Louise's Journal

Jul. 20, 2008 - Why We Need to Put Science Back in Government

Do you value the information you're getting from AlterNet? Chris Mooney, Yale Environment 360. The Bush administration has been widely criticized for placing politics over science. Over the 71⁄2 years of the Bush administration, it's hard to name a major U.S. government regulatory agency that hasn't seen some type of scandal involving science. From the Environmental Protection Agency to the Bureau of Land Management to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we've heard repeated complaints from government scientists who say their work on environmental issues has been inappropriately edited by political appointees, that they themselves have been muzzled, and that their agencies have put out rank misinformation to the public.To get a sense of just how extensive such problems have been, consider the findings of a 2007 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, which sought to survey federally employed climate researchers across several agencies. Almost half of the 300-odd survey res...
Originally from: http://www.alternet.org/environment/89985/?ses=eeecd507ced3491ec8191ee561994bd9
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Jul. 20, 2008 - So Long, Bear Market?

Eight Pesky FeesA few dollars here, a few there. The S&P 500, at around 1250, is down 15% so far this year. History argues most of the damage is behind us. Investors are about as gloomy as they getand for good reason. Oil prices continue to soar, housing prices continue to fall, and the credit crunch continues to wreak havoc on the nations financial titans. Who would have thought that people would be speculating about whether shares of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could go to zero? In the midst of it all, the Federal Reserve is caught between trying to fend off inflation and defend the dollar while trying to boost the weak economy.Believe it or not, history offers surprisingly good news about what the stock market will likely do from here. No, history doesnt always repeat itself, but, as the saying goes, it rhymes. So please dont cash in your stocks for CDs until you read the rest of this article. That prompted Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist for S&P, to ...
Originally from: http://www.kiplinger.com/inter/inter.php?url=/columns/value/archive/2008/va0714.htm&sponsor=economist
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Jul. 20, 2008 - Elder Services sends out thanks to folks who helped

Etc. We simply could not provide the high quality of services we do over 1,550 home-delivered and 385 congregate meals per day, without our volunteers, said Maggie Woodward, nutrition program director. The 2008 Elder Services of Worcester Area Inc. Board of Directors officers: Sister Marie Therese Martin, president; Raymond Mantyla, vice president; John Staples, treasurer; Karl Gumpright, assistant treasurer; Tara Egan, secretary; Michael Badger; Paul Bowler, Gloria Castriotta, Jody Dion, Thomas Cullinane, Ray DAiuto, Linda Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Gaidanowicz, Elaine Grady, Betty Hamilton, George Heeley, Philip Heywood*, Rosemarie Highlands, Chet Jakubiak, Lauren Mack, Edward McCarthy*, Judith OConnor, Yung Phan, Cheryl Pope, Walter Rice, Christina Silpe, Yolanda Smith, Margos Stone and Gary Thomas. Volunteers: Mary Arsenault, Anne Barnes, Elaine Benjamin, Christine Brown, Cheryl Courtemanch, David Covino, Kathleen Dalianis, Tania Dency, Daryl Diamond, Irmine Farmerie, Ann Goodrow...
Originally from: http://www.telegram.com/article/20080628/NEWS/806280348/1008/NEWS02
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Jul. 20, 2008 - From the Wire

Do you value the information you're getting from AlterNet? Polls have come to dominate the media's horse race coverage of political campaigns. Pundits and reporters constantly use them to tell us who's hot and who's not -- but skip over the fact that plummeting response rates and variables like undecided voters and margins of error and often render these polls useless as anything other than lightweight diversions on par with horoscopes and political betting lines. You might need to remind yourself frequently that the definition of a partnership is the bringing together of two different people. Your plans may not be shared. It could be that there's been a degree of confusion - particularly about a design. A regularly planned outing with friends could turn out to be particularly enjoyable. A friend: someone who talks a lot but tends to promise more than they deliver could make your day special. They may sense that you're retreating into a shell - possibly because your confidence is i...
Originally from: http://www.alternet.org/wire/?ses=fcec448f7c27738e8ff43bf43aa7ac81
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Jul. 20, 2008 - Talk movies

Ty_Burr: Hello all -- anyone there? Ty Burr here on a Friday afternoon to yammer about movies, good ones, bad ones, in between ones. And "WALL-E"Ty_Burr: Send in your thoughts and questions and I'll answer them as best I can...kenshin__Guest_: so Wall-E: it has to be great, but is it greater than Toy Story and The Incredibles?Ty_Burr: Yeah, I think so. It's on a whole other level of CGI storytelling; it manages to be a kids' movie while also being more than accessible to grown-ups without kids.Ty_Burr: I really sat there in awe, especially in the first half hour. Just the scope of the film feels bigger, more serious.Je__Guest_: !wow! that's quite the ringing endorsement for WALL-E. out of all of the pixar films, do u think this is the absolute best? please rank the pixar films in order of awesomeness.Ty_Burr: *laugh* Yes, Je, I do think it's the best. Certainly the most ambitious, though, as I said in the review, it'll probably be less *loved* than some of the others. It asks a lot of...
Originally from: http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2008/06/27/talk_movies