Luke_Wilbur

Andy, Your music great. Can you tell us a little more about ShamRockFest.

Cold temperatures over the last week have allowed significant accumulations of ice and snow to remain on buildings and other exposed structures. Temperatures over the last 24 hours have rapidly warmed above freezing. Large chunks of ice and snow will have the potential to slide off buildings... and will pose a serious threat to people and property. Please be aware of this threat when walking near buildings... especially in downtown areas. Try to avoid parking your vehicle near or under tall structures to prevent property damage. In addition... many area ponds and lakes became ice covered over the last several weeks. But with the return to above freezing temperatures many of these waterways are not safe to walk or skate on. Rapidly warming temperatures will continue to make thin ice even thinner. For safety... stay off all ice covered bodies of water.

You can see the reasons why both sides of the aisle have their own opinions about the war.

I am really upset at President Bush's budget now contains funding cuts for veterans. The utter lack of compassion the Bush White House has for the soldiers it has put in harm's way is revealed by the national disgrace that is America's treatment of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Next year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system expects to treat 263,000 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, a number three times what the VA initially projected. "The number of veterans coming into the VA health care system has been rising by about 5 percent a year, as the number of people returning from Iraq with illnesses or injuries keep rising." President Bush has promised that our nation would "keep its commitments to those who have risked their lives for our freedom." "We owe them all we can give them," Bush said after a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. "Not only for when they're in harm's way, but when they come home to help them adjust if they have wounds, or help them adjust after their time in service." Yet as the number of soldiers injured in Iraq continues to grow, the VA health care system is "buckling under a growing volume of disability claims and rising demand for medical attention." As of last month, the VA system was experiencing a backlog of 600,000 cases, "with about 168,000 pending for at least six months." "There are VA facilities that were fine in peacetime but are now finding themselves overwhelmed," said Steve Robinson, director of Veterans for American. Recent reporting has brought more dire news: the Washington Post discovered soldiers housed at Walter Reed face the "bleakest" of homecomings; McClatchy found the VA is "ill-equipped" to handle the increasing number of returning soldiers who need treatment for mental health; and the Associated Press revealed that the recent Bush budget contains funding cuts for veterans. (See where major veterans service organizations believe funding levels for veterans should be in their annual Independent Budget.) "Our veterans' mental and physical health is not something to play games with," the Macon Telegraph wrote recently. "They have served their country, and their country has an absolute obligation to return the favor." http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/pdf/veterans-2008.pdf http://www.dav.org/voters/independent_budget.html http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/opinion/16690966.htm

Here are some remarks the President had about Iraq's Reconstruction effort:

Here are some answers that you should read from the Press Conference given by the President.

Here are some excerpts of the Press Conference by the President

House Armed Services Subcommittee Chairmen Neil Abercrombie (Air and Land) and Solomon Ortiz (Readiness) pushed Pentagon leaders for assurances on the military preparedness of U.S. Army and Marine Corps units being deployed to Iraq as part of President Bush’s “surge.”

Why is the Bush administration making you a target?

Interesting discussion. I spoke with Attorney Kenneth McGhie of the DC Board of Elections and Ethics. (202) 727-2194 Mr. McGhie stated that the District Charter allows the City Council to place Advisory Referendum on the ballot. I think our District government should poll its citizens on what course it should take. I wonder whether no taxation would be more appealling than representation to our community. The residents of the District of Columbia are the only Americans who pay Federal income taxes and who have fought and died in every American war but are denied voting representation in the House of Representatives and the Senate. I know that HEALD v. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA discussed how residents of the District lack the suffrage and have politically no voice in the expenditure of the money raised by taxation. Money so raised is paid into the treasury of the United States, where it is held, not as a separate fund for the District, but subject to the disposal of Congress, like other revenues raised by federal taxation. The Court stated that there is no constitutional provision which so limits the power of Congress that taxes can be imposed only upon those who have political representation. And the cases are many in which laws levying taxes for the support of the government of the District have been enforced during the period in which its residents have been without the right of suffrage.

Secretary of Defense has said it, the President has said it: We're not invading Iran.

Even if you don't have children you should be concerned and informed about these two plans. We are all stakeholders in the future of this cities children and should take an active role in the debate. On February 12th at McKinley Technology High School (6pm-8pm) the DC Board of Education will present their plan and show it side by side with the Mayor Fenty's plan.

Please refrain from threatening individuals on this board.

Jonathan, You should leave posting about the sexuality of a child off the topic.

Jonathan, Do you have permission to use this image?

Temperatures are dropping to dangerous lows. Hypothermia is a condition that can occur when the temperature falls below 32. The District of Columbia provides residents with information on helping others to stay warm. Hypothermia Shelter Hotline: 1-800-535-7252 The Shelter Hotline provides transportation to emergency shelters, and distributes items such as blankets, gloves and jackets. Department of Human Services instituted a Hypothermia Watch Program which garners resources from other District agencies, local businesses and community organizations. http://www.dhs.dc.gov/dhs/cwp/view.asp?a=3...;dhsNAV=|30980|

Tired of getting calls from telemarketers. Call the following number from your phone: 888-382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. You must call from the number that you want to block. You can also go to their website : http://www.donotcall.gov This government service blocks your number for five (5) years. To file a complaint now, your phone number must have been on the registry for 31 days. To file a complaint, we need the date you got the call, and either the name or telephone number of the company that called you. The National Do Not Call Registry applies to any plan, program, or campaign to sell goods or services through interstate phone calls. This includes telemarketers who solicit consumers, often on behalf of third party sellers. It also includes sellers who provide, offer to provide, or arrange to provide goods or services to consumers in exchange for payment. The National Do Not Call Registry does not limit calls by political organizations, charities, or telephone surveyors. A telemarketer or seller may call a consumer with whom it has an established business relationship for up to 18 months after the consumer's last purchase, delivery, or payment - even if the consumer's number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. In addition, a company may call a consumer for up to three months after the consumer makes an inquiry or submits an application to the company. And if a consumer has given a company written permission, the company may call even if the consumer's number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. One caveat: if a consumer asks a company not to call, the company may not call, even if there is an established business relationship. Indeed, a company may not call a consumer - regardless of whether the consumer's number is on the registry - if the consumer has asked to be put on the company's own do not call list. The area codes in the National Do Not Call Registry cover the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, North Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and toll-free numbers (500, 800, 866, 877, 880, 881, 882, and 888). The service really works read this article from Business Week

Saturday-February 10th, 2007 The Reflection Of Laughter & Soul Chuck Brown Live at Mirror's Join Epic Concepts proudly presents the sounds of laughter and soul all under one roof. Join us on Saturday, February 10th , 2007 at the luxurious Mirrors Night Club for a night of laughter and soul with comedic acts of Billy The Kid and friends along side the sounds of ASAP and the God Farther Of Go Go Chuck Brown. Doors open at 8pm with a complementary open bar and soul food buffet from 8pm to 9pm. Join Billy The Kid along side Skiba, Frank Nitty and White Boy Eric for a session of laughter, drinks and good food. Then at 11pm we take the event to the next level with the sounds of the Legendary James Funk, DJ Big John, The ASAP Band & The God Farther Of Go Go Chuck Brown.

Here is a interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer with the Vice President on the escalation of troops. http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/24/cheney/index.html

I plan to post them in my free time

After a break of 16 centuries, Greek pagans are worshipping the ancient gods again - despite furious opposition from the Orthodox church. http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,2003096,00.html

U.S. and Iraqi Officials Work To Reopen Factories AR RAMADI, Iraq, Feb. 2, 2007 U. S. officials are working with the Iraqi government to reopen various production factories to stimulate the local economy in Ramadi. Mohammed Abdullah, the deputy minister of industry, met with Bob Love, the director of Iraqi operations for the Defense Business Transformation Agency, during a Jan. 31 visit to ceramics and glass factories to discuss the future of the businesses. The factories in Ramadi are important to the government of Iraq and the United States, Love said. We have to move quickly. Love said that meetings like this would speed up the process of opening the ceramic factory’s doors to its more than 700 employees. "We are here to build that bridge to move into the future," Abdullah said. During the meeting, the supervisor of the factories, General Manager Fouad Hamad, told Love and Abdullah that neither one of the businesses can operate without more generators. "The future of my company is important to this community," Hamad said. "We need someone to take a deep look at our problem, so the people can come back to work." Love told Abdullah that he would work closely with getting the generators needed, and promised to provide the movement of the generators to the factory. "Hopefully, we will get this wheel turning and get the factories back to the way they used to be," Abdullah said. Love said he has already seen great improvements since his first visit. He said the security in the area is better and he was impressed with the number of employees coming out to the factory despite the conditions. "I am excited to see what can happen in the next two months," Love said. After the meeting, the group toured the ceramic factory and the glass factory and spoke with some of the employees. Mayor Latif Obaid Ayadah, the mayor of Ramadi attended the meeting. Love spoke to Latif about getting Ramadi on board with a new wireless communication project for his city. "We want that type of service," Latif said. "We very much need that type of service." Love said it was just a matter of getting a letter from the minister of communications. Love said he plans to return to monitor progress and to show his continued support for the factories and the local population who work there.

BlingBling. I just got back from Cancun. I did not see your story on CNN. Thanks for the post. You might be interested in reading this.

Emeka Moneme, acting Director of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), released DDOT’s two new maps: “Washington, DC: The American Experience,” and the updated “Washington, DC, Bicycle Map.” The new citywide map is the first city map ever produced using GIS: Geographic Information Systems technology. It clearly outlines District streets in an easy-to-read format. The reverse side provides detailed bus and Emergency Snow and Evacuation routes and other useful information. The updated bicycle map includes the latest, easy-to-read information on bicycle lanes, off-street trails and planned city bicycling trails. “I’m very excited about both of DDOT’s new maps,” said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, who is featured on both maps with a welcome message. Fenty added: “The maps are a great way to help navigate through the District of Columbia, or just to admire our wide array of landmarks, our two rivers, bicycle trails and city parks. It is my hope that residents across the District will find them both very useful.” In addition to transportation information, the map employs data made available by the District of Columbia Geographic Information System program (DC GIS) of the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO). The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) also partnered with DDOT in designing the maps. DDOT added eight miles of bicycle lanes since the previous edition of the bicycle map and made the background of the new map lighter to accentuate the bike lanes, existing trails and future trails. DDOT also added the location of city recreation centers. http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/cwp/view,a,1245,q,...%7C32399%7C.asp

The United States House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms is an officer of the House with law enforcement, protocol, and administrative responsibilities. The current House Sergeant at Arms is Wilson (Bill) Livingood. Mr. Livingood stated that members of Congress are allowed to smoke in their offices at their own discretion. You should contact the General Counsel's Office at 202-225-9700. What bars are protected?