Luke_Wilbur

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?

If you see this email delete it immediately. It executes a phishing program Greeting.gif.exe The email that I received orginated in Spain. inetnum: 217.76.154.0 - 217.76.155.255 netname: NET-ARSYS-EURO-16 descr: arsys.es country: ES admin-c: ARO12-RIPE tech-c: ARO12-RIPE rev-srv: atlante.servidoresdns.net rev-srv: prometeo.servidoresdns.net status: ASSIGNED PA mnt-by: ARSYS-RIPE-MNT mnt-lower: ARSYS-RIPE-MNT source: RIPE # Filtered role: ARSYS Role Object address: arsys.es address: C/ Ch1le 54 address: Logrono 26005 (La Rioja) address: SPAIN phone: +34 941 620100 fax-no: +34 941 204793 e-mail: ripe@arsys.es remarks: trouble: www.arsys.es admin-c: NI49-RIPE tech-c: MAP63-RIPE tech-c: LMMZ1-RIPE tech-c: MdRO1-RIPE nic-hdl: ARO12-RIPE mnt-by: ARSYS-RIPE-MNT source: RIPE # Filtered But, it can come from anywhere. So beware.

I think it is time for Americans to realize that it is not all doom and gloom in Iraq. So I am going to focus on the positive stories. ************************************** Iraqi Army and Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldiers resumed clearing operations in a southern part of the Iraqi capital Jan. 16. Elements of the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, working side-by-side with 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division troops continued securing neighborhoods in Al-Doura, effectively disrupting insurgent and militia activities. Searches conducted in Al-Doura resulted in the detention of three suspected insurgents and numerous small caches. Among the items found were four AK-47s, four loaded magazines, one 60mm mortar and two sets of police body armor. To date, this ongoing operation has resulted in 19 suspects detained and the seizure of various weapons, munitions and bomb-making materials. The joint operation continues in Al-Doura in an effort to ensure the safety of the local residents and the security of the community. ***************************************************** AL ZAHRAH, Iraq, Jan. 17, 2007 — It is a small neighborhood about 12 blocks long and five blocks wide, just a few miles away from Balad. The main street is roughly paved; the rest are just dirt tracks filled with trash and mud, teeming with kids. All in all, there is nothing remarkable about Al Zahrah. It has, however, managed to capture the attention of the U.S. forces at Forward Operating Base Paliwoda. “The people in this neighborhood have been good to us here. We’d like to do something in return for them,” said 1st Lt. Anthony Fazio, the projects purchasing officer for Headquarters/Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment. The unit is proposing a $4 million renovation project that includes installing an underground sewage system with connections to each house in the area, drain culverts, sidewalks and paved roads. The long term benefits of this project would be numerous. The construction project would provide about 150 people employment for at least six months, as well as create other jobs, such as garbage disposal, in the effort to maintain the neighborhood, Fazio said. Neighborhood improvements might also catch the attention of the provincial government, potentially resulting in additional funding for other projects. The result would be an all-around economic improvement for the town, said Fazio. The greatest benefit, however, would be the improved health of the inhabitants. “The old sewage system backs up here, especially when it rains, causing dirty water and debris to rise to the surface,” said Fazio. “The kids go out and play in this stuff, and people are getting sick.” The new sewage system and drain culverts will remove the dirty water and debris from the streets, greatly improving the living standard for the Al Zahrah residents. “We hope that people will see the improvements made in this neighborhood, how it looks and how it works, and want the same for their neighborhoods. Then they would be willing to work with U.S. forces to stabilize the violence in their area so we can go in there and do it,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Cummins, the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion team leader. The civil affairs team works as the eyes and ears for Fazio to provide information on what projects are most wanted and needed by the people, said Cummins. The Al Zahrah renovation is actually a continuation of a project begun by a previous unit at Forward Operating Base Paliwoda, but was not completed before they were redeployed back to the United States. Fazio and his team did not hesitate to take up the challenge of its completion when they arrived to the area. Amir ab Dalhide Morhan, the mayor of Balad, is working with Fazio on the project. “Even though there is a change in the commands (at Forward Operating Base Paliwoda), the policy always remains the same – to work with the people of Balad,” said the mayor. Fazio patrols with the 404th Civil Affairs team to gain a better understanding of what improvements have been completed and to determine what developments still need to occur. He talked with the locals about the problems they are having, and explained how the proposed project will help to alleviate those issues. With the mayor’s cooperation, Fazio has established several mandates to ensure the project will move forward with minimal disruptions. He intends to hire a local contractor who actually lives in Al Zahrah because the contractor will have a vested interest in making sure the project gets done, and gets done the right way. Included in the proposal is a stipulation that locals must clean up garbage in the area before the project can get started, and that they must keep it clean once it is completed. “I’m trying to change the mindset of the people. If they have to earn something, then maybe they will take pride in it and maintain it,” Fazio said. The approval process for the Al Zahrah renovation project could take up to two months. Once approved, the project is scheduled to be finished within six months of its start date. ************************************************************ BAYJI, Iraq, Jan. 16, 2007 — Paul A. Brinkley, deputy undersecretary of defense for Business Transformation, and Brig. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, 25th Infantry Division deputy commanding general of Support, along with more than a dozen world industry executives met with Riyad Aldahas, Director General of the State Company of Fertilizers in Northern Iraq, Jan. 10, 2007, at the Bayji Fertilizer Plant to discuss bringing the plant’s production back to full capacity in order to support agricultural needs throughout Salah ad Din Province. “On behalf of the people of the United States, it is a great honor to be hosted by you today to discuss the future of the facility,” said Brinkley. Salah ad Din Governor Hamed Hamood Shekti and Lt. Col. Scott Harris, commander, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, also attended the meeting. Aldahas informed Brinkley and the businessmen that the fertilizer plant, which is controlled by Iraq’s Ministry of Industry and Minerals, is in need of parts to operate correctly and meet production demands. Pumps, control valves and heat exchangers were three of the parts Aldahas emphasized replacing. After the meeting, Aldahas gave a tour of the fertilizer plant to Brinkley and the business executives, showing them what the plant is capable of producing. The fertilizer plant, which mass produces urea-based fertilizer, which is essential for agriculture in the province, opened in 1989 and has been unsteady in production since because of problems within the country’s ministries. In 2003 the plant reduced its production to only 18% of their yearly goal. The facility was designed to produce 500,000 tons of fertilizer every year.

The Best Happy Hour Ever! The R.E. Happy Hour for the Grown and Sexy Each and Every Wednesday Rare Essence featuring James Funk performing 2 sets! If you missed last week you definitely don't want to miss this week! FIRST 95 LADIES ARE FREE BEFORE 8PM! - From 7pm - 11:00pm - RE will be performing 2 sets - Proper Attire - 21 & Older Fur Nightclub 33 Patterson St. NE Washington, DC

Here is a statement from Fr. Kelley of St. Martin’s Catholic Church and Ed Orzechowski of Catholic Community Services. For more information, contact Ward 5 Citizens for Workforce Housing at 202.316-6451 or email us at WardFiveDC@aol.com

"Now that we've covered kissing and cuddling, it's time to practice eating out... at a fancy restaurant." A mother surnamed Zhang who uses her body to teach her son sex education has sparked controversy in Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. During a gynecological examination at the Wuhan Health Center for Women and Children last Thursday, Zhang brought her son into the examination room, letting him see her body and telling him how a woman becomes pregnant and delivers. Zhang said she wanted to educate her son, a 14-year-old grade 2 junior middle school student, correctly. Others, including doctors, said she should use better teaching methods. "You can take a good look at a T-bone by sticking your head up a bull's ass, but wouldn't you rather take the butcher's word for it?" - Tommy Boy http://www.chinadaily.comspam/china/2007-01...tent_784352.htm

I was driving past Blessed Sacrament Elementary School when I saw this Cherry Tree Blooming. In the Windows were two paper snowmen taped onto the windows. I remembered how much I wanted it to snow when I was a kid. After a storm our school would close for the day and we would get to go sledding down Holy Cross Hill. I hope our children will have the same experience.

Who would you put in to administrate the school system? What additional changes would you make?