Luke_Wilbur

Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, California and New Jersey Lead in Generating FTZ Economic Activity U.S.-based companies operating in foreign-trade zones (FTZs) across the United States received $491 billion in domestic and foreign merchandise in FY 2006 while employing more than 360,000 American workers, according to an annual report published by the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ). The report showed that there are 2,650 companies operating in FTZs in more than 200 communities across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. “For more than five decades, the Foreign-Trade Zone program has promoted American competitiveness by encouraging companies to keep – and expand – their businesses here in the United States,” said Willard M. Berry, President of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ). “Foreign-Trade Zones are one of the best pro-manufacturing job programs available in the U.S. today.” The annual NAFTZ report, The Impact of Foreign-Trade Zones on the 50 States & Puerto Rico, tracks the economic impact of U.S. foreign-trade zones in each of the 50 states. The report showed that economic activity by companies located in FTZs increased by 20% in 2006, and found that exports from U.S. FTZs totaled $30 billion in 2006, a 30% increase from the previous year, compared to only a 16% increase for exports of manufactured commodities from the U.S. in general. The top 15 states in terms of merchandise receipts by FTZs are: Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, California, New Jersey, Tennessee, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Illinois, South Carolina, Mississippi, Indiana, Alabama, Michigan, and Washington. The sectors benefiting most from FTZs were companies in the pharmaceutical, electronics, automotive, and petroleum industries. “The report underscores the fact that, by eliminating disincentives to manufacture in the U.S., FTZs help level the playing field and encourage companies to establish or keep their operations in the U.S.,” said Berry. Companies operating within an FTZ can import components and products into the zone for manufacturing without immediately paying prevailing U.S. Customs duties. Under the program, the manufacturers may never pay a duty – if the finished product is exported to another country – or pay a lower duty if the product leaves the FTZ and enters U.S. territory as a product subject to lower duty rates. To view an interactive map of Foreign-Trade Zones in the U.S., please visit http://www.naftz.org/index_categories.php/ftzs/6. The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones works to inform on and expand the opportunities that the Foreign-Trade Zones program offers to companies doing business in or with the United States. NAFTZ supports over 800 members in every state who support the American economy and maintain operations in foreign-trade zones across the United States. For more information on NAFTZ, contact Willard Berry at (202) 331-1950 or media@naftz.org or visit www.naftz.org.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing recommendations to those affected by severe storms and tornadoes in the Mid-Atlantic region. USDA is hopeful that this information will help minimize the potential for foodborne illnesses due to power outages and other problems that are often associated with severe weather events. "Power outages can occur at any time of the year and it often takes from a few hours to several days for electricity to be restored to residential areas," said USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond. "Without electricity or a cold source, foods stored in refrigerators and freezers can become unsafe. Bacteria in food grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 °F, and if these foods are consumed, people can become very sick." Steps to follow to prepare for a possible weather emergency: Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. An appliance thermometer will indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer in case of a power outage and help determine the safety of the food. Make sure the freezer is at 0 °F or below and the refrigerator is at 40 °F or below. Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers after the power is out. Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately — this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer. Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased. Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding. Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than 4 hours. Purchase or make ice cubes and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers. Group food together in the freezer — this helps the food stay cold longer. Steps to follow after the weather emergency: Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) and the door remains closed. Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after 4 hours without power. Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below when checked with a food thermometer. Never taste a food to determine its safety! Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for 2 days. If the power has been out for several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer. If the appliance thermometer reads 40 °F or below, the food is safe to refreeze. If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe. Drink only bottled water if flooding has occurred. Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers. Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches (for example, flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved. Follow the Steps to Salvage All-Metal Cans and Retort Pouches in the publication "Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency" at: 0 www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/ keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp Thoroughly wash all metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water. When in Doubt, Throw it Out! FSIS has available a Public Service Announcement (PSA), available in 30- and 60-second versions, illustrating practical food safety recommendations for handling and consuming foods stored in refrigerators and freezers during, and after, a power outage. Consumers are encouraged to view the PSA at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/ Food_Safety_PSA/index.asp. News organizations and power companies can obtain hard copy (Beta and DVD) versions of the PSA by contacting the Food Safety Education Staff in FSIS' Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education by calling (301) 344-4757. Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day

DCpages runs this web site and this discussion is getting way off topic. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman and Secretary of Agriculture Edward T. Schafer sent a letter on June 11, 2008 to Senator Jeff Bingaman addressing a number of questions related to biofuels, food, and gasoline and diesel prices. The letter is available at http://www.energy.gov Without Biofuels, Gas Prices Would Increase $.20 to $.35 per Gallon. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that gasoline prices would be between 20 cents to 35 cents per gallon higher without ethanol1, a first-generation biofuel. For a typical household, that means saving about $150 to $300 per year. For the U.S. overall, this saves gas expenditures of $28 billion to $49 billion based on annual gasoline consumption of roughly 140 billion gallons. Ethanol use has exceeded the requirements of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, demonstrating that refiners and gasoline marketers have an economic advantage to use more ethanol than is required by law. Biofuels are Reducing America's Dependence on Oil. Without biofuels, DOE estimates that the United States would have to use 7.2 billion more gallons of gasoline in 2008 in order to maintain current levels of travel (a 5 percent increase). This increased demand for gasoline would drive up the price Americans pay at the pump due to basic supply and demand. Biofuels are Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. DOE scientists found that corn ethanol from the U.S. reduced greenhouse gas emission 19 percent compared with gasoline, when the full "life cycle" of the fuel is considered – from growing it to producing the fuel and burning it. DOE scientists estimate that 13 million tons of greenhouse gases were avoided in 2007 due to biofuels production and use. The next generation of biofuels—cellulosic—made from switchgrass, corn stover, wood chips and other non-food sources promises even more significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions than corn-based ethanol – reductions of more than 86 percent compared with gasoline. This estimate relies on data on the current price difference between ethanol and gasoline and the elasticity of supply for petroleum. Consequently, a range is presented. Today's Biofuels Account for Only a Small Percentage of the Increase in Global Food Prices. Other factors are responsible for the majority of the increase in global food prices: Higher oil and gas prices leading to increased costs of fertilizer, harvest, and transportation; Increased demand as developing countries grow and people improve their diets; Two years of bad weather and drought leading to poor harvests in parts of the world; Export restrictions imposed by some countries. Future Biofuels Will Alleviate Much of the Concern about Competition Between Food and Fuel. Cellulosic biofuel feedstocks can be produced on land not suitable for crops or it can be collected from forest residues. The Administration has announced more than $1 billion for the research, development, and demonstration of new biofuels technology, with a special focus on cellulosic biofuels. Funding supports: Bioenergy Research Centers where scientists work together to make the conversion of plant fiber to fuel more cost-effective and efficient. Commercial-scale and small-scale biorefineries, to chart the course toward commercialization of these technologies and test breakthroughs and novel processes.

On Friday, June 13, NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert died. Sunday mornings will never be the same. Tim Russert was the Managing Editor and Moderator of Meet the Press, aired on Sundays at 12noon ET with rebroadcasts at 3PM ET and 6PM ET. Since joining Meet The Press in December 1991, the program has become the most watched Sunday morning interview program in America and the most quoted news program in the world. Russert has interviewed every major figure on the American political scene. Russert also served as the political analyst for NBC Nightly News and the Today Program and anchored The Tim Russert Show, a weekly interview program on CNBC. He was also a contributing anchor for MSNBC and served as senior vice president and Washington bureau chief of NBC News. NBC News' Tom Brokaw Carl Bernstein, journalist Tim Russert was a man I trusted to find the truth to a story. He will be greatly missed by all those that followed his career. The Washington DC Online Community will greatly miss, but never forget him. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.

I think our government can handle the situation

Money for College. Complete a DC OneApp today to get financial assistance for higher education. One form is all you need to apply for all four of the District’s scholarship programs, including the popular DC Tuition Assistance Grant, but the deadline is June 30. The Office of the State Superintendent of Education's (OSSE) Higher Education Financial Services (HEFS) administers the District of Columbia's four higher education grants: DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG), DC Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (DCLEAP), DC Adoption Scholarship (DCAS) and DC Adult Scholarship Program (DCASP). District residents may apply for all four grants using one streamlined application called the DC OneApp. Eligibility varies for each program. Select the link below for more grant details and to apply online. The DC OneApp deadline is June 30, 2008. The online application is available beginning January 1, 2008 51 N Street NE, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20002 (202) 727-2824, HEFS Toll-free: 1 (877) 485-6751 Closest Metro Station: Red Line - New York Avenue/Florida Avenue/Gallaudet University

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Councilmember-At-Large David Catania, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department Chief Dennis Rubin, Director of the Department of Health, Dr. Pierre Vigilance and the chief executive officers of the District’s busiest hospitals announced two initiatives that will continue the Administration’s reforms of EMS and access to health care in the District. Both initiatives announced today respond directly to Recommendation 5 of the EMS Task Force to reduce misuse of EMS and delays in patient transfers. “To make the District’s EMS the best in the nation, we need to reform the entire system,” said Fenty. “I am pleased that our partners in the hospital community are working with us to meet that challenge.” New Fire EMS Closure and Diversion Policy As part of the Hospital CEO Working Group recommended by the Task Force and established by the city administrator in November, District hospitals with the city’s Fire & EMS and Health departments have agreed on a new policy that will govern temporary closure and diversion of hospital emergency departments (ED), as well as the delivery of patients to hospitals by EMS transport units. The new policy seeks to ensure that no single aspect of the District’s emergency medical care system is unduly burdened by the high demand for ambulance services, while also striving to achieve the highest possible quality of patient care. Research by the task force found that the District has some of the highest closure and diversion rates, and among the longest “patient drop times,” in the country. Currently, Fire & EMS has an average patient drop time of 40 minutes, which impacts the ability of District ambulances to get back on the streets and respond quickly to emergencies. The new policy includes a goal of dropping off patients within 25 minutes, a change that, if realized on a regular basis, will have the effect of adding five additional ambulances to District streets. The policy also facilitates improved District management of transport unit flow to hospitals, as well as more seamless information sharing between hospitals and the Fire & EMS Department. “We appreciate the efforts by the Mayor's team to improve the EMS by enhancing coordination with the city's hospital emergency departments and strengthening the response to patient needs,” said James F. Caldas, president of Washington Hospital Center. Emergency Care Reform Initiative High rates of closure and diversion and long patient drop off times are symptoms of unnecessary stress on EMS due, in part, to overuse of hospital Emergency Departments. The Emergency Care Reform Initiative (ECRI) will address this challenge through a collaboration of city agencies, health care providers, and community partners that serve residents at risk for seeking emergency care services. Mayor Fenty’s FY 2009 budget dedicates $1 million to support the initiative, the goals of which are to develop high-impact strategies that reduce avoidable hospitalizations, preventable ED visits, and non-emergent EMS transports. “Turning to EDs for everyday health care use is a national phenomenon,” said Mayor Fenty. “But here in the District, we are committed to reversing this trend and making sure that every resident is linked to an accessible medical home in their community.” The Emergency Care Reform Initiative will include a series of projects ranging from a $10 million chronic disease management and prevention grant program, to the development of a non-emergent transport system to serve as an alternative to EMS transport for residents in urgent but not life-threatening conditions, to street outreach connecting high risk homeless residents to preventive care and a medical home.

Summer of Safety Kickoff Planned for June 12 On Thursday, June 12 -- the last day school in DC -- the MPD will kick off the summer with activities in all seven police districts, where a calendar of events will be made available for youth. The calendar will cover all 73 days of the summer vacation for DC Public Schools students. During the summer months, it is very important for parents and guardians to involve their children and young adults in supervised activities. Through various partnerships around the city, the Metropolitan Police Department will provide several opportunities to families for the District’s school-aged youth in an effort to make 2008 the safest summer yet. There are 73 days in the summer break for the District’s public school students. During those 73 days, Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier wants to ensure that there are a variety of supervised activities and events available to District families for their children. The following programs will be offered by the police department to assist parents with providing summer supervision for their youth. Summer Jobs (Age Group: 14–18) Through a partnership with the Department of Employment Services (DOES), the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) will hire summer youth workers who are registered in the Passport-to-Work summer employment program by the April 26, 2008 deadline. Jobs will begin on Monday, June 16, 2008, and officially end Friday, August 22, 2008. This means young people who are hired from DOES will be expected to report to work on June 16th each day until August 22, (Monday through Friday). Last year’s summer employees held jobs that entailed light office work, computer work, planning outreach-to-youth events and much more. For more information about working with MPD, visit the page in this book for the Department of Employment Services or call (202) 462-6733. Camp Brown One-Week Overnight Camp (Age Group: 7–13) A partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington will make Camp Ernest W. Brown an exciting place for campers ages 7-13. Camp Brown, named after former police chief and co-founder, Ernest W. Brown is operated through a partnership agreement between the Metropolitan Police Department and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. This year, one-week camp sessions will be held beginning in July through August. The camp is located about 80 miles south of Washington, DC in Scotland, Maryland. For 71 years, Camp Brown has been a place for school-aged youth between the ages of 7 and 13 to escape the busy city for a week-long vacation. The campers stay in wooden cabins on 168 acres of land, alongside the Potomac River where they enjoy swimming, biking, fishing, listening to motivational speakers, and many other structured activities. Camp counselors include police officers who are trained to work with youth, as well as certified staff of the Boys and Girls Club. For information on the cost of the camp and financial assistance, call (202) 397-CLUB (2582), ext. 8190 or visit http://www.bgcgw.org/clubs to download the application and receive more information about the camp. Summer Day Camps (Age Group: 6–13) Through a partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), officers will visit local recreation center camp sites to conduct educational workshops on safety. For more information, dial (202) 727-8809 or (202) 462-6733. Summer of Safety 2008 Outreach-to-Youth Hotline and Activities Calendar (Age Group: 4–17) Each day, during the summer months, if a parent or guardian believes a young person is bored, a call can be made to (202) I'm-Bored, beginning June 12, 2008. This hotline, sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department will keep families updated on summer events and activities, as well as available camps each day. The list of events will be updated nightly to provide families with supervised options for their children to support a safe summer. The events can include free summer concerts, supervised field trips, a list of free pools and other locations that are open and free to the public. The list will also include neighborhood events that are sponsored by the police department and other partners, including the Department of Parks and Recreation, (the agency that sends the Skate Mobile around the city during the summer months). For more information, dial (202) I'm-Bored or (202) 462-6733. Last Day of School Block Parties (Age Group: 4–17) On the last day of school for the District’s Public Schools, the Metropolitan Police Department will host block parties around the city to prepare parents and youth for a safe summer. Calendars will be distributed with a list of supervised activities for the summer and free food, tee shirts and other giveaways will be provided. For more information, dial (202) 727-8809 or visit www.mpdc.dc.gov/sos for more Summer of Safety (SOS) information. Meet McGruff the Crime Dog (Age Group: 4-–12) McGruff the Crime Dog, the official police mascot around the country will be available during the summer months to appear at some local events in the community, including summer camp facilities, schools and a few local neighborhood block parties. McGruff’s schedule will fill up quickly, so call to check his availability at (202) 727-8809.

The Marine Protected Areas Inventory (MPA Inventory) is now online and available for you to explore. The MPA Inventory is based on the previously developed Marine Managed Areas (MMA) Inventory, which was active from 2001-2007. MMAs are a more inclusive category of place-based management than MPAs. Now, the draft definition of "MPA" used in the Revised Draft Framework is being used as the criteria for inclusion in the MPA Inventory. The MPA Inventory will be updated as necessary when the Framework becomes final in Summer 2008. It will be a key information resource for nominating eligible sites to the national system. The MPA Inventory contains information on nearly 1,800 sites and is the only such dataset in the nation. This unique, comprehensive inventory provides governments and stakeholders with access to information to make better decisions about the current and future use of place-based conservation. Information in the Inventory is current as of December 2007. Data were collected from most federal, state, and territorial agencies and programs. For states that chose not to participate in the inventory, the MPA Center collected the best publicly available information. All information has been quality checked by the MPA Center to ensure consistent application of definitions. The MPA Center will update the inventory annually, and welcomes corrections or additional information. For questions or comments about the MPA Inventory, please write mpainventory@noaa.gov. http://mpa.gov/helpful_resources/inventory.html

I am looking at the video now. View the video at YouTube.

An event for both veteran and novice documentary filmmakers to learn the ins-and-outs of filmmaking from seasoned pros. One-on-one access to dozens of buyers, funders and program executives 6 days of screenings, 89 films from 26 countries. small group meetings with industry execs in the targeted Silver Sessions. Screen exciting new docs in the state-of-the-art Silver Theatres. Email: info@silverdocs.com http://www.silverdocs.com AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: 301) 495-6766; Fax: 301-495-6798

Martha and the Vandellas immortalized the line “it’s like a heat wave burning in my heart,” in their breakthrough hit in 1963, and that’s exactly the way some stranded motorists are feeling today. As a result of the record white-hot pre-summer temperatures, AAA Mid-Atlantic is experiencing a spike in the number of calls to its Emergency Road Service (ERS) Center for assistance from the drivers of stranded, stalled and disabled vehicles. As of 5:00 p.m. today, the auto club had already received nearly 4,840 calls from distressed motorists throughout its footprint, including 1163 calls in Maryland and 1015 calls from Virginia drivers. The auto club dispatched road crews to rescue 184 hot and bothered motorists in Washington, D.C. One a typical summer day the number of service calls averages 5,600 during a 24-hour period, the auto club spokesman noted. However, the call volume is already up 4.3 percent over the same day a year ago and the area motorists are in the throes of the evening rush hour, which can exact a tremendous toll on vehicles, their drivers and their passengers in a heat wave. “Extreme heat can kill, make no mistake about it. It is a threat to children and older passengers left in cars, and it is tough on automobiles too,” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs. “We are seeing a lot of calls for jump starts and for towing due to overheating. The heat can leave motorists stranded in dangerous situations.” Although summer hasn’t officially started yet, the National Weather Service has posted another heat advisory and issued heat-related safety tips. The warning: “Stay out of the sun.” Temperatures are expected to be between 95 and 100 degrees both Monday and Tuesday, predicts the National Weather Service. This combined with a humid air mass will allow heat index values to reach up to 105 degrees.

The District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) will partially implement the city’s multi-agency heat emergency plan in response to the National Weather Service’s (NWS) forecast of higher than average temperatures over the next several days. The partial implementation will include the opening of cooling centers where passersby can get a drink of water and brief respite from the heat. The cooling centers will be operational from 12 pm until 6 pm today at four District government buildings – Reeves Municipal Center, 2000 14th Street, NW; Judiciary Square, 441 4th Street, NW, King Office Building, 3720 Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, SE. and the Virginia Williams Center, 920 Rhode Island Avenue, NE. The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) hyperthermia hotline – 1-800-535-7252 – also will be activated. Residents are asked to call the hotline if they observe people on the street who are in distress as a result of the excessive heat. The department’s hyperthermia van will pick up persons in distress and take them to a shelter. NWS is forecasting temperatures in the upper eighties today with highs in the upper-90s on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Temperatures in the mid- to lower-90s are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday before the midday high drops back to near 88 degrees on Thursday of next week. Hot weather early in the season can have a more significant impact on vulnerable segments of the population because they have not yet adjusted to warmer temperatures. This includes the elderly, infants and young children, the chronically ill and those taking certain medications. HSEMA Director Darrell Darnell said residents should limit their outdoor activities today and take precautions to ensure they are not adversely affected by the extreme heat. “In addition to taking steps to keep themselves safe during the extreme heat, residents also should be sure to check on elderly relatives and neighbors and remember to bring their pets inside,” he noted. Other recommended precautions include: * Turn on an air-conditioner or fan * DO NOT leave children or pets in vehicles * Drink plenty of water * Wear light-colored, lightweight and loose fitting clothes * If you must go outside, apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going out * Limit exposure to the sun (the sun is most powerful between 10 am and 3 pm) * Avoid alcoholic drinks and caffeinated beverages.

I am flattered. But, I am in no way suited for the job. I probably could not even handle being a neighborhood commissioner. It takes a rare breed of man or woman to handle that position. I am still on the fence on who I am going to vote for. I like Obama's charisma. I respect that at least one person from his side answered my question on Executive Privilege. All the other candidates campaign sites refused. Senator Clinton took my question off her web site. Ralph Nader did not even respond. I have not asked that question to Senator McCain yet, but I will. Whoever answers that question has my vote. The Executive Branch has become way too powerful. The 'Checks and Balances' of our government is fading away. And I will do my part to stop it from happenning.

I really like the atomsphere of the Clyde's in the MCI Center.

There is no planet alignment in 2012 or any other time in the next several decades. As to the Earth being in the center of the Milky Way, we will be rather far toward the edge of this spiral galaxy, some 30,000 light years from the center. There is no such object as Planet X. Also, there have been no unusual levels of earthquakes or solar flares or any other of the supposed precursors of terrestrial calamity. Contrary to what you see from some of these posts, nothing unusual is happening and scientists are not worried by such supposed events. Even more to the point, it is already evident that there is no large comet or looming planet bearing down on the Earth. Doomsayers seem to pop up every few years. Remember the alignment of the planets that somehow managed not to destroy the Earth. Then there was the prediction that Planet X was going to smash into the Earth in May 2000. Now the unknown planet X is in our solar system is on a very long, elliptical orbit and will hit the Earth in December 2012. This is really funny. Oh then there is the April 13, 2029 prediction that an asteroid will hit our planet. This is my son's 21st birthday. So, I am going to have a Doomsday party for him. If I have enough money, the party will be a huge monster blowout bash that everyone can enjoy.

High school teacher Mogens Winther combined his own images of the Venus transit, obtained in Denmark, with images captured in Australia by a GONG network telescope. The result, shown here, demonstrates parallax--Venus' shifting position as viewed from two widely separated locations on Earth. This is what 18th and 19th astronomers tried so hard to measure; the parallax angle could be used to calculate the distance to Venus and, thus, the size of the solar system.

When you call for an inspection use the following Telephone (202) 442-4400 Press 1 Press 2 Press 2 7:30 am through 3:30 pm No one answered at DCRA at 12:00 noon. It appears the are out to lunch. Left message.

I just called the Hillary campaign office and they stated that the location is still yet to be determined. They will announce the location tomorrow. http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/ 703.469.2008 option 4

It appears the Clinton camp is okay with the Florida count, but they do not like the ruling for Michigan. Sources say that she is considering taking this all the way to the convention. The Republicans could not have possibly wished for any better outcome.

Low turnout in Puerto Rico ended any chance of Senator Clinton winning the popular vote overall. After the weekend results, Obama has at least 2,070 delegates, less than 50 shy of the number needed for the nomination; Clinton has at least 1,914. There are fewer than 200 uncommitted superdelegates, and most are likely to go to Obama, along with the majority of those from Montana and South Dakota.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Rules and Bylaws Committee Co-Chairs Alexis Herman and Jim Roosevelt issued the following joint statement: "Today, after careful consideration and debate, the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee reached an agreement on the two challenges before the Committee on seating delegations from Florida and Michigan. The Committee voted to seat the full Florida delegation with a half-vote each. The RBC accepted the Michigan Leadership Plan as presented today by the Michigan Democratic Party with the exception that each delegate receives a half vote. In addition, the Committee agreed that delegates from both states should be slated under Rules 5, 6, 7, and 12, outlining the candidate's right of approval. With this decision, the revised total of delegate votes needed to secure the nomination is 2,118. "This decision was not made easily or lightly but after listening to oral arguments made by the complainants, State Parties, and both presidential campaigns, we believe this to be the most fair and equitable solution allowed within the rules. The Committee arrived at its decision with three basic principles in mind: One, that we must be fair to the voters in both states. Two, that we must be fair to both campaigns who abided by the rules in good faith and three, that we must be fair to the 48 states that followed the rules. "We believe today's decision is a step forward in unifying our Party as we work together to put a Democrat back in the White House so we can bring the Iraq War to a responsible end and get our economy back on track. We want to thank all of today's presenters, members of the public - both those here today and the many others who have made their voices heard throughout the process, and supporters of both campaigns."

Scientifically verified soil test results received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in conjunction with recommendations from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) indicate that Fort Reno Park arsenic levels are at background levels expected for the area and below levels of health concern. As a result, the National Park Service (NPS) has decided to re-open Fort Reno Park as of today. The NPS’ process for arriving at this decision is consistent with NPS standard protocol for seeking public health guidance. The NPS began removal of the snow fencing used to close Fort Reno Park, today, Wednesday, May 28. However, in the course of this recent additional testing by EPA to validate arsenic levels in Fort Reno Park, elevated levels of lead were found in one location inside of Fort Reno Park, within a 10-by- 15-foot oval-shaped section in the northwest corner of the 33-acre Park. The EPA informed the NPS and the District of Columbia Department of the Environment of the new, preliminary lead findings on Sunday, May 25. The area of lead contamination is fully contained within Fort Reno Park and was already closed to public access and not available to any visitors since the lead contamination information was learned. New, additional testing of this portion of Fort Reno Park will be required and until those new definitive tests are completed and verified, the 10-by-15-foot section of Fort Reno Park will continue to be closed to the public. The NPS, in consultation with the EPA, will begin remediation of the 10-by- 15-foot section of the Park, which would involve removal of all contaminated soil. The 10-by- 15-foot section of Fort Reno Park is an area that has grass and vegetation on it and is not an area that is frequented by recreational users of the Park. It is believed the lead is contained within this section of the Park. The federal public health agency reviewing the information from this Park (ATSDR) does not believe it is likely that health effects could have occurred from past exposures to this area of the Park. However, families are welcome to discuss any health concerns they have about this issue directly with their family physicians, or with pediatricians specializing in environmental health. The MidAtlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment’s website is www.health-e-kids.org; they may be contacted during regular during business hours at pehsu@gwu.edu or 202-994-1166. The ATSDR does not recommend any testing for pets that have frequented this Park. However, as a service, pet owners may chose to discuss any concerns about their pets and environmental exposure with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and its Animal Poison Control Center toll free at 888-426-4435. There is a fee for this service. The number is operational 24-hours per day. The NPS will continue to provide the public with updates regarding access status for Fort Reno Park as well as remediation, as it becomes available. Background on Arsenic Investigations at the Park The NPS’ closure of Fort Reno Park was prompted by soil-sample analysis conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at six sites at Fort Reno in April as a follow-up on research connected to an aerial photograph used to identify areas of potential arsenic contamination. Based on that monitoring, preliminary soil sample analysis was conducted using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) technology. The USGS reported arsenic concentrations in the soil that ranged from 100 to 1100 parts per million (ppm). These high numbers caused the Park Service to close the Park and triggered a further investigation into arsenic in the Park. The USGS has also finalized its re-testing of the original soil samples obtained on site in April, and have now confirmed that the original soil samples taken at Fort Reno range from 3 ppm to 7 ppm for arsenic. Since that initial closure, the EPA has conducted two separate series of sampling at Fort Reno. Both times, the EPA used both XRF field screening technology combined with soil samples, the latter analyzed in an EPA-approved laboratory. All of EPA’s verified results indicate that the arsenic levels at Fort Reno are at background levels for this area, and well below the EPA’s arsenic removal guidance of 43 parts per million (ppm). The USGS indicated they will try to determine testing differences during the initial analysis of the original soil samples taken and analyzed in April that caused the high results to be reported, with the USGS test results taken more recently. The USGS is confident that these recently retested and reported low levels represent the true arsenic levels for the original samples, and match the low levels also confirmed by EPA’s sampling on site for Fort Reno. Based on these recently confirmed USGS test results and the EPA test results for arsenic, the NPS then further consulted with the ATSDR to evaluate the health implications of this information. ATSDR stated that based on all the information and data available, that the low levels of arsenic confirmed and reported for Fort Reno do not present a threat to human health.

New Legislation Improves Enforcement Capabilities and Safety of Residents Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham joined DC Fire & EMS Chief Dennis L. Rubin to announce proposed legislation that would effectively ban the use and sale of all consumer fireworks in the District of Columbia, except those staged by professional pyrotechnics experts. The Fireworks Neighborhood Safety Emergency Act of 2008 will help prevent the personal injury and property damage that traditionally stems from the use of fireworks by the general public. The legislation removes any exceptions to the current ban and would allow multi-faceted enforcement that includes DC Fire & EMS Department and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). "The time has come to once and for all extinguish these dangerous devices," said Mayor Fenty. "This legislation will bring us in line with neighboring jurisdictions in recognizing that the safety of our residents must be preserved." The proposed legislation expands the current district to allow direct MPD enforcement of the ban. Previously, only Fire and EMS were able to provide direct enforcement of the ban allowing MPD only secondary enforcement capabilities. Complete fireworks bans are in effect in Montgomery and Prince George's counties as well as Baltimore, Md. “This injury saving, public safety measure has great clarity and it will help a lot of people,” said Graham. Last year the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center received more than 4,000 calls in one 12-hour period during the July 4th holiday due to improper use of fireworks in the District, the same number of calls usually made in a 24-hour period. "Fireworks are not toys that can be treated casually," said Chief Rubin. "It is essential that District residents leave any handling of these combustible devices to licensed experts."

I have visited www.comcast.net this morning to report some connection issues. It appeared that the site is down with a message on the homepage saying This Site Is Under Construction and Coming Soon. Now it has a basic navigation on it front page, but no login. http://www.Comcast.net