natural gas. And we will do so in a way that benefits American workers and businesses without risking the health and safety of the American people and the environment.

Thank You, Comcast

2012-01-18T22:55:00.002-05:00

My household switched Internet providers in August, from Brand X to Comcast. Since then we've had fantastic, reliable Internet. Until tonight, when the wireless went out. I called customer service, got bounced around a little, but finally got connected to someone who stayed with me on the phone, trying a couple of extra things, and Eureka!!!, Casa Jane is back online. Thank you, Comcast, and especially Mr. Persistent, for going the extra mile. It is much appreciated.

SOTU Bingo at the Constitution Center

2012-01-17T23:26:00.001-05:00

Next Tuesday the President will give the annual State of the Union address. The National Constitution Center is throwing a party, with special events and the opportunity to watch Pres. Obama's speech. The shindig starts at 7:30 with tours and programs like Constitution Quizzo, "Lurid Lives of the Founding Fathers" and a Six Word State of the Union text feature with messages appearing on a "talk back" wall. Once the speech starts at 9:00 the Center will provide bingo cards for viewers to keep track of how often key words and phrases are used.

The event is free but preregistration is recommended.

Those watching at home can print out bingo cards and play along in the privacy of their living room.

Wikipedia, Others, Dark on Wednesday

2012-01-17T23:15:00.000-05:00

If you are trying to find your favorite website tomorrow, and it isn't there, it's not the apocalypse, but a coordinated protest over Internet legislation. Wikipedia, Wordpress, and other sites say they won't be available tomorrow to protest SOPA, the incorrectly named Stop Online Piracy Act. For a full list of participants and more info on the topic, see: http://sopastrike.com/. The Icanhazcheezburger sites are participating so there will be no cutely captioned cat pictures available on the web tomorrow. No LOL cats. No Failbook. Life will be grim tomorrow.

Get on Board the Love Train!!!

2012-01-17T23:03:00.003-05:00

SEPTA is again collecting stories of true love on the train. If you met your sweetie on the train, trolley, or regional rail, send your story to www.septalovestories.org. Readers will get to vote on the stories. Remember these are love stories, not tawdry tales of less illustrious encounters on transit.

Fed Funding to University Transportation Centers

2012-01-17T22:59:00.001-05:00

from the inbox:

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today $77 million in grants to 22 University Transportation Centers (UTCs) to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges facing our nation. The UTCs, which are located throughout the United States, conduct research that directly supports the priorities of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the participating universities are a critical part of our national transportation strategy.

“Transportation matters in everyone’s daily life. These research centers will help us solve the transportation challenges we face today and those that we know lay ahead of us,” said Secretary LaHood.
DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), which administers the UTC program, used a competitive selection process to select ten University Transportation Centers (UTCs), two Transit-Focused UTCs, and ten Regional UTCs. The centers will advance U.S. transportation technology and expertise in research, education, and technology transfer. Each one of the selected UTCs will receive a $3.5 million grant which they must match with funds from non-federal sources. The 22 UTCs selected are all consortia, involving a total of 121 different universities.

Pennsylvania schools on the list of recipients:

Penn State's main campus is an consortium with San Jose State.

The University of Pennsylvania is in a consortium with Carnegie Mellon; the two schools are the only members of that consortium. Personal note: I'm sure Penn is thrilled to be playing second fiddle to Carnegie Mellon.

Bojar's Report on AG Vote

2012-01-17T00:34:00.000-05:00

You may have heard or read that at the State Democratic Committee meeting this past weekend none of the candidates for Attorney General gathered enough votes to win an endorsement, so it looks like it will be an open primary. Karen Bojar, whose posts I have followed on Young Philly Politics, has posted a note on her other blog (The Next Stage: Women and Retirement) about the vote; she was on hand and gives a first person account.